Egwene, Nynaeve, and Elayne finally arrive at Tear. They’ve been seasick the whole time. So much vomit. But finally, dry land! The first thing Egwene notices is the huge mountain-like construction of the Stone of Tear. Egwene and Elayne discuss the Stone, but Nynaeve tells them both to shut up to avoid being conspicuous.

To find Liandrin, Elayne thinks hiring a thief-taker like Hurin is a good idea. For now, the women look for a place to stay that’s not an inn. You know. Inconspicuousness. Eventually, they come across a little house in the city with Wisdom-like herbs out front and Nyneave is like “hell yeah, this is the place”. The house is owned by Mother Guenna, a Tear version of a Wisdom. She invites them in.

After Nynaeve and Guenna spend many minutes quizzing each other tumultuously about herbs, Egwene snaps at Nynaeve to shut it. Mother Guenna’s name is Ailhuin, and Nynaeve asks her for a room for the night. Ailhuin has not one, not two, but three, count ’em three spare rooms, but the caveat is that she needs to hear a really good reason why they want to stay at her place. Nynaeve answers half-truthfully: they are chasing down murderous, dangerous women. They’re Darkfriends. Ailhuin sympathizes and will help by bringing in a thief-taker named Juilin Sandar. He’ll set bear traps and such.

Egwene lets it slip that Nynaeve is learning the manipulation tactics of an Aes Sedai like Moiraine. Elayne slaps her smile right off her fucking face and says “look, bitch, don’t let Ailhuin hear anything or else she might blab blab blab and we’ll be dead. Fool.”

Egwene is like “fine.”

And I’m like “cool.”