She found Mat half an hour later, playing dice with a group of Aiel. A woman was sitting beside him, grinning at him. She was pretty, with short golden hair and pale blue eyes. She looked up as Neya approached them and put a possessive arm around Mat's shoulders. Mat glanced up at Neya, shielding his eyes against the bright glare of the noon sun.
Considering the endless string of curses spilling from his mouth when he finally recognised her, neither Rand nor Egwene had told him she was here. "Blood and bloody ashes!" he exclaimed, jumping to his feet. "Burn my eyes, is this some kind of joke?" he asked around.
"No, it's just me, Mat. Nice to see you, too," Neya told him with a small grin.
"Blood and ashes," he repeated, softly this time. He moved closer to her, carefully, as if afraid she would take flight. He stopped in front of her, squinting. "Is it really you?" he asked in a low voice.
"I'm the one who put itchy powder in your underpants three years ago, yes. Sorry about that," she said, her grin widening.
"I can't bloody believe it. Burn you, we thought you were dead!" he said with a scowl. "Do you have any idea what it's been like since you disappeared? We–" He cut off abruptly, shaking his head. He struggled visibly for a short while, muttering under his breath. "Are you alright?" he asked her, eyes suddenly filled concern. "What happened? Where in the flaming Pit of Doom have you been?"
"Well, I wasn't anywhere near the Pit of Doom. It's a long story." She hesitated. "I'd rather not tell it in front of everyone." The dice players had interrupted their game to listen in on their conversation and were gazing at her curiously. "We have a lot to catch up on. Maybe you could show me around a bit?"
He nodded briefly. "Good idea." He turned to the blond woman. "I'll be back later. I need to talk to my little sister," he told her. The woman looked slightly startled but didn't say anything. Mat put a hand on Neya's shoulder, giving her a small, firm push. "Let's go."
They walked in silence for a while. They arrived near one of the fountains in a partially shaded square. There was no one around that Neya could see. "Let's just sit there," Mat said, indicating a large stone. When they were settled, he took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Alright. Tell me everything," he said.
"You first," she countered brightly.
He looked at her indignantly. "Me? Burn you, you're the one who vanished without a trace! I'll tell you about what happened to me when I've had some satisfying answers as to your whereabouts during the past year, young lady," he said with mock severity. He could never remain serious for more than five minutes at a time, could Mat. She saw the corners of his mouth twitch slightly.
"Fine, fine. You got me," she said with a sly smile, hands raised in surrender. "But you have to keep it to yourself," she told him gravely. He nodded sharply and, for the second time in less than a day, she recounted her story - well, most of it.
She had to arrange it to fit in Natael, of course. Rand had told her that no one knew who Natael really was, so she had to leave out his real identity and give Mat the version she had come up with instead. She purposefully omitted some minor details as well, like sharing Elan's bed or being tortured by Lanfear. There was no need to burden him with such trifles. "That's pretty much it. Any questions?" she asked wryly.
"About a thousand, but let's save that for later," he replied bluntly. "How about a good scolding instead?" he asked.
"You're going to scold me for being abducted by one – no, two! – of the Forsaken? I didn't exactly ask for it, you know!" she said, outrage tinting her voice.
"Alright, I was just teasing. I'm not sure what to make of it, that's all. It's a lot to take in," he muttered, adding in a few curses for good measure. "Are you alright, though? Lanfear really didn't hurt you at all?" He sounded a little sceptical.
She gave a noncommittal grunt, shrugging slightly. It was time to change the subject. "What about you, then? How did you get mixed up in this merry mess?"
He told her about Moiraine showing up in Emond's Field just before Bel Tine, only a month after Neya disappeared. He recounted their journey through Andor and the Ways, their struggle at the Eye of the World, Rand discovering he could channel, Moiraine telling him he was the Dragon Reborn. He depicted the hunt for the Horn of Valere and the dagger that had poisoned his mind since they'd walked into Shadar Logoth. The Seanchan invasion and the battle at Falme, fought with the Heroes of the Horn, Artur Hawkwing himself at their lead. His visit to Tar Valon and the White Tower, where he was finally Healed. And just recently, the taking of the Stone of Tear, Rand's proclamation and his journey into the Waste. After a brief hesitation, Mat removed the scarf he wore around his neck and told her about a red, twisted doorway that led into another world and his ensuing meetings with the Aelfinn and Eelfinn, the answers and memories they had given him. How they had cheated him and attempted to kill him.
It took much longer than her own story. Her friends hadn't contented themselves with sitting in front of a fire and reading books about the Age of Legends. They had had adventures beyond what even she could have dreamed of. There was a long silence after he finished, during which she tried to digest everything.
Her stomach grumbled loudly, making Mat chuckle. "We've been here a long time, longer than I thought. I'm starving," he said, getting up and stretching languorously. "Let's get something to eat."
"I don't suppose you've heard from home," she said a moment later. It wasn't really a question; he had been gone almost as long as she had. She wasn't surprised when he shook his head mutely in reply.
They walked back to the main square, where Egwene stood waiting for them, hands on hips. She looked at them, scowling, as if they'd spent the afternoon preparing one of their pranks. "There you are," she told Neya, ignoring Mat entirely. "Moiraine has been looking for you all day," she announced bossily. She hasn't changed that much, it seems, Neya mused. "Come on," Egwene went on, turning around.
She took a few determined steps before realising Neya wasn't following. "Egwene, I'm hungry. I'll find her later," she promised the other girl. Taking Mat's arm, they went the opposite way in search of something to eat.