Tallanvor—the last loyal officer of the guard—tells Queen Morgase about the rumors of the rebellion in the Two Rivers. When Morgase tries to discuss this with Lord Gaebril, he tries to use Compulsion on her. Confused, she wanders to Lini, her old nurse, where she learns how wrongly she treated old allies and friends over the last months and that there is only Tallanvor of the old loyal guard left. She decides to leave Caemlyn and try to regain her power from the outside. Tallanvor, Lini, Basel Gill—the innkeeper of the Queen's Blessing—Lamgwin, and Breane follow accompanying her.