Mat and Thom arrive in Caemlyn. At the Queen’s Blessing, Mat decides to sneak into the palace to deliver Elayne’s letter.
Mat and Thom ride into Caemlyn. Having been ill the last time he was here, Mat remembers little of the city. Thom wants to head straight to the Queen’s Blessing to recover from the trip, but Mat insists on heading straight for the palace to deliver the letter. He tries to smooth-talk the man in charge, but when he mentions bearing a letter from Tar Valon, they chase him off with accusations of being a Darkfriend.
At the Queen’s Blessing, Thom and Master Gill are in the library. Mat tells them what happened at the palace. The older men suggest it might have something to do with Morgase’s new advisor, Gaebril. Jesus, what is it with Morgase and men whose names begin with G? Gareth, Gawyn, Galad, and now Gaebril? I’m not saying this is an intentional act of mental sabotage, but it sure feels like one.
Mat decides that if his boyish charm can’t get him into the palace, he’ll just sneak in. Gill tells him he’d need crazy luck to pull it off, but Mat grabs the dice cup and calls his bluff. The dice all fall showing a single pip — the best throw or the worst, depending on the game. Before he can talk himself out of it, Mat heads back to the Palace.