Chapter 22: Watchers

Moiraine and Lan are staying at the house of the retired sisters Vandene and Adeleas in Tifan's Well, Arafel, where Moiraine searches their vast library of manuscripts for answers about the Dragon Reborn. She reveals to Lan that she has secretly arranged for his Warder bond to pass to Myrelle of the Green Ajah upon her death—and for Myrelle to eventually pass it to another—knowing he will be compelled to seek Myrelle when he feels Moiraine die; Lan is furious at being treated like a parcel, but Moiraine refuses to undo it.

She questions Vandene about the Dragon's connection to Toman Head, about Fades and Shadar Logoth, and about the Forsaken Lanfear, learning of a disputed verse in the Prophecies that may place the Dragon's appearance above Toman Head.

After Vandene retires, Moiraine walks in the garden and is ambushed by a Draghkar whose croon strips away her will—drawing her toward its lethal kiss—before Lan and the elderly Warder Jaem save her by driving their swords through the creature while crying 'Embrace death!' Adeleas notes the Draghkar must have been warded to approach undetected, and Moiraine names the Black Ajah as the only ones capable; she resolves to depart at once, believing she has found an answer she did not know she was seeking.