Chapter 33 - Nine Out of Ten

Summary

Elayne al'Vere endures captivity while blindfolded and gagged in a wagon, relying on her bond with Birgitte Silverbow to track the approaching rescue party. Once freed by Birgitte, she immediately assumes command, securing the defeated Black Ajah sisters and ordering them loaded into a wagon before insisting on riding out to confront Arymilla's forces despite Birgitte's warnings about overwhelming odds. Crossing back into Caemlyn through a Windfinder gateway, Elayne watches as Charlz Guybon leads the Queen's Guards and crossbowmen in a devastating ambush that slaughters Arymilla's massed troops in the narrow streets. After the battle concludes with mass surrenders, captured nobles including Arymilla, Naean, Elenia, Lir Baryn, Karind Anshar, and Sylvase Caeren are brought before her. Sylvase, Lir, and Karind declare their houses' support for Trakand, granting Elayne the nine Houses needed to claim the throne, though she remains wary of their motives and anticipates further conflict.

Characters

• Gawyn / Trakand (Daughter-Heir) — Mentioned as having previously trained Elayne in the non-weapon aspects of leadership and battle planning, which she now applies to understanding Birgitte's strategy.
• Birgitte / Silverbow (Warder) — Successfully breaches the battlefield to rescue Elayne, reports on Dyelin's successful defense of the Far Madding Gate, and reluctantly agrees to let Elayne lead the counterattack while ensuring she is heavily guarded.
• Charlz / Guybon (Captain, Captain of the Guard) — Leads the Queen's Guards in the initial charge out of Caemlyn, suffers a bloody gash and dented breastplate during the fighting, and efficiently manages the separation and escort of captured nobles.
• Caseille (Guardswoman) — Disdains her horse to manually gag Temaile and hoist her into a wagon like cargo, demonstrating her loyalty and physical capability in securing the Black Ajah prisoners.
• Dyelin / Farshaw (High Seat) — Successfully holds back young nobles from the battle, commands remaining troops to defend the city walls, and is later seen riding out with the surviving youths after securing the gates.
• Catalyn (Young High Seat) — Held back by Dyelin from the battle, rides out afterward in gilded armor alongside other young nobles who were kept safely away from the frontline.
• Conail (Young High Seat) — Kept from the forefront of the battle by Dyelin's intervention, rides out afterward in gilded armor as part of the contingent of young nobles.
• Branlet (Young High Seat) — Prevented from joining the initial charge by Dyelin, rides out afterward in gilded armor as part of the contingent of young nobles.
• Perival / Mantear (Young High Seat) — Held back from the fighting by Dyelin, later appears riding with the other young nobles in gilded armor after the battle concludes.
• Arymilla / Sarandred (High Seat) — Captured and brought before Elayne in a stunned state, attempts to rally support by mentioning Jarid's forces, and is denied custody of her allies by Sylvase.
• Naean / Arawn (High Seat) — Brought as a prisoner alongside Arymilla, appears subdued but manages a weak sneer, and reacts with loud distress when Sylvase suggests persuading them to switch sides.
• Elenia (High Seat) — Captured and brought before Elayne, shares glares with her allies, laughs in a manner that sounds like weeping, and is denied custody of her companions by Sylvase.
• Lir / Baryn (High Seat) — Appears as a prisoner but calmly declares House Baryn's support for Trakand, accepts Elayne's wary welcome, and is ordered to have his banners restored after proclamations are sent.
• Karind / Anshar (High Seat) — Brought as a prisoner with a resigned expression, firmly announces House Anshar's support for Trakand, and is granted permission to send out proclamations that day.
• Sylvase / Caeren (High Seat, Lord Nasin's heir) — Declares her house's support for Trakand, offers to take custody of the captured nobles to persuade them, reveals a hard core by suggesting persuasion might be necessary, and is accepted into Elayne's faction.
• Temaile (Black Ajah sister) — Bound with Air flows after the battle, scowls at Elayne, and engages in a petty argument with Marillin over deference while gagged and loaded into a wagon.
• Asne (Black Ajah sister) — Killed during the rescue, her body lies spreadeagled on the road with empty eyes staring at the sky, leaving her Warders in a death-rage.
• Falion (Black Ajah brother) — Bound with Air flows after the battle, appears nauseated and about to vomit while being secured by Guardsmen.
• Marillin (Black Ajah brother) — Bound with Air flows, laughs silently at Temaile's scolding, sharply corrects her on deference, and is gagged and loaded into a wagon.
• Shiaine (Black Ajah sister) — Captured with a mud-smeared face, bound alongside the other sisters, and appears composed despite her defeat.
• Chesmal (Black Ajah sister) — Lies in the road with a dirty face but maintains an icy demeanor, demands to know how they were found, and is later identified as the rider of the gray horse Elayne briefly mounts.
• Mat / Cauthon — Mentioned by Birgitte as being luckier than any man she has ever met, specifically in reference to his dicing habits, prompting Elayne to dismiss the comparison.
• Min / Farshaw — Referenced by Elayne while captive, whose earlier assurance that her unborn babies are safe provides Elayne with a crucial sense of security during her ordeal.
• Gareth / Bryne — Referenced alongside Gawyn as a former instructor who taught Elayne how to understand military plans rather than blindly accept them.
• Zaida / Black Wing (Mistress of the Ships) — Mentioned by Birgitte as the authority whose bargain Chanelle invoked to secure the Windfinders' cooperation in opening the gateway for the rescue.
• Chanelle (Windfinder) — Refuses to change the gateway until Elayne agrees to limit their role to transport only, sealing the pact with a formal kiss before closing it.
• Luan / Ayellin (High Seat) — Reported by Birgitte as marching north toward Caemlyn with other nobles, posing a potential future threat to Elayne's position.
• Jarid — Mentioned by Arymilla as still commanding a considerable force in the field, used as a desperate attempt to rally support among her captured allies.
• Lounalt (Secretary) — Named by Sylvase as her new secretary, whom she believes might be able to convince the captured nobles to switch their allegiance.