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Scrambling awkwardly after Lan and Nalesean and Beslan into the third coach； Mat propped his spear across the door and sat down hard with the basket on his lap as the coach lurched forward。 〃Where did you e from； Lan？〃 he burst out as soon as introductions were out of the way。 〃You're the last man I expected to see。 Where have you been？ Light； I thought you were dead。 I know Rand's afraid you are。 And letting Nynaeve order you around。 Why in the Light would you do that？〃
The stone…faced Warder seemed to consider which question to answer。 〃Nynaeve and I were married last night by the Mistress of the Ships；〃 he said finally。 〃The Atha'an Miere have several。。。 unusual。。。 marriage customs。 There were surprises for both of us。〃 A small smile touched his mouth； if nothing else。 He shrugged slightly； seemingly that was all the answer he intended to give。
〃The blessing of the Light be upon you and your bride；〃 Beslan murmured politely with as much of a bow as the confines of the coach would allow； and Nalesean mumbled something； though it was plain from his expression that he thought Lan must be mad。 Nalesean had had a good bit of Nynaeve's pany。
Mat just sat there swaying with the coach's motion and staring。 Nynaeve married？ Lan married to Nynaeve？ The man was mad。 No wonder his eyes looked so bleak。 Mat would as soon have stuffed a rabid fox down his own shirt。 Only a fool married； and only a madman would marry Nynaeve。
If Lan noticed that not everyone was overjoyed； he gave no sign。 Except for his eyes； he looked no different than Mat remembered。 Maybe a little harder； if that was possible。 〃There is something more important；〃 Lan said。 〃Nynaeve doesn't want you to know； Mat； but you need to hear it。 Your two men are dead； killed by Moghedien。 I am sorry； but if it is any consolation； they truly were dead before they knew。 Nynaeve thinks Moghedien must be gone； or she'd have tried again； but I am not so certain。 It seems she has a personal enmity toward Nynaeve； although Nynaeve managed to avoid telling me why。〃 Again the smile； Lan seemed unaware of it。 〃Not all of it； at least； and it does not matter。 Best you know what might be facing us beyond the river； though。〃
〃Moghedien；〃 Beslan breathed； eyes shining。 The man was probably seeing fun。
〃Moghedien；〃 Nalesean breathed； but in his case； it was more of a groan； and he gave his pointed beard a fitful jerk。
〃Those bloody flaming women；〃 Mat muttered。
〃I hope you don't include my wife；〃 Lan said coldly； one hand gripping the hilt of his sword； and Mat quickly raised his own hands。
〃Of course not。 Just Elayne and。。。 and the Kin。〃
After a moment； Lan nodded； and Mat breathed a small sigh of relief。 It would be just like Nynaeve to get him killed by her husband … her husband！ … when sure as bread was brown； she would have hidden the fact that one of the Forsaken might be in the city。 Even Moghedien did not really frighten him； not so long as he had the foxhead around his neck； but the medallion could not protect Nalesean or any of the rest。 No doubt Nynaeve thought she and Elayne would do that。 They let him bring along the Redarms； all the while laughing up their sleeves at him while they …
〃Aren't you going to read my mother's note； Mat？〃 Until Beslan mentioned it； he had not realized there was a sheet of paper； folded small； tucked in between the basket and the striped cloth。 Just enough showed to reveal the green seal impressed with the Anchor and Sword。
He broke the wax with his thumb and unfolded the page； holding it so Beslan could not see what was written。 As well he did； or then again； considering how the other man saw things； maybe it did not matter。 Either way； Mat was just as glad no eyes but his saw those words。 His heart sank deeper by the line。
Mat； my sweet；
I am having your things moved to my apartments。 So much more convenient。 By the time you return； Riselle will be in your old rooms to look after young Olver。 He seems to enjoy her pany。
I have seamstresses ing to measure you。 I will enjoy watching that。 You must wear shorter coats。 And new breeches； of course。 You have a delightful bottom。 Duckling； who is this Daughter of the Nine Moons I made you think of？ I have thought of several delicious ways to make you tell me。
Tylin
The others were all looking at him expectantly。 Well； Lan was simply looking； but his gaze was more unnerving than the rest； that stare seemed almost。。。 dead。
〃The Queen thinks I need new clothes；〃 Mat said； stuffing the note into his coat pocket。 〃I think I'll take a nap。〃
