Lord of Chaos: Chapter 44
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Author: Asandra al'Terra
Chapter Icon: A serpent twisted through a square
Outline
Mat leaves for Ebou Dar.
Summary
Mat's Point of View:
Location: Salidar
Characters: Mat, Halima, Myrelle, Siuan, Leane, Egwene, Talmanes, Elayne, Nynaeve, Thom, Juilin, Birgitte, Aviendha, Vandene, Adeleas
Mat, after organising sleeping quarters in a hayloft in Salidar and hanging two banners - the ancient symbol of the Aes Sedai and the dragon banner - on the loft door, goes to the Little Tower to see the Amyrlin. However, he is turned away, and goes to find Thom and Juilin - and is, yet again, unsuccessful.
Mat decides to go dancing to let Egwene know that he knows she has left him to stew - and that he isn't even simmering. He first dances with Halima, but quickly leaves. When he has gone just a few steps, his medallion goes cold - he turns and sees Halima staring at him. When he asks someone if she is Aes Sedai, though, they tell him she is but a secretary; he decides it must have been another Aes Sedai, and moves away from the area.
Myrelle begins speaking to him; he realises what she is getting at, though, and declines bonding her. After, he asks Siuan Sanche to dance without realising who she really is, and is beyond shocked when he learns the truth. He is, however, soon swept away to dance by a beautiful Domani - Leane. He nearly stumbles, and after Leane kisses him at the end of the piece, the man leaves to go to sleep.
In the morning, Mat realises Olver had come to Salidar. That evening, Myrelle asks about bonding again, but he turns her down again - and it had not been the first offer that day; one of those requesting had been Halima's 'mistress.'
The second day there, he is called by a novice to see Egwene. He is given the choice of either leaving Salidar completely, or leaving Salidar with Elayne and Nynaeve for Ebou Dar. The next day, Mat prepares to leave for Ebou Dar; he tells Talmanes that, if Salidar packs up, to follow, but not close enough to alarm.
Elayne, Nynaeve, Thom, Juilin, Birgitte, Aviendha, and two other Aes Sedai - Vandene and Adeleas - finally arrive. Mat is astounded to hear that it will take at least five days to reach Ebou Dar; he confronts Elayne, and hates how her reasoning that it is too dangerous to create a gateway close to the city is right. Egwene arrives at that moment with a bunch of Aes Sedai behind her; she seemingly walks alone. He flourishes a bow, which makes the others do so.
After exchanging a few words with Nynaeve and Egwene, Elayne opens a gateway, and the party rides through.
Egwene's Point of View:
Location: Salidar
Characters: Egwene
Egwene feels slightly bad for using Mat, and the Band - although she has not finished using the Band yet. She turns to the Aes Sedai with her - they will go visit Gareth Bryne.
