Chapter 42: Falme

Nynaeve and Elayne, disguised in sheepskin country coats, watch the five tall stone houses that serve as the damane quarters in Falme, hoping to find a way to reach Egwene. Nearly destitute, they survive partly on apples Elayne pilfers from a market stall using the One Power. Nynaeve catches a glimpse of a man in the street with a big nose and narrow face—possibly Padan Fain, dressed in a Seanchan bronze velvet robe—but loses him in the crowd.

Nynaeve has spent weeks probing an a'dam collar with the barest trickle of the One Power to learn if it can be unfastened. The attempt drew a three-day Seanchan search of the town, but she believes she has nearly worked out how to remove a collar—she needs only one more test. She also cannot forget that it was a collared woman herself who raised the alarm when she tried.

In the damane quarters, Egwene waits in her tiny room, watching from the window to keep track of Renna's movements in the garden below. Min arrives for her weekly visit, now dressed in Seanchan style after the sul'dam Mulaen burned her coat and breeches. Min brings news: a ship captain held in Falme is ready to sail without Seanchan permission.

Egwene reveals she can no longer escape that way—Renna has discovered her rare Earth affinity, testing her ability to identify ores and locate a buried iron mine outside town. This makes her too valuable to use as a weapon, and a ship is already being readied to carry her alone to Seanchan, to be presented before the Empress at the Court of the Nine Moons.

Egwene tells Min about Ryma of the Yellow Ajah, collared and renamed Pura by the Seanchan. Ryma has fought the conditioning as long as she can, but she is now in tears, beginning to stop resisting, wanting to end her own life but unable to even do that without permission. Egwene makes Min promise to remember both names—Ryma of the Yellow Ajah, and Egwene al'Vere of Emond's Field.

Renna returns unexpectedly and detects that Egwene has been channeling alone. As punishment she strips away Egwene's name, calling her Tuli, and promises a severe punishment to ensure she will not disgrace her before the Empress. Min is sent away, leaving Egwene alone with her sul'dam.