The Great Hunt/Chapter 8

==Summary==
:
Feeling sick with nervousness, Rand follows Lan down the hall to the Amyrlin's chambers. Leane, acting as gatekeeper, refuses entry to Lan, telling him that Moiraine has a task for him. Moiraine is inside the Amyrlin's room with Verin. Rand presents himself according to Lan's instructions, prompting the Aes Sedai to look at him curiously. They conclude that this weird behavior is Lan's doing. Moiraine reveals that Rand's father Tam was a blademaster in the Illianer Companions and that he married a woman from Caemlyn. The Amyrlin tests Rand's mettle by threatening to take his sword away, which Rand does not take kindly to. She is pleased at Rand's response. She tells Rand that Mat and Perrin are going with Ingtar to find the stolen Horn of Valere and the dagger that Mat needs to stay alive. He can go with them on their hunt, or he can stay here as Lord Agelmar's guest. But he would be staying behind alone, as Moiraine, Egwene and Nynaeve will be returning with the Amyrlin to Tar Valon. Rand tries to discern what the Aes Sedai want him to do so he can do something else, but ultimately he must help recover the dagger to save Mat's life. He says he will ride with Ingtar.
Now that Rand has decided on a course of action, the Amyrlin flatly tells Rand that she knows he can channel; after the initial shock wears off, Rand asks her why she is not gentling him, to which she says, "because you are the Dragon Reborn." Rand says that Thom told him all about this, and he will not be a White Tower pawn like the other False Dragons. The Amyrlin insists that he is the real Dragon and not a fake. Moiraine tells him the story of how he was born, with his father fighting a battle, and his mother giving birth on the slopes of Dragonmount. Rand's story is intertwined with Moiraine's, who was an Accepted twenty years ago when she witnessed Gitara Moroso's Foretelling of his birth. The Amyrlin was there as well, another Accepted. Everything is consistent with the Karaethon Cycle as well as what Rand heard from his father's fever dream. The Amyrlin tells him that she will also speak with Perrin and Mat so that Rand will not be singled out; she warns him to be careful, as other Aes Sedai and men will not believe or do as they do. Rand still doesn't believe that he is the Dragon and tells the Aes Sedai that he will not be used.
:
Rand leaves the room after all their stories, and the Amyrlin wonders what they are unleashing on the world. The Amyrlin, Moiraine and Verin agree that it is necessary to let him be free to fulfill the prophecies.
:
Nynaeve feels a storm coming, but the storm is not weather related and she doesn't quite understand. She could always feel the weather but now she feels uncomfortable with the ability, knowing that it is her ability to channel that gives her this skill.
Nynaeve sees Rand in the hallways and tries to catch up to him and find out what if anything happened at his meeting with the Amyrlin. She fails to find him but encounters Lan instead.
Nyneave meets Lan in the hall and he calls her "Mashiara" (beloved of heart and soul), and gives her his Golden Crane signet ring. He tells her that the ring will let her get help from any lord in the Borderlands; she can also use it to send him a letter and he will come help without delay. He leaves, saying he has work to do before the Amyrlin's departure. Moiraine enters the hall and tells Nyneave that she didn't hear anything she shouldn't have, and that she should see to her packing for the trip to Tar Valon. Upon being asked about Rand's meeting, Moiraine says only that the Amyrlin will be seeing all three ta'veren.
:
Egwene is in her room packing her things since she will be leaving for Tar Valon shortly. Nyneave comes to see if she's ready, and Egwene can see that Nyneave is thinking of Lan. Nisura comes and tells Egwene that a man is trying to see her, and says that it is Lord Rand. This irritates Nyneave, who says he is "too big for his breeches." They go down the hall, where Rand is being blocked by guards, and Egwene says she will talk to him. The people in the hall trust Egwene will handle it and disperse.
She asks him what the Amyrlin wanted with him. He says she wanted to see ta'veren, and they discuss Aes Sedai and Fain. Rand says they will likely never see each other again, since she is going with Nyneave to Tar Valon and he is going to find the Horn of Valere with Ingtar. Egwene says she'll find a way to help him. 
==Characters==
*Rand
*Lan
*Ingtar
*Kajin
*Nisura
*Leane
*Moiraine
*Verin
*Siuan
*Nynaeve
*Egwene
*Agelmar
===Referenced===
*Tam
*Logain
*Tomas
*Alric
*Mat
*Perrin
*Raolin Darksbane
*Guaire Amalasan
*Yurian Stonebow
*Thom Merrilin
*Laman Damodred
*Gitara Moroso
*Mavra Mallen
*Amalisa
*Padan Fain
==Groups==
*Aes Sedai
===Referenced===
*Illianer Companions
*Aiel
*Village Council
*Women's Circle
==Places==
*Fal Dara
*Shienar
===Referenced===
*Manetheren
*Malkier
*Two Rivers
*Caemlyn
*Tear
*Tar Valon
*Spine of the World
*Cairhien
*Shayol Ghul
*Emond's Field
*Deven Ride
*Borderlands
*Andor
==Items==
*Horn of Valere
*Heron-mark sword
*Ruby-hilted dagger
==Events==
*Whitecloak War
*Aiel War
*Breaking of the World
*Tarmon Gai'don