Mat and Thom arrive on the wharf just as a ship, the Gray Gull, is unfastening its mooring lines. Mat told Thom he intended to catch the first ship, and that is the ship. A dockmaster attempts to stop Mat due to Aes Sedai orders, but Mat has the letter from the Amyrlin given to him by Elayne. The ship is underway so they have to jump to land on the ship's deck. The ship's captain, Huan Mallia, calls on two of his crew to toss them back into the harbor. Mat uses gold and the letter to secure passage to Aringill. The captain says they can have his cabin and meals for five gold each believing no one would pay that and then is astounded when Mat calmly starts counting gold coins into his hand.