Loial

Book

TV show

Loial son of Arent son of Halan
Nationality	Ogier
Affiliation
Social Status
Family
First Appearance	The Eye of the World, Chapter 36

Author: Atarah al'Norahn

Pronunciation: LOY-ahl

Loial, son of Arent son of Halan, is the most prominent Ogier character in the series. He is from Stedding Shangtai (TEotW, Ch. 36) but decided to go out of the stedding to see the world. In Caemlyn, he meets Rand and joins him and the rest of their group towards the Eye of the World.

General

Loial is something of a runaway among the Ogier; he left the stedding without the permission of the Elders and before he was old enough to be outside the stedding on his own. The Stump in Stedding Shangtai had not met for even a year on the discussion of whether or not he could leave before he ran away; he knew that by the time they reached a decision, he'd be old enough to leave on his own anyway. In his opinion, he thinks that he should have been able to address the Stump, even though he was too young to do so, since they were talking about whether or not he should be allowed to leave the stedding (TEotW, Ch. 36).

Loial is the son of Covril daughter of Ella daughter of Soong (LoC, Ch. 20) and recently married to Erith daughter of Iva daughter of Alar (KoD, Ch. 19).

Appearance

He is just over ninety years old, which is young for an Ogier. He is almost ten feet tall with a nose as broad as his face, eyebrows that hang down like tails, pale eyes as large as teacups, pointed ears, a shaggy mane of black hair and a voice as deep as a drum. He wears wide-toed, knee-high boots, baggy trousers and a coat that buttons from the neck to the waist before flaring out to his boot tops (TEotW, Ch. 36). Many people's first reaction to Loial is astonishment or to assume that he is a Trolloc (TEotW, Ch. 36), and he takes offense to this (TDR, Ch. 8).

Personality

Among the Ogier, Loial is considered hot-headed (TEotW, Ch. 36) and odd for wanting to travel (TEotW, Ch. 42). Loial maintains that the fact that he left the stedding before he was old enough is proof of his rashness (TGH, Ch. 9). Elder Haman always said that Loial had no sense (TEotW, Ch. 45), and the Elders always said that he spoke an hour before he thought (TGH, Ch. 9).

Like other Ogier in the Westlands, Loial is very gentle and relatively slow to act. Rand thinks that he has never met anyone as gentle as Loial (TGH, Ch. 3) and is shocked when he becomes angry (TEotW, Ch. 44), and Perrin wonders how anyone can be frightened of him for long (TDR, Ch. 2). He worries terribly about worrying anyone else (LoC, Ch. 54). However, his anger when it comes, is something to fear. Perrin does not think he ever wants Loial, as gentle as he is, to become angry with him (TSR, Ch. 18).

Loial is quite modest. He does not seem to think that anything he does is brave or worth writing about (TSR, Ch. 53). However, Perrin tells Loial that he is a hero whether or not he wants to be (TSR, Ch. 56). He is also known for his intelligence. Elder Haman thinks that he has the makings of a scholar about him (KoD, Ch. 19). He loves to talk, and talks at length whenever he has the chance. He usually seems to think that a story needs two or three hundred years of background to make it understood (TEotW, Ch. 42). He also loves to read, and is never far from a book. Partway through the series, he decides to write a book of his own; he is determined to be the only one to write a true book about the Dragon Reborn, as someone who traveled with him (TDR, Ch. 2; TSR, Ch. 16).

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This section contains spoilers relating to Towers of Midnight. Please expand to view.

He eventually completes the book, titled "The Dragon Reborn" (ToM, Header).

Loial's Journey

The Eye of the World

• Loial meets Rand in Master Gill's library. He has been in Caemlyn for four days and hasn't been able to put his nose out of Master Gill's inn because of people thinking that he is a Trolloc. At first, Rand is frightened and thinks the same, but he soon realizes that Loial is an Ogier. They talk for quite some time of how Loial came to be in Caemlyn and about the history of the Ogier. Loial laments how much has changed in the human world from the history that he has read about. When Loial asks Rand what he is doing in Caemlyn, Rand finds that he cannot lie to the Ogier, and tells him everything that has happened since the Trollocs attacked Emond's Field. After hearing the story, Loial informs Rand that he is ta'veren. He also tells Rand that he wishes to travel with him. Rand tries to argue, but Loial says that he wishes to see the grove at Tar Valon, and that he also wishes to witness the Pattern shaping around someone who is ta'veren. Rand still doesn't think it's a good idea because of the danger and says so, but he agrees to come play stones and talk with him sometimes (TEotW, Ch. 36).

• Loial is in the library playing stones with Master Gill when Rand returns from his incident at the Royal Palace. Rand tells them about meeting Morgase and Elaida, and Master Gill tells Rand that he will have to leave if Elaida is going to start searching for him. Loial once again tells Rand that he wishes to travel with him. Rand finally agrees (TEotW, Ch. 41)

• Loial meets Egwene, Nynaeve, and Perrin, all of whom are quite surprised to see him, and Rand introduces them. They all sit down to wait for Moiraine. Perrin asks Loial about the stedding, and Loial is quite happy to talk about the stedding and retell the story of how he came to be in Caemlyn. Moiraine appears with Mat, whom she has just Healed, and Lan. Mat stares at Loial as if seeing him for the first time, even though he has met him before and had referred to him as a Trolloc. Rand informs Moiraine that Loial is going to accompany them, and she agrees (TEotW, Ch. 39; Ch. 42).

• Loial asks Moiraine if she can answer a question for him, and she agrees. He tells her a story about a man who came to Stedding Shangtai about twenty years ago and who claimed that the Dark One meant to blind the Eye of the World and slay the Great Serpent, which would kill time itself. Loial wants to know if that is even possible. When Perrin and Egwene hear this, they add that they heard a similar story from the Tuatha'an, about a dying Aiel woman who claimed the same thing, that the Dark One meant to blind the Eye of the World. Moiraine decides that they need to leave Caemlyn right away and go to the Blight to see the Green Man, to tell him of the threat to the Eye of the World. However, it will still take them a good two weeks to ride to the Blight, unless they use the Ways. Moiraine asks if Loial can take them through the Ways, and Loial is aghast. He tells Moiraine that they will all die, or be swallowed by the Shadow, if they enter the Ways. When Rand questions him about it, Loial tells the story of how the Ways were created and how they have deteriorated. After all of the others decide that they will go to the Blight to warn the Green Man, Loial finally gives in and agrees to guide them through the Ways (TEotW, Ch. 42; Ch. 43).

• That night, Moiraine plans their journey, with Loial advising her concerning the Ways (TEotW, Ch. 43).

• As the group prepares to leave early the next morning, Loial is waiting anxiously. He leads the others through Caemlyn towards the Caemlyn Waygate, which he is somehow able to sense. The Waygate is located in the cellar of a shop. Moiraine leads them to it through a cellar door. Loial becomes angry, because once, trees stood in this spot but were cut down to make way for buildings (TEotW, Ch. 44).

• They enter the Ways, and Loial begins to lead them towards the Fal Dara Waygate. They travel past midday. Eventually, they reach a part of the Ways where one of the bridges is broken and they have to backtrack to take another bridge (TEotW, Ch. 44; Ch. 45).

• They spend the night in the Ways and then travel on in the morning (TEotW, Ch. 45).

• When Machin Shin begins to chase the group, Loial frantically leads the others along the bridges towards the Fal Dara Waygate. When they reach the Waygate and Moiraine realizes that the key has been taken, Loial gives a mournful cry. Moiraine burns a hole through the Waygate and they exit as quickly as they can (TEotW, Ch. 45).

• Loial and the others ride towards Fal Dara. Loial, Rand, Mat, Perrin, Egwene and Nynaeve ride clustered behind Moiraine and Lan. Loial is looking forward to meeting the Green Man (TEotW, Ch. 46).

• When they ride into Fal Dara, people shout out to Loial, "Kiserai ti Wansho!", which means "Glory to the Builders!" When they reach the fortress in the middle of the town, Ingtar repeats this and bows, and Loial replies, "I am unworthy, and the work small. Tsingu ma choba". Agelmar greets Loial in the same fashion as Ingtar when the group meets him (TEotW, Ch. 46).

• Agelmar and his guests talk through and after dinner. Agelmar comments to Loial that he seems troubled, and says that he hopes Loial is not beset by the Longing. Loial replies that he has not been gone long enough for the Longing to begin, but that he had hoped that the grove that once existed at Fal Dara would still be there (TEotW, Ch. 46).

• Loial is present when Padan Fain is brought into the Fal Dara keep and Moiraine goes off to interrogate him. While Loial and the Two Rivers folk wait for Moiraine to return, Loial looks unconcerned, even though Rand, Mat and Perrin are obviously worried. He listens intently, along with everyone else, when Moiraine returns and tells them what she has learned from Padan Fain (TEotW, Ch. 46; Ch. 47).

• The next day, Loial rides with the others towards the Blightborder, accompanied by Ingtar and a hundred men in case they run into a Trolloc raid. At the border, Ingtar and his men leave them, and they travel into the Blight alone. Loial is uncomfortable in the heat of the Blight, as his home, Stedding Shangtai, is located in the cool mountains. As they continue to ride onwards, Loial is disgusted by the desecration of the land (TEotW, Ch. 48).

