rj.eyeoftheworld-第46部分

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　to　get　you　all　to　Tar　Valon　alive；　and　I　will　do　it　if　it　can　be　done；　but　if　you　bring　any　harm　to　her　。。。　〃
　　　　　　　The　rest　of　their　bathing　was　done　in　silence；　and　dressing　afterwards；　too。When　they　left　the　bath　chamber；　Moiraine　was　standing　at　the　end　of　the　hall　with　a　slender　girl　not　much　taller　than　herself。　At　least；　Rand　thought　it　was　a　girl；　though　her　dark　hair　was　cut　short　and　she　wore　a　man's　shirt　and　trousers。　Moiraine　said　something；　and　the　girl　looked　at　the　men　sharply；　then　nodded　to　Moiraine　and　hurried　away。
　　　　　　　〃Well；　now；〃　Moiraine　said　as　they　drew　closer；　〃I　am　sure　a　bath　has　given　you　all　an　appetite。　Master　Fitch　has　given　us　a　private　dining　room。〃　She　talked　on　inconsequentially　as　she　turned　to　lead　the　way；　about　their　rooms　and　the　crowding　in　the　town；　and　how　the　innkeeper　hoped　Thom　would　favor　the　mon　room　with　some　music　and　a　story　or　two。　She　never　mentioned　the　girl；　if　girl　it　had　been。
　　　　　　　The　private　dining　room　had　a　polished　oak　table　with　a　dozen　chairs　around　it；　and　a　thick　rug　on　the　floor。　As　they　entered；　Egwene；　freshly　gleaming　hair　bed　out　around　her　shoulders；　turned　from　warming　her　hands　at　the　fire　crackling　on　the　hearth。　Rand　had　had　plenty　of　time　for　thought　during　the　long　silence　in　the　bath　chamber。　Lan's　constant　admonitions　not　to　trust　anyone；　and　especially　Ara　being　afraid　to　trust　them；　had　made　him　think　of　just　how　alone　they　really　were。　It　seemed　they　could　not　trust　anyone　but　themselves；　and　he　was　still　not　too　sure　how　far　they　could　trust　Moiraine；　or　Lan。　Just　themselves。　And　Egwene　was　still　Egwene。　Moiraine　said　it　would　have　happened　to　her　anyway；　this　touching　the　True　Source。　She　had　no　control　over　it；　and　that　meant　it　was　not　her　fault。　And　she　was　still　Egwene。
　　　　　　　He　opened　his　mouth　to　apologize；　but　Egwene　stiffened　and　turned　her　back　before　he　could　get　a　word　out。　Staring　sullenly　at　her　back；　he　swallowed　what　he　had　been　going　to　say。　All　right；　then。　If　she　wants　to　be　like　that；　there's　nothing　I　can　do。
　　　　　　　Master　Fitch　bustled　in　then；　followed　by　four　women　in　white　aprons　as　long　as　his；　with　a　platter　holding　three　roast　chickens　and　others　bearing　silver；　and　pottery　dishes；　and　covered　bowls。　The　women　began　setting　the　table　immediately；　while　the　innkeeper　bowed　to　Moiraine。
　　　　　　　〃My　apologies；　Mistress　Alys；　for　making　you　wait　like　this；　but　with　so　many　people　in　the　inn；　it's　a　wonder　anybody　gets　served　at　all。　I　am　afraid　the　food　isn't　what　it　should　be；　either。　Just　the　chickens；　and　some　turnips　and　henpeas；　with　a　little　cheese　for　after。　No；　it　just　isn't　what　it　should　be。　I　truly　do　apologize。〃
　　　　　　　〃A　feast。〃　Moiraine　smiled。　〃For　these　troubled　times；　a　feast　indeed；　Master　Fitch。〃
