I've been reading ACOS again and it is a pretty good book. One of the
better ones that RJ wrote in the series.
I know that this has been discussed to death and reading some of the
old threads it appears that most people think that Mat was raped by
Tylin. Even though the actual actions might appear as rape to someone
witnessing the incident the whole build up to the act clearly
demonstrates Mat was playing hard to get. Sure Mat must have had a few
reservations about bedding Tylin given she was quite a bit older and
was also a Queen but if Mat seriously did not want to be "raped' then
it would not have happened. Mat is a seasoned fighter. He has beaten
Galad and Gawyn in combat, killed a Shaido assassin (while in the
throngs of passion) and also killed a Shaido Clan Chief. One middle
aged woman with a dagger, however sharp, would have lasted the best
part of 2 seconds against Mat had he wanted to put an end to her
advances. I thing the best interpretation for the use of a weapon in
that scene was as some aggressive foreplay! ;-)
