rj.eyeoftheworld-第44节

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all；　and　even　the　Watch；　but　the　Governor　wants　it　all　peaceful；　and　that's　how　it's　been　so　far。　If　they're　hunting　evil；　I　say　why　aren't　they　up　in　Saldaea？　There's　some　kind　of　trouble　up　there；　I　hear。　Or　down　in　Ghealdan？　There's　been　a　big　battle　down　there；　they　say。　Real　big。〃
　　　　　　　Moiraine　drew　a　soft　breath。　〃I　had　heard　that　Aes　Sedai　were　going　to　Ghealdan。　〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　they　did；　mistress。〃　Avin's　head　started　bobbing　again。　〃They　went　to　Ghealdan；　all　right；　and　that's　what　started　this　battle；　or　so　I　hear。　They　say　some　of　those　Aes　Sedai　are　dead。　Maybe　all　of　them。　I　know　some　folks　don't　hold　with　Aes　Sedai；　but　I　say；　who　else　is　going　to　stop　a　false　Dragon？　Eh？　And　those　damned　fools　who　think　they　can　be　men　Aes　Sedai　or　some　such。　What　about　them？　Course；　some　say　…　not　the　Whitecloaks；　mind；　and　not　me；　but　some　folks　…　that　maybe　this　fellow　really　is　the　Dragon　Reborn。　He　can　do　things；　I　hear。　Use　the　One　Power。　There's　thousands　following　him。〃
　　　　　　　〃Don't　be　a　fool；〃　Lan　snapped；　and　Avin's　face　folded　into　a　hurt　look。
　　　　　　　〃I'm　only　saying　what　I　heard；　ain't　I？　Just　what　I　heard；　Master　Andra。　They　say；　some　do；　that　he's　moving　his　army　east　and　south；　toward　Tear。〃　His　voice　became　heavy　with　meaning。　〃They　say　he's　named　them　the　People　of　the　Dragon。〃
　　　　　　　〃Names　mean　little；〃　Moiraine　said　calmly。　If　anything　she　had　heard　disturbed　her；　she　gave　no　outward　sign　of　it　now。　〃You　could　call　your　mule　People　of　the　Dragon；　if　you　wanted。〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　likely；　mistress。〃　Avin　chuckled。　〃Not　with　the　Whitecloaks　around；　for　sure。　I　don't　expect　anybody　else　would　look　kindly　on　a　name　like　that；　neither。　I　see　what　you　mean；　but　。。。　oh；　no；　mistress。　Not　my　mule。〃
　　　　　　　〃No　doubt　a　wise　decision；〃　Moiraine　said。　〃Now　we　must　be　off。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　don't　you　worry；　mistress；〃　Avin　said；　with　a　deep　bob　of　his　head；　〃I　ain't　seen　nobody。〃　He　darted　to　the　gate　and　began　tugging　it　closed　with　quick　jerks。　〃Ain't　seen　nobody；　and　ain't　seen　nothing。〃　The　gate　thudded　shut；　and　he　pulled　down　the　locking　bar　with　a　rope。　〃In　fact；　mistress；　this　gate　ain't　been　open　in　days。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Light　illumine　you；　Avin；〃　Moiraine　said。
　　　　　　　She　led　them　away　from　the　gate；　then。　Rand　looked　back；　once；　and　Avin　was　still　standing　in　front　of　the　gate。　He　seemed　to　be　polishing　a　coin　with　an　edge　of　his　cloak　and　chuckling。
　　　　　　　The　way　led　through　dirt　streets　barely　the　width　of　two　wagons；　empty　of　people；　all　lined　with　warehouses　and　occasional　high；　wooden　fences。　Rand　walked　a　time　beside　the　gleeman。　〃Thom；　what　was　all　that　about　Tear；　and　the　People　of　the　Dragon？　Tear　is　a　city　all　the　way　down　on　the　Sea　of　Storms；　isn't　it？〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Karaethon　Cycle；〃　Thom　said　curtly。
