She raised an eyebrow.
"But," Mat acknowledged, "he's got most everybody pointed toward the Last Battle. And Verin says he managed to clean the taint from saidin"
"Blessed Light," Moiraine whispered. "How?"
"I don't know."
"This changes everything," she said, smile deepening. "He has fixed what he once set wrong. 'By the Dragon came our pain, and by the Dtagon was the wound repaired.' "
"Mat keeps saying we should be having a festival or something to celebrate," Thom noted. "Though maybe he only wants a good excuse to get drunk."
"I'd say that's a certainty," Mat added. "Anyway, Rand's been busy. Elayne says he's got some kind of meeting arranged with the monarchs under him coming up soon."
"Elayne is Queen, then?"
"Sure is. Her mother was killed by Rahvin," Mat said. "So you told me."
"I did? When?"
"A lifetime ago, Matrim," she replied, smiling. "Oh. Well, Rand finished him off. So that's good." "And the other Forsaken?" Moiraine asked.
"Don't know," Mat said.
"Mat's been too busy to keep track," Thom added. "He's been spending his time marrying the Empress of the Seanchan."
Moiraine blinked in sutprise. "You did what ?"
"It was an accident," Mat said lamely, hunching down.
"You accidentally married the Seanchan Empress?"
"They've got some odd customs," Mat said, pulling his hat down. "Strange folk." He forced out a chuckle.
"Ta'veren" Moiraine said.
Somehow, he had known she would say that. Light. Well, it was good to have her back. Mat was surprised at how strongly he felt that. Who would have thought it? Affection for an Aes Sedai, from him?
"Well," she said, "I can see there are many tales I need to be told. But for now, we will need to seek out Rand."
He had also known that she would try to take charge. "You find him, Moiraine, but I've got things to do in Caemlyn. Don't mean to argue and all, but that's the fact of it. You should come there, too. Elayne's more likely than anyone else to be able to help you with Rand."
Bloody colors. As if h
aving one eye were not bad enough, he had those flaming visions bunching up his sight every time he so much as thought of Ran
Burn those visions!
Moiraine raised an eyebrow as he shook his head, then blushed. He probably looked like he was having a fit.
"We shall see, Matrim," she said, then glanced at Thom, who stood holding the packets of tea. Mat half thought he would try to boil water in his own hands, if only to get some warm tea for Moiraine. Thom looked at her, and she held out her hand again.
"Dearest Thom," she said. "I would have you for a husband, if you'll have me for a wife."
"What?" Mat said, standing up. He raised a hand to his forehead, nearly knocking his hat free. "What did you say?"
"Hush, Mat," Thom said. He did not take Moiraine's offered hand. "You know I've never much liked women who can channel the One Power, Moiraine. You know it held me back in the past."
"I don't have much of the Power now, dearest Thom. Without this angreal, I wouldn't be strong enough to be raised Accepted in the White Tower. I will throw it away, if you wish it of me." She lifted out her other hand, barely staying modest. She pulled off the angreal.