rj.eyeoftheworld-第54部分

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iently；　and　shivered　before　turning　back　to　him。　〃It's　almost　a　wonder　the　inn　doesn't　catch　fire。　You're　all　in　more　danger　today　than　yesterday。　Since　she　came。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　glanced　at　his　friends。　Thom；　his　brows　drawn　down　in　a　bushy　V；　was　leaning　forward　on　the　point　of　taking　some　action　to　hurry　him　along。　〃She　won't　do　anything　to　hurt　us；〃　he　told　Min。　〃I　have　to　go；　now。〃　He　succeeded　in　getting　his　arm　back；　this　time。
　　　　　　　Ignoring　her　squawk；　he　joined　the　others；　and　they　started　off　again　down　the　corridor。　Rand　looked　back　once。　Min　shook　her　fist　at　him　and　stamped　her　foot。
　　　　　　　〃What　did　she　have　to　say？〃　Mat　asked。
　　　　　　　〃Nynaeve　is　part　of　it；〃　Rand　said　without　thinking；　then　shot　Mat　a　hard　look　that　caught　him　with　his　mouth　open。　Then　understanding　slowly　spread　across　Mat's　face。
　　　　　　　〃Part　of　what？〃　Thom　said　softly。　〃Does　that　girl　know　something？〃
　　　　　　　While　Rand　was　still　trying　to　gather　in　his　head　what　to　say；　Mat　spoke　up。　〃Of　course　she's　part　of　it；〃　he　said　grumpily。　〃Part　of　the　same　bad　luck　we've　been　having　since　Winternight。　Maybe　having　the　Wisdom　show　up　is　no　great　affair　to　you；　but　I'd　as　soon　have　the　Whitecloaks　here；　myself。〃
　　　　　　　〃She　saw　Nynaeve　arrive；〃　Rand　said。　〃Saw　her　talking　to　Mistress　Alys；　and　thought　she　might　have　something　to　do　with　us。〃　Thom　gave　him　a　sidelong　look　and　ruffled　his　mustaches　with　a　snort；　but　the　others　seemed　to　accept　Rand's　explanation。　He　did　not　like　keeping　secrets　from　his　friends；　but　Min's　secret　could　be　as　dangerous　for　her　as　any　of　theirs　was　for　them。
　　　　　　　Perrin　stopped　suddenly　in　front　of　a　door；　and　despite　his　size　he　seemed　oddly　hesitant。　He　drew　a　deep　breath；　looked　at　his　panions；　took　another　breath；　then　slowly　opened　the　door　and　went　in。　One　by　one　the　rest　of　them　followed。　Rand　was　the　last；　and　he　closed　the　door　behind　him　with　the　utmost　reluctance。
　　　　　　　It　was　the　room　where　they　had　eaten　the　night　before。　A　blaze　crackled　on　the　hearth；　and　a　polished　silver　tray　sat　in　the　middle　of　the　table　holding　a　gleaming　silver　pitcher　and　cups。　Moiraine　and　Nynaeve　sat　at　opposite　ends　of　the　table；　neither　taking　her　eyes　from　the　other。　All　the　other　chairs　were　empty。　Moiraine's　hands　rested　on　the　table；　as　still　as　her　face。　Nynaeve's　braid　was　thrown　over　her　shoulder；　the　end　gripped　in　one　fist；　she　kept　giving　it　little　tugs　the　way　she　did　when　she　was　being　even　more　stubborn　than　usual　with　the　Village　Council。　Perrin　was　right。　Despite　the　fire　it　seemed　freezing　cold；　and　all　ing　from　the　two　women　at　the　table。
　　　　　　　Lan　was　leaning　against　the　mantel；　staring　into　the　flames　and　rubbing　his　hands　for　warmth。　Egwene；　her　back　flat　against　the　wall；　had　her　cloak　on　with　the　hood　pulled　up。　Thom；　Mat；　and　Perrin　stopped　uncertainly　in　front　of　the　door。
　　　　　　　Shrugging　unfortably；　Rand　walked　to　the　table。　Sometimes　you　have　to　grab　the　wolf　by　the　ears；　he　reminded　himself。　But　he　remembered　another　old　saying；　too。　When　you　have　a　wolf　by　the　ears；　it's　as　hard　to　let　go　as　to　hold　on。　He　felt　Moiraine's　eyes　on　him；　and　Nynaeve's；　and　his　face　became　hot；　but　he　sat　down　anyway；　halfway　between　the　two。
