Mat made his way through the camp on his search for Thom. " Light!, " Where had the man disappeared to when he most needed him around. Luckily the brisk walk was slowly soothing Mat's temper. He asked a group of acrobats if they had seem Thom around anywhere, he was quite well known in the camp, the old man could still put on quite a show to rival men half his age, a trait that had made him an object of great interest. No one seemed to have seen Thom since morning though. Mat's search comtinued. When he had made his way to the far side of the camp he began to lose his determination, he must not want to have been found. Mat was just about to go back to his wagon when he heard Teslyn call his name. There was something very peculiar though. Not only was Teslyn standing there, Joline, Edesina, and of all people Egeanin were standing there looking his way with a set look on their faces. Mat had not said more than three words to these women on there flight northward. Truthfully he was at a loss for words what to say to them and with so much else on his mind he had just put them out of it. Mat gave them a friendly, if nervous smile and walked in their direction. " Ah Mat, we finally get a chance to talk" said Teslyn. " How are you and the redarms coming along". " Were doing as best as can be expected I guess " Mat said " We plan to find the Band as soon as we leave the meanagerie, less than a week's time now I think and we will be on our way". Mat wondered who was going to ask what first. He could see all the questions they had written on their faces. Will you return to Caemlyn? What do you intend to do about the gholam? Will you keep Tuon hostage? Against his expectations though Teslyn said " I beleive I have unfinished buisness with you Mat Cauthon" , " If you remember I said that if you helped me escape I would do anything you ask". Mat was astounded, he gave a dumbfounded look to the four women who stood before him. " We have been talking much these last weeks and we have decided that now is the time to forget the past" Joline looked away in the other direction obviously labeling herself as a major part of that "past" ; " The White Tower is divided at possibly the worst time in history for such a rift, and even though we had taken different sides we have united ourselves to a greater need that Egeanin has reavealed to us" A greater need? Mat waited for her to continue. " A lie is what holds together the Seanchan idea of who are sul'dam and who are damane, a lie that if exposed could topple the whole practice, we feel that it is our responsibility to work together to reaveal the truth". At this point Egeanin took over " Its true Mat, I can hardly believe I am saying this now, but I have come to see the truth that I am no different than any damane I ever treated as less than a human being, I see now that weilding the One Power does not somehow make someone less than they otherwise would be, if anything the opposite is true. I have had the chance to meet many Aes Sedai, Elayne, Nynaeve, Joline, Edesina, and Teslyn; all women I would be honored to call friends. Renna and Seta are coming to see the truth now, I can hear them weep at night sometimes asking for forgiveness for the things they did in their ignorance. All this Mat I ask you to understand and see that there is a chance that we can make a difference, a big difference" Mat didn't understand, Egeanin knew Elayne and Nynaeve! " What can I do" he said. Joline spoke up " Your part is easy, all you have to do is realease us, we owe are lives to you Mat Cauthon, without you our mission would never have been possible, we owe this much to you to tell you what he plan and hope that you will agree that this is the best thing that we can do" . Mat was truly dumfounded now, he was sure that his mouth must have been open wide enough to catch flies. " I did what I did cause I thought it was right, and I could never ask anything more from another except to do what they trull believe to be right. Even if you had decided that that meant joining Elaida I would not have stopped you, but in this thing I agree with you and i wish you well". All four women beamed at him as if he were there long lost son returned home. Joline even went as far to ruffle his hair " We are leaving tomorrow Mat Cauthon" said Teslyn. " I don't know if our paths will ever cross again but we will always look upon you in kindness". Mat walked back towards his wagon with a smile on his face, his mood completly changed from what it was a half hour before. Who knew Aes Sedai could be like that, he realized his opinion of them had changed a great deal over the last 2 years. With that boyish smile Mat went to get some dinner.