Chapter 3, The Peddler Summary

Padan Fain, a peddler that has come to Emond's Field every year for as long as Rand can remember, has arrived. The entire village comes to greet him. More important than his wares is the news he brings of life outside Two Rivers, the land in which Emond's Field is located. Rand and Mat are joined by Perrin Aybara, the blacksmith's apprentice, and together the three of them listen to the peddler's news.

Padan Fain begins by telling the villagers that their troubles are nothing compared to what has been happening outside their isolated community. He speaks of war in Ghealdan, a land to the south. The conflict is due to the emergence of someone claiming to be the Dragon reborn. There are prophecies concerning the rebirth of the Dragon and there have been false Dragons in the past...