Mat chapter time! He’s just sitting in his room munching away on TV dinners when Egwene, Nynaeve, and Elayne enter the room unannounced. Mat can’t decide if he should be unnerved or if he should pop a boner. The three of them smile at him like they want something. They compliment his improving condition like they want something. It’s because they all want something, and Mat is wise to their sly trickeries.

Nynaeve has a favor for Mat! Well, actually, it’s Elayne’s favor. She needs him to carry letter to Queen Morgase in Caemlyn. She then gives him a heart-melting smile that causes him to get momentarily squishy in the legs. Then he asks what’s in it for him. Elayne says the pride of doing work for the Daughter-Heir of Andor should be reward enough, and Mat snickers. Nynaeve lifts Mat by the scruff and tells him that he’ll be out of Tar Valon; that’s what’s in it for him.

Mat can’t, though. The Aes Sedai and the guards are keeping him in because he’ll die of starvation in two hours if he doesn’t stay in his room. Nynaeve channels through his head to check his condition, which is probably more than fine, and decides that Mat is fit enough to get the fudge out of there. Nynaeve produces one of their Do-What-The-Amyrlin-Says cards, to Mat’s surprise, and it shall surely get him out of the city tout suite.

They talk of Emond’s Field for a bit, getting misty-eyed and homesick. Then Mat thanks them all and plans his escape!

Mat’s going to survive by stealing loaves of bread and playing at dice, besides! That’s how you write like Robert Jordan, friends.