Chapter 46

Amid Tanchico’s refugee-choked streets, Egeanin tails Floran Gelb and his ruffians, realizing they plan another kidnapping. When Gelb’s men move on two veiled “Taraboner” women—Elayne and Nynaeve—Egeanin wades in with a staff, joining the women as they fight the gang off. Elayne briefly channels to stop a knifeman, risking exposure.

Grateful, Elayne and Nynaeve bring Egeanin to the Three Plum Court. Juilin arrives with news: he tracked a white-streaked-haired woman to a house used by several women—likely the Black Ajah—but it was vacated during the night. Rendra fusses; Thom follows with word that the Children ring the Panarch’s Palace and that Amathera’s surprise investiture is imminent, likely to spark riots. He has already arranged fifty guards and seeks a carriage.

Egeanin, intrigued and unsettled by Aes Sedai, departs after noting Thom’s mention of Bayle Domon. Soon a regal, unfamiliar woman enters Elayne and Nynaeve’s private room, seizes saidar, and uses Compulsion, forcing them to confess their hunt for the Black Ajah, their scant findings, and their knowledge of ter’angreal and Rand. She muses about Forsaken deaths, a device to control a man who can channel, and keeping to shadows, then compels them to forget the encounter entirely.

With their memories wiped, Elayne and Nynaeve resume plans, unaware of the interrogation. Outside, Egeanin resolves to learn more about Aes Sedai while avoiding Domon. A pale-haired man in a shabby disguise, who earlier broke a beggar’s arm, watches Egeanin and turns his attention to the inn, planning to pry within under cover of coin.