Mat is in the basements of the Stone of Tear looking for the Twisted redstone doorframe. He promised Egwene he would not use it without asking Moiraine but with the caveat "unless my life depended on it". He now feels he is at that point because he wishes to get away from Rand before he goes mad, but Rand's ta'veren pull is so strong that he can't leave. Mat struggles even as they start to physically remove him from the room and asks "What fate? Burn your hearts, what fate?" They respond: