And the wind in our hair, and the wind in their manes, we ride, we ride.

And the wind in their cottages, and the wind in their field, burn, burn.

And the wind in their land, and the wind in their treasure, to us, to us.

Khatite song, Redtail Tribe, Ebor Plains

Mat frowned, he watched Zarune walk away with concern, from the end of the corridor she had given him a look that Mat didn't understand, and before he could reach her to ask her the question she had turned to leave.

Mat shrugged, he had planned to visit the city of Tuanon today, so he quickly forgot about this encounter, he put his hand on his sword to reposition it and then walked with a determined step.

There was just one problem, Mat was lost. This palace was a real labyrinth and lost in his thoughts as he was after that encounter he did not recognize this part of the palace. He didn't even think of asking one of the palace servants, not only because he couldn't find one, but because he didn't want to admit to them that he couldn't find his way out.

It didn't matter, he would find a way out eventually. Mat wandered around the palace for half an hour before admitting to himself that maybe, just maybe, he was being a little too stubborn, so when he arrived at a door that two guards wouldn't let him in, he took it upon himself to ask them which way to go out of the palace. After exchanging a puzzled look, and releasing the tension they had between their shoulders when they understood that he was not going to force his way into the room they were guarding, whatever it was, they gave him the direction.

Mat thanked them with what he hoped was a dignified nod before turning away with a slight feeling of discomfort on his face.

Finally, he reached the top of the stairs at the palace gate, Mat felt a sense of relief as he looked out over the city at his feet, from the top of the stairs to the palace gates he had an unobstructed view over much of Tuanon. The palace is on a hill with its back to the river he had a view of the city as far as the eastern gate, where they had arrived the day before. The city walls were high enough that he could only see the huge treetops that were everywhere in this country. These same trees were present in the city at certain intervals, spaced far enough apart to allow some access to the sunlight more than he had been used to since he had arrived here.

Deciding to leave for the city, he needed a new knife, he also considered buying a better blade, the one he currently, Mat had it found in Irvanon's palace, abandoned in a corner of one of the Silver Shields' training rooms and he didn't know if that meant it was of lower quality or not. He needed to see if he could find one in this city that was of equal or better quality, and while he had no real knowledge of the different qualities of a weapon he was enough of a judge of character to be able to tell if someone was trying to rip him off. Though he didn't know if Zarune had given him enough money for what he had in mind. His current blade, though two-edged, was slightly curved at the tip, but not enough to pass for a sabre, having gotten used to it, Mat wanted to look for a similar sword.

As he walked briskly through the city, avoiding the stares of citizens who must never have seen a human in their lives, Mat was grateful for the level of literacy in this kingdom, and while he still didn't know how he could read a language, that was so obviously foreign to him, it had the advantage of making it easy to find a shop suited to his needs.

As he entered the shop he met the eyes of the guard at the door, who gave him a warning look that Mat decided to ignore. As he wandered into the shop, Mat looked at the various weapons on display.

Mat frowned, as he feared he was unable to assess their quality. Choosing a dagger that was free of most of the fancy decorations on display, Mat wondered if he shouldn't have found a vendor that was a little further away from the Palace and the noble quarter of the city.

- Can I help you, young human?

Mat turned around to find an Eldar who was struggling to hide the disgust he inspired. It was all in the slight wrinkle of his nose and the muscle barely stretched between his eyebrows.

- Don't you have anything less conspicuous than that? Mat said, pointing to the dagger in his hand.

The Eldar didn't even try to hide his disdain to Mat, grabbing the dagger before placing it affectionately back on its display.

- It is a blade forged in the forges of Iglacia, where the source of the Non rise. I assure you that the... decorations do not diminish the qualities of the blade. It's not as good as a Valar blade, but you won't see many daggers of this quality in the whole kingdom.

- Really? What is its price?

The Eldar appraised him carefully before giving him the price of the dagger.

Mat hid his shock, thinking of the purse full of gold coins Zarune had given him. It was a far cry from the amount the man in front of him had asked for. Turning to face the dagger, Mat looked at the weapon seller out of the corner of his eye, trying to gauge his honesty. Deciding that he was not trying to swindle him, Mat spoke again.

- I would like to have a sword appraised.

The man raised a thin blond eyebrow, before indicating that he should follow him. He came to a large counter where he pointed to the young Eldar who was there to go and advise another customer, before taking his place and saying with a broad movement of his arm.

