“You are as eloquent as ever, Mat," Egwene said dryly. "Do you still have your pet fox?""I do," Mat said. "He's snuggled up nice and warm.”

“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.”

“Burn me," Mat said, throwing on the shirt he dug out of the bundle. "I'll give you a hundred Tar Valon marks if you do it, just so I can tell the story.”

“I have lived for four centures," he said. "Perhaps I am still a youth, in that all of us are, compared to the timeless age of the Wheel itself. That said, I am one of the oldest people in existence."Moiraine smiled. "Very nice. Does that work on the others?"He hesitated. Then, oddly, he found himself grinning. "It worked pretty well on Cadsuane."Moiraine sniffed. "That one...Well, knowing her, I doubt you fooled her as well as you assume. You may have the memories of a man four centuries old, Rand al'Thor, but that does not make you ancient. Otherwise, Matrim Cauthon would be the patriarch of us all.""Mat? Why Mat?""It is nothing," Moiraine said. "Something I am not supposed to know. You are still a die-eyed sheepherder at heart.”

“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?”

“Women," Mat declared as he rode Pips down the dusty, little-used road, "are like mules." He frowned. "Wait. No. Goats. Women are like goats. Except every flaming one thinks she's a horse instead, and a prize racing mare to boot. Do you understand me, Talmanes?""Pure poetry, Mat," Talmanes said, tamping the tabac down into his pipe.”

“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.”