"By the Light, I thought you'd never wake up."
Mat reluctantly turned his head towards that chipper voice, and saw Min sitting next to him. They were both out in the open next to the river, and the only thing between them and the cold dirt were thin saddle blankets. The sun had been up for some time, but no one seemed ready to leave. Rand and Perrin were over by a fire, cooking what looked like a trio of squirrels.
"Where is Sage?" Min wanted to know. "After you passed out last night, he disappeared. We couldn't get any food or set up the tents. Is he alright?"
"I'm fine, thanks for asking," Mat told her. He really wasn't: his head, his jaw, and his back all ached, making it almost impossible to get up off the ground. "As for the ghost—he's only allowed to talk to other people when I let him."
"Are you serious? That's horrible. He's not your slave!"
"Spare me, you just want another bloody book to read. Get me some breakfast, and I might consider letting him out to play."
There the furious Min he knew—she was even fondling her knife. She got up without a word, and stomped away. A few minutes later, Rand and Egwene came over with an offering of squirrel on a stick.
"Have you decided to cut your hair?" Mat asked as he took a bite.
Egwene blushed as she held Rand's hand. "I'm not as brave as Min, so I think I'll cut somewhere between my chin and my shoulders when I finally get a chance."
Mat raised his Power Ring in her direction. "Cut her hair," he said.
Both his friends shouted "no!" at the same time, but it was too late.
A cloud of green light surrounded Egwene's head and gently pulled her long hair out in every direction. There was a brief flash, and most of the hair floated away before gathering into a single strand. The rest settled back down around her neck, and it looked good. Of course she was so beautiful she would have looked good bald, but the new hair length did seem to frame her face well.
"Don't do that again," Egwene said as the long strand of cut hair floated down to her hand. "Who knows what could have happened."
"You're looking a bit shaggy too," Mat said before pointing his Power Ring at Rand. A few seconds later a shower of red hair floated to the ground.
The young lovers glared at him before turning towards each other. Soon they were running their hands through each other's new, shorter hair. Mat had to admit the Power Ring was a fine barber. His little sisters often said that Rand and Egwene were the most adorable couple in Emond's Field, but now they looked even better.
"Before you two run off to play, there must have been some reason you came over here with breakfast. Let me guess: you channeled the One Power last night in Shadar Logoth, so you want Sage to take a look?"
Rand nodded. "If you don't mind."
A disk of green light traveled straight through Rand's head down to his feet and then back up to his head again. { Show yourself, } Mat thought.
Sage appeared right next to Rand, and the ghost was looking straight into his head. [ On a positive note, the damage this so-called "taint" does to your body is easy to identify and repair. Any Aes Sedai with a talent for healing can help you, and that includes Moiraine Sedai. On a less positive note, the damage to your mind is much more… subtle and harder to identify. ]
"You can actually see what the taint on saidin does to the mind of a man who channels? Can you fix it?" Rand asked hopefully.
[ I could, but my methods of healing are more blunt compared to others. They would leave… scar tissue for lack of a better term. ]
"Scar tissue on my mind? I guess that's better than going insane and hurting other people, but it still doesn't sound good."
[ I suggest you ask Nynaeve for her assistance on this matter. ]
"She can barely channel at all," an exasperated Egwene complained.
[ True, ] Sage allowed. [ But when she does channel, she is stronger and more skilled than any Aes Sedai in the White Tower, at least when it comes to healing injuries to the human body. If anyone on this planet can keep you from going insane without causing collateral damage to your mind, it is her. ]
The troubled pair went off in search of the Wisdom, leaving Mat alone with Sage. { Last night I didn't ask the Power Ring for help when everyone fell into that bloody river. I just told it what to do, and it rescued them all with those bubbles. Burn me, it can't be that simple. }
[ Some of my Green Lanterns had the good fortune to live for thousands of years, but none of them fully mastered the complexities of their Power Ring. Neither will you. That being said, I am glad that you are finally on the right path. I was beginning to wonder if you would ever take that first and most important step. ]
{ So don't ask. Tell. }
[ A grotesque oversimplification, as you will soon learn. But true. ]
Moiraine approached, ending their silent conversation. "Did anyone from the World of Dreams attack us as we slept last night?" she asked.
