Chapter 14

Egwene retreats from Tel’aran’rhiod to the space of dreams, worrying over strangers haunting the World of Dreams and avoiding Wise One dreamwalkers. A particular dream-light draws her in against her will: Gawyn’s. In his dream, Gawyn frees Egwene from chains, duels a monstrous image of Rand, and beheads him, then carries Egwene away. Despite resisting entanglement, Egwene is swept along as Gawyn confesses love; she finally surrenders to the dream and returns his feelings.

In Salidar, Nynaeve fights sleep when a bubble of evil erupts. Furniture and tools animate; beds and linens attack; one nightwatchman is killed. Nynaeve and Elayne scramble to help, with Elayne channeling when Nynaeve cannot. Outside, Aes Sedai organize circles; Anaiya orders Nynaeve and others to link, taking control of their combined flows to quell countless small hazards across the village.

As they race through the streets, the circle neutralizes flying objects, strangling sheets, and rolling barrels, prioritizing lives over injuries. Within the link, Nynaeve feels awe, shared emotions, and frustration at the sheer volume of dangers. Elayne joins safely after removing the a’dam bracelet. Nicola, newly linked, slips into a trance and utters a Foretelling about a lion sword, a dedicated spear, one who sees beyond, three on a boat, one dead yet living, the land divided by the Return, and balance between guardians and servants.

When the eruption subsides, Anaiya breaks the link and directs Healing. Elayne and others assist the wounded; Nynaeve, exhausted, insists it was a bubble of evil, not a Forsaken strike. Anaiya appears almost disappointed it wasn’t an attack by the Forsaken. Too weary to report their discovery of the weather bowl, Nynaeve trudges toward bed, noting Theodrin working among the injured and resolving to sleep despite their scheduled session.