rj.eyeoftheworld-第58部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　　　　　　Lan　nodded　absently；　he　seemed　to　be　listening　to　something　else。　〃Yes。　It's　going；　fading。　No　time　to　pursue　it；　now。　We're　leaving　sheepherder。　〃
　　　　　　　More　boots　stumbled　down　the　stairs；　Mat　and　Perrin　and　Thom；　hung　about　with　blankets　and　saddlebags。　Mat　was　still　buckling　his　bedroll；　with　his　bow　awkward　under　his　arm。
　　　　　　　〃Leaving？〃　Rand　said。　Sheathing　his　sword；　he　took　his　things　from　Thom。　〃Now？　In　the　night？〃
　　　　　　　〃You　want　to　wait　for　the　Halfman　to　e　back；　sheepherder？〃　the　Warder　said　impatiently。　〃For　half　a　dozen　of　them？　It　knows　where　we　are；　now。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　ride　with　you　again；〃　Thom　told　the　Warder；　〃if　you　have　no　great　objections。　Too　many　people　remember　that　I　arrived　with　you。　I　fear　that　before　tomorrow　this　will　be　a　bad　place　to　be　known　as　your　friend。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　can　ride　with　us；　or　ride　to　Shayol　Ghul；　gleeman。〃　Lan's　scabbard　rattled　from　the　force　with　which　he　rammed　his　sword　home。
　　　　　　　A　stableman　came　darting　past　them　from　the　rear　door；　and　then　Moiraine　appeared　with　Master　Fitch；　and　behind　them　Egwene；　with　her　bundled　shawl　in　her　arms。　And　Nynaeve。　Egwene　looked　frightened　almost　to　tears；　but　the　Wisdom's　face　was　a　mask　of　cool　anger。
　　　　　　　〃You　must　take　this　seriously；〃　Moiraine　was　telling　the　inn　keeper。　〃You　will　certainly　have　trouble　here　by　morning。　Darkfriends；　perhaps；　perhaps　worse。　When　it　es；　quickly　make　it　clear　that　we　are　gone。　Offer　no　resistance。　Just　let　whoever　it　is　know　that　we　left　in　the　night；　and　they　should　bother　you　no　further。　It　is　us　they　are　after。〃
　　　　　　　〃Never　you　worry　about　trouble；〃　Master　Fitch　replied　jovially。　〃Never　a　bit。　If　any　e　around　my　inn　trying　to　make　trouble　for　my　guests　。。。　well；　they'll　get　short　shrift　from　the　lads　and　I。　Short　shrift。　And　they'll　hear　not　a　word　about　where　you've　gone　or　when；　or　even　if　you　were　ever　here。　I've　no　use　for　that　kind。　Not　a　word　will　be　spoken　about　you　by　any　here。　Not　a　word！〃
　　　　　　　〃But　…〃
　　　　　　　〃Mistress　Alys；　I　really　must　see　to　your　horses　if　you're　going　to　leave　in　good　order。〃　He　pulled　loose　from　her　grip　on　his　sleeve　and　trotted　in　the　direction　of　the　stables。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　sighed　vexedly。　〃Stubborn；　stubborn　man。　He　will　not　listen。　〃
　　　　　　　〃You　think　Trollocs　might　e　here　hunting　for　us？〃　Mat　asked。
　　　　　　　〃Trollocs！〃　Moiraine　snapped。　〃Of　course　not！　There　are　other　things　to　fear；　not　the　least　of　which　is　how　we　were　found。〃　Ignoring　Mat's　bristle；　she　went　right　on。　〃The　Fade　cannot　believe　we　will　remain　here；　now　that　we　know　it　has　found　us；　but　Master　Fitch　takes　Darkfriends　too　lightly。　He　thinks　of　them　as　wretches　hiding　in　the　shadows；　but　Darkfriends　can　be　found　in　the　shops　and　streets　of　every　city；　and　in　the　highest　councils；　too。　The　Myrddraal　may　send　them　to　see　if　he　can　learn　of　our　plans。　〃　She　turned　on　her　heel　and　left；　Lan　close　behind　her。
　　　　　　　As　they　started　for　the　stableyard；　Rand　fell　in　beside　Nynaeve。　She　had　her　saddlebags　and　blankets；　too。　〃So　you're　ing　after　all；〃　he　said。　Min　was　right。
