DISCLAIMER: Everything belongs to Robert Jordan.

Tuon grimaced yet again as she ran a hand through her hair; she was still unaccustomed to the slight stubble that covered her scalp. It was quiet, and at the moment she didn't want it to be quiet; she didn't want to think.

All attempted conversation with Tuon had died out hours ago. She had been thinking about her situation over and over again, until everything seemed numb and distant. She had weighed all the possibilities that she could think of -- what if she had misread this Mat Cauthon? What if she should have stayed in Ebou Dar, or even in Seanchan? Were the Deathwatch Guards already looking for her? Well, she knew the answer to the last one; she was even more of a fool if she believed that she wouldn't be found. Bored, she began to pluck at her dress, brow creased, as she contemplated where she was.

Selucia watched her fidget for a while before turning to Setalle. "Isn't there anything we could have? Such as another book or a maybe game?"

Tuon looked up quickly in time to see Setalle pause in her stitching and think, frowning and tapping her chin absentmindedly. Tuon almost screamed in frustration; she was normally incredibly patient -- you couldn't tame damane without being it -- but this confinement was driving her crazy. Their last -- and only -- visitors had already been two days ago.

I hate this stupid wagon! I'm such a Light-cursed fool for even being here!

She knew she wasn't, though; despite everything, despite all her thoughts to the contrary, being here still felt right. She was frustrated that she had no idea why, however.

"I'm sure I can get a stones board, perhaps," Setalle said. "Excuse me." She placed her work on the bed and calmly stood up, rearranging her skirts like a queen, and walked outside. Tuon studied her intently, liking her more each moment. She didn't seem to be like the rest of the people here, with their muddled traditions and classes and ridiculously fast ways of talking. Tuon probably would have gone crazy long before had it not been for her.

For the first time, Tuon was alone with Selucia. She turned to face her, feeling Selucia's intent gaze on the back of her head.

"Yes?" she asked, pretending nothing was out of the ordinary.

"I was just wondering," Selucia said slowly, "about..."

Tuon raised her eyebrows, waiting for her to continue. Despite her license to speak freely in private, which she often took advantage of, Selucia seemed hesitant to say what was on her mind.

"The... promise... you made to Tylin's toy..."

"What about it?" she asked primly.

There was another pause.

"Why did you do it?"

Tuon frowned and looked at her hands in her lap. She resumed plucking aimlessly at the sack that she wore (Dress? Ha!) and hesitated before answering. "I don't... know, exactly. With him standing there, it just... sort of came out; I never intended it. Sometimes, I feel that he... oh, nevermind." It had felt as if he had drawn something out of her, especially when he was making eye contact with her -- something she was not really used to; most respectful people never raised their eyes to the Blood. She raised her own eyes once more to Selucia's blue ones. "And I think I can trust his word," she said, smiling slightly, "though I don't think he quite realizes what he promised."

Selucia, though she probably still didn't understand, returned her smile. "I'll be here."

"I know you will."

Selucia hesitated again. "And you know... they will find us."

"I know." There was no doubt in either of their minds that once it was realized that Tuon was missing, they would never rest until they found her.

"Well... what are you going to do when they come? Surely you won't protect these people."

Tuon raised an eyebrow, and Selucia flushed at her presumptuous tone. But she had a point; Tuon, honestly, had no clue what she would do when the time came.

She ran a hand through her hair and laughed, suddenly. Selucia blinked at the sudden sound. "I'll never get used to this, however. I suppose it's useless to ask for a razor."

The door opened, and a small boy came in, grinning toothily. He was short, and by no means cute -- his smile seemed rather insolent, too. But Tuon couldn't help the small smile she greeted with him, raising an eyebrow slightly in an inquiring way.

"Mistress Anan says I can come visit with you. My name is Olver. Do you know how to play Snake and Foxes?"

"Hello, Olver. It's been a very long time, but I do know how to play."

At that moment, Setalle entered, smiled at Olver, and sat down. "I brought a stones board," here she indicated what she had been carrying, "but Olver was eager to meet you, so I said he could come in with his game."

"Are you part of Master Luca's show?" Selucia asked Olver.

"No," he replied absently, not really paying attention as he focused on setting up the game. It was rather a crude one, made out of cloth and with chipped pieces. "I work for Mat," he continued, setting up final touches. Then he began to read, "Courage to strengthen, fire to blind, music to dazzle, iron to bind." He looked up at Tuon as she sat down on the floor across from him. "Do you play this in Seanchan?"

She smiled slightly, and if anyone had looked carefully for it, they would have seen a slight amount of bitterness. "I used to." She had had to stop playing games long ago, however. Her smile faded.

"You can go first. I'd probably be chastised for making a guest go second."

She didn't bother hiding an amused smile. Guest? "Thank you." She rolled the dice and moved accordingly.

Olver quickly snatched the dice once she was done, and laughed delightedly as he passed Tuon's piece.

They played several games, Selucia joining for a few; Olver was obviously still determined to win without breaking any rules. Tuon stopped trying to ask him questions, as she was only getting half-hearted responses; and she was finding it hard to annoy Setalle's glances whenever she casually tried to ask about Mat and why he had been in Ebou Dar, or where Luca's show was headed. But besides hardly answering her, he spoke enough for ten children, asking questions about Seanchan and the soldiers' outfits; at first, Setalle had looked worried, but quickly relaxed when she saw that Tuon didn't mind answering his questions.

She actually felt relaxed for the first time in days -- Maybe even years, she thought, amused despite the fact that it wasn't at all funny. Furthermore, Olver could make her laugh by commenting about her eyes and face, before turning to flatter Selucia with comments that young boys shouldn't have any idea about.

