Original release date: November 19, 2021
In a Whitecloak encampment, the Whitecloaks burn an Aes Sedai. The Two Rivers villagers (Mat, Egwene, Rand, and Perrin) flee with Moiraine and Lan from pursuing Trollocs and a Fade. They flee across the ferry at Tarren’s Ferry, and to prevent the Trollocs from following, Moiraine uses the One Power to sink the ferry, incidentally killing the ferryman, which disturbs the villagers. Along their journey to Tar Valon, Egwene learns she has the potential to channel, Perrin encounters wolves, the villagers have disturbing dreams about the Dark One, Ba’alzamon, and mistrust and tension between Moiraine and Lan and the villagers grow. Moiraine grows more weary and exhausted from her injury, and when Trollocs catch up, Lan makes the hasty decision to have them enter Shadar Logoth to escape. While in Shadar Logoth, the group is attacked and separated by Mashadar, the twisted evil that inhabits the city. The group is separated and disoriented. Nynaeve is revealed to be alive, and confronts Lan about the villagers.
* * *
[roaring]
[chatter in distance]
[raven cawing]
[horse neighs]
[leaves rustling]
[horses neighing]
[horse neighs loudly]
♪ ♪
From the Lord, Captain.
For your victory today.
May you always walk in the Light, sir.
Have you ever tried this?
[squishing, crunching]
[moans]
Mmm.
♪ ♪
There’s a brutality to the dish.
Because the flavor doesn’t come only from the bird.
[groaning softly]
Its bones and beak and feet cut the inside of your mouth.
Not so much that it hurts.
Just enough that you bleed.
[chuckles softly]
[breathing heavily]
Don’t be afraid, girl.
An Aes Sedai should know, above all others, that, sometimes, brutality is the only path to mercy.
[groaning]
[shouting]
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
[horse neighs]
[Ian] Hyah!
How much time?
Not enough.
Then we need to move faster.
[Ian] Hyah!
Run!
Hyah!
Hyah!
Hyah!
Come on! Come on!
[snarling]
[roars]
♪ ♪
[snarling]
♪ ♪
[spurring horses]
Come on!
[snarling]
Draw rein.
The town’s just up there.
Would it not be a good idea to head inside some walls?
Walls won’t stop Trollocs.
The only thing they fear is deep water.
No wonder they smell like piss. [groans]
[Master Hightower] Well, you’ve woken me then.
We need to cross the Taren, immediately.
Of course, mistress. Of course.
My son will be here soon, and then we can…
Twice that when we’re safely on the other side.
[distant roaring]
Have I not made myself clear?
You’re not the type of woman that hears no often?
I am not.
[Ian] Come. Quickly now.
[grunting]
[horse neighs]
[grunting]
[roaring]
[gasps]
[snarling, roaring]
[screeches]
[growling]
[screeching]
[snarling, roaring]
[panting]
[snarling in distance]
[low growling]
♪ ♪
[horse neighs]
[horse neighs]
[panting]
[Fade screeching]
[Trollocs screeching]
[snarling, growling]
What-what are they?
Servants of the Dark.
The riders of Fade.
A Fade can force a Trolloc to do most things, but they won’t cross that river.
Come, we’ll take you safely to the next town.
What? No. No! My family!
[Ian] There’s no going back now, master.
My son is on his way already.
He’ll be there in a moment.
You have to help me! We can’t leave him!
If you go back, you’ll give them a way to follow us.
I can’t allow it.
[grunts]
[rope splashes]
♪ ♪
[Master Hightower] No. No!
It’s the only way to get my son across!
The Whitecloaks are right.
You Aes Sedai, you’re monsters!
[Ian] Stop!
[Egwene] Don’t!
[shouting, panting]
[shouting]
[screaming]
We need to help him. He’s…
He’s gone.
[Trollocs snarling in distance]
This will slow them, not stop them.
We can lose them before they reach another crossing, but we need to move fast.
[Egwene] Come on.