• They camp that night near the Seven Towers of Malkier. Loial pulls out a book. He is the first to go to sleep that night (TEotW, Ch. 48).

• In the morning, they continue on towards the Mountains of Dhoom. They are attacked by the trees and by Worms, but manage to repel the attacks. When Lan says that the Worms will not follow them into the mountains because they are afraid of what lives in the high passes, Loial moans aloud, knowing that there's worse to come (TEotW, Ch. 49).

• Just as Loial and the others are about to be attacked by more Worms, the land around them changes into the Green Man's garden. The Green Man calls Loial "little brother", and says that they will sing the Treesongs together, remember the Great Trees and the stedding, and keep the Longing at bay (TEotW, Ch. 49).

• When Loial, Moiraine, Lan, Egwene, Nynaeve, Rand, Perrin and Mat see the Eye of the World for the first time, Loial wonders aloud about why it was made (TEotW, Ch. 50).

• When Moiraine yells at Rand, Mat, Perrin, Egwene and Loial to run from Aginor, Rand sees Loial running into the trees (TEotW, Ch. 50).

• When Rand has returned from fighting Ba'alzamon, Nynaeve tells him that Mat, Perrin and Loial all wanted to look for him when he disappeared, but Moiraine told them that Rand mustn't be disturbed (TEotW, Ch. 52).

• Loial goes into the cavern of the Eye of the World with Lan, Mat and Perrin while they wait for Rand to return. There, they find the Horn of Valere, the Dragon Banner, and a broken seal from the Dark One's prison. When they join Moiraine, Nynaeve, Egwene and Rand outside again, Loial is carrying the large golden chest that houses the Horn of Valere. Loial asks Rand what happened to him and why he was gone for so long, and Rand lies, saying that he ran until he fell down a hill, hit his head on a rock and fell unconscious (TEotW, Ch. 52).

• Loial reads aloud the inscription on the Horn of Valere: "Tia mi aven Moridin isainde vadin", "The grave is no bar to my call". He then helps Lan unroll the Dragon Banner; when Moiraine tells them what it is, he almost drops his end (TEotW, Ch. 53).

• Loial is disturbed by the death of the Green Man. Early the next morning before the group leaves the Green Man's garden for the return journey to Fal Dara, Loial sings to the oak tree that marks the Green Man's grave. By the time he is done, the sun is well over the horizon. He says that he has never sung so hard in his life (TEotW, Ch. 53).

• They travel for the rest of the day, camp that night and travel again the next day. When they reach the Fal Dara keep in the late afternoon, Ingtar welcomes them all back (TEotW, Ch. 53).

• Upon their return, Moiraine tells Ingtar to bring them all to Lord Agelmar, Loial carrying the golden chest of the Horn of Valere with him. There, they hear about the battle at Tarwin's Gap and show Agelmar the Horn of Valere (TEotW, Ch. 53).

The Great Hunt

• When Rand is trying to avoid meeting the Amyrlin Seat in Fal Dara, he runs into Loial watching a group of men playing dice. When he sees Rand, Loial tells him that the men will not let him play with them; they just say "Glory to the Builders" and refuse to bet against him. Loial doesn't think it's fair. Rand suddenly remembers that the Ogier built Fal Dara, and asks Loial if he knows any way out aside from through the gates. Loial replies that the Ogier built Mafal Dadaranel, the city that once stood where Fal Dara now stands, but not Fal Dara. Rand seems desperate to find a way out of the city, and Loial, worried that Rand is sick, calls for Mat and Perrin. Rand, afraid of Mat, Perrin and Loial learning that he is the Dragon Reborn and afraid of hurting his friends if they accompany him out of Fal Dara, is very harsh with them all. Mat, upset at the way Rand is acting, yells at Loial when he begins to talk about ta'veren. When Mat and Perrin leave Rand, Rand yells at Loial to go after them, that he is no use to him if he doesn't know a way out of Fal Dara. At first, Loial's eyes look hurt, but the hurt quickly turns to anger (TGH, Ch. 3).

• Mat, Perrin and Loial tell Egwene what Rand said to them. Egwene tells Rand that she knows what he is trying to do, and that it is foolish (TGH, Ch. 3).

• Loial is to accompany Rand, Mat, Perrin and the Shienaran soldiers on their hunt for the stolen Horn of Valere. Rand sees that Loial's saddlebags are full of books for the trip. Loial stops his horse a little ways away from Rand and looks at him uncertainly. Rand apologizes to him, Mat and Perrin for what he said, but Loial is the only one of the three to forgive him (TGH, Ch. 9).

• Before the hunters for the Horn of Valere leave, Siuan says farewell to Ingtar, and to Loial, saying "Glory to the Builders, Loial Kiseran (Builder)" (TGH, Ch. 9).

• Loial rides at the head of the column of hunters with Ingtar, Mat and Perrin (TGH, Ch. 9).

• That night, they camp in the forest. Loial eats with Ingtar, Rand, Mat and Perrin (TGH, Ch. 10).

• The next day, they travel on, but find nothing, and it same for the following days as well. Eventually, they reach the River Erinin (TGH, Ch. 10).

• On the night when Mat and Perrin find out that Rand is the Dragon Reborn, Loial sleeps next to Rand and Hurin near a Portal Stone (TGH, Ch. 11).

• During the night, Loial, Rand and Hurin are transported by the Portal Stone into a mirror world of their own. Rand, seeing that everyone else is gone, awakens Loial and Hurin. Loial thinks he knows what has happened; he remembers reading a few pages of an old book, and one of the pages had a drawing of a Portal Stone. He thinks that the Stone can be used to travel to other worlds that might have been. Loial is confused when Rand tries to use the Portal Stone to take them back to their world, since the Aes Sedai in the Age of Legends used the One Power on the Portal Stones, and Loial still doesn't know who Rand is (TGH, Ch. 13).

• Loial, Rand and Hurin begin to follow the trail of the Darkfriends, which Hurin can still smell, although it is much fainter. Rand finds that things look normal in the mirror world except when you turn your head, and then things that appear distant from the corner of your eye rush towards you. Like Rand, Loial seems disoriented by this (TGH, Ch. 13).

• They continue to travel throughout the day. Loial rides slumped in his saddle, muttering to himself. After half the morning has passed, Loial leaves his saddle and moves towards a stand of trees. He places his hands on the trunk of one of the trees and begins to sing. Singing, he creates a long quarterstaff. He tells Rand and Hurin that this place makes him feel he needs a weapon. They travel on (TGH, Ch. 15).

• They stop to eat as the sun touches the horizon and set up camp for the night. Loial and Hurin sleep while Rand takes the first watch (TGH, Ch. 15).

• The next morning, they ride on. Loial seems concerned about Rand's hand, onto which a heron was branded the night before, when Ba'alzamon visited Rand while Loial and Hurin slept. As they ride, Loial is once again lost in his own thoughts. After an hour of riding, they see a spire in the distance; Loial doesn't know what it is, but Hurin thinks that it might be a monument to Artur Hawkwing that he has heard about, which makes no sense because it was torn down a thousand years ago, and it was supposed to be three or four days away from where they were (TGH, Ch. 16).

• When they reach the spire, they find that it is not Artur Hawkwing's monument. There is a raven carved into the top, and some symbols of the Trollocs. Rand is confused, since Ingtar told them that Artur Hawkwing won a victory over the Trollocs in this spot. Loial thinks that, since this is a different world, perhaps they are seeing a world that could have happened, but didn't. Loial also figures out that time moves differently in this world; they can see Kinslayer's Dagger off in the distance, but it is supposed to lie more than a hundred leagues south of the River Erinin (TGH, Ch. 16).

• Suddenly, Loial, Rand and Hurin hear a woman scream to the south of them. They ride towards the sound, and see a woman being attacked by a huge creature (a grolm, they are later told). Rand kills the creature, and they meet the woman, Selene (Lanfear in disguise) (TGH, Ch. 16).

• They ride on, now in the company of Selene. Selene speaks with Rand for some time, and then drops back to ride next to Loial. Loial becomes very wrapped up in whatever he is talking about with Selene. After a while, Loial goes to ride with Rand, and tells Rand what Selene has told him about Portal Stones (TGH, Ch. 16).

• The group continues to ride, getting closer to the Portal Stone that Selene says brought her into this world. Before they reach it, they see a pack of grolm chasing after them. Rand manages to kill all of the grolm, but there are more approaching and they hurry towards the Portal Stone. Loial throws aside his quarterstaff, as it is only slowing him down and will be of no use against the grolm (TGH, Ch. 16; Ch. 17).

• When Rand uses the Portal Stone to return them all to their own world, at the edge of Kinslayer's Dagger, Loial looks stunned. They figure out that they are ahead of Fain and his Trollocs, who have the Horn of Valere and Mat's ruby dagger. They decide to wait and see if they can catch Fain (TGH, Ch. 17).

• They wait for days, but find nothing until one night, Hurin sees a fire down in the hills. The fire is quite small and hidden, but it is hidden only from those following the makers, not from those ahead. Rand realizes that it must be Fain, and decides to go check it out, telling Loial and Hurin to stay and guard Selene. Selene replies that she can take care of herself, and that Rand should take Loial with him (TGH, Ch. 19).

