Contents
Chapter 49
Overview
In Tear, Nynaeve hires Juilin Sandar to find thirteen Black Ajah women, while Egwene confirms through Tel'aran'rhiod that Liandrin’s group waits in the Heart of the Stone and likely knows the hunters are in Tear. Mat and Thom arrive in a storm; Mat exposes Comar’s cheating and kills him in a struggle, learning more killers are after the women. Mat then scours Tear at random for days without success as rumors and tension mount.
Summary
Ailhuin returns with Juilin Sandar. Nynaeve pays him to find thirteen specific women, warning they are deadly and must not be alerted. Juilin accepts, vowing caution. That night Egwene enters Tel'aran'rhiod, wills herself to the Heart of the Stone, and sees Liandrin with twelve others around Callandor; Liandrin seems to notice her. Egwene snaps awake and tells Nynaeve and Elayne that the Black Ajah are waiting and likely know they are in Tear.
Meanwhile, Mat and Thom reach Tear by river amid a violent storm. After securing rooms at The White Crescent, they search inns through the night. In The Golden Cup, Mat spots Comar cheating at dice. Thom demonstrates the swapping-dice trick to the innkeeper, but fear of the Defenders prevents any official move.
Mat confronts Comar directly, wins a decisive toss with uncanny luck, and orders him to leave Tear. Comar draws his sword; in the ensuing struggle Mat upends him onto a table, breaking Comar’s back. Dying, Comar reveals others are also hunting the women. The innkeeper hustles Mat out to avoid the Defenders, and Thom drags him away through the rain.
Determined to find the women and realizing his luck favors randomness, Mat adopts a patternless search, choosing inns by whim or coin toss. For three rain-soaked days and nights, Mat and a worsening Thom trawl Tear, hearing only dark rumors of war and the Dragon, but no trace of the women. Mat’s fatigue breeds unsettling dreams of the women, a net-wielding foe, and a blazing crystal sword.
Who Appears
- Mat CauthonArrives in Tear, exposes Comar’s cheating, kills him in a fight, learns more assassins pursue the women, and searches randomly for days.
- Egwene al’VereEnters Tel'aran'rhiod, sees Liandrin’s circle around Callandor, concludes the Black Ajah know they are in Tear.
- Nynaeve al’MearaHires Juilin to find thirteen women; warns of their deadly danger and insists on discretion.
- Elayne TrakandSupports the plan, worries about Juilin’s caution, and stands watch while Egwene dreams.
- Juilin SandarTairen thiefcatcher; hired to locate thirteen women; promises careful, swift work.
- Thom MerrilinAssists Mat; reveals Comar’s dice trick; grows sicker with a worsening cough during the searches.
- Mother Guenna (Ailhuin)Hosts the women; vouches for Juilin; discusses herbs with Nynaeve.
- ComarAssassin sent by Gaebril; cheats at dice; dies after attacking Mat; reveals others are hunting the women.
- Captain DerneSkipper of the Swift; delivers Mat and Thom to Tear amid the storm, grumbling about speed.
- Cavan LoparInnkeeper of The White Crescent; rents rooms to Mat and Thom during the storm.
- LiandrinSeen in Tel'aran'rhiod among thirteen women around Callandor, seemingly aware of Egwene.