rj.eyeoftheworld-第13节
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leeves。 Then he bowed to her； holding his cloak wide。 〃Your pardon； but you are surely not from this district？〃
〃Lady！〃 Ewin hissed fiercely。 〃The Lady Moiraine。〃
Thom blinked； then bowed again； more deeply。 〃Your pardon again 。。。 ah； Lady。 I meant no disrespect。〃
Moiraine made a small waving…away gesture。 〃None was perceived； Master Bard。 And my name is simply Moiraine。 I am indeed a stranger here； a traveler like yourself； far from home and alone。 The world can be a dangerous place when one is a stranger。〃
〃The Lady Moiraine collects stories；〃 Ewin put in。 〃Stories about things that happened in the Two Rivers。 Though I don't know what ever happened here to make a story of。〃
〃I trust you will like my stories； as well 。。。 Moiraine。〃 Thom watched her with obvious wariness。 He looked not best pleased to find her there。 Suddenly Rand wondered what sort of entertainment a lady like her might be offered in a city like Baerlon； or Caemlyn。 Surely it could not be anything better than a gleeman。
〃That is a matter of taste； Master Bard；〃 Moiraine replied。 〃Some stories I like； and some I do not。〃
Thom's bow was his deepest yet； bending his long body parallel to the ground。 〃I assure you； none of my stories will displease。 All will please and entertain。 And you do me too much honor。 I am a simple gleeman； that and nothing more。〃
Moiraine answered his bow with a gracious nod。 For an instant she seemed even more the lady Ewin had named her； accepting an offering from one of her subjects。 Then she turned away； and Lan followed； a wolf heeling a gliding swan。 Thom stared after them； bushy brows drawn down； stroking his long mustaches with a knuckle； until they were halfway up the Green。 He's not pleased at all； Rand thought。
〃Are you going to juggle some more； now？〃 Ewin demanded。
〃Eat fire；〃 Mat shouted。 〃I want to see you eat fire。〃
〃The harp！〃 a voice cried from the crowd。 〃Play the harp！〃 Someone else called for the flute。
At that moment the door of the inn opened and the Village Council trundled out； Nynaeve in their midst。 Padan Fain was not with them；。 Rand saw； apparently the peddler had decided to remain in the warm mon room with his mulled wine。
Muttering about 〃a strong brandy；〃 Thom Merrilin abruptly jumped down from the old foundation。 He ignored the cries of those who had been watching him； pressing inside past the Councilors before they were well out of the doorway。
〃Is he supposed to be a gleeman or a king？〃 Cenn Buie asked in annoyed tones。 〃A waste of good money； if you ask me。〃
Bran al'Vere half turned after the gleeman then shook his head。 〃That man may be more trouble than he's worth。〃
Nynaeve； busy gathering her cloak around her； sniffed loudly。 〃Worry about the gleeman if you want； Brandelwyn al'Vere。 At least he is in Emond's Field； which is more than you can say for this false Dragon。 But as long as you are worrying； there are others here who should excite your worry。〃
〃If you please； Wisdom；〃 Bran said stiffly； 〃kindly leave who should worry me to my deciding。 Mistress Moiraine and Master Lan are guests in my inn； and decent； respectable folk； so I say。 Neither of them has called me a fool in front of the whole Council。 Neither of them has told the Council it hasn't a full set of wits among them。〃
〃It seems my estimate was too high by half；〃 Nynaeve retorted。 She strode away without a backward glance； leaving Bran's jaw working as he searched for a reply。
Egwene looked at Rand as if she were going to speak； then darted after the Wisdom instead。 Rand knew there must be some way to stop her from leaving the Two Rivers； but the only way he could think of was not one he was prepared to take； even if she was willing。 And she had as much as said she was not willing at all； which made him feel even worse。
〃That young woman wants a husband；〃 Cenn Buie growled； bouncing on his toes。 His face was purple； and getting darker。 〃She lacks proper respect。 We're the Village Council； not boys raking her yard； and …〃
The Mayor breathed heavily through his nose； and suddenly rounded on the old thatcher。 〃Be quiet； Cenn！ Stop acting like a black…veiled Aiel！〃 The skinny man froze on his toes in astonishment。 The Mayor never let his temper get the best of him。 Bran glared。 〃Burn me； but we have better things to be about than this foolishness。 Or do you intend to prove Nynaeve right？〃 With that he stumped back into the inn and slammed the door behind him。
