Chapter 44: Five Will Ride Forth

Perrin, Mat, and Hurin scout a half-empty village on Toman Head. Hurin confirms Fain's trail: old, but he passed through alone, with no Trollocs. Before they can question anyone, the Children of the Light ride into town. The three bolt for their horses and run west. Once clear, Perrin reluctantly reaches out to a nearby wolf pack. The wolves scout the village and report the Whitecloaks milling inside but none riding after them.

Geofram Bornhald has marched more than a thousand Children across Toman Head in secret, skirmishing with Seanchan patrols along the way. One fight cost him fifty men to thirty soldiers and two women he believes were Aes Sedai. He herds the villagers into the inn and nails the doors shut, buying two or three days before they break out and risk alerting the Seanchan. He pulls Byar aside with private orders: when the final engagement comes, Byar will watch from a distance rather than fight, then carry word to his son Dain and ride to Pedron Niall in Amador. The message Niall needs: Aes Sedai will now channel openly in battle, and the Questioners used the legion. Bornhald does not expect to leave Toman Head alive. He also spots Perrin of the Two Rivers slipping away and marks him a likely Darkfriend.

At the hilltop camp, the scouts return. Fain's trail leads to Falme, and Whitecloaks swarm the area. Verin draws a five-spoke wheel in the dirt and names the party: Rand, Mat, Perrin, Ingtar, and Hurin. Few enough to slip into Falme unnoticed, and three of them ta'veren. Loial must stay behind—no Ogier on Toman Head—and Verin too, since any channeling would draw the damane. Uno and the Shienarans will follow at a distance. "Five will ride forth."