　　　　　　　〃Was　there　something　down　here？〃　she　asked　quietly。　〃She　said　it　was　…〃　She　stopped　abruptly　and　looked　at　him。
　　　　　　　〃A　Fade；〃　he　answered。　He　was　amazed　that　he　could　say　it　so　calmly。　〃It　was　in　the　hall　with　me；　and　then　Lan　came。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　shrugged　her　cloak　against　the　wind　as　they　left　the　inn。　〃Perhaps　there　is　something　after　you。　But　I　came　to　see　you　safely　back　in　Emond's　Field；　all　of　you；　and　I　will　not　leave　till　that　is　done。　I　won't　leave　you　alone　with　her　sort。〃　Lights　moved　in　the　stables　where　the　ostlers　were　saddling　the　horses。
　　　　　　　〃Mutch！〃　the　innkeeper　shouted　from　the　stable　door　where　he　stood　with　Moiraine。　〃Stir　your　bones！〃　He　turned　back　to　her；　appearing　to　attempt　to　soothe　her　rather　than　really　listening　when　she　spoke；　though　he　did　it　deferentially；　with　bows　interspersed　among　the　orders　called　to　the　stablemen。
　　　　　　　The　horses　were　led　out；　the　stablemen　grumbling　softly　about　the　hurry　and　the　lateness。　Rand　held　Egwene's　bundle；　handing　it　up　to　her　when　she　was　on　Bela's　back。　She　looked　back　at　him　with　wide；　fear…filled　eyes。　At　least　she　doesn't　think　it's　an　adventure　anymore。
　　　　　　　He　was　ashamed　as　soon　as　he　thought　it。　She　was　in　danger　because　of　him　and　the　others。　Even　riding　back　to　Emond's　Field　alone　would　be　safer　than　going　on。　〃Egwene；　I　。。。〃
　　　　　　　The　words　died　in　his　mouth。　She　was　too　stubborn　to　just　turn　back；　not　after　saying　she　was　going　all　the　way　to　Tar　Valon。　What　about　what　Min　saw？　She's　part　of　it。　Light；　part　of　what？
　　　　　　　〃Egwene；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　sorry。　I　can't　seem　to　think　straight　anymore。〃
　　　　　　　She　leaned　down　to　grip　his　hand　hard。　In　the　light　from　the　stable　he　could　see　her　face　clearly。　She　did　not　look　as　frightened　as　she　had。
　　　　　　　Once　they　were　all　mounted；　Master　Fitch　insisted　on　leading　them　to　the　gates；　the　stablemen　lighting　the　way　with　their　lamps。　The　round…bellied　innkeeper　bowed　them　on　their　way　with　assurances　that　he　would　keep　their　secrets；　and　invitations　to　e　again。　Mutch　watched　them　leave　as　sourly　as　he　had　watched　them　arrive。
　　　　　　　There　was　one；　Rand　thought；　who　would　not　give　short　shrift　to　anyone；　or　any　kind　of　shrift。　Mutch　would　tell　the　first　person　who　asked　him　when　they　had　gone　and　everything　else　he　could　think　of　concerning　them。　A　little　distance　down　the　street；　he　looked　back。　One　figure　stood；　lamp　raised　high；　peering　after　them。　He　did　not　need　to　see　the　face　to　know　it　was　Mutch。
　　　　　　　The　streets　of　Baerlon　were　abandoned　at　that　hour　of　the　night；　only　a　few　faint　glimmers　here　and　there　escaped　tightly　closed　shutters；　and　the　light　of　the　moon　in　its　last　quarter　waxed　and　waned　with　the　wind…driven　clouds。　Now　and　again　a　dog　barked　as　they　passed　an　alleyway；　but　no　other　sound　disturbed　the　night　except　their　horses'　hooves　and　the　wind　whistling　across　the　rooftops。　The　riders　held　an　even　deeper　silence；　huddled　in　their　cloaks　and　their　own　thoughts。
