rj.eyeoftheworld-第54节
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iently； and shivered before turning back to him。 〃It's almost a wonder the inn doesn't catch fire。 You're all in more danger today than yesterday。 Since she came。〃
Rand glanced at his friends。 Thom； his brows drawn down in a bushy V； was leaning forward on the point of taking some action to hurry him along。 〃She won't do anything to hurt us；〃 he told Min。 〃I have to go； now。〃 He succeeded in getting his arm back； this time。
Ignoring her squawk； he joined the others； and they started off again down the corridor。 Rand looked back once。 Min shook her fist at him and stamped her foot。
〃What did she have to say？〃 Mat asked。
〃Nynaeve is part of it；〃 Rand said without thinking； then shot Mat a hard look that caught him with his mouth open。 Then understanding slowly spread across Mat's face。
〃Part of what？〃 Thom said softly。 〃Does that girl know something？〃
While Rand was still trying to gather in his head what to say； Mat spoke up。 〃Of course she's part of it；〃 he said grumpily。 〃Part of the same bad luck we've been having since Winternight。 Maybe having the Wisdom show up is no great affair to you； but I'd as soon have the Whitecloaks here； myself。〃
〃She saw Nynaeve arrive；〃 Rand said。 〃Saw her talking to Mistress Alys； and thought she might have something to do with us。〃 Thom gave him a sidelong look and ruffled his mustaches with a snort； but the others seemed to accept Rand's explanation。 He did not like keeping secrets from his friends； but Min's secret could be as dangerous for her as any of theirs was for them。
Perrin stopped suddenly in front of a door； and despite his size he seemed oddly hesitant。 He drew a deep breath； looked at his panions； took another breath； then slowly opened the door and went in。 One by one the rest of them followed。 Rand was the last； and he closed the door behind him with the utmost reluctance。
It was the room where they had eaten the night before。 A blaze crackled on the hearth； and a polished silver tray sat in the middle of the table holding a gleaming silver pitcher and cups。 Moiraine and Nynaeve sat at opposite ends of the table； neither taking her eyes from the other。 All the other chairs were empty。 Moiraine's hands rested on the table； as still as her face。 Nynaeve's braid was thrown over her shoulder； the end gripped in one fist； she kept giving it little tugs the way she did when she was being even more stubborn than usual with the Village Council。 Perrin was right。 Despite the fire it seemed freezing cold； and all ing from the two women at the table。
Lan was leaning against the mantel； staring into the flames and rubbing his hands for warmth。 Egwene； her back flat against the wall； had her cloak on with the hood pulled up。 Thom； Mat； and Perrin stopped uncertainly in front of the door。
Shrugging unfortably； Rand walked to the table。 Sometimes you have to grab the wolf by the ears； he reminded himself。 But he remembered another old saying； too。 When you have a wolf by the ears； it's as hard to let go as to hold on。 He felt Moiraine's eyes on him； and Nynaeve's； and his face became hot； but he sat down anyway； halfway between the two。
For a minute the room was as still as a carving； then Egwene and Perrin； and finally Mat； made their reluctant way to the table and took seats…toward the middle； with Rand。 Egwene tugged her hood further forward； enough to half hide her face； and they all avoided looking at anyone。
〃Well；〃 Thom snorted； from his place beside the door。 〃At least that much is done。〃
〃Since everyone is here；〃 Lan said； leaving the fireplace and filling one of the silver cups with wine； 〃perhaps you will finally take this。〃 He proffered the cup to Nynaeve； she looked at it suspiciously。 〃There is no need to be afraid；〃 he said patiently。 〃You saw the innkeeper bring the wine； and neither of us has had a chance to put anything in it。 It is quite safe。〃
The Wisdom's mouth tightened angrily at the word afraid； but she took the cup with a murmured； 〃Thank you。〃
〃I am interested；〃 he said； 〃in how you found us。〃
〃So am I。〃 Moiraine leaned forward intently。 〃Perhaps you are willing to speak now that Egwene and the boys have been brought to you？〃
Nynaeve sipped the wine before answering the Aes Sedai。 〃There was nowhere for you to go except Baerlon。 To be safe； though； I followed your trail。 You certainly cut back and forth enough。 But then； I suppose you would not care to risk meeting decent people。〃
