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er steps； glancing over her shoulder at him until she was out of sight around a bend。
Wanted to make sure I didn't follow her； he thought sourly。 First the guardsmen； and now Else。 My luck is not in； today。
He started off again； and soon heard a ferocious clatter from one side ahead； like dozens of sticks being beat together。 Curious； he turned off toward it； into the trees。
A little way brought him to a large expanse of bare ground； the earth beaten hard； at least fifty paces across and nearly twice as long。 At intervals around it under the trees stood wooden stands holding quarterstaffs； and practice swords made of strips of wood bound loosely together； and a few real swords and axes and spears。
Spaced across the open ground； pairs of men； most stripped to the waist； flailed at each other with more practice swords。 Some moved so smoothly it almost seemed they danced with one another； flowing from stance to stance； stroke to counterstroke in continuous motion。 There was nothing quickly apparent aside from skill to mark them from the others； but Mat was sure he was watching Warders。
Those who did not move so smoothly were all younger； each pair under the watchful eyes of an older man who seemed to radiate a dangerous grace even standing still。 Warders and students； Mat decided。
He was not the only audience。 Not ten paces from him； half a dozen women with ageless Aes Sedai faces and as many more in the banded white dresses of the Accepted stood watching one pair of students； bare to the waist and slick with sweat； under the guidance of a Warder shaped much like a block of stone。 The Warder used a short…stemmed pipe in one hand； trailing tabac smoke； to direct his pupils。
Sitting down cross…legged under a leatherleaf； Mat rooted three large pebbles out of the ground and began to juggle them idly。 He did not feel weak； exactly； but it was good to sit。 If there was a way out of the Tower grounds； it would not go away while he took a short rest。
Before he had been there five minutes he knew who it was the Aes Sedai and Accepted were watching。 One of the blocky Warder's pupils was a tall； lithe young man who moved like a cat。 And almost as pretty as a girl； Mat thought wryly。 Every woman was staring at the tall fellow with sparkling eyes； even the Aes Sedai。
The tall man handled his practice sword almost as deftly as the Warders； now and then earning an approving gravelly ment from his teacher。 It was not that his opponent； a youth more Mat's age； with red…gold hair； was unskilled。 Far from it； as much as Mat could see； though he had never claimed to know anything about swords。 The golden…haired man met every lightning attack； turning it away before the bound strips could strike him； and even launched an occasional attack of his own。 But the handsome fellow countered those attacks and flowed back into his own in the space of a heartbeat。
Mat shifted the pebbles to one hand； but kept them spinning in the air。 He did not think he would care to face either of them。 Certainly not with a sword。
〃Break！〃 The Warder's voice sounded like rocks emptying out of a bucket。 Chests heaving； the two men let their practice swords fall to their sides。 Sweat matted their hair。 〃You can rest till I finish my pipe。 But rest fast； I am almost in the dottle。〃
Now that they had stopped dancing about； Mat got a good look at the youth with the red…gold hair and let the pebbles drop。 Burn me； I'll bet my whole purse that's Elayne's brother。 And the other one's Galad； or I'll eat my boots。 On the journey from Toman Head it had seemed half of Elayne's conversation had been of Gawyn's virtues and Galad's vices。 Oh； Gawyn had some vices according to Elayne； but they were small； to Mat they sounded like the sort of things no one but a sister would consider vices at all。 As for Galad； once Elayne was pinned down； he sounded like what every mother said she wanted her son to be。 Mat did not think he wanted to spend much time in Galad's pany。 Egwene blushed whenever Galad was mentioned； though she seemed to think no one noticed。
A ripple seemed to pass through the watching women when Gawyn and Galad stopped； and they appeared on the point of stepping forward almost as one。 But Gawyn caught sight of Mat； said something quietly to Galad； and the two of them walked by the women。 The Aes Sedai and Accepted turned to follow with their eyes。 Mat scrambled to his feet as the pair approached。
〃You are Mat Cauthon； are you not？〃 Gawyn said with a grin。 〃I was sure I recognized you from Egwene's description。 And Elayne's。 I understand you were sick。 Are you better now？〃
〃I'm fine；〃 Mat said。 He wondered if he was supposed to call Gawyn 〃my Lord〃 or something of the sort。 He had refused to call Elayne 〃my Lady〃 … not that she had demanded it； actually … and he decided he would not do her brother better。
〃Did you e to the practice yard to learn the sword？〃 Galad asked。
Mat shook his head。 〃I was only out walking。 I don't know much about swords。 I think I'll put my trust in a good bow； or a good quarterstaff。 I know how to use those。〃
〃If you spend much time around Nynaeve；〃 Galad said； 〃you'll need bow； quarterstaff； and sword to protect yourself。 And I don't know whether that would be enough。〃
Gawyn looked at him wonderingly。 〃Galad； you just very nearly made a joke。〃
〃I do have a sense of humor； Gawyn；〃 Galad said with a frown。 〃You only think I do not because I do not care to mock people。〃
With a shake of his head； Gawyn turned back to Mat。 〃You should learn something of the sword。 Everyone can do with that sort of knowledge these days。 Your friend … Rand al'Thor … carried a most unusual sword。 What do you hear of him？〃
〃I haven't seen Rand in a long time；〃 Mat said quickly。 Just for a moment； when he had mentioned Rand； Gawyn's look had gained intensity。 Light； does he know about Rand？ He couldn't。 If he did； he'd be denouncing me for a Darkfriend just for being Rand's friend。 But he knows something。 〃Swords aren't the be…all and end…all； you know。 I could do fairly well against either of you； I think； if you had a sword and I had my quarterstaff。〃
Gawyn's cough was obviously meant to swallow a laugh。 Much too politely； he said； 〃You must be very good。〃 Galad's face was frankly disbelieving。
Perhaps it was that they both clearly thought he was making a wild boast。 Perhaps it was because he had mishandled questioning the guardsman。 Perhaps it was because Else； who had such an eye for the boys； wanted nothing to do with him； and all those women were staring at Galad like cats watching a jug of cream。 Aes Sedai and Accepted or not； they were still women。 All these explanations ran through Mat's head； but he rejected them angrily； especially the last。 He was going to do it because it would be fun。 And it might earn some coin。 His luck would not even have to be back。
〃I will wager；〃 he said； 〃two silver marks to two from each of you that I can beat both of you at once； just the way I said。 You can't have fairer odds than that。 There are two of you； and one of me； so two to one are fair o