The peddler, Padan Fain, arrives with his wares, and more importantly, news of the world outside the Two Rivers. He tells the villagers of the hard winter throughout the land, wolves attacking sheep and men, failed crops, the late spring. And worse, war rages in Ghealdan - a false Dragon has proclaimed himself. The villagers are, of course, frightened and worried. Cenn Buie draws his own conclusions, blaming this Dragon for all that ails the world.

Fain shocks the crowd with the revelation that this Dragon can use the One Power, and Aes Sedai have been dispatched from Tar Valon to deal with him. Mayor al'Vere and the Village Council decide this news calls for a meeting, and drag Fain into the Winespring Inn to drill him with questions.

Rand and his friends stay outside as the crowd disperses, debating the topic. Mat mentions a story he heard from a merchant's guard, a tale that claims the Dragon shall be reborn in man's hour of greatest need. They are interrupted by Nynaeve al'Meara, the Village Wisdom, trailing Egwene with her. Both women scold them openly for discussing Dragons, Aes Sedai and Darkfriends. Nynaeve goes off to alert the Women's Circle of the news brought by the peddler, leaving Egwene with the boys outside the inn.

Rand clumsily changes the subject by asking Egwene if she will dance with him at the Bel Tine celebration the next day, only to be rudely awakened to the fact that Egwene now has her hair braided, a sign amongst the people of the Two Rivers that she is now of marriageable age. She further stuns Rand by announcing her intention of becoming a Wisdom, which surely means she will have to leave Emond's Field when her training is complete.

Mat finds that Moiraine has also given one of her coins to Perrin, and that Perrin has also seen the black-cloaked rider, and was similarly not believed. The conversation is ended by an old man in a colorful patched cloak practically running out of the inn.