At the rebel Aes Sedai camp near Tar Valon, Egwene al’Vere and her general, Lord Gareth Bryne, watch as ships deliver soldiers to the White Tower. Bryne urges Egwene to have the Aes Sedai sisters use gateways (a form of teleportation) to place him and his men inside the city walls, arguing that delay will only increase casualties. Egwene refuses, determined to avoid a conflict where Aes Sedai kill one another, which she believes would fatally undermine the White Tower before the Last Battle—the apocalyptic conflict prophesied to bring about the end of the present Third Age.

Later, the Gray Sitter Delana informs Egwene of the negotiations talk while they ride together; Egwene then summons her sworn advisors and has Delana repeat the information before them. Several influential Sitters in the rebel Hall have begun quietly discussing the possibility of negotiating with Elaida, the tyrannical Amyrlin who presides over the White Tower. While most are outraged, Beonin, a Gray sister, argues that negotiation is necessary to reunite the Tower. Seeing an opportunity to buy time and maintain morale, Egwene authorizes Beonin to begin talks but gives her a single, non-negotiable term: Elaida must resign and go into exile. The weight of this responsibility and the starkness of the terms cause Beonin to faint.

While riding back to camp, Egwene and her advisors conclude that Delana’s true aim in revealing the talk of negotiations was to sow discord among the rebels. Morvrin suggests that the sham talks could buy time for Lord Gareth to blockade Tar Valon’s harbors, a plan Egwene secretly knows is not viable.

In the camp, Egwene observes that food is spoiling despite being protected by weaves of Keeping, a magical preservation ward, a sign that saidar itself (the female half of the One Power) may be failing. She visits a tent where a secret project is underway: A select group of sisters and novices are making cuendillar, an unbreakable substance, to sell to fund the army. The Sitter Salita Toranes objects to Aes Sedai engaging in commerce. Tiana, the Mistress of Novices, is also present and voices her concerns about Nicola Treehill, a troublesome novice with the talent of Foretelling. The older novice Sharina Melloy enforces discipline and schedules for all the novices, dismissing Nicola to class. Egwene notes that Kairen, a Blue sister, is improving her skill at making cuendillar, which is essential for another secret plan Egwene is formulating.

In her study, Egwene finds Siuan Sanche arguing with Halima, a secretary who often helps Egwene with her severe headaches. Siuan expresses deep distrust of Halima, suspecting that she broke a wheelwright’s arm. Despite a headache beginning, Egwene dismisses Halima and discusses the planned negotiations with Siuan.

Siuan reports that she has used Tel’aran’rhiod to spy on the White Tower and discovered that Elaida, like the rebels, has also raised an unusual number of Sitters who are too young for the position. Egwene tasks Siuan with investigating this suspicious pattern. They review intelligence reports, including one confirming that the sister Merana Ambrey is in the city of Tear, which proves that some Aes Sedai are now working with Rand al’Thor. They decide to use the rumors of Rand using Compulsion on Aes Sedai to strengthen rebel resolve. Their meeting is interrupted by news that the scouting party sent to investigate the recent massive channeling event has returned, and the Hall is being convened to hear their report.

Egwene attends the emergency sitting of the rebel Hall of the Tower, where Lelaine first causes a stir by revealing the plan for negotiations with Elaida. However, Moria, a Blue Sitter, overrides her and insists the Hall first hear the report it was called to hear. Akarrin, the sister leading the scouting party, reports that the city of Shadar Logoth has been completely destroyed, replaced by a circular hole three miles wide and over a mile deep. Another sister, Nisain, adds that the residues from the channeling show an unknown weave using both saidar and a vastly greater amount of saidin (the male half of the One Power).

The news creates panic. When Moria cues another sister, Escaralde, to speak, Egwene realizes that Moria, Escaralde, and another sister named Malind appear to be coordinating. Citing knowledge from the Age of Legends, Escaralde explains that linking circles can be expanded beyond 13 members by including men who can channel. Moria then formally proposes that they seek an agreement with the Black Tower to bring Asha’man (the male counterparts to the Aes Sedai) into their circles to counter the Forsaken’s new weapon. The proposal causes an uproar, with accusations of being Darkfriends (those who serve the forces of darkness). However, in a shocking turn, the leaders of the two main factions, Romanda and Lelaine, both stand in favor, and the motion passes.

The Hall debates the embassy to the Black Tower late into the night without reaching any decisions. In her tent, Egwene’s maid, Chesa, reveals her deep, instinctual distrust of Halima. Egwene then enters the World of Dreams, Tel’aran’rhiod, to speak with Elayne. Aviendha meets her instead, explaining that Elayne cannot use the required ter’angreal—an umbrella term for magical objects imbued with the One Power—because she is pregnant with multiple children. Egwene warns Aviendha that the Hall’s decision means Aes Sedai will soon visit Caemlyn.

Egwene has a series of prophetic dreams. In the first, Mat Cauthon causes thousands of deaths. The other two dreams, considered together, suggest that the Seanchan will attack the White Tower. She wakes to find Halima has returned late. In the morning, the sister Nisao brings terrible news: Anaiya and her Warder, Setagana, have been murdered. Nisao secretly examined the bodies and discovered they were killed with saidin, proving a male channeler is hiding in the camp. Egwene orders Nisao to begin a secret investigation.