Chapter 29 - Something Flickers

Summary

Mat prepares to fulfill his accidental marriage pledge by shopping for silk with Tuon in Jurador, though his internal dice warning spins wildly as townsfolk mysteriously vanish near them. Upon returning to camp, he discovers Egeanin stabbed by Renna and learns that sul’dam can channel, shocking Tuon. Mat immediately orders the traveling show packed up and leads a pursuit of the fleeing Renna, ultimately ordering her execution with a crossbow bolt and arrow, which finally silences his dice warning. Back at camp, Tuon secures a travel warrant for Luca’s show and pins Mat’s gift to her shoulder, leaving him bewildered by her enigmatic behavior.

Characters

• Domon / Bayle — Grumbles about Mat’s plan to marry Tuon, later cradles the stabbed Egeanin and reveals that Renna, Bethamin, and Seta were once leashed with an a’dam, shocking Tuon with the implication that sul’dam can channel.
• Mat — Navigates anxiety over his accidental marriage pledge while shopping for silk with Tuon, discovers Egeanin stabbed by Renna, orders the show packed up immediately, and personally leads a pursuit that ends with him ordering Renna’s execution, which finally silences his internal dice warning.
• Egeanin — Found unconscious under a wagon after being stabbed in the back by Renna; survives Teslyn’s healing and reveals her secret knowledge of sul’dam channeling to Domon before sagging against him resentfully.
• Tuon (High Lady (高贵夫人)) — Purchases silk in Jurador while her presence mysteriously causes nearby townsfolk to vanish, learns sul’dam can channel from Domon with fury, secures a travel warrant for Luca’s show, and pins Mat’s gift of silk rosebuds to her shoulder before teasing him about who is excluded from her protection.
• Selucia — Accompanies Tuon on the shopping trip, carries the heavy bundle of cloth, reacts with anger upon hearing sul’dam can channel, and stands silently at Tuon’s back in Luca’s wagon.
• Gorderan — Initially leans against a wagon wheel watching Tuon, later rides with Mat’s pursuit party wielding a heavy crossbow to shoot the fleeing Renna.
• Latelle — Warns Mat that sending her husband to the gallows will doom him too, sneers at Tuon carrying cloth, and offers pastries in Luca’s wagon while eyeing the High Lady warily.
• Valan Luca / Luca (Master Luca) — Initially panics over Mat’s plan to flee with Tuon, later beams as he receives a travel warrant from her for his show, and eagerly bows to the High Lady while worrying about his gold.
• Aludra — Spotted walking through Jurador’s streets with a salt merchant, her presence noted by Mat as he searches for Tuon among the crowd.
• Thorn — Passes by the group in Jurador yawning and clutching his cloak, having spent the night awake reading a letter from a dead woman.
• Edesina — Her hood falls back in the crowded street of Jurador, revealing her ageless face to Mat before she quickly covers it and glides away with two sul’dam following.
• Teslyn — Rushes to heal Egeanin under the wagon, notes Joline would be better suited for the task, collapses from exhaustion after the weave, and stares coldly at anyone who might comment on her work.
• Thera — Arrives with Teslyn, becomes terrified upon seeing Tuon and Selucia, latches onto Juilin’s arm, and trembles violently before being sheltered by him.
• Renna (sul'dam) — Stabs Egeanin in the back while disguised as a showwoman, steals a horse to flee toward Coramen, is hunted down by Mat’s party, and is killed by crossbow and arrow after attempting to escape bareback on a lathered mount.
• Harnan (Redarm) — Rides up with the other Band members, reports Renna’s flight toward Coramen, and fires an arrow that strikes her as she flees across a river.
• Metwyn (Redarm) — Arrives riding alongside Harnan with a dagger drawn, joining Mat’s pursuit of the fleeing Renna.
• Fergin — Leads Pips along the narrow path between tents as the Band mobilizes to chase Renna.
• Pips — A horse handler who mounts Mat for the pursuit, dancing impatiently before they gallop out of Jurador.
• Vanin — Tracks Renna’s route on foot, rides with Mat’s party to intercept her, and grimly assesses that catching her alive will be difficult due to her pace.