Selene pays Rand a visit, and he finally discovers she’s really Lanfear. She doesn’t seem to mind AT ALL that Rand is the reincarnation of the man who dumped her for another woman. Before Rand can be swayed to the dark side, a Gray Man tries to assassinate him.
Robert Jordan pisses away the first half of this chapter on a medley of passages written from various points of view. Cue the musical montage.
Mat can’t get anyone in the Stone of Tear to gamble with him, so he slums it in the city with the poor folk. Perrin is fishing around in those same taverns for a rumor that will draw Faile away from the danger surrounding him. Egwene and Nynaeve continue to question Joiya and Amico to no avail. Elayne fawns after Rand.
As the music fades out, Rand is meeting with two of the High Lords of Tear. As usual, they have taken his instructions and twisted them into a self-serving mockery of what he intended. He gives them an ultimatum, promising to hang the High Lords at the gallows, two per day, until his orders are faithfully executed. Cowed by Rand’s anger, the High Lords fall over each other to escape the room.
Then Selene shows up. Only this time, she dispenses with her games. She calls him Lews Therin and reveals her true identity: Lanfear, one of the Forsaken. OMG, yawn. Yeah, we guessed that already, like two books ago. I guess the dramatic irony was supposed to create tension, but for me the only thing it created was aggravation at Rand being too dense to figure it out for himself.
Rand isn’t even prepared to believe it until he tries to embrace saidin and finds himself blocked. You see, dude? She can channel. And in case you haven’t realized if by now, you’re the reincarnation of Lews Therin Telamon. In other words, your crazy ex-girlfriend just broke out of prison and wants get back together. Only she was in there for three thousand years, so there might be an extra screw or two loose.
As Lanfear holds him hostage, Rand notices a Gray Man slip into the room behind her. When she notices the surprise on his face, her shielding weave unravels. Rand dispatches the Gray Man with his One Power sword. Then he remembers the Aiel standing guard outside, and demands to know what Lanfear did to them. Rand flings the door open to a scene of utter chaos.