He encountered Rand al'Thor and Mat Cauthon on their way to Caemlyn. He gave them a lift on his cart somewhere between Market Sheran and Carysford, and gave them information about the Queen's Guards and the situation in Andor at that time. Saying he could tell they were not Darkfriends, he also offered Rand and Mat a chance to lay low at his place if they were in trouble and needed to stay out of the way for a while, or just because Rand was still recovering from some malady. Despite his friendliness, Mat, under the influence of the cursed dagger from Shadar Logoth, was hostile towards Kinch, who drove off, insulted by his lack of gratitude.