The Council members glanced at Cenn； then moved off in their separate directions。 All but Haral Luhhan； who acpanied the stony…visaged thatcher； talking quietly。 The blacksmith was the only one who could ever get Cenn to see reason。
Rand went to meet his father； and his friends trailed after him。
〃I've never seen Master al'Vere so mad；〃 was the first thing Rand said； getting him a disgusted look from Mat。
〃The Mayor and the Wisdom seldom agree；〃 Tam said； 〃and they agreed less than usual today。 That's all。 It's the same in every village。〃
〃What about the false Dragon？〃 Mat asked； and Perrin added eager murmurs。 〃What about the Aes Sedai？〃
Tam shook his head slowly。 〃Master Fain knew little more than he had already told。 At least； little of interest to us。 Battles won or lost。 Cities taken and retaken。 All in Ghealdan； thank the Light。 It hasn't spread； or had not the last Master Fain knew。〃
〃Battles interest me；〃 Mat said； and Perrin added； 〃What did he say about them？〃〃Battles don't interest me； Matrim；〃 Tam said。 〃But I'm sure he will be glad to tell you all about them later。 What does interest me is that we shouldn't have to worry about them here； as far as the Council can tell。 We can see no reason for Aes Sedai to e here on their way south。 And as for the return journey； they aren't likely to want to cross the Forest of Shadows and swim the White River。〃
Rand and the others chuckled at the idea。 There were three reasons why no one came into the Two Rivers except from the north； by way of Taren Ferry。 The Mountains of Mist； in the west； were the first； of course； and the Mire blocked the east just as effectively。 To the south was the White River； which got its name from the way rocks and boulders churned its swift waters to froth。 And beyond the White lay the Forest of Shadows。 Few Two Rivers folk had ever crossed the White； and fewer still returned if they did。 It was generally agreed； though； that the Forest of Shadows stretched south for a hundred miles or more without a road or a village； but with plenty of wolves and bears。
〃So that's an end to it for us；〃 Mat said。 He sounded at least a little
disappointed。
〃Not quite；〃 Tam said。 〃Day after tomorrow we will send men to Deven Ride and Watch Hill； and Taren Ferry； too； to arrange for a watch to be kept。 Riders along the White and the Taren； both； and patrols between。 It should be done today； but only the Mayor agrees with me。 The rest can't see asking anyone to spend Bel Tine off riding across the Two Rivers。〃
〃But I thought you said we didn't have to worry；〃 Perrin said； and Tam shook his head。
〃I said should not； boy； not did not。 I've seen men die because they were sure that what should not happen； would not。 Besides； the fighting will stir up all sorts of people。 Most will just be trying to find safety； but others will be looking for a way to profit from the confusion。 We'll offer any of the first a helping hand； but we must be ready to send the second type on their way。〃
Abruptly Mat spoke up。 〃Can we be part of it？ I want to； anyway。 You know I can ride as well as anyone in the village。〃
〃You want a few weeks of cold； boredom； and sleeping rough？〃 Tam chuckled。 〃Likely that's all there will be to it。 I hope that's all。 We're well out of the way even for refugees。 But you can speak to Master al'Vere if your mind is made up。 Rand； it's time for us to be getting back to the farm。〃
Rand blinked in surprise。 〃I thought we were staying for Winternight。〃
〃Things need seeing to at the farm； and I need you with me。〃
〃Even so； we don't have to leave for hours yet。 And I want to volunteer for the patrols； too。〃
〃We are going now；〃 his father replied in a tone that brooked no argument。 In a softer voice he added； 〃We'll be back tomorrow in plenty of time for you to speak to the Mayor。 And plenty of time for Festival； too。 Five minutes； now； then meet me in the stable。〃
〃Are you going to join Rand and me on the watch？〃 Mat asked Perrin as Tam left。 〃I'll bet there's nothing like this ever happened in the Two Rivers before。 Why； if we get up to the Taren； we might even see soldiers； or who knows what。 Even Tinkers。〃
〃I expect I will；〃 'Perrin said slowly； 〃if Master Luhhan doesn't need me； that is。〃
〃The war is in Ghealdan；〃 Rand snapped。 With an effort he lowered his voice。 〃The war is in Ghealdan； and the Aes Sedai are the Light knows where； but none of it is here。 The man in the black cloak is； or have you forgotten him already？〃 The others exchanged embarrassed looks。
〃Sorry； Rand；〃 Mat muttered。 〃But a
