Min POV#

Min and the embassy from Salidar arrive in Caemlyn before dawn. Min is riding Wildrose. Merana was angered by what Dragonsworn did in Murandy. Merana who is from Caemlyn takes them to the finest inn in the New City, The Crown of Roses. Then they send Min to the Royal Palace. Min is still wearing pants. After her father died, her aunts Rana, Jan and Miren tried to get her to wear dresses. When she was twenty she worked at The Miners' Rest in Baerlon for a very short time and vowed never to wear a dress again. Min rides up to the shortest Aiel. They introduce themselves and Enaila takes Min to see Rand. Min has a viewing of Enaila:

• A wreath of some sort; Min had no idea what it meant.[1]

Rand is in the Great Hall with several nobles. Min also views Rand when she first sees him:

• Countless thousands of sparkling lights, like stars or fireflies, rushed into a great blackness, trying to fill it up, rushed in and were swallowed. There seemed to be more lights than she had ever seen before, but the darkness swallowed them at a greater rate, too.
• And there was something else, something new, an aura of yellow and brown and purple that made her stomach clench.

Rand walks to her smiling.

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Rand POV#

Rand sends away the nobles Dyelin, Ellorien, Aemlyn, Arathelle, Pelivar and Luan. He told them that Elayne is on her way but they do not necessarily believe him. He dismisses all the Maidens except Enaila and Somara. Nandera is as bad as Sulin was about hand picking Maidens who mother him. Bashere is out with his cavalry. Rand keeps the little fat man angreal in his coat pocket. Min gives Rand Elayne's letter. It only confuses him more about her feelings toward him. Rand says he does not know how he feels about Elayne or Aviendha and Min is really ticked by his talking about other women. She sits in his lap. She then tells him about the embassy. There are nine of them. She tells him that they mean no harm. She has not had any viewings that would indicate otherwise. Min tells Rand about her viewing in the throne room:

• Aes Sedai are going to hurt you. Women who can channel, anyway. It was all confused. I'm not sure about the Aes Sedai part. But it might happen more than once. I think that's why it seemed all scrambled.

Lews Therin mutters that he must be careful with nine Aes Sedai. Rand tells Min to take them a message that he will see them three at a time and that they must not channel at him. Sulin brings in a tray of refreshments and drops it when she sees Min in Rand's lap. Rand introduces Min and warns Sulin that she is his close friend. Sulin stalks out in a fury. Melaine then enters and sits down in front of Rand. Melaine is a lot calmer since marrying Bael. Melaine tells him about Egwene going to Salidar. Rand says he already knows and that the Salidar embassy is in Caemlyn. Min has a viewing of Melaine:

• You will have two daughters, twins like mirrors.

Melaine is flabbergasted at the news and Min is annoyed that she spoke out.[2] Min goes on to explain all about her viewings. Melaine is delighted. Bael and Dorindha have three sons so he would like a daughter. Min proceeds to tell Rand about the Aes Sedai in the embassy, Merana Ambrey, Kairen Stang, Rafela Cindal, Seonid Traighan, Faeldrin Harella, Demira Eriff, Berenicia Morsad, Masuri Sokawa and Valinde Nathenos. Rand tells them that he will show them respect but he will not trust them. Melaine goes to tell Bael the good news. Rand is left alone with Min, which feels awkward for some reason.

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