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be on our way； Elayne； not standing around。 Is Aviendha ing？〃
She frowned at him slightly； with just a flicker of her eyes toward Reanne； and he knew she was deciding what performance to give him。 Wide…eyed innocence might damage her standing with these women as much as flashing her dimple at him would； Elayne always expected that dimple to work where all else failed。 Her chin rose slightly。 〃Thorn and Juilin are helping Aviendha and Birgitte watch Carridin's palace； Mat。〃 It was to be the Daughter…Heir in near full…bloom。 Not the whole flowering； since she surely knew how he would react to that； but a voice full of certainty； cool blue eyes demanding； and that pretty face chill if not exactly frozen with arrogance。 Was there any woman in the world who was just one person？ 〃Nynaeve will be down shortly； I'm sure。 There is no reason for you to e； you know； Mat。 Nalesean and your soldiers are a more than adequate bodyguard。 You could enjoy yourself right here in the palace until we return。〃
〃Carridin！〃 he cried。 〃Elayne； we aren't staying in Ebou Dar to settle Jaichim Carridin。 We are getting the Bowl； then you or Nynaeve is going to make a gateway； and we are leaving。 Is that clear？ And I'm going with you to the Rahad。〃 Enjoy himself！ The Light only knew what Tylin would get up to if he remained in the palace all day。 The very thought made him want to laugh hysterically。
Icy stares stabbed at him from the Wise Women； stout Sumeko pursed her lips angrily； and Melore； a plump Domani in her middle years whose bosom he had enjoyed eyeing yesterday； planted fists on hips with a face like a thunderhead。 They should have known from yesterday that he was not intimidated by Aes Sedai； yet even Reanne gave him such a scowl he half thought she might try to box his ears。 Apparently； if they were going to fall all over themselves around Aes Sedai； then everybody else had to as well。
Elayne struggled with herself visibly。 Her lips pressed； but one thing he had to give her； she was too smart to go on with what obviously would not work。 On the other hand； she was snooty to the bone however she tried。 And the other women were watching。 〃Mat； you know we cannot leave until we have used the Bowl。〃 That haughty chin remained high； and her tone was at best halfway between explaining and telling。 〃It might require days for us to be sure of how to use it； perhaps even half a week or more； and we might as well finish Carridin if we can in that time。〃 Such a crackle entered her voice on the Whitecloak's name that you might have thought she bore the man a personal grudge； but something else leaped out and clamped a fist on his thoughts。
〃Half a week！〃 Feeling strangled； he put a finger behind the scarf knotted around his neck and tugged to ease it。 Tylin had used that length of black silk to tie his hands last night before he knew what she was doing。 Half a week。 Or more！ Despite his best efforts； his voice became a touch frantic。 〃Elayne； surely you can use the Bowl anywhere。 It doesn't have to be here。 Egwene must want you back as soon as possible； she can use a friend or two； I'll wager。〃 By the last he had seen； she could use a few hundred。 Maybe once he got these women back； Egwene would be ready to give up that nonsense about being Amyrlin and let him take her to Rand along with Elayne and Nynaeve and Aviendha。 〃And what about Rand； Elayne？ Caemlyn。 The Lion Throne。 Blood and ashes； you know you want to reach Caemlyn quick as you can so Rand can give you the Lion Throne。〃 For some reason； her face grew darker almost by the word； and her eyes flashed。 He would have said she was indignant； except of course that she had no cause。
She opened her mouth angrily to argue as soon as he finished； and he set himself； ready to list her promises and to the Pit of Doom with what that did to her in the eyes of Reanne and the rest。 By their faces； they would have snubbed him short already in her place。
Before anyone could say anything； though； a round graying woman in House Mitsobar livery was curtsying； first to Elayne； then to the women wearing red belts； and finally to him。 〃Queen Tylin sends this； Master Cauthon；〃 Laren said； holding out a basket with a striped cloth over the contents and small red flowers woven around the handle。 〃You did not breakfast； and you must maintain your strength。〃
Mat's cheeks warmed。 The woman merely looked at him； but she had seen considerably more of him than when she first showed him into Tylin's presence。 Considerably more。 She had brought supper on a tray last night； while he tried to hide under the silk bedsheet。 He did not understand it。 These women had him jumping about and blushing like a girl。 He just could not understand。
