The Dragon Reborn: Chapter 6
The Hunt Begins
Author: Val a'Shain
Characters: Perrin, Moiraine, Lan, Loial, Min, Uno, Masema.
Setting: The Mountains of Mist
Point of view: Perrin
Perrin goes to find his bed after the battle with a band of Trollocs. He is woken by Lan telling him Rand disappeared that night. Perrin gets up and walks to Moiraine's hut to find out what is going on. On his way there he is stopped by Masema wanting to know why the Dragon left his followers. Perrin thinks the signs of religious madness in Masema are disturbing.
When he arrives at Moiraine's hut he finds Moiraine, Loial and Min there already. He shares his opinion on Masema with the others but of course there are more important matters to discuss. Moiraine doesn't know yet how Rand left but the guards didn't see him go. Rand left a cryptic message mentioning his dreams. Moiraine is worried about Rand, she doesn't believe he is ready to face all the dangers the world holds for him. Perrin and Moiraine get in a decidedly unpleasant conversation about the Forsaken.
When the conversation comes back to dreams again, Uno and Lan enter. Moiraine wants to know what dreams Perrin has had. He reluctantly describes them. Moiraine immediately recognizes the Stone of Tear and Callandor from what Perrin tells her. She sends Lan and Uno out to ask about the dreams the other men in the camp had. People strong in spirit can force their dreams on others. While Lan is gone she tells them about how drawing Callandor, the sword that is not a sword, the sword that cannot be touched, is an important part of the prophecies. The prophecies say the stone of Tear will not fall until the Dragon holds Callandor. The Tairens, who want nothing to do with the One Power, placed Callandor in the Stone to prevent the Dragon from taking it. Rand will have to solve this paradox.
Lan returns with news that almost all the men in the camp shared at least part of Rand's dream. Moiraine now knows which way Rand is heading. Uno reports the valley where Rand caused an earthquake now has an other exit. He most likely left that way. Moiraine tells Uno to get his men to Ghealdan and the name of a contact there. They are in no condition for a hard ride. She tells Min to carry a message to the Amyrlin Seat for her. Min first refuses but after Moiraine insist she promises to go. The Aes Sedai asks Loial and Perrin to join her. They agree to do so.
Moiraine sends them all out of the hut to make preparations. Min asks Lan if he has a message for Nynaeve. He says he doesn't, to Min's surprise. She tells Perrin after he had made the decision to go with Moiraine she had a viewing about him. She saw a caged Aiel man, a Tinker with a sword and a falcon and a hawk, both female. She doesn't know what it means. She also warns him that if he meets the most beautiful woman he ever saw he should run as fast as his legs can carry him.
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