On the docks for less than three seconds and already Mat is like “there’s the ship, that’s the ship, I want that ship”. Mat and Thom speak to the Master of the Docks, who knows Mat’s face from all the Polaroids and tells him No Way, Jose. You ain’t boarding no ship. Thom is like “What does he mean, boy? What’s up with that, boy?” Mat shows the dock guy the letter from the Amyrlin Seat; the guy tells the captain of the ship to hold up, but the captain doesn’t wanna. So Mat and Thom bolt down the pier and leap onto the ship before it sails off.

The captain is not happy and orders the two to be thrown off the ship. Mat presents a gold coin and tells him that’s on official White Tower business. The captain says that, for another gold coin, they can sleep on the deck. Mat wants their own room plus food, and while the captain laughs, Mat rummages through a bunch of gold coins. Thom is bewildered, to say the least, and the captain wonders if Mat’s a high lord in disguise. No high lord here, sir! Just a rich kid, lol. In the end, Mat pays for the captain’s quarters, which Thom is upset about because that means he’ll have to share a bed with Mat (who smells).

The captain is named Mallia, and he thinks that Mat is on a mission for Morgase. Mat denies it, but Mallia is pretty fucking sure. Anyway, the High Lord Samon hates the Aes Sedai and thinks they’ll rule the world with soft, iron fists! Later, Thom says he ain’t heard of no High Lord Samon and he knows every single High Lord this side of the Mississippi.

Mat admits that he’s carrying a letter from Elayne, and Thom doesn’t believe him. They go to bed, but later Mat is awakened by what sounds like footsteps outside of their cabin. Mat grabs his stuff and stays by the door. Two men with knives enter the room, and Mat kills both of them with his quarterstaff. Hearing more footsteps above, he clamors to the top and kills another guy. A fourth guy gets killed by Thom’s thrown knife. Two more men on a boat tied to the ship jump off the side and swim away. Mallia arrives on the deck, and Thom insists that they just saved the ship from brigands! Filthy, naughty brigands! Mallia mutters, walking away, wondering why Andor is hiring assassins…

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Rand plays a flute in front of a campfire, wondering if he’s still losing it. Thinking about all his dreams, all these people showing up to try to kill him. Min, even, and that one really stung. Selene is in his dreams looking quite fetching, offering him the glory that he doesn’t want anyway. He also dreams of Egwene, Nynaeve, and Elayne being hurt and tortured, which is messed up. Scary stuff.

And Rand just keeps on playing that flute. Keeps on thinking. And no one listens. And no one cares. Least of all me. Bye.