Chapter 15 - Use a Pebble

Summary

Nynaeve al'Meara and Asha'man Naeff investigate a destructive anomaly in Tear that reduces buildings and people to dust, discovering the victims are husks rather than corpses. After clearing the rubble, Nynaeve successfully extracts thorn-like projections from Naeff's mind, curing his madness for the first time. Rand al'Thor arrives, apologizes for the Dark One's stirring, and explains his urgent plan to break the seals at Shayol Ghul while advising Nynaeve to embrace her genuine nature over Aes Sedai conformity. He requests her presence in his circle and asks her to sway Egwene al'Vere to his cause before she Delves his mind and perceives vast darkness coated in a brilliant white radiance. Meanwhile, on the White Tower roof, Egwene consults with Saerin, Yukiri, and Seaine regarding how Mesaana might have evaded the Oath Rod. The sisters theorize that a vocal weave could alter spoken words to bypass the rod's binding, and Saerin describes Mesaana as an angry, hands-on organizer. Concluding that Mesaana seeks to prove herself by causing division, Egwene resolves to craft a tempting opportunity to draw the Forsaken out of hiding.

Characters

• Nynaeve (Lady Aes Sedai) — Investigates a destructive anomaly in Tear that reduces buildings and people to dust, discovering the victims are husks rather than corpses. After clearing the rubble, successfully extracts thorn-like projections from Naeff's mind, curing his madness for the first time. Later Delves Rand al'Thor's mind, perceiving vast darkness coated in a brilliant white radiance, and realizes she cannot yet heal him but vows to treat other Asha'man.
• Naeff — Accompanies Nynaeve through the city, revealing he can see Myrddraal hiding in shadows due to a unique talent. His madness manifests as dark veins and thorns in his mind, which Nynaeve extracts, restoring his sanity and allowing him to finally seek out his Aes Sedai.
• Rand (Lord Dragon) — Apologizes for the destruction caused by the Dark One's stirring and explains his urgent plan to break the seals at Shayol Ghul. Advises Nynaeve to embrace her genuine nature rather than conforming to Aes Sedai expectations, asks her to sway Egwene to his side, and requests her presence in his circle for the final confrontation.
• Somma (Maiden) — Stands guard alongside Kanara as Rand approaches Nynaeve in Tear.
• Kanara (Maiden) — Stands guard alongside Somma as Rand approaches Nynaeve in Tear.
• Egwene (Mother) — Consults with Saerin, Yukiri, and Seaine on the White Tower roof regarding how Mesaana might have evaded the Oath Rod. Learns of a vocal weave that could alter spoken words to bypass the rod's binding and researches Mesaana's personality as an angry, hands-on organizer. Resolves to create a tempting opportunity to draw the Forsaken out.
• Saerin — Reports historical rumors about Mesaana, describing her as a pragmatic researcher turned administrator who gets her hands dirty and harbors deep anger at being overlooked. Confirms that captured Black sisters were unaware of the vocal weave theory.
• Yukiri — Participates in the discussion on how Mesaana might have defeated the Oath Rod, suggesting a look-alike wearing a Mirror of Mists as a possibility and later questioning whether testing for the weave is worth the political fallout.
• Seaine — Proposes three theories on how Mesaana bypassed the Oath Rod, ultimately settling on a complex vocal weave that alters what listeners hear versus what is spoken. Demonstrates the weave's mechanics and notes its potential for long-term infiltration of the Tower.