rj.eyeoftheworld-第5节

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uch　things　cost　where　people　could　hear　him　when　the　things　are　supposed　to　be　secret　。。。　〃
　　　　　　　Cenn　cleared　his　throat。　〃My　bones　are　too　old　for　this　wind。　If　you　don't　mind；　I'll　just　see　if　Mistress　al'Vere　won't　fix　me　some　mulled　wine　to　take　the　chill　off。　Mayor。　Al'Thor。　〃　He　was　headed　for　the　inn　before　he　finished；　and　as　the　door　swung　shut　behind　him；　Bran　sighed。
　　　　　　　〃Sometimes　I　think　Nynaeve　is　right　about　。。。　Well；　that's　not　important　now。　You　young　fellows　think　for　a　minute。　Everyone's　excited　about　the　fireworks；　true；　and　that's　only　at　a　rumor。　Think　how　they'll　be　if　the　peddler　doesn't　get　here　in　time；　after　all　their　anticipating。　And　with　the　weather　the　way　it　is；　who　knows　when　he　will　e。　They'd　be　fifty　times　as　excited　about　a　gleeman。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　feel　fifty　times　as　bad　if　he　hadn't　e；〃　Rand　said　slowly。　〃Even　Bel　Tine　might　not　do　much　for　people's　spirits　after　that。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　have　a　head　on　your　shoulders　when　you　choose　to　use　it；〃　Bran　said。　〃He'll　follow　you　on　the　Village　Council　one　day；　Tam。　Mark　my　words。　He　couldn't　do　much　worse　right　now　than　someone　I　could　name。〃
　　　　　　　〃None　of　this　is　unloading　the　cart；〃　Tam　said　briskly；　handing　the　first　cask　of　brandy　to　the　Mayor。　〃I　want　a　warm　fire；　my　pipe；　and　a　mug　of　your　good　ale。〃　He　hoisted　the　second　brandy　cask　onto　his　shoulder。　〃I'm　sure　Rand　will　thank　you　for　your　help；　Matrim。　Remember；　the　sooner　the　cider　is　in　the　cellar。。。　〃
　　　　　　　As　Tam　and　Bran　disappeared　into　the　inn；　Rand　looked　at　his　friend。　〃You　don't　have　to　help。　Dav　won't　keep　that　badger　long。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　why　not？〃　Mat　said　resignedly。　〃Like　your　da　said；　the　quicker　it's　in　the　cellar　。。。〃　Picking　up　one　of　the　casks　of　cider　in　both　arms；　he　hurried　toward　the　inn　in　a　half　trot。　〃Maybe　Egwene　is　around。　Watching　you　stare　at　her　like　a　poleaxed　ox　will　be　as　good　as　a　badger　any　day。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　paused　in　the　act　of　putting　his　bow　and　quiver　in　the　back　of　the　cart。　He　really　had　managed　to　put　Egwene　out　of　his　mind。　That　was　unusual　in　itself。　But　she　would　likely　be　around　the　inn　somewhere。　There　was　not　much　chance　he　could　avoid　her。　Of　course；　it　had　been　weeks　since　he　saw　her　last。
　　　　　　　〃Well？〃　Mat　called　from　the　front　of　the　inn。　〃I　didn't　say　I　would　do　it　by　myself。　You　aren't　on　the　Village　Council　yet。〃
　　　　　　　With　a　start；　Rand　took　up　a　cask　and　followed。　Perhaps　she　would　not　be　there　after　all。　Oddly；　that　possibility　did　not　make　him　feel　any　better。
　
Chapter　2
Strangers

　　　　　　　When　Rand　and　Mat　carried　the　first　barrels　through　the　mon　room；　Master　al'Vere　was　already　filling　a　pair　of　mugs　with　his　best　brown　ale；　his　own　make；　from　one　of　the　casks　cracked　against　one　wall。　Scratch；　the　inn's　yellow　cat；　crouched　atop　it　with　his　eyes　closed　and　his　tail　wrapped　around　his　feet。　Tam　stood　in　front　of　the　big　fireplace　of　river　rock；　thumbing　a　long…stemmed　pipe　full　of　tabac　from　a　polished　canister　the　innkeeper　always　kept　on　the　plain　stone　mantel。　The　fireplace　stretched　half　the　length　of　the　big；　square　room；　with　a　lintel　as　high　as　a　man's　shoulder；　and　the　crackling　blaze　on　the　hearth　vanquished　the　chill　outside。
