Sorry all, I haven't updated in a while as you might have seen. But I'm back and hopefully the next won't be in too late. Thanks for sticking with me.

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Chapter four

Things that go bump in the night

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There's nothing ever wrong but nothing's ever right
Such a cruel contradiction
I know I cross the lines its not easy to define
I'm born to indecision
There's always something new some path I'm supposed to choose
With no particular rhyme or reason
-Shinedown

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Mat groaned softly and opened his eyes a crack to peer around the room. He noticed with a rush up relief that that he was till in the same wagon he had been in before he fell asleep. That meant that Domon hadn't been able to get at him yet. A small smile hovered around his face and tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Fingering the silken black scarf around his neck and laying his other arm carefully across his stomach, Mat turned his head to find the Tairen thief-catcher slumped backwards onto the wall, still sitting on the three-legged stool. His bamboo poll was lying across his chest beneath his folded arms.

Mat decided not to wake him and drew in as deep a breath as he could manage. As soon as he found a way to be up and out of this wagon he would do it. To many things were riding on him to be laying around.

Light, but his ribs felt like they were being broken all over again with the bandage as tight as it was. Growling in annoyance, Mat tried to think of a way he might be able to sit horizontally without the thief-catcher or Thom threatening him. They had to leave straight away, did Luca think that they were just going to ignore that damane had escaped along with a few sul'dam and Aes Sedai?

No, Mat thought, they were out there and were still looking for them. Given half the chance, Mat would be miles away. But it wasn't just Mat Cauthon trying to save his skin, he had to bloody well save everyone else's too. Burn me for playing the hero.

He was just about to see if he might be able to slid past Juilin and get out of the wagon but what a time for luck to fail as it always had to at least once or twice in the spots he really needed it, as Juilin's staff touched lightly onto his shins as he sat up and he came face to face with a grinning thief -catcher.

"Hold it Mat, You are going nowhere."

He sat there with his arms folded across his chest while Mat laid back down with a dire grumble. But the thief-catcher offered no sympathy, though he did pour a cup of water and gave it to the gambler. Mat drank thirstily and set the beaker near the pitcher, eyeing Juilin as if to say, now what?

And, to answer his thoughts the thief-catch stood and walked to the bed, pressing Mat down onto it more firmly. "I am going out to get some air, you had better be here when I get back or I'll let one of those Aes Sedai heal you."

By Mat's sulky glower, he meant to stay there, not eager to find out if Juilin's threat was just hollow words or not. But really, what was there to do in this stuffy wagon. If he was restricted from going anywhere and doing anything, be it getting some air or making sure that they did not get killed by the Seanchan.

Mat sighed and rolled his eyes towards the door. Juilin was kidding, right? He couldn't be that cruel and he might even be in good spirits after his visit with Thera. Mat knew that he would be going to see her after having to stay with Mat for a few days. So, as quietly as he could manage, Mat threw off the blanket covering him and donned a shirt and grabbed his green coat and slipped out of the wagon after wisely snatching up a few of the knives he usually had hidden around him.

The door hardly made a sound as Mat shut it quietly and tiptoes off into the… night? Light, how long had he been asleep? He dismissed it though, it would be easier to hide from Thom, Juilin and probably the redarms. Thom would have told them that he wasn't supposed to leave the wagon, it was a wonder that they weren't guarding the entrance.

It felt good to get out of that old place, even if he had been unconscious for the most of the time he had spent in it. But this wasn't a skylark. He would have to be cautious and wary. Domon and Egeanin would still undoubtedly be quite nettled about losing their prey, namely Mat, and getting tossed out of their wagon.

Though it seemed that lady luck was in a huff today, and no amount of kissing or cuddling was going to change that. For it hadn't been fifteen minutes before Mat saw Domon stalking through the carts and wagons. People gave him a wide berth and no doubt because it looked as if he had just been dosed with one of Nynaeve's concoction and the rough side of her tongue.

Mat was beginning to see why Juilin and Thom did not want him out of the wagon. His ribs felt as if they were on fire and it looked like Egeanin and Domon weren't going to give up their search for him just yet. He tried to sneak back to his wagon only to see that the door was open.

Oh burn me… Though Mat, so that was why they were prowling about like the lions in a thunderstorm, they knew that he wasn't in the wagon and they were going to find his eventually. Thank the Light that it was almost to dark to see. But there were plenty of lamps and lanterns about.

Mat thought his luck was finally starting to come back to him when he saw that the way to his wagon was nearly a clean shot. Though he was a long way from his own wagon, Mat judged that he could make it back there before anyone came along if he walked fast enough. The small homes on wheel that stood around him had their curtains draw and smoke curled lazily from the small chimneys.

Heaving a small sigh of relief, and careful not to aggravate his injured ribs any more than he already had. He almost regretted leaving the wagon, almost. Allowing himself a small grin, Mat started to walk back towards his temporary home. In the near distance, Mat saw a figure. But in the darkness he could not tell who it might be. It came nearer and Mat gave a small tentative nod before he realized who it was, Egeanin.

Before he even become conscious of the fact that he had sprinted towards a wagon and flung open the door, Mat slammed it behind him and leaned against the door, closing his eyes, panting. Oh light, but his head was throbbing.

"Out! Out this minute. How dare you enter without so much as a nock, Do you have no respect for the High Lady?"

