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"Ship’s archers," Egeanin gru at the soldiers Her free hand had left her scarf, but it was still clenched in a fist "Tavern brawlers They always cause proble"

They had a well-trained look, to Mat Anyway, he had never heard of soldiers who did not get in fights, especially when they were drunk or bored, and bored soldiers tended to get drunk A corner of his mind wondered how far those boould carry, but it was an absent thought He wanted nothing to do with any Seanchan soldiers If he had his way, he would have nothing to do with any soldiers ever again But his luck never ran that far, it seemed Fate and luck were different, unfortunately Two hundred paces at e them, or any Two Rivers bow

"We’re not in a tavern," he said through his teeth, "and they’re not brawling now So let’s not start one just because you were afraid a farmer would speak to you" Her jaw set, and she shot hih to crack his skull It was the truth, though She was fearful of opening her nize her accent A wise precaution, in his book, but everything see questions if you keep glaring at the deave hi?ure out what de at the archers She just looked ready to bite instead of hit

"That fellow’s dark as an Atha’an Miere," Noalsoldiers "Dark as a Sharan But I’d swear he has blue eyes I’ve seen the like before, but where?" Try?ing to rub his temples, he al pole, and he took a step as though he meant to ask the fellohere he had been born

With a lurch, Mat caught the oldback to the show, Noal Now We should never have left"

"I told you that," Egeanin said with a sharp nod

Mat groaned, but there was nothing for it but to keep walking Oh, it ay past tione He only hoped he had not left it too late

CHAPTER 2

Two Captains

About two miles north of the city a wide blue banner stretched between two tall poles rippled in the wind, proclainif?icent Display of Marvels and Wonders in brilliant red letters large enough to be read from the road, perhaps a hundred paces east For those unable to read, it at least indicated the location of so Show in the World, so the banner claiht hethe truth about that The show’s canvas wall, ten feet high and tightly pegged at the bottoe

The people strea by looked toward the banner curiously, but the farmers and merchants had their work ahead of them and the settlers their future, and none turned aside Thick ropes fas?tened to posts set in the ground were meant to herd crowds to the wide, arched entrance just behind the banner, but there was no one waiting to get in, not at this hour Of late, few caht drop in attendance, once people realized the city would not be looted and they did nothave to flee for their lives, but with the Return, all those ships and settlers, nearly everyone decided to hold on to their coin againstin cloaks that , were on duty beneath the banner to keep out anyone anted to peek around without paying, but even those were in short supply, nowadays The pair, one with a crooked nose above a thickon the dirt, tossing dice

Surprisingly, Petra Anhill, the show’s stronger than s folded across his chest He was shorter than Mat, but at least twice as wide, his shoulders straining the heavy blue coat his wife rossed in the dicing, but thepennies He and his wife, Clarine, a dog trainer, saved every coin they could spare, andPetraneeded sth about the inn they intended to buy one day Even , Clarine was at his side, enveloped in a dark cloak and apparently as absorbed in the galanced warily over his shoulder into the ca ar over their shoulders was never good Clarine’s pluh Like eanin were roman?tic The bent-nosed horse-handler, a heavy-shouldered Tairen naer, a few coppers No one but Doeanin as pretty, but to some fools, nobility bestowed beauty Or ht any noblewoman who abandoned her hus?band for the likes of Mat Cauthonher money with her That was the story Mat and the others had put around to explain why they were hiding froht Everyone had heard that sort of tale, froh to accept itColkept his head down, though Egeanin - Leilwin - had already drawn her belt knife on a sword-juggler, a too-handso her to share a cup of wine in his wagon, and no one doubted she would have used the blade if he had pressed his suit an inch further

As soon as Mat reached the strong to Luca, about twenty of the with hihtened, but worry creased his forehead, and he laid a protective hand on his wife’s shoulder Clarine’s smile faded, and she raised one hand to rest atop his They trusted Lucas judgment, after a fashion, yet they knew the risk they were running Or thought they did The risk they believed in was bad enough

"What do they want?" Egeanin de free of Mat, before he could crack his teeth In fact, no one waited for hi his pole and basket to the one-eyed , Noal slipped a knobbly hand beneath his coat, where he kept two long-bladed knives "Can we reach our horses?" he askedPetra The strongman eyed him doubtfully Mat was not the only one unsure whether Noal still possessed all his wits

"They don’t see a hint of a curtsy to Egeanin Everyone was supposed to pretend Mat and the others were part of the show, but few eanin "The officer’s been in Luca’s wagon for a good half-hour, but the soldiers have been standing by their horses all that time"

"I don’t think they’re here about you,"Petraadded respectfully Again, to Egeanin Why should he be different? Probably practic?ing to welcome nobles to that inn "We just didn’t want you to be surprised or worried, seeing them I’m sure Luca will send them off with no trouble" Despite his tone, the creases remained in his forehead Most men became upset if their wives ran off, and a noble show, strangers just passing through, et without added co out of turn,at the horse han?dlers,Petraadded, "Does she,Col?" Bentnose shook his head, his eyes on the dice he was bouncing on his palhten horse?shoes with his bare hands

"Everybody likes a chance to spit on a noble’s boots now and then," the one-eyed fellowinto the basket of fish He was almost as tall and wide-shouldered asCol, but his face was all leathery wrinkles, and he had even fewer teeth than Noal Glancing at Egeanin, he ducked his head and added, "Begging your pardon, Lady ‘Sides, this e all get a little coin, which there ain’t been ht,Col? Anybody talks, the us like they did the them canals the other side of the harbor" Horse handlers did whatever needed doing around the show, froes to erecting and taking down the canvas wall, but he shuddered as though digging out silted canals in the Rahad was a worse prospect than hanging

"Did I say anything about talking?"Colprotested, spreading his hands "I just asked how long we’re going to sit here, that’s all I just asked e’re going to see so as I say sit" It was reeanin couldher voice, like a blade sliding free of the scabbard "You see your coin e reach our destination There will be a little sorave for anyone who thinks on betrayal"Colpulled histo look indignant, orshe would coh f