The Great Hunt: Chapter 44
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Author: Estyrien al'Halien
Chapter Icon: Flame of Tar Valon
Points of view: Perrin, Geofram Bornhald, Rand
Contents
Outline
Rand, Mat, Perrin, Ingtar and Hurin leave the group to go into Falme. Bornhald tells Byar not to take part in the upcoming battle and to tell Dain what happened.
Summary
Perrin's Point of View:
Setting: Toman Head
Characters: Perrin, Mat, Hurin, villagers
Perrin, Hurin and Mat ride together, dressed in clothes "they had been able to find that would fit back in the abandoned village". The village they go through is filled with villagers who "had learned not to show curiosity about strangers". Hurin is following Fain's trail, he "makes a Myrddraal smell like roses", and Fain was alone when he traveled through the village, or at least without Darkfriends. Looking round the village, Hurin tells them that violence done months ago still smells and Mat points out that "Seanchan don't seem to need a reason for killing".
They hear a disturbance in the village, "people shouting and pointing", and they take flight, expecting the Seanchan. As they get to their horses, Perrin sees that "The Children of the Light were riding into town" instead of the Seanchan but they still mount their horses and ride out of the town. Not sure if the Whitecloaks are following, Perrin reaches out to the wolves and introduces himself. After the introduction, the wolves move towards the village and tell him that no humans are following. Perrin, Hurin and Mat agree to try to pick up Fain's trail again but agree to be more careful, "It won't do any good to avoid the Whitecloaks and ride right into a Seanchan patrol".
Geofram Bornhald's Point of View:
Setting: Toman Head
Characters: Geofram Bornhald, Byar Bornhald looks at the men riding out of the village and recognizes one of them as Perrin. He ignores the riders and orders the other Children to lock the villagers in the inn with food and water. This will prevent the Seanchan from finding out where they are and gives the Whitecloaks the element of surprise. He thinks back to how "he had brought more than a thousand of the Children nearly the length of Toman Head" and the battles they had fought with the Seanchan. He thinks that Aes Sedai are on the Seanchan's side, not that they are forced to obey as damane.
Bornhald talks to Byar and orders him to not take part in the next battle with the Seanchan but to "watch from a distance, and you will carry word to my son of what happens". After he has done that, Byar is to ride to Amador and tell Pedron Niall about the combined threat of the Seanchan and the 'Aes Sedai'. Byar is to also "tell Pedron Niall how we were used by the Questioners". Byar agrees to follow the order and Bornhald promises to give him a letter to take to Niall. Bornhald also tells Byar that he saw Perrin and believes that he will take word of the Whitecloaks to the Seanchan, "a Darkfriend would surely do so". The order is given for the Whitecloaks to mount.
Rand's Point of View:
Setting: Toman Head
Characters: Rand, Loial, Ingtar, Uno, Verin, Perrin, Mat, Hurin,
Rand is practicing his sword forms in a clearing, surrounded by Ingtar, Verin, Loial and the other soldiers. Everybody in the group is tense because Hurin, Mat and Perrin are late coming back from their scouting, afraid that they have been caught. After another few minutes of waiting, the three men return and explain that they have followed Fain's trail to Falme. Perrin also says "We found Whitecloaks, too" and Ingtar explains that they might distract the Seanchan. Verin explains that the weeks it took to get to Falme have probably helped them a great deal, "The Pattern puts everything in its place precisely".
Ingtar explains that he will "take Hurin and a few others into the town" to retrieve the Horn and the dagger. Mat, Rand and Perrin agree to go with them but others are refused, "No matter how uncaring the Seanchan are about strangers, they will surely take notice of twenty soldiers". Verin explains that Loial cannot go because of the lack of Ogier on Toman Head, "You would attract as many eyes as the rest put together", and she cannot go because of the damane. Rand notices that the wheel Verin has drawn on the ground has only four spokes, one of them having been rubbed out. This refers back to part of the Karaethon Cycle that Moiraine has been told earlier in the book. "Five ride forth, four return. Above the watchers shall he proclaim himself, bannered cross the sky in fire." The five prepare to go to Falme and the others are told to follow them but slowly and not arousing any attention.
Notes
Common Themes
- Overconfidence in their own knowledge/Acting on poor information
- Bornhald still thinks of the damane as Aes Sedai and that their willingness to use the Power in battle shows the Oaths to be lies
Mysteries
- Who murdered the villagers?
- How can Verin say they might feel a man channeling?
Visions and Prophecy
- Fulfiled Prophecies
"Five will ride forth"
This is the prophecy Moiraine was told about when visting Vandene and Adeleas.
Spoilers
This section contains Notes on this Chapter which may contain spoilers. Please expand to view.
Mysteries
- Who murdered the villagers?
This was the Questioners.
- How can Verin say they might feel a man channeling?
Women cannot feel a men channeling. She might know of a ter'angreal that can do this, though when Rand later claimed he could sense Galina and Nesune, Galina outright didn't believe it possible, so Verin would be unusual in this. The Guardians in Far Madding can detect a man channeling. However, Verin said "feel" rather than "detect"
