Matrim Cauthon
Chapter 1 - An Empty Road
Mat / Mat Cauthon / Matrim
Rand's friend who crouches beside the cart to whisper about a terrifying stranger on a black horse that he also encountered. He joins Rand in helping unload the cider at the inn, relieved by the news of the gleeman but still unsettled by the memory of the rider.
Chapter 2 - Strangers
Mat / Matrim Cauthon / Mat Cauthon
Mat accompanies Rand to the inn, evades the blacksmith's notice regarding a prank, and listens to Ewin's description of the strangers. He meets Moiraine, bows awkwardly, accepts her coin, and expresses skepticism about her identity as a Warder's companion.
Chapter 3 - The Peddler
Mat / Matrim Cauthon — aliases: Matrim
Mat eagerly listens to Fain's news and excitedly discusses the possibility of seeing the False Dragon with Rand and Perrin. He attempts to taunt Old Bil Congar about the Dark One, gets scolded by Nynaeve, and later confirms to Egwene that he and the others saw the black-cloaked rider.
Chapter 4 - The Gleeman
Mat / Matrim
Mat laughs at Egwene's request for stories and then shouts for the gleeman to eat fire. He eagerly asks Thom about the war and later discusses volunteering for the watch with Perrin, showing enthusiasm for the prospect of seeing soldiers or Tinkers.
Chapter 9 - Tellings of the Wheel
Mat / Mat Cauthon
Mat waits anxiously in the hallway with his bow and quiver before following Lan downstairs. He rushes ahead with Lan, leaving Rand to catch up, and the group hurries out of the inn into the stableyard.
Chapter 10 - Leavetaking
Mat
Mat jokes about Rand's sword and Perrin's axe, trying to mask his nervousness about leaving the Two Rivers. He questions Moiraine's knowledge of the Trollocs and later rides alongside the others as they depart.
Chapter 11 - The Road to Taren Ferry
Mat
Mat rides alongside Thom Merrilin and expresses his desire for food before the Draghkar attack throws the party into chaos. He mounts quickly after the creature departs, rides in the clustered group through the fog, and snickers at Master Hightower’s appearance in Taren Ferry, prompting Rand to signal him to be quiet.
Chapter 12 - Across the Taren
Mat
Mat grumbles about the cold and damp while walking through the fog and complains about the ferry incident to Moiraine after they reach the far bank. He listens to the explanation of the Power with apprehension.
Chapter 13 - Choices
Mat
Mat marvels at the size of Baerlon, leaning forward on his horse to stare at the city walls and rooftops. He practices juggling stones and is later shocked to learn of the Children of the Light from the gatekeeper. He remains silent and pale when Moiraine threatens to kill him if he disobeys her.
Chapter 14 - The Stag and Lion
Mat
Mat enjoys the inn's baths and eagerly tries to talk about Trollocs, only to be sharply silenced and threatened by Lan al’Tear, who enforces strict secrecy regarding their pursuers.
Chapter 15 - Strangers and Friends
Mat
Mat admits to Rand that he also had the nightmare, then pranks passing Whitecloaks by smashing a cart stake with his sling, leading to a tense standoff with Lord Bornhald before joining Thom to report the dream details.
Chapter 17 - Watchers and Hunters
Mat
Mat watches the dancing, then complains about the scar-faced man staring at them. He follows the group out of the inn and is terrified when the inn burns, wondering if they will ever be safe again.
Chapter 18 - The Caemlyn Road
Mat
Mat rides with the group, is unhorsed during the battle but quickly remounts, and shouts a warcry that he cannot remember later. He observes the ruins of the city and is identified by Moiraine as having the blood of Manetheren.
Chapter 19 - Shadow’s Waiting
Mat
Mat is initially glum over his ancestral memories but becomes enthusiastic about the ruins, leading the group into the treasure room. He searches the gold, drops a goblet in fear when Mordeth attacks, and desperately protests leaving the treasure before being dragged away by Rand and Perrin.
Chapter 24 - Flight Down the Arinelle
Mat
Mat broods on the deck, hiding a gold dagger taken from Shadar Logoth in his coat. He secretly admits to Rand that he is having nightmares like those in Baerlon and insists they keep the dagger a secret from everyone, including Thom and Domon.
Chapter 26 - Whitebridge
Mat
Mat accompanies Rand and Thom to Whitebridge, displaying high anxiety and paranoia about being hunted. He draws the gold dagger from Shadar Logoth when threatened by the Fade. After Thom’s sacrifice, Mat is frantic and grief-stricken, urging Rand to keep moving away from the city before collapsing to his knees in the dust beside Rand on the road.
Chapter 31 - Play for Your Supper
Mat
Mat accompanies Rand, displaying increasing paranoia toward locals and a strong desire to keep the dagger from Shadar Logoth. He performs juggling tricks to entertain the Grinwell children, helping to secure the group's hospitality.
