The Eye of the World: Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Strangers and Friends

Arn Oakenskye

Characters: Rand, Mat, Perrin, Thom, Min, Master Fitch, Sara, Fain, Bornhald

Setting: The Stag and Lion, Baerlon

Rand wakes up to discover that everyone has gone out into the city already and Thom is performing in the Inn. He notices that Lan's sword is gone and decides to follow the Warder's example and take his own sword.

Rand goes downstairs to find Master Fitch and Sara (the Inn's cook) in an argument about Sara's cat and dead rats being found around the Inn. After Fitch leaves, Sara has one of the servants bring Rand some food and she tells him that his friends have all gone out into the city, except one who wasn't feeling well. She makes a comment about the rats being found and their backs being broken. Rand's food loses all taste, and he feels that he has to talk to someone.

Rand finds Perrin in his room and Perrin tells him he isn't feeling well after some bad dreams and not sleeping through the night. They discover they had the same dream or close enough anyway and wonder if Mat too had a similar dream.

Rand wants to go out into the city but Perrin says he doesn't and that he'll catch up later. Rand goes outside to see more people than he'd ever seen before. He doesn't feel good about leaving Perrin behind and thinks that Thom may finish his performance, then he could talk with him so Rand sits down on a barrel in the back of the Inn to wait a little while.

Rand meets Min while waiting and she tells him about seeing things about people and the pattern. She says that they are all tied together in the pattern. When Rand asks about Egwene, Min tells him she is tied in too and that while they both love each other, they are not for one another the way they both want. She mentions a few images she sees around Lan, Thom, Perrin and Mat. Rand then asks about himself and she replies with a list of things, then says that she sees three women standing over a funeral bier with him on it and black rock wet with blood. Rand breaks in and says that's enough.

Rand quickly leaves Min and moves into the crowed street. He wanders through the crowd taking in the city until he spots Padan Fain. Fain darts away into an alley and Rand follows after him.

Fain is acting oddly and talks about running since Winternight. Rand tells him that they thought he was dead, that they are staying at the Stag and Lion and that he should come back with him. Rand thinks Moiraine will help him out but Fain doesn't want her help and asks Rand to promise not to tell her that he'd seem him alive. Rand promises and Fain dashes away and around a corner.

Rand chases after Fain and crashes into Mat. Mat and Rand share a few words about seeing Fain and then about their dreams.

Rand and Mat start heading back to the Inn when they see three Whitecloaks. Mat thinks that they are full of themselves and slips away and up onto a rooftop. Using his sling, Mat breaks a stake holding back a dozen barrels causing them to roll away and splash mud on the Whitecloaks.

Rand laughs and soon finds himself face to face with the Children of the Light. They see Rand's sword and ask him questions. Rand avoids answering them and one of them, Bornhald, asks him what evil is in him that he refuses to answer.

In the middle of the Whitecloak's threats the City Watch appears up the street. Bornhald calls out that Baerlon stands in the Shadow of the Dark One. He then tells Rand that Darkfriends do not escape them.

The Whitecloaks move on and Mat comes out of hiding in a shop. Mat tells Rand he's crazy and they start back to the Inn meeting Thom on the way. Mat begins to tell Thom about the dream and when Rand mentions Ba'alzamon, Thom hurries them into an alley warning them never to speak that name where someone could hear.

After they tell Thom about the men The Dark One mentioned in their dream, Thom tells them to keep their dream quiet for now and wonders if Perrin has the sense to. They hurry back to the Inn and Perrin is just running out as they arrive. Perrin says he didn't tell anyone about the dream.

Perrin then says that he was coming to look for them and tell them that Nynaeve came after them and is inside the Inn.

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