[Perrin] Come on.
Let’s go.
♪ ♪
Hyah!
Hyah!
[horse snorting]
We’ve lost them.
Come, we’ll find a place to rest while we can.
Be careful, everyone. There are things more dangerous than Trollocs in this world.
[birds singing]
[horse snorts]
[nickering]
[exhales]
[horse nickers]
They need their strength.
So do you.
[Mat] Just imagine if Nynaeve was here.
She’d spend every waking moment disagreeing with the Aes Sedai.
She’d make Moiraine’s life utter misery.
I saw it.
Nynaeve get taken.
One of those things just picked her up and tossed her away like she was nothing.
Something that quick, I promise you, she didn’t feel a thing.
[Rand] We need a plan.
You saw what Moiraine did to the ferryman.
What happens to us if we step out of line?
What happens if she’s right?
If one of us is the, uh… the Dragon Reborn?
The most powerful channeler that ever lived?
Moiraine said the Trollocs came for us.
And when we left, they did follow us.
Come on. Who even knows what the truth is?
They say the last Dragon broke the world, but the next one will save it.
Well, I heard the Dragon’s gonna have wings.
Looking around at you lot, I don’t see a feather.
Forget what you’ve heard about the Dragon.
For she or he will be all of those things and none of them.
Now sleep. You’re going to need it.
We leave at first light.
[footsteps approaching]
[exhales]
[sniffs, grunts]
[Moiraine] It’s all right.
Come.
Sit.
Are you going to kill us, like you did that ferryman?
What do you know of the Three Oaths?
Uh… they’re the promises made by the Aes Sedai to end Artur Hawkwing’s siege of the White Tower.
And what are they?
To not kill, to not lie.
Exact verbiage.
Words are important, and how we use them is important.
I don’t know.
One, to speak no word that is not true.
Two, to make no weapon with which one person may kill another.
Three, never to use the One Power as a weapon, except in the last extreme defense of her life or the life of her Warder or another Aes Sedai.
These oaths are bound by the One Power itself.
It’s not that we do not break them, it’s that we cannot break them.
I did not kill that ferryman.
He wasted his own life on a foolish cause.
He was just trying to get to his family.
If I had allowed him to take his ferry and cross the river, what would have happened?
[howling in distance]
The Trollocs would have killed him.
Yes. And then?
Followed us.
Exactly.
The Power inside you is the smallest part of your strength.
It’s your mind and how you use it that will mean much more in the battles to come.
The Power inside me?
What do you call it?
This skill that Wisdoms have to predict the weather?
They listen to the wind.
You see, women all over the world have different names for it.
But it’s the same thing.
It’s the same thing for all of us.
One thing.
One Power.
And women like you and I, we are lucky enough to be able to touch it.
I’m no Aes Sedai.
But you could be.
Touching the Source will come to you whether you want it to or not.
Look at the stone.
Look at its surface.
It’s clear and opaque, like the water of a river.
Imagine yourself floating in that river.
[water splashing softly]
As the water moves, let it take you.
No thoughts.
Just let yourself drift.
Clear your mind of everything.
There are no woods.
[breathing deeply]
There is no hunger, no exhaustion.
There is only the stone and the sound of rushing water.
[water rushing]
Let it take you.
Surrender.
Let yourself drift.
[water splashing]
Drift.
[gasps]
[exhales]
I thought… I-I thought I felt something, but…
Those first two, those were mine.
That last, that was yours and yours alone.
You don’t listen to the wind, Egwene.
It’s the wind that listens to you.
[insects trilling]
♪ ♪
[exhales softly]
[exhales]
♪ ♪
[inhales sharply]
[grunting]
Sorry. I…
It’s all right.
I just, uh… I-I came out here to be alone.
Egwene, I…
It’s all right.
I understand.
[footsteps receding]
♪ ♪
[inhales deeply]
[exhales]
[exhales]
[groaning]
[breathing heavily]
[Perrin] Laila!
[Laila] Perrin!