But the few responses that she had gotten to her questions were enough to make her mind whirl. Such as why this boy was tagging around with Mat. She could certainly see no family resemblance.

Selucia seemed to be thinking along the same lines. "Where are your parents?" she asked at the end of one game.

Olver's hands paused for a moment, and he was silent. Then he looked at her. "They're dead," he said simply.

There was a small silence.

Olver seemed to feel the need to explain more. "The... Shado or whoever killed my dad. I'm from Cairhien. My mom died later. Mat found me."

The Shado?

The door opened before Tuon or Selucia could reply. An old man stuck his head in, scanning the room. He spotted Olver.

"There you are! Vanin said you had disappeared, and I was sent to look for you." His body followed his head into Tuon's wagon. He appeared old, but Tuon was usually good at seeing past common misconceptions. Old he may be; but he also looked dangerous.

But not at the moment, as he smiled at the women and gave them a low bow.

"A pleasure to meet you, yet again, my lady," he directed this at Tuon. "I don't believe we were properly introduced the first time. My name is Noal Charin."

Tuon blushed, grateful that her dark skin covered most of it. I hope. How could she have forgotten him? He had only picked her up like a bloody sack right when she was about to seriously injure Mat Cauthon, then held her quite easily as if she were a kitten while the latter began to shred her clothes.

But she simply nodded serenely in response. "Good day, Master Charin. Olver was just playing Snakes and Foxes with us."

"Well, perhaps we could come back another day?" To her fury, Noal directed this question at Setalle, who simply nodded.

"Bye!" said Olver cheerfully, gathering his game and exiting with Noal. As the door closed, they heard him beg Noal to teach him how to catch fish with his bare hands like he had seen him do to earlier.

Selucia laughed. "I wonder where he learned those things to say to you Tuon." She smiled slightly in response, not really concentrating on anything. It was hard not to smile around Olver.

Setalle also laughed. "Yes, thanks to his many uncles. Light knows the boy needs a mother."

"How do you mean?" Tuon inquired, attempting to look uninterested as she began to set up the stones board for a game with Selucia.

"He picks up their worst habits," she shook her head lightly, unthreading a misplaced stitch. "Never could talk to Mat about it, though. He'd insist it were Vanin or someone else. He probably still does. I'm sure nothing changed when they moved to the Palace."

Tuon frowned, then quickly hid it.

"Why did Olver go to the Palace?" Selucia inquired.

"Because Mat and the Redarms did."

Tuon could have screamed in frustration. Despite her admiration for this woman, her answers were far too vague, especially for someone who was used to getting an exact answer whenever she wanted. Had Setalle had some kind of training in this or something?

Suddenly, the innkeeper laughed. "I suppose you want to know about who, exactly, kidnapped you and why. I would in your place, too. Unfortunately, I don't know why. I certainly didn't expect this to happen when he told me he was leaving."

Tuon didn't even pretend to study the stones any longer. "Why did you leave Ebou Dar?"

Setalle seemed hesitant, and Tuon knew why.

"You may speak freely. Nothing you say about the Seanchan will be considered treason now."

Selucia looked startled, and Setalle again studied her with an unreadable expression.

"I only left because my husband felt it was time to leave."

Tuon knew that she was lying, or at least not telling the whole truth, but she did not press the matter. She simply sat quietly and waited.

Abruptly, Setalle grimaced. "I suppose it would change nothing, anyway. I have aided too far already not to be in trouble if you are found." That was definitely true. "I had hidden an Aes Sedai in the basement of my inn, and needed to get her out of the city."

Selucia jumped at the mention of the Aes Sedai.

"Joline?" Tuon asked, remembering the name.

"Yes, Joline. Ironically, I suppose, Mat had already promised to get two other Aes Sedai out of the Seanchan kennels, and he agreed to help me."

"Did he... know them?" Tuon tried to keep her voice even, detached, while cursing herself for being a fool. He had lied straight to her face when she had caught him coming from the kennels! Searching for sweets for a damane, indeed. She bristled, but somehow managed to keep it from her expression and tone. But she couldn't help thinking that there were three Aes Sedai in this very camp. Three marath'damane!

Setalle might have heard something from her voice, though. Light, but Tuon hated the looks this woman could give.

"He did. I suppose he met them in the palace before the Seanchan arrived. All I know is that he was supposed to leave with ... friends of his the exact day that your army arrived." She shrugged.

Tuon frowned thoughtfully. That had to mean something, that the Seanchan army had stopped him from leaving before she arrived. This certainly helped her waning confidence that she was not a complete fool.

Apparently, conversation was over as Setalle returned to her embroidery -- did she ever do anything besides sewing? Suddenly, Tuon had no desire for a stones game with Selucia. She needed to think about what to do next, and she needed to get out of this wagon.



Originally posted: May 29, 2004

A/N: Sorry about the delay. I have awful writer's block every other day, which accounts mostly for this horrid attempt, and a much shorter chapter than I would have liked. Also I had no time to write earlier this month due to studying like mad for AP exams, which thankfully are over now. Hopefully the next chapter will be up sooner now that school is done, but no promises.

And I just need to clarify a few things: I'm a firm believer in the theory that Setalle Anan was an Aes Sedai (that Elayne had mentioned earlier) who burned herself out researching ter'angreal. As such, I am most definitely pointing to that in Tuon's thoughts concerning her, in case you didn't get the allusion. I also really dislike Olver, and it was a pain writing him in, so I apologize if he sounds incredibly stupid. And also, I have absolutely no idea if Snakes and Foxes is actually played in Seanchan. If anyone does know, I'd appreciate the information, even if it's too late to change.

And thank you so much for all the reviews; they really do help.