　　　　　　　For　a　minute　the　room　was　as　still　as　a　carving；　then　Egwene　and　Perrin；　and　finally　Mat；　made　their　reluctant　way　to　the　table　and　took　seats…toward　the　middle；　with　Rand。　Egwene　tugged　her　hood　further　forward；　enough　to　half　hide　her　face；　and　they　all　avoided　looking　at　anyone。
　　　　　　　〃Well；〃　Thom　snorted；　from　his　place　beside　the　door。　〃At　least　that　much　is　done。〃
　　　　　　　〃Since　everyone　is　here；〃　Lan　said；　leaving　the　fireplace　and　filling　one　of　the　silver　cups　with　wine；　〃perhaps　you　will　finally　take　this。〃　He　proffered　the　cup　to　Nynaeve；　she　looked　at　it　suspiciously。　〃There　is　no　need　to　be　afraid；〃　he　said　patiently。　〃You　saw　the　innkeeper　bring　the　wine；　and　neither　of　us　has　had　a　chance　to　put　anything　in　it。　It　is　quite　safe。〃
　　　　　　　The　Wisdom's　mouth　tightened　angrily　at　the　word　afraid；　but　she　took　the　cup　with　a　murmured；　〃Thank　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　interested；〃　he　said；　〃in　how　you　found　us。〃
　　　　　　　〃So　am　I。〃　Moiraine　leaned　forward　intently。　〃Perhaps　you　are　willing　to　speak　now　that　Egwene　and　the　boys　have　been　brought　to　you？〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　sipped　the　wine　before　answering　the　Aes　Sedai。　〃There　was　nowhere　for　you　to　go　except　Baerlon。　To　be　safe；　though；　I　followed　your　trail。　You　certainly　cut　back　and　forth　enough。　But　then；　I　suppose　you　would　not　care　to　risk　meeting　decent　people。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　。。。　followed　our　trail？〃　Lan　said；　truly　surprised　for　the　first　time　that　Rand　could　remember。　〃I　must　be　getting　careless。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　left　very　little　trace；　but　I　can　track　as　well　as　any　man　in　the　Two　Rivers；　except　perhaps　Tam　al'Thor。〃　She　hesitated；　then　added；　〃Until　my　father　died；　he　took　me　hunting　with　him；　and　taught　me　what　he　would　have　taught　the　sons　he　never　had。〃　She　looked　at　Lan　challengingly；　but　he　only　nodded　with　approval。
　　　　　　　〃If　you　can　follow　a　trail　I　have　tried　to　hide；　he　taught　you　well。　Few　can　do　that；　even　in　the　Borderlands。〃
　　　　　　　Abruptly　Nynaeve　buried　her　face　in　her　cup。　Rand's　eyes　widened。　She　was　blushing。　Nynaeve　never　showed　herself　even　the　least　bit　disconcerted。　Angry；　yes；　outraged；　often；　but　never　out　of　countenance。　But　she　was　certainly　red…cheeked　now；　and　trying　to　hide　in　the　wine。
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　now；〃　Moiraine　said　quietly；　〃you　will　answer　a　few　of　my　questions。　I　have　answered　yours　freely　enough。〃
　　　　　　　〃With　a　great　sackful　of　gleeman's　tales；〃　Nynaeve　retorted。　〃The　only　facts　I　can　see　are　that　four　young　people　have　been　carried　off；　for　the　Light　alone　knows　what　reason；　by　an　Aes　Sedai。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　have　been　told　that　isn't　known　here；〃　Lan　said　sharply。　〃You　must　learn　to　guard　your　tongue。〃
　　　　　　　〃Why　should　I？〃　Nynaeve　demanded。　〃Why　should　I　help　hide　you；　or　what　you　are？　I've　e　to　take　Egwene　and　the　boys　back　to　Emond's　Field；　not　help　you　spirit　them　away。〃
