Chapter 50

In the Sun Palace, Rand recovers from exhaustion while Sulin and Min tend him. Wise Ones led by Sorilea, Amys, and Bair descend to examine him and grill Min about her viewings, accepting her insights. Rand refuses Coiren’s repeated requests for audiences, wanting full strength for Aes Sedai, and receives no reply from Gawyn. He senses Alanna drawing nearer with the Salidar embassy and plans to keep both embassies balanced.

Rand visits the Cairhien school, where Herid Fel rambles, then later sends a cryptic note about belief, order, and clearing rubble before building, warning “Do not bring girl. Too pretty,” before disappearing to go fishing. Min splits time with the Wise Ones and secretly observes nobles during audiences, foreseeing Maringil’s poisoning, Meilan’s death by knife, several Tairen lords’ bloody battlefield deaths, and Colavaere’s hanging. Rand keeps Min hidden to avoid making her a target.

Berelain arrives; Rand rebukes her for neglecting rule and confirms Elayne will take the Sun Throne. Min sees Berelain falling for a man in white. Rand consults daily with Rhuarc and Berelain on governance: rebels linger in the hills, Shaido stir in Kinslayer’s Dagger, and Sevanna briefly appears in Cairhien before leaving. Concerned, Rand halts sending more Aiel south toward Sammael to avoid exposing Cairhien.

Parallel to this, Perrin struggles as Berelain relentlessly engineers “chance” meetings, touching and teasing despite his marriage. Faile, smelling jealousy and rage to Perrin’s nose, answers with cold distance and barbed intimacy; Bain and Chiad discuss whether to help Faile beat him. Nobles press Perrin for Rand’s plans; he scents dangerous ambition in Colavaere, Meilan, and Maringil. Perrin hunts with Gaul to avoid Berelain, but she lies in wait nightly, while Faile withholds warmth.

After ten days, Rand finally sets an audience with Coiren, calculating that Merana and Alanna will arrive in roughly another ten, ensuring equal treatment of embassies. With Lews Therin murmuring about killing the Forsaken, Rand turns his thoughts to finishing Sammael once his Aes Sedai maneuvering is secured.