As they entered the lit room, everyone moved toward the bed.Mat was still lying down, exactly as Rand had left him. He lifted his head to look at them.
"Mat isn't exactly sick," said Rand. "It's... you'll see."
"How do you know they really are who they seem to be?" Mat asked, his voice hoarse. His face was pale, skin tight and drenched in sweat. "How do I know you're who you appear to be?"
"Not sick?" Nynaeve shot Rand a look of disdain as she passed him, already pulling her satchel off her shoulder.
She knelt beside the bed and placed a hand on Mat's forehead, pushing the cloth back. Mat recoiled from her touch, eyes gleaming and clouded.
"You're burning up," she said, "but you shouldn't be sweating with such a high fever..." Concern was evident in her voice. "Rand, you and Perrin, get some clean cloths and as much cold water as you can carry. I'll bring the fever down first, Mat, and—"
"Give it a rest, Nynaeve. The idiot's fine. It's just a side effect of the treatment. He'll be better soon," Rand snapped.
"How dare you? As far as I know, I'm the Wisdom here, not you. So do as I say!" she barked, her tone rising.
"Then ask someone else. Like I said, he's under treatment. This is just a side effect. The fever will pass. And bloody hell... now I remember why I didn't miss you. You're unbearable." Rand moved toward an armchair in the room.
"Rand al'Thor, I won't tolerate your disrespect! I've been far too lenient with you and—"
"Can we stop the arguing? There's a child present," Moiraine announced as she entered the room, with Lan right behind her.
Her eyes fell on Mat as she stepped through the door, and she hissed as if she'd touched a hot stove.
"Step away from him!" she ordered.
Nynaeve didn't move, except to turn toward Moiraine, startled. With two quick steps, the Aes Sedai grabbed the Wisdom by the shoulders and dragged her to the other side of the room as if she were a sack of grain. Nynaeve protested and struggled, but Moiraine didn't let go until she was far from the bed. Still grumbling, Nynaeve stood and straightened her clothes, furious—but Moiraine ignored her entirely. Her eyes were fixed on Mat like he was a venomous snake.
"All of you, stay away from him. And be quiet."
"Calm down, Moiraine. Before you act, let me explain what happened," said Rand, getting up.
He approached Mat and pointed to the dagger.
"That thing is the reason for his condition. As I understand it, it's a possession. The dagger is imbued with a corrupted soul and is now trying to take control of Mat's body."
"How did he get it?" Moiraine asked, her voice like steel. "I asked if Mordeth had given you anything. I warned you. You all said no."
"He didn't give anything," Rand replied. "Mat took the dagger from the treasure room."
Moiraine stared at him, her eyes burning nearly as intensely as Mat's.
"I only found out after we were separated. He told me, but I didn't know before."
"You didn't know..." Moiraine studied Mat, her eyes narrowing. "It's a wonder you made it this far carrying that thing. I felt the evil radiating from it the moment I saw him. The touch of Mashadar... A Fade could sense it from miles away."
"I doubt they tracked us here. This place has so much protection not even all your sisters together could break through. They've been trying to hide our movements, but I've seen signs of them for two days now. And I've heard farmers and villagers complaining about strange things at night," Rand said.
"But we're in Caemlyn!" Egwene exclaimed. "They can't reach us while—"
"Can't they?" Lan interrupted. "The Fades are growing their numbers around us. It's obvious, if you know what to look for. There are already more Trollocs than needed to just watch the city exits. At least a dozen fists. There can only be one reason: when the Fades have enough troops, they'll enter the city after you. Even if they don't find you immediately, many people will die before the army can intervene. You three have escaped them for too long. Seems like you've brought a new Trolloc War to Caemlyn, shepherd."
"Not yet..." said Moiraine, deep in thought. She was still focused on Mat. "If we can find a way out of Caemlyn, the Halfmen may lose interest.If. So many ifs..."
"For every place we go, we bring pain and suffering. It'd be better for everyone if we were dead," Perrin said suddenly.
"You turned into an idiot out there, is that it? Lost your mind?" snapped Rand. "If you want to die, go die alone. I still have a lot to do with my life, and a daughter to care for. Why do you think all the deaths in the world are our fault? Let me tell you something: people die every day!"
Nynaeve turned abruptly to him, her face a mix of fury, fear, and concern. But before she could speak, Moiraine stepped in front.
"What do you think you'll gain, for yourself or anyone else, by dying?" asked the Aes Sedai, her voice calm but firm. "If the Dark One has gained enough freedom to touch the Pattern, then he can reach you even more easily if you're dead. And dead, you can help no one—not the people who helped you, not your friends and family back in the Two Rivers. The Shadow is falling upon the world, and none of you will stop it if you're dead."
Perrin lifted his head to look at her, and Rand was startled. His friend's irises were more golden than brown. With his unkempt hair and that intense gaze, there was something... something different. Rand couldn't quite place it.
"Those eyes... they look like a wolf's. Maybe he's linked to them somehow, not yet awakened. If that's true, I'll need to talk to him soon." — Rand thought.
Moiraine now stood beside Mat. She stepped aside so that everyone could see him clearly. Looking at his arms, she noticed unfamiliar tattoos and markings. Then she turned to Rand.
"What is that on his body? It seems... it's suppressing the evil."
"Those are runes. When I discovered what was happening, I drew a set of runes to try and imprison it," Rand explained. "But they weren't strong enough. I had to ask the curse-breakers for help. They managed to temporarily seal the evil from the dagger so it wouldn't influence him. We couldn't remove it completely... it would require a vast amount of power. In this state, he can live normally, as long as he renews the seal every month. What you're seeing now is the result of the sealing ritual. He should be better soon."
"Is it contagious?" Nynaeve asked. "I can still treat him. Whatever it is, I never seem to get sick, no matter what."
"For Light's sake, woman! Did you hear what I just said?" Rand exploded. "Not even magic, not even the One Power could get rid of this. You think herbs are going to fix it? Are you insane?"
Nynaeve turned red, consumed by anger, shame, and frustration. She fell silent and sat down, jaw clenched.
Moiraine then pointed to the ruby-hilted dagger, careful not to touch it.
"This came from Shadar Logoth," she said gravely. "There isn't a single stone from that city that isn't tainted, that doesn't pose danger outside its walls. And this... this is far more than a mere stone. The evil that destroyed Shadar Logoth is contained in it—And now, in Mat as well."