Almen Bunt

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A similar entry appears in the Wheel of Time Companion confirming the information available in the main story arc.


Author: Atarah al'Norahn

General

Almen Bunt is an old man who lives alone on a farm near Carysford, an Andoran village east of Caemlyn (TEotW, Ch. 34, ToM, Ch. 1).

He has a leathery face that is a mass of wrinkles and half of his teeth are gone. He has gnarled hands but can still hold a quarterstaff steady. His voice is that of an old man but is still strong (TEotW, Ch. 34).

Timeline

  • After the Fade leaves, Almen and Holdwin talk. Holdwin tells him that the Fade, whom Bunt didn't recognize as such, is looking for two thieves who stole a heron-mark sword, and that there is a large reward for them. Bunt sounds amused when Holdwin names Rand and Mat Darkfriends and followers of Logain, commenting that they are getting up to a lot for young fellows (TEotW, Ch. 34).
  • Bunt plans to travel to Caemlyn to see Logain, since there might not be another false Dragon before he dies. He will travel by night, so that he will have the road to himself. When Holdwin comments that it can be dangerous on the road at night, Bunt doesn't seem ruffled (TEotW, Ch. 34).
  • After Holdwin leaves, Rand and Mat ask Almen Bunt for passage to Caemlyn in his cart, and he agrees (TEotW, Ch. 34).
  • On the ride to Caemlyn, Bunt tells Rand and Mat about the royal family of Andor, including the disappearance of Tigraine and the Aiel War (TEotW, Ch. 34).
  • Almen Bunt, Rand, and Mat reach Caemlyn (TEotW, Ch. 34) and ride through the gates (TEotW, Ch. 35). He tells Rand and Mat that he knows it is them that Holdwin is looking for, but that he will not say anything. He advises Rand to hide his heron-mark sword, and then leaves them (TEotW, Ch. 35).
  • He stays to stand for Morgase against the riots that start in Caemlyn, because a young man (Rand) who was off to see the world made him think that there is more to life than his farm (TGH, Ch. 24).
  • He is the first person Rand speaks to when he returns from Dragonmount. Rand's presence causes the apples in the orchard to grow again: Almen sends his nephews to gather the entire village to pick them (ToM, Ch. 1).

Relationships

His wife, Adrinne, is deceased. On the day he married her, he planted a pair of walnut trees. They are a source of comfort for him after her death (ToM, Ch. 1).

He has a sister, Alysa, and two nephews, Adim and Hahn (ToM, Ch. 1).

He has grown sons (ToM, Ch. 1).

He says that he is a good Queen's man and that he will stand against any who try to harm her, but he does not approve of Elaida (TEotW, Ch. 34).

He hates Aes Sedai and calls them witches (ToM, Ch. 1).

He does not like Holdwin (TEotW, Ch. 35).

Miscellaneous

Quotes

"Not such a fool plan," Bunt replied placidly. "There might not be another false Dragon to see before I die -- Light send it so! -- and I'm too old to eat some merchant's dust all the way to Caemlyn. I'll have the road to myself, and I'll be in Caemlyn bright and early tomorrow." (Almen Bunt to Raimun Holdwin; The Eye of the World, Chapter 34).

"If the Queen's Guards can't keep the road safe this close to Caemlyn, then we're none of us safe even in our own beds. If you ask me, one thing the Guards could do to make sure the roads are safe would be clap that friend of yours in irons. Sneaking around in the dark, afraid to let anybody get a look at him. Can't tell me he's not up to no good." (Almen Bunt to Raimun Holdwin; The Eye of the World, Chapter 34).

Bunt seemed to feel the oppression of the night, too, for he suddenly spoke up. "You two ever been to Caemlyn before?" He gave a little chuckle. "Don't suppose you have. Well, wait till you see it. The greatest city in the world. Oh, I've heard all about Illian and Ebou Dar and Tear and all -- there's always some fool thinks a thing is bigger and better just because it's off somewhere over the horizon -- but for my money, Caemlyn is the grandest there is. Couldn't be grander. No, it couldn't. Unless maybe Queen Morgase, the Light illumine her, got rid of that witch from Tar Valon." (Almen Bunt to Rand and Mat; The Eye of the World, Chapter 34).

"I'm a good Queen's man, like I said, but even fools say something worthwhile now and again. Even a blind pig finds an acorn sometimes. There's got to be some changes. This weather, the crops failing, cows drying up, calves and lambs born dead, or with two heads. Bloody ravens don't even wait for things to die. People are scared. They want somebody to blame. Dragon's Fang turning up on people's doors. Things creeping about in the night. Barns getting burned. Fellows around like that friend of Holdwin, scaring people. The Queen's got to do something before it's too late. You see that, don't you?" (Almen Bunt to Rand and Mat; The Eye of the World, Chapter 34).

"Don't mean nothing, I suppose. Look, now, if you heard I was coming to Caemlyn, you were there long enough to hear the rest. Was I after a reward, I'd have made some excuse to go in the Goose and Crown, speak to Holdwin. Only I don't much like Holdwin, and I don't like that friend of his, not at all. Seems like he wants you two more than he wants... anything else." (Almen Bunt to Rand and Mat; The Eye of the World, Chapter 35).