rj.eyeoftheworld-第125节

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　　　　　　　Bit　by　bit　Rand　did　get　the　directions　he　wanted。　At　first　they　were　vague；　on　the　order　of　〃somewhere　in　that　direction〃　and　〃over　that　way。〃　The　nearer　they　came；　though；　the　clearer　the　instructions；　until　at　last　they　stood　before　a　broad　stone　building　with　a　sign　over　the　door　creaking　in　the　wind。　A　man　kneeling　before　a　woman　with　red…gold　hair　and　a　crown；　one　of　her　hands　resting　on　his　bowed　head。　The　Queen's　Blessing。
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　sure　about　this？〃　Mat　asked。
　　　　　　　〃Of　course；〃　Rand　said。　He　took　a　deep　breath　and　pushed　open　the　door。
　　　　　　　The　mon　room　was　large　and　paneled　with　dark　wood；　and　fires　on　two　hearths　warmed　it。　A　serving　maid　was　sweeping　the　floor；　though　it　was　clean；　and　another　was　polishing　candlesticks　in　the　corner。　Each　smiled　at　the　two　newers　before　going　back　to　her　work。
　　　　　　　Only　a　few　tables　had　people　at　them；　but　a　dozen　men　was　a　crowd　for　so　early　in　the　day；　and　if　none　looked　exactly　happy　to　see　him　and　Mat；　at　least　they　looked　clean　and　sober。　The　smells　of　roasting　beef　and　baking　bread　drifted　from　the　kitchen；　making　Rand's　mouth　water。
　　　　　　　The　innkeeper　was　fat；　he　was　pleased　to　see；　a　pink…faced　man　in　a　starched　white　apron；　with　graying　hair　bed　back　over　a　bald　spot　that　it　did　not　quite　cover。　His　sharp　eye　took　them　in　from　head　to　toe；　dusty　clothes　and　bundles　and　worn　boots；　but　he　had　a　ready；　pleasant　smile；　too。　Basel　Gill　was　his　name。
　　　　　　　〃Master　Gill；〃　Rand　said；　〃a　friend　of　ours　told　us　to　e　here。　Thom　Merrilin。　He　…　〃　The　innkeeper's　smile　slipped。　Rand　looked　at　Mat；　but　he　was　too　busy　sniffing　the　aromas　ing　from　the　kitchen　to　notice　anything　else。　〃Is　something　wrong？　You　do　know　him？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know　him；〃　Gill　said　curtly。　He　seemed　more　interested　in　the　flute　case　at　Rand's　side　now；　than　in　anything　else。　〃e　with　me。〃　He　jerked　his　head　toward　the　back。　Rand　gave　Mat　a　jerk　to　get　him　started；　then　followed；　wondering　what　was　going　on。
　　　　　　　In　the　kitchen；　Master　Gill　paused　to　speak　to　the　cook；　a　round　woman　with　her　hair　in　a　bun　at　the　back　of　her　head　who　almost　matched　the　innkeeper　pound　for　pound。　She　kept　stirring　her　pots　while　Master　Gill　talked。　The　smells　were　so　good　…　two　days'　hunger　made　a　fine　sauce　for　anything；　but　this　smelled　as　good　as　Mistress　al'Vere's　kitchen　…　that　Rand's　stomach　growled。　Mat　was　leaning　toward　the　pots；　nose　first。　Rand　nudged　him；　Mat　hastily　wiped　his　chin　where　he　had　begun　drooling。
　　　　　　　Then　the　innkeeper　was　hurrying　them　out　the　back　door。　In　the　stableyard　he　looked　around　to　make　sure　no　one　was　close；　then　rounded　on　them。　On　Rand。　〃What's　in　the　case；　lad？〃
　　　　　　　〃Thom's　flute；〃　Rand　said　slowly。　He　opened　the　case；　as　if　showing　the　gold…and…silver…chased　flute　would　help。　Mat's　hand　crept　under　his　coat。
