former runaway servant from the White Tower, perhaps having fled as a girl because of a misdeed.
Well, that meant he wouldn't be rid of the entire group. Still, if he had to pick one to stay, it would be Mistress Anan. She would probably be wanting to find a way to meet up with her husband and family, who had fled Ebou Dar by ship.
Juilin walked up, leading Thera. Had that frightened wisp of a woman really been the Panarch of Tarabon? Mat had seen mice that were less timid. Mat's soldiers brought out horses for the two of them. All in all, this expedition was costing him some forty animals and a file of soldiers. But it would be worth it. Besides, he intended to retrieve both men and horses—along with information about what was really happening in Tar Valon.
He nodded to Vanin. The thick-waisted horse thief had not been too pleased when Mat had ordered him to go along to Tar Valon and gather information. Mat had figured he would be ecstatic, considering how he doted on the Aes Sedai. Well, he would be even less happy when he found Juilin was along; Vanin tended to step lightly around the thief-catcher.
Vanin mounted a bay gelding. As far as the Aes Sedai knew, he was a senior Redarm and one of Mat's field scouts, but nobody to be suspicious of. He did not look very threatening, except maybe as a danger to a bowl of boiled potatoes. That might be why he was so good at what he did. Mat did not need any horses stolen, but Vanin's talents could be applied to other tasks.
'Well,' Mat said, turning back to the Aes Sedai, 'I won't keep you further, then.' He stepped back, avoiding looking at Joline—who had a predatory cast to her eyes that reminded him all too much of Tylin. Teslyn waved and, curiously, Edesina nodded to him in respect. Juilin had a wave for him and Thom, and Mat got a nod from Leilwin. The woman chewed rocks for breakfast and nails for supper, but she was fair. Maybe he could talk to Tuon, get her reinstated or something.
Don't be a fool, he thought, giving a wave to Bayle Domon. First you'll need to convince Tuon not to make you da'covale. He was half convinced she intended to see him as her servant, husband or not. Thinking about that made him sweat around the collar.
Before long, they were making dust along the road. Thom stepped up beside Mat, watching the riders. 'Sweetbuns?'
'Tradition among us Two Rivers folk.'
'Never heard of that tradition.'
'It's very obscure.'
'Ah, I see. And what did you do to those buns?'
'Sprinklewort,' Mat said. 'It'll turn her mouth blue for a week, maybe two. And she won't share the sweetbuns with anyone, except maybe her Warders. Joline is addicted to the things. She must have eaten seven or eight bags' worth since we got to Caemlyn.'
'Nice,' Thom said, knuckling his mustache. 'Childish, though.'
'I'm trying to get back to my basic roots,' Mat said. 'You know, recapture some of my lost youth.'
'You're barely twenty winters old!'
'Sure, but I did a lot of living when I was younger. Come on. Mistress Anan is staying, and that gives me an idea.'
'You need a shave, Matrim Cauthon.' Mistress Anan folded her arms as she regarded him.
He reached up, touching his face. Lopin had always done that, each morning. The man got as sulky as a dog in the rain when Mat did not let him do such things, though lately Mat had been growing out his beard to avoid notice. It still itched like a week-old scab.
He had found Setalle at the supply tents, overseeing the midday meal. Soldiers from the Band hunkered down, chopping vegetables and stewing beans with the furtive expression of men who had been given firm instructions. Setalle was not needed here; the Band's cooks had always been able to prepare meals without her. But there was nothing a woman liked better than finding men who were relaxing, then giving them orders. Besides, Setalle was a former innkeeper and—remarkably—a former Aes Sedai. Mat often found her supervising things that did not need supervising.
Not for the first time, he wished Tuon were still traveling with him. Setalle had usually taken Tuon's side, but staying with the Daughter of the Nine Moons had often kept her busy. Nothing was more dangerous for the sanity of men than a woman with too much time on her hands.
Setalle still wore clothing of the Ebou Dari style, which Mat found pleasant, considering the plunging neckline. That kind of outfit worked particularly well on a woman as buxom as Setalle. Not that he noticed. She had golden hoops in her ears, a stately demeanor and gray in her hair. The jeweled wedding knife worn around her neck seemed something of a warning, the way it nestled in her cleavage. Not that Mat noticed that, either.
'I've been growing the beard intentionally,' Mat said to her statement. 'I want to—'
'Your coat is dirty,' she said, nodding to a soldier who brought her some onions he had peeled. He sheepishly poured them into a pot, not looking at Mat. 'And your hair a mess. You look like you've been in a brawl, and it's not yet noon.'
'I'm fine,' Mat said. 'I'll clean up later. You didn't go with the Aes Sedai.'
'Each step toward Tar Valon would take me farther from where I need to be. I need to send word to my husband. When we parted, I didn't suspect that I'd end up in Andor of all places.'
'I'm thinking I might be getting access to someone who can make gateways here soon,' Mat said. 'And I…' He frowned as another group of soldiers approached, carrying a few undersized quail they'd hunted. The soldiers looked ashamed of the terrible catch.
Setalle ordered them to pluck the birds without so much as a glance toward Mat. Light, he needed to get her out of his camp. Things would not be normal here until they were all gone.
'Don't look at me like that, Lord Mat,' Setalle said. 'Noram went into the city to see what kind of provisions he could find. I've noted that without the cook himself here to prod the men, meals don't get done at any reasonable speed. Not all of us like to take lunch when the sun is setting.'
'I didn't say a thing,' Mat said, keeping his voice even. He nodded to the side. 'Can we talk for a moment?'
Setalle hesitated, then nodded and stepped away from the others with him. 'What's going on really?' she said softly. 'You look like you slept under a hay pile.'
'I slept under a wagon, actually. And my tent's stained with blood. Not really looking forward to going there to change clothing right now.'
Her gaze softened. 'I understand your loss. But that's no excuse to go around looking like you've been living in an alleyway. You'll need to hire another serving man.'
Mat scowled. 'I never needed one in the first place. I can take care of myself. Look, I have a favor to ask of you. I want you to watch after Olver for a little while.'
'For what purpose?'
'That thing might come back,' Mat said. 'And it could try to hurt him. Besides, I'm going to be leaving with Thom shortly. I might be back, I should be back. But if I don't, I… Well, I would rather he not be left alone.'
She studied him. 'He would not be alone. The men in camp seem to have a great deal of fondness for the child.'
'Sure, but I don't like the things they're teaching him. The boy needs better examples than that lot.'
She seemed amused by that for some reason. 'I've already begun instructing the child in letters. I suppose I can watch after him for a time, if need be.'
'Great. Wonderful.' Mat let out a relieved sigh. Women were always happy for a chance to educate a boy when he was young; Mat thought they assumed they could educate him out of becoming a man if they tried hard enough. 'I'll give you some money. You can go into the city and find an inn.'
'I've been into the city,' Setalle said. 'Every inn in the place seems packed to the walls already.'
'I'll find a place for you,' Mat promised. 'Just keep Olver safe. When the time comes, and I have someone to make gateways, I'll have them send you to Illian so you can find your husband.'
'A deal,' Setalle said. She hesitated, glancing northward. 'The… others are gone, then?'
'Yes.' Good riddance.
She nodded, looking regretful. Maybe she had not been ordering his men about for lunch because she had been offended at seeing them relax. Maybe she had been looking for something to busy herself at.
'I'm sorry,' Mat said. 'About whatever happened to you.'