He pulled the brim of his hat down over his eyes； but he did not close them； staring out the window； where the tied…back curtain let in occasional eddies of dust。 It also let in the wind； though； which was considerably better than the heat of a closed coach。
Moghedien and Tylin。 Of the two； he would rather confront Moghedien。 He touched the foxhead hanging in the open neck of his shirt。 At least he had some protection against Moghedien。 Against Tylin； he had no more than he did against the Daughter of the bloody Nine Moons； whoever she was。 Unless he could find some way to make Nynaeve and Elayne leave Ebou Dar before tonight； everybody was going to know。 Sullenly； he tugged his hat lower。 These flaming women really were making him act like a girl。 In another minute； he was afraid； he might just start crying。
Chapter 38
（Female Silhouettes）
Six Stories
Mat would have gotten out and pulled the coach himself； if he could。 He thought they might have moved faster。 The streets were already full with the sun not all the way up； wagons and carts wending their way nosily through the crowds and windblown dust to shouts and curses both from drivers and those forced to get out of the way。 So many barges slid along the canals on the bargemen's poles that a man almost could have walked the canals like streets； stepping from one barge to the next。 A noisy hum hung over the gleaming white city。 Ebou Dar seemed to be trying to make up for time lost yesterday； not to mention at High Chasaline and the Feast of Lights； and well it might； considering that tomorrow night was the Feast of Embers； with Maddin's Day； celebrating the founder of Altara； two days after that； and the Feast of the Half Moon the following night。 Southerners had a reputation for industry； but he thought it was because they had to work so hard to make up for all the festivals and feastdays。 The wonder was that they had the strength for it。
Eventually the coaches did reach the river； drawing up at one of the long stone landings that jutted out into the water； all lined with steps for boarding the boats tied alongside。 Sticking a wedge of dark yellow cheese and a butt end of bread into his pocket； he stuffed the basket well under the seat。 He was hungry； but someone in the kitchens had been in too much of a hurry； most of the basket was filled by a clay pot full of oysters； but the kitchens had forgotten to cook them。
Scrambling down behind Lan； he left Nalesean and Beslan to help Vanin and the others down from the last coaches。 Nearly a dozen men； and not even the Cairhienin really small； they had been jammed in like apples in a barrel and clambered out stiffly。 Mat strode ahead of the Warder toward the lead coach； the ashandarei slanted across his shoulder。 Nynaeve and Elayne were both going to get a piece of his mind no matter who was listening。 Trying to keep Moghedien hidden！ Not to mention two of his men dead！ He was going to …！ Suddenly very conscious of Lan towering behind him like a stone statue with that sword on his hip； he amended his thoughts。 The Daughter…Heir at least was going to hear about keeping that sort of secret。
Nynaeve was standing on the landing； tying on her blue…plumed hat and talking back up into the coach when he reached it。 〃。。。 Will work out； of course； but who would think the Sea Folk； of all people； would demand such a thing； even just in private？〃
〃But； Nynaeve；〃 Elayne said as she stepped down with her green…plumed hat in her hand； 〃if last night was as glorious as you say； how can you plain about …？〃
That was when they became aware of him and Lan。 Of Lan； really。 Nynaeve's eyes opened wider and wider； filling her face as it reddened to shame two sunsets。 Maybe three。 Elayne froze with one foot still on the coach step； giving the Warder such a frown you would have thought he had sneaked up on them。 Lan gazed down at Nynaeve； though； with no more expression than a fence post； and for all Nynaeve appeared ready to crawl under the coach and hide； she stared up at Lan as if no one else existed in the world。 Realizing her frown was wasted there； Elayne took her foot off the step and moved out of the way of Reanne and the two Wise Women who had shared the coach； Tamarla and a graying Saldaean woman named Janira； but the Daughter…Heir did not give up； oh； no。 She transferred that scowl to Mat Cauthon； and if it altered a whit； it was to deepen。 He snorted and shook his head。 Usually when a woman was in the wrong； she could find so many things to blame on the nearest man that he wo