Chapter 31 - The Woman of Tanchico

Summary

In the common room of The Woman of Tanchico, Mat Cauthon encounters Thom Merrilin, who is acting unusually drunk and sorrowful while reciting a tale to indifferent patrons. Mat sits with Thom, ordering multiple chickens and wine, and questions him about his presence in Tar Valon and his knowledge of Rand al'Thor's safety. Thom reveals that he fled Cairhien after killing a man and feels he deserves his current misery among the Aes Sedai, but when Mat invites him to flee to Caemlyn, Thom agrees. As Thom prepares to leave, the serving women Mada and Saal, who have been caring for him, give Mat a silver mark for persuading Thom to abandon his drinking. Outside, Mat finds Thom has regained his composure and sobriety, and the two hurry toward the docks to catch the first available ship.

Characters

• Mat — Mat enters the inn and sits at a table, ordering wine and three chickens while observing the distressed state of the gleeman Thom Merrilin. He questions Thom about his whereabouts and his knowledge of Rand's safety, then persuades Thom to flee Tar Valon for Caemlyn. After Thom leaves the room, Mat accepts a silver mark from the serving girl Saal and hurries out to join Thom, determined to catch the first ship out of the city.
• Thom / Thom Merrilin (gleeman, harper) — Thom performs a story on a tabletop before retreating to drink heavily, displaying uncharacteristic sorrow and physical weakness. He reveals to Mat that he killed a man in Cairhien and has come to Tar Valon to hide from the Red Ajah, specifically Elaida. Upon Mat's invitation, Thom gathers his belongings, says goodbye to the serving women, and agrees to flee to Caemlyn, appearing sober and alert once outside the inn.
• Mada — A pretty serving woman with big brown eyes, Mada is one of the two women who care for Thom Merrilin in the inn. She brings chicken to Mat and Thom, and later follows Thom out, kissing him goodbye before looking back at Mat with a warning expression.
• Saal — A pretty serving woman with big brown eyes, Saal is the younger of the two sisters who attend to Thom. She confronts Mat about bringing wine for Thom, encourages Thom to eat, and later presses a silver Tar Valon mark into Mat's hand for persuading Thom to stop drinking.