Mat POV#

Mat takes the a'dam to The Wandering Woman. Joline does not want to try it and Blaeric and Fen agree with her, but Setalle insists saying she means to see Joline back in the White Tower. Mat says she does not have to go with them, but Setalle says she has already sold The Wandering Woman to Lydel Elonid. Jasfer sailed for Illian three days ago with all of their kin. Mat slips and mentions the second damane to be freed, then tells Joline that it is Edesina Azzedin. Joline thinks that Setalle's voice is familiar.[1] Mat shows them how to open and close the a'dam, then Setalle wears the bracelet and puts the collar on Joline. They take two steps, then Joline collapses in agony. They quickly get the a'dam off her, but it is clear that Setalle cannot be a sul'dam.

Mat lies, saying he has another plan in mind, then leaves. As he passes the statue of Queen Nariene, Bayle Domon comes up and re-introduces himself. Mat vaguely remembers him from the voyage from Shadar Logoth to Whitebridge. He memory of that time is largely gone. Domon takes him back to The Wandering Woman to his room where Egeanin is waiting. She tells him that she wants to hire him, Thom and Juilin. Mat asks how she knows them. She refuses to say at first, but finally admits that she helped Elayne and Nynaeve in Tanchico. Mat figures out that a Seeker is after her. He says that he can get her away immediately if she can supply three sul'dam. She says she can.[2]

Later, Mat meets with Thom and Juilin. They tell Mat about the Black Ajah and the sad bracelets. The colors flash through Mat's head again as he thinks of Rand. They agree that Rand should know about the sad bracelets, but Elayne or Nynaeve probably told him and it is a moot point anyway as they are at the bottom of the sea.[3] That night, Mat lies down in Tylin's bed, but he cannot sleep. He worries the night away thinking of what might go wrong.

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