[ No, but our close proximity to Shadar Logoth might explain that. ]
"Even so, I want at least thirty miles between us and that loathsome place before we stop tonight. Your training sessions can wait until then. Is he ready to travel?"
"He's right here," Mat snapped. "And yes, he's ready to travel. Sage, shall we provide a comfortable wagon for our Aes Sedai and her two lovely students again?"
[ That was a question, not an order. ]
O-O-O
Eager to put Shadar Logoth behind them, they made excellent progress. The further east they traveled, the more the trees thinned out. What would they do for firewood on the vast Caralain Grass, Mat wondered. Maybe that's why so few people live out there nowadays.
Of course there was a problem, and it was a loud one. Nynaeve got into several arguments with Moiraine throughout the day. The Aes Sedai never once raised her voice, but the Wisdom could be heard screaming for miles around. Sage said the pair even fought several short duels in the back of the wagon, which seemed physically impossible. Rand was sure he would never see Egwene alive again, which put him in a foul mood.
That evening everyone was starved, but the tents went up first. Mat could now build a latrine in less than a minute. He had even cleaned and saved the cover stone from that first night in Sage's storage dimension, making the job easier. Min—who had been giving him the evil eye all day—helped Lan prepare a hearty dinner that included bowls of spicy rice.
For some reason Perrin was snorting like an angry bull during mating season when he faced his first Trolloc. He killed four of them, which was impressive even if Sage had slowed them down compared to the real thing. As he fought his fifth Trolloc a wolf howled in the distance, which distracted Perrin. The Trolloc finished him off with a war hammer to the back. The blow made contact with his body this time. It was strong enough to bruise, but not to cause any serious damage.
Mat went next, but there was no quarterstaff in his hands this time. When the first Trolloc appeared, he used his Power Ring to grab it with a simple band of green light. A second Trolloc he never saw coming finished him off with a war hammer to the back, and it did cause serious damage.
[ Situational awareness, ] Sage remarked. [ You must work on that. ]
{ Blood and ashes! Fix my back, } Mat snarled. Even with his uniform protecting his body, that war hammer must have broken at least a few ribs. { And finish fixing my jaw while you're at it. }
The ghost took his time, but slowly the pain throughout his body faded. He got to his feet and noticed that Nynaeve was wrapped in chains of Air, with a tight gag over her mouth. According to Sage, Moiraine had also cut her off from the One Power.
Lan ignored all of this drama. He simply stood there like a stone statue with his sword already out. Instead of a Trolloc, an eyeless Myrddraal appeared. Mat knew the thing was just one of Sage's training constructs, but the sight of it still sent a spike of fear into his heart. When it attacked the Warder, he realized that fear was justified.
Lan was a brilliant swordsman, but even he could barely keep up with the Shadowspawn. They both moved so quickly it was hard to follow what their swords were doing. Then it was over: a cut to the leg, followed by what looked like an effortless decapitation.
[ Again? ] Sage asked.
"Again,'" Lan replied, ignoring Nynaeve's muffled protest.
"Again."
"Again."
It was soon clear that endless travel and the three Myrddraals were taking a toll on the Warder. His reactions began to slow. When their swords locked too close to the hilt, the forth Myrddraal used its superior strength to simply shove Lan off balance. Then its dark sword came down, and sliced a deep and bloody wound across his chest.
Nynaeve's scream could be heard even from behind her gag. With a nod from Moiraine, that blue gag and the chains of Air surrounding her body vanished. Once free, Nynaeve ran to Lan, ripped open his shirt, and placed her hands on his bloody chest.
"Why?" she cried as the long and deep wound closed.
"It was my choice," Lan whispered.
Mat was shocked when Rand and Egwene broke up this tender scene. Each grabbed Nynaeve by an arm, and lifted her to her feet. As they dragged her away from the camp, Rand turned to face him. "Come with us. Perrin, stay here with the others. Don't follow us."
