Chapter 54

Before dawn, Elayne, Nynaeve, and Egeanin ride a cart with Bayle Domon’s sailors to the Panarch’s Palace under disguise as servants, while Thom and Juilin spread rumors to spark a diversionary riot. Whitecloaks and the Panarch’s Legion bristle outside, and the city simmers. Inside the kitchens, Marillin Gemalphin briefly appears, forcing the women to keep their heads down. A domineering cook mistakes them for servants and inadvertently speeds them deeper into the palace.

After changing into palace livery, Nynaeve arms herself with a feather duster and Egeanin hides a pestle as a cudgel. Elayne senses channeling near the Panarch’s apartments and orders Egeanin to throw open the doors. Elayne instantly shields and binds Temaile, then confronts Panarch Amathera, who has been tormented by Temaile. Elayne compels the reluctant Panarch to cooperate quietly and prepares to sneak her out.

Meanwhile, Nynaeve enters the exhibition hall to secure the male a’dam and the cuendillar seal. Moghedien arrives disguised as a servant; Nynaeve recognizes her and they engage in a brutal, silent duel of Spirit, each trying to sever the other. Realizing they are evenly matched, Nynaeve distracts Moghedien by throwing the black collar, breaks her focus, and rams a shield home, binding her with Air.

Nynaeve retrieves the a’dam and reveals the hidden seal, disguised by Moghedien with a near-invisible weave, and pockets both. Before she can extract Moghedien, Jeaine Caide appears in a courtyard and attacks with a balefire ter’angreal, scything the exhibition hall. Nynaeve narrowly escapes through collapsing corridors; in the chaos, Moghedien disappears despite being shielded.

Exhausted but alive, Nynaeve withdraws toward the rendezvous, hoping Elayne and Egeanin have escaped with Panarch Amathera as the riot and the Black Ajah’s counterattacks engulf the palace.