Rand tries to buy Aviendha’s affection with an ivory bracelet, accidentally triggering a “we are dating now” cultural flag he didn’t intend. After a yawn of a dream sequence, Rand wakes up to a literal nightmare. Two Draghkar and a pack of Trollocs attack, proving that Cold Rocks Hold is not safe. Rand finally realizes he can’t hide in the desert forever and decides to head to Alcair Dal early to meet the clans.
You wanted a break from nothing happening in the Aiel Waste? Too bad, fuckers! We’re still moseying around in the desert.
Rand explores Cold Rocks Hold. He visits the local Maidens of the Spear to seek a gift for Aviendha. He wants her to like him more, and as we all know, people like us for what we can give them. The Maidens recommend a bracelet carved from ivory. He gives it to Aviendha, and she explains that her former “spear sisters” are acting like he sought approval to pursue Aviendha. Or something like that. I don’t know, this is way too Dawson’s Creek for my taste. Rand must agree, because he heads off to bed at the first opportunity.
Rand drifts off to sleep and is having a perfectly nice skinny-dipping dream involving Elayne, Min, and Aviendha, until Lanfear crashes the party. She chides him on what his subconscious has cooked up. Three women? How lurid! But then a man shows up, only his figure is blurred out like a privacy screen in a Zoom call. He questions why he is even collaborating with Lanfear if she’s going to take risks like this.
Aviendha is there in his room when Rand awakes. He senses a feeling of “wrongness” and “evil” in the air. Venturing cautiously outside, Rand runs into two Draghkars! A handful of Trollocs attacks the rest of the settlement, but it’s clear they were meant to distract from the Draghkars reaching Rand. He realizes he cannot laze about at Cold Rocks Hold for a month to wait for the clans to arrive at Alcair Dal. He’s clearly being targeted, and besides — he can’t be letting the Aiel gather at Alcair Dal and talk shit about him. The most important part of being the Dragon is public relations, and he has got to make sure it is the dog wagging the tail, not the other way around.
RAND: We’re going to Alcair Dal. Right now.