- Please.

Mat hesitated once more, before unbuckling his blade and placing it on the counter. The Eldar kept an impassive face, before slightly drawing the blade. He quickly hid his expression but not before Mat saw the shock that had spread across his face.

- Where did you get that?" the Eldar said sharply.

Pulling himself together, he glared at the human.

- Yes, I forgot for a second who you were. Please excuse me.

Mat remained impassive, the man's apology had no veracity. The Eldar watched him for a few more seconds before speaking again.

- Didn't the imperial palace tell you what they were handing you when they prepared you?

Mat remained silent, merely gesturing to the blade. The Eldar thought he was going to get it back, and pulled the sword towards him slightly. A dangerous glint appeared in Mat's eyes. The Eldar recover before gently putting the sword down and sheathing it completely. He looked at Mat again, searching for something in him. He continued.

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- This is a Valar sword, it was forged where Rogosh the Blazing fell. Made from these remains, and the spilt blood of Ouros and Ferahl, there are no better weapons in the empire, and dare I say of all Sa, whatever the Dwarves think. Their blades are only for the imperial guard.

The Eldar caressed the sword with a rare emotion for an Eldar.

- The empire has given you a great gift by giving you one of these blades.

Mat gently took the sword back, under the charged gaze of the Eldar.

- Thank you for the assessment. How much do I owe you?

The Eldar merely looked at him before answering gently.

- Seeing a Valar blade was a price, no need to give more.

Mat thanked him again with a nod before turning and leaving the shop. He reattached the sword to his hip, sliding it into its scabbard. A certain unease in the pit of his shoulders, Mat wondered if such a valuable weapon had not been placed where he had found it. How much of what he thought he had done to Irvanon was of his own volition? Had he been manipulated all this time?

Deciding that there was nothing he could do about it at the moment Mat decided that he would eventually find the answers he was looking for. Mat was a deeply vindictive and resentful person, and he intended to let them know it.

He went in search of a less expensive gun shop. On the way, Mat took the opportunity to visit the city, for such an important city it was relatively quiet, at least compared to what he was used to at home. Even when he arrived in sectors that were commercial districts, everything was done in relative silence, no shouting, no ambulant merchants looking for customers, all commerce was done in calm. Citizens entered the shops that interested them and then left after making their purchase with a detachment that Mat found refreshing, although for someone as used to a city with the noise of cars and people in a hurry it was slightly disturbing.

Mat eventually found a rather dodgy shop where he could buy a cheap dagger. He asked the shopkeeper for directions to the harbour, Mat intended to look out for boats in circulation. Even if there was no hope that he could take a boat to escape discreetly, being a human in an Eldar country, it was always a good thing to have an idea of the different possible ways of getting around.

As he came to a part of Tuanon where the streets had turned into alleys, and where the clean, well-maintained streets had given way to streets... still clean and well-maintained, but where the sunlight had trouble getting through Mat stopped at a crossroads where three streets intersected.

By reflex he turned his head slightly to the side, a stroke passed at full speed leaving a bloody mark on his forehead. Mat ducked before dashing down the street he had just left. In front of him were three armed Eldar, two with swords and one with two daggers. Mat drew his sword, weaving for his muscles and... One of the men attacked him, not giving Mat time to finish his augmentation weave.

Mat gracelessly parried the downward blow, and advanced towards the Eldar, giving him a shoulder blow. The latter, not expecting him to advance, stumbled over his companion. The third who had tried to get around him found himself in the way of his two companions as Mat advanced towards the alley.

The alley was straight for several dozen meters and Mat turned to face his attackers, preferring not to give the archer who had attacked him the opportunity to shoot him when he reached the intersection, which would be soon.

Mat lunged at the man he had tripped in the throat, who hiccupped, dropping his weapon and putting his hand to the fatal gash in his neck. Mat took a step back avoiding the second Eldar's sword, taking the time to weave an increase he lunged sideways towards the Eldar with the daggers, the Eldar ducked letting Mat's sword pass over him and split to slice Mat's chest.

Mat pirouetted on himself avoiding one of the daggers but allowing the other to split part of his armour and on his side, adrenaline helping to make him forget the pain Mat pulled up to the wall at the intersection before slashing with force, decapitating the Eldar he had heard running into the street next door. Jumping over the corpse he realised how much trouble he was in. Wounded in the side, in front of him there were two other Eldar, three of them coming from the other street in addition to the two who remained behind him.

