Chapter 42: Remembrance of Dreams

Mat comes downstairs healed and lucid, with no clear memory of anything past Whitebridge. Moiraine tells Rand privately that she cannot take the dagger from him; only Tar Valon can break that binding now.

Loial recounts a dying man who reached Stedding Shangtai during the Aiel War, claiming the Dark One meant to blind the Eye of the World. Perrin and Egwene add that Tuatha'an heard the same from dying Aiel only three years ago.

Pressed, Rand, Mat, and Perrin finally admit their shared dreams of Ba'alzamon. Moiraine confirms all three are ta'veren and warns that yielding even once gives the Dark One a hold he can use.

They cannot stay in Caemlyn, and any road out leads through Trollocs. With three independent warnings pointing the same way, Moiraine declares they will take the Ways to reach the Eye of the World. Loial answers flatly that to enter the Ways is to die, or be swallowed by the Shadow.