Knife of Dreams: Chapter 36

Chapter 36: Under an Oak

Anya Valerin

Characters: Karede, Thom, Mat, Tuon, Selucia, Melitene, Mylen

Karede and party ride into the camp of the Band of the Red Hand and are surprised at the relatively small amount of members of the Band compared to the apparent successes they've had against Seanchan led armies over the past few days. However, he believes that Thom is the general. After asking for Thom, the Aes Sedai in the camp get in a row because Mylen the damane is with them, and Joline asks for her release, until Mylen shields them. Mat rides up with Tuon and Selucia. Karede recognizes Tuon immediately. When Mat goes over to the der'sul'dam and damane, Karede recognizes him as Tylin's Toy. Mat demands Melitene and Mylen to release the shield on the Aes Sedai. He even threatens to spank them. Karede has them stand down and Mat has the Aes Sedai do the same, although they berate him for it, which makes Selucia laugh. At this time Karede makes his "demand" to Thom Merrilin. Once hearing him out Thom advises Karede that Mat is the general of the Band.

Mat responds by sizing up Karede's members and the Seanchan in the Molvaine Gap and finishes up by asking if Karede can get Tuon safely back to Ebou Dar and the palace. Karede is shocked at how "easy" the negotiations are going. However, there is one catch: Tuon had to trust Karede to get her safely back to Ebou Dar, or Mat won't give her up. Once it is determined that Karede will indeed take Tuon back to Ebou Dar, Tuon speaks the words that complete the ceremony that makes Mat her husband. After what Tuon has done sinks in with Mat, he asks her why she decided to complete the ceremony at this time, even though he knew she would. Upon questioning, he explains how he knew that she would and then he has Tuon explain how she knew she would do what she did; it turns out that one of her damane made a Foretelling of who Tuon would marry. Karede is dumfounded, but accepts what has happened.

They then get wind of an army looking for Karede and Tuon, and Mat starts to worry about everyone's safety. Once convinced of Karede's determination to get Tuon through safely, he has Karede leave him some of the Deathwatch Guards and the Gardeners to help buy their escape. Once ready to ride, the Band bows to her and she leaves with Karede.

Once away, she asks Karede of his opinion of Mat, which is favorable. As they ride away they agree that if they die they will die as who they are.

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