Minor Wheel of Time Characters - Gaidal Cain

Gaidal Cain is a legendary swordsman who wields two weapons, and is one of the many heroes who has been reincarnated throughout the ages to fight the shadow. He has a connection to Birgitte Silverbow, and the feelings the two have for each other have carried over into countless lives each has lived. As is the case with many such figures, time has distorted tales of him. Gaidal Cain is said by many to have been as beautiful as Birgitte; in truth, he has an appearance many women would find ugly.

Gaidal Cain appeared alongside other heroes, such as Birgitte and Artur Hawkwing, towards the end of The Great Hunt. One of the many heroes tied to the Horn of Valere, he came when Mat Cauthon blew the legendary instrument and joined in the battle against the Seanchan. Following their defeat and the end of the battle between Rand al'Thor and Ba'alzamon, he disappeared.

Along with Birgitte, Gaidal also appeared in Tel'aran'rhiod. He appeared a number of times, only staying long enough to keep Birgitte from breaking the rules regarding contact with those who intruded on the World of Dreams. These appearances were few, as Gaidal soon disappeared from Tel'aran'rhiod, apparently having been spun out into a new life. Birgitte, having returned to an existence in the real world by other means, currently seeks the reborn Gaidal Cain in the hopes that he will come to love her as he has in the past.

It is not possible that young Olver, a companion of Mat Cauthon, is the reincarnation of Gaidal. He is a short boy, and considered ugly and lost both of his parents at a young age. It is also noted that Min Farshaw saw an aura around Birgitte Silverbow that showed Birgitte connected to a much younger rather ugly man in Winter's Heart, but Robert Jordan has said that Olver is not Cain, as Olver is too old to be Cain reborn. An infant briefly mentioned in Towers of Midnight, Gadren, son of an Asha'man and currently living at the Black Tower, seems a likely candidate, matching both the timelines and the description - the boy's own father admits he's a very ugly child.