Perrin’s group has arrived in Tear, and boy is it ever sweaty and stinky for reals. Just muggy and gross. Perrin is still wary of Zarine, wondering if she was the beautiful woman he needs to stay the fuck away from per Min.

As they roll through the city they notice everyone looks despondent. Real sad-sacks. As if the place was visited by the Ghost of Christmas Fuck You. Moiraine mutters about how the Pattern might be “torn” in Tear, which is pretty ironic I guess. They happen upon an inn next to smithy, which Perrin pops a boner over. Lan and Moiraine decide to scope the town alone, and Perrin reiterates to a frustrated Zarine that she chose to follow them in this adventure. Now she’s irrevocably tangled up in it. Sucks to suck.

After getting settled in, Perrin decides to kill some time at the smithy. He finds a blacksmith working by himself, so Perrin decides to silently jump in and start helping him. Somewhat impressed, the blacksmith gives him a piece of billet and tells him to try making something out of it. Robert Jordan does a pretty good job with describing accurate metallurgy practices as he walks through Perrin forging and creating a chamfer knife. The blacksmith is impressed further and offers Perrin a job, but Perrin tells him that he’s only in Tear temporarily and can only help for the day. Zarine comes down to watch him work, poking fun at him. The blacksmith tells her that Perrin is one of the best workers he’s ever had, and offers Perrin to keep the forging hammer. Perrin graciously accepts the gift.

Lan and Moiraine return from their scouting and tells the group that the Forsaken have entered Tear. This is some bad news. High Lord Samon, a mysterious man who was mentioned to Mat and Thom at one point by an innkeeper, is actually Be’lal. And this is supposed to be scary, I guess. Moiraine believes that the Forsaken are waiting and allowing Rand to find and collect Callandor.

Loial knows a little bit about Be’lal. He was jealous of Lews Therin because of his big-ass muscles, maybe. He used to lead against Ba’alzamon until he heel turned for some reason. That’s all he really knows. Be’lal likes McDonald’s hamburgers.

It is reported that the Aiel are in Tear, but Moiraine does not know why. Perhaps Be’lal brought them here? Anyway, Lan’s going to scope out the Stone of Tear while everyone stays behind and twiddles their little thumbs. Good day.