Chapter 50 - Choosing Enemies
Summary
Elayne Trakand sits on the Lion Throne in Caemlyn awaiting a dragon demonstration, where she formally strips three captive nobles of their titles and lands. When Cairhienin lords arrive for the display, she offers them seized Andoran estates to secure their political support for her claim to the Sun Throne. Afterward, she explains to Dyelin, Morgase, and Birgitte that she deliberately cultivated powerful rivals as allies to limit future competition, ensuring they will eventually hand her the crown rather than oppose her immediately.
Characters
- Morgase (Queen, Your Majesty) — Observes the proceedings from beside the throne, pours tea for her daughter and advisors, and praises Elayne's brilliance while explaining how the land grants prevent Elayne from being viewed as a conqueror.
- Dyelin — Embroiders quietly while seated near the throne, later accepts tea from Morgase and voices concern over Elayne's dangerous political maneuver of creating potential usurpers as allies.
- Birgitte / Birgitte Silverbow (Warder) — Leads the Cairhienin nobles into the throne room, expresses blunt confusion over Elayne's bribery tactic, and later voices concern that the newly acquired allies might eventually try to kill or overthrow the Queen.
- Guybon — Stands guard in the throne room and receives a nod from Elayne signaling the moment to bring in the prisoners.
- Arymilla / Arymilla Marne — Appears stripped of fine dress and plump despite captivity, slouches down on the rug in despair upon hearing her house stripped of title and estate.
- Elenia / Elenia Sarand — Maintains control over her appearance despite wearing rags, gazes thoughtfully at Elayne, gasps at her punishment, but later shows a glimmer of hope when offered a fresh start in Cairhien.
- Naean / Naean Arawn — Appears slim and pale with lusterless hair, keeps back from the other prisoners, and remains numb upon hearing her house forfeited.
- Lorstrum / Lorstrum Aesnan — Arrives with Cairhienin nobles, initially probes for information about Andor's strength, then bites at Elayne's offer of seized estates to secure his support and potential claim to the Sun Throne.
- Bertome / Bertome Saighan — Arrives with the Cairhienin delegation, expresses disturbance at the treatment of prisoners but quickly agrees to Elayne's land offer, hoping to gain wealth and access to Andor's new weapons.
- Ailil / Ailil Riatin — Attends the demonstration as a powerful Cairhienin noblewoman, quickly grasps Elayne's political ploy regarding the seized estates, and offers her alliance alongside others.