Side Note to an Empty Road

Huh...I forgot about this when I was writing my thoughts, but when I was reading the chapter, it was very prevalent in my mind.  This chapter is where we hear this quote for the first time, and Rand tells Mat, rather like a matra:

Chapter One (An Empty Road)

Truly the reader meets a lot of people in this chapter and the imagery is quite colorful. 

What I like is that Rand and Tam are walking to the village - Rand is alone in his head - it isn't Jordan telling the reader that the Spring hasn't come yet, it's Rand thinking that winter has lasted too long.  It isn't Jordan telling the reader about the boys' adventures to the Mountains of Mist, it is Rand reflecting on them.