ChapterTrack

Chapter 45 - Caemlyn

Summary

Mat Cauthon and Thom Merrilin arrive in the bustling city of Caemlyn, where Mat finds the political climate hostile to the White Tower due to the disappearance of Elayne Trakand. His attempt to deliver Elayne's letter directly to the Royal Palace is thwarted by a hostile fat officer who accuses him of being a trickster and chases him away. Returning to the Queen's Blessing inn, Mat encounters the stableman Ramey and the cook Coline's voice before finding Basel Gill and Thom in the library. Discouraged by the political tension and the new advisor Lord Gaebril's influence over Queen Morgase, Mat decides against delivering the letter through official channels and instead prepares to rely on his luck to bypass the guards entirely, leaving the letter with Gill for safekeeping while he seeks his fortune.

Characters

  • Mat / Mat Cauthon — Mat arrives in Caemlyn with Thom Merrilin and attempts to deliver a letter from Elayne to the Queen, but is rebuffed and chased away by a fat Queen's Guard officer who suspects him of being a Darkfriend or trickster. He returns to the Queen's Blessing inn, interacts with the stableman Ramey and the cook Coline, and finds Thom and Basel Gill in the library, where he decides to leave the letter with Gill and attempt to enter the palace by other means using his luck.
  • Thom / Thom Merrilin (the gleeman) — Thom rides with Mat into Caemlyn, advises him to find food first, and later waits in the inn's library with Basel Gill playing a stones board game. He reacts with suspicion to Mat's fireworks and frustration at Mat's refusal to use the letter for safe passage, eventually urging Mat to consider the danger of his plan.
  • Master Gill / Basel / Basel Gill — The fat, pink-faced innkeeper sits in the library playing stones with Thom and greets Mat with concern for his health. He provides Mat with information about the political situation in Caemlyn, the Queen's anger toward Tar Valon, and the new advisor Lord Gaebril, before offering to safely deliver Elayne's letter to the Palace.
  • Ramey — A horse-faced stableman at the Queen's Blessing who initially fails to recognize Mat but quickly accepts a silver mark to properly care for Mat's gelding, hurrying it into the stable to avoid further interaction.
  • Coline (Cook) — A round woman running the kitchen of the Queen's Blessing who briefly recognizes Mat as a servant of a young prince in the past and directs him to Master Gill in the library before scolding an undercook.
  • Gareth Bryne / Bryne — Mentioned by Thom and Gill as having been retired to his estate to watch his sheep grow wool because he disliked the Queen's new advisor.
  • Morgase / Queen Morgase (the Queen) — Referenced by Gill and Thom as the current ruler of Andor, who is enraged by Elayne's disappearance and has been influenced by her new advisor to turn against the White Tower.
  • Elayne (Daughter-Heir) — Mentioned as having disappeared from Tar Valon and sent the letter that Mat carries, with Mat noting she likely intends to take the shawl rather than return to Caemlyn.
  • Gareth Bryne — Referenced as having been replaced by the new advisor.
  • Gareth Bryne — Retired by the Queen due to his dislike of her new advisor.