The Eye of the World/Chapter 41

==Summary==
Rand enters The Queen's Blessing breathlessly from running all the way from the palace. Lamgwin directs Rand to the library and Basel Gill after telling of an attempt to steal the inn's cats. He finds Master Gill and Loial playing stones and tells them about the beggar that's been following him and an unbelievable tale about meeting the Queen of Andor. As Rand lays out the details, Master Gill's disbelief changes into worry. He tells Rand to get Mat and prepare to leave the city before Elaida decides to hunt him down. As the humans plot Mat and Rand's departure, Loial asks to leave with him.
Gilda interrupts their meeting with a knock and an ill report of Whitecloaks in the inn. The Whitecloak interrupts Gill's greeting, sneering about his search for two Darkfriends from the Two Rivers. The Whitecloaks arrogantly compare Morgase to Darkfriends due to her relationship with Tar Valon, prompting Lamgwin and every patron to stand and challenge the five men. The lead Whitecloak threatens Gill with the Dragon's Fang, but the innkeeper stands his ground and the Whitecloaks back down and leave.
thumb|left|200px|"I felt the evil of it when I laid eyes on him, the touch of Mashadar, but a Fade could sense it for miles. Even though he would not know exactly where, he would know it was near, and Mashadar would draw his spirit while his bones remembered that this same evil swallowed an army- Dreadlords, Fades, Trollocs, and all. Some Darkfriends could probably feel it, too." - Moiraine
Gilda interrupts Rand and Basel again to inform them of a Lady in the kitchens asking for Rand and Mat by name. They fear it is the Daughter-Heir until Rand remembers that he never mentioned Mat to Elayne. The pieces click together and Rand races to the kitchen even though Master Gill urges caution.
Rand opens the kitchens to see Moiraine, Nynaeve, Egwene, Perrin, and Lan. It is a joyful reunion. After introducing everyone to Master Gill, he notices Perrin's downcast stare. Two of the inn's cats come into the kitchen and one approaches Moiraine happily. Moiraine notes that the inn has many cats and Gill explains that the entire city has a big problem with rats. Moiraine offers to keep rats away from their street and Gill accepts after a moment. Nynaeve asks about Mat, then storms up the stairs when told that he is not well. The reunion turns subdued when Perrin asks about Thom, and grows worse when the Emond's Field folk visit Mat. Mat responds with great paranoia and has doubts that they are who they claim to be.
Moiraine's voice interrupts Mat and she orders the Emond's Field folk to back away from him, bodily tossing the Wisdom aside when she does not move. Mat and the Aes Sedai lock eyes. She places her hand on him. In the next instant, Mat tries to stab her with the Ruby-hilted dagger. Inches from her throat, Lan's hand seizes Mat's wrist. Moiraine asks Rand how Mat came by the dagger and Rand says that it was taken from Shadar Logoth, but Rand did not know about it until after they got split up. Moiraine says that the dagger must have attracted Darkfriends and Shadowspawn to them.
Rand recalls his misadventures with Darkfriends and Shadowspawn during the journey to Caemlyn and tells them of rumors of strange things outside the city. Lan confirms the appearance of Trollocs and Myrddraal waiting for the time to strike. Perrin seems depressed and says that maybe it would be better if they were dead given how much trouble they are causing everyone. Moiraine says flatly that dying would not solve the world's problems.
Moiraine explains how dangerous the dagger is before kicking the Emond's Field folk out of the room so she can concentrate on Healing Mat with her angreal.
==Characters==
thumb|right|200px|"How do I know you're who you look like? Everyone changes. How can I be sure? Perrin? Is that you? You've changed, haven't you? Oh, yes, you've changed... Pretty Nynaeve. A Wisdom isn't supposed to think of herself as a woman, is she? Not a pretty woman. But you do, don't you? Now. You can't make yourself forget that you're a pretty woman, now, and it frightens you. everybody changes. Pretty Egwene. Pretty as Nynaeve. And you share other things, don't you? Other dreams. What do you dream about now?" - Mat
* Rand al'Thor
* Lamgwin Dorn
* Basel Gill
* Loial
* Gilda
* Matrim Cauthon
* Moiraine Damodred
* Nynaeve al'Meara
* Egwene al'Vere
* Lan Mandragoran
* Perrin Aybara
===Referenced===
* Logain Ablar
* Elayne Trakand
* Gawyn Trakand
* Padan Fain - as beggar
* Morgase Trakand
* Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan
* Gareth Bryne
* Tam al'Thor
* Mother Grubb
* Thom Merrilin
* Mashadar
* Mordeth
* Dark One
===Shadowspawn===
* Fade
* Dreadlords
* Trollocs
===Groups===
* Aes Sedai
* Darkfriends
* Children of the Light
* Queen's Guards
* Warder
* Ogier
==Places==
* Caemlyn
* New City
* The Queen's Blessing
===Referenced===
* The Crown and Lion
* Tar Valon
* Shadar Logoth
* Two Rivers
* Emond's Field
* Borderlands
==Items==
* Ruby-hilted dagger
* Robed woman angreal
==Culture==
* False Dragon
* Stones
* Ta'veren
* Dragon's Fang
* Lord of the Grave
==Events==
* Trolloc Wars
==Concepts==
* Light
* Pattern
* Shadow
==The One Power==
* Ward against rats
* Healing
==Quotes==