　　　　　　　Thom　broke　in；　in　a　scornful　voice。　〃If　you　want　them　to　see　their　village　again　…　or　you；　either　…　you　had　better　be　more　careful。　There　are　those　in　Baerlon　who　would　kill　her〃　…　he　jerked　his　head　toward　Moiraine　…　〃for　what　she　is。　Him；　too。〃　He　indicated　Lan；　then　abruptly　moved　forward　to　put　his　fists　on　the　table。　He　loomed　over　Nynaeve；　and　his　long　mustaches　and　thick　eyebrows　suddenly　seemed　threatening。
　　　　　　　Her　eyes　widened；　and　she　started　to　lean　back；　away　from　him；　then　her　back　stiffened　defiantly。　Thom　did　not　appear　to　notice；　he　went　right　on　in　an　ominously　soft　voice。　〃They'd　swarm　over　this　inn　like　murderous　ants　on　a　rumor；　a　whisper。　Their　hate　is　that　strong；　their　desire　to　kill　or　take　any　like　these　two。　And　the　girl？　The　boys？　You？　You　are　all　associated　with　them；　enough　for　the　Whitecloaks；　anyway。　You　wouldn't　like　the　way　they　ask　questions；　especially　when　the　White　Tower　is　involved。　Whitecloak　Questioners　assume　you're　guilty　before　they　start；　and　they　have　only　one　sentence　for　that　kind　of　guilt。　They　don't　care　about　finding　the　truth；　they　think　they　know　that　already。　All　they　go　after　with　their　hot　irons　and　pincers　is　a　confession。　Best　you　remember　some　secrets　are　too　dangerous　for　saying　aloud；　even　when　you　think　you　know　who　hears。〃　He　straightened　with　a　muttered；　〃I　seem　to　tell　that　to　people　often　of　late。〃
　　　　　　　〃Well　put；　gleeman；〃　Lan　said。　The　Warder　had　that　weighing　look　in　his　eyes　again。　〃I'm　surprised　to　find　you　so　concerned。〃
　　　　　　　Thom　shrugged。　〃It's　known　I　arrived　with　you；　too。　I　don't　care　for　the　thought　of　a　Questioner　with　a　hot　iron　telling　me　to　repent　my　sins　and　walk　in　the　Light。〃
　　　　　　　〃That；〃　Nynaeve　put　in　sharply；　〃is　just　one　more　reason　for　them　to　e　home　with　me　in　the　morning。　Or　this　afternoon；　for　that　matter。　The　sooner　we're　away　from　you　and　on　our　way　back　to　Emond's　Field；　the　better。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　can't；〃　Rand　said；　and　was　glad　that　his　friends　all　spoke　up　at　the　same　time。　That　way　Nynaeve's　glare　had　to　be　spread　around；　she　spared　no　one　as　it　was。　But　he　had　spoken　first；　and　they　all　fell　silent；　looking　at　him。　Even　Moiraine　sat　back　in　her　chair；　watching　him　over　steepled　fingers。　It　was　an　effort　for　him　to　meet　the　Wisdom's　eyes。　〃If　we　go　back　to　Emond's　Field；　the　Trollocs　will　e　back；　too。　They're　。。。　hunting　us。　I　don't　know　why；　but　they　are。　Maybe　we　can　find　out　why　in　Tar　Valon。　Maybe　we　can　find　out　how　to　stop　it。　It's　the　only　way。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　threw　up　her　hands。　〃You　sound　just　like　Tam。　He　had　himself　carried　to　the　village　meeting　and　tried　to　convince　everybody。　He'd　already　tried　with　the　Village　Council。　The　Light　knows　how　your　。。。　Mistress　Alys〃　…　she　invested　the　name　with　a　wagonload　of　scorn　…　〃managed　to　make　him　believe；　he　has　a　mite　of　sense；　usually；　more　than　most　men。　In　any　case；　the　Council　is　a　pack　of　fools　most　of　the　time；　but　not　foolish　enough　for　that；　and　neither　was　anyone　else。　They　agreed　you　had　to　be　found。　Then　Tam　wanted　to　be　the　one　to　e　after　you；　and　him　not　able　to　stand　by　himself。　Foolishness　must　run　in　your　family。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　cleared　his　throat；　then　mumbled；　〃What　about　my　da？　What　did　he　say？〃
　　　　　　　〃He's　afraid　yo