Chapter 32 - Four Kings in Shadow
Mat
Mat accompanies Rand to the inns, juggles for the crowd, and helps block the storeroom door. He is terrified by Gode's presence and the battering ram, and is partially blinded by the lightning strike before escaping with Rand.
Chapter 33 - The Dark Waits
Mat
Mat accompanies Rand, his eyes still partially blinded by the dagger's curse. He maintains suspicion of locals, thwarts the woman's assassination attempt in the stable using the gold dagger from Shadar Logoth, and helps the ailing Rand escape and find further passage.
Chapter 34 - The Last Village
Mat
Mat complains of exhaustion and hunger as he and Rand travel to the village. He is wary of the innkeeper and the Fade but agrees to Bunt's offer of passage after Rand argues it is safer than waiting. He remains suspicious and watchful in the cart. Rand has a nightmare, and Bunt is startled by his screams.
Chapter 35 - Caemlyn
Mat
Mat suffers from the sensory overload of the city and fears for their safety, nearly succumbing to despair before Rand rallies him. He accompanies Rand to the inn, where he stands wary beside Master Gill and reacts with cynicism to Gill's warnings about the political climate regarding Aes Sedai.
Chapter 36 - Web of the Pattern
Mat
Mat eats silently and broods in the inn room, expressing despair over the loss of his friends and the futility of their journey. He remains sullen and suspicious, noting that anyone could be a Darkfriend, before retreating to bed to hide his face to the wall from Rand.
Chapter 39 - Weaving of the Web
Mat
Mat remains curled up in his bed at The Queen’s Blessing, refusing to leave with Rand despite Rand's attempts to persuade him to go see the procession.
Chapter 41 - Old Friends and New Threats
Mat / Mat Cauthon
Lies curled on the bed, sweating and delirious, accusing his friends of being imposters. He attacks Moiraine with a ruby-hilted dagger while Lan holds his wrist, snarling at the Aes Sedai as the dagger's tainted nature is identified and its location from Shadar Logoth is confirmed by Rand.
Chapter 42 - Remembrance of Dreams
Mat
Mat enters the library, appearing recovered from his madness but with hazy memories of the journey from Whitebridge. He resumes his bantering demeanor, though he instinctively checks his coat to ensure the dagger is still concealed. He listens to Moiraine's explanation of the taint and recalls that Ba’alzamon mentioned the Amyrlin Seat, naming Davian; Perrin then adds the name Raolin Darksbane.
Chapter 43 - Decisions and Apparitions
Mat
Mat expresses fear about going to the Blight and joins the decision to proceed. He suffers a synchronized nightmare with Rand in which Ba'alzamon identifies him, leaving him shaken and clutching his cursed dagger. He confirms the shared nature of the dream to Rand before they are summoned by Moiraine.
Chapter 44 - The Dark Along the Ways
Mat
Mat stays close to Rand, expressing nervousness about the dark cellar and the strange environment of the Ways. He expresses incredulity at the thought of the gate being under a building, marvels at the endless darkness, and eventually catches up to the group after his horse leaps through.
Chapter 45 - What Follows in Shadow
Mat
Mat shoots an arrow into the dark, mocks Rand about Else, and expresses fear of the Black Wind. He watches as Lan topples the stone wedge aside and feels the vileness of the Machin Shin.
Chapter 46 - Fal Dara
Mat
Mat travels with the group, shivering in the cold and grumbling about the lack of warmth in Shienar. He makes a joke about the city walls and later helps identify the stranger as Padan Fain, clutching the cursed dagger from Shadar Logoth in fear when Fain claims to be hunted by the Dark One.
Chapter 47 - More Tales of the Wheel
Mat
Mat slouches in his chair with a nervous grin, unconsciously touching the Shadar Logoth dagger. He crashes his chair, complains impatiently about the delay, and curses softly while listening to Moiraine's grim account of Fain.
Chapter 48 - The Blight
Mat / Matrim Cauthon
Mat complains about the heat and the delay, openly displaying his cursed dagger while wiping sweat from his face. He suffers from nausea due to the Blight's stench, vomiting repeatedly, and is initially eager to camp by the lake until he sees the monster, at which point he falls silent.
Chapter 49 - The Dark One Stirs
Mat
Mat demands to know what they are waiting for and rides with a bow and arrow, shooting a creature that leaps at them. He shouts ancient words while firing arrows at attacking shapes and later expresses incredulity about the Worms chasing them before galloping into the sanctuary.
Chapter 50 - Meetings at the Eye
Mat
Mat expresses skepticism about the water in the Eye and kicks a stone into the pool. He attempts to charge the Forsaken with his dagger but is thrown back by an invisible barrier.