Rand and company ride through the dirt streets and shabbily built tenements of Foregate, a community located just outside the walls of Cairhien. Many of these “peasants” are refugees from the Aiel War, fearful of returning to their homes. The company halts for a passing parade; it is a bit of entertainment the king offers the masses to keep them docile. As they enter the city, Rand, Hurin, and Loial’s names are recorded in a ledger. Rand asks for Selene, but the gate guard seems confused, promising to “make inquiries.”

They check into an inn. Rand, feeling too many eyes on him, wants to explore the raucous diversions of Foregate while Loial stays in the room to guard the Horn. On his way out, the innkeeper presents Rand with several formal invitations from Cairhien noble houses, part of the political game of Daes Dae’mar. Rand wants no part of it and throws the invitations into the fire. Fearing repercussions, Hurin begs him not to do it again.

Rand walks through the streets of Foregate, lost in the spectacle, when he hears a familiar voice belonging to the gleeman

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