Chapter 57 - A Rabbit for Supper

Summary

Matrim Cauthon, Thom Merrilin, and a rescued Moiraine Damodred emerge from the Tower of Ghenjei after Mat cuts a gateway through its wall with his ashandarei. Outside, Mat celebrates his survival while Thom reveals that Noal was actually the legendary hero Jain Farstrider, who sacrificed himself to ensure their escape. The trio rests in a wooded hollow where Moiraine explains that the Eelfinn and Aelfinn drained her channeling ability while feeding on her emotions, but she successfully negotiated for an angreal as one of her demands to mitigate the loss. She proposes marriage to Thom, who accepts and agrees to serve as her Warder, leaving Mat stunned by their sudden union. After making a cairn for Noal, Mat waits by the riverbank, worries about his missing eye and future with Tuon, and discovers a dropped cooking pot while effortlessly spearing a rabbit with a thrown knife, confirming that his luck remains intact despite his injuries.

Characters

• Matrim Cauthon / Mat — Escapes the tower via a self-cut gateway, celebrates survival, and learns Noal was actually Jain Farstrider. He worries about his missing eye and Tuon's reaction but finds a dropped pot and spears a rabbit with a thrown knife, confirming his luck remains intact.
• Thom Merrilin — Reveals that Noal was the legendary hero Jain Farstrider and helps Moiraine start a fire. He accepts her marriage proposal and agrees to serve as her Warder, demonstrating he knew of Noal's true identity all along.
• Moiraine Damodred — Explains that the Eelfinn drained her channeling ability while feeding on her emotions, but she successfully negotiated for an angreal as one of her demands to compensate. She proposes marriage to Thom and accepts him as her Warder before resolving to find Rand.
• Noal / Jain Farstrider — Revealed to be the legendary hero Jain Farstrider, who sacrificed himself holding off Aelfinn to ensure Mat and Thom's escape. Mat builds a cairn in his honor by the riverbank.
• Rand / Rand al'Thor — Discussed as having cleaned the taint from saidin and preparing for a meeting with monarchs at Merrilor, prompting Moiraine to resolve to find him immediately.
• Elayne — Mentioned as the new Queen of Andor who will assist Moiraine in dealing with Rand's situation.
• Tuon — Mat worries about how she will react to his missing eye and contemplates whether she might learn to channel, which would make her a marath'damane.
• Eelfinn — Described as creatures that delight in feeding on powerful emotions, particularly those of ta'veren and Aes Sedai, having drained Moiraine's power while she was captive.
• Aelfinn — Pursued the group through the tower alongside the Eelfinn, only to be repelled by the light cut from the wall by Mat's ashandarei during their escape.
• Lanfear — Mentioned by Moiraine as someone the Eelfinn claimed to have killed by draining her power too quickly, though she suspects this was a threat rather than fact.