Episode 5 of Season 2 of "The Wheel Of Time" kicks off with an intriguing scenario where Lady Suroth and Ishamael make a dramatic entrance, accompanied by Loial, before the majestic presence of High Lord Turak. Suroth's defiance of the High Lord's commands and her conquest of a village beyond their territorial grasp have incurred his wrath, resulting in her exclusion from the esteemed court council until she can regain his favor.
Subsequently, Ishamael presents the Horn of Valere to the High Lord, who declares with conviction that the entire world will soon bow to their dominion, thanks to the horn's immense power.
The narrative shifts to the dense woods, where Rand and Moiraine are in a harried escape from the relentless pursuit of Lanfear. Despite her injuries, Lanfear swiftly recovers and continues her relentless chase. In a bid to elude her, Moiraine procures horses from a nearby stable and gallops away with Rand, heading towards Tar Valor. Lanfear, undeterred, swiftly steals a horse from a passerby and follows suit.
However, it becomes evident that Rand and Moiraine have cleverly deceived Lanfear by taking a different route. Yet, her determination to capture them remains unyielding.
Elsewhere, Perrin finds himself in a dilemma as he realizes that Elyas and his companions are not traveling in the same direction as him. Upon learning about Loial's captivity and the impending danger his friends face, Perrin decides to venture alone to their aid. A haunting image of Uno, conveyed to him by a wolf, reveals that Uno's body lies unburied. With a heavy heart, Perrin rushes to give his fallen friend a proper burial.
During his solemn task, Perrin encounters a female Aiel imprisoned in a cage. Driven by compassion, he attempts to liberate her, but a cautionary warning from a passerby stops him short. The man warns that any disturbance could lead to Perrin's own imprisonment, adding a layer of tension to his already perilous journey.
We swiftly come to realize that Eamon is still alive. As he converses with Dain, a noticeable caution emanating from him towards the Aiel girl becomes evident. Perrin, a lodger at the inn, inadvertently catches snippets of their dialogue. Eamon's inquisitive demeanor towards Dain reveals an attempt to ascertain whether the Aiel maiden had any hand in the recent Seanchan assaults.
Verin, a member of the Brown Ajah, pays a visit to Tar Valon, seeking information regarding Nynaeve and Egwene. Meanwhile, Liandrin has imprisoned Nynaeve, Egwene, and Elayne. Shortly thereafter, Liandrin confesses to Nynaeve her allegiance to the Dark Ones, revealing her desire for Nynaeve to join their army instead of the Red Ajah. The motivation behind Liandrin's actions stems from her gravely ill son, whom the Dark Ones have promised to save in exchange for her loyalty.
In the meantime, Perrin liberates Aviendha from her cage. They are soon encircled by the Whitecloaks, but through their combined prowess, Perrin and Aviendha manage to vanquish them and flee.
Elsewhere, Rand and Moiraine are on a desperate mission to evade Lanfear. They visit Moiraine's sister to procure horses for their journey, seeking refuge from their pursuer. During their discussion, Moiraine encounters her nephew Barthanes, who reveals his impending marriage to Queen Galldrian.
Our narrative shifts to Tar Valon, where Verin is intent on locating Nynaeve and Egwene. Sheriam, seemingly oblivious to a missing sign-out note concerning the two, continues recounting their visit to Elayne's abode. Verin persuades Sheriam to step away from her desk, allowing Yasicca to slip into the room unnoticed. She scrutinizes the logs and discovers a tremor, deducing that Sheriam signed under duress. Subsequently, she informs Verin of the presence of a Black Ajah member within the White Tower.
Lady Suroth receives a visit from Liandrin, who, after a heated exchange, hands over Nynaeve, Egwene, and Elayne to her custody. The trio resorts to every conceivable means to escape. While Nynaeve and Elayne succeed in breaking free, Egwene finds herself stranded.
We are subsequently whisked away to the location of Perrin and Aviendha. Aviendha, with her coquettish charm, teases Perrin, and together, they devise plans to embark on a journey to Falme. Meanwhile, Nynaeve and Elayne receive intelligence that Perrin and Loial have set foot in Falme, prompting them to embark on a quest to locate their friends. However, their journey is abruptly interrupted by a mysterious assailant.
Upon her return, Liandrin encounters Verin and casually mentions the novices. She further whispers that she has heard whispers of them possibly being assaulted. Verin's suspicions are immediately aroused by Liandrin's claims.
Moiraine is consumed by anxiety over Rand's welfare. She seeks solace, partially confiding in her sister, who reassures her that perhaps Rand does not need her protection as much as she thinks. This revelation brings a semblance of relief to Moiraine.
Elsewhere, Lanfear and Ishamael engage in an intriguing conversation within a dreamscape. We are enlightened that Lanfear, driven by desperation, was compelled to turn to the Dark One. Ishamael also prompts Lanfear to describe Rand, who she portrays as gentle and uninterested in his formidable powers.
When Nynaeve and Elayne regain consciousness, they find themselves confined in a room where they encounter Ryma, a member of the Yellow Ajah. She solemnly informs them of the peril they face in the town, given their ability to channel.
Ishamael is jolted awake from his slumber by a summons from the High Lord. Lady Suroth then delivers Egwene into the High Lord's custody. He becomes aware of her exceptional abilities and decides to have her bound, hoping to train her.
As the episode draws to a close, Moiraine visits Rand in his chamber. She reveals to him that, according to ancient texts, Lanfear harbored a deep affection for Rand, alias the Dragon Reborn. She further elaborates that he reciprocated her feelings before meeting his wife. However, Lanfear allied herself with the Dark One in the vain hope of reuniting with Rand.
Moiraine counsels Rand to surrender to sleep and permit Lanfear to visit him, enabling him to uncover Ishamael's schemes through her. As Rand drifts into slumber, he is transported to a vision where Lanfear sits enthroned, while he is chained to a wheel, his fate hanging in the balance.
