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|  [{Image src='Chapter Icons/btar_lft.gif' link='Wiki.jsp?page=TEotW,Ch3'}] 
| %%(display:block; text-align:center;) [{Image src='Chapter Icons/harp_bw.gif' link='Wiki.jsp?page=Category Gleeman Icon' align='center'}] ''The Gleeman'' %% 
|   [{Image src='Chapter Icons/btar_rgt.gif' link='Wiki.jsp?page=TEotW,Ch5' align='right'}]
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! __Rand__ POV

[Thom|Thom Merrilin] confronts [Rand|Rand alThor], [Mat|Matrim Cauthon], [Perrin|Perrin Aybara] and [Egwene|Egwene alVere]. Noting [Thom|Thom Merrilin]'s blue eyes, [Rand|Rand alThor] recalls punching [Ewal Coplin] for teasing him about his gray eyes. He wonders if [Thom|Thom Merrilin] and [Lan|al'Lan Mandragoran] are from the same place.[1] [Thom|Thom Merrilin] knows [Padan Fain] and does not like him. [Thom|Thom Merrilin] once was a Court Bard. He offers many stories,[2] the ''[Aptarigine|Fictional Characters] Cycle'',[3] [Artur Hawkwing], the [Green Man|Someshta], [Warders] and [Trollocs], [Ogier] and [Aiel], ''The Thousand Tales of [Anla|Fictional Characters], the Wise Counselor'',[4] '[Jaem the Giant-Slayer|Fictional Characters]', ''How [Susa|Fictional Characters] Tamed [Jain Farstrider|Jain Charin]'', '[ Mara|Fictional Characters] and the Three Foolish Kings', [Lenn|Fictional Characters], who flew to the moon,[5] his daughter [Salya|Fictional Characters],[6] [Mosk|Fictional Characters] the Giant,[7] his wars with [Elsbet|Fictional Characters] Queen of All,[8] [Materese|Fictional Characters] the Healer,[9] Mother of the Wondrous [Ind|Fictional Characters],[10] ''The Siege of the Pillars of the Sky'', 'How Goodwife [Karil|Fictional Characters] Cured Her Husband of Snoring,' ''King [Darith|Fictional Characters] and the Fall of the House of—''. [Moiraine|Moiraine Damodred] and [Lan|al'Lan Mandragoran] arrive and talk briefly with [Thom|Thom Merrilin]. She addresses him as "Master Bard."[11] After they depart, [Thom|Thom Merrilin] is clearly distrustful of [Moiraine|Moiraine Damodred] and leaves as well. [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara] and the Councilmen come out of the inn, [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara] arguing with [Bran|Bran alVere] and [Cenn Buie], and head to their respective homes. [Egwene|Egwene alVere] follows [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara]. The boys ask [Tam|Tam alThor] about the meeting. [Mat|Matrim Cauthon] remarks that he is interested in battles.[12] [Tam|Tam alThor] says the [Two Rivers] is inaccessible, but they will send men to [Deven Ride], [Watch Hill] and [Taren Ferry] to keep watch just the same. [Rand|Rand alThor] and [Tam|Tam alThor] get [Bela], speaking briefly with [Hu|Hu Barran] and [Tad|Tad Barran], and head back to the farm. [Tam|Tam alThor] says that a straight line from [Tar Valon] to [Ghealdan] would pass just east of them, but it is silly to think that the [Aes Sedai] would travel cross-country through the [Forest of Shadows] instead of taking the road through [Caemlyn] and [Lugard]. [Tam|Tam alThor] tells [Rand|Rand alThor] that [Lem Thane], [Jon Thane]'s son, and [Bandry Crawe], [Samel Crawe]'s son, saw the dark rider, too.

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More [Category Rand POV]
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! Notes (Possible Spoilers)

[#1] Is this a hint that [Thom|Thom Merrilin] is originally from the [Borderlands]?\\
[#2] Many of [Thom|Thom Merrilin]'s stories reflect reality in our world.\\
[#3] According to the expanded glossary in "To the Blight," the ''Aptarigine Cycle'' is a lengthy series of stories chronicling the lives of several royal families over many generations.\\
[#4] Ann Landers\\
[#5] John Glenn\\
[#6] Salyut or Sally Ride\\
[#7] Moscow ([TSR,Ch20])\\
[#8] Queen Elizabeth\\
[#9] Mother Teresa\\
[#10] India?\\
[#11] Was [Moiraine|Moiraine Damodred] eavesdropping on their earlier conversation or does she know [Thom|Thom Merrilin] and his past?\\
[#12] Foreshadowing his future strengths.
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! Artwork

* [The Gleeman|http://members.shaw.ca/jbeveridge/teotw07.htm] ([James Beveridge|http://members.shaw.ca/jbeveridge/wot01.htm])

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