[Egwene] Perrin.
[footsteps approaching]
Are you all right?
[grunts softly]
[grunting softly]
[howling in distance]
[grunts]
[sniffles]
Do you think we’ll ever go back?
Home?
No.
[exhales]
[grunts]
[sighs]
[exhales]
[coughs]
[coughing]
[grunts, coughs softly]
[coughs, clears throat]
[coughs]
[gags]
[coughs]
[gagging, retching]
[gasps, panting]
[panting]
♪ ♪
[panting]
[gasping]
[breathing heavily]
[indistinct chatter]
No.
How did…
You saw them, too.
But it was a dream.
Did you do this?
Did you put this in our dreams?!
[Moiraine] Who saw this?
Who? All of you?
What did you see?
[Mat] Bats.
Their necks just snapped.
Right in midair.
Like someone had them in their hands.
I could feel the crack.
Was there anyone in your dream?
Did anyone speak to you?
There was a man.
Eyes like embers.
He didn’t say anything though.
If this happens again, you tell me straight away.
Dreams have power.
More than you know.
What does that mean?
Come.
The horses are rested.
No, no, no. No!
[wings flapping]
Where are we going?!
East.
To the river crossing at Whitebridge.
And then?
And then to the White Tower.
I’ve told you this.
And then what?!
Why should we trust you?!
There’s a place for Egwene, maybe.
But what does a man do at the White Tower?
Other than become an errand boy for the Aes Sedai.
Go where you will then.
See, how come I don’t believe you’d actually let me do that?
I’ve run out of patience.
And time.
[horse neighs]
[Ian] Hah!
[horse neighs]
[Mat] Well… you got a reaction out of her.
Happy?
Suit yourself.
[saddle jangling]
One conversation, one conversation and you’re on her side now?
What did she promise you last night?
That you’re the one?
Come on, do you really think she’s any better than what’s chasing us?!
Of course I do!
Those monsters killed Nynaeve and Laila and half the people we’ve ever loved.
Moiraine has done nothing but protect us, try to keep us safe.
Don’t you see how pale she’s getting, how weak?
She’s using the One Power to keep our strength up at the cost of her own.
And she does it, even with you being the stubborn bastard you are.
If I were her, I’d leave you behind, too.
You already did.
[horse sputters]
[horse neighs]
Don’t be an ass.
[horse sputtering]
We’ve got each other. That’s it.
You’re right. You’re right about Moiraine.
She’s not doing any of this for our benefit.
She’s got a reason she’s keeping us all alive.
And, soon as that reason’s gone, we’re as good as dead.
Till then, the lady does shoot fireballs, so let’s try… [grunts]
And stay on her good side.
Coming?
♪ ♪
[horse sputters]
[horse sputters]
[horse neighs]
[horse neighs]
Hyah!
Whitecloaks.
[horse snorting]
[horse nickering]
[Moiraine] Do not speak unless spoken to.
And try to answer any question as truthfully as you can.
Do not mention the White Tower or Aes Sedai.
I am a lady from a fallen house.
You are under my care.
[horse neighs]
[Whitecloaks chattering indistinctly]
[horse neighs]
[chatter continues]
Good afternoon.
[horses snorting]
If you would be so kind as to dismount your horses.
[horse neighs]
[horse sputters]
Are you headed to Whitebridge?
Yes, sir. I have a sister in the city who we… hope will let us stay.
It’s a dangerous time to be on the road.
War in the south.
The Aes Sedai heading in force from the White Tower.
Wars and witches don’t concern us, sir.
We are just hoping to find a safe place to settle for the night, before the light fades.
Best be on your way then.
[horse snorts]
[jangling]
I’m sorry.
If you would indulge here a moment longer, we have… one of the Questioners with us today.
He will be thorough…
…but brief.
[horses neighing]
All those who seek passage through our land must be properly… questioned.
This isn’t your land.
Children of the Light hold sway wherever men walk in the Light.
Where did you say you were from?
