'Lo there all. Sorry I got this in late again. I went on a vacation and I though I would be able to transfer files to another computer to update this story, but I couldn't and so that's my alibi. Sorry, but don't worry, the next will be out sooner, I've got some great idea's and Mat's not gonna get off that easy.

Just to give you guys a few hints for my next few chapter, there's gonna be some action and if you haven't seen it yet, I rather like to torture my favorite characters. I'm just sadistic that way. So for all of you torture and Juilin fans get ready. I'm gonna put some space between His and Mat's time's for a bit of pain and torment, but just so you know what's gonna happen a little ways down the line of chapters. Get ready you guys, It's we're never gonna have a minute of peace while Mat's leading the storyline.

Let's make this interesting, tell me who your favorite char. Is…besides Mat obviously and why. See, now that's fun isn't it. You can include other things too, like how many times you've read the series and what your favorite book in it is.

Don't forget boys and girls, plagiarizers rot in Hell, so I don't own any of the mighty author's freakin' long books, commonly know as the WOT series. So sadly, the character belong to RJ and not to me.

Now, to the good stuff.

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Chapter five

A Bloody Mess in the Making

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What will we do, what will we say when it's the end of this game that we play
Will we crumble into the dust, my friend
Or will we start this game over again

-Three Doors Down, Dangerous Game

It seemed that all Juilin had done in the past few days was carry Mat unconscious to the wagon. It wasn't as if he were heavy or any thing of that sort, but really, he had a rather irritating habit of injuring himself a long ways away from the wagon that Mat and now currently Thom and Juilin shared for the time being. Just until Mat could be in the presence of Egeanin or Domon without either of them attempting to murder the boy.

The thief-catcher looked down to the figure cradled in his arms. Light but the boy could stir up trouble at the drop of a hat. It came with being ta'veren Juilin guessed. The stories did not do justice to the hardships and all manner of evil and trouble that was drawn to ta'veren like bee's to honey. Mat gave a small groan and Juilin walked faster, he could feel through his shirt the unnatural heat that Mat's body radiated.

The door to the wagon was already open so Juilin just kicked it open wider and strode quickly up the wooden stairs. Though he nearly dropped Mat in surprise when he looked up from where his attention was distracted by checking Mat's forehead with the back of his hand, for right there in front of him stood the wide figure of Bayle Domon and the other figure of Egeanin sitting on the opposite bed.

Juilin stood motionless, waiting for either one to move or speak. When no one did, the thief-catcher walked over and laid Mat lightly on the bed that Egeanin was not occupying. Slowly he eased his staff from where it rested in his belt loop and raised an eyebrow as his hand tightened on the bamboo staff meaningfully. "What are you doing here?"

Egeanin opened her mouth to no doubt say something that might have made Juilin use the staff rather than threaten them with it, but Domon laid a hand on her shoulder and surprisingly enough, she fell silent. It was Domon who cleared this throat and said gruffly to the thief-catcher, "I do be calling a truce."

Juilin took a step forward and frowned uncertainly, "Are you sure? No more attempts to execute Mat?"

A smile looked like it wanted to appear on Domon's face, but one look at Egeanin wiped it off of his face in a hurry, "I do be sure." he gave a fleeting wink to Juilin. "The boy be safe from me now."

The thief-catcher nodded and then nodded again towards the door. "Then if you have nothing else to say…" He trailed off leaving the sentence to finish itself. Egeanin rose stiffly and frowned at Mat before exiting. But strangely enough, Domon lingered and shut the door after his wife.

Juilin lit some of the lanterns the hung about the room and glanced warily at the captain. But Domon made no move to break his truce and just watched. He did though, take a quick look at Mat, a sympathetic wince crossed his face. "I just be wanting to leave my apologies Sandar. He do be sorry too?"

Juilin though better of the shrug he was about to give in response and replied "I think he is, at least he knows he deserved it." Domon nodded and Juilin felt relieved that it was enough.

Domon gave a last look at Mat and shook hands with Juilin before he too left the wagon after Egeanin. When they had left, the thief-catcher shook his head and smiled faintly, wonders never cease, or at least they never did with Ta'veren.

But now he had a bigger problem as the moan from the bed alerted him. Mat was running a high fever and that cup certainly hadn't tickled. Pulling up the three-legged stool next to the bed and bent over Mat with a worried frown. Juilin stripped off Mat's shirt and gently touched the bandage that had come loose in the boy's gallivanting. His body was emitted a heat that had spread throughout his entire body.

He tugged Mat's boots off and unwound the linen dressing from around Mat's injured ribs, Juilin started to probe softly, hopefully no more damage was done beyond the obvious. Having a thick pottery cup smash on broken ribs was defiantly going to do some harm, with any luck, they did not puncture a lung. But thankfully they did not, but the two ribs that had only been cracked were now broken and they shifted a bit when Juilin's slender fingers ran lightly over them.

Mat arched his back in his sleep, trying to get away from the pain. Juilin pressed on Mat's shoulders, forcing him back down. "Easy Mat." The thief-catcher murmured to the boy as he searched around in his supplies until he found a scrap of cloth and dipped it into the chipped basin of water on the wagon's floor.

Moaning and struggling in his sleep, Mat fought against Juilin until the cool cloth met the feverish skin of his face and neck. Still holding his shoulders and attempting to settle Mat down, Juilin spoke softly to the boy. But he did not need to once the cloth touched his feverish skin. He stopped fighting for the most part and quieted his disjointed mutterings. He attempted to sit up a few times, saying that he left his sisters to do the milking and his da needed him, or something of the like.

The thief-catcher wetted the rag again and draped it over Mat's forehead. He stood from his seat on the stool and shook out a blanket from where it was folded at the end of the bed after spreading it across Mat and tucking it around his chest, the tall thief-catcher stretched his arms over his head and yawned cavernously.

