As we already knew, Perrin and Egwene are a couple of wusses who have gotten all kinds of captured by the Whitecloaks. Thinking that the two of them are Darkfriends, the Whitecloaks force them to march leashed to horses as the caravan makes their way to Caemlyn, force them to sleep in the freezing cold, and force them to watch reruns of That ’70s Show until their eyeballs strain to leap out of their sockets.

One night, Byar (the jerk who seems emotionless about torturing and killing children) tells Perrin and Egwene that the Whitecloaks are behind schedule on their arrival to Caemlyn. In short, these lousy kids are slowing everyone down. If it just so happens that these prisoners were to escape the clutches of the Whitecloaks, then the Whitecloaks would have no choice but to move on without them and consequently arrive on time to Caemlyn for whatever important business awaits. The important business is likely something like “fellating the Archduke of Caemlyn”, which must be carried out in a timely fashion. Byar throws Perrin a rock to cut himself free from his ropes, which Perrin doesn’t trust one fucking bit.

Before Perrin has a chance to decide what to do, and before Byar has a chance to reconsider his decision to help Perrin and Egwene free themselves, LAN THE MAN appears to cold-cock a bitch or two. Byar is knocked out, Perrin and Egwene are freed, the Pattern is Woven in the Web around the Axle in the Hub of the Wheel of Time and Space and Freedom, Amen. Moiraine and Nynaeve are there too. It is surely a reunion to end all reunions.

Later, the group sets up camp and Nynaeve heals Perrin’s many awful injuries with barely even a touch, which surprises him and frightens her. While healing Perrin, Nynaeve notices yellow irises in Perrin’s eyes. This takes even the ever-stoic Moiraine aback, who just says it’s now part of the Pattern and everyone should just shut up and move on after implying that it’s some sort of taint of the dark one.

Perrin and Lan talk for a bit. Lan recognizes the name Elyas and tells Perrin that the man used to be a Warder. Best in the business! Maybe. I’m making that up. When Perrin asks if he has been tainted by the Satan end of the good-bad spectrum, Lan hesitates and thinks he hasn’t been… but he doesn’t know for sure. Which means “yes” probably. All part of the Pattern, nothing one can do about it now. Roll with it.

For the 900th time in the series so far, Perrin is not filled with much confidence.