43 Decisions and Apparitions

Rand leads the subdued group to the library, where Loial surprises Nynaeve, Egwene, and Perrin. Rand worries over Mat until Moiraine arrives with Mat and Lan; Mat seems himself again. Moiraine confirms she cleansed much of the taint but cannot separate Mat from the Shadar Logoth dagger without killing him; only Tar Valon might undo the binding.

As they settle, Moiraine warns Caemlyn is unsafe, with the Dark One’s spies and Whitecloaks about. Rand reveals a recent encounter with Queen Morgase and Elaida, startling everyone. Conversation turns when Loial recounts a tale from Stedding Shangtai about the Dark One intending to blind the Eye of the World, which Egwene and Perrin corroborate with a similar Aiel account relayed by Tinkers.

Prompted by Perrin, Rand, Mat, and Perrin confess recurring dreams featuring Ba’alzamon, including statements that the Eye would never serve them and that they are to be used or destroyed. Moiraine chastises herself for not learning sooner, explains the danger of yielding in dreams, and identifies the three as ta’veren around whom the Pattern now swirls.

Weighing the converging warnings, Moiraine decides they must reach the Eye of the World quickly and cannot risk Tar Valon or the roads. She proposes using Caemlyn’s ancient Waygate to travel the Ways to Fal Dara (Mafal Dadaranell), asking Loial to guide them.

Loial admits he knows the Ways and the path but issues a stark warning: entering the Ways means death or being swallowed by Shadow. Despite the peril, Moiraine maintains the Pattern has forced their course.