It was late, but he wouldn't be sleeping tonight, not if Thom wasn't going to come back. But he was busy even before Mat had his little talk with Egeanin. No doubt he would see the lanky gleeman the next day. Juilin scooped up a handful of water from the basin and splashed it over the back of his neck.

A noise caught the thief-catcher's ear and he stopped his hands as they reached for another handful of water. Someone was coming towards the wagon. Juilin quietly walked over to grab his staff and crept to the door. But before he could see who was there, it burst wide open and Thom stepped inside.

"Oh light!" Juilin jumped and fell backwards. "You startled me."

Thom arched a white eyebrow and studied the thief-catcher on the floor. "You shouldn't be so jumpy."

Juilin grinned sheepishly and clambered to his feet, scratching the back of his head. But his face soon fell somber when Thom's gaze fell on Mat. "Light, what happened?"

Juilin sighed and sat back down on the stool next to Mat's bed. He took the cloth, dipped it back into the basin of water and bathed Mat's face and chest absently. "Well, Mat decided to have himself a walk and I do not know the full of it, but it ended up with Tuon in temper and a cup hurled at Mat. Unfortunately it his chest and you can imagine what happened next. And now we are back to square one, at least in this area."

Needless to say, Thom was not impressed with the thief-catcher nor Mat. "And what were you thinking leaving him alone."

Juilin looked at his boots and shrugged guiltily, "I just wanted to see Thera and get some air."

Thom sighed and shook his head. He couldn't really blame the Thief-catcher, he would have done the same. Thom pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to stem a headache he could feel coming on. Arguing with Luca was a chore even for him. The man was greedy and whiny enough for a child crying over sweets.

"Are you staying?" Juilin looked up from his boots, his eyes settling on the old gleeman. "I might as well, I'll not talk him into anything tonight." said Thom. "Luca came be as stubborn as a woman."

Juilin nodded and gestured to the opposite bed with the tip of his bamboo pole. "get some sleep then, you look like you could use it."

"You're bloody right I could, what about you, can I assume there will be no more air or exercise while we are asleep?"

Juilin scowled, "Of course not, I'll be right here."

Thom smiled and nodded, taking the sting out of the words, "I know you will."

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Juilin gazed about the dark room and winced at Thom's snore's, not for the first time either. Light, the man had a snore that rivaled a rusty wood saw. Mat tossed and turned a bit but was otherwise still. His fever had diminished enough so that he was able to rest.

The thief-catcher willed himself to stay awake. He couldn't remember when he'd had a full nights rest.

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Tuon did not say anything after the thief-catcher had taken Mat and gave her a glare that would have gotten him hung from the tower of ravens in Sheanchan. But she had been too stunned to do anything. She had not know he was injured, though it was a surprise in itself when Egeanin had poked her head in and meekly asked in the high lady had seen Master Cauthon, it almost seemed that she had had something to do with the whole matter, but that was not possible.

Tuon had had Selucia dismiss Egeanin, she did not have time for her. In fact, she did not care f the woman meant to tear his head off or bed him. Did she not know not to bother her? If she claimed to be as loyal as she swore, she would have had the sense to ask properly. Light, the woman had nerve speaking to her like a servant to one of the blood. She was the High lady Tuon!

But more importantly, why did Toy barge into the wagon like that, she would have to give him a lesson he would not soon forget, injured or no. Tuon snorted angrily and earned a look from Selucia that quickly turned to meekness in one glance from Tuon. The other woman wore an annoyingly amused smile as she sewed quietly, if it wasn't enough that Selucia was giving her looks.

Tuon did not care what she thought, she could have Toy brought to her mercy whether he liked it our not. Not that that puffed up fool, Luca, or whatever his name was could do anything. He all but bent over to kiss her feet. True enough the main cause of it what that letter that she had given him, but whatever it took.

A maid was she, well let Toy see what kind of maid she could be when she started to give the orders. Let him grin then. Light blind him but he was confusing. Tuon hated to admit it, and so far she had not to anyone but herself and was not likely to while she still drew breath, but he was bad enough to send any woman over the edge.

Laughing at the High Lady and walking out in her presence without even a bow or a by your leave! And then worrying himself over killing a traitor like that dog Renna.

Tuon was working her self into a fine old fit and Mat Cauthon was going to receive the coarse end of it whether he had a mind to here it or not. She settled herself onto the narrow bed with a bit more force than was strictly necessary. She just needed a bit of time to figure out what she was going to say to him, that was all and then see if he could grin after she was done.

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Laughing dragoness: Made your morning did I, well that absolutely wonderful! I like it when people like my fic's. Thanks a bunch for the review.

Hanyou-demoness: lol, Calf-eyed, I love it. Yeah, I'd think that a nice thick pottery cup would do quite a bit of damage. Especially if they were made not to break in case they clattered around in a wagon. I hope RJ doesn't make them go all googly eyed, that'd be awful.

Ersatz: I'd have to agree that Faile is pretty evil, but you're right about Tuon. Don't worry, he won't be down for long. I've got some good action planned for the upcoming chapters and so he won't have time to be lazing around. Thanks, I try to get his character, hopefully I get it well enough. Thanks for the review, I look forward to yours every time.

Lemon Freak: Well, it wasn't a month, but it's still a bit late. Here ya go, the next should be in faster I hope, thanks for the review.

Millia: You can never hit Mat too many times, he just bounces right back. But I'm gonna lay off him for a while anyways. Thanks for the review.

xTamx: Thanks for liking this so much. Yes, I have though about writing my own book. So far it's only 130 pages but it's a start. I love your review.

Bloodmoon: I was gonna kinda do that, but I didn't want to go though the chapter all over again, so will this do?

TBC…