〃Are you sure you wouldn't rather remain here？〃 Elayne asked。 〃I'm sure Tylin would enjoy your pany for breakfast。 The Queen said she finds you wonderfully entertaining and courteously pliant；〃 she added in a doubtful tone。
Mat fled for the coaches with the basket in one hand and his ashandarei in the other。
〃Are all northern men so shy？〃 Laren said。
He risked a glance over his shoulder without stopping； and heaved a sigh of relief。 The serving woman was already gathering her skirts； turning to walk though the screen of plants； and Elayne was motioning Reanne and the Wise Women into a circle close around her。 Even so； he shivered。 Women were going to be the death of him yet。
Rounding the nearest coach； he nearly dropped the basket at the sight of Beslan seated on the coach step； sunlight gleaming along the narrow blade of his sword as he examined the edge。 〃What are you doing here？〃 Mat exclaimed。
Beslan slid the sword into its sheath； a grin splitting his face。 〃ing with you to the Rahad。 I suspect you'll find more fun for us。〃
〃There had better be some fun；〃 Nalesean yawned into his hand。 〃I didn't get very much sleep last night； and now you drag me off when there are Sea Folk women about。〃 Vanin sat up on his barrel； looked around； found nothing moving； and settled himself back again with his eyes shut。
〃There'll be no fun if I can help it；〃 Mat muttered。 Nalesean had not gotten much sleep？ Hah！ The whole lot of them had been out enjoying themselves at the festival。 Not that he had not enjoyed himself in patches； but only when he could forget he was with a woman who thought he was some sort of bloody doll。 〃What Sea Folk women？〃
〃When Nynaeve Sedai returned last night； she brought a dozen or more； Mat。〃 Beslan blew out his breath； and his hands made swaying motions。 〃The way they move； Mat。。。 〃
Mat shook his head。 He was not thinking clearly； Tylin was scrambling his brains。 Nynaeve and Elayne had told him about the Windfinders； reluctantly and in sworn secrecy； after trying to hold back even where Nynaeve wanted to go； much less why。 And not a single blush at the effort； either。 〃Women keep promises in their own way；〃 so the saying went。 e to think of it； Lawtin and Belvyn were not with the rest of the Redarms。 Maybe Nynaeve thought to make up for the other by keeping them with her now。 〃。。。 In their own way。〃 But if she had the Windfinders already in the palace； surely it would not take half a week to use the Bowl。 Light； please not！
As if thinking of her had been a summons； Nynaeve came strolling through the screen of plants into the stable…yard。 Mat's jaw dropped。 The tall man in a dark green coat on her arm was Lan！ Or rather； she was on his； clinging to it with both hands； smiling up at him。 With any other woman； Mat would have said she was moon…eyed and dreaming； but this was Nynaeve。
She gave a start once she realized where she was； and took a hasty step to one side； though she still held on to Lan's hand for a moment。 Her choice of dresses was no better than Elayne's； all blue silk and green embroidery； cut low enough to show a heavy gold ring that would have rattled on her two thumbs together； dangling into her cleavage on a thin gold chain。 The wide hat she carried by its ribbons was trimmed with blue plumes； her dustcloak green linen embroidered in blue。 She and Elayne made the other women drab by parison in their woolens。
In any case； whether or not she had been calf…eyes a moment before； she was all herself now； shifting her braid around。 〃Join the other men now； Lan；〃 she said peremptorily； 〃and we can go。 The last four coaches are for the men。〃
〃As you say；〃 Lan replied； bowing with a hand on his sword hilt。
She watched him stride toward Mat with an expression of wonder； probably unable to believe he was obeying so meekly； then gave herself a shake and recovered her bristly self again。 Gathering up Elayne and the other women； she herded them toward the first two coaches like a woman shooing geese。 By the way she shouted for someone to open the stableyard gates； no one would have known she had been the one delaying their departure。 She shouted at the drivers； too； setting them to snatching up their reins and flourishing their long whips； it was a marvel they waited for anyone to climb aboard。
Scrambling awkwardly after Lan and Nalesean and Beslan into the third coach； Mat propped his spear across the door and sat down hard with t