• Rand and Loial make it to Fain's camp and sneak in. Rand takes the dagger and Loial takes the Horn, which is still in its chest. Fain wakes up just as they are leaving, and Rand and Loial are attacked by Trollocs. Rand tells Loial to run and kills the Trollocs. Loial fastens the chest onto his horse, and runs beside it back to Selene and Hurin. They get ready to ride to Cairhien (TGH, Ch. 19).

• They travel towards Cairhien through the night, stopping only to let the horses rest at dawn, as well as Loial, since he is running while his horse carries the chest containing the Horn of Valere. They travel through the next day, as well (TGH, Ch. 20).

• Eventually, they reach the village of Tremonsien and stop at an inn named the Nine Rings for the night. They eat dinner and then go to the rooms that the innkeeper has given them, Selene in one and Loial, Rand and Hurin in another. Loial carries the chest of the Horn of Valere up to their room (TGH, Ch. 20; Ch. 21).

• The next morning, they find that Selene has left them and intends to meet them again in the city of Cairhien. Loial, Rand and Hurin set off for Cairhien, with Loial once again running beside his horse and the Horn of Valere (TGH, Ch. 21).

• They reach the city of Cairhien. They decide to stay at an inn named The Defender of the Dragonwall. They go to their rooms, Rand in one and Loial and Hurin in another through a connecting door. Rand decides to go out to the Foregate and Hurin wants to go down to the common room for a drink. Loial stays in his room to guard the Horn of Valere, not wanting to run into any Ogier, in case they have had word from Stedding Shangtai about a runaway (TGH, Ch. 25).

• After Rand learns that Thom is in Cairhien, he takes Loial to meet him while Hurin watches the Horn of Valere. They go to an inn named the Bunch of Grapes, where Thom is staying. They wait for Thom in his and Dena's room, and when Thom finally shows up, Rand introduces Loial to him. Rand and Loial tell Thom about the Horn of Valere. Rand tries to talk Thom into helping them, but he refuses. Rand asks Loial if he can talk to Thom alone, and Loial leaves the room and goes to play dice in the common room while he waits for Rand. He wins most of the games, until Dena joins, and then she wins all of Loial's winnings right back (TGH, Ch. 26; Ch. 27).

• Loial and Rand begin to make their way back to The Defender of the Dragonwall. Along the way, they are attacked by a Trolloc who is disguised as a puppet being led by five men with poles, but Rand kills it. They are about to hurry back to the inn, knowing that Hurin is alone, when another Trolloc attacks Rand from behind. Loial tears the Trolloc away from Rand. Loial manages to kill it, and then confides to Rand that he has never killed before. They can see another Trolloc coming towards them, but it hasn't spotted them yet. They continue back towards their inn, but there are many other Trollocs in the streets. Everywhere they turn, there seems to be another one, and they cannot get back to the inn. Rand sees a large manor on a hill about a mile away and thinks that it can withstand Trollocs and might shelter them, but Loial tells him that it is an Illuminator Chapter House and would probably not let the King of Cairhien himself within. Selene shows up again. Rand decides that, in order to escape the Trollocs, they will have to sneak into the Illuminators chapter house (TGH, Ch. 27).

• They reach the wall that surrounds the chapter house. Loial can see Trollocs running towards them in the distance. They find a door in the wall and go through it. Loial tells Rand that Illuminators kill intruders, so they are faced with danger on both sides. As they are sneaking between two racks of fireworks, Loial accidentally brushes up against one of the racks and sets off a firework. Luckily, they are not caught, but shortly after, Loial sees that some of the Trollocs have also managed to sneak into the chapter house. They eventually manage to get out, with Rand setting off some more fireworks, killing the Trollocs. Selene has disappeared again, so Loial and Rand go back to their inn alone (TGH, Ch. 27).

• Rand, anxious about the decision he has to make between seemingly aligning himself with either Barthanes or Galldrian, goes out to check at the guardhouse whether Ingtar has entered the city yet; Loial goes with him. On the way, they speak of leaving Cairhien, but know that if they do, they will be easy prey for the Trollocs. Upon reaching the guardhouse, they learn that Ingtar has not entered the city (TGH, Ch. 30).

• As Loial and Rand walk back to their inn, they see a fire up ahead, and, running towards the inn, find that The Defender of the Dragonwall has been set on fire. They hurry up towards their room, even though people try to stop them. Rand wants Loial to stay behind, but Loial insists that Rand cannot carry Hurin and the chest outside, and he also doesn't want his books to burn. When they reach the room that Loial and Hurin shared, it is to find that Hurin is sprawled on the floor and that the Horn of Valere is gone. They manage to get Hurin out, though Loial has to let his books burn. When they get outside, it is to find that Ingtar has finally found them (TGH, Ch. 30).

• Now reunited with Ingtar, Mat, Perrin and Verin, Loial goes to get his, Rand and Hurin's horses, and they ride towards the Foregate, where the newcomers are staying at an inn named The Great Tree (TGH, Ch. 31).

• That night, Loial is reading in the private dining room that Verin has procured. When Rand tells the others how he, Loial and Hurin got so far ahead of them, Loial pretends to be still reading, but it is obvious that he is listening. After they eat dinner, Loial returns to his reading. When Hurin returns from trying to find the trail of the Trollocs, he informs the group that they are hiding in Barthanes' manor. It is decided that they will use Rand's invitation from Barthanes' to get into the manor and steal back the Horn and the dagger (TGH, Ch. 31).

• Loial, Rand, Mat, Hurin, Verin, Ingtar, Uno and ten Shienaran escorts go to Lord Barthanes' manor. After having met Barthanes, Loial tells Rand that he can feel a Waygate nearby. When Loial leaves Rand to circulate about the room, he gathers a circle of lords and ladies before he takes ten steps. The pester him with questions as to whether the Ogier are coming back to Cairhien, and he is very glad to get away when Hurin picks up the trail of the Trollocs (TGH, Ch. 32; Ch. 33).

• When Hurin informs Rand that he has found the trail, which leads into the garden, Rand and Hurin meet up with Mat and Loial. Hurin takes them to the garden. When they reach a walled enclosure within the garden, Loial informs them that the Waygate is within. Loial boosts Rand up over the wall. Hurin and Loial join him. When Rand opens the Waygate, they find Machin Shin waiting for them. Loial manages to put the Avendesora leaf back and seal the Waygate closed. Loial lifts Rand and Hurin back over the wall, and then joins them on the other side (TGH, Ch. 33).

• They all return to their inn and discuss what they are going to do. Before they left, Barthanes gave a message to Rand, saying that Fain is waiting for him on Toman Head. Rand intends to ride there, and Loial says that he will go with him. It is decided that they will all go to Stedding Tsofu in the morning to use the Waygate there (TGH, Ch. 33).

• The next morning, they ride to Stedding Tsofu. Loial is reluctant to go, since he is afraid that he will be sent back to Stedding Shangtai. When they reach their destination, Loial comments that it feels good to be back inside a stedding. Soon after entering the stedding, they meet a young Ogier woman named Erith who leads Loial, Rand, Mat, Perrin, Verin, Ingtar and Hurin deeper within the stedding while the rest of the Shienarans wait outside (TGH, Ch. 35).

• They learn that there are also three Aiel Maidens visiting the stedding; they veil at the sight of the armed men in the stedding, and almost get into a fight with Rand, Ingtar, Hurin and Perrin. Loial, Erith and Verin frantically try to get them all to put away their weapons. Eventually, an Ogier man breaks it up and takes Verin with him to see the Ogier Elders (TGH, Ch. 35).

• Erith takes Loial, Rand, Mat, Perrin, Hurin and Ingtar away to wait until the Elders have spoken with Verin. A dozen Ogier girls check up on them, bringing them food and making sure that the humans are comfortable. Before each of them leaves, she turns her attention to Loial, who answers respectfully but in very few words. When they have left, he huddles in his chair with a book. When asked about what is wrong, Loial tells his friends about the marriage customs among the Ogier: if a girl sees a boy she likes, or if a woman sees a boy that might be a good husband for her daughter, and the mother and daughter agree on a marriage, the girl's mother goes to the boy's mother and the marriage is arranged, with the male having no say in the matter. If the Elders discover that Loial is outside the stedding without permission, they will likely decide that he needs a wife to settle him down (TGH, Ch. 35).

• Juin, the Ogier man who took Verin away, comes to tell the others that the Elders would like to see them now. Loial grows more and more anxious as they are led towards the Elders. Rand suggests that he wait for them outside, saying that the Elders likely only want to speak to the humans, and Loial agrees, in relief, that he will wait for them and read. When the Elders bring up Loial's name during their meeting with the humans, Rand hurriedly says that they need Loial to go with them, and Perrin and Mat quickly agree. Verin also agrees that they will need Loial to guide them along the Ways. It is agreed that Loial can accompany them, if they take care of him and return him to Stedding Shangtai when they are done (TGH, Ch. 35; Ch. 36).

• While Loial waits for Rand, Mat, Perrin, Verin, Ingtar and Hurin, Erith speaks with him and gives him flowers. She listens very intently when he talks about Serden son of Kolom son of Radlin's theory of the Ways (TGH, Ch. 36; LoC, Ch. 49).

• When Rand, Mat, Perrin, Verin and Ingtar join Loial again, they are taken to the Waygate by Alar, the Eldest among the Ogier Elders of Stedding Tsofu. Once again, they find Machin Shin waiting. Loial seems relieved that they cannot use the Waygate, but ashamed at being relieved. Hurin suggests that they use a Portal Stone, and Alar tells them that there is a Portal Stone nearby (TGH, Ch. 36).

