Yes, Nynaeve really did track them all the way from Emond’s Field to Baerlon. She says she intends to bring Egwene and the boys back, but seems to lack conviction.
MIN: Psst! Hey, Rand!
RAND: Not now, Min.
MIN: Listen. That woman with the braid? She’s part of it.
THOM: Part of what?
MIN: It! There are way more sparks today than yesterday, Rand. Something is about to happen.
PERRIN: Come on, she’s in here.
Entering the private dining room, they see that Nynaeve is, indeed, there. The funny thing about Nynaeve is that even though she can’t be much into her twenties, everyone treats her like an overbearingly strict schoolteacher. None of the men, at least, seems even the least bit comfortable in her presence. And why should they be, with all of the judgment, criticism, mouth-tightening, and braid-tugging?
Moiraine and Nynaeve are seated on opposite sides of the table, practicing the ancient art of staring daggers. With everyone seated, Nynaeve shames Lan’s stealth skills by sharing how she was able to track them all the way to Baerlon. She announces her intention to bring Egwene and the boys back to Emond’s Field. Moiraine asks everyone in the room to leave so she can have a private word with Nynaeve.
When Nynaeve emerges, Lan heads straight back into the room, and Rand finds that everyone else who had been waiting with him has conveniently vanished. But strangely, her usual fiery attitude has calmed for the time being. Nynaeve reveals that back in the room, Moiraine had wanted to know if any of the boys were born outside of Two Rivers — and Rand goes right back to wishing he were a normal boy more fervently than Pinocchio ever did. Not wanting to lie to him, Nynaeve recollects that Tam went adventuring when he was younger, and eventually came back with a red-haired outlander for his wife, and a baby in swaddling clothes.
Still strangely subdued, Nynaeve excuses herself to see to a bath.