Perrin’s group arrives in Tear. While Moiraine does recon, Perrin partakes in blacksmith therapy, earning a hammer as a reward. Moiraine returns with news that High Lord Samon is actually Be’lal, one of the Forsaken.
Perrin arrives in Tear with Moiraine, Lan, Loial, and Faile. Lan leads them to an inn called the Star. It is sandwiched between a blacksmith’s shop and a cloth weaver’s.
The trip from Illian to Tear has presumably taken a few days. During that time, I’m sure Faile has had a chance to come to terms with the revelations about the Horn of Valere and the Dragon Reborn. Let’s see what’s on her mind:
FAILE: How are we supposed to sleep with all this noise?
Yes, the Forsaken are loose and the Last Battle is imminent, but let’s piss and moan about the neighbors making noise! Maybe we can annoy the Dark One to death.
Moiraine leaves with Lan to scout the city, telling the rest to stay close to the inn. That suits Perrin fine: he misses blacksmithing, so he heads next door and just — starts acting like he works there. He spends the day helping the proprietor make stuff. It’s purely for his own mental health, but at the end of the day he walks away with a hammer as a gift.
Perrin spaces out in his room until Lan interrupts. Moiraine is downstairs in the private dining room with matters to discuss.
PERRIN: I’m sick and tired of everyone calling me “blacksmith” and “farmboy!”
MOIRAINE: Shut up, Perrin.
FAILE: But you are a blacksmith, farmboy.
MOIRAINE: Be quiet! One of the Forsaken is in Tear. The High Lord Samon is Be’lal.
LOIAL: Ugh, I should have stayed in the stedding.
MOIRAINE: Fine. Go back to the stedding. I don’t care. But everyone, stop your fucking whining.
She goes on to say that even Be’lal cannot stand up to balefire… that she has learned things in the past year that make her “more dangerous” than when she came to Emond’s Field.
So what is Moiraine’s plan?
- Leave Perrin, Faile, and Loial at the inn.
- Enter the Stone of Tear.
- ???
- Save Rand!
Brilliant strategy! I can’t believe I hadn’t thought of that before. Looks like Moiraine has got it from here, everyone.