Nynaeve was just as confused as Mat. That confusion grew when she was thrown against a tree, and Egwene began to beat her. Slaps, punches, kicks… the younger woman showed no mercy as the Wisdom of Emond's Field fell to the ground and tried to protect herself.
"Shouldn't we stop this?" Mat asked.
"No," Rand said coldly.
"You're a disgrace." Another punch to the head. "I've never been more embarrassed in my life by your behavior today." Another kick to the arse. "You've acting like a twelve year-old girl." Another slap to the face. "Rand needs you, and I won't have it anymore! Do you hear me! I won't have it!"
Rand finally pulled Egwene away. "I don't know what's going on between you and Lan, and I don't care. What I do care about is the fact that you're disrupting Egwene's lessons with Moiraine. Your tantrums end now."
Nynaeve looked up at him with a battered face. "That ghost is…"
"Sage is trying to help with your channeling," Mat said. He could criticize the ghost, but he didn't like hearing it from anyone else. "Lan agreed to his plan."
Egwene broke free from Rand and delivered another swift kick. "They're trying to get rid of your block, you stupid mule." She then reached down and grabbed Nynaeve's long braid. "Sage, cut her hair off, or I'll do it with Fire."
[ Should I proceed? Egwene is inexperienced and her adrenaline levels are dangerously high. She could cause severe injuries to everyone here if her channeling spins out of control. ]
{ I don't think she's bluffing either. Do it, } Mat said silently.
When Nynaeve saw her hair floating to the ground she began to sob. This enraged Egwene, who grabbed her ear and began dragging her back towards the camp. Perrin and Min were shocked when they saw the Wisdom, while Moiraine briefly smiled before her face went blank again.
When Lan saw Nynaeve—bloody and bald—he went for his sword.
"Don't you so much as look at Rand or Mat!" Egwene shouted as she marched right up to the huge Warder. "I did it. I put the hurt on her, and she deserved it. But at least she has an excuse. The Women's Council made her the village Wisdom when she was still just a teenage girl. A girl who never so much as kissed a boy. That's why her emotions are out of control, but what's your excuse? You're an old man who has bedded dozens of women, and don't you deny it. But now—with the Last Battle about to crash down on our heads—you decide to start acting like a lovestruck boy again? You disgust me. Take her and get her out of my sight. By morning you had better have come to some kind of understanding, because if she acts like a blasted fool again I will take it out of both of your hides!"
Mat was expecting Lan to put Egwene in her place. Instead he simply gathered the sobbing Nynaeve up into his arms, and carried her off into the dark woods.
O-O-O
"Does stuff like this happen often in Emond's Field?" Min asked the next morning during breakfast.
"The Wisdom is usually the one handing out the beatings," Perrin replied. "Just ask our Green Lantern."
"Burn me, I got switched by her more times than I can count."
"You deserved it," Min said with total confidence.
"Not always. Most of the time. But not always."
All conversations around the fire stopped when Lan and Nynaeve came into view. Her face looked much worse in the light of day, but at least she had a scarf wrapped around her bald head. She was also blushing. So much so that she looked like a ripe tomato about to fall off the vine.
"Is the block gone?" Moiraine asked.
Nynaeve nodded.
"I would have suggested that particular method earlier, but I didn't want to insult your honor. I hope you understand my reluctance."
Egwene walked up to the woman she had beaten senseless the night before. "Lightskirt," was all she said.
Nynaeve looked down in shame, and that set Mat off. A bully was a bully, and he didn't like that sort of thing at all. He pushed Egwene out of the way and placed his right hand on the Wisdom. { Heal her injuries. Can you do anything about her hair? }
[ A little, ] Sage said as Nynaeve's bruises slowly disappeared. The scarf covered most of her head, but the parts he could see sprouted a peach fuzz that grew to about an inch long. [ That is the best I can do, although she will be hungry for the next few hours. And one final touch I think. ] A bright red dot appeared on her forehead.
"You presume too much," Lan growled when he saw the dot.
"What's wrong?" Nynaeve asked.
"Sage placed a red Ki'sain upon your forehead," Moraine explained. "According to Malkier tradition, it means you are now a married woman who pledges her sons to fight against the Dark One. It is a bit presumptuous, but I assume after last night you both want to marry."
