By this point in the story, with our heroes forcibly separated, not knowing what the future holds, Rand's already feeling homesick. Even Thom's attempt at keeping the boys distracted by teaching them the "performing arts" is effective, but not enough. Sometimes, Thom's stories serve only as a reminder to Rand that life isn't always like the stories. When Rand questions to himself on why he has to believe the others are alive -
Why? So it will all turn out like one of Thom's stories? The heroes find the treasure and defeat the villains and live happily ever after? Some of his stories don't end that way. Sometimes even heroes die. Are you a hero, Rand al'Thor? Are you a hero, sheepherder?
Other important things happen in this chapter, like, well, arriving at Whitebridge, the boys seeing the White Bridge (a "remnant from the Age of Legends"), learning Logain has been captured, Rand no longer has his coin from Moraine, Mat is on edge and *gasp* has a dagger from Shadar Logoth, hearing of the one following them - I'm assuming - correct me if I'm wrong - the one the innkeeper talks of asking after the boys "whining and begging" that was Padan Fain. Even upon first read I had that thought, not even theory, because that's just who my mind went to.
Oh, and the Hunt for the Horn has been announced...
In the last, lron fight
'gainst the fall of long night,
the mountains stand guard
and the dead shall be ward
for the grave is no bar to my call
Great Hunt of the Horn
More on that way later, but again Jordan's doing his setup work very careful and early. I think a lot of writers don't/can't have that much setup because they started writing before the entire idea was fleshed out. Not that I'm criticizing that, I'm not. Writers will write how they work best.
Okay, here's a question I have from this chapter. Yes, I love how fully fleshed out Jordan's world is, but the character...(not development, but maybe character actions?) sometimes leave things to be desired. The part in the inn is so predictable. Thom tells the boys to leave the information gathering to him, you'd think they would, I mean, he's the expert, right? He's the well traveled gleeman and all and the boys seem to trust him well (except of course on matters of bartering with Boyle) and here in the talk with the innkeeper. Is it Rand's impatience or impetuous that has him blurting out his questions? His naive trusting of the innkeeper? They've already been burned by one innkeeper, why do they continue to not listen to more experience people? Plot device or actual character, what's your opinion?
Oh, and side mention - in my first read and many reads thereafter, why did I think Thom was short? He may not be tall, but he's certainly not short as when they're exiting the inn "Thom...kept his height crouched." Eh, not important, but came to mind.
And here's another split - goodbye, Thom, you were well-loved and important for the story as a saavy means of introducing us to Jordan's world. Did anyone see this coming? The need for another split to get the story going and/or more "character growth"? In the end (of the chapter at least):
"Sometimes Rand looked back, but the road behind was always empty."
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