Thought we'd throw in another theory... Mat blew the Horn of Valere and is now inextricably linked to it. The Last Battle is coming.The Horn is linked to the ancient heroes. Okay, now the theory. Once Mat blew the horn he was tied to all the heroes. As the Last Battle is coming the Wheel has spun out all the heroes to be reborn. Mat's taveren threads, and his link to these heroes, will draw them together forming a... band? So, are the band's key members ancient heroes of lore? Talmanes perhaps?, (he does say, '...I have... felt... something for weeks now. Other in the band have, too.' P365 PoD, a physical drawing that is probably more than just taveren, as taveren twists the pattern around the person, not at a distance.) Birgitte is a close friend to Mat. Olver/Gaidal possibilities. And then, being as these ancient heroes are always instrumental in times of change, Mat, the greatest military mind(s) of the time, will be at the head of them, leading them into the Last Battle. What do you think???