"If he will have me," Nynaeve whispered.
Lan took her hands and kissed them one by one.
"I will take that as a yes," Moiraine said. "Go put on some clean clothes. Sage, I will need a copy of the oaths the Kings and Queens of Malkier spoke during their marriage ceremonies."
"Kings and Queens?" Nynaeve squealed.
"Lan will explain it to you later. Go."
Sage did have the information Moiraine wanted. During the short ceremony that morning Mat noticed several things. Min cried, despite not really liking the bride. She did like the groom though, which might have explained it. Egwene cried, even though she was currently furious with the bride. Rand cried, but that was because he was such a big sap. He also noticed that Perrin was eyeing Moiraine, but he couldn't really blame his friend. Aes Sedai or not, she was a beauty.
"Now I have a gift for you," Moiraine said after the marriage oaths were taken. She placed a hand on the bride and groom's head for a moment, causing Lan to rear back in shock.
"If the Whiter Tower finds out you pass my bond…"
"At this point I've committed so many crimes according to Tower Law, what will adding one more to the pile matter? Besides as young Egwene pointed out last night, people our age have no excuse for acting like jealous teenagers. She is your wife now, and her strength in the One Power already surpasses my own. You must protect that strength until we reach the Last Battle. To do that effectively, you must be her Warder."
"Thank you," Nynaeve whispered as she stared up at Lan in wonder.
"No, it's not that simple," Moiraine said. "As you pointed out before, I owe Lan a debt I can never hope to repay. But I owe you nothing. In return for passing your husband's bond to you, I expect something in return. From now on I will no longer tolerate your disobedience during our lessons. I will give you commands, and you will obey them. Is that clear?"
"She has much to teach you about the One Power. Skills you must learn," Lan said before Nynaeve could say something rash.
"Very well, I will obey you—during our lessons."
O-O-O
That day Mat's horse construct never disappeared. Not once. That put him in a fine mood. At least until they stopped for the night. Egwene and Nynaeve hopped out of Sage's wagon, set up their tents, took all the food he laid out, and then hopped into their tents with Rand and Lan. He tried not to be jealous, but in truth it did sour his mood.
Making matters worse was Perrin's performance that evening. He killed six Trollocs before losing to number seven. When it was his turn, Sage sent six Trolloc straight at him all at once. He stopped two with his Power Ring, but the other four had a wonderful time trying to rip his body apart.
"Anyone feel like playing dice?" Mat asked later on after he recovered. They'd bought some ivory dice back in Baerlon, and his hands were itching to give them a toss.
[ Green Lanterns do not play dice, ] Sage said with disdain.
"If you're going to tell me that gambling is not allowed in the Green Lantern Corps, that's a deal-breaker. I mean it."
[ Gambling is allowed, even encouraged, but only games of skill. With dice the outcome is random and thus pointless. On the other hand… ] A round table and four chairs appeared close to the fire, and sitting on top of this green table was a set of playing cards.
"I don't know how to play cards," Min complained. "It was the one thing my three Aunts all agreed on: never play cards, especially with miners."
[ Moiraine will teach you the rules. ]
"I will?"
[ You need a distraction just as much as they do. Some music? ]
Mat couldn't believe it when the sound of several instruments filled the air. He couldn't actually see any, but the music sounded better than any of the amateur players back home, or the few gleemen who had visited Emond's Field over the years. "Why haven't you done this before? Everyone loves music."
[ Sitting around all day and listening to music would interfere with your training, which is already behind schedule. ]
Moiraine glanced over at Nynaeve's tent for a second before pulling back a chair. "Sit down, all of you. The game is called…"
It should've called the Dark One's Luck, Mat thought sourly as the Aes Sedai won nine of the first ten hands. Min won once, but he was pretty sure that was by accident. "Is she cheating?"
