Ryne murders Bukama and assists Merean in cornering members of the royal family. Lan and Moiraine battle Ryne and Merean. Lan eventually bests Ryne, and Moiraine kills Merean, but not before Merean manages to toss her victims to their deaths.
The final chapter opens with Lan moving through the corridors of the palace like he’s Solid Snake. Long hours spent with ko’di have convinced him that the only way to avoid an arranged marriage with Iselle is to get as far away from Edeyn as fast as fucking possible. But he can’t leave Bukama behind — not after Bukama saved him from the Blight so many years ago.
Suddenly, Lan happens upon Merean and Iselle walking together. I suppose when Moiraine told her to bother another Aes Sedai about the White Tower, Merean was the next most logical choice. Once they’re gone, Lan carries on looking for his friend.
In a very un-Lan-like move, he takes a spill down a flight of stairs — one nasty enough to kill most men. He quickly concludes that someone channeling the Power caused his fall, but raised voices leave no time for reflection. Bukama has been found with a dagger in his back.
***
Lan bursts into Moiraine’s chambers without knocking. Having concluded that Merean couldn’t have been the one who pushed him, he accuses Moiraine instead — and strongly implies that she was involved in Bukama’s death. But Moiraine, now convinced that Merean is of the Black Ajah, warns him to not be so easily deceived. She insists Iselle is not safe with her, but Lan is unconcerned, having just seen her walking with Brys and Diryk.
Suddenly connecting the dots, Moiraine realizes that Merean must have used Iselle to lure Brys and Diryk to a secluded part of the palace. Racing against time, she and Lan find the the royal family members on a bridge with sickeningly high drops on either side. Merean has them restrained with flows of the One Power, and praises Ryne for killing Bukama.
In an instant, Lan is crossing swords with Ryne, and Moiraine desperately tries to out-channel Merean. Both have met their match. Lan takes multiple wounds, and Moiraine is eventually bested — thrown onto her back and cut off from the Power by a spirit shield. As she lies dazed, Merean first drops young Diryk over the edge, who screams in terror on his way down. Then she tosses Brys over the edge, who remains silent as he falls. As Merean lifts Iselle into the air and toward the edge, Moiraine finally recovers enough to drive her dagger into the wicked sister’s back. Iselle teeters on edge of the bridge, and Moiraine rushes over to grab her for one of those classic Cliffhanger moments.
Unfortunately, today is not a good day to be a member of the royal family of Kandor. Moiraine is still too dazed to embrace the Power, and Iselle also falls to her death. Lan, having narrowly defeated Ryne, grabs Moiraine just in time to keep her from going over as well.
Wow! What a body count. Bukama, Brys, Iselle, Merean, Ryne, Caniedrin, Tamra, Meilyn… I know I’m leaving some out, but this was a pretty fucking brutal book. I guess that marriage isn’t happening after all, eh, Lan?