The Tinkers seek refuge in Emond’s Field. Perrin deals with people treating him like a leader. Aram officially quits the Way of the Leaf. Whitecloaks arrive, and Perrin convinces Dain Bornhald to delay his arrest until the apocalypse is over.
Arriving at the south end of town, Perrin discovers some villagers fending off a Trolloc attack. Or that’s what the idiots think they’re doing. In reality, they’ve been shooting arrows at some poor Tuatha’an who are seeking refuge in Emond’s Field. I guess their hippy-dippy message of love and nonviolence didn’t resonate with the Trollocs, and only a handful of survivors escaped.
Faile leads the Tuatha’an away to find places for them in the village. Perrin hopes this is his chance to slip away and find Loial, but circumstances conspire against him. Suddenly everyone in the village needs to get his opinion on something. They already know what the right answer is, but they still pepper him with questions. Perrin, dude, welcome to middle management.
Luc rides into town, and Perrin is disgusted by the fanfare the arrival draws. Luc claims to have dispatched a band of Trollocs, and produces the severed head of a Fade as proof. Er– that’s “proof,” actually, in quotes. Because what does a head prove? I’ll bet you Luc dug up a head that someone else had buried for reasons of safety, then took it back as his own. He mounts the head on a spear at the edge of the Green and reluctantly acknowledges how effectively Emond’s Field defended against last night’s onslaught.
Perrin stops at the inn for something to eat. Aram is there, fixated on the spears on the wall and the swords in the barrel. His mother was killed in the Trolloc attack… but what if he could have saved her? What if he didn’t follow Way of the Leaf? To Ila’s horror, the Tinker takes up a sword. Aram decides he could have saved his mother, if it weren’t for The Way. So he begs Perrin for sword lessons, and Perrin sends him off to find Tam al’Thor.
Wooow. That’s just like what happened with Lewin becoming an outcast in Rand’s vision. I hope Aram makes something of himself now. Can you imagine what a bummer it would be if he got cut down by a Trolloc in the first moments of the next Shadowspawn siege? On the other hand, if he survives, this will be one hell of an origin story. Aram will be like one of those kids who escaped a cult (or who was formerly Amish), talking to the documentary camera about how repressive the environment in the commune is.
Tonight on Dateline: ‘The Dark Secrets of the Tuatha’an Revealed’ takes a deep dive into the Traveling People — members say they abhor violence in all its forms, but is it true?
Whitecloaks approach Emond’s Field from the north. Dain Bornhald reports that Trollocs attacked Taren Ferry last night. Then he recognizes Perrin:
BORNHALD: You, Darkfriend. You are under arrest!
PERRIN: Are you willing to hold off my arrest, Bornhald? Until the Trollocs are done with? I won’t be going anywhere before then.
What a delicious ploy. Oh yes, Perrin will be arrested. But what difference does it make to Mr. Prosser Dain Bornhald if that happens now, or after the Trolloc threat has passed? Answer: none at all. And so the villagers reluctantly allow the Whitecloaks to enter Emond’s Field. Don’t worry, I’m sure they’ll all be perfect gentlemen.