Chapter 47 - To Race the Shadow

Summary

Mat Cauthon exits the Royal Palace with Tallanvor, who dismisses the hostile guard officer Elber after Mat delivers Elayne's letter to Queen Morgase. Inside the Queen's Blessing inn, Mat reveals to Thom Merrilin and Basel Gill that he overheard an assassin ordering the assassination of Elayne, Egwene, and Nynaeve; Gill confirms the assassin's identity. Gill suggests spreading the news via rumors to alert the Queen, while Thom reveals that his past passion for Morgase has faded and he refuses to warn her directly for fear of being executed, leading both men to agree to flee to Tear to protect the women from Gaebril's plot.

Characters

• Mat — Mat walks through the palace with Tallanvor, feigning ignorance to evade Gaebril's suspicion, and later rushes to the inn to report Gaebril's assassination plot to Thom and Gill before packing to flee to Tear.
• Tallanvor (Tallanvor) — Tallanvor escorts Mat out of the palace, publicly reprimands the officer Elber for blocking Mat's path, and questions Mat about the White Tower before departing after declaring his loyalty to Queen Morgase.
• Elber (fat officer) — Elber, the fat officer with the rat's eyes, glares at Mat and scuttles away in fear after Tallanvor reprimands him for trying to stop Mat from delivering the letter.
• Thom (gleeman) — Thom sits with Gill in the inn, listens to Mat's report of the plot, reveals that his romantic feelings for Morgase have faded over time, and agrees to leave for Tear to protect Egwene and the others.
• Basel / Basel Gill (innkeeper) — Basel Gill provides Mat with background information on Lord Gaebril's rise to power and listens to the news of the assassination plot. Thom Merrilin suggests using rumors to reach the Queen, and Gill agrees, mentioning his connection with the gossip Gilda to spread the word.