Ohhh, these are great topics to ponder!Finally got to do a bit of reading this weekend! Some quick thoughts:
For all that people rightly give Jordan a hard time about his ability to write romance, I do think he starts telegraphing Nynaeve and Lan's relationship here (pg 271 of my season 1 tie in cover edition). I remember not being surprised by their romance the first go around, and I think this scene is part of why. Also her defense of him and his tracking skills in ch 18/on pg 300 ("he was not seen")
How often do we see Fades talk? And does Moiraine ever grow larger than a house again?????
We see Mat shouting in the Old Tongue here (pg 302). I didn't realize how early that shows up!