Rand's behavior in the scene with the Whitecloaks is exactly what Moiraine describes when explaining wilders and channelling sickness to Nynaeve in the Stag & Lion. I made that connection years ago when I first read the book because the explanation and his bizarre behavior are in back to back chapters. Rand had been complaining of feeling odd and having a headache since he'd woken up after the rat with the broken back dream. He attributed how he felt to the dream because Perrin was so depressed he didn't even get out of bed and Rand assumed Perrin was feeling the same thing he was. Rand's POV even stated that he knew just how Perrin felt, that he felt so miserable the only reason he was going out at all was because he was afraid his friends would never let him hear the end of it if he missed his first chance to see a 'real city.' RJ practically hits us over the head with it...