A Memory of Light

You speak of hating the collar, but if you were to wear it and see, you would find it a more peaceful life. We do not torture our damane . We care for them, and allow them to live lives of privilege.”
    “You don’t know, do you?” Egwene asked.
    “I am the Empress,” Fortuona said. “My domination extends across seas, and the realms of my protection encompass all that humankind knows and thinks. If there are things I do not know, they are known by those in my Empire, for I am the Empire.”
    “Delightful,” Egwene said. “And does your Empire realize that I wore one of your collars? That I was once trained by your suldam ?”
    Fortuona stiffened, then rewarded Egwene with a look of shock, although she covered it immediately.
    “I was in Falme,” Egwene said. “A damane , trained by Renna. Yes, I wore your collar, woman. I found no peace there. I found pain, humiliation, and terror.”
    “Why did I not know of this?” Fortuona asked loudly, turning. “Why did you not tell me?”
    Egwene glanced at the collected Seanchan nobility. Fortuona seemed to be addressing one man in particular, a man in rich black and golden clothing, trimmed with white lace. He had an eyepatch over one eye, black to match, and the fingernails on both hands were lacquered to a dark—
    “Mat?” Egwene sputtered.
    He gave a kind of half-wave, looking embarrassed.
    Oh, Light, she thought. What has he thrown himself into? She galloped through plans in her mind. Mat was imitating a Seanchan nobleman. They must not know who he really was. Could she trade something to save him? “Approach,” Fortuona said.
    “This man is not—” Egwene began, but Fortuona spoke over her. “Knotai,” she said, “did you know that this woman was an escaped damane? You knew her as a child, I believe.”
    “You know who he is?” Egwene asked.
    Of course I do,” Fortuona said. “He is named Knotai, but once was called Matrim Cauthon. Do not think he will serve you, marath’damane , though you did grow up together. He is the Prince of the Ravens now, a position he earned by his marriage to me. He serves the Seanchan, the Crystal Throne, and the Empress.”
    “May she live forever,” Mat noted. “Hello, Egwene. Glad to hear you escaped those Sharans. How’s the White Tower? Still . . . white, I guess?” Egwene looked from Mat to the Seanchan Empress, then back at him again. Finally, unable to do anything else, she burst out laughing. “You married Matrim Cauthon?”
    “The omens predicted it,” Fortuona said.
    “You let yourself draw too close to a ta’veren ,” Egwene said, “and so the Pattern bound you to him!”
    “Foolish superstitions,” Fortuona said.
    Egwene glanced at Mat.
    “Being ta’veren never did get me much,” Mat said sourly. “I suppose I should be grateful the Pattern didn’t haul me by my boots over to Shayol Ghul. Small blessing, that.”
    “You didn’t answer my question, Knotai,” Fortuona said. “Did you know this woman was an escaped damane ? If so, why didn’t you speak of it to me?
    I didn’t think too much about it,” Mat said. “She wasn’t one for very long, Tuon.”
    “We will speak of this on another occasion,” Fortuona said softly. “It will not be pleasant.” She turned back to Egwene. “To converse with a former damane is not the same as speaking to one recently captured, or one who has always been free. News of this event will spread. You have caused me . . . inconvenience.”
    Egwene regarded the woman, baffled. Light! These people were completely insane. “What was your purpose insisting upon this meeting? The Dragon Reborn says you will help our fight. Help us, then.”
    “I needed to meet you,” Fortuona said. “You are my opposite. I have agreed to join this peace the Dragon offered, but there are conditions.”
    Oh, Light, Rand, Egwene thought. What did you promise them? She braced herself.
    “Along with agreeing to fight,” Fortuona said, “I will acknowledge the sovereign borders of nations as they are currently mapped. We will force the obedience of no marath’damane save those who violate our borders.”
    “And those borders are?” Egwene asked.
    “As currently outlined, as I—”
    “Be more specific,” Egwene said. “Tell me with your own voice, woman. What borders?”
    Fortuona drew her lips to a line. Obviously, she was not accustomed to being interrupted. “We control Altara, Amadicia, Tarabon, and Almoth Plain.”
    “Tremalking,” Egwene