Episode 3 of "The Wheel of Time" kicks off with Nyn cleverly evading her Trolloc captors. As she dashes through the dense woods, the air is shattered by thunderous growls, signaling the menacing Trollocs closing in on her relentlessly. Nyn, undeterred by the peril, finds refuge in the waters of The Women’s Circle, where she silently lurks until the opportune moment arrives. With precision and daring, she emerges to take down one of her pursuers. This thrilling sequence ties up the cliffhanger from episode 2, as Nyn confronts Lan, who solemnly warns, "The darkness is coming for them." He urges her to heal Moiraine, highlighting her prowess as a healer. If she fails to act, Rand and the rest will remain irretrievably lost.
Speaking of being lost, Mat and Rand find themselves stranded in the wilderness, their journey leading them to rugged hills as they shout in vain for their companions. Realizing their solitude, they steel themselves to press on towards the White Tower, their destination beckoning them forward.
Along their path, they encounter the uninviting locale of Breen’s Spring, where a warrior, imprisoned in a cage and pierced by numerous arrows, stands as a grim greeting. This foreboding scene sets the tone as they venture into a bustling market, their eyes scanning the surroundings. Mat learns a bitter lesson when a cunning bard Reliefs him of his possessions.
Desperate for funds, the duo takes up menial work to secure a night’s lodging. Mat’s spirits wane, his doubts about Rand’s quest and the prophecy of the Dragon Reborn intensifying. However, the barmaid, Dana, offers them employment, tasking Mat with waiting tables despite his initial reluctance. The scene unfolds with Mat’s stubborn resilience being put to the test within the confines of the bustling inn.
While Rand finds sanctuary and a temporary home, Mat crosses paths with Thom Merrilin, a keen-witted individual who interrogates Mat about his intentions. Although Thom is aware of Mat's origins in Two Rivers, Mat deftly navigates the inquiry and ultimately retrieves the gem from the deceased within the cage. However, Rand becomes aware of having been manipulated by Dana. After leveraging his abilities to shatter a seemingly unyielding door, Rand and Mat find themselves trapped. Just as despair begins to set in, Thom intervenes, piercing Dana through the throat with a swift thrust.Dana has summoned a Fade to their town, an ominous development indeed. Thom, bound for the East, urges the duo to follow suit, hinting at dire consequences should they opt to stay and confront the impending Fade.
Meanwhile, Perrin and Egwene find themselves hunted by a pack of wolves. Perrin struggles mightily to ignite a fire with his flint, but to his astonishment, Egwene taps into her "spark," conjuring a blaze to keep them warm. Beneath the flickering flames, Egwene speculates that Rand might be heading back to Two Rivers, a notion that Perrin promptly corrects. The encroaching wolf pack, however, leaves them with no choice but to press on.
Their journey eventually leads them to a caravan of nomadic folk, known as the "Tuatha’an" or "The Traveling People," who generously offer them food and shelter.
Elsewhere, Moiraine, slowly recovering, proceeds onward with Lan and Nyn. They are met by Liandrin, who informs them, with a hint of triumph, that they have arrived too late. She boasts of capturing a man who calls himself the Dragon Reborn—none other than Logain Ablar. As he looks up at them, the episode draws to a cliffhanger, leaving their fates hanging in the balance.
