Begining of this chapter taken from the second book, "The Great Hunt", Chapter 24

The crunch of boots on the walk brought them around to look at two young men with their shirts and coats across their arms, leaving sweaty chests bare, and scabbarded swords in their hands. Egwene found herself staring at the most handsome man she had ever seen. Tall and slim, but hard, he moved with a cat-like grace. She suddenly realized he was bowing over her hand - she had not even felt him take it in his - and fumbled in her mind for the name she had heard.

"Galad." she murmured. His dark eyes stared back into hers. He was older than she. Older than Rand. At the thought of Rand, she gave a start and came to herself.

"And I am Gawyn" - the other young man grinned - "since I don't think you heard the first time." Min was grinning, too, and only Elayne wore a frown.

Egwene abruptly remembered her hand, still held by Galad, and freed it.

"If your duties allow," Galad said. "I would like to see you again, Egwene. We could walk, or if you obtain permission to leave the Tower, we could picnic outside the city."

"That - that would be nice." She was uncomfortably aware of the others, Min and Gawyn still with their amused grins, Elayne still with her scowl. She
tried to settle herself, to think of Rand. He's so... beautiful. She gave a jump, half afraid she had spoken aloud.

"Oh, lord Galad! Lovely to see you!" Galad's face that always seemed to be as hard as stone finally showed an emotion, with a frown. Egwene and Min were actually the only ones not to recoil when Hoid stepped in.

The prince sighed. "It's not been long since then..."

"Oh, I agree wholeheartedly! For me barely minutes pass. I suppose that is the consequence of being as old as I am."

Gawyn tsked. "You are barely forty."

Hoid smiled. "Now, that is incredibly polite from you, prince Gawyn. I didn't expect such a thing from a man of your standing, frankly!"

"Hoid?" Egwene now loved that man more than anything. Light bless you, Hoid! But... "What...what are you doing here?"

Elayne turned sharply towards her. "You know him?"

"Uh...yes. He is a gleeman who comes often to the Two Rivers, even more than Thom."

"If only!" Gawyn rumbled, completely forgetting Egwene. "This man has somehow become the personal advisor of the Amyrlin Seat. A position only held by other Aes Sedai throughout all history!"

"Oh, I did not mean to overshadow everything, prince Gawyn!" Hoid said. "And neither was it my intention to go against history. Believe me, by the next turning I will be forgotten." He turned towards Egwene and bowed. "It's so lovely to see you, my dear! How is your father? A good man, he bought me a drink the last time we met."

"He did?" Egwene was still smiling - she always loved Hoid's voice - but she was also confused. "I...don't think you ever met him, Hoid."

The man blinked. "Oh, my bad. It happened before...before, yes. Well, that too is the consequence of old age. It seems my years have caught up to me. Princess?" He made a bow which Elayne accepted out of mere courtesy. If it was her desire, Egwene had little doubt the princess would have slapped the man around by the way she was looking at him. That is the sort of attitude Hoid would call a success, however.

"A beautiful situation, my lords and ladies! I must admit the very idea of standing before nobility such as you, my lord Galad, is a privilege people rarely have." He leaned towards Min. "Or many would refuse..."

"Master Hoid." Galad cut him off. "Maybe you could give us some time and space if you don't mind?"

"Not at all, your excellency! Just pretend I am not there, hard as it may be."

"We were discussing important matters."

"Oh, for certain! A future together, lovely two doves or more standing on a branch, courting of each other...who cares about the return of the Lord of the Grave himself when there is a woman standing in front of you!" Hoid slouched. "Poor Old Nick. He gets so overshadowed by everyday problems of ordinary folk one would start thinking he is no more than a dog barking at the doorsteps."

"Old what?" asked Galad.

"Oh, dear gentlemen, forgive me! I have almost forgotten. Now, as much as I would be happy to stand here and think of new ways to carry the conversation, I am afraid certain birds are waiting for me on the outside. Farewell!" He bowed to the ladies and left, walking even more gracefully than Galad moments ago.

Lord Galad's handsome face was now frowning again. "That man is aggravating beyond any sense of limits."

"Limit is a word that is foreign to Hoid." Elayne said. "I heard him once address a woman of noble heritage by her name - absolute disrespect!"

"Well," Gawyn commented, nervously playing scratching his hair. "he is funny from time to time..."

"No, he is not." Galad said. "He is like a court jester from the stories common folk tell to entertain themselves."

Gawyn smiled. "I don't think you give him enough credit, Galad..."

"There is no credit to give him." Galad bowed his head to Elayne. "Sister. I am afraid I have to leave." Lithe as a blade, he strolled on across the bridge, though Elayne paid no attention to him.

"I hate him!" she hissed.

Gawyn sighed. "Galad is just..."

"Galad? He is a saint compared to Hoid! I do not want to see that man ever again."

"But...what has he done to you, Elayne?" Egwene wondered. "Hoid is very kind..."

"Kind? Ask every respected Aes Sedai or noblewoman and you will change your mind!"

"Well, he sometimes talks more than he should, but otherwise all men are..."

"He is not a man, he is a fly!" Elayne insisted. "A fly that bites and bites until you kill it." She almost snarled, though succeeded in keeping her royal dignity. "Light, I want the Amyrlin Seat to get rid of him!"

Gawyn sharply shook his head. "That is not happening any time soon, Elayne. I will dare and say Amyrlin quite likes him."

Elayne scoffed. Min did not move her eyes nor her body for a while already. "Min...are you alright?"

"What?" She said as if woken from a dream.

"What is it?" Egwene asked him. "What did you see when you looked at Hoid?"

Min tried to speak. "Nothing."

Elayne shrugged. "There is not much to see honestly. Just a fool."

"No!" Min pressed with a surprisingly firm tone. "No...that's what I saw." The three of them stared at her. "Nothing. I cannot see anything. I cannot read him."