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Mat nodded to the innkeeper--a stately, dark-haired wo the light She was a little older than his nore He would keep her in mind For one of his an to scoop up the coins He would let Thom finish and--

Mat’s hand jerked His are, a knife sticking through the cloth The thin length of , though the glee the knife

Tho, a sru as Thom finished this tune, which was not as doleful as the other When the lanky gleeman lowered the flute, the rooleeman with a scowl "Burn you, Tholad I did not ai to the cheering and applause of the inn’s patrons They called for hiretful head and replaced his flute in its case

"I al his cuff and sticking a finger through the holes "Blood would not have shown thatwill be obvious Just because you wear more patches than cloak doesn’t mean I want to imitate you"

"And you co down to collect his earnings

"I’m not!" Mat said "And never mind what Tuon said, burn you I’ that his coat stitches would show?"

"You don’t have to be a lord to want to dress with so hi down "I’m sorry, Mat I moved by instinct, didn’t realize it was you until I saw the face attached to the arers"

Mat sighed "Thorimly, "an old friend is in town One who leaves folks dead with their throats ripped clean out"

Tho troubled "I heard about it fro my break And we’re stuck here in the city unless you decide…"

"I’ the letter," Mat said "Verin could have left instructions for me to crawl all the way to Falme on my hands, and I’d bloody have to do it! I know you hate the delay, but that letter could make a et back to caue outside of Caemlyn Thom and Mat had not ridden in--walkers were less conspicuous, and Mat would not bring horses into the city until he found a stable that he trusted The price of good horses was getting ridiculous He had hoped to leave that behind once he left Seanchan lands, but Elayne’s arood horse they could find, and ood ones, too Beyond that, he had heard that horses had a way of disappearing these days Meat was , even in Caemlyn It made Mat’s skin crawl, but it was the truth

He and Tho very little other than toin a different tent every night

Mat glanced over his shoulder as the two of theht of torches and larand spires and towers lit by the glow The old me it before Andor was even a nation Caeht He did not envy the Houses that had tried to seize it from Elayne