Chapter 15 - Into the Doorway

Summary

Mat Cauthon descends into the Stone of Tear to find the ter'angreal doorway, guided by rumors and a book, and steps through to a strange, curved hall inhabited by pale, snake-like beings who speak in the Old Tongue. The beings panic due to the presence of a second ta'veren and force Mat to ask a question, directing him to Rhuidean and delivering confusing prophecies about marriage, death, and saving the world before expelling him. Upon returning to the Great Hold, Mat is confronted by Rand al'Thor and Moiraine, who reveal that the beings feed on sensations and that their answers are true but obscure; Mat expresses his frustration with the prophetic nonsense and his concern for Perrin's fate regarding the Whitecloaks, while Moiraine cryptically explains why she cannot use the doorway herself.

Characters

• Mat / Matrim (the trickster, the gambler) — Mat searches the Stone of Tear for the ter'angreal doorway and steps through to a curved hall where he is intercepted by pale, snake-like beings who force him to ask about his fate. He is directed to Rhuidean and given conflicting prophecies about marriage and death before being physically carried back through the doorway. He then encounters Rand and Moiraine, revealing he received answers, while Moiraine departs after stating she has no answers for him. Mat then voices his frustration over the directives and concern for Emond's Field to Rand.
• Moiraine — Moiraine steps out of the ter'angreal, furious that both ta'veren have used it and risking the Pattern. She explains that the beings feed on sensations and that their answers are true only regarding one's own future, offering her services to help interpret them. She cryptically answers Mat's question about why she cannot use the doorway twice before departing.