Chapter 39

Wavedancer docks at Tanchico at sunset. Elayne and Nynaeve disembark with Thom and Juilin, wary of the desperate crowds. They unexpectedly meet Bayle Domon, who offers to help them find rooms. He takes them to the Three Plum Court, run by Rendra, where Elayne and Nynaeve secure lodging.

Over supper, Nynaeve reveals their hunt for the Black Ajah and persuades Domon to lend men and eyes. Thom and Juilin question Domon about Tanchico’s underworld and politics, then set plans to probe for leads. After, Elayne attends Thom’s performance, is plied with refills, and later drunkenly confronts Thom, forcing him to admit he once served as Morgase’s bard and lover before sending her away to bed.

Nynaeve finds Elayne intoxicated and forcibly sobers her. Because Nynaeve fears falling asleep in Tel’aran’rhiod without a watcher, Elayne agrees to keep her awake. Nynaeve uses the stone ring, appears first in the Heart of the Stone, then shifts to the Waste, seeing a fog-shrouded city (Rhuidean) and a man in a blue coat testing the fog’s edge. Birgitte Silverbow appears, urgently warning Nynaeve to flee or risk death.

Driven out of the scene, Nynaeve finds herself on the Green in Emond’s Field and is immediately shot at by a man who looks like Lan; she dodges, taking a grazing wound before wrenching herself awake. Back in the room, Elayne tends the shallow cut as Nynaeve recounts seeing Rhuidean, Birgitte, and the archer, and they worry for Egwene’s safety.

At dawn, Elayne suffers a vicious hangover while Nynaeve brews a remedy. Juilin returns with rumors, including a reported woman with a white streak in her hair, while Thom plans to sniff out political disturbances. The men urge the women to stay hidden since the Black Ajah know their faces. Nynaeve agrees and quietly arranges disguises with Rendra, resolving that she and Elayne will work carefully while Thom, Juilin, and Domon’s men gather leads. Elayne remembers they also must locate the dangerous ter’angreal that could bind Rand.