Perrin limps back to Emond’s Field, feeling the crushing weight of “captain’s guilt” after his disastrous ambush. He hides in the inn to avoid the grieving villagers, and chats with village boys while he waits for Alanna to come Heal him. We get a visit from Loial, who immediately blames himself for the Waygate being open. The chapter ends with a classic “don’t do the thing” warning that we all know Loial is going to ignore.
On arriving in Emond’s Field, Perrin is wracked by guilt over the men who died in the Trolloc ambush. He hears villagers calling out for their loved ones. Perrin can’t stand to be around when they learn the terrible truth — that they died under Perrin Goldeneyes’ command — so he retreats inside the inn.
Verin sucks at Healing, so Perrin’s wound must wait for Alanna to arrive. As he sits there, he fields questions from village boys he hasn’t seen in forever. They want to know about his adventures outside the Two Rivers. Eventually, Faile shoos the boys out, and Loial arrives.
LOIAL: You are hurt. They told me you had returned, but they did not say you were hurt, or I would have come faster.
Whoa, that’s some serious Worf vibes. Like how insultingly shallow can you make this character? He’s the big, dumb, token “different” character. If I were him, I’d go on strike.
Perrin tells Loial about the Waygate being open. Loial is crestfallen. He believes the Waygate being open is his fault, on account of the vagaries of how Avendesora leaves work or some such nonsense. The conversation is cut short when Alanna arrives to Heal Perrin, but Perrin warns him not to go risking his life to close the gate. Translation: Loial is definitely going to go risking his life to close the gate.