Rand and his group arrive in Cairhien, a city dominated by the political game of Daes Dae’mar. Rand struggles to navigate the subtle political landscape but, by sheer luck, finds Thom Merrilin performing in the city.
Rand rides into Cairhien flanked by his armed escort. This is Moiraine’s hometown, and in New Spring she was terrified of the prospect that the Aes Sedai might use her noble standing to gain influence in Cairhien politics — more famously known as Daes Dae’mar, the Game of Houses.
Hurin has been to Cairhien before, so he steps in as Rand’s advisor whenever he makes a political faux pas. And boy, are they easy to make. To picture what the Game is like, begin with the advice Machiavelli gave royalty in The Prince, then take it to the extreme. Nobody is exempt! Murder, deception, manipulation, favors, insults, betrayals — everything a person does is in service of increasing his or her House’s standing. Appearance is everything! Nobody is genuine. Power is the ultimate goal. This is what you would get if you took the most cliquish high-school students and commanded them to build a government.
Rand makes futile attempts to tell everyone he isn’t playing the game, but everyone is so indoctrinated that all they see is a foreigner who looks like an Aiel and is definitely trying to trick them. Given everything that happened twenty years ago during the Aiel War, this is not a good look. Rand, you’d better watch your back, my friend.
None of this stops Rand from making a reckless foray into the city, where he just happens to stumble upon a theater house where Thom Merrilin is performing. Right — in a city of half a million people, you just happen to bump into your old gleeman friend. That is some amazing luck. As happy as the reunion is, Thom wastes no time telling Rand he’ll be happier when he gets his flute and harp back, so they arrange to meet when Thom is done performing.