　　　　　　　Master　Gill　did　not　take　his　eyes　off　Rand。　〃Aye；　I　recognize　it。　I　saw　him　play　it　often　enough；　and　there's　not　likely　two　like　that　outside　a　royal　court。〃　The　pleasant　smiles　were　gone；　and　his　sharp　eyes　were　suddenly　as　sharp　as　a　knife。　〃How　did　you　e　by　it？　Thom　would　part　with　his　arm　as　soon　as　that　flute。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　gave　it　to　me。〃　Rand　took　Thom's　bundled　cloak　from　his　back　and　set　it　on　the　ground；　unfolding　enough　to　show　the　colored　patches；　as　well　as　the　end　of　the　harp　case。　〃Thom's　dead；　Master　Gill。　If　he　was　your　friend；　I'm　sorry。　He　was　mine；　too。〃
　　　　　　　〃Dead；　you　say。　How？〃
　　　　　　　〃A　。。。　a　man　tried　to　kill　us。　Thom　pushed　this　at　me　and　told　us　to　run。〃　The　patches　fluttered　in　the　wind　like　butterflies。　Rand's　throat　caught；　he　folded　the　cloak　carefully　back　up　again。　〃We'd　have　been　killed　if　it　hadn't　been　for　him。　We　were　on　our　way　to　Caemlyn　together。　He　told　us　to　e　here；　to　your　inn。　〃
　　　　　　　〃I'll　believe　he's　dead；〃　the　innkeeper　said　slowly；　〃when　I　see　his　corpse。〃　He　nudged　the　bundled　cloak　with　his　toe　and　cleared　his　throat　roughly。　〃Nay；　nay；　I　believe　you　saw　whatever　it　was　you　saw；　I　just　don't　believe　he's　dead。　He's　a　harder　man　to　kill　than　you　might　believe；　is　old　Thom　Merrilin。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　put　a　hand　on　Mat's　shoulder。　〃It's　all　right；　Mat。　He's　a　friend。〃
　　　　　　　Master　Gill　glanced　at　Mat；　and　sighed。　〃I　suppose　I　am　at　that。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　straightened　up　slowly；　folding　his　arms　over　his　chest。　He　was　still　watching　the　innkeeper　warily；　though；　and　a　muscle　in　his　cheek　twitched。
　　　　　　　〃ing　to　Caemlyn；　you　say？〃　The　innkeeper　shook　his　head。　〃This　is　the　last　place　on　earth　I'd　expect　Thom　to　e；　excepting　maybe　it　was　Tar　Valon。〃　He　waited　for　a　stableman　to　pass；　leading　a　horse；　and　even　then　he　lowered　his　voice。　〃You've　trouble　with　the　Aes　Sedai；　I　take　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；〃　Mat　grumbled　at　the　same　time　that　Rand　said；　〃What　makes　you　think　that？〃
　　　　　　　Master　Gill　chuckled　dryly。　〃I　know　the　man；　that's　what。　He'd　jump　into　that　kind　of　trouble；　especially　to　help　a　couple　of　lads　about　the　age　of　you。。。〃　The　reminiscence　in　his　eyes　flickered　out；　and　he　stood　up　straight　with　a　chary　look。　〃Now　。。。　ah　。。。　I'm　not　making　any　accusations；　mind；　but　。。。　ah　。。。　I　take　it　neither　of　you　can　。。。　ah　。。。　what　I'm　getting　at　is　。　。　。　ah　。。。　what　exactly　is　the　nature　of　your　trouble　with　Tar　Valon；　if　you　don't　mind　my　asking？〃
　　　　　　　Rand's　skin　prickled　as　he　realized　what　the　man　was　suggesting。　The　One　Power。　〃No；　no；　nothing　like　that。　I　swear。　There　was　even　an　Aes　Sedai　helping　us。　Moiraine　was　。。。〃　He　bit　his　tongue；　but　the　innkeeper's　expression　never　changed。
　　　　　　　〃Glad　to　hear　it。　Not　that　I've　all　that　much　love　for　Aes　Sedai；　but　better　them　than　。。。　that　other　thing。〃　He　shook　his　head　slowly。　〃Too　much　talk　of　that　kind　of　thing；　with　Logain　being　brought　here。　No　offense　meant；　you　understand；　but　。。。　well；　I　had　to　know；　didn't　I？〃
　　　　　　　〃No　offense；〃　Rand　said。　Mat's　murmur　could　have　been　anything；　but　the　innkeeper　appeared　to　take　it　for　the　same　as　Rand　had　said。
