Mat POV#

After Mat, Tuon and Selucia return from their ride, Mat rides alongside Egeanin and Domon. Even Miyora and her leopards are boring to Mat now. Egeanin tells him Akein was a perfect courting gift. Later he talks her into telling him about Seanchan royalty. They are taught intrigue and fighting from birth. Tuon had a sister and brother assassinated. The Empress always has many children to assure the fittest successor to the Crystal Throne.

Teslyn, Edesina and Joline are careless in villages. Bethamin and Seta no longer report their actions to him. Bethamin is in training and Setalle is sure Seta can also see the weaves. The Aes Sedai found the same loophole for his foxhead medallion as Adeleas and Vandene. Joline often pelts him with rocks, but only when Blaeric and Fen are with her.

When they are alone Setalle Anan asks to see the foxhead medallion and Mat lets her hold it. He guesses that she was once Aes Sedai and she admits it.[1] Jasfer found her in the streets of Ebou Dar and took her home to his mother. She agrees to keep Mat's secret that he is besotted with Tuon.

Luca lets slip to the Aes Sedai that Tuon is a High Lady and they begin badgering her to negotiate a truce with the Seanchan. One evening Lopin and Nerim prepare supper for Mat, Tuon, Selucia, Noal and Olver. After Olver leaves, Noal tells stories about the Seven Towers in Malkier and Shol Arbela, the City of Ten Thousand Bells, in Arafel. Joline, Teslyn and Edesina enter and demand that she end the war before Tarmon Gai'don.

Selucia slips an a'dam onto Teslyn and in the confusion puts one on Joline as well. Tuon has the bracelets. Edesina tries to run but Tuon binds her with Air and slams the door on Blaeric and Fen. Tuon demonstrates the a'dam on Joline. Mat tries to talk her into letting them go but she refuses. He moves toward them and the foxhead medallion grows cold. Tuon is shocked.[2] Mat releases Teslyn then makes all three agree to stop annoying Tuon. Then he releases Joline. Mat buries the three a'dam in a deep hole and gets soaked with a cold rain for his trouble. The dice are still tumbling in his head.

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