The trail leads to the Waygate in Barthanes’ garden, but Machin Shin blocks the entrance. Fain left a message with Barthanes about going to Toman Head, and Rand is determined to follow, even if it means using a different Waygate.
Rand huddles with Mat, Hurin, and Loial in the servants’ area of Lord Barthanes’ manor. Mat hasn’t sensed the dagger at all, but Rand still has Hurin show him the trail. They go out into the back garden and stop at a walled-off area containing a Waygate. The trail ends here, so they must have left using the Ways.
Mat goes off to discretely let Verin and Ingtar know, and the rest of the guys vault over the wall. Determined to demonstrate that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, Rand finds the Avendasora leaf and grabs it. The moment the gates start opening, an oozing blackness begins bulging out of the pitch-black world behind the Waygate. Machin Shin is waiting for them! Rand panics and drops the leaf. He embraces saidin, channeling the One Power to drive the evil presence back until Loial manages to replace the leaf and close the gates.
Everyone checks to make sure their pants are still dry, then they head back to the party to take their leave. Barthanes catches Rand on the way out with a message Fain: he’s waiting on Toman Head. Back at the inn, the group decides to travel to an alternate Waygate at nearby Stedding Tsofu.