• Alar escorts them all to the Portal Stone. When Rand transports them to Toman Head, something goes wrong, and each person with him sees hundreds of possibilities of what their lives might have been, many of them horrible. When they finally reach Toman Head, Rand sees Loial sitting sprawled on the ground, wide-eyed and stunned. By the look of the trees, they have lost four months in the transportation (TGH, Ch. 37).

• Loial, Rand, Mat, Perrin, Verin, Ingtar, Hurin and the Shienaran soldiers ride west, away from the Portal Stone (TGH, Ch. 37).

• Three days after arriving on Toman Head, the group is riding towards Falme in the rain. Loial continually checks on the books in his saddlebags (TGH, Ch. 41).

• They spend the night at an inn in a deserted village that was attacked by the Seanchan. They discuss what they are going to do. Ingtar wants to have Hurin search around for a trail, while Rand wants to go straight to Falme. Loial tells Rand that he will go wherever Rand goes, but that he still thinks they should wait a few days before going to Falme (TGH, Ch. 41).

• Loial is in a camp with Rand, Verin, Ingtar and the Shienaran soldiers while Perrin, Mat and Hurin are out searching for Fain's trail. Loial is reading. When Perrin, Mat and Hurin come back with news that Hurin has found the trail, it is decided that five people will go to Falme to recover the Horn and dagger, in accordance with the Karaethon Cycle ("five will ride forth"). Ingtar and Hurin will go, along with Mat and Rand. Perrin also volunteers, with Loial volunteering just a second behind; Verin decides that, because Perrin spoke first, he will go. Loial argues that if the Horn is still in the chest, he can carry it, but Verin says that he would attract too much attention (TGH, Ch. 44).

• After the Horn and dagger have been recovered and Rand has battled Ba'alzamon for the second time, Loial, Rand, Min, Moiraine, Lan and the Shienaran soldiers travel away from Falme. When Rand awakens five days east of Falme, he sees Loial reading a book named "To Sail Beyond the Sunset". When Rand tells Loial that he is glad he stayed, Loial replies that even though Rand is obviously more ta'veren than Loial knew, Rand is still his friend (TGH, Ch. 49).

The Dragon Reborn

• Loial stays the winter in the Mountains of Mist with Perrin, Rand, Moiraine, Lan, Min and the Shienaran soldiers (TDR, Ch. 1).

• When Perrin brings Leya, a Tuatha'an woman, back to the camp to speak with Moiraine, he sees Loial reading a book. When Loial hears Perrin and Min talking about the Tuatha'an, he joins them. Min tells Loial about Leya's arrival in the camp. When Min complains about ta'veren, Loial goes off on a spiel about how ta'veren works, and then confesses that he is thinking of writing a book on Rand, Mat and Perrin (TDR, Ch. 1).

• After Rand accidentally causes the earth to shake using saidin, Perrin sees Loial helping the Shienarans rebuild a collapsed hut. Loial, Uno and Lan join Perrin, Min and Moiraine, and Moiraine tells them the news that Leya has brought her: there is much fighting on Almoth Plain, and the Whitecloaks have five thousand men on Almoth Plain. However, all of the Dragonsworn on Almoth Plain have not been destroyed; the Whitecloaks are avoiding all groups of fifty or more together. Loial suggests that perhaps Rand can go speak to the Dragonsworn as he wishes, but Lan thinks that it is a Whitecloak plot (TDR, Ch. 3).

• Trollocs attack the camp. Loial participates in the battle, using a quarterstaff the size of a fence rail as his weapon (TDR, Ch. 5).

• That night, Loial goes to see Rand. Rand asks him for pen, paper and ink. Unbeknown to Loial, Rand uses them to write a farewell note before he sneaks out of the camp (TDR, Ch. 6).

• Early the next morning, when it is discovered that Rand has left the camp, Perrin, Loial and Min meet with Moiraine and Lan. They talk about why Rand has left, with Loial trying to calm Perrin down when he demands answers of Moiraine. They talk about the dream that Perrin has had about Callandor, and Moiraine realizes that Rand must be heading to the Stone of Tear. While they wait for Lan to question the Shienarans outside about whether they have had the same dream, Loial pulls out a book. When Lan returns with the information that half the Shienarans remember dreaming the same thing, Moiraine decides that she, Lan, Perrin and Loial will follow Rand to Tear. They will leave before midday (TDR, Ch. 6).

• Loial, Perrin, Moiraine and Lan travel through the Mountains of Mist for many days. Sometimes at night, Perrin and Loial catch fish for dinner. Moiraine seems to be manipulating the two of them into doing the chores and little tasks that she asks of them, and Perrin thinks that she is trying to get them into the habit of doing whatever she says (TDR, Ch. 7).

• Eventually they leave the Mountains of Mist behind and reach the forested foothills of Ghealdan. Soon they are noticing farms and other signs of civilization (TDR, Ch. 7).

• They reach the village of Jarra. They pay for a meal and rooms at the inn, Harilin's Leap. Loial's appearance causes quite a stir. They learn that quite a few odd things have been happening (many weddings, strange behavior from Whitecloaks) in Jarra. Simion, a man who works at the inn, wants to know if Moiraine will help his brother, Noam, who is ill. Perrin replies that he will ask her, and suggests that Loial keep Simion company while he does so. When Perrin leaves the two of them, he hears Loial asking Simion what he knows about trees. When Perrin and Moiraine go looking for them, they find them in Loial's room. Loial is telling Simion about the stedding, while Simion looks at Loial in wonder (TDR, Ch. 7; Ch. 8).

• They travel on from Jarra towards Tear. Moiraine has been pushing them hard, and Loial has had to give up reading as he rides, after having found himself a mile behind everyone due to his immersion in a book. They stop at many villages and towns, including Sidon, Willar, Samaha, Tallan and Fyall (TDR, Ch. 33).

• They stop in the town of Remen, which Lan comments has seen an eventful day or two. This time, instead of people being frightened by Loial's appearance, he hears awed whispers of "Ogier" and looks quite pleased about it. Loial, Perrin, Moiraine and Lan see that there is a man dressed in grays and browns (an Aielman) in a cage in the town square. There are children throwing stones at him, which makes Loial angry. They go to the inn, the Wayland's Forge. There, they learn that there are Hunters of the Horn staying at the inn as well. They are shown to their rooms (TDR, Ch. 33; Ch. 34).

• Loial joins Perrin in his room at the Wayland's Forge. He is very excited to have found an Ogier-sized bed made of sung wood in his room. After exclaiming about it, Loial goes down to supper (TDR, Ch. 34).

• After Perrin sets the Aielman, Gaul, free and they kill a group of Whitecloaks that attacks them, Perrin and Lan hurry to inform Moiraine and Loial that they must leave immediately. Perrin finds Loial in his room, writing notes for his book. Perrin tells him to meet the others at the stable as quickly as he can and not to let anyone see him. As they sneak out of Remen, Loial comments to Perrin that it is just like old times, "sneaking away in the night, with enemies behind us, and maybe enemies ahead, and danger in the air, and the cold tang of adventure" (TDR, Ch. 35).

• Loial, Perrin, Moiraine and Lan board a ship named the Snow Goose, which is headed for Illian. Faile is also on this ship. As Perrin looks for his room, he finds Loial scribbling notes down for his book. Loial wants to discuss the past day with Perrin, but Perrin is too tired (TDR, Ch. 35; Ch. 36).

• During the journey to Illian, Loial stays in his room whenever Moiraine and Faile are on deck together because of the tension between them (TDR, Ch. 41).

• The ship reaches Illian. Loial is the last to get off the ship, not having realized that they had arrived as he was in his room rereading his notes (TDR, Ch. 41).

• Loial, Perrin, Faile, Moiraine and Lan ride through Illian. Loial is fearful of running into other Ogier. Perrin comforts him by saying that Moiraine would not let the Ogier take him away. Still, Loial seems uncomfortable in the city. He thinks that something is wrong, and Perrin and Moiraine agree (TDR, Ch. 42).

• They stop at an inn in Illian named Easing the Badger. They eat dinner, after which Loial begins to read. Six Gray Men attack the group, and almost go unnoticed; when Perrin suddenly yells out, Loial snatches up his chair like a club and then embarrassedly sets it down once the Gray Men are dead (TDR, Ch. 42).

• When Lan goes outside to look around he asks for Perrin and Loial's help, saying that they might see something that he misses. After Lan finds Darkhound tracks, he tells Loial, Perrin and Faile to go back inside and get some sleep, as they will likely not be spending the entire night in Illian and have hard riding ahead of them. The three of them separate inside the inn, Loial saying that at least dreams will be better than lying awake (TDR, Ch. 43).

• When Moiraine returns and tells the others that Sammael is in Illian, they hurry to get ready to leave. Perrin meets Loial on the way down the stairs, trying to stuff a wood-bound book into his saddlebags while putting his cloak on. They all get their horses and begin to ride out of Illian. They hear Darkhounds chasing them in the distance, and Loial wonders aloud why he ever left the stedding (TDR, Ch. 44).

• They find a good place to stand and fight the Darkhounds. Lan tells Loial and Faile to hold the horses and make sure they do not get away. Moiraine balefires the Darkhounds and they ride on (TDR, Ch. 44).

