The Origins of Mats Band Of The Red Hand
5 videos • 2,082 views • by Wheel Of Time Audio Clips The origins of the band are largely accidental. During the Shaido siege of Cairhien and the battle to drive them off, Mat tries to leave Rand, but Aiel are blocking each way he tries. While looking for a way through, he comes across a band of Tairens and Cairhienin, thinking that once they have passed, he will have a clear way out. From his position and using a looking glass, he is able to see an ambush the Shaido have prepared. Although he originally thinks to himself that he will ignore it, he finds that he can’t do it, and goes to warn them. The lead group are Tairens, led by Melanril, who has been given the command by Rand. Mat learns here that they are not even where they have been ordered to be and instead are seeking glory. After learning Weiramon is not present, Mat tells them that the Aiel are waiting to ambush them, which, with the exception of Estean, who Mat feels has been in a real fight, pleases the lordlings. Their eagerness bothers him and he considers letting them go ahead, but worries that the Aiel might try and finish off the rest and that he might get caught up in it. Instead, he plans his first real battle, telling the lordlings to go ahead and then form a square of pikemen and get inside. He gives Daerid, the leader of the pikemen, his instructions. Finally, he seeks out the mounted Cairhienin, led by Talmanes, who says he will follow Mat's plan, as long as Mat leads half the men. Riding off, he can't quite believe what he has gotten into. The two groups go to opposite sides of the hill, looking down on the Tairens and pikemen, and charge, pinning the Aiel. The first encounter turns into a rout and though he continually looks for a way of avoiding trouble, several times more he is forced into action. One of the battles is a draw, another a victory after other Aiel run into the back of the Shaido. They suffer losses, though these are small and Mat manages to keep the number of survivors to around three thousand. Whilst trying to find a way clear, Talmanes, Nalesean, Estean, and Daerid come to tell him a large band of Shaido, around five thousand with Couladin as one of their number, is heading towards them. For this battle, Mat decides to try and trick them by pretending to run and turn round when they have nowhere to run to. To keep them focused and prevent them from trying better tactics, he instructs the group to shout “protect the Lord Dragon”, with the intent of holding them until the mounted units arrive. During this skirmish, Mat kills Couladin. Following the battle, when Cairhien is safe, they celebrate together, though Mat does not. The men are singing verses of “Jak o' the Shadows.” Mat wishes he had never taught them the song. By this time, the men are loyal to him, Talmanes and Daerid almost coming to blows over who should give him an honor guard. When Talmanes and Nalesean come to tell him he should have a place in Rand’s procession into Cairhien, they are shocked that he is not interested. “'You are our battle leader' Nalesean protested, 'our general.'” At this, Nalesean and Talmanes start competing over who will dress and attend Mat. Following the battle for Cairhien, Mat retains the men and remains as their leader, giving them the name "The Band of the Red Hand", after Shen an Calhar, an elite unit from Manetheren. They have increased their size, the foot doubling and the mounted units having to turn people away.