rj.eyeoftheworld-第145节

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ned　almost　its　normal　tone。　〃You'll　have　to　stay　out　of　sight　until　I　can　get　you　out　of　the　city。〃　With　a　careful　look　back　into　the　mon　room；　he　pushed　Rand　deeper　into　the　hall。　〃That　lot　will　be　back；　or　else　a　few　spies　wearing　red　for　the　day。　After　that　little　show　I　put　on；　I　doubt　they'll　care　whether　you're　here　or　not；　but　they'll　act　as　though　you　are。〃
　　　　　　　〃That's　crazy；〃　Rand　protested。　At　the　innkeeper's　gesture　he　lowered　his　voice。　〃The　Whitecloaks　don't　have　any　reason　to　be　after　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know　about　reasons；　lad；　but　they're　after　you　and　Mat　for　certain　sure。　What　have　you　been　up　to？　Elaida　and　the　Whitecloaks。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　raised　his　hands　in　protest；　then　let　them　fall。　It　made　no　sense；　but　he　had　heard　the　Whitecloak。　〃What　about　you？　The　Whitecloaks　will　make　trouble　for　you　even　when　they　don't　find　us。〃
　　　　　　　〃No　worries　about　that；　lad。　The　Queen's　Guards　still　uphold　the　law；　even　if　they　do　let　traitors　strut　around　showing　white。　As　for　the　night　。。。　well；　Lamgwin　and　his　friends　might　not　get　much　sleep；　but　I　could　almost　pity　anybody　who　tries　to　put　a　mark　on　my　door。〃
　　　　　　　Gilda　appeared　beside　them；　dropping　a　curtsy　to　Master　Gill。　〃Sir；　there's。。。　there's　a　lady。　In　the　kitchens。〃　She　sounded　scandalized　at　the　bination。　〃She's　asking　for　Master　Rand；　sir；　and　Master　Mat；　by　name。　〃
　　　　　　　Rand　exchanged　a　puzzled　look　with　the　innkeeper。
　　　　　　　〃Lad；〃　Master　Gill　said；　〃if　you've　actually　managed　to　bring　the　Lady　Elayne　down　from　the　Palace　to　my　inn；　we'll　all　end　up　facing　the　headsman。〃　Gilda　squeaked　at　the　mention　of　the　Daughter…Heir　and　gave　Rand　a　round…eyed　stare。　〃Off　with　you；　girl；〃　the　innkeeper　said　sharply。　〃And　keep　quiet　about　what　you've　heard。　It's　nobody's　business。〃　Gilda　bobbed　again　and　darted　down　the　hallway；　flashing　glances　over　her　shoulder　at　Rand　as　she　went。　〃In　five　minutes〃　…　Master　Gill　sighed　…　〃she　will　be　telling　the　other　women　you're　a　prince　in　disguise。　By　nightfall　it　will　be　all　over　the　New　City。〃
　　　　　　　〃Master　Gill；〃　Rand　said；　〃I　never　mentioned　Mat　to　Elayne。　It　can't　be　…　〃　Suddenly　a　huge　smile　lit　up　his　face；　and　he　ran　for　the　kitchens。
　　　　　　　〃Wait！〃　the　innkeeper　called　behind　him。　〃Wait　until　you　know。　Wait；　you　fool！〃
　　　　　　　Rand　threw　open　the　door　to　the　kitchens；　and　there　they　were。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　rested　her　serene　eyes　on　him；　unsurprised。　Nynaeve　and　Egwene　ran　laughing　to　throw　their　arms　around　him；　with　Perrin　crowding　in　behind　them；　all　three　patting　his　shoulders　as　if　they　had　to　be　convinced　that　he　was　really　there。　In　the　doorway　leading　to　the　stableyard　Lan　lounged　with　one　boot　up　on　the　doorframe；　dividing　his　attention　between　the　kitchen　and　the　yard　outside。
