Episode 2 of Season 3 of "The Wheel of Time" opens with a flashback to Caemlyn, twenty years prior, within the esteemed Hall of the High Seat of Andor. The scene unfolds as the Queen graces the throne room, endeavoring to unite her nation amidst the lingering shadows of years-long conflicts. Queen Morgase extends forgiveness to the leaders of rival houses, hoping to pave the way for a peaceful era. Yet, their lives are abruptly snuffed out in assassinations orchestrated to preempt any resurgence of the Succession War.
Cutting to the present, in the serene confines of Tar Valon, Verin engages in a puzzled conversation with Elayne, both baffled by the Queen's unexpected presence. They are joined by Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan of the Red Ajah, who doubles as Morgase's advisor and the same figure seen at the episode's inception, standing loyally behind the Queen during those fateful assassinations.
Queen Morgase storms in, her demeanor demanding, insistent on knowing Elayne's whereabouts. Siuan, with steady resolve, manages to calm her, affirming her right to be there while conceding to escort her to her daughter. Elayne receives warm greetings from the Princes, including Gawyn and Galad, but their camaraderie quickly gives way to serious discussions about their mission.
Morgase grills Elayne about the recent attack, but her daughter remains tight-lipped, shielding the secrets of their struggle. However, Morgase reveals her intentions to receive the Great Serpent Ring the following day and return home, uncovering all that has transpired. Elayne yearns to stay and continue her training, but Morgase refuses, citing the peril her life now faces and her zero tolerance for risks.
An undercurrent of anxiety permeates the Tower, and Morgase senses an opportunity amidst the turmoil. She confers with Elaida, piecing together fragments of dialogue about the attack, hinting at a possible coup brewing in the shadows.
Siuan finds herself in a quandary, lacking trust, as anyone could potentially be a member of the treacherous Black Ajah. To navigate this treacherous landscape, she summons Elayne and Nynaeve, tasking them with the grave responsibility of serving as her hounds – the only two she can wholeheartedly trust. She charges them with the daunting mission to root out and eliminate the Black Ajah.
That fateful night, as Elayne passes beneath the Arches, she is destined to receive confidential briefings from Verin regarding the Sisterhood, including Liandrin. Suspicion clouds Elayne's mind, sensing that they are being withheld the full truth, potentially due to Morgase's manipulations. The queen's iron grip on the realm is slipping, her popularity waning among the populace. She has been compelled to relieve Captain-General Bryne of his duties, leaving her throne precariously perched. This urgency explains her desperate need for Elayne's return, to safeguard her bloodline and bolster her claim to the throne.
Elayne confronts Morgase, recounting her trials and triumphs, from battling the Forsaken to healing Rand. She aspires to forge an alliance not just for herself but for the betterment of Andor, believing her ascension as an Aes Sedai Queen to be the most effective path.
Elsewhere, Perrin, accompanied by Loial, Bai, and Chiad, finally returns home only to find that much has altered in his absence. Most ominously, the Whitecloaks have descended and seized control, rendering the once-safe haven perilous. He is warned to remain indoors, concealed from view, as the outside world grows increasingly treacherous.
He is led straight to Alanna, who happens to be awaiting his arrival. Perrin, having ended Geofram Bornhald's life in Falme, is now a fugitive sought by the law. Whisperings have permeated the air, branding him as a Darkfriend—a label far from desirable. Fortunately, his kin have managed to escape, yet the Whitecloaks have arrived on the scene, repelling Trolloc assaults while still relentlessly pursuing his blood. Torn between his desire to remain and his yearning to resolve this chaos, Perrin ponders the idea of surrendering himself.
Back in the city, the Sisters are diligently working on Mat. The Sedai present have never encountered a condition akin to his, struggling to devise a solution to his plight. Healing him may seem like an uphill battle, yet Nynaeve remains resolute in her endeavor to cure him, come what may.
Out in the vast Wastes, Rand continues to encounter Selene in his dreams. She attempts to extract information from him, but to no avail. Switching her focus to Egwene, whose visions have become increasingly nightmarish, filled with visions of Renna, she seeks new insights.
Mat is brought before Siuan, who cautions him against boasting about being the Hornblower. Drawing attention to oneself is unwise, especially considering the horn can be bestowed upon anyone who slays its current bearer—Mat, in this case. He entrusts it to Siuan for safekeeping and重申s that he is no hero.
As the episode draws to a close, Morgase announces that the Princes will remain in the Tower to commence their Warder training, alongside Elaida, who will also stay to oversee everything. Morgase further threatens her with the specter of war if anything untoward happens to Elayne, leaving the door ajar for the prophecy we earlier heard—nine Aes Sedai dying within the Tower's walls, potentially intertwined with these events.
As the episode concludes, Rand and his companions are halted on the hills overlooking the Aiel Waste by a group who have evidently heard tales of Rand.
