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〃Burn you；〃 Mat muttered。 〃Burn you； Thom Merrilin！ A woman！ Light； we could have tied her up； given her to the Queen's Guards tomorrow in Caemlyn。 Light； I might even have let her go。 She'd rob nobody without these three； and the only one that lives will be days before he can see straight and months before he can hold a sword。 Burn you； Thom； there was no need to kill her！〃
The gleeman limped to where the woman lay； and kicked back her cloak。 The dagger had half fallen from her hand； its blade as wide as Mat's thumb and two hands long。 〃Would you rather I had waited till she nested that in your ribs； boy？〃 He retrieved his own knife； wiping the blade on her cloak。
Mat realized he was humming。 〃She Wore a Mask That Hid Her Face；〃 and stopped it。 He bent down and hid hers with the hood of her cloak。 〃Best we move on；〃 he said quietly。 〃I do nor want to have to explain this if a patrol of the Guards happens by。〃
〃With her in those clothes？〃 Thom said。 〃I should say not！ They must have robbed a merchant's wife； or some noblewoman's carriage。〃 His voice became gentler。 〃If we're going； boy； you had best see to saddling your horse。〃
Mat gave a start and pulled his eyes from the dead woman。 〃Yes； I had better； hadn't I？〃 He did not look at her again。
He had no such punction about the men。 As far as he was concerned； a man who decided to rob and kill deserved what he got when he lost the game。 He did not dwell on them； but neither did he jerk his eyes away if they fell on one of the robbers。 It was after he had saddled his gelding and tied his things on behind； while he was kicking dirt onto the fire； that he found himself looking at the man who had shot the crossbow。 There was something familiar about those features； about the way the smothering fire made shadows across them。 Luck； he told himself。 Always the luck。
〃The crossbowman was a good swimmer； Thom；〃 he said as he climbed into the saddle。
〃What foolery are you talking； now？〃 The gleeman was on his horse； too； and far more concerned with how his instrument cases rode behind his saddle than he was in the dead。 〃How could you know whether he could even swim at all？〃
〃He made it ashore from a small boat in the middle of the Erinin in the middle of the night。 I guess that used up all his luck。〃 He checked the lashings on the roll of fireworks again。 If that fool thought one of these was Aes Sedai； I wonder what he'd have thought if they all went off。
〃Are you sure； boy？ The chances of it being the same man。。。 Why； even you wouldn't lay a wager against those odds。〃
〃I am sure； Thom。〃 Elayne； I will wring your neck when I put my hands on you。 And Egwene's and Nynaeve's； too。 〃And I am sure I intend to have this bloody letter out of my hands an hour after we reach Caemlyn。〃
〃I tell you； there is nothing in that letter； boy。 I played Daes Dae'mar when I was younger than you； and I can recognize a code or a cipher even when I don't know what it says。〃
〃Well； I never played your Great Game； Thom； your bloody Game of Houses； but I know when someone is chasing me； and they'd not be chasing this hard or this far for the gold in my pockets； not for less than a chest full of gold。 It has to be the letter。〃 Burn me； pretty girls always get me in trouble。 〃Do you feel like sleeping tonight； after this？〃
〃With the sleep of an innocent babe； boy。 But if you want to ride； I'll ride。〃
The face of a pretty woman floated into Mat's head； with a dagger in her throat。 You had no luck； pretty woman。 〃Then let's ride！〃 he said savagely。
Chapter 45
（Lion Rampant）
Caemlyn
Mat had vague memories of Caemlyn； but when they approached it in the early hours after sunrise； it seemed as if he had never been there before。 They had not been alone on the road since first light； and other riders surrounded them now； and trains of merchants' wagons and folk afoot； all streaming toward the great city。
Built on rising hills； it was surely as large as Tar Valon； and outside the huge walls … a fifty…foot height of pale； grayish stone streaked with white and silver sparkling in the sun； spaced with tall； round towers with the Lion Banner of Andor waving atop them； white on red … outside those walls； it seemed as if another great city had been placed； wrapping around the walled city； all red brick and gray stone and white plastered walls； inns pushed in on houses of three and four stories so fine they must belong to wealthy merchants； shops with goods displayed on tables under awnings crowding against wide； windowless warehouses。 Open markets under red and purple roof tiles lined the road on both sides； men and women already crying their wares； bargaining at the top of their voices； while penned calves and sheep and goats and pigs； caged geese and chickens and ducks； added to the din。 He seemed to remember thinking Caemlyn was too noisy when he was here before； now it sounded like a heartbeat； pumping wealth。
The road led to arched gates twenty feet high； standing open under the watchful eye of red…coated Queen's Guards in their shining breast…plates … they eyed Thom and him no more than anyone else； not even the quarterstaff slanted across his saddle in front of him； all they cared was that people keep moving； it seemed … and then they were within。 Slender towers here rose even taller than those along the walls； and gleaming domes shone white and gold above streets teeming with people。 Just inside the gates the road split into two parallel streets； separated by a wide strip of grass and trees。 The hills of the city rose like steps toward a peak； which was surrounded by another wall； shining as white as Tar Valon's； with still more domes and towers within。 That was the Inner City； Mat recalled； and atop those highest hills stood the Royal Palace。
〃No point waiting；〃 he told Thom。 〃I'll take the letter straight on。〃 He looked at the sedan chairs and carriages making their way through the crowds； the shops with all their goods displayed。 〃A man could earn some gold in this city； Thom； once he found a game of dice； or cards。〃 He was not quite so lucky at cards as at dice； but few except nobles and the wealthy played those games anyway。 Now that's who I should find a game with。
Thom yawned at him and hitched at his gleeman's cloak as if it were a blanket。 〃We have ridden all night； boy。 Let's at least find something to eat； first。 The Queen's Blessing has good meals。〃 He yawned again。 〃And good beds。〃
〃I remember that；〃 Mat said slowly。 He did； in a way。 The innkeeper was a fat man with graying hair； Master Gill。 Moiraine had caught up to Rand and him there； when he had thought they were finally free of her。 She's off playing her game with Rand； now。 Nothing to do with me。 Not anymore。 〃I will meet you there； Thom。 I said I'd have this letter out of my hands an hour after I arrived； and I mean to。 You go on。〃
Thom nodded and turned his horse aside； calling over his shoulder through a yawn。 〃Do not bee lost； boy。 It's a big city； Caemlyn。〃
And a rich one。 Mat heeled his mount on up the crowded street。 Lost！ I can find my bloody way。 The sicknes