• Loial, Perrin, Faile, Moiraine and Lan arrive in the city of Tear. They stay at an inn named the Star. Moiraine and Lan leave to scout out Tear, and Perrin goes to his room, leaving Loial and Faile alone (TDR, Ch. 50).

• Moiraine tells Loial, Perrin and Faile that Be'lal is in Tear. Loial once again bemoans the fact that he ever left the stedding, and Moiraine tells him that he can leave and go back to Stedding Shangtai if he wishes. Loial ends up deciding to stay, as he has many more notes to take for his book and he doesn't want to leave Perrin and Rand. She later asks Loial what he knows of Be'lal. Loial tells what he knows, which is not much, but Moiraine says that it is still helpful and thanks him. Moiraine and Lan decide that they will be the only ones to go into the Stone of Tear to fight Be'lal, while Loial, Perrin and Faile will stay behind (TDR, Ch. 50).

• Moiraine tells Perrin and Faile that they and Loial are to go to Tar Valon until everything in Tear is over so that they will be safe, but they never get the chance to leave (TDR, Ch. 53).

• When Faile is trapped in Tel'aran'rhiod by the hedgehog ter'angreal and Perrin goes after her, Perrin asks Loial to guard their bodies. Loial replies that no one will pass him while he lives (TDR, Ch. 53).

The Shadow Rising

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• After everything is over in the Stone, Loial runs into an Ogier in Tear who is from his stedding, and he has no doubt that Laefar will tell his mother where he is (TSR, Ch. 16).

• While the Stone of Tear is attacked by Trollocs and Myrddraal, Loial gathers as many children as he can, as well as some of their mothers, into a large room and holds the door against the Shadowspawn throughout the entire battle. He is hurt, receiving a hit to the head and a heavy limp to his walk. After the battle, women from the Stone send him all sorts of flowers for his courage and faithfulness (TSR, Ch. 16).

• After hearing a rumor about Whitecloaks in the Two Rivers, Perrin decides that he will travel back to the Two Rivers using the Ways. Knowing that Loial wishes to be out of Tear in case his mother knows where he is, Perrin thinks that Loial will agree to guide him through the Ways (TSR, Ch. 14).

• Faile visits Loial and makes him promise to take her anywhere she wants, before anyone else, and that if anyone wants to accompany them, they must ask her, because she is angry that Perrin refuses to take her through the Ways to the Two Rivers with him (TSR, Ch. 16).

• The next morning, Perrin goes to Loial's rooms. Perrin learns that Loial has been up half the night writing notes for his book. He asks Loial to guide him through the Ways to the Two Rivers, but Faile reminds Loial of his promise. Loial is very upset when Faile refuses to relent and Perrin refuses to ask Faile if he can accompany her and Loial through the Ways. In the end, Perrin decides that he will follow Loial and Faile through the Ways. They will leave in two hours (TSR, Ch. 16).

• Perrin and Gaul meet Loial, Faile, Bain and Chiad at the Dragonwall Gate. Perrin notices that Loial's limp seems better. They ride through the streets of Tear and the surrounding landscape and eventually reach the Waygate and enter the Ways (TSR, Ch. 18).

• They travel through the Ways, with Perrin and Gaul trailing behind Loial, Faile, Bain and Chiad. When Faile gets angry at Perrin and slaps him, causing Perrin to seize her by the scruff of the neck, Loial tries to intervene, which makes Faile furious (TSR, Ch. 27).

• They finally reach the Manetheren Waygate. Just before they exit the Ways, they are attacked by Trollocs. Loial uses his pole-lantern as a weapon. He takes an injury to his thigh. They have a moment's respite, and then are attacked by a Fade. Gaul, Bain and Chiad attack it, and Perrin lands the killing blow with his hammer. They can hear more Trollocs in the distance. As Loial opens the Waygate, they suddenly hear Machin Shin in the distance. Loial insists on being last out of the Ways. He locks the Waygate, placing the key from inside, the Avendesora leaf, on the outside so that the Trollocs cannot follow them (TSR, Ch. 27).

• Faile tends everyone's wounds and they camp for the night. Faile insists on two camps once again, though Loial says that now he has taken Faile through the Ways, his oath to her is done with and they should camp as one. Perrin tells Loial to leave it alone, since Faile remains stubborn about it. Loial moves as if to join Perrin and Gaul's camp, but Perrin waves him back. Faile, Bain and Chiad talk into the night, but their talk obviously embarrasses Loial, as he sits as far from them as he can while still being in the light of their campfire and tries to bury himself in a book (TSR, Ch. 27; Ch. 28).

• Loial, Perrin, Gaul, Faile, Bain and Chiad travel for three days through the Westwood. Loial rides with Faile, Bain and Chiad at Perrin's request, though the situation seems to upset him (TSR, Ch. 29).

• Before entering Emond's Field, they camp the night near Tam and Rand's ruined farm. Early the next morning, Perrin and Gaul leave before Faile and Loial awaken, though one of the Aiel women, Perrin is not sure which, is on watch and sees them leave (TSR, Ch. 29).

• Loial, Faile, Bain and Chiad follow Perrin and Gaul to Emond's Field. While Faile, Bain and Chiad enter the common room of the Winespring Inn to speak with Perrin and Master al'Vere and Mistress al'Vere, Loial waits in the kitchen. When Marin sees him later, she almost faints. When Perrin and Faile enter the kitchen, they see Loial drinking tea and eating, trying to put Marin at ease by complimenting her baking. Loial sympathizes with Perrin over the loss of his family, and offers to sing to the apple trees that they are buried beneath (TSR, Ch. 29; Ch. 30).

• Perrin lays out his plans for rescuing the Cauthons and Luhhans and tells Loial that he understands if Loial wishes to leave, as he will not be able to write much of a book about the Dragon Reborn while in the Two Rivers. Loial replies that he thinks it is the same fight, and perhaps he will have a chapter in his book on Perrin (TSR, Ch. 30).

• When Marin takes Loial, Perrin, Gaul, Faile, Bain and Chiad out to hide in the old sickhouse, Loial wears his cloak with the hood up in an attempt to avoid having attention drawn to him. When they reach their hiding place, they learn that two Aes Sedai, Verin and Alanna, are also hiding there with their Warders, Tomas and Ihvon. They all talk for some time about why Alanna and Verin are in the Two Rivers, and about the Trollocs. Tam and Abell appear, and are amazed at the sight of Loial (TSR, Ch. 30; Ch. 31).

• Loial wants to accompany Perrin when he goes to scout out the Whitecloak camp, but Abell and Tam tell him that he will attract too much attention. Perrin pulls Loial aside and asks him to keep an eye on Alanna, who is also staying behind (TSR, Ch. 32).

• After returning from hunting Trollocs, Perrin learns that Loial, along with everyone else, including the Aes Sedai and the rescued prisoners, is now in Emond's Field at the Winespring Inn. Loial asks Faile to tell Perrin that Alanna vanished twice (TSR, Ch. 40).

• Having learned that the Waygate is open again, Perrin asks for Loial and learns that Loial is helping clear trees along the edges of the Westwood as a defense against the Trollocs. Dav Ayellin says that Loial acts as if he is cutting down his brother every time he cuts down a tree, but still clears three times as many as each of the men does. When Loial returns, Perrin tells him about the Waygate being unlocked. Loial wants to go up to the Waygate to remove both Avendesora leaves from it, which will cause the Waygate to die, but Perrin protests, knowing that there are Trollocs near there. When Perrin collapses due to his injury from fighting Trollocs, Loial carries him into the Winespring Inn. While Alanna pulls out the arrow so that she can Heal him, Loial holds Perrin's shoulders down (TSR, Ch. 43).

• When Perrin awakens after having been Healed, Faile tells him that Loial and Gaul have gone to take care of the Waygate (TSR, Ch. 44).

• Loial returns to Emond's Field in the night, carrying an injured Gaul. Loial tells Perrin that four days ago, they closed the Waygate, and that it will now take an Ogier Elder or an Aes Sedai to open it again. Loial had to carry Gaul most of the way from the Mountains of Mist, with a Myrddraal and fifty Trollocs chasing them the first three days before Loial outran them. Loial also brings the news that there are still several thousand Trollocs in the Two Rivers, and perhaps fifty Myrddraal (TSR, Ch. 53).

• Everyone goes back to the Winespring Inn to rest. Later that night, Perrin sees Loial in the kitchen frantically writing down notes. When Loial overhears Perrin asking Faile to go to Caemlyn for help against the Trollocs, really just wanting to get her somewhere safe, Loial asks Faile if she can take his notes with her to keep them safe (TSR, Ch. 53).

• When Perrin and Faile get married that same night, Loial and Aram stand for Perrin. According to custom, Loial threads a red ribbon through Faile's hair while Bain tucks one around Perrin's neck (TSR, Ch. 53).

• Loial stays to fight in the big battle against the Trollocs, even though Perrin had told him he could sneak out after Faile so that he could go to Caemlyn and safety. During the battle, he uses two wood axes as weapons and fights ferociously (TSR, Ch. 56).

• After the Trollocs are defeated, Perrin sees that Loial is still among the living, though his ears are drooping wearily (TSR, Ch. 56).

The Fires of Heaven

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There is no relevant reference to Loial in this book.