[ No, ] Sage said as the green table collected their cards, shuffled them, and dealt a new hand in a matter of seconds. [ And neither am I. ]
"You and Perrin are both strong Ta'veren," Moiraine said as she elegantly smoked her pipe. "By your very existence, you bend the Pattern of the Third Age, forcing changes in the world that would have never occurred otherwise. I have traveled with al'Lan Mandragoran for over twenty years and he swore by the Light and his hope of rebirth that he would never marry. But he spends a few weeks in the company of three Ta'veren, and now he has a young bride. Since you both want to win this hand…"
"... we're both going to lose?" Mat asked. "We'll cancel each other out?"
"That's ridiculous," Min said. "Maybe she's just really good at cards."
"Or maybe I'm just really good at cards," Moiraine allowed.
"What if Rand plays?" Perrin asked. "He's the Dragon Reborn, and a much stronger Ta'veren than us. Will he win every hand?"
Mat snorted. "No, Egwene will win every hand."
Perrin scratched his chin for a moment. "Sad, but true."
O-O-O
The next two days were peaceful enough. They rode forty miles a day, since most of the horses weren't carrying any riders. They ate good meals. Their training went as well as could be expected. Perrin was able to kill six Trollocs again, and Mat did better against the large gangs sent to rip him to pieces. Min started practicing with her knife, and Sage was teaching her the proper techniques for killing a man. He was a sentimental old ghost.
Moiraine continued to dominate the card table, and the losers had to do chores for the winner. That meant each day Min brushed Moiraine's white mare in addition to her own horse, Perrin checked the various metalwork on the saddles for any signs of stress, and Mat cleaned out her entire tent. It wasn't hard to do with his Power Ring, but chores were something he tried to avoid if at all possible.
Of course Rand, Egwene, and Nynaeve were all floating up in the clouds. Even Lan thawed some. Not much, but some, which was a miracle.
On the third day something changed. Both Lan and Perrin seemed more and more agitated as the sun slowly crossed the sky.
"We are being followed," Lan said late in the afternoon.
"One man, and he's on foot," Perrin added.
Moiraine trusted Lan's judgment so much, she didn't even bother turning around to take a look for herself. "We'll stop here for the night. Let him come to us, if that's his plan. If he stays hidden…"
"I will double back and deal with him," Lan said quietly.
An old man walked into their camp during dinner that night, and he was an odd sight. His clothes and hat were patchwork of various animal skins. He had a bow and quiver, along with a very long knife. Or maybe it was a short sword? But what really stood out was his hair and his eyes. The hair was gray and it hung all the way down his back in a ragged ponytail, while his equally long beard fanned out across his chest. His eyes were a rich golden color that reflected the light of the fire. Mat had never seen that eye color before, at least not on a human being.
"Elyas Machera," Lan said as he casually placed a hand on his sword hilt. "It has been a long time."
"I don't care much for the company of people anymore. Besides, the day I show my face at the White Tower again would be the day I die."
"You did kill three Warders during your escape from the dungeons."
"I did nothing wrong, but the Red Ajah was going to have me put to death anyway. Would you've stood there and let them cut your throat? Would you've let Moiraine Sedai suffer the terrible pain of your death? Or would you have fought back like I did?"
"I would have fought," Lan allowed.
"Yes, you would have. I see you finally took a mate."
"Allow me to present el'Nynaeve ti al'Meara. My wife, this is Elyas Machera. When I first came to the White Tower to train with the other Warders, he was the best of all my teachers."
"It is an honor to meet you. If you are anything like the backwoodsman I know from the Mountains of Mist, you are probably suffering from several lingering injuries. I can heal them for you, if you don't mind."
Elyas glanced at Lan, who nodded. He stepped forward and Nynaeve placed her hands on his face. "Nothing too serious. I healed your elbow."
The old man flexed his left arm several times. "I barely felt anything, and I'm not starved for meat."
"Her talent for Healing is exceptional," Land said with pride. "All the more so, since she never studied at the White Tower."
"Sit and share our food, even if you don't need it," Moiraine said.
Elyas looked doubtful, and for some reason he was taking sniffs with his nose. "You're not going to arrest me in the name of the White Tower?"
"Of all the animals in the world, none have more hatred for Shadowspawn than wolves. I have heard of entire packs sacrificing themselves to kill a single Myrddraal. So why should the ability to speak to a wolf be a mark of the Dark One? Besides, I have more important matters to deal with."
