Chapter 48

Nynaeve, unsettled after a cool bath and a vexing audience with Merilille, joins Elayne, Birgitte, and Aviendha in their palace apartment. They chafe at being dismissed as if Accepted and suspect Vandene and Adeleas are hiding intentions to control the search for the mysterious bowl ter’angreal. Discussion turns to scouting and blending into Ebou Dar, with Elayne favoring local dress and coordinated searching.

A servant summons only the “Aes Sedai,” sending Birgitte and Aviendha to explore while Nynaeve and Elayne head to Queen Tylin. En route they pass Jaichim Carridin, alarming Nynaeve. Before Tylin, formality collapses into blunt candor when the Queen questions their youth and the divided Tower. Elayne apologizes for the Salidar army in Altara and tries to reduce tensions; Tylin invites frankness.

Tylin lays out Altara’s fragile politics—limited power, encroaching neighbors, Whitecloaks, and rival Aes Sedai—and her fear for her son Beslan’s succession. Pressed on their purpose, Elayne reveals the entire quest: a ter’angreal (the Bowl of the Winds) located via Tel’aran’rhiod in a dangerous quarter. Tylin infers the Rahad, warns they could be killed quickly there, and declines to send soldiers, which would spark riots, but agrees to talk, share what she can, and not impede them. Beslan appears briefly, respectful and curious.

Afterward, Nynaeve worries Tylin will relay news to Elaida’s Reds, while Elayne argues honesty was required by local custom and politics. Elayne vows they will outpace Vandene, Adeleas, and Teslyn’s embassy, retrieve the bowl within ten days, and solve Mat’s medallion mystery. Nynaeve, buoyed, agrees to the aggressive timetable despite the Rahad’s risks.