Rand and Mat deal with the aftereffects of their encounter with Gode, and escape from a couple more Darkfriends as they make their way closer to Caemlyn.
In Chapter 21: Listen to the Wind, Moiraine told Nynaeve about how wilders — women who learn to channel on their own — typically experience a miraculous resolution to a life or death situation, which is quickly followed by a sudden-onset fever that clears up quickly. Hmm… hey Rand, how you doing, buddy?
Immediately after Four Kings, it isn’t Rand who needs help, but rather Mat. Apparently Mat was staring directly at the window when it blew apart, leaving him half-blind. Unfortunately, the boys don’t have the option to hang around Four Kings and find an optometrist, so Rand leads Mat by the hand all the way to the next town.
A meal and a night’s rest at the local inn finds them in considerably better shape. Mat’s vision is much improved, and Rand’s spirits are on the mend. They decide to sit down for a nice breakfast before heading out. Sounds like the perfect time for a Darkfriend to waltz in and take a shit all over everything! Paitr strolls into the common room and approaches Rand and Mat with all the timidity of a rookie Jehovah’s Witness recruit who is still learning to evangelize. Paitr’s approach is actually kind of funny — instead of making a murderous attempt on their lives, he says he “just wants to talk,” stammering out an unconvincing spiel about how the Great Lord of the Dark is too powerful, and how they’ll never get away. Rand gives him a satisfying pop in the nose, and they hurry out of town.
At the next town, the inn is packed with people who are headed for Caemlyn to see Logain. Mat’s vision is improved enough that their plan is to perform again in exchange for room and board, but during their interview with the innkeeper, Rand suddenly comes down with that fever we’ve been waiting for. New plan! Mat convinces the innkeeper to give them some food and let them sleep in the stables in exchange for Rand not stumbling into his common room and coughing all over the place. Mat manages to get Rand comfortable in the stable, and they catch a little sleep. But soon, a well-dressed woman comes into the stable under the pretense of checking on her horse. Surprise! She’s another Darkfriend, and she tries to murder them.
Jesus. Gode, Paitr, the woman in the stables. Just how many people are pledging their eternal souls to the Great Lord of the Dark? It almost seems like they have enough recruits to hold a Darkfriend convention and start handing out yard signs.