— Mat to Perrin
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| Setting: Maule, Stone of Tear |
Summary[]
- Point of view: Matrim Cauthon
Mat is sitting with an untouched drink in a tavern in the Maule of Tear, thoughts heavy with the evening's events. During the Trolloc attack on the Stone, he killed a Gray Man that had tried to assassinate him. Then shortly after, a Myrddraal that called him "Hornsounder"[1] was about to kill him when a dozen Trollocs suddenly attacked and killed the Fade and left again.[2] He still wants to escape Tear, but feels pulled back to the Stone. He subconsciously draws a sketch of a doorway using a finger wet with wine.
He hears someone mention the Two Rivers and questions a merchant who explains Whitecloaks are in the Two Rivers, supposedly hunting the Dragon Reborn as well as a Darkfriend with yellow eyes. Leaving the merchant with an Andoran gold crown, Mat runs to Perrin's room to give him the news but Perrin has heard already and is packing to leave.[3] Perrin had told Rand, who had replied mysteriously, "He said he'd do it. He said he would. I should have believed him."[4] Rand told Perrin that he had to do "what they don't expect," meaning that he cannot return to the Two Rivers. Mat tries to say he will go with Perrin but he can't even get the words out. Rand's ta'veren effect is keeping Mat close, while Perrin does not have the same problem. Mat asks Perrin whether he feels any reasons to stay, and Perrin says he does - but he admits it is the ta'veren effect and that seems to allow him to overcome it. Mat refuses to admit it.
Mat asks why Perrin has to return since nobody in the Two Rivers will know anything about a man with golden eyes,[5] and Perrin says that the Whitecloaks know his name and thus will be able to find and threaten his family. They wish each other well and Mat asks Perrin to tell his parents that he is all right. Mat leaves, worrying about his family. He has trouble remembering his sisters' faces now, thanks to the holes in his memory.
Mat encounters Berelain heading in the other direction,[6] and is angered when she ignores his best bow and greeting. She scrutinizes him then walks by with a murmured, "too much like me." Mat inwardly compares her haughtiness to Elayne's and instead thinks of a plump cook's helper by name of Dara. He realizes he is falling back into his normal routine again, all thoughts of leaving gone. He flips a coin, a Tar Valon mark, and it lands with the Flame of Tar Valon showing. He realizes what he must do and declaims the Aes Sedai and Rand for his predicament.[7] This startles a passing servant and Mat gifts him the coin.
Characters[]
Referenced[]
- Rand
- Logain Ablar
- Mazrim Taim - as Maseem, the false Dragon in Saldaea
- Faile
- Abell Cauthon - as Mat's da
- Natti Cauthon - as Mat's mother
- Eldrin Cauthon
- Bodewhin Cauthon
- Elayne
- Artur Hawkwing
- Dara
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Notes
- ↑ Mat was the one who blew the Horn of Valere in The Great Hunt, Chapter 46.
- ↑ These are later revealed to have been sent by Semirhage against Sammael's attack. (Lord of Chaos, Chapter 6)
- ↑ Perrin was searching for rumors that would convince Faile to leave the Stone in The Shadow Rising, Chapter 9.
- ↑ Referring to Padan Fain's message in The Great Hunt, Chapter 33.
- ↑ Perrin developed his golden eyes as a result of using his wolfbrother powers after leaving the Two Rivers.
- ↑ Berelain is on her way to Perrin's room as shown in The Shadow Rising, Chapter 14.
- ↑ Mat acts on his decision in The Shadow Rising, Chapter 15.
- At least one edition has the wheel icon for this chapter.
