Chapter 37

Egwene is stunned when Nynaeve and Elayne confess they have secretly captured Moghedien using a disguised a’dam. After confronting the prisoner, Egwene dons the bracelet, threatens Moghedien into obedience, and demands knowledge. Testing a weave of Spirit, Egwene independently discovers Traveling by making two places identical, opening a gateway to the Aiel Waste.

With Moghedien cowed and dismissed, Siuan arrives. Egwene dismisses Nynaeve and Elayne, then firmly recruits Siuan as adviser, declaring she will not be anyone’s puppet. Siuan accepts, and they plot how to prod the Hall to act without exposing Egwene to faction control.

Elsewhere in Salidar, Romanda and Lelaine each gather Sitters, shroud their meetings with saidar, and scheme to check Sheriam’s influence and shape the new Amyrlin, while both wonder at Delana’s absence. In private, Delana is coerced by Halima to continue playing all sides and to push for Logain’s gentling or death, cowed by fear of Halima.

Siuan quietly spreads tailored gossip to Lelaine, seeding the image of Egwene as temperamental yet sovereign to make the Sitters tread carefully. Meanwhile, Romanda treats Nynaeve’s channeling block with odd exercises and gossip prompts, trying to trigger access to the Power.

Elayne approaches Sheriam, voicing concern that Romanda and Lelaine will expect compliance if Egwene yields on delaying movement from Salidar. Sheriam agrees to help preserve Egwene’s authority. The chapter closes with Egwene reflecting in her bath that she has begun her campaign and must now let events unfold, believing the Wise Ones would approve.