　　　　　　　Rand　tried　to　hug　the　two　women　and　shake　Perrin's　hand；　all　at　the　same　time；　and　it　was　a　tangle　of　arms　and　laughter　plicated　by　Nynaeve　trying　to　feel　his　face　for　fever。　They　looked　somewhat　the　worse　for　wear　…　bruises　on　Perrin's　face；　and　he　had　a　way　of　keeping　his　eyes　downcast　that　he　had　never　had　before　…　but　they　were　alive；　and　together　again。　His　throat　was　so　tight　he　could　barely　talk。　〃I　was　afraid　I'd　never　see　you　again；〃　he　managed　finally。　〃I　was　afraid　you　were　all　。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　knew　you　were　alive；〃　Egwene　said　against　his　chest。　〃I　always　knew　it。　Always。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　did　not；〃　Nynaeve　said。　Her　voice　was　sharp　for　just　that　moment；　but　it　softened　in　the　next；　and　she　smiled　up　at　him。　〃You　look　well；　Rand。　Not　overfed　by　any　means；　but　well；　thank　the　Light。〃
　　　　　　　〃Well；〃　Master　Gill　said　behind　him；　〃I　guess　you　know　these　people　after　all。　Those　friends　you　were　looking　for？〃
　　　　　　　Rand　nodded。　〃Yes；　my　friends。〃　He　made　introductions　all　around；　it　still　felt　odd　to　be　giving　Lan　and　Moiraine　their　right　names。　They　both　eyed　him　sharply　when　he　did。
　　　　　　　The　innkeeper　greeted　everyone　with　an　open　smile；　but　he　was　properly　impressed　at　meeting　a　Warder；　and　especially　at　Moiraine。　At　her　he　gaped　openly　…　it　was　one　thing　knowing　an　Aes　Sedai　had　been　helping　the　boys；　quite　something　else　having　her　appear　in　the　kitchen　…　then　bowed　deeply。　〃You　are　wele　to　The　Queen's　Blessing；　Aes　Sedai；　as　my　guest。　Though　I　suppose　you　will　be　staying　at　the　Palace　with　Elaida　Sedai；　and　the　Aes　Sedai　who　came　with　the　false　Dragon。〃　Bowing　again；　he　gave　Rand　a　quick；　worried　look。　It　was　all　very　well　to　say　he　did　not　speak　ill　of　Aes　Sedai；　but　that　was　not　the　same　as　saying　he　wanted　one　sleeping　under　his　roof。
　　　　　　　Rand　nodded　encouragingly；　trying　to　tell　him　silently　that　it　was　all　right。　Moiraine　was　not　like　Elaida；　with　a　threat　hidden　behind　every　glance；　under　every　word。　Are　you　sure？　Even　now；　are　you　sure？
　　　　　　　〃I　believe　I　will　stay　here；〃　Moiraine　said；　〃for　the　short　time　I　remain　in　Caemlyn。　And　you　must　allow　me　to　pay。〃
　　　　　　　A　calico　cat　sauntered　in　from　the　hallway　to　strop　the　innkeeper's　ankles。　No　sooner　had　the　calico　begun　than　a　fuzzy　gray　sprang　from　under　the　table；　arching　its　back　and　hissing。　The　calico　crouched　with　a　threatening　growl；　and　the　gray　streaked　past　Lan　into　the　stableyard。
　　　　　　　Master　Gill　began　apologizing　for　the　cats　at　the　same　time　he　protested　that　Moiraine　would　honor　him　by　being　his　guest；　and　was　she　sure　she　would　not　prefer　the　Palace；　which　he　would　quite　understand；　but　he　hoped　she　would　accept　his　best　room　as　a　gift。　It　made　a　jumble　to　which　Moiraine　seemed　to　pay　no　attention　at　all。　Instead　she　bent　down　to　scratch　the　orange…and…white　cat；　it　promptly　left　Master　Gill's　ankles　for　hers。
　　　　　　　〃I've　seen　four　other　cats　here；　so　far；〃　she　said。　〃You　have　a　problem　with　mice？　Rats？〃
　　　　　　　〃Rats；　Moiraine　Sedai。〃　The　innkeeper　sighed。　〃A　terrible　problem。　Not　that　I　don't　keep　a　clean　place；　you　understand。　It's　all　the　people。　The　whole　city　is　full　of　people　and　rats。　But　my　cats　take　care　of　it。　You'll　not　be　troubled；　I　promise。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　exchanged　a　fleeting　look　with　Perrin；　who　put　his　eyes　down　again　right　away。　There　was　something　odd　about　Perrin's　eyes。　And　he　was　so　silent；　Perrin　was　almost　always　slow　to　speak；　but　now　he　was　saying　nothing　at　all。　〃It　could　be　all　the　people；〃　he　said。
