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inks someone is out to kill him over it； so I thought I'd let him say what he wanted and no more。 Seems he does not care any longer。〃
〃What kind of letter？〃 Gill asked。 〃Is she ing home？ And Lord Gawyn？ I hope they are。 I've actually heard talk of war with Tar Valon； as if anyone could be fool enough to go to war with Aes Sedai。 If you ask me； it is all one with those mad rumors we've heard about Aes Sedai supporting a false Dragon somewhere in the； west； and using the Power as a weapon。 Not that I can see why that would make anyone want to go to war with them； just the opposite。〃
〃Are you married to Coline？〃 Mat asked； and Master Gill gave a start。
〃The Light preserve me from that！ You would think the inn was hers now。 If she was my wife。。。！ What does that have to do with the Daughter…Heir's letter？〃
〃Nothing；〃 Mat said； 〃but you went on so long； I thought you must have forgotten your own questions。〃 Gill made a choking sound； and Thom barked a laugh。 Mat hurried on before the innkeeper could speak。 〃The letter is sealed； Elayne did not tell me what it says。〃 Thom was eyeing him sideways and stroking his mustaches。 Does he think I'll admit we opened the thing？ 〃But I don't think she is ing home。 She means to be Aes Sedai； if you ask me。〃 He told them about his attempt to deliver the letter； smoothing over a few edges they had no need to know about。
〃The new men；〃 Gill said。 〃That officer sounds it； at least。 I'll wager on it。 No better than brigands； most of them； except the ones with a sly eye。 You wait until this afternoon； lad； when the Guards on the gate will have changed。 Say the Daughter…Heir's name right out； and just in case the new fellow is one of Gaebril's men； too； duck your head a little。 A knuckle to your forehead； and you'll have no trouble。〃
〃Burn me if I will。 I pull wool and scratch gravel for nobody。 Not to Morgase herself。 This time； I'll not go near the Guards at all。〃 I would just as soon not know what word that fat fellow has spread。 They stared at him as if he were mad。
〃How under the Light；〃 Gill said； 〃do you mean to enter the Royal Palace without passing the Guards？〃 His eyes widened as if he were remembering something。 〃Light； you don't mean to。。。 Lad； you'd need the Dark One's own luck to escape with your life！〃
〃What are you going on about now； Basel？ Mat； what fool thing do you intend to try？〃
〃I am lucky； Master Gill；〃 Mat said。 〃You just have a good meal waiting when I e back。〃 As he stood； he picked up the dice cup and spun the dice out beside the stones board for luck。 The calico cat leaped down； hissing at him with her back arched。 The five spotted dice came to rest； each showing a single pip。 The Dark One's Eyes。
〃That's the best toss or the worst；〃 Gill said。 〃It depends on the game you are playing； doesn't it。 Lad； I think you mean to play a dangerous game。 Why don't you take that cup out into the mon room and lose a few coppers？ You look to me like a fellow who might like a little gamble。 I will see the letter gets to the Palace safely。〃
〃Coline wants you to clean the drains；〃 Mat told him； and turned to Thom while the innkeeper was still blinking and muttering to himself。 〃It doesn't seem to make any odds whether I get an arrow in me trying to deliver that letter or a knife in my back waiting。 It's six up； and a half dozen down。 Just you have that meal waiting； Thom。〃 He tossed a gold mark on the table in front of Gill。 〃Have my things put in a room； innkeeper。 If it takes more coin； you will have it。 Be careful of the big roll； it frightens Thom something awful。〃
As he stalked out； he heard Gill say to Thom； 〃I always thought that lad was a rascal。 How does he e by gold？〃
I always win； that's how； he thought grimly。 I just have to win once more； and I'm done with Elayne； and that's the last of the White Tower for me。 Just once more。
Chapter 46
（Lion Rampant）
A Message Out of the Shadow
Even as he returned to the Inner City on foot； Mat was far from certain that what he intended would actually work。 It would； if what he had been told was true； but it was the truth of that he was not sure of。 He avoided the oval plaza in front of the Palace； but wandered around the sides of the huge structure and its grounds； along streets that curved with the contours of the hills。 The golden domes of the Palace glittered； mockingly out of reach。 He had made his way almost all the way around； nearly back to the plaza； when he saw it。 A steep slope thick with low flowers； rising from the street to a white wall of rough stone。 Several leafy tree limbs stuck over the top of the wall； and he could see the tops of others beyond； in a garden of the Royal Palace。
A wall made to look like a cliff； he thought； and a garden on the other ride。 Maybe Rand was telling the truth。
A casual look both ways showed him he had the curving street to himself for the moment。 He would have to hurry； the curves did not allow him to see very far； someone could e along any moment。 He scrambled up the slope on all fours； careless of how his boots ripped holes in the banks of red and white blossoms。 The rough stone of the wall gave plenty of fingerholds； and ridges and knobs provided toeholds even for a man in boots。
Careless of them to make it so easy； he thought as he climbed。 For a moment the climbing took him back home with Rand and Perrin； to a journey they had made beyond the Sand Hills； into the edge of the Mountains of Mist。 When they returned to Emond's Field； they had all caught the fury from everyone who could lay hands on them … him worst of all； everyone assumed it had been his idea … but for three days they had climbed the cliffs； and slept under the sky； and eaten eggs filched from redcrests' nests； and plump； gray…winged grouse fetched with an arrow； or a stone from a sling； and rabbits caught with snares； all the while laughing about how they were not afraid of the mountains' bad luck and how they might find a treasure。 He had brought home an odd rock from that expedition； with the skull of a good…sized fish somehow pressed into it； and a long； white tail feather dropped by a snow eagle； and a piece of white stone as big as his hand that looked almost as if it had been carved into a man's ear。 He thought it looked like an ear； even if Rand and Perrin did not； and Tam al'Thor had said it might be。
His fingers slipped out of a shallow groove； his balance shifted and he lost the toehold under his left foot。 With a gasp； he barely caught hold of the top of the wall； and pulled himself up the rest of the way。 For a moment he lay there； breathing hard。 It would not have been that long a fall； but enough to break his head。 Fool； letting my mind wander like that。 Nearly killed myself on those cliffs that way。 That was all a long time ago。 His mother had likely thrown all those things out already； anyway。 With one last look each way to make sure no one had seen him … the curving length of street below was still empty … he dropped inside the Palace grounds。
It was a large garden； with flagstoned walks through expanses of grass among the trees； and grapevines thick on ar