They'd been camped at Merrilor for five days now, and this was the first time since arriving that Mat hadn't eaten his breakfast on the go. He felt obscurely pleased to be back sharing a meal with Tuon again, for all that he could still sense her disapproval of his table manners. Well, too bad, they were eating in a tent in the middle of a war zone. Not an active war zone, at this moment, but in principle it was still a war zone. If she wanted him to use multiple forks she'd have to take him to a palace, or a nice tavern. Now, that was a thought...
"It looks like preparations are running pretty smoothly now, and I don't expect we'll see action for at least another week. It's the calm before the storm," Mat said, after demolishing a particularly fresh heel of bread. The food was a lot better here than on the road, he'd give them that.
"Oh? Then perhaps you have time to adjudicate military trials." His confusion must have shown on his face, as Tuon added, "Judging the trials for soldiers who have committed a crime and seek the Empress's pardon. It is a traditional part of your duties."
Blood and bloody ashes, that sounded miserable. As if he needed to be making more life-and-death decisions right now! Mat hurried to change the subject. "What I meant was, it's the perfect time for a night out, just the two of us. One last hurrah before the end of the world?" He gave her a grin. He expected her to ignore him, or at best give a fond eyeroll, but Tuon surprised him. His wife had a habit of doing that.
"You know, that's not a bad idea," she said, with every appearance of thoughtful consideration. "We can always get back by gateway if there is a problem that needs our attention. I agree."
"You agree!?" It came out almost as a squeak. He cleared his throat and followed up quickly, "Perfect, I'll take you anywhere you want!" He felt a pair of the now ever-present dice in his head slide to a stop and almost clapped his hand over his mouth, but it was too late, the words were out there. This was like the hell in Maderin all over again, but worse, because this time there was no arguing he hadn't put his foot in the trap.
Tuon smiled mischievously, and Mat genuinely could not understand how it was possible for his heart to soar and sink at the same time. This woman was absolutely going to be the death of him. Worst of all, he'd probably enjoy it.
"I want to go to Hinderstap," Tuon said, looking very pleased with herself.
"You want to WHAT?"
She just looked up at him with those big brown eyes, like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. "You promised, Knotai."
Mat sagged in his chair. "Why there? How did you even hear about it?"
Tuon raised an eyebrow. "You would not believe half the stories I hear about you. Frankly, I only believe half the stories I hear about you." Mat could only imagine what wild rumors had reached her, and he winced. "It used to be much less than half," she said, almost to herself, "but I kept hearing corroborating details from your associates."
What was that supposed to mean? Who had been carrying tales about him? He started as a horrible thought came to him. Light help me if she ever met my sisters! He did not trust that the deep enmity between sul'dam and Aes Sedai would prevail against the irresistible, shared urge to gang up on one Mat Cauthon. But hang on, she hadn't answered his first question.
"Anyone who told you about Hinderstap would have mentioned that it's the world's worst place to spend the night! Everyone there turns into a mindless killing machine at sundown, and if they kill you, you join their ranks and get trapped there forever! For the love of the Light, why would you want to go there? I'm assuming it isn't just to see a bar fight, because I know you have more sense than that," Mat said, with perhaps more hope than actual conviction.
She answered matter-of-factly, "I wish to offer them the Empire's aid, of course. Also, you can ask them if they want to fight in Tarmon Gai'don. I'm sure you could find a military use for them, given their... abilities."
"Oh." Suddenly, he realized what she meant. "OH."
It was honestly rather brilliant, but it wouldn't have occurred to him. He didn't even like thinking about Hinderstap, and those villagers had more than enough problems without adding Trollocs and Dreadlords to the pile. On the other hand... there were battle plans he'd worked up that made him sleep uneasily at night, situations where he knew that for the plan to work an entire group of soldiers would need to be wiped out. Battle was what it was, but it would ease his conscience a little if one of those groups of soldiers didn't have to stay dead.