Lord of Chaos

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• Several months later, Loial is still in the Two Rivers with Perrin and Faile. Faile thinks to herself that it has only been a few months since the mothers in the Two Rivers were terrified for their children's safety when they would flock to Loial in wonder, but now, they send their children to Loial to read to them (LoC, Prologue).

• Loial has been out of the stedding for more than five years now (LoC, Ch. 20).

• Loial leaves the Two Rivers with Perrin and Faile to travel to Caemlyn (LoC, Ch. 45).

• While Perrin and Faile go on to Caemlyn, Loial makes a detour to an abandoned stedding that Perrin knows of, north of the road from Whitebridge, because he is feeling tired and has been gone from the stedding for too long. Before they part ways, he bets Perrin a gold crown that he will be in Caemlyn only ten days after Perrin and Faile (LoC, Ch. 45).

• Loial arrives in Caemlyn less than ten days after Perrin, winning the bet. Loial learns that his mother, Erith and Elder Haman were in Caemlyn and realizes that his mother means to marry him to Erith. He becomes very distressed, claiming that he will be dragged back to the stedding and that he'll never be able to finish his book (LoC, Ch. 49).

• Rand tells Loial that he needs someone to find all the Waygates and talk to the Ogier Elders about guarding them. Perrin becomes angry, saying that Loial has just arrived and needs to rest, and Loial has to break up their arguing. Min arrives with the news that the Salidar Aes Sedai embassy is on their way to the palace to speak with Rand, and Rand leaves Loial, Perrin and Min in the courtyard in which they were talking. When Min later follows Rand against his request that she stay with Perrin and Loial, Loial protests but Min goes anyway (LoC, Ch. 49).

• When Rand learns from Min that there are now thirteen Aes Sedai in Caemlyn, he decides that he is going to Cairhien and has Perrin, Faile and Loial sent for. When Rand reaches Perrin's rooms, he finds Perrin, Faile, Loial, Gaul, Bain and Chiad waiting for him. When he announces his intentions to Travel to Cairhien, Loial goes running off and returns with his belongings. Before they leave, Loial writes a letter to Erith and gives it to Mistress Harfor to deliver if she gets the chance (LoC, Ch. 49).

• After Traveling to the Sun Palace in Cairhien, Rand collapses and Loial carries him to his rooms (LoC, Ch. 49).

• Loial spends the better part of every day in the Royal Library in the Sun Palace. On one day, in an attempt to avoid Berelain, Perrin seeks Loial out; they breakfast together and then Perrin accompanies Loial to the Library (LoC, Ch. 50).

• Loial is playing stones with Faile when they and Perrin learn that Rand has disappeared, but they do not think anything of it since Nandera informs them that Rand often disappears for half a day (LoC, Ch. 51).

• Dobraine enters the room while Loial and Faile are still playing stones and wishes to speak to Perrin privately, but Perrin replies that he will not send Loial and Faile away. They learn that Lord Maringil and High Lord Meilan have been murdered. Before they can speak too long about this, Berelain enters the room carrying Rand's sword, which he left behind when he disappeared, which is very unusual. With Sulin's help, they realize that Rand has been kidnapped. Perrin announces that he will get Rand back even if he has to go after him alone, but Loial replies that Perrin will never have to go alone while he is there (LoC, Ch. 53).

• Four days after Rand's capture, two hundred Mayeners, five hundred of Dobraine's armsmen, five thousand Aielmen, a thousand Maidens and ninety-four Wise Ones set out to rescue Rand. Perrin and Loial are with them. Loial brings a long-handled axe that he found in the Sun Palace as his weapon. He leaves two letters with Faile, one for Erith and one for his mother, to be delivered if something happens to him (LoC, Ch. 54).

• Every night after the day's travel, Perrin and Loial sit talking quietly, smoking their pipes. They speak of the Aes Sedai and of what might happen. Loial thinks that there are more than six Aes Sedai ahead of them, because it would have taken more to capture Rand. After they have spoken of the Aes Sedai, Loial wants to know what it is like to be married, and Perrin talks for a while about Faile (LoC, Ch. 54).

• On their seventh day out of Cairhien, the army meets up with Perrin's Two Rivers' men, composed of three hundred archers, and the Salidar Aes Sedai embassy, containing nine Aes Sedai (LoC, Ch. 54).

• On the tenth day, they catch up with Rand's captors. The battle begins; Loial fights alongside Perrin and Aram (LoC, Ch. 54; Ch. 55).

• Loial and Perrin are among those who reach Rand before the Asha'man create a shield to keep the attackers out. Perrin is worried about their allies still without, and wants to slip out to let them know that Rand is okay and that they can retreat; Loial wants to go with him. Rand will not let them go, and has Taim attack the Shaido with his Asha'man instead (LoC, Ch. 55).

A Crown of Swords

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• In the aftermath of the battle at Dumai's Wells, Loial is uncomfortable about the Aes Sedai being held prisoner. He is also worried about the amount of tension that surrounds the warriors; he thinks that it will only take one spark to make the whole place erupt. As he, Perrin and Aram look around at all the graves, Perrin thinks he hears Loial whisper, "Light, let me never see the like again" (ACoS, Ch. 1; Ch. 2).

• Loial, Perrin and Aram ride towards the Aes Sedai and Perrin speaks with Kiruna while Loial and Aram look on. They see Rand coming towards them, and Loial wonders aloud whether Rand might tell him what went on inside the Aes Sedai camp for his book, since Loial didn't see much once the fighting began. Rand promises to tell Loial everything while it is still fresh in his memory, but only once they are back in Cairhien (ACoS, Ch. 2).

• Everyone rides through a gateway that takes them near to the city of Cairhien. Loial hopes that there won't be more fighting in the city. He tries to comfort Perrin, who is especially worried about Faile after learning that Bain and Chiad went to Dumai's Wells and did not stay behind to protect her (ACoS, Ch. 3).

• They ride from the gateway towards the city. Loial comforts Perrin about Faile's safety some more, and then mentions that Faile is not like Erith, as she can take care of herself; Loial can't wait to marry Erith and tend to her, and thinks he'd die if she changed her mind about marrying him. As soon as he says this, his mouth remains open and his eyes pop; he stammers that he never meant to say that, and that it's hardly safe to open your mouth with two ta'veren about (ACoS, Ch. 4).

• Rand leads a small delegation, including Loial, Perrin and Min, into the city of Cairhien. The enter the Sun Palace and make their way into the Grand Hall of the Sun. While Rand confronts Colavaere, Loial is busy taking notes for his book (ACoS, Ch. 4; Ch. 5).

• When Rand is done in the Grand Hall of the Sun, Loial follows him out, still trying to write down notes (ACoS, Ch. 6).

• Loial sets out to visit all of the stedding, along with an Asha'man named Karldin, to see about having the Waygates guarded. He asks Perrin if he and Faile will accompany him, but what Loial doesn't know is that Perrin has his own orders from Rand. Loial doesn't like that Rand is sending all of his friends away; Mat has already been sent away, and now him and Perrin, and next Min; apparently, when Loial was with Rand earlier, Min called and Rand sent Loial out to say that he wasn't there. Loial also says that that he isn't sure how he's going to finish his book if he's away from Rand (ACoS, Ch. 27).

The Path of Daggers

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There is no relevant reference to Loial in this book.

Winter's Heart

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There is no relevant reference to Loial in this book.

Crossroads of Twilight

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• Loial and Karldin visit all of the stedding with the exception of Stedding Shangtai, though Loial leaves messages for his own stedding in every other stedding he visits. He does what he can, asking the Elders to have the Waygates guarded, but the stedding in the Borderlands and along the Shadow Coast tell him to go home. The other stedding, however, agree to guard the Waygates (CoT, Ch. 24).

• Having finished visiting the stedding, Loial and Karldin return to the Sun Palace only to find Rand gone, a part of the Sun Palace destroyed and rumors flying everywhere. Loial is using the name Master Ledar and Karldin the name Master Underhill. In the kitchens, they ask the cooks about Rand. Sashalle and Samitsu arrive, and Samitsu guesses who Loial is. Karldin demands answers of the Aes Sedai concerning Rand, and Loial sighs heavily in relief when Samitsu tells them that Rand seemed sane when he left. Samitsu also tells them that it was Asha'man who damaged part of the Sun Palace. Karldin asks Loial what they should do now, and Loial replies that they have to find Rand, to let him know that they have done as he asked (CoT, Prologue).

• A serving woman runs into the kitchens claiming that Dobraine has been murdered, and Loial becomes very upset. He and Karldin accompany Sashalle and Samitsu up to Dobraine's rooms. Once Samitsu has Healed Dobraine, who is not dead after all, Karldin finds a note on one of the dead attackers and hands it to Loial. Loial seems very disturbed by what the note says; it says to let the bearers of the letter enter Dobraine's rooms to remove certain items, and is written in Dobraine's own hand - a forged letter. Loial seems to know what the attackers were looking for, and Sashalle claims that Loial and Karldin will not leave until they tell her (CoT, Prologue).

• Loial arrives at Lord Algarin's manor in Tear, where Rand is staying, with Logain and other Asha'man and Aes Sedai, as well as Bashere and his Saldaean soldiers (CoT, Ch. 24).

