Nynaeve POV#

The next morning Nynaeve awakes in her room with Elayne. After her traumatic experience she had nightmares the rest of the night. She updates Elayne on all she learned. Elayne questions the wisdom of asking Birgitte to search for Moghedien. They argue about their forward plan. Nynaeve wants to continue cross-country while Elayne wants to catch a riverboat to Ebou Dar, then a ship to Tear. They agree that they must go to Tear. Nynaeve cannot remember the name of the town where the Blue Ajah is gathering.

They go downstairs where Mistress Jharen serves them breakfast. Galad suddenly sits at their table. They are shocked that he is a Whitecloak officer. Eamon Valda promoted him rapidly. He tells them that Siuan was stilled and executed.[1] Gawyn stayed behind. He wants to take them to Caemlyn, but they refuse. They also refuse to tell him where Egwene is. He is with another Whitecloak captain, Trom.

After he leaves, Elayne is in a panic. She thinks he might decide that the right thing to do is turn them in. Back upstairs, they rejoin Thom and Juilin and tell them about Galad. Thom has learned that King Ailron means to take the eastern bank of the Eldar River including numerous Altara border villages from Salidar to So Eban to Mosra.[2] It is actually Pedron Niall extending his influence. They can see Galad across the street watching the inn. They decide to travel with Valan Luca's circus to Ghealdan. No one would suspect them of going that direction. They will have to abandon the coach and much of their belongings so they can separately sneak out the back.

As they prepare, Elayne tells Nynaeve that Thom was court bard and Morgase's lover after Taringail died. She recognized him in Tanchico. Nynaeve now understands Elayne's odd behavior toward Thom. She recalls that Sari Ayellin did the same in Emond's Field after her father died. Elayne says she never knew her father, but Gawyn told her he spent all his time with Galad. They continue to prepare for their hasty departure.

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