TEotW: Chapter 17

Watchers and Hunters

Summary

Rand POV - In the common room, Rand joins Perrin and Mat and finds Thom telling stories of the Great Hunt of the Horn. He speaks of Rogosh of Talmour, Rogosh Eagle-eye, in Artur Hawkwing's court, Blaes of Matuchin, Lian's Stand, The Fall of Aleth-Loriel, Gaidal Cain's Sword, and The Last Ride of Buad of Albhain. Thom plays music and everyone dances. A scar-faced man watches the boys. Master Fitch tells Lan he is a Whitecloak spy. Rand dances with Nynaeve, Moiraine and Egwene. Before he goes to bed, Rand heads to the kitchen for some milk where a Fade corners him and smiles.¹ The Fade flees when Lan comes. They all leave in a hurry. Nynaeve decides to accompany them. The stableman, Mutch, watches them leave. Rand rides Cloud, Egwene rides Bela and Moiraine rides Aldieb. At the Caemlyn Gate, Arin and Dar begin to open the gate. Five Whitecloaks led by Dain Bornhald approach. They saw the Draghkar. Moiraine appears to grow into a giant² holding off the Whitecloaks and they escape. As they ride east they see the Stag and Lion burning. Rand hopes that Min is all right. They continue east for a few hours, sleep an hour, then are on the road again before dawn. Mat wonders what Dav ever did with that badger.

The Fade smiles at Rand. Is this actually the first appearance of Shaidar Haran? (TGH,Prologue, TGH,Ch6, TDR,Prologue)
The weave Illusion used to make oneself appear larger is apparently common knowledge among Aes Sedai. (LoC,Ch10, LoC,Ch49) Other versions of Illusion such as changing one's appearance and invisibility are unknown. (LoC,Prologue) However, Moiraine has learned how to create an invisibility weave. (TEotW,Ch48)