The Great Hunt/Chapter 25

==Summary==
:
Rand, Hurin, Loial and the soldiers led by Elricain Tavolin arrive at the city of Cairhien. They pass through Foregate, the city around the city, where refugees from the farms near the Spine of the World have come since the Aiel War. The lands near the Spine are abandoned and no longer productive; Cairhien has to import grain from Andor and Tear to make up the shortfall. The king mollifies the refugees by paying for entertainment on a daily basis, which disgusts Loial. A procession of puppets pass by them, including fake Trollocs. Hurin says the Illuminators have a guild in this town as they see some fireworks. The Topless Towers are being repaired, but the Ogier are no longer assisting.
They come to the city gates between Foregate and Cairhien proper. The group gives their names and are told to return the next day with the name of their inn. Rand inquires after Selene, but receives no response. Hurin leads them to the Defender of the Dragonwall. The innkeeper is called Cuale. The people here seem to think he is Aiel too. Cairhien makes him uncomfortable and he wants to leave, but needs to stay so Ingtar can find them and Selene said she would be here. They are shown to their rooms and Rand wants to go back to Foregate where he feels more comfortable, but no one wants to come with him. Loial worries he will run into other Ogier who may know he does not have permission to be "outside." Hurin dislikes the smell of violence that permeates the Foregate.
In the common room, Rand gets invitations for parties from several Houses. He does not want to get involved in Daes Dae'mar, so he throws them into the fire. This startles Hurin and Hurin advises him not to do it again, as it is a grave insult to those Houses.
Rand goes outside and sees all the festivities in the Foregate. There is someone claiming to have an Aes Sedai performing tricks. Then he hears Thom Merrilin. Thom says that his leg was injured by the Fade but he survived because the Fade ran off after Mat and Rand at first opportunity. Thom is surprised to learn that Moiraine was confident that he was still alive, and assumes she was after Mat or Perrin because she is no longer with Rand. Thom seems disappointed that Moiraine is not around. Thom tells Rand to bring his instruments to the Bunch of Grapes where he is staying.
==Characters==
*Rand
*Loial
*Hurin
*Elricain Tavolin
*Asan Sandair
*Red (animal)
*Cuale
*Thom
===Referenced===
*Elder Haman
*King Galldrian
*Lanfear as Selene
*Ingtar
*Mat
*Perrin
*Teva Acquaintance of Hurin
*Moiraine
*Dunsinin
*Rogosh Eagle-Eye
*Bayle Domon
==Groups==
===Referenced===
*Guild of Illuminators
*Aes Sedai
*Tuatha'an
==Places==
*Cairhien
*Foregate
===Referenced===
*Spine of the World
*Andor
*Tear
*Tanchico
*Tremonsien
*Stedding Shangtai
*Stedding Tsofu
*Fal Dara
*Shara Pass
*Haddon Mirk
*Saldaea
*Whitebridge
*Illian
==Items==
*Horn of Valere
==Events==
*Aiel War
*Great Hunt for the Horn