[Ian] I didn’t.
But I am from the Borderlands, where men know how to keep their hands to themselves,
lest they lose them.
[chuckles softly]
Search the horses.
[soft chatter]
[horse neighs]
They say the White Tower dispatched eight Sisters to deal with Logain’s army to the south.
They can’t help but get their fingers in others’ business.
And those others usually end up dead.
[gasps]
I… Sorry, sir.
I have a wound.
The pain, it…
It’s not healing well.
What happened to you?
You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.
It was a monster, sir.
Eight feet tall, with a… with a mouth like a boar.
It, uh…
A group of them overtook the village we were in.
This was in the Borderlands?
No, sir. No. West of here.
Near the Mountains of Mist.
Can I see your wound, madam?
Trollocs this far south.
The Dark One’s eye is truly upon us.
What was the name of the town where you came from?
Taren Ferry.
There were many people hurt there.
Perhaps you can help them.
Mm.
We Children try to steer clear of the Aes Sedai where we can.
When you get to Whitebridge, find one.
Only one of those women can heal this wound.
Light be with you.
[Whitecloak] All clear, sir.
The Light is always with you.
It needs no instruction.
I will not forget your faces should we meet again.
[horse neighs]
Sir, I will take a contingent of Questioners south.
The woman said the Trollocs went west.
You are meant for battle.
We Questioners have a… higher purpose.
[indistinct shouting]
[horse snorts]
♪ ♪
[horse snorting]
[horse sputtering]
You said you couldn’t break the Three Oaths.
I can’t.
You did today.
[chuckles softly] I did?
That Whitecloak, you lied to him.
You can heal that wound.
We can only heal others, not ourselves.
It’s why we usually travel together.
And you have a sister in Whitebridge?
All Aes Sedai are my sisters.
We will always tell the truth.
It just may not be the truth you think you hear.
So listen carefully.
[horse neighs]
[spurring horses]
♪ ♪
[spurring horses]
[horses neighing]
♪ ♪
[horse sputters]
[horse snorting]
♪ We walk the footsteps of our fathers ♪
♪ The trail blazed by our mothers ♪
[Mat/Egwene] ♪ They bought the land with their blood ♪
♪ Long ago ♪
♪ Long ago ♪
♪ Oh, sing ♪
♪ Sing of Manetheren ♪
♪ Oh, weep ♪
♪ Weep for the blood of Aemon ♪
♪ Oh, cry ♪
♪ Cry for Manetheren ♪
♪ Long ago ♪
♪ Long ago ♪♪
It’s good to remember Manetheren.
It’s just a song.
No idea who Manetheren is, anyway.
In the Old Tongue, “Manetheren” means “Mountain Home.”
Used to be the name of the place you now call the Two Rivers.
During the Trolloc Wars, the army of Manetheren was small but strong.
A thorn in the Dark One’s hand.
So he sent the entirety of his forces to destroy it.
But when this massive host arrived, the women and men of the Mountain Home stood before it, the shallowest bend of the river at their backs, ready to fight.
Their king, Aemon, like in the song, had sent messages to the neighbors they’d fought for in the past, and they were promised aid if they could hold for three days.
And somehow, they did.
Against that monstrous host, they held.
For an hour.
Then a second.
Then a third.
For three days, they fought.
And though the land became a butcher’s yard, no Trolloc crossed the river.
But on the third night, no help had come.
So they fought on, alone.
For six days.
For nine.
And on the tenth day, they knew.
They knew no help was coming.
From the city, Queen Eldrene organized her people to take the children and find refuge in the mountain keeps.
Though many of them went not to safety but to join the army fighting for their home.
Not a step of ground was given up until it was soaked in blood.
But on the 13th day… the army of Manetheren was gone.
Queen Eldrene felt her husband die.
Driven by grief, she reached out and she hurled the One Power at the Trolloc army.
A hurricane of fire washed across the land.
The Dark One’s host ran like beasts, but they were not fast enough, for the flames caught them, consumed them.
