Chapter 28: Footprints in Air

Nynaeve, Moiraine, and Lan cross the White Bridge into Whitebridge, where they find burned buildings around the square, frightened townspeople, and militia patrols. The townsfolk give conflicting accounts of the trouble—an overturned lamp, bandits, Darkfriends heading to see the false Dragon, or a man channeling the One Power—but it becomes clear that a boat cut its moorings and fled downriver the day before while a mob stormed the docks.

In the inn, Moiraine senses that two of the boys were there a day or two ago, alive but afraid, though without their coins she cannot tell which direction they went. Lan confirms a Halfman was in the town—he can still smell it everywhere.

Moiraine resolves to head northeast after the one boy she can still track, trusting that the other two will eventually make for Caemlyn, and the three ride out on the Caemlyn Road.