Chapter 40: The Web Tightens

Rand falls from the wall into the Royal Palace garden, where Elayne, the Daughter-Heir, tends his head wound while her brother Gawyn looks on. Their half-brother Galad discovers them and alerts the guards, and all three are brought before Queen Morgase.

The Aes Sedai Elaida examines Rand and discovers his heron-mark sword, then delivers a Foretelling of pain and division coming to Andor and the world—whispering to Rand alone that he stands at the heart of it.

Morgase chooses justice over suspicion and sets Rand free, and as he departs, Gawyn tells him he looks like an Aielman.