Chapter 7: Blood Calls Blood

Moiraine, Verin, and the Amyrlin Siuan finish an all-night Healing of Mat, working through Moiraine's angreal. Without the dagger he carried out of Shadar Logoth, the cure is partial; he has months at best unless the blade is recovered and the link broken. Only Mat himself can safely carry it back. Agelmar's men are already hunting the Trollocs who took the Horn, the dagger, and Padan Fain.

Verin reads a dark verse copied from the dungeon walls before she had them scrubbed. It speaks of the Daughter of the Night walking again, a man who channels standing alone, watchers on Toman Head, the seed of the Hammer, and the Great Lord coming. Then she names the matter outright: one of Moiraine's three young men can channel, and she takes him for the Dragon Reborn. Moiraine and the Amyrlin reach for the Source in shock, but Verin only wants to study him and to keep her own counsel.

Perrin slips into the infirmary to see Mat, who wakes only long enough to mumble that Egwene talked him into going down to Fain's cell. Leane catches him there, claims Mat will be on his feet in hours—a lie he can hear—and then peers into his golden eyes. He has already heard that Liandrin of the Red Ajah was sent for after he was found alone in the garden, and decides it is time to be away from Aes Sedai.

Rand quarrels with Perrin over his earlier lord act and means to ride out before the Amyrlin can call for him. Lan arrives instead, dresses him in a heron-collared coat and pins the Red Eagle of Manetheren to his sleeve, drilling him in court protocol on the way. No one refuses the Amyrlin Seat.