Chapter 28: A New Thread in the Pattern

Perrin rides with Ingtar's column through Kinslayer's Dagger, nearing Cairhien. The wolves tell him something they call Shadowkiller attacked Fain's band in the night, killed its Trollocs, and now leads the survivors. They regard Shadowkiller with awe, not the hatred they hold for Fades.

Mat looks paler by the day. Verin examines him often and tries Healing to no effect, preoccupied with something she will not share. Perrin suspects she has guessed the truth about Rand.

Uno spots an Aiel in the rocks. He names himself Urien of the Reyn, a Red Shield, and greets Verin as a Wise One, saying she has the look of a woman who has been to Rhuidean. Under her questioning he admits he is searching for He Who Comes With the Dawn: a man of their blood who will come from west of the Spine of the World, go to Rhuidean, and lead the Aiel out of the Three-fold Land. He scratches the sign under which the man will conquer. Perrin and Mat both note that Urien has Rand's look, and the symbol is the ancient mark of the Aes Sedai.

Verin rubs the sign away and lets Urien go. Ingtar orders armor stowed; they have crossed into Cairhien. Verin stares at the smudged ground and wonders aloud whether the Wheel is weaving threads the Aes Sedai know nothing of, then presses the column to move faster.