Egeanin’s cover is blown by Bayle Domon, leading to a moment where she admits her Seanchan worldview is a lie. Thom, Juilin, and Domon all have intel that the Black Ajah is at the Panarch’s Palace. The question is, are they manipulating Amathera, or in league with her?
Aw, yeah. We’re finally gonna pop the top off this Tanchico business. We’re finally gonna… have dinner? Egeanin has continued her visits with Elayne and Nynaeve at the inn. They share tea or a meal, and Egeanin poses burning questions about Aes Sedai, things she always wanted to know but was afraid to ask.
During Egeanin’s fourth visit, just when the conversation seems to run out of source material, Bayle Domon walks into the room and announces he has “found them.” He and Egeanin lock eyes, then start attacking each other. Elayne subdues them both with weaves of Air, and Domon relates how Egeanin captured his ship and made him sail to Falme. Egeanin doesn’t deny it, so Elayne and Nynaeve finally learn that she is *gasp!* Seanchan!
But I like her! Elayne’s mind protests. Nynaeve is considerably less reticent, and accuses Egeanin of meaning to put an a’dam around their necks. Nynaeve reveals the uncomfortable truth Egeanin has been grappling with, that sul’dam can also channel, and Egeanin’s answer takes them off guard.
EGEANIN: I know. Women who can wear the bracelet are women who can learn to channel.
She shouldn’t like Egeanin, but Elayne has to admire how calmly the Seanchan woman faces revelations that shake her world view. Nynaeve, on the other hand, is triggered:
NYNAEVE: Listen, bitch. Why are you here in Tanchico? If you think you’re going to collar us, think again.
EGEANIN: I was sent here to capture sul’dam deserters. You are not as I was taught. I… like you.
Egeanin is acting like a lifelong omnivore who just got scared into vegetarianism after she saw where her steak comes from. She seems to regret her ignorance, and claims to have released Bethamin (whom she held captive in Chapter 38: Hidden Faces). Now Elayne and Nynaeve aren’t sure what to do with her, so they turn their attention back to Domon:
NYNAEVE: Are you sure it was them?
DOMON: Aye, one of my men did see two of them. They are at the Panarch’s Palace.
NYNAEVE: The Panarch’s Palace?!? There are like 500 Whitecloaks there!
Well shit, what do you want, woman? Just because you don’t like the fucking answer doesn’t mean Domon can change it. Before Nynaeve can think of anything else more childish to say, Juilin sweeps into the room and announces that he, too, has “found them” at the Panarch’s Palace. Juilin and Domon get into a pissing match over who found the Black Ajah first, and Thom appears.
THOM: Nynaeve, I need a word with you alone.
NYNAEVE: We know, Thom. They’re in the Panarch’s Palace.
Whoa there, it’s time to stop with the comedic entrances, Mr. Jordan. This is Wheel of Time, not an episode of Seinfeld. At this point I half expected the innkeeper to burst in yelling, “I found them too!”
ELAYNE: So why would Lady Amathera allow them into the palace? Either she’s a Darkfriend, or she’s being manipulated.
Good question, Elayne. Hey, I’ve got an idea — let’s everyone get stuck on the topic of Amathera’s allegiances so we can piss away a few more pages! In these pages, Thom, Juilin, and Domon all make excursions to discern Lady Amathera’s involvement, but they all come back empty-handed.
Night falls. Elayne doesn’t think Egeanin is dangerous, but Nynaeve insists on binding the Seanchan woman’s hands and strip-searching her anyway. Thank you for that, Mr. Jordan — it had been entirely too long since you last mentioned naked women. Nynaeve goes to meet with Egwene in Tel’aran’rhiod, and Elayne puzzles out how they’re going to sneak into the Panarch’s Palace.