Questions to Be Asked

"Children of the Light are very good at one thing. Making people who have been neighbors all of their lives suspicious of each other."
   — Verin to the Lewins and al'Seens gathered on Jac al'Seen's farm

Book Index
0 I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV
Chapters
1 Seeds of Shadow 2 Whirlpools in the Pattern 3 Reflection 4 Strings 5 Questioners 6 Doorways 7 Playing With Fire 8 Hard Heads 9 Decisions 10 The Stone Stands 11 What Lies Hidden 12 Tanchico or the Tower 13 Rumors 14 Customs of Mayene 15 Into the Doorway 16 Leavetakings 17 Deceptions 18 Into the Ways 19 The Wavedancer 20 Winds Rising 21 Into the Heart 22 Out of the Stone 23 Beyond the Stone 24 Rhuidean 25 The Road to the Spear 26 The Dedicated 27 Within the Ways 28 To the Tower of Ghenjei 29 Homecoming 30 Beyond the Oak 31 Assurances 32 Questions to Be Asked 33 A New Weave in the Pattern 34 He Who Comes With the Dawn 35 Sharp Lessons 36 Misdirections 37 Imre Stand 38 Hidden Faces 39 A Cup of Wine 40 Hunter of Trollocs 41 Among the Tuatha'an 42 A Missing Leaf 43 Care for the Living 44 The Breaking Storm 45 The Tinker's Sword 46 Veils 47 The Truth of a Viewing 48 An Offer Refused 49 Cold Rocks Hold 50 Traps 51 Revelations in Tanchico 52 Need 53 The Price of a Departure 54 Into the Palace 55 Into the Deep 56 Goldeneyes 57 A Breaking in the Three-fold Land 58 The Traps of Rhuidean

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Setting: Westwood, Two Rivers

Summary

Point of view: Perrin Aybara

The next morning, Verin urges Perrin, along with Tam and Abell, to start moving toward Watch Hill to scout the Whitecloaks camp. Alanna has chosen to not come along. Faile insists on coming as she comments that she wishes to see more of the Two Rivers and that her father raises sheep. This seems to contradict what she previously said about her father but she says that he does many different things. Perrin knows he will have to let Faile come along as they scout the camp, but he refuses to let Loial come due to his very noticeable appearance. Instead he asks Loial to keep an eye on Alanna. Gaul, Bain, and Chiad scout ahead as the party moves out.

The nearby farms are deserted but they head towards Jac al'Seen's farm and plan to stop there for lunch and to rest the horses. Tam estimates there are at least two hundred Trollocs around, probably more. Perrin muses why such the Trollocs have not actually attacked the village yet, as they have enough to attack in the night and leave before the Whitecloaks would realize it. Faile and Verin discuss possible reasons for the Trollocs being around but not attacking. Verin implies that it might be a lure to draw Rand's attention.

Perrin's party is spotted approaching Jac's farm and everyone leaves the yard to hide in the house until they are identified as friends. Jac has taken in the families of Wit al'Seen and Flann Lewin because their farms could not be defended from the Trollocs, so Jac's farm is overflowing with al'Seens and Lewins. As Perrin observes the crowd around him he finds that Faile is gazing at Wil al'Seen, the same way girls always seem to stare at the handsome fellow. Perrin greets him amiably while holding Faile and resting his hand on his axe. Wil gets the message and drifts off.

The Two Rivers folk gather around the three strangers, Verin, Tomas and Faile. They identify Faile as a lady but do not know what to make of Verin who uses Moiraine's earlier cover story, implying that she is traveling to gather stories. As for Tomas, they think he is either a Whitecloak or a lord. One boy mentions Warders before the adults quickly dismiss his idea. Some of the Lewins and al'Seens encourage Verin and Faile to leave soon and head to a village, since it isn't safe in the countryside.

Jac al'Seen ask Perrin why the Whitecloaks are accusing him, Mat, and Rand of being Darkfriends. Adine Lewin relates that she heard about Rand and Mat running off with a dozen Aes Sedai who kidnapped Egwene. Wit corrects her immediately, saying that he spoke with Marin who clarified that Egwene left of her own accord and there was only one Aes Sedai. Perrin doesn't know why Rand and Mat are being accused but he admits to killing Whitecloaks because they killed a "friend" of his and would have killed him too. Verin points out that the one thing Whitecloaks are good at is making neighbors suspicious of each other. Perrin mentions that Padan Fain is with the Whitecloaks which Jac confirms and Perrin flatly states that he is actually a Darkfriend. Adine does not believe it but Tomas asks her why she might believe the Whitecloaks who came and burned their neighbors' farms but not Perrin whom they have known since he was born. Jac and his wife agree that Perrin is no Darkfriend and is welcome to stay at their farm, but Perrin says he has things to do. They offer everybody lamb stew with bread for lunch. As they are finishing up, a boy comes in announcing Lord Luc is approaching.

Characters

• Perrin
• Verin
• Tam al'Thor
• Abell Cauthon
• Tomas
• Alanna
• Faile
• Loial
• Stepper (horse)
• Gaul
• Bain
• Chiad
• Swallow (horse)
• Jac al'Seen
• Astelle al'Seen
• Laila Lewin
• Natley Lewin
• Wil al'Seen
• Wit al'Seen
• Flann Lewin
• Elisa al'Seen
• Adine Lewin
• Win Lewin

Referenced

• Elyas Machera
• Rand
• Morgase
• Bran al'Vere
• Moiraine
• Marin al'Vere
• Mat
• Padan Fain
• Luc

Groups

Referenced

• Whitecloaks
• Aes Sedai
• Warders

Places

• Westwood
• Two Rivers

Referenced

• Watch Hill
• Emond's Field
• Deven Ride
• Saldaea
• Andor
• Toman Head

Notes

• At least one edition has the wheel icon for this chapter.