Chapter 19 - Talk of Dragons
Summary
Mat shaves his beard and dons a sturdy brown coat before riding to Caemlyn with Thom Merrilin and Talmanes, where Guybon escorts the procession while recounting exaggerated rumors about past exploits. Inside the palace, Elayne greets Thom warmly and reveals an expectation of twins while listening to Mat's proposal for Aludra's cannon designs. After a tense negotiation involving a fox-head medallion as leverage, Elayne agrees to fund the weapons in exchange for three-quarters of the output and secures independent mercenary status for the Band. She also offers Thom Merrilin the position of court-bard alongside a royal pardon, concluding the meeting with plans for dinner.
Characters
- Mat / Matrim Cauthon — Shaving his beard and donning a sturdy coat before riding to Caemlyn, negotiates with Elayne for funding Aludra's cannon designs. Leverages a fox-head medallion to secure independent mercenary status for the Band in exchange for three-quarters of the weapons, ultimately agreeing to a long-term contract while refusing noble titles.
- Olver — Approaches Mat to discuss plans against the 'snakes and foxes,' revealing he has already shared their intentions with Thom and Talmanes while adopting military swearing habits from the camp soldiers.
- Setalle — Remains at the camp periphery to guard Olver before departing for the city alongside other former sul'dam.
- Lussin — Serves as a Redarm tasked with guarding Setalle and Olver at the camp outskirts.
- Edder — Serves as a Redarm tasked with guarding Setalle and Olver at the camp outskirts.
- Thom / Thom Merrilin — Arrives dressed as a royal courtier and accompanies Mat to Caemlyn, where Elayne formally offers the position of court-bard alongside a full pardon for past offenses in Andor and Cairhien.
- Talmanes — Accompanies Mat to the palace in fine attire, maintaining a solemn demeanor while observing interactions with Elayne and Thom.
- Elayne / Elayne al'Vere (Queen of Andor, Her Majesty) — Receives Mat and Thom at the palace, revealing an expectation of twins while negotiating a lucrative contract for Aludra's cannon designs. Secures independent mercenary status for the Band in exchange for three-quarters of the weapons and offers Thom Merrilin the position of court-bard alongside a royal pardon.
- Birgitte — Greets Mat warmly at the palace, inquires about Olver's safety, and observes the negotiation between Mat and Elayne regarding the fox-head medallion.
- Charlz Guybon / Guybon — Escorts Mat through Caemlyn while recounting local rumors about past exploits before delivering him to Elayne's sitting room.
- Tuon — A Seanchan High Blood whose cultural customs regarding nobility prompt internal reflections on status and future negotiations.
- Verin — A former Aes Sedai whose rumored whereabouts briefly prompt consideration of a gateway to the Tower of Ghenjei before being dismissed.
- Aludra — A bellfounder whose technical specifications for massive iron-launching cannons are presented as a viable method to counter Trolloc armies.
- Dyelin — A political advisor whom Elayne plans to bring to dinner, noted for her curiosity regarding the mercenary commander.