Moiraine decides to visit the palace as herself, since she hails from a noble Cairhien house. Siuan poses as Moiraine’s servant.
SIUAN: This is a horrible plan.
MOIRAINE: This is the best plan.
SIUAN: This is never gonna work.
MOIRAINE: C’mon, let’s go to the bank!
At the bank, they cash in one of the letters of rights that Moiraine got from Door Mail, then visit the seamstress. In just two days’ time, Moiraine proves that there is nothing more to posing as nobility than hemorrhaging large amounts of money over a short period of time. Perhaps “posing” is the wrong word to use. Moiraine really is Cairhienan nobility, after all, but she so thoroughly disavows her lineage that it certainly feels like pretense.
Casting off her assumed identity of “Lady Alys” — because that wouldn’t convince anybody — it is the Lady Moiraine Damodred whose livery arrives at the Aesdaishar Palace. Apparently the House of Damodred is somehow credited with starting the Aiel War, so her arrival is certain to make a statement and get her an audience with Lady Ines.
Unfortunately, as is the case with so many otherwise healthy and fortunate men recently, Lady Ines’ husband dropped dead over breakfast one day, and she is secluded in mourning. That means it is up to Siuan — in the role of “Suki,” Lady Moiraine’s humble and unseen serving maid — to rub shoulders Lady Ines’ servants. And from the way Siuan talks about a young footman named Cal, she clearly intends to rub more than just shoulders.