But Eldrene had drawn more of the One Power than any woman could ever hope to wield, and it burnt her right through, from the inside out.
But the children and their minders, hidden in the mountains, had been saved.
There was nothing left of their farms, their villages or their great city.
But they returned, and they held the land that was theirs.
That is why the song says, “Weep.”
“Weep.” Weep for Manetheren.
Weep for what is lost forever.
The old blood runs deep in you.
Remember that.
You’ll need it in the days to come.
♪ ♪
We can rest here the night.
I haven’t seen sign of Trollocs for days.
Perhaps it’s how close we’re skirting Shadar Logoth.
Is that purposeful?
[horse snorting]
[quietly] It is too dangerous in the shadowed city.
We cannot go there.
That Whitecloak…
You think he’s the one who killed the others?
Did you not see my sisters’ rings?
Seven now.
He’s not the only one who met a face he’ll remember today.
Rest.
And, tomorrow, we’ll figure out where to find a Sister who can heal you.
[horse neighs]
[horse snorts]
[birds singing]
[water flowing]
Do you want to talk about it?
About what?
[scoffs] Come on, Rand.
What do you want?
You want me to just go back to the way everything was?
No. I…
Because we can’t.
You made your decision.
You get it, right?
I’m not going to be Nynaeve’s apprentice, because she’s dead.
And so is Laila.
And… and here we are, in the middle of nowhere, being chased by the monsters that killed them, and you won’t even look at me.
And I just want you to look at me.
And not hate me.
I don’t need anything more than that.
I could never hate you.
[sniffles]
[howling in distance]
[exhales]
[groans]
[howling continues]
[groans softly]
[grunts, groans softly]
[hisses]
[groans, hissing]
[rapid footfalls]
[gasps]
[exhales]
[snarling, barking]
[snarling, howling]
[snarling]
[breathing heavily]
[low growling]
[growling continues]
♪ ♪
[howling]
[fire crackling]
[howling in distance]
[wheezing]
Is she going to be all right?
She needs sleep.
You all do.
[Moiraine continues wheezing]
[wind blowing]
[snarling]
[gasping]
[panting]
[groans softly]
[breathing heavily]
[screeching]
[gasping]
We have to move. Up. Up.
Wake up. Hurry. They found us.
[Egwene gasps]
Moiraine.
You have to wake up, Moiraine.
[panting]
[horses sputter, neigh]
[grunting]
Hyah!
Carry her!
She can’t move. We need to get her out of here.
Ride!
Where?
East.
To the fallen city of Shadar Logoth.
Go! Now!
[horse neighs]
[spurring horses]
[snarling, screeching]
[horse neighs]
[spurring horses]
[snarling]
Hyah! [panting]
[Mat] Hyah!
[snarling]
[neighing]
[gasps]
[grunts]
[snarling]
[roars]
[horses neighing]
[gasping, grunting]
Whoa. Easy, now.
[Rand] What’s happening?
Easy, now.
I don’t know. She just stopped.
[neighing]
Steady. Steady.
[neighs]
Bela, come on.
[neighing]
[Rand] What is that?
[exhales]
[Perrin] Wait, look! The Trollocs.
Why are they all just standing there?
[snarling in distance]
Come. The Trollocs won’t follow us inside.
Hah!
♪ ♪
[horses snorting]
Listen.
There’s no birds.
There’s no bugs.
[horse snorts]
There’s nothing.
[grunting]
She’s barely breathing.
Yeah.
[doors creaking open]
We’ll stay here.
[doors creaking closed]
[exhales]
[wheezing]
She needs to be kept warm.
[breathing heavily]
[coughing softly]
Oh, Moiraine.
Shadar Logoth.
Sounds like the Old Tongue.
It means “Shadow’s Waiting.”
But it was once called Aridhol.
During the Trolloc Wars, it was the richest, most powerful city in the world.
But when the world needed them most, they built their wall with no gate, locked themselves inside and let the other nations of man burn.
