Chapter 48 - Following the Craft

Summary

Egwene, Nynaeve, and Elayne arrive in the city of Tear aboard the Darter, enduring a grueling journey marked by seasickness and the oppressive atmosphere of the Black Ajah's potential presence. After disembarking, they survey the grandeur of the Stone of Tear and the impoverished streets of the city before Nynaeve leads them to a Wisdom named Mother Guenna (Ailhuin) to procure remedies for their ailments and secure lodging. Ailhuin tests Nynaeve’s knowledge of herbal lore before agreeing to house them, providing a thief-catcher named Juilin Sandar to help locate the Black Ajah sisters, while Egwene’s criticism of Nynaeve’s manipulation causes a tense confrontation with Elayne.

Characters

• Egwene (Mistress Joslyn) — Egwene suffers from severe seasickness as the Darter docks in Tear, hiding her Aes Sedai ring under her clothes to maintain her cover. She rides with her companions to find lodging, observes the impoverished state of the city, and witnesses Nynaeve’s herbal knowledge tested alongside Ailhuin, eventually earning a sharp rebuke and a slap from Elayne for criticizing Nynaeve's deception of the Wisdom.
• Nynaeve (Maryim, Mistress Maryim) — Nynaeve battles persistent vomiting and uses her herbal expertise to impress Mother Guenna, establishing herself as a practitioner of the craft rather than an Aes Sedai. She secures rooms for the group and hires Juilin Sandar as a thief-catcher to track the Black Ajah, defending her manipulative tactics when challenged by Elayne.
• Elayne (Caryla, Mistress Caryla) — Elayne endures the sea voyage and the arrival in Tear, maintaining her cover as a commoner named Caryla. She suggests hiring a thief-taker to locate the Black Ajah, laughs at Mother Guenna’s story about curing arguers, and physically strikes Egwene for her cruel criticism of Nynaeve’s methods.
• Ailhuin / Mother Guenna (Wisdom, Ailhuin Guenna) — A stout, muscular woman known as a Wisdom, Guenna tests Nynaeve’s knowledge of herbs to verify her skill before offering them tea and lodging. She agrees to house the three women after they explain they are hunting murderers, and she provides the name of Juilin Sandar, a skilled thief-catcher, to assist their quest.
• Mist — Egwene’s gray mare is unloaded from the Darter using a canvas sling and is later tethered to a fig tree in Mother Guenna’s yard while the women visit the Wisdom's home.
• Gaidin — Nynaeve’s black stallion is unloaded from the ship and tethered to a fig tree in Mother Guenna’s yard, though Egwene internally notes the name Gaidin with disdain.
• Juilin (thief-catcher, Juilin Sandar) — Described by Ailhuin Guenna as the most dangerous man she knows and the best thief-catcher in Tear, Juilin is introduced as the person who will be hired to find the Black Ajah sisters and retrieve their stolen belongings.