"Just move anyone who wanted to fight via gateway, they'd fight to the death, wake up in their beds at home, and come back and do it again the next day. You could make quite a nasty little feint out of that." Mat shook his head, grudgingly impressed. Tuon looked very smug.
It was a good idea, though that was likely little comfort to the poor worms speared on the hook. Mat didn't like the odds on sending a Redarm for the initial pitch—they'd likely run the poor man out on a rail. He'd have to go himself and trust his luck. At least he'd tipped well, last time he was there. It always paid to tip well.
"Fine, we can pay them a visit, but we're not staying past sundown. This not our 'nice night out'. You still owe me an actual evening out." Mat sighed. "Honestly, I shouldn't even take you. You should send somebody else to negotiate on your behalf. I'm only going myself because Mayor Barlden and I have an understanding of sorts."
"I 'should' do something, Knotai? Have a care how you speak to your Empress." Tuon spoke lightly, but there was steel in her eyes. "You promised to take me where I wanted to go, and I do not intend to rely solely on rumor when deciding how to best assist these people. I will observe them for myself." Mat opened his mouth to protest, but she held up a hand. "I promise I will listen to you if you have concerns about our safety."
Mat almost rolled his eyes, but he stopped himself. Oh, I know that one. Listening does not mean obeying! Not to mention that his promise specifically covered a night out, not a day trip. She didn't have a leg to stand on. But clearly she was up to something, something that was secret or personal enough that she didn't want to delegate it. And if he tried to fight her on going to Hinderstap, she'd likely just find a way to go without him, which was out of the question. Who knew what she would get up to if he wasn't there to rein her in?
"Oh, all right. But I am absolutely holding you to a real evening out after this, in a town that is not haunted, before the Trollocs show up on our doorstep. Promise me that, and I'll take you to Hinderstap today, if you want." If Mat had his way—and Light send that he did—it would be this very evening, after they'd left Hinderstap with hours to spare.
"I promise we shall spend quality time together directly after today's meeting in Hinderstap, insofar as circumstances permit." Mat eyed her suspiciously. If he didn't know better, he'd say she was hedging like a crooked horse-trader. Tuon quirked an eyebrow at him. "You are very good at what you do, my Marshal-General, but I have to plan for all contingencies. This way, an untimely wave of Trollocs here in Merrilor will not put us in an impossible position."
That was reasonable, Mat supposed, but he resolved again to watch her very closely, all the same. Sure, she wasn't channeling yet, but at this moment she seemed very much like an Aes Sedai.
Half an hour later, Mat was at the Travelling grounds sternly instructing the sul'dam and damane pair on Hinderstap safety protocols. "And remember, you'll open a gateway every hour, on the hour, just outside the town. Leave it open for only 5 minutes at a time." And because no battle plan survives contact with the enemy... "I do not intend for us to remain in Hinderstap after dark. That said, mark me; if you must open the gateway for us at night, and someone else comes through, take them down fast. Don't underestimate them."
He turned around to find Tuon had arrived. She was dressed more-or-less appropriately for a somewhat incognito visit to a moderately-sized village. She'd left the silks and elaborate jewelry behind, but the tailoring on her linen dress was still very fine. Mat recognized it as the one she'd had on when completing the wedding ceremony, which made him smile, and he smiled wider when he saw her one ornament. Pinned to her dress was the cluster of red silk rosebuds he'd given her as a courting-gift. He was no expert on omens, but that seemed like a good one.
"Just like old times," Mat said, offering her his arm.
"Indeed," she replied, taking it.
"This was your idea, so how do you want to play it? I assume I'll be pitching them on my Last Battle plan, and you'll be offering aid—regardless of whether they help or not?"
"Of course, Knotai. They need assistance, and I will provide it," she said, in stern tones that implied he was heartless for suggesting otherwise. She paused. "However—they don't need to know that."
Mat nodded in approval. It was a pleasure to work with someone who understood the fine art of dickering.