Chapter 26: Whitebridge

The Spray reaches Whitebridge. Captain Domon sacks Gelb for sleeping on watch and refunds Thom's fares, pressing him to continue south to Illian.

In the common room of the Wayfarers' Rest, the innkeeper Bartim relays the news: Logain has been taken near Lugard and is being walked north to Tar Valon, and Illian has called a new Hunt for the Horn. He also warns of a weaselly madman who came through asking after them, and a black-cloaked figure that has returned each day since, asking the same questions and adding a white-haired gleeman to the list.

Thom divides the captain's coin three ways in case they are separated, and tells the boys an Aes Sedai once cost him his nephew Owyn. Gelb arrives in the next room loudly accusing them of being Darkfriends, and the three slip out a back window. In the square a Myrddraal closes on them. Thom thrusts his cloak and instrument cases into Rand's arms, names an inn in Caemlyn called The Queen's Blessing, and charges the Fade with daggers as Rand and Mat run.