Rand al’Thor and his father Tam bring a load of brandy into the village of Emond’s Field for the Bel Tine celebration the next day. During the journey along the Quarry Road, Rand sees a mysterious, black-cloaked rider behind them but when he calls his father’s attantion to it, the figure vanishes. Both Rand and Tam mark it off to imagination, but Rand remains uneasy.

In the village, most of the talk is about the unusually cold weather and lack of signs of spring, despite it being Bel Tine already. Wit Congar accosts Tam to complain about the Wisdom, Nynaeve, until his wife Daise puts him in his place. Rand and Tam reach the Winespring Inn and are met by the inkeeper, Bran al’Vere, also the mayor of the village. Cenn Buie, the thatcher, makes dismal predictions that things are only going to get worse, prompting both Tam and Bran to rebuke him. While the elders are arguing, Matrim Cauthon tries to convince Rand to slip away and make mischief with him. Rand learns that Mat has seen the mysterious black cloaked rider also while the boys are discussing it, Tam sees Mat and drafts him to help unload the cart.