　　　　　　　At　that　time　of　the　busy　day　before　Festival；　Rand　expected　to　find　the　mon　room　empty　except　for　Bran　and　his　father　and　the　cat；　but　four　more　members　of　the　Village　Council；　including　Cenn；　sat　in　high…backed　chairs　in　front　of　the　fire；　mugs　in　hand　and　blue…gray　pipesmoke　wreathing　their　heads。　For　once　none　of　the　stones　boards　were　in　use；　and　all　of　Bran's　books　stood　idle　on　the　shelf　opposite　the　fireplace。　The　men　did　not　even　talk；　peering　silently　into　their　ale　or　tapping　pipestems　against　their　teeth　in　impatience；　as　they　waited　for　Tam　and　Bran　to　join　them。
　　　　　　　Worry　was　not　unmon　for　the　Village　Council　these　days；　not　in　Emond's　Field；　and　likely　not　in　Watch　Hill；　or　Deven　Ride。　Or　even　Taren　Ferry；　though　who　knew　what　Taren　Ferry　folk　really　thought　about　anything？
　　　　　　　Only　two　of　the　men　before　the　fire；　Haral　Luhhan；　the　blacksmith；　and　Jon　Thane；　the　miller；　so　much　as　glanced　at　the　boys　as　they　entered。　Master　Luhhan；　though；　made　it　more　than　a　glance。　The　blacksmith's　arms　were　as　big　as　most　men's　legs；　roped　with　heavy　muscle；　and　he　still　wore　his　long　leather　apron　as　if　he　had　hurried　to　the　meeting　straight　from　the　forge。　His　frown　took　them　both　in；　then　he　straightened　around　in　his　chair　deliberately；　turning　his　attention　back　to　an　over…studious　tamping　of　his　pipe　with　a　thick　thumb。
　　　　　　　Curious；　Rand　slowed；　then　barely　bit　back　a　yelp　as　Mat　kicked　his　ankle。　His　friend　nodded　insistently　toward　the　doorway　at　the　back　of　the　mon　room　and　hurried　on　without　waiting。　Limping　slightly；　Rand　followed　less　quickly。
　　　　　　　〃What　was　that　about？〃　he　demanded　as　soon　as　he　was　in　the　hall　that　to　the　kitchen。　〃You　almost　broke　my　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃It's　old　Luhhan；〃　Mat　said；　peering　past　Rand's　shoulder　into　the　mon　room。　〃I　think　he　suspects　I　was　the　one　who　…　〃　He　cut　off　abruptly　as　Mistress　al'Vere　bustled　out　of　the　kitchen；　the　aroma　of　fresh…baked　bread　wafting　ahead　of　her。
　　　　　　　The　tray　in　her　hands　carried　some　of　the　crusty　loaves　for　which　she　was　famous　around　Emond's　Field；　as　well　as　plates　of　pickles　and　cheese。　The　food　reminded　Rand　abruptly　that　he　had　eaten　only　an　end　of　bread　before　leaving　the　farm　that　morning。　His　stomach　gave　an　embarrassing　rumble。
　　　　　　　A　slender　woman；　with　her　thick　braid　of　graying　hair　pulled　over　one　shoulder；　Mistress　al'Vere　smiled　in　a　motherly　fashion　that　took　in　both　of　them。　〃There　is　more　of　this　in　the　kitchen；　if　you　two　are　hungry；　and　I　never　knew　boys　your　age　who　weren't。　Or　any　other　age；　for　that　matter。　If　you　prefer；　I'm　baking　honeycakes　this　morning。〃
