Moiraine runs into Merean and becomes convinced that she is, in fact, a member of the Black Ajah.
Lady Moiraine is still flabbergasted that Siuan would flirt with a lowly footman, but she allows herself to be led off to meet Prince Brys and his children. His second son, Diryk, gushes about how great Lan is, extolling his virtues as the King of Malkier. Moiraine, having dismissed the rumors she’d been hearing, is stunned to learn who Lan really is. With the risk rising that someone might “introduce” her to Lan as Lady Moiraine Damodred, she fakes an illness and bolts back to her chambers.
That’s when she almost literally runs into Merean. Strangely, Larelle is nowhere to be seen, and Merean says she decided to head south. Merean doesn’t spare much time for Moiraine, but Moiraine’s conspiracy theories come flooding back full force — with Merean right at the center.
Moiraine heads straight to Lan’s chambers, where he’s shirtless and practicing sword forms like the bubbling vat of pure testosterone that he is. She briefly thinks he’s been mauled by a wild animal, but then realizes the marks on his back were made by a woman. Lady Edeyn, it seems, has been busy. Moiraine invokes an old alliance between Malkier and the White Tower and asks him to spy on Merean.
Thanks to her run-in with Merean, everyone in the palace now knows that Moiraine is an Aes Sedai. Upon returning to her chambers, she finds Iselle — Edeyn’s daughter — waiting for her in Siuan’s company. Iselle, you’ll recall, is one awkward conversation away from starring in a mother/daughter three-way with Lan. While “Suki” stands off to the side and folds her arms beneath her breasts, Iselle explains that she has the potential to channel and intends to become a member of the Green Ajah one day. Moiraine recommends she bother some other Aes Sedai about it and sends her on her way.
MOIRAINE: So, what did you learn?
SIUAN: That footman is a really good kisser. You?
MOIRAINE: Well, let’s see… Merean is here, I am super fucking paranoid, and I got Lan to agree to spy on her.
SIUAN: What part of “undercover” didn’t make sense to you?
MOIRAINE: Look, we’re running out of time. You have to reach the Lady Ines ASAP.
SIUAN: I know. I’m working on him. I mean, uh — it. I’m working on it.
That evening, Siuan returns with news: Bukama saw Merean spending the day with Prince Brys before retiring to her chambers. She also casts doubt on Lady Ines being Dragon Mother material by reporting that the footman placed Rahien’s birth a day after Gitara’s foretelling, but promises to keep searching for a definitive answer, even if it means sleeping her way through Lady Ines’ entire staff.