"I suppose you do." Elyas then walked straight over to Rand. "Why am I not surprised that Shadowkiller is an Aiel?"
"Shadowkiller?" Rand asked.
"That's what the wolves call you. When the Last Hunt comes, you will fight the Dark One. You always have. You always will. Does this pretty little thing know what you're dragging her into?"
Egwene bristled at the crude description. "I know exactly who Rand al'Thor is, and I stand by his side of my own free will."
Rand cut in, hoping to keep things civil. "My father and mother were Aiel, but I never knew them. I was raised by others in the Two Rivers."
"Thank the Light for small mercies," Elyas muttered. "Lan will tell you that the Aiel have a strict sense of honor, but I would never trust any of them. Not for a second. And despite the blood in your veins, neither should you."
"I will keep that in mind."
[ He is thinking about killing you, ] Sage said silently.
That got Mat's attention, especially when Elyas came within striking distance. Again the old man's nose was sniffing like crazy. "Several days ago something terrible happened in the Wolf Dream."
"The Wolf Dream?" Mat asked.
"Another name for the World of Dreams," Moiraine explained.
"The wolves say thousands of lightning bolts erupted not from the sky, but from the ground itself south of the River Arinelle. This eruption lasted for an entire night, and they say the lightning bolts were green. Just like that ring on your right hand."
Mat shrugged his shoulders. "One of the Forsaken tried to attack us while we were sleeping. I took exception to it."
"Elyas," Lan called out. "Before you try anything, take a look down at your knife." The long knife in question was wrapped up tight in its sheath with strings of green light. "I don't know if one of the Forsaken could kill him, but I do know that he's beyond the likes of you or me."
"The wolves… their memories of the past stretch back to the Age of Legends and far beyond, but even they don't know what this boy is."
"Mat is my friend," Rand said roughly. "That's all you need to know. Is he the reason you were following us?"
"No, I come here for him." Elyas said as he locked eyes with Perrin. "You can sense them all around us, can't you? They want to meet you in the flesh. They say you have things to learn before the Last Hunt begins."
"The wolves?" Perrin asked.
"Yes, the wolves."
"Should I take my mace and shield?"
"They're fine weapons. Why would you leave them behind?"
"Wait!" Rand shouted. "Perrin, are you serious about this?"
"I have to go with him. The dreams I've been having these past weeks—they are so vivid. I have to understand what they mean."
"Can't you learn about your dreams without leaving?" Mat asked.
"No, and it's your fault," Elyas said. "Your presence pollutes the Wolf Dream for miles around, and your friend Perrin can't learn what it is to be a true Wolfbrother without entering the Wolf Dream. That is the way of things."
"How long will he be gone?" Rand asked.
"For as long as he needs to be," the old man said.
"Meet us at Dragonmount, if you can."
Elyas glared at Moiraine. "You're taking Shadowkiller to the White Tower? Prophecies or no prophecies, you know what those blasted fools in the Red Ajah will do to him."
"Rand will not set foot in the White Tower, not under any circumstances, but we have an important message to deliver to the Amyrlin Seat. Once that is done, we will be heading north to the Borderlands."
"The Pattern cares nothing for your plans, Moiraine Sedai. Keep that in mind. Come boy, the wolves are hungry and we will join them on their hunt tonight."
"Don't worry about me," Perrin said to them as he turned to leave. "I will find you again."
[ This is a strange planet. ] Sage remarked as the two men began running towards a pack of hungry wolves in the dark. [ And given my vast experience, that is saying something. ]
O-O-O
That night in the tent was awkward. Min was obnoxious at times and so was Mat, but Perrin had kept the peace between all three of them. Now he was off learning how to be a bloody wolf, and the fragile peace was broken.
Min was reading another book as he was trying to fall asleep, but for once the green pages weren't holding her attention. "You've never asked what my viewing of your future meant."
"You saw a Green Lantern symbol over my heart. I'm a Green Lantern and will be for the rest of my short life. It seems clear to me."
"It's not that simple."
"When I asked you to explain it to me, you pulled out your knife," Mat reminded her. "Now I don't want to know the details."
