Furyk Karede, a Banner-General of the Seanchan Deathwatch Guard, grows frustrated by the lack of leads nine days after the disappearance of High Lady Tuon. He is visited by a Seeker for Truth named Almurat Mor, who reports a suspicious rumor: A girl with a Seandar accent has been extorting merchants in Ebou Dar, and soldiers accompanying her wore armor described as matching Deathwatch Guard colors.

Mor reveals that on the night of Queen Tylin’s murder, two damane—enslaved women capable of channeling the One Power, or the magical force flowing through the universe—were freed from the palace kennels by Egeanin. Egeanin then fled the city with three damane in her entourage, along with a group that included Thom Merrilin. Two of the sul’dam—enslavers who use a magical collar to control the damane—that Egeanin used have close connections with Suroth. Mor implies a wider conspiracy involving Suroth and the Aes Sedai, suggesting that the formal Seeker organization has been compromised. He appeals directly to Karede’s well-known personal loyalty to Tuon. The following day, Karede crosses the harbor by ferry and meets with a force assembled through Captain Musenge: 100 Deathwatch Guards, 20 Ogier Gardeners, and a contingent of sul’dam and damane. Karede then prepares his force to begin a meticulous search for Tuon and her captors.

Perrin Aybara, Lord of the Two Rivers, awakens from a wolf dream in which he smelled a scent of death and hatred. When he mentally reaches out to a distant wolf pack, they ominously tell him “The Last Hunt is coming” (154) before breaking contact. He marks the 22nd day of his wife Faile’s captivity, reflecting on how he has disciplined his initial rage into a methodical hunt for her Shaido Aiel captors.

Selande Darengil, leader of a group of young nobles loyal to Faile, reports intelligence gathered from her spy Haviar in the camp of the zealot Masema. Haviar has seen the Aes Sedai Masuri Sokawa meeting with Masema more than once, and is certain the second woman present is Annoura Larisen, another Aes Sedai, though the accompanying man has not been seen clearly enough to confirm. Concerned, Perrin instructs his secretary, Sebban Balwer, to use Selande’s network to uncover the purpose of these meetings. Perrin is increasingly troubled by the alienation of his Two Rivers followers, who have come to believe the false rumors of his infidelity with Berelain sur Pendrag Paeron, heiress to the throne of House Paeron. Meanwhile, Balwer speculates that Masema is sending riders to ally with the Whitecloaks, though Perrin is certain he is contacting the Seanchan.

While riding through the forest, Perrin detects the foul, sulfurous scent from his wolf dream and soon discovers the tracks of Darkhounds pressed into solid stone. He sends Aram to warn the camp, then follows the trail, determining that a large pack of the Shadowspawn circled his camp before continuing their hunt for another target. He is soon intercepted by Berelain, who gives him a basket of food as a pretext for a private meeting.

Hidden inside the basket is a document her thief-catcher stole from Masema’s desk: n official letter of protection signed by the Seanchan High Lady Suroth, instructing recipients to give the bearer whatever aid he requires in service to the Empire. Berelain reveals that her two thief-catchers have since disappeared, meaning Masema likely knows she has the incriminating letter. In turn, Perrin confronts Berelain with his knowledge that her Aes Sedai advisor, Annoura, has also been meeting secretly with Masema. As the rest of their party joins them, the group gathers to investigate the Darkhound tracks.

Masuri examines the Darkhound tracks and concludes that a large, unknown pack passed by over an hour ago on an urgent hunt and is unlikely to return. As her troops’ fear subsides, Berelain rallies them by publicly reaffirming her oath to see Faile rescued no matter the danger. Soon after, Perrin’s sentries signal the approach of Masema, who arrives with several hundred followers.

Masema confronts Perrin and tells him that the nearby town called So Habor has ample supplies. He suggests Perrin divert his forces there. Sensing a trap designed to delay him, Perrin refuses, insisting that rescuing Faile is his only priority. As a tense standoff develops, reinforcements from Perrin’s main camp arrive and outflank Masema’s men. After a cryptic warning to Perrin, Masema and his followers retreat. Just as they depart, Perrin’s lead scout, Elyas Machera, arrives to deliver his report on the Shaido.

Elyas reports that the Shaido are forty miles away, camped around a captured city. Their force is far larger than anticipated, with at least ten thousand warriors. Perrin, unwilling to trust the Shaido, rejects the idea of ransoming the captives. He has the Asha’man Grady create a gateway to a ridge overlooking the enemy camp. From this vantage point, Perrin and his party witness the immense scale of the Shaido encampment. The Wise One Marline senses a shocking concentration of female channelers—between four and five hundred—and concludes it must be the entire assembly of Shaido Wise Ones.

Suddenly, a massive surge of the One Power is felt from far away. The channelers in Perrin’s group fear it is the work of the Forsaken, but Perrin’s ta’veren senses show him a clear image of a man and a woman seated facing one another, and he knows Rand is the source. The overwhelming scale of the challenge purges Perrin’s despair, leaving him with cold resolve. He tells the Maiden Sulin that he needs prisoners for interrogation, beginning his methodical plan to free Faile.