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"I don’t think so, Moiraine," Tho her hands "No, I won’t rob you of anything"

"But with it I’ll be very strong, stronger in the Power than before I was taken"

"So be it, then," he said He put the bracelet back on her wrist "I’ll marry you now, if you wish it"

She s to bloodyto be lanced at him, Thom with a flat stare, Moiraine with a hint of a smile "I can see why the Seanchan woman had to have you, Mat," she noted "You certainly have ait aardly, looking back and forth between them "I just--burn me! How did I miss this? I ith the two of you ether! When did you beco very closely," Thom said He turned back to Moiraine "I assume you’ll want me as a Warder, too"

She smiled "My previous Gaidin has been appropriated by another by now, I hope"

"I’ll take the job," Thoh you’ll have to explain to Elayne why her court-bard is someone’s Warder" He hesitated "You think they cancloaks with soone bloody insane, I see," Mat said "Thom, didn’t you once tell me that the two most painful places for you to be were Tar Valon and Cae down the hillside that will end with you living in one or the other!"

Thoe"

"I never have spent much of my time in Tar Valon," Moiraine said "I think we shall enjoy traveling together, Thom Merrilin Should we survive the months to come" She looked at Mat "You should not spurn the Warder bond so easily, Mat The blessings it provides will be of great use to men in these days"

Mat pulled his hat back on "That may be true, but you’ll never see me bloody trapped by one No offense, Moiraine I like you well enough But to be bonded to a wo to happen to Matrim Cauthon"

"Is that so?" Thom asked, amused "Didn’t we deter, should she decide to learn?"

Mat froze Bloody ashes Tho wouldHe did not have to worry

Did he?

He ht, for Thoain The two of the with Mat, however, and turned to a soft discussion That affection in their eyes was true They did love each other Light! How had Matto a horse race

He decided tothe two of theateas supposed to appear It had better They had no supplies, and Mat did not fancy flagging down a ship and riding the long way back to Caemlyn

It was a short hike across the meadow to the banks of the Arinelle Once there, he made a small cairn for Noal, then tipped his hat to it and sat down to wait and think

Moiraine was safe Mat had survived, though that bloody socket throbbed like nothing else He still was not certain if the Aelfinn and Eelfinn had strings around hione into their den and come out unscathed Mostly, anyway