　　　　　　　〃With　your　permission；　Master　Gill；〃　Moiraine　said；　as　if　she　took　it　for　granted。　〃It　is　a　simple　matter　to　keep　rats　away　from　this　street。　With　luck；　the　rats　will　not　even　realize　they　are　being　kept　away。〃
　　　　　　　Master　Gill　frowned　at　that　last；　but　he　bowed；　accepting　her　offer。　〃If　you　are　sure　you　don't　want　to　stay　at　the　Palace；　Aes　Sedai。　〃
　　　　　　　〃Where　is　Mat？〃　Nynaeve　said　suddenly。　〃She　said　he　was　here；　too。〃
　　　　　　　〃Upstairs；〃　Rand　said。　〃He's　。。。　not　feeling　well。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve's　head　came　up。　〃He's　sick？　I'll　leave　the　rats　to　her；　and　I'll　attend　to　him。　Take　me　to　him　now；　Rand。　〃
　　　　　　　〃All　of　you　go　up；〃　Moiraine　said。　〃I　will　join　you　in　a　few　minutes。　We　are　crowding　Master　Gill's　kitchen；　and　it　would　be　best　if　we　could　all　be　somewhere　quiet　for　a　time。〃　There　was　an　undercurrent　in　her　voice。　Stay　out　of　sight。　The　hiding　is　not　done　yet。
　　　　　　　〃e　on；〃　Rand　said。　〃We'll　go　up　the　back　way。〃
　　　　　　　The　Emond's　Field　folk　crowded　after　him　to　the　back　staircase；　leaving　the　Aes　Sedai　and　the　Warder　in　the　kitchen　with　Master　Gill。　He　could　not　get　over　being　back　together。　It　was　nearly　as　if　he　were　home　again。　He　could　not　stop　grinning。
　　　　　　　The　same　relief；　almost　joyous；　seemed　to　be　affecting　the　others。　They　chuckled　to　themselves；　and　kept　reaching　out　to　grip　his　arm。　Perrin's　voice　seemed　subdued；　and　he　still　kept　his　head　down；　but　he　began　to　talk　as　they　climbed。
　　　　　　　〃Moiraine　said　she　could　find　you　and　Mat；　and　she　did。　When　we　rode　into　the　city；　the　rest　of　us　couldn't　stop　staring　…　well；　all　except　Lan；　of　course　…　all　the　people；　the　buildings；　everything。〃　His　thick　curls　swung　as　he　shook　his　head　in　disbelief。　〃It's　all　so　big。　And　so　many　people。　Some　of　them　kept　staring　at　us；　too；　shouting　'Red　or　white？'　like　it　made　some　kind　of　sense。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　touched　Rand's　sword；　fingering　the　red　wrappings。　〃What　does　it　mean？〃
　　　　　　　〃Nothing；〃　he　said。　〃Nothing　important。　We're　leaving　for　Tar　Valon；　remember？〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　gave　him　a　look；　but　she　removed　her　hand　from　the　sword　and　took　up　where　Perrin　had　left　off。　〃Moiraine　didn't　look　at　anything　any　more　than　Lan　did。　She　led　us　back　and　forth　through　all　those　streets　so　many　times；　like　a　dog　hunting　a　scent；　that　I　thought　you　couldn't　be　here。　Then；　all　of　a　sudden；　she　took　off　down　a　street；　and　the　next　thing　I　knew　we　were　handing　the　horses　to　the　stablemen　and　marching　into　the　kitchen。　She　never　even　asked　if　you　were　here。　Just　told　a　woman　who　was　mixing　batter　to　go　tell　Rand　al'Thor　and　Mat　Cauthon　that　someone　wanted　to　see　them。　And　there　you　were〃　…　she　grinned　…〃like　a　ball　popping　into　the　gleeman's　hand　out　of　nowhere。〃
　　　　　　　〃Where　is　the　gleeman？〃　Perrin　asked。　〃Is　he　with　you？〃
　　　　　　　Rand's　stomach　lurched　and　the　good　feeling　of　having　friends　around　him　dimmed。　〃Thom's　dead。　I　think　he's　dead。　There　was　a　Fade　。。。〃　He　could　not　say　any　more。　Nynaeve　shook　her　head；　muttering　under　her　breath。
　　　　　　　The　silence　thickened　around　them；　stifling