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"That will be acceptable, Cauthon," Teslyn said, ive the to her "So you’ll have people to command about and make set up your tents But there’s a condition attached"

Teslyn raised an eyebrow

"I want you to tell the Awene, this should be easy But even if it isn’t, you tell her The White Tower has so of mine, and it’s nearly time that I reclaimed it I don’t want to, but what I want never see, and I don’t mean to be bloody turned away" He se"

Teslyn, to her credit, chuckled softly "I’ll see it done, though I doubt the ruiven up the Aht be surprised" Mat surely had been, when he had discovered wowene Amyrlin He did not knohat had happened up at the White Tower, but he had a sinking feeling that the Aes Sedai had wrapped poor Egwene up in their schemes so soundly that she would never escape He had half a et her out

But he had other tasks Egould have to see to herself for now She was a capable girl; she could probably handle it without hihtful He did not know for sure that Mat had blown the Horn--at least, Mat had never told hi But Tho," Mat said "Where’s Setalle?"

"She’ll be staying here," Teslyn said "She said that she wanted to keep you fro too many missteps" She raised an eyebrow, and Joline and Edesina nodded sagaciously They all assumed that Setalle was a for fled as a girl because of a roup 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 ht out horses for the two of the him some forty animals and a file of soldiers But it would be worth it Besides, he intended to retrieve bothwith infor in Tar Valon

He nodded to Vanin The thick-waisted horse thief had not been too pleased when Mat had ordered hiured 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

VaninAs 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 ht 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 hiot 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 so 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 hi about that , they werethe road Tho the riders "Sweetbuns?"

"Tradition a 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 s She ot to Cae his et 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 Coives me an idea"

"You need a shave, Matriarded hi his face Lopin had always done that, eachin the rain when Mat did not let hi out his beard to avoid notice It still itched like a week-old scab

He had found Setalle at the supply tents, overseeing thevegetables and stewing beans with the furtive expression of iven firm instructions Setalle was not needed here; the Band’s cooks had always been able to preparea woiving them orders Besides, Setalle was a former innkeeper and--re things that did not need supervising

Not for the first ti with hi with the Daughter of the Nine Moons had often kept her busy Nothing was erous for the sanity of men than a woman with tooof the Ebou Dari style, which Mat found pleasant, considering the plunging neckline That kind of outfit worked particularly well on a woolden hoops in her ears, a stately de knife worn around her neck seee Not that