
In the Wheel of Time series, Olver is a young orphan boy who was unofficially adopted by Mat Cauthon. Olver plays a significant role in the series when he sounds the Horn of Valere during the Last Battle, saving himself and the armies of the Light. This act raises questions among readers, as Mat is supposed to be the designated wielder of the Horn. However, it is revealed that Mat's connection to the Horn was temporarily severed due to his death and resurrection, allowing Olver to blow the horn instead.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the horn | Horn of Valere |
| Person who gave the horn to Olver | Faile |
| What Olver did with the horn | He blew it |
| Effect of blowing the horn | It brought heroes to life who saved the day |
| Who was supposed to blow the horn | Mat |
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What You'll Learn

Olver blows the Horn of Valere
Olver is a young orphan boy who was unofficially adopted by Mat Cauthon after an Aiel assassination attempt on the latter's life. Olver idolises Mat, copying his mannerisms and habits, especially when it comes to dealing with women.
Olver comes into possession of the Horn of Valere when Faile gives it to him while she is trying to escape the Trollocs on the hill at Merrilor. Faile tells him to take the Horn to Mat or "all is lost". However, Olver becomes trapped in a small cleft in the rocks when the horse he is riding is shot out from under him. During the Last Battle, when the armies of the Light seem close to losing, Olver sounds the Horn, saving himself and the armies of the Light. Noal is resurrected during the sounding and saves Olver. After the victory of the Light at the Field of Merrilor, Olver flies on raken with Mat to Thakandar to sound the Horn there as well.
It is worth noting that Mat is supposed to be the designated wielder of the Horn. When Rand attacked Caemlyn, Mat was killed by Rahvin, breaking his connection to the Horn. He was brought back to life by Rand balefiring Rahvin, which means that his connection to the Horn was never truly severed. Despite this, Olver is still able to blow the Horn and save the day.
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Faile gives Olver the horn
Olver is an orphaned boy, unofficially adopted by Mat Cauthon, who idolises Mat and copies his mannerisms. Olver is described as being very ugly, with a squashed nose and big ears. He has a vast knowledge of snakes and foxes and is a skilled horse rider, winning Mat a substantial amount of gold in races.
The Horn of Valere is described as a curled golden horn with silver script inlaid around the mouth of the bell. When the Horn is sounded, the great heroes of the Pattern are summoned to battle and will serve the Trumpeter but always on the side of the Light. The Horn was found at the Eye of the World and was later stolen by Padan Fain. It was then retrieved by Rand, Perrin, Mat, Ingtar, and Hurin.
Olver's sounding of the Horn is considered a significant moment, as he was not the designated wielder of the Horn, which was supposed to be Mat. This moment is made even more poignant by the fact that Olver is a scared child who ends up saving the world.
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Olver saves himself and the armies of the Light
Olver, an orphan boy with a squashed nose, big ears, and a wide mouth, was unofficially adopted by Mat Cauthon after an Aiel assassination attempt on the latter's life. Olver idolises Mat, copying his mannerisms and habits, especially around women. During a competitive race in Ebou Dar, Olver rides his horse, Wind, and wins Mat a substantial amount of gold. However, he later goes missing, leading to Mat's injury and stranding of the Redarms during a Seanchan attack.
Olver receives the Horn of Valere from Faile, who is trying to escape the Trollocs on the hill at Merrilor. She tells him to take the Horn to Mat or all is lost. Olver rides away on Bela but becomes trapped in a small cleft in the rocks after Bela is shot. During the Last Battle, when the armies of the Light seem close to losing, Olver sounds the Horn, saving himself and the armies of the Light. Noal is resurrected during the sounding and saves Olver. After the victory, Olver flies with Mat to Thakandar to sound the Horn there as well, summoning heroes to fight the Darkhounds.
It is important to note that Mat is supposed to be the designated wielder of the Horn. However, when Rand balefired Rahvin in Caemlyn after Rahvin killed Mat, Mat's connection to the Horn was severed, allowing anyone, including Olver, to blow it. This act demonstrates Olver's significant role in the series, beyond just being a red herring.
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Olver's purpose was to sound the horn
Olver, an orphan adopted by Mat Cauthon, found himself in possession of the Horn during a critical moment in the story. The armies of the Light were on the brink of defeat, and Olver himself was trapped and in danger. By blowing the Horn, Olver not only saved himself but also turned the tide of the battle, ensuring victory for the armies of the Light.
The significance of Olver's action lies in the fact that he was not the designated wielder of the Horn. Mat Cauthon was supposed to be the one to blow it, and it is suggested that Olver should not have been able to use it. However, due to a break in Mat's connection to the Horn caused by his temporary death and resurrection, anyone could have blown it. This adds an unexpected twist to the story and highlights the importance of Olver's role.
Olver's sounding of the Horn serves a crucial narrative purpose, demonstrating the unpredictable nature of the Horn's power and the ability of seemingly insignificant characters like Olver to make a significant impact on the outcome of major events. It also reinforces the theme of heroism, as Olver's brave act saves the day and sets in motion a chain of heroic returns and interventions.
Overall, Olver's purpose in sounding the Horn of Valere is to showcase the power of the Horn, introduce unexpected twists, and emphasize the ability of ordinary individuals to rise to the occasion and become heroes themselves.
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Mat is the designated wielder of the horn (but his connection was severed)
In the Wheel of Time series, Mat is initially supposed to be the designated wielder of the Horn of Valere, also known as the Hornsounder. However, his connection to the Horn is severed at some point in the series, which allows Olver to become the new Hornsounder.
There are differing opinions on when exactly Mat's connection to the Horn was severed. Some sources claim that it happened when Mat was killed by Rahvin during Rand's attack on Caemlyn. As a result of his death, Mat's connection to the Horn was broken, and he was subsequently brought back to life when Rand balefired Rahvin. This interpretation suggests that anyone could have blown the Horn after Mat's resurrection.
However, another source argues that if Mat was "brought back to life," it means he never truly died, and therefore, his connection to the Horn would still be intact. They question the logic of this fantasy novel, suggesting that Mat's death and resurrection don't necessarily nullify his tie to the Horn.
Regardless of the interpretation, the breaking of Mat's connection to the Horn sets the stage for Olver to become the new Hornsounder. Olver is a character who was unofficially adopted by Mat Cauthon after an Aiel assassination attempt on Mat's life. He idolizes Mat and often imitates his mannerisms and habits. During the Last Battle, when the armies of the Light are close to losing, Olver sounds the Horn, saving himself and turning the tide of the battle.
While Olver becomes the new Hornsounder, it's worth noting that Mat still maintains a connection to the Horn in a broader sense. Mat is associated with the Horn through his memories and his role as a hero. Additionally, Mat's character evolves throughout the series, and he becomes more calculating and cynical, which contrasts with Olver's naive and pure soul. This evolution may also contribute to the narrative decision to have Olver sound the Horn instead of Mat.
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Frequently asked questions
Olver is a young orphan boy who was unofficially adopted by Mat Cauthon.
Faile gave Olver the Horn of Valere and told him to take it to Mat.
Faile was trying to escape the Trollocs on the hill at Merrilor and told Olver to take the Horn to Mat or all would be lost.
During the Last Battle, when the armies of the Light seemed close to losing, Olver blew the Horn of Valere.
Mat was the designated wielder of the Horn of Valere, but when Rand attacked Caemlyn, Mat was killed by Rahvin, breaking his connection to the Horn.











































