Spoiler: Elsa
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Elsa has little trouble finding the palace. It is a large building at the centre of the city with a wall circling it, as though it were a keep or castle, but all things in the borderlands are built for military purpose first.

Edeyn's letter gets her past the guards with few questions, and she is told that Edeyn will likely be in the throne room where king Easar holds court. Elsa passes through the gates and into the palace, a large, dark stoned building with a size to rival any of the other borderland palaces, and little of the finery of the south.

A man in the livery of the royal house leads her to the throne room and steps through the door in order to announce him. ""My lords and ladies, my king, I present lady Elsa of House Cynar, from Cairhien."

Elsa sees that the throne room is mostly taken over by a large table with a number of maps. King Easar stands over the table with his nephew, the so called Great Captain Agelmar Jagad. Three other men, all with Shienaran topknots stand with them, as does an elderly man in conversation with the king himself. Further from the table men and women sit on the benches in their own conversation. They look to be mostly nobles, with a few military men looking disgruntled. A woman raises her hand to Elsa and beckons her. She looks to be in her late fifties, but still has the grace and beauty of a much younger woman, she is also already in conversation with a young man who appears to be wearing travelling clothes and weapons, rather than court finery, though this does not bother anyone else.

Spoiler: Knowledge Check
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Edeyn is Malkieri by blood, one of the few remaining, having escaped its fall in her youth. She is known was known as an influential lady in the borderland courts until the murder of her daughter twenty years ago. She became a recluse for a time, but five years ago began to regain her power, though not as fiercely as before.


Spoiler: Dai'allien
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"I do not know why an Aiel would be in Cairhien, but this is your business, not mine." He began to sort through some reports on his desk until he came to two which he removed.

"We have received reports of two groups of brigands in the past month, which is itself unusual. One was apprehended and destroyed by king Easar's troops, Light shelter them, last week three leagues from here, to the north. I cannot say how much fortune you will have in recovering your treasure after that though, for the troops will have ridden for the Gap. The other has been causing damage in the countryside near Fal Dara, but have not yet been brought to justice."


Spoiler: Alric
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"Tai'shar Malkier," he repeats as Alric agrees. "You needs must find your own companions, though I can offer you an escort of men who are heading to the Gap."

As he finishes speaking, a woman enters and is announced as the Lady Elsabet of House Cynar, from Cairhien.