It was the people of this city who promised Manetheren aid.
And they were the ones who let them die.
When the Trolloc Wars ended, the survivors came here, to find food, shelter.
When they knocked, no one answered.
When they finally broke through the wall, there was no one inside.
It is said that evil itself grew from the city’s heart and consumed everyone and everything that lived.
Ever since, the city has been abandoned.
Not even Trollocs will step foot behind these walls.
[wheezing]
Couple of things.
Um, one, that’s… more words than you’ve said all day.
Probably ever.
And, two, why in Light’s name did you bring us here?
Touch nothing.
Eat only the food you brought.
♪ ♪
[exhales]
[horse snorts]
[exhales]
[soft neighing]
♪ ♪
[neighing, snorting]
♪ ♪
[sighs]
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
[exhales]
You should have this.
Laila made it.
She always said she didn’t make weapons; she made tools.
And that I’d probably use it a thousand times for… chopping apples or whittling wood before I ever needed it to… defend myself.
But to keep it sharp… [sniffs] keep it clean, so that if I ever… did need it… [exhales]
It’d be ready.
A tool though, still.
To save my life… or the life of someone that I loved.
And she thought that would probably be you.
Since she seemed to think if… you ever got into any trouble, it would… probably be my fault.
Although, to be perfectly honest, can’t see how anyone could reasonably blame me for any of this.
[chuckles]
[sniffles]
[sniffles]
Thank you.
The girls are gonna be fine.
My parents will be over at yours, checking on them.
Rand’s and Egwene’s, too.
[chuckles softly]
[whispers] I know.
♪ ♪
[whistling]
[faint hissing]
[whistling continues]
[soft whispering voices]
[whispering voices]
[horses neighing in distance]
[whispering voices]
[horses neighing]
[snorting]
[exhales, sniffs]
[horse neighs]
[exhales]
♪ ♪
[exhales]
[clicking]
[whispering voices]
[voices stop]
[whispering voices resume]
[voices stop]
[slithering nearby]
[sniffs]
[horse neighing loudly]
[neighing]
[screeching]
[snorting]
[neighing]
[gasps] What is that?
[neighing]
[pants]
[high-pitched neighing]
[neighing]
[Egwene] No! No, wait!
[neighing]
It’s all right. I’m here.
Where are we?
You’ve killed us all.
[grunting]
[screeching]
[gasping]
What in Light’s name?
[panting] Let’s get out of here.
[screeching]
Go!
I’ll find you.
[Mat] Come on! Rand, let’s go!
[gasps]
Let’s go.
[panting]
[pants]
There!
[panting]
[horses neighing]
Which way?
I don’t know!
Here! Come on!
[grunts]
[panting]
[horse neighs]
[grunts]
Hyah! Come on!
Hyah!
Look!
[grunting, panting]
Hoist me up.
Why don’t you hoist me up?
Come on.
[scoffs]
Ow. [grunts]
[grunting]
Hurry.
Hurry!
[grunts] Hurry!
[screeching]
Hyah!
[neighs]
Hyah. Hyah!
[panting]
[grunts] Rand!
Rand, come on!
Now!
Rand!
[grunts]
Now!
[grunting]
[panting]
[gasping]
[screeching]
[grunts] Come on.
[grunts]
[grunting]
[grunting]
[screeching]
You ready?
[shouts, grunts]
[grunts]
♪ ♪
[gasping]
[horse neighs]
[screeching]
Let’s go.
We-we can’t leave without them.
Pretty sure we can.
[panting, grunting]
[horse snorting]
[neighing]
[panting]
[grunting, panting]
[panting]
Rand?!
Mat!
[panting]
Rand!
Mat!
[grunting, panting]
♪ ♪
[chokes]
[shuddering]
[sighs]
[whimpering softly]
[exhales]
[Moiraine wheezing]
[Ian breathing heavily]
If you don’t take me to them right now, I’ll slit your throat.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
