Chapter 39: Flight from the White Tower

Egwene, Nynaeve, Elayne, and Min walk through the White Tower disguised as wealthy noble women, with Min dressed as a servant and burdened with their saddlebags. They dodge Takima of the Brown Ajah and then an Accepted named Irella in the corridors before reaching the South Stable.

Nynaeve bluffs the stable groom into saddling their horses by displaying her Serpent ring and invoking Liandrin's name. Elayne tips him a coin and offers a gracious word. They ride out through Tarlomen's Gate unchallenged and make their way through Tar Valon's crowded streets, hoods up, to the Ogier Grove.

In the grove they find Liandrin waiting, furious that Min and Elayne have come. She warns the two that the Black Ajah would have killed them if they had stayed in the Tower, then leads the group deep into the grove to a Waygate hidden behind an iron fence. Despite her fear of the Ways, Egwene spurs Bela through before the others are ready, nearly pitching the mare onto her head in the absolute darkness.

Inside, Liandrin navigates by a parchment she refuses to share, pushing the group hard through islands and guidings along bridges and ramps in the pitch black. Their lanterns barely hold back the dark. Egwene can sense saidar's pull but refrains from reaching for it—the taint on the Ways makes channeling feel like baring her arm to foul smoke.

During a rest on one of the Islands, the women talk quietly about Rand. Min asks what Egwene will do if he ends up marrying someone else. Egwene says she will likely choose the Green Ajah and not marry him, wishing well to whoever ends up with him—her voice shaking as she says it. Elayne declares that if Egwene is foolish enough to step aside, she herself might pursue Rand.

Liandrin drives them on with little sleep until at last a Waygate opens ahead of them. 'I have brought you at last to where you must go,' she announces. They emerge from the Ways at Toman Head.