　　　　　　　The　innkeeper　bowed　again。　His　wispy　hair；　sticking　out　in　all　directions　as　if　he　constantly　ran　his　hands　through　it；　made　the　bow　ical；　but　his　grin　was　so　pleasant　that　anyone　who　laughed　would　be　laughing　with　him；　not　at　him。　〃My　thanks；　Mistress　Alys。　My　thanks。〃　As　he　straightened　he　frowned　and　wiped　an　imagined　bit　of　dust　from　the　table　with　a　corner　of　his　apron。　〃It　isn't　what　I　would　have　laid　before　you　a　year　ago；　of　course。　Not　nearly。　The　winter。　Yes。　The　winter。　My　cellars　are　emptying　out；　and　the　market　is　all　but　bare。　And　who　can　blame　the　farm　folk？　Who？　There's　certainly　no　telling　when　they'll　harvest　another　crop。　No　telling　at　all。　It's　the　wolves　get　the　mutton　and　beef　that　should　go　on　people's　tables；　and　。。。〃
　　　　　　　Abruptly　he　seemed　to　realize　that　this　was　hardly　the　conversation　to　settle　his　guests　to　a　fortable　meal。　〃How　I　do　run　on。　Full　of　old　wind；　that's　me。　Old　wind。　Mari；　Cinda；　let　these　good　people　eat　in　peace。〃　He　made　shooing　gestures　at　the　women　and；　as　they　scurried　from　the　room；　swung　back　to　bow　to　Moiraine　yet　again。　〃I　hope　you　enjoy　your　meal；　Mistress　Alys。　If　there's　anything　else　you　need；　just　speak　it；　and　I　will　fetch　it。　Just　you　speak　it。　It　is　a　pleasure　serving　you　and　Master　Andra。　A　pleasure。〃　He　gave　one　more　deep　bow　and　was　gone；　closing　the　door　softly　behind　him。
　　　　　　　Lan　had　slouched　against　the　wall　through　all　of　this　as　if　half　asleep。　Now　he　leaped　up　and　was　at　the　door　in　two　long　strides。　Pressing　an　ear　to　a　door　panel；　he　listened　intently　for　a　slow　count　of　thirty；　then　snatched　open　the　door　and　stuck　his　head　into　the　hall。　〃They're　gone；〃　he　said　at　last；　closing　the　door。　〃We　can　talk　safely。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know　you　say　not　to　trust　anyone；〃　Egwene　said；　〃but　if　you　suspect　the　innkeeper；　why　stay　here？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　suspect　him　no　more　than　anyone　else；〃　Lan　replied。　〃But　then；　until　we　reach　Tar　Valon；　I　suspect　everyone。　There；　I'll　suspect　only　half。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　started　to　smile；　thinking　the　Warder　was　making　a　joke。　Then　he　realized　there　was　not　a　trace　of　humor　on　Lan's　face。　He　really　would　suspect　people　in　Tar　Valon。　Was　anywhere　safe？
　　　　　　　〃He　exaggerates；〃　Moiraine　told　them　soothingly。　〃Master　Fitch　is　a　good　man；　honest　and　trustworthy。　But　he　does　like　to　talk；　and　with　the　best　will　in　the　world　he　might　let　something　slip　to　the　wrong　ear。　And　I　have　never　yet　stopped　at　an　inn　where　half　the　maids　did　not　listen　at　doors　and　spend　more　time　gossiping　than　making　beds。　e；　let　us　be　seated　before　our　meal　gets　cold。〃
　　　　　　　They　took　places　around　the　table；　with　Moiraine　at　the　head　and　Lan　at　the　foot；　and　for　a　while　everyone　was　too　busy　filling　their　plates　for　talk。　It　might　not　have　been　a　feast；　but　after　close　to　a　week　of　flatbread　and　dried　meat；　it　tasted　like　one。
　　　　　　　After　a　time；　Moiraine　asked；　〃What　did　you　learn　in　the　mon　room？〃　Knives　and　forks　stilled；　suspended　in　mid…air；　and　all　eyes　turned　to　the　Warder。
　　　　　　　〃Little　that's　good；〃　Lan　replied。　〃Avin　was　right；　at　least　as　far　as　talk　has　it。　There　was　a　battle　in　Ghealdan；　and　Logain　was　the　victor。　A　dozen　different　stories　are　floating　about；　but　they　all　agree　on　that。〃
　　　　　　　Logain？　That　must　be　the　false　Dragon。　It　was　the　first　time　Rand　had　heard　a　name　put　to　the　man。　Lan　sounded　almost　as　if　he　knew　him。
