Chapter 31 - The Woman of Tanchico

Summary

Mat Cauthon finds Thom Merrilin in a Tar Valon inn, where the gleeman is heavily intoxicated and reciting stories with unusual sorrow. After the serving girls Saal and Mada leave to care for Thom, Mat questions him about Rand al’Thor and Cairhien, learning that Thom is hiding from the Red Ajah and Elaida. Thom appears to regain his composure, leaves briefly to say goodbye, and returns fully sober, revealing that the 'footpads' Mat feared were merely illusions. Saal gives Mat a silver mark before they head out, and the two resolve to take the first ship available to reach Caemlyn, with Thom agreeing to join Mat's company.

Characters

• Mat (boy, young master) — Mat Cauthon locates Thom Merrilin in a Tar Valon inn, orders food and wine, and questions him about Rand al'Thor and Moiraine's whereabouts. After Thom briefly disappears and returns sober, Mat gives a silver mark to the serving girl Saal, and the two prepare to leave Tar Valon on the first available ship to Caemlyn.
• Thom / Thom Merrilin (gleeman, old gleeman) — Thom Merrilin recites a story while drunk, lamenting his past failures and his need to hide from Elaida. He appears to be in a stupor until he briefly leaves the table, after which he returns fully sober and ready to travel, agreeing to accompany Mat to Caemlyn.
• Saal (serving girl) — Saal is one of the two serving women in the inn who cares for the drunk Thom Merrilin. She leaves with her sister Mada after Thom agrees to eat, and later presses a silver Tar Valon mark into Mat's hand for helping Thom.
• Mada — Mada is the older of the two serving women who attends to Thom Merrilin. She brings him chicken and insists he stop drinking, leaving with Saal after Thom agrees to rest and eat.