　　　　　　　Rand　blinked。　The　Prophecies　of　the　Dragon。　〃Nobody　tells　the　。。。　those　stories　in　the　Two　Rivers。　Not　in　Emond's　Field；　anyway。　The　Wisdom　would　skin　them　alive；　if　they　did。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　suppose　she　would；　at　that；〃　Thom　said　dryly。　He　glanced　at　Moiraine　up　ahead　with　Lan；　saw　she　could　not　overhear；　and　went　on。　〃Tear　is　the　greatest　port　on　the　Sea　of　Storms；　and　the　Stone　of　Tear　is　the　fortress　that　guards　it。　The　Stone　is　said　to　be　the　first　fortress　built　after　the　Breaking　of　the　World；　and　in　all　this　time　it　has　never　fallen；　though　more　than　one　army　has　tried。　One　of　the　Prophecies　says　that　the　Stone　of　Tear　will　never　fall　until　the　People　of　the　Dragon　e　to　the　Stone。　Another　says　the　Stone　will　never　fall　till　the　Sword　That　Cannot　Be　Touched　is　wielded　by　the　Dragon's　hand。〃　Thom　grimaced。　〃The　fall　of　the　Stone　will　be　one　of　the　major　proofs　that　the　Dragon　has　been　reborn。　May　the　Stone　stand　till　I　am　dust。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　sword　that　cannot　be　touched？〃
　　　　　　　〃That's　what　it　says。　I　don't　know　whether　it　really　is　a　sword。　Whatever　it　is；　it　lies　in　the　Heart　of　the　Stone；　the　central　citadel　of　the　fortress。　None　but　the　Great　Lords　of　Tear　can　enter　there；　and　they　never　speak　of　what　lies　inside。　Certainly　not　to　gleemen；　anyway。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　frowned。　〃The　Stone　cannot　fall　until　the　Dragon　wields　the　sword；　but　how　can　he；　unless　the　Stone　has　already　fallen？　Is　the　Dragon　supposed　to　be　a　Great　Lord　of　Tear？〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　much　chance　of　that；〃　the　gleeman　said　dryly。　〃Tear　hates　anything　to　do　with　the　Power　even　more　than　Amador；　and　Amador　is　the　stronghold　of　the　Children　of　the　Light。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　how　can　the　Prophecy　be　fulfilled？〃　Rand　asked。　〃I'd　like　it　well　enough　if　the　Dragon　was　never　reborn；　but　a　prophecy　that　cannot　be　fulfilled　doesn't　make　much　sense。　It　sounds　like　a　story　meant　to　make　people　think　the　Dragon　never　will　be　reborn。　Is　that　it？〃
　　　　　　　〃You　ask　an　awful　lot　of　questions；　boy；〃　Thom　said。　〃A　prophecy　that　was　easily　fulfilled　would　not　be　worth　much；　now　would　it？〃　Suddenly　his　voice　brightened。　〃Well；　we're　here。　Wherever　here　is。　〃
　　　　　　　Lan　had　stopped　by　a　section　of　head…high　wooden　fence　that　looked　no　different　from　any　other　they　had　passed。　He　was　working　the　blade　of　his　dagger　between　two　of　the　boards。　Abruptly　he　gave　a　grunt　of　satisfaction；　pulled；　and　a　length　of　the　fence　swung　out　like　a　gate。　In　fact　it　was　a　gate；　Rand　saw；　though　one　meant　to　be　opened　only　from　the　other　side。　The　metal　latch　that　Lan　had　lifted　with　his　dagger　showed　that。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　went　through　immediately；　drawing　Aldieb　behind　her。　Lan　motioned　the　others　to　follow；　and　brought　up　the　rear；　closing　the　gate　behind　him。
　　　　　　　On　the　other　side　of　the　fence　Rand　found　himself　in　the　stableyard　of　an　inn。　A　loud　bustle　and　clatter　came　from　the　building's　kitchen；　but　what　struck　him　was　its　size；　it　covered　more　than　twice　as　much　ground　as　the　Winespring　Inn；　and　was　four　stories　high　besides。　Well　over　half　the　windows　were　aglow　in　the　deepening　twilight。　He　wondered　at　this　city　that　could　have　so　many　strangers　in　it。
　　　　　　　No　sooner　had　they　e　well　into　the　stableyard　than　three　men　in　dirty　canvas　aprons　appeared　at　the　huge　stable's　broad；　arched　doors。　One；　a　wiry　fellow　and　the　only　one　without　a　manure　fork　in　his　hands；　came　forward　waving　his　arms。
