—Faile Bashere to Perrin
- For the inn by the same name, see Easing the Badger.
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| <<< Easing the Badger >>> |
| Setting: Illian |
Summary[]
- Point of view: Perrin Aybara
In Illian, Zarine tells Perrin about the city and the Square of Tammaz where she took her Hunter’s Oath. Loial is uneasy because Ogier stonemasons from Stedding Shangtai built the city, and they send for them when things need to be repaired. Loial is afraid one of them will see him. Perrin says Moiraine will not let anyone take him back to the Stedding. Loial mentions traveling through the Ways, which Faile overhears. Perrin is annoyed at himself for bringing this up because he wants to give Zarine as little information as possible in the hopes that she will get bored and leave. Loial and Moiraine both say that something is wrong in the city, which makes Perrin look more closely. He then notices that at least one in five people have an oddly angry expression and they don't seem to realize it. They come to an inn called Easing the Badger.
The innkeeper, Nieda Sidoro, is an eyes-and-ears agent for Moiraine. She gives Moiraine the local news but refers to her as Mari. She talks about the weather and this winter being worse than any others except last year. Nieda tells Moiraine that she is having dreams of Lord Brend, who was recently raised to the Council of Nine even though no one had ever heard of him before. Moiraine is greatly concerned about this. The council has forbidden any ship to sail for Tear. Also, there is talk of war with Tear. The party goes up to get settled in their rooms before having their evening meal.
Loial is very pleased that the inn has an Ogier room. They begin to eat their meal and then Perrin smells something wrong. Six men walk toward him and he barely notices them when he looks at them but he can smell them. Then they have daggers in their hands and Perrin yells, and Moiraine and Lan get up. The attackers seem to be focused on Perrin, ignoring the other members of the party. The fight is over quickly with all six Gray Men dead. The entire inn knows that Moiraine is Aes Sedai now as she was forced to channel to fight the Gray Men. Perrin realizes that he had smelled Gray Men at Jarra and Remen. Nieda does not believe that the dead men are Gray Men, although when Moiraine calls them Darkfriends she is much more accepting. Moiraine tells Lan she must go out alone and that should she die, Lan must take Perrin with him back to Tar Valon.
Characters[]
Referenced[]
- Rand
- Adine Canford
- Sammael - as Lord Brend
- Mat
- Siuan - as Amyrlin
Places[]
Referenced[]