　　　　　　　〃The　Aes　Sedai？〃　Moiraine　asked　quietly；　and　Lan　shook　his　head。
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know。　Some　say　they　were　all　killed；　some　say　none。〃　He　snorted。　〃Some　even　say　they　went　over　to　Logain。　There's　nothing　reliable；　and　I　did　not　care　to　show　too　much　interest。　〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；〃　Moiraine　said。　〃Little　that　is　good。〃　With　a　deep　breath　she　brought　her　attention　back　to　the　table。　〃And　what　of　our　own　circumstances？〃
　　　　　　　〃There；　the　news　is　better。　No　odd　happenings；　no　strangers　around　who　might　be　Myrddraal；　certainly　no　Trollocs。　And　the　Whitecloaks　are　busy　trying　to　make　trouble　for　Governor　Adan　because　he　won't　cooperate　with　them。　They　will　not　even　notice　us　unless　we　advertise　ourselves。〃
　　　　　　　〃Good；〃　Moiraine　said。　〃That　agrees　with　what　the　bath　maid　said。　Gossip　does　have　its　points。　Now；〃　she　addressed　the　entire　pany；　〃we　have　a　long　journey　still　ahead　of　us；　but　the　last　week　has　not　been　easy；　either；　so　I　propose　to　remain　here　tonight　and　tomorrow　night；　and　leave　early　the　following　morning。〃　All　the　younger　folk　grinned；　a　city　for　the　first　time。　Moiraine　smiled；　but　she　still　said；　〃What　does　Master　Andra　say　to　that？〃
　　　　　　　Lan　eyed　the　grinning　faces　flatly。　〃Well　enough；　if　they　remember　what　I've　told　them　for　a　change。〃
　　　　　　　Thom　snorted　through　his　mustaches。　〃These　country　folk　loose　in　a　。。。　a　city。〃　He　snorted　again　and　shook　his　head。
　　　　　　　With　the　crowding　at　the　inn　there　were　only　three　rooms　to　be　had；　one　for　Moiraine　and　Egwene；　and　two　to　take　the　men。　Rand　found　himself　sharing　with　Lan　and　Thom；　on　the　fourth　floor　at　the　back；　close　up　under　the　overhanging　eaves；　with　a　single　small　window　that　overlooked　the　stableyard。　Full　night　had　fallen；　and　light　from　the　inn　made　a　pool　outside。　It　was　a　small　room　to　begin；　and　an　extra　bed　set　up　for　Thom　made　it　smaller；　though　all　three　were　narrow。　And　hard；　Rand　found　when　he　threw　himself　down　on　his。　Definitely　not　the　best　room。
　　　　　　　Thom　stayed　only　long　enough　to　uncase　his　flute　and　harp；　then　left　already　practicing　grand　poses。　Lan　went　with　him。
　　　　　　　It　was　strange；　Rand　thought　as　he　shifted　unfortably　on　the　bed。　A　week　ago　he　would　have　been　downstairs　like　a　falling　rock　for　just　the　chance　he　might　see　a　gleeman　perform；　for　just　the　rumor　of　it。　But　he　had　heard　Thom　tell　his　stories　every　night　for　a　week；　and　Thorn　would　be　there　tomorrow　night；　and　the　next；　and　the　hot　bath　had　loosened　kinks　in　muscles　that　he　had　thought　would　be　there　forever；　and　his　first　hot　meal　in　a　week　oozed　lethargy　into　him。　Sleepily　he　wondered　if　Lan　really　did　know　the　false　Dragon；　Logain。　A　muffled　shout　came　from　belowstairs；　the　mon　room　greeting　Thom's　arrival；　but　Rand　was　already　asleep。
　
　　　　　　　The　stone　hallway　was　dim　and　shadowy；　and　empty　except　for　Rand。　He　could　not　tell　where　the　light　came　from；　what　little　there　was　of　it；　the　gray　walls　were　bare　of　candles　or　lamps；　nothing　at　all　to　account　for　the　faint　glow　that　seemed　to　just　be　there。　The　air　was　still　and　dank；　and　somewhere　in　the　distance　water　dripped　with　a　steady；　hollow　plonk。　Wherever　this　was；