Mat wove his augmentation with more strength, risking injury to his body, and dashed against the Eldar with his bow, who with a notched arrow retreated behind his companion. Mat stood in front of him hoping that the other archer he had seen arrive would hesitate to shoot while he was in the line of sight of his companions. Mat slashed his sword downwards, hoping that the increase in strength would be enough to get through his opponent's guard. His opponent, not using a weave, decided to step to the side and slide Mat's blade to the side. Caught up in his momentum, Mat threw a powerful punch with his left hand into the man's face, breaking his nose and knocking him backwards. With the murderer's eyes, Mat caught himself before stabbing the wide-eyed archer behind him who had no time to draw his dagger.

Three, six to go. Mat took the newly purchased dagger in his left hand before throwing it at one of the Eldar behind him. He missed, the dagger clattered loudly against the wall, not even close to one of his attackers.

An arrow came at him, and Mat with a speed he didn't know, have managed to use his sword to deflect the projectile before it froze in him. Unfortunately, this gave the broken-nosed Eldar time to get up as the rest of his companions arrived. With no time to despair, Mat attacked to prevent them from surrounding him.

Fortunately for him, the alley was not big enough for them to pass him without taking the risk of being hit by Mat's sword. Unfortunately for Mat, even with the increase, the remaining Eldar, only having been surprised by Mat's quick reaction, did not give him time to take them by surprise again. They advanced three abreast towards him, two Eldar as reinforcements behind them, and the archer trying to get a view of him to shoot him.

Mat jumped over the corpse of the last Eldar he had killed to use it as an obstacle, looking for any kind of solution that would allow him to save himself.

Before he could make a decision he saw the Eldar in front of him widen their eyes, before he knew it arrows were falling from the buildings around him. Fortunately for him, it was not aimed at him. Taking advantage of the opportunity Mat lunged at his attackers, managing to wound one who had received an arrow in the back, before impaling a second and using it as a shield against the arrow that the last archer had sent him. The last archer did not have the chance to send a second arrow as he was hit in the eye and killed. Mat then realised that the archers who helped him were not trying to kill his attackers. With all his attackers wounded, dying or dead Mat kicked away the Eldar he had impaled and feeling movement in his back he turned.

His sword fell, Dereur avoided it but Mat tripped him with his leg. The Eldar fell to the ground, Mat's sword went for his head, with a screeching sound the blade echoed on the stone floor inches from Dereur's ear. Mat slowly bent down. All were silent, all were still. When he was close enough to Dereur to feel his breath, to see his eyes widen, he whispered to him.

- It was a great fight, I liked it.

He looked at him silently, a savage smile on his lips, the blood from the gash on his forehead fell gently onto Dereur's face. He whispered to him, almost tenderly.

- If you ever use me as bait again, I will rip your heart out, rip it out and give it to Zarune as a gift.

Slowly, he rose to his feet, silently looking at the rest of the Eldar hidden in the shadows, before sheathing his sword and leaving alone, without a sound.

After walking in silence for a while, when he was sure he was alone Mat rested his back against the wall, wincing a little at the wound in his side. With the adrenaline leaving him, Mat began to tremble. He gritted his teeth, refusing to let go of his augmentation weave. He had nothing to make with his wound, so he just put his hand on it. The blood dripping from the gash at his temple still fell down his face to his neck and Mat made his way back. Always alert to his surroundings, he did not let go for a second of his augmentation weave, hand still on a sword, ready to draw if he was attacked again. Once he reached one of the main streets of the city he ignored the looks he received from the inhabitants, he gave a nasty look to a group of guards who were running towards him. Mat turned away ignoring them, the guards hadn't caught up with him, one of the shadows that always followed Mat must have stopped them.

Finally, he reached the palace, still ignoring the guards at the gates he made his way to his flats. In the living room adjoining his room he ignored Mustapha who was asking him questions, as he got up from the armchair where he was playing a board game with two of Zarune's officers. Marie, who was reading next to him, dropped her book and it fell noisily to the floor, she raises her hands, in horror, to her face.

Mat entered his room slamming the door, as he took a deep breath Mat frowned before opening the door again, everyone was still frozen where Mat had left them.

Mat pointed angrily at the young redhead girl present.

- You. Get me some stitching thread and clean compresses.

Then he closed the door abruptly. Mat sat down on his bed to wait. Then he swore.

- Damn it. I forgot to get my dagger.