“I'm only an old gleeeman,' he said from the door. 'Who could I possibly be dangerous to?”

“The Light willing, we will see one another again," Rand said. He held out his hand to Perrin. "Watch out for Mat. I'm honestly not sure what he's going to do, but I have a feeling it will be highly dangerous for all involved.""Not like us," Perrin said, clasping Rand's forearm. "You and I, we're much better at keeping to the safe paths.”

“Yes, I'm alive," Mat said. "I'm usually pretty good at staying alive. I've only failed one time that I can remember, and it hardly counts.”

“He wanted to laugh. Only, the sound wouldn't come out. He couldn't summon even a wry humor, not anymore. Light! I can't keep this up. My eyes see as if in a fog, my hand is burned away, and the old wounds in my side rip open if I do anything more strenuous than breathe. I'm dry, like an overused well. I need to finish my work here and get to Shayol Ghul.Otherwise, there won't be anything left of me for the Dark One to kill.That wasn't a thought to cause laughter; it was one to cause despair. But Rand did not weep, for tears could not come from steel.For the moment, Lews Therin's cries seemed enough for both of them.”

“He doesn't know what to make of me," Mat said softly."How very uncommon. I can't think of anyone else who has reacted that way to you, Mat.”

“You ride to battle?" Karede asked."I was thinking more of a saunter," Mat said. He shook his head. "I need a feel for what Demandred is doing...I'm going out there, Karede, and putting you fellows between me and the Trollocs sounds delightful. Are you coming?”

“Men!" Min muttered at the door. "Too blind to see what a stone could see, and too stubborn to be trusted to think for themselves.”