　　　　　　　The　Warder　led　the　way；　as　usual；　with　Moiraine　and　Egwene　close　behind。　Nynaeve　kept　near　the　girl；　and　the　others　brought　up　the　rear　in　a　tight　cluster。　Lan　kept　the　horses　moving　at　a　brisk　walk。
　　　　　　　Rand　watched　the　streets　around　them　warily；　and　he　noticed　his　friends　doing　the　same。　Shifting　moon　shadows　recalled　the　shadows　at　the　end　of　the　hall；　the　way　they　had　seemed　to　reach　out　to　the　Fade。　An　occasional　noise　in　the　distance；　like　a　barrel　toppling；　or　another　dog　barking；　jerked　every　head　around。　Slowly；　bit　by　bit　as　they　made　their　way　through　the　town；　they　all　bunched　their　horses　closer　to　Lan's　black　stallion　and　Moiraine's　white　mare。At　the　Caemlyn　Gate　Lan　dismounted　and　hammered　with　his　fist　on　the　door　of　a　small　square　stone　building　squatting　against　the　wall。　A　weary　Watchman　appeared；　rubbing　sleepily　at　his　face。　As　Lan　spoke；　his　sleepiness　vanished；　and　he　stared　past　the　Warder　to　the　others。
　　　　　　　〃You　want　to　leave？〃　he　exclaimed。　〃Now？　In　the　night？　You　must　be　mad！〃
　　　　　　　〃Unless　there　is　some　order　from　the　Governor　that　prohibits　our　leaving；〃　Moiraine　said。　She　had　dismounted　as　well；　but　she　stayed　back　from　the　door；　out　of　the　light　that　spilled　into　the　dark　street。
　　　　　　　〃Not　exactly；　mistress。〃　The　Watchman　peered　at　her；　frowning　as　he　tried　to　make　out　her　face。　〃But　the　gates　stay　shut　from　sundown　to　sunup。　No　one　to　e　in　except　in　daylight。　That's　the　order。　Anyway；　there're　wolves　out　there。　Killed　a　dozen　cows　in　the　last　week。　Could　kill　a　man　just　as　easy。〃
　　　　　　　〃No　one　to　e　in；　but　nothing　about　leaving；〃　Moiraine　said　as　if　that　settled　the　matter。　〃You　see？　We　are　not　asking　you　to　disobey　the　Governor。〃
　　　　　　　Lan　pressed　something　into　the　Watchman's　hand。　〃For　your　trouble；〃　he　murmured。〃I　suppose；〃　the　Watchman　said　slowly。　He　glanced　at　his　hand；　gold　glinted　before　he　hastily　stuffed　it　in　his　pocket。　〃I　suppose　leaving　wasn't　mentioned　at　that。　Just　a　minute。〃　He　stuck　his　head　back　inside。　〃Arin！　Dar！　Get　out　here　and　help　me　open　the　gate。　There's　people　want　to　leave。　Don't　argue。　Just　do　it。〃
　　　　　　　Two　more　of　the　Watch　appeared　from　inside；　stopping　to　stare　in　sleepy　surprise　at　the　party　of　eight　waiting　to　leave。　Under　the　first　Watchman's　urgings　they　shuffled　over　to　heave　at　the　big　wheel　that　raised　the　thick　bar　across　the　gates；　then　turned　their　efforts　to　cranking　the　gates　open。　The　crank…and…ratchet　made　a　rapid　clicking　sound；　but　the　well…oiled　gates　swung　outward　silently。　Before　they　were　even　a　quarter　open；　though；　a　cold　voice　spoke　out　of　the　darkness。
　　　　　　　〃What　is　this？　Are　these　gates　not　ordered　closed　until　sunrise？〃
　　　　　　　Five　white…cloaked　men　walked　into　the　light　from　the　guardhouse　door。　Their　cowls　were　drawn　up　to　hide　their　faces；　but　each　man　rested　his　hand　on　his　sword；　and　the　golden　suns　on　their　left　breasts　were　a　plain　announcement　of　who　they　were。　Mat　muttered　under　his　breath。　The　Watchmen　stopped　their　cranking　and　exchanged　uneasy　looks。
　　　　　　　〃This　is　none　of　your　affair；〃　the　first　Watchman　said　belligerently。　Five　white　hoods　turned　to　regard　him；　and　he　finished　in　a　weaker　tone。　〃The　Children　hold　no　sway　here。　The　Governor　…〃