Chapter 12: Across the Taren

The party crosses the Taren on Hightower's ferry, their weapons on display to discourage treachery. Once safely across, the ferry is destroyed by a sudden whirlpool—clearly Moiraine's doing, though she calls it 'an unfortunate occurrence.' The terrified ferryman flees with his gold.

Lan leads them to a hidden shelter he prepared earlier, a cave formed by a tangle of fallen trees. There, Moiraine explains the One Power to Egwene: it has two halves, saidin and saidar, and saidin is fouled by the Dark One's touch. She tests Egwene with a blue stone and discovers she has the ability to channel—Egwene makes the stone glow with her own power. Egwene is overjoyed to learn she will train as an Aes Sedai; Rand watches in dismay.