Nynaeve POV#

In Tel'aran'rhiod, Nynaeve tries to move to the Amyrlin's study, but she cannot. Instead, she goes to Sheriam's study and walks. Fearing the Black Ajah and their dream ter'angreal, she disguises herself as Melaine. Elaida appears briefly in the Amyrlin's stole, but Nynaeve thinks that must be just her own dream. She finds the Amyrlin's study changed a lot. Egwene arrives and recognizes Nynaeve through the disguise. She says they could not go directly to the study because of the changes. Egwene tells her to stop playing around in Tel'aran'rhiod and terrifies her with a nightmare. They see the picture of Rand and Egwene identifies the other as Bonwhin. Nynaeve begins searching the papers in the study while Egwene takes the anteroom. One is a request from Joline to serve penance.[1] Davram Bashere and his army cannot be found and Tenobia is not cooperating. There have been no reports from Tanchico in three weeks. Pedron Niall is claiming credit for solving a dispute between Murandy and Illian. There is a report on a suspected gathering of Blue Ajah sisters.[2]

While she is reading, Egwene cries out. She found a document signed by Elaida as Amyrlin. They conclude that Siuan must be dead or stilled, probably over Rand. They continue to search and find an arrest warrant for Moiraine as well as the orders to capture and return Elayne, but they cannot find the letter referencing the Blue Ajah gathering. Nynaeve finds herself deferring to Egwene and realizes it was because she lied. She then admits to Egwene the Ronde Macura drugged her and that Thom and Juilin had to rescue them. The damage is already done and Egwene maintains her authority. Nynaeve maintains that she does not lie, so Egwene forces a stinky drink on her. They agree that Egwene should only tell Rand and Moiraine about Elaida and that they must find the Blue Ajah. Egwene warns her again to avoid Moghedien, then she disappears. Nynaeve goes back to her bed in Sienda.

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Egwene POV#

Egwene wakes in her tent, thankful that none of the Wise Ones are there. She is not afraid of Bair punishing her. Rather she is afraid that Amys will refuse to teach her anymore. Timolan and the Miagoma have arrived. They have not joined Rand, but are paralleling his course. She goes to Rand's tent. Aviendha and Enaila are outside. Rand is busy studying the Prophecies of the Dragon with Natael. She then goes to Moiraine's tent where Lan is guarding. Inside, Moiraine is using her pendant to eavesdrop on Rand.[3] She started up again after Rand shielded his dreams against the Wise Ones. Egwene tells her that Elaida is now Amyrlin. Moiraine asks if this was a Dream. Egwene recalls several recent dreams:

• Rand sitting down in a chair, and somehow she knew that the chair's owner would be murderously angry at having her chair taken; that the owner was a woman was as much as she could pick out of that, and not a thing more.
• Perrin, lounging with Faile on his lap, kissing her while she played with the short-cut beard he wore in the dream. Behind them two banners waved, a red wolf's head and a crimson eagle. A man in a bright yellow coat stood near to Perrin's shoulder, a sword strapped to his back; in some way she knew that he was a Tinker, though no Tinker would even touch a sword. And every bit of it except the beard seemed important. The banners, Faile kissing Perrin, even the Tinker. Every time he moved closer to Perrin it was as if a chill of doom shot through everything.
• Mat throwing dice with blood streaming down his face, the wide brim of his hat pulled low so she could not see his wound, while Thom Merrilin put his hand into a fire to draw out the small blue stone that now dangled on Moiraine's forehead.
• A storm, great dark clouds rolling without wind or rain while forked lightning bolts, every one identical, rent the earth.

but she has interpreted none of them. She hedges and implies that it was a Dream without actually lying. Egwene does not understand how Moiraine can be so calm. Moiraine says they have been searching nearly twenty-one years. When their search began, the new Amyrlin was Sierin Vayu. She was of the Gray Ajah but behaved more like Red Ajah. She would have put them under penance for the rest of their lives. Moiraine and Siuan have always known the risk and the price they would pay. Egwene tells her that the Blue Ajah is gathering somewhere and Nynaeve's report of the Forsaken including Lanfear. Moiraine says that with luck they will not have to worry about Lanfear.[4] They can only advise and guide Rand. Egwene asks why Moiraine is now obeying Rand. She replies that she remembered how to control saidar. One must surrender to it. When Egwene leaves, she realizes that Moiraine treated her as an equal.
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