"You're such a wool-headed lummox. How can you say that?"
"Blood and ashes, Perrin just ran off with some crazy old man who wanted to kill me. Things are terrible, and they keep getting worse. So I don't want to know what my future will bring. Let it be a surprise." Mat hoped that would be the end of it, but soon he heard Min crying. He wanted to ignore her in the worst way, but he just couldn't do it. "What's wrong now?"
"Rand is so tall and handsome and clever," Min whined.
Mat clenched his teeth until they hurt. All the girls back home—including his two littles sisters—went on and on about Rand. About how he was so tall and the best-looking man in all of the Two Rivers! They started saying things like that about him when he was twelve bloody years old. And now he had to hear the same from Min.
"He's the Dragon Reborn. He's doomed to go insane and fight the Dark One until they are both dead. Plus he's in love with Egwene."
"And Perrin is so cute and kind, but he has those big hard muscles."
"Yes, and now he's off learning to be a wolf. You should also know that big shoulders and big arms doesn't mean that everything is big."
Min tossed her book aside and sat up on her cot. The tent was dark, but there was enough moonlight coming through the open flap to see her deep blush. "How could you possibly know that?!"
"Don't you go swimming in Baerlon?"
"No, the river close to the town is too dirty for swimming."
"Well, that's one benefit of living in a tiny village. Clean water."
"Stop trying to change the subject," Min snapped.
"I didn't feel like gossiping about other boys with you."
"I'm not gossiping about other boys, I'm talking about us!"
Mat finally sat up on his cot. "Wait a second, there is no us."
"Of course there is—what do you think that symbol over your heart means? The Pattern has already made the decision, and let me tell you, the bloody Pattern doesn't change its mind. Not ever."
"No offense, but I'm not marrying anyone. The bloody Pattern can go and hang if it thinks otherwise."
"I didn't say anything about marriage."
Mat stared at her for a long moment. "You cried when Nynaeve and Lan took their oaths. Of course you want to get married."
Min crossed her arms over her chest. "Maybe at some point in the future, but why wouldn't you want to marry me? Let me guess: you like long hair."
"No, not particularly. All the women back home have those long braids, and they yank them at me whenever I step out of line by an inch. Your short hair is a nice change, and it shows off your slim neck."
"So you don't like my clothes."
Mat stretched out his arms. Who knows when he get to sleep now? "At first I thought it wouldn't kill you to wear a dress now and then, but then I realized how much a dress covers up. Breeches can be very revealing at times, in case you hadn't realized it."
"So I'm not pretty enough for you?"
"Stop being a baby. You know that you're pretty. How can you not be, with those huge dark eyes of yours?" Now she was staring at him, and it made him nervous. "Look, this whole conversation is ridiculous. You just said you'd prefer someone tall and handsome and clever like Rand, or big and strong and kind like Perrin. I don't have what you're looking for, not at all, so your viewing was wrong for once."
"That's what I thought at first, until I started talking to Sage."
That caught Mat off guard. "You're in love with the creepy ghost?"
"Of course not, but he's smart and interesting. The whole Green Lantern Corp sounds interesting. And exciting. Then I realized that since you're a Green Lantern and your whole life is going to be like that—full of adventures in strange new places. For a girl who's spent her whole life in a remote mining town, that sounds mighty appealing."
"I don't know what Sage has been telling you, but he's been telling me that life as a Green Lantern is brutal. Since I've already been roasted alive by my own Power Ring, I believe him. Plus if we survive the Last Battle—which seems doubtful at this point—I will have to leave the planet."
Min gave him a sly smile. "I know."
Mat felt himself weakening and tried to rally. "Like I said before, I'm not getting married. Not even to you."
"Egwene and Rand aren't married yet, and it doesn't seem to stop them from having a lot of fun in the meanwhile."
He gulped loudly. "I thought I wasn't what you wanted in a man?"
She smiled again, stood up and walked over to him, and then slowly ran her hands through his long hair. "You'll do, in a pinch."
He had kissed more than a few girls back home, but none of those kisses felt half as good as Min's hands running through his hair. What will her kisses be like, he wondered. That's when he realized that he was doomed.