Elaida, Queen Morgases personal Red Ajah Aes Sedai, enters the room. She is described as “handsome”, which means manly! The first thing she does is chide Elayne for perhaps destroying a 1000-year-old Caemlyn/Tar Valon alliance. The next thing she does is fart, basically. Red Ajah can suck it.

She asks the three young whipper-snappers if they know that Black Ajah are loose and running all willy-nilly. The three are surprised that they were asked such a question brazenly. Nynaeve is careful with her words and explains that, yes, they were told this information earlier. Elaida tells them that disappearing with Liandrin for months is seen as suspicious, so they had better watch themselves going forward. And since she needs to protect Elayne, she may as well protect all three of them, so Elaida needs to know every single detail of their disappearance. It sure seems to me that a lot of Aes Sedai are meddling with these girls, trying to siphon out information. Who is there left to trust! The Wheel Wills as the Wheel Wills and the Pattern is Woven and etc.

Egwene is also careful with her words and explains that they were out on a mission to bring their very sick friend, Mat, to be Healed. Elaida recognizes Mat’s name and knows he has come from the same village as Rand, no? The Dragon Reborn! Nynaeve merely says that they all haven’t seen Rand in a long time and that she wishes him all the luck in his Dragon Rebirth adventures.

The door opens again and this time it’s Sheriam. Elaida leaves. Nynaeve asks Sheriam about the Gray Man openly in front of Elayne, and due to Elayne’s lack of surprised reaction, Sheriam guesses correctly that Nynaeve and Egwene did exactly what they were told not to do. Now that makes seven people in the Tower who know. Bah! So, going forward, speak of this to no one by Sheriam and Siuan. Capisce?

Sheriam orders the three to follow her. Per Aes Sedai tradition, a Healing is performed in front of all those who brought in the sick one. Egwene is overjoyed that Mat will be Healed after all, which perplexes Sheriam. Why would she have worried about that at all? Ha ha ha! Silly little thing!

So next we’re going to see a group of women fumble their way through Healing Mat and then turning him into a toad or something. You love to see it.