• Loial shows up in Rand's rooms and speaks to Rand and Min. Min is delighted to see him. Loial tells them about his and Karldin's journey to all of the stedding. Rand notices that Loial looks tired and gaunt, and Rand fears that he has been out of the stedding for too long. He suggests that Loial go to Stedding Shangtai, only a few days away, but Loial refuses as his mother and Erith will be there for the Great Stump that is meeting there (CoT, Ch. 24).

• Before Loial leaves so that Rand can speak to Logain and Bashere, he tells Rand about the Aes Sedai being forcibly bonded to the Asha'man, which makes Rand very angry. He insists that Loial remain while he meets with Logain and Bashere; Loial pretends to study the flames in the fireplace, sometimes glancing towards the door as if wondering if he can sneak out, while Rand yells at Logain (CoT, Ch. 24).

• After Rand has finished yelling at Logain, Bashere has some news for him; he tells him that the men who attacked Dobraine, as well as two men who ransacked his own tent, were both carrying forged notes saying that the men were allowed to remove certain items from Dobraine's room/Bashere's tent. Bashere says that it is obvious that they were looking for the seals, as he and Dobraine are the most likely candidates for guarding the seals. He suggests that, with Rand holding three seals and three already being destroyed, perhaps the Shadow holds the final seal. Loial becomes very worried that the Dark One will be set free. Rand, knowing that he can't fight the Shadow and the Seanchan at the same time, decides to send Logain, Bashere and Loial to make a truce with the Seanchan. Logain and Bashere argue, but Loial simply looks ready to faint (CoT, Ch. 24).

• Loial, Logain and Bashere meet with the Seanchan. Bashere later tells Rand that the Seanchan are amenable, but require a meeting, in person, between Rand and the Daughter of the Nine Moons (CoT, Epilogue).

Knife of Dreams

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• Loial questions Rand, taking notes for his book. He asks him questions about the fall of Illian and cleansing saidin. He complains that Rand makes him drag every detail out of him. When Logain arrives to speak to Rand, Loial continues taking notes (KoD, Ch. 18).

• A servant arrives to tell Loial that three Ogier have arrived and are looking for him, and that one of them is his mother. Loial jumps up and wonders aloud about what he is going to do. Cadsuane tells him not to keep his mother waiting, and Loial seems to take it as a command, though he moves very slowly to obey (KoD, Ch. 18).

• Loial goes to meet his mother, Elder Haman and Erith. He wants to ask either Nynaeve or Verin, as Aes Sedai, to accompany him, but they are gone by the time he works up the nerve. When me meets the other three Ogier, his mother and Elder Haman are quite put out by how long it has taken to find him, listing all the places they had to travel to, and Erith mentions how brave she thinks he is (KoD, Ch. 19).

• Elder Haman performs the wedding ceremony between Loial and Erith (KoD, Ch. 19).

• Loial learns from his mother and Elder Haman what the Great Stump is meeting about: opening the Book of Translation, which has something to do with leaving the world so that they can come to it again when the Wheel of Time turns; we are not given much more information than this. His mother is one of the Speakers who have argued for the Book being opened, while Elder Haman argued against it. Loial is very upset and decides that he wishes to speak to the Stump about not using the Book of Translation; he feels very strongly about this. Erith asks him what he would say, and Loial gives a short speech about how the Ogier have always stood up to and fought the Shadow (KoD, Ch. 19).

• As Loial finishes talking about what he would say in front of the Great Stump, he sees something moving outside the window; it is Trollocs, thousands of them. Elder Haman and Loial each take down a long-handled axe off the wall and run down the corridor yelling a warning (KoD, Ch. 19).

• When Loial sees Rand after the battle against the Trollocs, he promises Rand that he will be there for Tarmon Gai'don. Rand says that he might need Loial before the Last Battle, and asks Loial to help him with sealing the Waygates, since he can't find them all on his own (such as the one in Far Madding) but Loial mournfully replies that he can't, as he is leaving first thing the next morning. Haman claims that Loial needs weeks or months in the stedding, as he has been Outside for over five years, and Rand says that he will take them to Stedding Shangtai himself, and maybe he can convince someone there to help him. Loial makes Rand promise to tell him everything for his book once he returns. Haman then offers to help Rand with the Waygates. Loial argues that Haman needs to address the Stump, but Haman replies that he will leave that in Loial's hands, and advises him not to try for beauty in his speech, but to stick to simple eloquence (KoD, Ch. 20).

• As he promised he would, Rand takes Loial, Covril and Erith to Stedding Shangtai early the next morning (KoD, Ch. 21).

The Gathering Storm

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There is no relevant reference to Loial in this book.

Towers of Midnight

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• He speaks in favor of staying and fighting rather than opening the book of Translation and leaving the world (ToM, Header).

A Memory of Light

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• He arrives at the Caemlyn battle site, having convinced the Ogier to fight (AMoL, Ch. 7).

• He inadvertently leads an Ogier attack on a group of Trollocs (AMoL, Ch. 16).

• When the Battle moves to the Field of Merrilor, Loial and the Ogier accompany Mat when he returns to the Polov Heights (AMoL, Ch. 37).

• He survives the Battle and seeks out Mat to get his account (AMoL, Epilogue).

Strengths and Talents

Loial has the talent of being able to sing to trees (TEotW, Ch. 42). Erith mentions that Stedding Shangtai has a young Treesinger who is very talented (Loial) (TGH, Ch. 35). Apparently, he is among the best of those who can sing wood (TDR, Ch. 34).

Loial knows more things than anybody Rand has ever met, and has read more books than Rand has ever seen (TGH, Ch. 16). Sometimes, Perrin thinks that Loial has read every book ever printed (TSR, Ch. 2). He is a very good source of information throughout the series; what he says he knows, you can be sure of, for he never claims to know anything that he doesn't (TGH, Ch. 13). Aside from Ogier knowledge, like that about the Ways, he also knows a lot about the Pattern (TEotW, Ch. 36) and a lot about the Forsaken, even more than Moiraine (TDR, Ch. 50). He is also very well versed in history, knowing much about such topics as false Dragons (LoC, Ch. 54). He also knows how to read the Old Tongue (TEotW, Ch. 52).

Relationships with other Characters

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When Loial first spends time in Caemlyn, Master Gill is very hospitable to him (TEotW, Ch. 36). They play stones sometimes (TEotW, Ch. 41).

Although Rand's first reaction is to think that Loial is a Trolloc (TEotW, Ch. 36), they soon become good friends. Rand thinks that, even though Loial is young by Ogier standards, he seems as unflappable as a rock, like Tam (TEotW, Ch. 36). He cares what Loial thinks of him, as in the second book, Rand thinks to himself that he would rather die than let Mat, Perrin and Loial know that he is really the Dragon Reborn (TGH, Ch. 3). Later on in the series, Loial remains one of the few people that Rand feels he can trust (ACoS, Ch. 3). In turn, Loial likes Rand, and says that he would like him even if Rand weren't a ta'veren (TGH, Ch. 33). However, he is not in awe of Rand or frightened of him like many others are; the fact that Rand is the Dragon Reborn does not seem to phase Loial, and he sill considers Rand to be his friend (TGH, Ch. 49). In the camp of the Dragon Reborn in the third book, Loial, Moiraine, Lan, Perrin and Min are the only ones who don't stare at Rand as if he is even more than a king (TDR, Ch. 2). He is loyal to Rand, and promises to be with him at Tarmon Gai'don (KoD, Ch. 20). However, despite their friendship, Loial is aware of the changes that have been occurring in Rand; he thinks to himself that Rand is not the same man that he first met in Caemlyn, or even the man he left in Cairhien when he went to visit the stedding about the Waygates (KoD, Ch. 19). Late in the series, Rand fondly remembers his earlier days traveling with Loial and Hurin as a much less complicated time (TGS, Ch. 47).

At first, Mat refers to Loial as a "Trolloc" and is very surly when he talks to Rand about him (TEotW, Ch. 39). However, this is just the sickness inflicted by the dagger speaking; after Mat is Healed, he looks at Loial as if seeing him for the first time (TEotW, Ch. 42). Later on, Mat states that he likes Loial, though he doesn't like how Loial is always talking about ta'veren. He jokes that he can't dislike someone who dices as badly as Loial (TGH, Ch. 35). In an attempt to convince the Ogier Elders to let Loial accompany them to Falme, Mat tells the Elders, "he doesn't get in the way, and he carries his own weight" (TGH, Ch. 36). Loial is also referred to as a friend in Mat's thoughts later on in the series (WH, Ch. 18). He thinks that it will be good to see Loial again (KoD, Ch. 8).

Perrin considers Loial to be a friend (TGH, Ch. 36). Like with Rand, he is very loyal to Perrin and even puts himself into danger so as not to abandon him (TDR, Ch. 50; TSR, Ch. 56). Perrin thinks that Loial is a hero whether he wants to be or not (TSR, Ch. 56).

Loial sees Faile as someone who is very free and who shouldn't be trapped (TDR, Ch. 53). Although he likes her, he seems uncomfortable whenever she is fighting with Perrin (TSR, Ch. 16; LoC, Ch. 53).

Min seems to enjoy Loial's company and is delighted to see him again when he arrives at Lord Algarin's manor in Tear (CoT, Ch. 24).