〃You 。。。 followed our trail？〃 Lan said； truly surprised for the first time that Rand could remember。 〃I must be getting careless。〃
〃You left very little trace； but I can track as well as any man in the Two Rivers； except perhaps Tam al'Thor。〃 She hesitated； then added； 〃Until my father died； he took me hunting with him； and taught me what he would have taught the sons he never had。〃 She looked at Lan challengingly； but he only nodded with approval。
〃If you can follow a trail I have tried to hide； he taught you well。 Few can do that； even in the Borderlands。〃
Abruptly Nynaeve buried her face in her cup。 Rand's eyes widened。 She was blushing。 Nynaeve never showed herself even the least bit disconcerted。 Angry； yes； outraged； often； but never out of countenance。 But she was certainly red…cheeked now； and trying to hide in the wine。
〃Perhaps now；〃 Moiraine said quietly； 〃you will answer a few of my questions。 I have answered yours freely enough。〃
〃With a great sackful of gleeman's tales；〃 Nynaeve retorted。 〃The only facts I can see are that four young people have been carried off； for the Light alone knows what reason； by an Aes Sedai。〃
〃You have been told that isn't known here；〃 Lan said sharply。 〃You must learn to guard your tongue。〃
〃Why should I？〃 Nynaeve demanded。 〃Why should I help hide you； or what you are？ I've e to take Egwene and the boys back to Emond's Field； not help you spirit them away。〃
Thom broke in； in a scornful voice。 〃If you want them to see their village again … or you； either … you had better be more careful。 There are those in Baerlon who would kill her〃 … he jerked his head toward Moiraine … 〃for what she is。 Him； too。〃 He indicated Lan； then abruptly moved forward to put his fists on the table。 He loomed over Nynaeve； and his long mustaches and thick eyebrows suddenly seemed threatening。
Her eyes widened； and she started to lean back； away from him； then her back stiffened defiantly。 Thom did not appear to notice； he went right on in an ominously soft voice。 〃They'd swarm over this inn like murderous ants on a rumor； a whisper。 Their hate is that strong； their desire to kill or take any like these two。 And the girl？ The boys？ You？ You are all associated with them； enough for the Whitecloaks； anyway。 You wouldn't like the way they ask questions； especially when the White Tower is involved。 Whitecloak Questioners assume you're guilty before they start； and they have only one sentence for that kind of guilt。 They don't care about finding the truth； they think they know that already。 All they go after with their hot irons and pincers is a confession。 Best you remember some secrets are too dangerous for saying aloud； even when you think you know who hears。〃 He straightened with a muttered； 〃I seem to tell that to people often of late。〃
〃Well put； gleeman；〃 Lan said。 The Warder had that weighing look in his eyes again。 〃I'm surprised to find you so concerned。〃
Thom shrugged。 〃It's known I arrived with you； too。 I don't care for the thought of a Questioner with a hot iron telling me to repent my sins and walk in the Light。〃
〃That；〃 Nynaeve put in sharply； 〃is just one more reason for them to e home with me in the morning。 Or this afternoon； for that matter。 The sooner we're away from you and on our way back to Emond's Field； the better。〃
〃We can't；〃 Rand said； and was glad that his friends all spoke up at the same time。 That way Nynaeve's glare had to be spread around； she spared no one as it was。 But he had spoken first； and they all fell silent； looking at him。 Even Moiraine sat back in her chair； watching him over steepled fingers。 It was an effort for him to meet the Wisdom's eyes。 〃If we go back to Emond's Field； the Trollocs will e back； too。 They're 。。。 hunting us。 I don't know why； but they are。 Maybe we can find out why in Tar Valon。 Maybe we can find out how to stop it。 It's the only way。〃
Nynaeve threw up her hands。 〃You sound just like Tam。 He had himself carried to the village meeting and tried to convince everybody。 He'd already tried with the Village Council。 The Light knows how your 。。。 Mistress Alys〃 … she invested the name with a wagonload of scorn … 〃managed to make him believe； he has a mite of sense； usually； more than most men。 In any case； the Council is a pack of fools most of the time； but not foolish enough for that； and neither was anyone else。 They agreed you had to be found。 Then Tam wanted to be the one to e after you； and him not able to stand by himself。 Foolishness must run in your family。〃
Mat cleared his throat； then mumbled； 〃What about my da？ What did he say？〃
〃He's afraid yo