Oh Light no, Please, it can not be. But it was, and it was Selucia's voice that rang out, indignant even through that syrupy drawl.

But it was the voice that followed it that made Mat's blood tune to ice. "Yes, what are you doing here Toy?" Mat opened his eyes to find Tuon, Selucia and Setalle watching him.

The only thing Mat could think of to say in his shock was "She's looking for me."

Mat did not know what he expected Tuon to say or do after that, but it certainly wasn't what he had expected. Tuon's eyes light up with a gleam that could be identified easily as anger. Though it seemed that Mat did not notice or did not understand. "She, Toy? you running from a woman. A lover perhaps?"

Mat's jaw dropped and he stared at Tuon, gapping in astonishment. A lover? Was she mad? If he had al over, he would have spent the time cuddling, not running from her like some light blinded fool. But Tuon did not seem to think that way. A fire in her eyes kindled, but her voice remained as icy as a rive in midwinter.

"And you think you can come her to hide?" Mat swallowed uneasily when he saw that she was reaching for one of those cursed cups. "Now listen to me for a moment." Mat swallowed again when he realized that all he could do was try and make her believe that he wasn't running from a lover. It still sounded crazy to Mat. But it was either this or explain that he was running hiding from Egeanin after her husband had knocked the tar and stuffing out of him after he had called Egeanin a Shea dancer, maybe she was mad at him for laughing that day Renna died.

The cup whistled by his head and smashed into the door. "Please, Tuon…"

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A muffled crash swung Juilin's gaze to a group of distant wagons. It was a likely place to look for Mat when a commotion was stirred up. Besides, he recognized that wagon, but surely Mat wouldn't be that foolish.. The fool boy was going to get himself killed, Juilin was sure of it, he began to jog towards the wagon.

When he had retuned to the wagon, the thief-catcher had been half expecting the wagon to be empty. It was his fault for leaving him alone, but he had wanted to see Thera badly. The boy was going to be the death of him as well. He had only seen the old gleeman once or twice, he had been trying to keep things running in Mat's absence and had unofficially made it Juilin's job to watch over Mat until he was well again.

Not that the thief-catcher was complaining. Mat was a very good friend and had taken Thera with them, even when he knew that he did not have to and had done even more. Yes, Mat was a good friend.

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You could not have told who was more surprised when Tuon's third cup hit its mark…dead center on Mat's chest with enough force to break the heavy pottery into bits. Today was just not his day. Light burn all women.

Mat's face hurriedly emptied itself of any color, like milk poring out of a jug…or rather into a jug, for Mat's face was nearly that white. He hardly felt himself drop to one knee and he wrapped an arm around his ribs were screaming. But his teeth were clenched tight, to prevent any moan from escaping.

But try as he might, Mat not going to be able to hang on to consciousness for very much longer. And, as odd as it sounded, a grin forced its way onto Mat's pale face and through the pain, he wanted to laugh. Light, all I need now if for one of those Aes Sedai to join in.

The room was silent for, except for Mat's ragged breathing. A warm darkness was beginning to envelop him and his other knee came down and Mat bent slumped over, almost down for the count now.

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Juilin did not hesitate before bursting through the door. He groaned when he found just what he had been dreading. Mat nearly lay on the ground, one arm was curled tightly around his chest and the shattered remnants of a glazed pottery cup was strewn about him.

Juilin crouched next to the boy and wrapped a long arm around him, and gently eased Mat back into his arms. Mat's eyes open, and he gave a crooked grin at the thief-catcher. "Sorry."

Juilin gave a small smile himself and brushed Mat's Hair back from where it had fallen into his eyes. "You do know that Thom is going to kill me for this?" Mat's smile faded and his eyes closed as he finally fell into unconsciousness.

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Laughing Dragoness: I'm a big fan of them too. Don't worry, Mat will get a few more of them. Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I'll try and get the next one out sooner.

Markeriv: Wouldn't it be creepy if something I I write does come out in the next book? Thanks for reviewing.

Leamaryu: What! Not a Mat fan! Well, that alright. But now here's the shock for you, I don't usually write anything that resembles a romance and I don't want to start now. I'm really sorry, but Tuon is really going to make his life miserable until they can work out an agreement of some sort. But Yes, I have read A New Spring and I love it. But I don't know if I'll set one up for then. I do like that Lan is much more…relaxed, so maybe one day when I have a plot going.

Britt: Thanks for liking my fic. I love to see reviews.

Lemon Freak: Sorry this is so late. I'll try hard to get the next one out sooner. Thanks for reviewing.

Demoness: Mat might be off for a while, but it won't be boring I can tell you that. Yeah, Juilin's right up there next to Mat, Thom and Gaul for my favorite character. As For Tuon though…She's gonna be a big part of the story. I don't write romances, sorry if you like those, but I'd rather Make Tuon cause Mat a lot of trouble before anything gets better.

Ersatz: Don't you worry, Juilin and no one else besides maybe Thom is going to act as nursemaid. I prefer friendship over romance.

Redman: Thanks, I was really trying. And I appreciate your review.

Dane: Yeah, Mat's one of my favorite too. Thanks for reviewing.

Laughing dragoness: Sorry, I know I was getting too far apart in my updates. I'm putting this up here just for you and your effective prodding.

TBC…