54 To Caemlyn

Rand returns to the Cairhien Royal Palace and assembles thousands of Aiel under Bael and Sulin. After a tense exchange with Wise Ones regarding Aviendha, Rand opens a gateway and steps onto a stone platform suspended in blackness, expanding it carefully to carry as many Aiel as it can. During the crossing, one Aiel falls into the void, hardening Rand’s resolve despite his grief.

Rand opens a new gateway near Caemlyn’s Royal Palace wall. As Aiel spread out to secure the area, the wall collapses outward; Trollocs and Myrddraal surge through, and lightning lashes from a clear sky. Rand weaves a vast shield to deflect further strikes, but too late: Mat lies blasted, Asmodean is charred, and Aviendha lies lifeless. Consumed by fury, Rand kills charging Trollocs, then opens a gateway directly into a palace hall, glimpses Rahvin, and storms through, hurling fire and lightning.

Elsewhere, in Tel’aran’rhiod, Nynaeve trains Siuan, their tempers flaring into a physical brawl. Alarmed by a possible watcher, Nynaeve panics and forcibly ejects Siuan from the Dream, then flees to Jurene. Moghedien appears to seize her, but Birgitte intervenes; Moghedien neutralizes Birgitte and begins to bind Nynaeve.

Refusing to abandon Birgitte, Nynaeve crawls close and manifests a silver a’dam in the Dream, leashing Moghedien. With control of Moghedien’s channeling, Nynaeve restores Birgitte and forces information: Rahvin set wards across Caemlyn to sense a man channeling, and Rand likely has already sprung the trap.

Nynaeve silences Moghedien and, despite her limited own strength, decides to go to Caemlyn in Tel’aran’rhiod using Moghedien’s power, determined to help as Rand confronts Rahvin in the Palace.