　　　　　　　〃Here！　Here！　You　can't　e　in　that　way！　You'll　have　to　go　round　the　front！〃
　　　　　　　Lan's　hand　went　to　his　purse　again；　but　even　as　it　did　another　man；　as　big　around　as　Master　al'Vere；　came　hurrying　out　of　the　inn。　Puffs　of　hair　stuck　out　above　his　ears；　and　his　sparkling　white　apron　was　as　good　as　a　sign　proclaiming　him　the　innkeeper。
　　　　　　　〃It's　all　right；　Mutch；〃　the　newer　said。　〃It's　all　right。　These　folk　are　expected　guests。　Take　care　of　their　horses；　now。　Good　care。〃
　　　　　　　Mutch　sullenly　knuckled　his　forehead；　then　motioned　his　two　panions　to　e　help。　Rand　and　the　others　hurriedly　got　their　saddlebags　and　blanketrolls　down　while　the　innkeeper　turned　to　Moiraine。　He　gave　her　a　deep　bow；　and　spoke　with　a　genuine　smile。
　　　　　　　〃Wele；　Mistress　Alys。　Wele。　It's　good　to　be　seeing　you；　you　and　Master　Andra；　both。　Very　good。　Your　fine　conversation　has　been　missed。　Yes；　it　has。　I　must　say　I　worried；　you　going　downcountry　and　all。　Well；　I　mean；　at　a　time　like　this；　with　the　weather　all　crazy　and　wolves　howling　right　up　to　the　walls　in　the　night。〃　Abruptly　he　slapped　both　hands　against　his　round　belly　and　shook　his　head。　〃Here　I　go　on　like　this；　chattering　away；　instead　of　taking　you　inside。　e。　e。　Hot　meals　and　warm　beds；　that's　what　you'll　be　wanting。　And　the　best　in　Baerlon　are　right　here。　The　very　best。　〃
　　　　　　　〃And　hot　baths；　too；　I　trust；　Master　Fitch？〃　Moiraine　said；　and　Egwene　echoed　her　fervently。　〃Oh；　yes。〃
　　　　　　　〃Baths？〃　the　innkeeper　said。　〃Why；　just　the　best　and　the　hottest　in　Baerlon。　e。　Wele　to　the　Stag　and　Lion。　Wele　to　Baerlon。〃

Chapter　14
The　Stag　and　Lion
　
　　　　　　　Inside；　the　inn　was　every　bit　as　busy　as　the　sounds　ing　from　it　had　indicated　and　more。　The　party　from　Emond's　Field　followed　Master　Fitch　through　the　back　door；　soon　weaving　around　and　between　a　constant　stream　of　men　and　women　in　long　aprons；　platters　of　food　and　trays　of　drink　held　high。　The　bearers　murmured　quick　apologies　when　they　got　in　anyone's　way；　but　they　never　slowed　by　a　step。　One　of　the　men　took　hurried　orders　from　Master　Fitch　and　disappeared　at　a　run。
　　　　　　　〃The　inn　is　near　full；　I'm　afraid；〃　the　innkeeper　told　Moiraine。　〃Almost　to　the　rafters。　Every　inn　in　the　town　is　the　same。　With　the　winter　we　just　had　。。。　well；　as　soon　as　it　cleared　enough　for　them　to　get　down　out　of　the　mountains　we　were　inundated　…　yes；　that's　the　word　…　inundated　by　men　from　the　mines　and　smelters；　all　telling　the　most　horrible　tales。　Wolves；　and　worse。　The　kind　of　tales　men　tell　when　they've　been　cooped　up　all　winter。　I　can't　think　there's　anyone　left　up　there　at　all；　we　have　that　many　here。　But　never　fear。　Things　may　be　a　little　crowded；　but　I'll　do　my　best　by　you　and　Master　Andra。　And　your　friends；　too；　of　course。〃　He　glanced　curiously　once　or　twice　at　Rand　and　the　others；　except　for　Thom　their　clothes　named　them　country　folk；　and　Thom's　gleeman's　cloak　made　him　a　strange　traveling　panion　as　well　for　〃Mistress　Alys〃　and　〃Master　Andra〃。　〃I　will　do　my　best；　you　may　rest　assured。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　stared　at　the　bustle　around　them　and　tried　to　avoid　being　stepped　on；　though　none　of　the　help　really　seem