　　　　　　　She　was　one　of　the　few　married　women　in　the　area　who　never　tried　to　play　matchmaker　with　Tam。　Toward　Rand　her　motherliness　extended　to　warm　smiles　and　a　quick　snack　whenever　he　came　by　the　inn；　but　she　did　as　much　for　every　young　man　in　the　area。　If　she　occasionally　looked　at　him　as　if　she　wanted　to　do　more；　at　least　she　took　it　no　further　than　looks；　for　that　he　was　deeply　grateful。Without　waiting　for　a　reply　she　swept　on　into　the　mon　room。　Immediately　there　was　the　sound　of　chairs　scraping　on　the　floor　as　the　men　got　to　their　feet；　and　exclaimings　over　the　smell　of　the　bread。　She　was　easily　the　best　cook　in　Emond's　Field；　and　not　a　man　for　miles　around　but　eagerly　leaped　at　a　chance　to　put　his　feet　under　her　table。
　　　　　　　〃Honeycakes；〃　Mat　said；　smacking　his　lips。
　　　　　　　〃After；〃　Rand　told　him　firmly；　〃or　we'll　never　get　done。〃
　　　　　　　A　lamp　hung　over　the　cellar　stairs；　just　beside　the　kitchen　door；　and　another　made　a　bright　pool　in　the　stone…walled　room　beneath　the　inn；　banishing　all　but　a　little　dimness　in　the　furthest　corners。　Wooden　racks　along　the　walls　and　across　the　floor　held　casks　of　brandy　and　cider；　and　larger　barrels　of　ale　and　wine；　some　with　taps　driven　in。　Many　of　the　wine　barrels　were　marked　with　chalk　in　Bran　al'Vere's　hand；　giving　the　year　they　had　been　bought；　what　peddler　had　brought　them；　and　in　which　city　they　had　been　made；　but　all　of　the　ale　and　brandy　was　the　make　of　Two　Rivers　farmers　or　of　Bran　himself。　Peddlers；　and　even　merchants；　sometimes　brought　brandy　or　ale　from　outside；　but　it　was　never　as　good　and　cost　the　earth；　besides；　and　nobody　ever　drank　it　more　than　once。
　　　　　　　〃Now；〃　Rand　said；　as　they　set　their　casks　in　the　racks；　〃what　did　you　do　that　you　have　to　avoid　Master　Luhhan？〃
　　　　　　　Mat　shrugged。　〃Nothing；　really。　I　told　Adan　al'Caar　and　some　of　his　snot…nosed　friends…Ewin　Finngar　and　Dag　Coplin　…　that　some　farmers　had　seen　ghost　hounds；　breathing　fire　and　running　through　the　woods。　They　ate　it　up　like　clotted　cream。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　Master　Luhhan　is　mad　at　you　for　that？〃　Rand　said　doubtfully。
　　　　　　　〃Not　exactly。〃　Mat　paused；　then　shook　his　head。　〃You　see；　I　covered　two　of　his　dogs　with　flour；　so　they　were　all　white。　Then　I　let　them　loose　near　Dag's　house。　How　was　I　to　know　they'd　run　straight　home？　It　really　isn't　my　fault。　If　Mistress　Luhhan　hadn't　left　the　door　open　they　couldn't　have　gotten　inside。　It　isn't　like　I　intended　to　get　flour　all　over　her　house。〃　He　gave　a　bark　of　laughter。　〃I　hear　she　chased　old　Luhhan　and　the　dogs；　all　three；　out　of　the　house　with　a　broom。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　winced　and　laughed　at　the　same　time。　〃If　I　were　you；　I'd　worry　more　about　Alsbet　Luhhan　than　about　the　blacksmith。　She's　almost　as　strong；　and　her　temper　is　a　lot　worse。　No　matter；　though。　If　you　walk　fast；　maybe　he　won't　notice　you。〃　Mat's　expression　said　he　did　not　think　Rand　was　funny。
　　　　　　　When　they　went　back　through　the　mon　room；　though；　there　was　no　need　for　Mat　to　hurry。　The　six　men　had　their　chairs　in　a　tight　knot　before　the　fireplace。　With　his　back　to　the　fire；　Tam　was　speaking　in　a　low　voice；　and　the　others　were　leaning　forward　to　listen；　so　intent　on　his　words　they　would　likely　not　have　noticed　if　a　flock　of　sheep　had　been　driven　through。　Rand　wanted　to　move　closer；　to　hear　what　they　were　talking　about；　but　Mat　plucked　at　his　sleeve　and　gave　him　an　agonized　look。　With　a　sigh　he　followed　Mat　out　to　the　cart。
　　　　　　　On　their　return　to　the　hallway　they　found　a　tray　by　the