Rand sees Egwene and Moiraine examining something, but before he can find out what, word comes that the settlement they were planning to spend the night at has been attacked by Trollocs. There’s a whole bunch of character stuff, including a quite annoying Poor Communication Kills with Aviendha’s anger at Rand “betraying” Elayne not sorted out just by explaining why her letters were confusing, and we meet two others with the peddlers, Ms. Fanservice Isendre and gleeman Natael.
The camp is attacked by Trollocs and Fades, and though they’re fought off several Aiel are killed. Rand is told he was the target, which is presented as a much bigger reveal than is really warranted. But the real issue is that his flame sword started acting up, and he desperately tries to convince himself it’s just fatigue.
Usually by this point I’m eager for the plot to be moving faster, but having such a character-focused chapter when we have so many new characters to get used to makes perfect sense, and it lets us get a better sense for all of them and how they work together. I actually could have done without the big fight at the end, which felt very perfunctory and only there as a sop for the readers who just want a bunch of action. Though it does serve a useful purpose in Rand losing touch with the Power, at least.