　　　　　　　〃You　two　look　the　right　sort；　and　I　do　believe　you　were　…　are　…　friends　of　Thom；　but　it's　hard　times　and　stony　days。　I　don't　suppose　you　can　pay？　No；　I　didn't　think　so。　There's　not　enough　of　anything；　and　what　there　is　costs　the　earth；　so　I'll　give　you　beds　…　not　the　best；　but　warm　and　dry　…　and　something　to　eat；　and　I　cannot　promise　more；　however　much　I'd　like。〃
　　　　　　　〃Thank　you；〃　Rand　said　with　a　quizzical　glance　at　Mat。　〃It's　more　than　I　expected。〃　What　was　the　right　sort；　and　why　should　he　promise　more？
　　　　　　　〃Well；　Thom's　a　good　friend。　An　old　friend。　Hot…headed　and　liable　to　say　the　worst　possible　thing　to　the　one　person　he　shouldn't；　but　a　good　friend　all　the　same。　If　he　doesn't　show　up　。。。　well；　we'll　figure　something　out　then。　Best　you　don't　talk　any　more　talk　about　Aes　Sedai　helping　you。　I'm　a　good　Queen's　man；　but　there　are　too　many　in　Caemlyn　right　now　who'd　take　it　wrong；　and　I　don't　mean　just　the　Whitecloaks。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　snorted。　〃For　all　I　care；　the　ravens　can　take　every　Aes　Sedai　straight　to　Shayol　Ghul！〃
　　　　　　　〃Watch　your　tongue；〃　Master　Gill　snapped。　〃I　said　I　don't　love　them；　I　didn't　say　I'm　a　fool　thinks　they're　behind　everything　that's　wrong。　The　Queen　supports　Elaida；　and　the　Guards　stand　for　the　Queen。　The　Light　send　things　don't　go　so　bad　that　changes。　Anyway；　lately　some　Guards　have　forgotten　themselves　enough　to　be　a　little　rough　with　folks　they　overhear　speaking　against　Aes　Sedai。　Not　on　duty；　thank　the　Light；　but　it's　happened；　just　the　same。　I　don't　need　off…duty　Guards　breaking　up　my　mon　room　to　teach　you　a　lesson；　and　I　don't　need　Whitecloaks　egging　somebody　on　to　paint　the　Dragon's　Fang　on　my　door；　so　if　you　want　any　help　out　of　me；　you　just　keep　thoughts　about　Aes　Sedai　to　yourself；　good　or　bad。〃　He　paused　thoughtfully；　then　added；　〃Maybe　it's　best　you　don't　mention　Thom's　name；　either；　where　anyone　but　me　can　hear。　Some　of　the　Guards　have　long　memories；　and　so　does　the　Queen。　No　need　taking　chances。　〃
　　　　　　　〃Thom　had　trouble　with　the　Queen？〃　Rand　said　incredulously；　and　the　innkeeper　laughed。
　　　　　　　〃So　he　didn't　tell　you　everything。　Don't　know　why　he　should。　On　the　other　hand；　I　don't　know　why　you　shouldn't　know；　either。　Not　like　it's　a　secret；　exactly。　Do　you　think　every　gleeman　thinks　as　much　of　himself　as　Thom　does？　Well；　e　to　think　of　it；　I　guess　they　do；　but　it　always　seemed　to　me　Thom　had　an　extra　helping　of　thinking　a　lot　of　himself。　He　wasn't　always　a　gleeman；　you　know；　wandering　from　village　to　village　and　sleeping　under　a　hedge　as　often　as　not。　There　was　a　time　Thom　Merrilin　was　Court…bard　right　here　in　Caemlyn；　and　known　in　every　royal　court　from　Tear　to　Maradon。　〃
　　　　　　　〃Thom？〃　Mat　said。
　　　　　　　Rand　nodded　slowly。　He　could　picture　Thom　at　a　Queen's　court；　with　his　stately　manner　and　grand　gestures。
　　　　　　　〃That　he　was；〃　Master　Gill　said。　〃It　was　not　long　after　Taringail　Damodred　died　that　the　。。。　trouble　about　his　nephew　cropped　up。　There　were　some　said　Thom　was；　shall　we　say；　closer　to　the　Queen　than　was　proper。　But　Morgase　was　a　young　widow；　and　Thom　was　in　his　prime；　then；　and　the　Queen　can　do　as　she　wishes　is　the　way　I　look　at　it。　Only　she's　always　had　a　temper；　has　our　good　Morgase；　and　he　took　off　without　a　word　when　he　learned　what　kind　of　trouble　his　nephew　was　in。　The　Queen　didn't　much　like　that。　Didn't　like　him　meddling　in　Ae