According to Loial, Covril has always thought that her son is too hasty and in need of a wife. He is pretty sure that she was looking for a wife when he first left Stedding Shangtai (TGH, Ch. 35). She is very put out that she has had to chase after him when he runs away (KoD, Ch. 19). Even after Loial's marriage, she tries to control his life until Erith reminds her that he is married to her now (KoD, Ch. 19; Ch. 20). Loial fears her temper (KoD, Ch. 19).

Loial looks up to Elder Haman. According to him, Haman knows everything (LoC, Ch. 20). In turn, Haman thinks that Loial has the makings of a scholar, and says that Loial is a good writer (KoD, Ch. 19).

Loial thinks that Erith is beautiful and intelligent (LoC, Ch. 49). He wants to marry her, just not yet, since he thinks that she will expect him to settle down and stay at home (CoT, Ch. 24). In turn, Erith thinks that Loial is handsome and very brave (TGH, Ch. 36; LoC, Ch. 20) and refers to him as "my Loial" (LoC, Ch. 20; Ch. 21). She tells him that he is her Hero, but that if he gets himself killed, she will be very angry (KoD, Ch. 19).

Loial considers Dobraine to be a friend. He looks as much angry as saddened when he hears the false rumor that Dobraine has been murdered (CoT, Prologue).

Lan thinks that Loial is a good man (TEotW, Ch. 53).

Loial is very respectful of Moiraine (TEotW, Ch. 42). In turn, Moiraine uses Loial's knowledge to help her in her quest (TEotW, Ch. 43; TDR, Ch. 50).

Cadsuane makes Loial nervous with how she is always pinching at Rand; he fears that it will make Rand explode (KoD, Ch. 19).

In general, Loial is very wary and diffident around Aes Sedai, but Perrin thinks to himself that he does not seem to mind if there are fifty of them around him (TDR, Ch. 6; LoC, Ch. 50). He holds a deep but uneasy respect for them; even though he is almost twice as tall as most Aes Sedai, he sometimes behaves as if one might step on him if he gets in her way (ACoS, Ch. 2).

Miscellaneous

• When he first arrived in Caemlyn, all the people thought he was a Trolloc; a mob chased him all the way across the city, but the Queen's Guards saved him (TEotW, Ch. 36).

• Loial says that Elder Haman always droned on, and that the books about traveling were much more interesting, but he did listen sometimes, even though Haman claimed he didn't (TEotW, Ch. 36).

• Loial is good at playing stones (TEotW, Ch. 41).

• He has always wanted to travel (TEotW, Ch. 42).

• Loial met some Tuatha'an some years back, and they wanted to learn the songs that the Ogier sing to trees. He taught the Tuatha'an what they could learn, but the trees never listen to humans (TEotW, Ch. 42).

• As they are discussing finding the Eye of the World, Agelmar brings up the fact that so few humans ever find the Eye of the World. Moiraine replies that she has something that the others have not, and Rand thinks he sees her eyes drift towards Loial for just an instant (TEotW, Ch. 46).

• He doesn't like the heat (TEotW, Ch. 48).

• Rand thinks to himself that Loial knows so much about some things, so little about others, and seems to want to know everything (TGH, Ch. 3).

• Loial is the fastest runner in Stedding Shangtai; he once outran a horse (TGH, Ch. 10).

• Loial doesn't know much about the Game of Houses, because the Ogier don't play it (TGH, Ch. 21).

• He has never seen the Aryth Ocean (TGH, Ch. 44).

• Loial can seldom be slowed, much less stopped, when one of his enthusiasms has him in its grip (TDR, Ch. 2).

• Loial considers it a fortune, not a misfortune, to have fallen in with three ta'veren (TDR, Ch. 2).

• When Loial dreams, it is of the groves, and the Great Trees, and the stedding. He has not had the dream about Callandor (TDR, Ch. 6).

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• Loial says he has never heard of three ta'veren, all the same age and from the same place (TSR, Ch. 2).

• Perrin thinks to himself that it would be better to hit Loial on the head than harm one of his books (TSR, Ch. 16).

• Loial pities even Trollocs when they are caught by Machin Shin (TSR, Ch. 27).

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• Perrin claims that Gaul has corrupted Loial; he dices now, and bets on horse races when he can barely tell one horse from another (LoC, Ch. 49).

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• Elder Haman says that Loial writes well (KoD, Ch. 19).

Quotes

Quotes by Loial

"You humans are very excitable," Loial said in that bass rumble. "I had heard all the stories, and read the books, of course, but I didn't realize. My first day in Caemlyn, I could not believe the uproar. Children cried, and women screamed, and a mob chased me all the way across the city, waving clubs and knives and torches, and shouting, 'Trolloc!' I'm afraid I was almost beginning to get a little upset. There's no telling what would have happened if a party of the Queen's Guards hadn't come along." (Loial to Rand; The Eye of the World, Chapter 36)

"I must say," Loial said, setting the chest down, "that traveling with ta'veren has turned out to be even more interesting than I expected." His ears twitched violently. "If it becomes any more interesting, I will go back to Stedding Shangtai immediately, confess everything to Elder Haman, and never leave my books again." (Loial to Rand; The Eye of the World, Chapter 52).

"Oh." He opened the other eye, and scratched his cheek with blunt fingers the size of sausages. "I suppose... I suppose... if I have a choice... that I will stay with all of you. I have taken a great many notes, but not nearly enough to complete my book, and I would not like to leave Perrin, and Rand" (Loial to Moiraine upon being given the chance to return to Stedding Shangtai; The Dragon Reborn, Chapter 50).

Loial raised those huge hands that held books so carefully, and his thick fingers curled as if to crush stone. "None will pass me while I live, Perrin. Not Myrddraal or the Dark One himself." He said it like a simple statement of fact. (Loial to Perrin about guarding him and Faile; The Dragon Reborn, Chapter 53).

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"Gone! All gone, and for what? Grass. Once this was an Ogier grove. We did no great works here, not to compare with Manetheren, or the city you call Caemlyn, but enough that a grove was planted. Trees of every kind, from every land and place. The Great Trees, towering a hundred spans into the sky. All tended devotedly, to remind my people of the stedding they had left to build things for men. Men think it is the stonework we prize, but that is a trifling thing, learned during the Long Exile, after the Breaking. It is the trees we love. Men thought Manetheren my people's greatest triumph, but we knew it to be the grove there. Gone, now. Like this. Gone, and it will not come again." (Loial about the lost grove near the Waygate at Tear; The Shadow Rising, Chapter 18).

"Do you think I would run away? he had said when Perrin suggested he could slip off into the night after Faile. His ears had dropped with weariness and hurt. I came with you, Perrin, and I will stay until you go. And then he had laughed suddenly, a deep booming sound that almost rattled the dishes. Perhaps someone will even tell a story of me, one day. We do not go in for such things, but there could be an Ogier hero, I suppose. A joke, Perrin. I made a joke. Laugh. Come, we will tell each other jokes, and laugh, and think of Faile flying free."(Loial to Perrin before battling Trollocs; The Shadow Rising, Chapter 56)

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"Not alone," Loial said, as grimly as stone grinding. "Never alone while I am here, Perrin." Abruptly his ears shifted in embarrassment; he always seemed embarrassed when anyone saw him being brave. "After all, my book will not end very well if Rand is imprisoned in the Tower. And I can hardly write of his rescue if I am not there." (Loial to Perrin after Rand's capture; Lord of Chaos, Chapter 53)

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"That is serious, Rand. If someone breaks all the seals on the Dark One's prison, or maybe even just one or two more, the Dark One could break free. Even you can't face the Dark One! I mean, I know the Prophecies say you will, but that has to be just a way of speaking." (Loial to Rand, Logain and Bashere; Crossroads of Twilight, Chapter 24).

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"You never give enough detail, Rand. You make me drag everything out of you. Why, you never even mentioned being imprisoned in Far Madding until Min did. Never mentioned it! What did the Council of Nine say when they offered you the Laurel Crown? And when you renamed it? I can't think they liked that. What was the coronation like? Was there feasting, a festival, parades? How many Forsaken came against you at Shadar Logoth? Which ones? What did it look like at the end? What did it feel like? My book won't be very good without the details. I hope Mat and Perrin give me better answers." (Loial grilling Rand for notes for his book; Knife of Dreams, Chapter 18)

"In the War of the Shadow, we did not huddle in our stedding, hoping no Trollocs or Myrddraal would be driven to enter. We did not open the Book of Translation and flee. We marched alongside the humans and fought the Shadow. In the Trolloc Wars, we neither hid in the stedding nor opened the Book of Translation. We marched with the humans and fought the Shadow. In the darkest years, when hope seemed gone, we fought the Shadow." (Loial to Covril, Haman and Erith about not opening the Book of Translation; Knife of Dreams, Chapter 19)

"When it is the Shadow that must be fought, our axes have always grown long handles. Perhaps in a year, or five, or ten, we will open the Book of Translation, but if we do it now, we cannot run away with any real hope of safety. Tarmon Gai'don is coming, and on that hangs the fate not only of this world, but of any world we might flee to. When fire threatens the trees, we do not run away and hope that the flames will not follow us. We fight. Now the Shadow is coming like wildfire, and we dare not run from it." (Loial to Covril, Haman and Erith about not opening the Book of Translation; Knife of Dreams, Chapter 19)

"I promise you this, Rand," Loial said. "Whatever happens, I will be there with you at Tarmon Gai'don. Whatever happens." (Loial to Rand; Knife of Dreams, Chapter 20).