Min POV#

They are back in the Sun Palace. Watching Rand, auras come and go, mostly flickering too quickly to see. She lied about her viewings; there was a second. He will almost certainly fail without a woman who is dead and gone.[1] Rand is hunting for a coat in his cabinet.[2] To sneak out, he gates them seven or eight miles south of Cairhien. Min says Nandera will not like this. Rand says she will not know, he does this all the time. A woman rides up, Lady Caraline Damodred. She looks like Moiraine. Min thinks Moiraine is the only viewing of hers that ever failed.[1] Caraline recognizes Rand. He acknowledges who he is and says that he will put Elayne on the throne in both Caemlyn and Cairhien. She is unhappy about his ta'veren effect on Cairhien, but Min expounds on the balance of positive and negative from her reading of Herid Fel's books. High Lord Darlin Sisnera and about twenty others arrive. Caraline covers for them saying they are Tomas Trakand and Jaisi Trakand. Min is annoyed as she knew a Jaisi who was a dusty old prune. Darlin recently arrived from Haddon Mirk. He came because Aes Sedai told him Rand would be going to the White Tower! They meant to put Caraline on the Cairhien throne before Colavaere could take it. Now he will not leave because he has asked Caraline to marry him. Min has a viewing:

• "She knew that they will marry—after Caraline had led him a merry chase. More, to her eyes a crown suddenly appeared on Darlin's head, a simple golden circlet with a slightly curved sword on its side above his brows. The king's crown he would wear some day, though of what country, she could not say."

Lord Toram Riatin is in the camp. Darlin has Rovair and Ines give them horses to ride. They all ride back to the camp where thousands have gathered. There are several Aes Sedai there, a Green, a Yellow and a Gray together[3] and at least one Red. There are several of Gaebril's White Lions. Min views an aura around one of them:

• "bruised hues so dark they seemed nearly black. He will murder anyone he thinks is in his way; he'll kill for a whim, kill anybody."

Min tells Caraline not to trust him; he will kill on a whim. He is Daved Hanlon. Toram Riatin hired them. Toram Riatin is with Padan Fain! Min sees no aura around him,[4] but he looks vaguely familiar. He is introduced as Master Jeraal Mordeth. Toram Riatin really hates the Dragon Reborn now.[5] He has been trying to talk Darlin and Caraline into a sneak attack to kill Rand. Rand is about ready to go after Fain, but Cadsuane walks up. She tells Rand he ought to leave, then walks away. Toram Riatin walks up. He says he plans to marry Caraline. Fain has vanished. Toram Riatin challenges Rand to practice swords and Rand agrees.

More Min POV