Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World #1.5

We step back a moment to detail the appearances of two key characters in the WHEEL OF TIME saga: The Peddler and The Gleeman. Edmond's Field, while preparing for the annual Bel Tine Festival, receives two more very important guests. One is Padan Fain, the peddler who travels from town to town in his wagon, bringing goods to trade as well as news and rumors from abroad, including one of war and a false Dragon. The other is gleeman Thom Merrilin, arriving in his patchwork cloak, ready to entertain and thrill the crowds with his song and dance. Both are not as they appear, and soon will be swept up into events neither could foresee...