The Great Hunt/Chapter 36

==Summary==
:
Rand and the others are being brought to see the Elders of Stedding Tsofu. Rand suggests to Loial that he wait outside so perhaps the Elders will not dig in to why he is outside while so young. Loial is still very nervous because all of the girls and women seem to be sizing up as a husband or son-in-law.
Alar, the Eldest, greets them and tells them that Verin has requested to use the Waygate to pursue Darkfriends who have stolen the Horn of Valere. The Elders ask Verin to examine Trayal, an Ogier that traveled the Ways long ago, to demonstrate the risks. She tries, but says he is simply an empty shell. Still, Verin insists that they need to continue via the Ways despite the risks and the Elders reluctantly give their permission. The Elders begin to speak of Loial but Rand cuts in quickly and says that they need him. Perrin, Mat and even Ingtar all speak on Loial's behalf but finally Verin says flatly that they need him to decipher the Guidings in the Ways, since he has studied them as few Ogier now do. Alar sees that Rand is ta'veren and has drawn Loial to him; she agrees to their request but firmly tells them see Loial safely home when their task is complete.
Alar says she will lead them to the Waygate so they can be on their way. Loial is all starry-eyed over a flower Erith has given him. He finally presses it in the book he is reading. As they leave the stedding Rand can feel the return of his ability to channel. But when they open the Waygate, Machin Shin is still waiting for them. They cannot use this Waygate either, so Ingtar says he will return to Cairhien and pursue the Horn from there. Hurin suggests they use a Portal Stone since they previously saved time traveling with one. Verin says she does not know of any Stones closer than the Aiel Waste. Rand says he can find the one in Kinslayer's Dagger although that is still a few days away. Alar says the Stones have not been used since the Age of Legends and she did not think anyone knew how to use them. Verin says she knows how they are used. Alar says there is a Stone not far from where they are and they go there with haste.
==Characters==
*Rand
*Juin
*Loial
*Mat
*Perrin
*Ingtar
*Hurin
*Verin
*Alar
*Trayal
*Uno
*Machin Shin
===Referenced===
*Erith
*Morgase
*Moiraine
*Marisa Ayellin
*Egwene
*Padan Fain
*Barthanes
*Selene
==Groups==
*Aes Sedai
*Ogier
===Referenced===
*Darkfriends
==Places==
*Stedding Tsofu
===Referenced===
*Shayol Ghul
*Stedding Shangtai
*Cairhien
*Toman Head
*Stedding Cantoine
*Stedding Taijing
*Spine of the World
*Caemlyn
*Tar Valon
*Aiel Waste
*Kinslayer's Dagger
*Emond's Field
*Aryth Ocean
==Items==
*Horn of Valere
*Ruby-hilted dagger
*Portal Stone