Moiraine heals Tam while Rand chats with Lan. Rand learns that he, Mat and Perrin were the targets of the attack, so he reluctantly agrees that he must leave Emond’s Field to keep it safe.
One of Superman III‘s many problems.
Moiraine kicks everyone out of the room except Rand and Lan, then kneels over Tam to perform healing. Rand sits on the other bed, where Lan joins him and tells him that the heron symbol on his sword is the mark of a master swordsman — adding that it is curious that it should end up in the possession of a sheepherder. Moiraine pauses from exhaustion, declaring that Tam is still afflicted by the evil of the blade that wounded him. It will get worse if left untreated, she says, so Rand pulingly pleads with Moiraine to do more. It’s a moment that feels exactly like the scene in Superman III where Ricky Lane, the most annoying character in the whole movie, watches Evil Superman emerge drunk from a bar and insists that Superman is just sick. “You can help him, I just know you can,” says Rand, nailing the Ricky Lane impression. To get him to shut the fuck up, Moiraine enlists the help of her angreal to channel enough of the Power to finish healing Tam.
RAND: Thank you so much, Moiraine Sedai. How can I ever repay you?
MOIRAINE: It’ll be time to leave soon, so we’ll talk on the road.
RAND: Leave?
MOIRAINE: Oopsies.
Moiraine has spilled the beans about her intentions for Rand, Mat and Perrin. She explains that the Trolloc army specifically targeted the places where those three live. There is something about them that the Dark One fears, and his forces won’t stop trying to kill the three boys. That’s why they’ll all be coming with her, she says — for the good of Emond’s Field. She wants to bring them to Tar Valon, and her reasoning is sound — after all, Trollocs won’t dare attack the home of the White Tower and the Aes Sedai. Perhaps the city will even provide clues about why the Dark One is interested in them.
Moiraine insists that Rand get some sleep, because they must leave that very night.