Perrin’s wounded squad stumbles upon the same band of Tuatha’an we met in The Eye of the World, because apparently there’s only one group of Tinkers in the entire world. We get a heavy dose of “Way of the Leaf” preaching while Perrin slowly bleeds out from a gut wound. The chapter ends with a double reveal: Perrin admits he talks to wolves, and Faile admits she’s a Saldaean princess — which finally explains why she acts like a spoiled brat 90% of the time.
Perrin’s procession limps toward Emond’s Field after suffering devastating losses fighting the Trollocs. They could really use an Aes Sedai about now, what with the arrow sticking out of Perrin’s gut. What does the Creator give them instead? A band of Tuatha’an. Oh, praise the bloody Light, we’re saved. Perrin is still gonna die, but at least he’ll be entertained by music, dancing, and pacifism taken to ridiculous extremes.
Perrin hasn’t seen the Tuatha’an since he, Elyas, and Egwene parted ways with a band of them in The Eye of the World. Even though there are multiple bands of Tuatha’an wandering around, this just happens to be the same one from The Eye of the World, led by Raen and his wife Ila. They remember Perrin and their time in the Two Rivers hasn’t made them any less preachy:
ILA: He was a gentle boy. Once I thought he might eventually find the Way of the Leaf.
FAILE: The Way of the Leaf is not for everyone.
ILA: It is for everyone if only they knew it.
I feel vomit coming up, so let’s move on.
Aram stops by. He’s Raen and Ila’s devilishly handsome grandson, and he was really crushing on Egwene in The Eye of the World. He was such a charmer, I swear Egwene almost got pregnant from his smile alone. Aram is here to reproach Perrin for embracing the wolves instead of the Way of the Leaf.
PERRIN: She’s an Aes Sedai now, and she’ll blast your ass with the One Power. Get the fuck out of here, tree hugger.
Alone once again, Perrin and Faile open up to each other. He tells her all about his connection with the wolves, and she reveals that she is actually the daughter of a high-ranking Saldaean lord. Hmm… even though it’s tropey, this actually does explain why Faile acts like such an entitled bitch all the time. Perrin, dude, what’s your excuse for acting like an alcoholic wife-beater?