rj.eyeoftheworld-第97节

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；　wet　glass；　but　it　gave　the　horses　a　firm；　sure　footing。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　made　herself　follow；　but　from　the　first　step　she　half　waited　for　the　entire　structure　to　shatter　under　them。　If　lace　were　made　of　glass；　she　thought；　it　would　look　like　this。
　　　　　　　It　was　not　until　they　were　almost　all　the　way　across　that　she　noticed　the　tarry　smell　of　char　thickening　the　air。　In　a　moment　she　saw。
　　　　　　　Around　the　square　at　the　foot　of　the　White　Bridge　piles　of　blackened　timbers；　still　leaking　smoky　threads；　replaced　half　a　dozen　buildings。　Men　in　poorly　fitting　red　uniforms　and　tarnished　armor　patrolled　the　streets；　but　they　marched　quickly；　as　if　afraid　of　finding　anything；　and　they　looked　over　their　shoulders　as　they　went。　Townspeople　…　the　few　who　were　out　…　almost　ran；　shoulders　hunched；　as　though　something　were　chasing　them。
　　　　　　　Lan　looked　grim；　even　for　him；　and　people　walked　wide　of　the　three　of　them；　even　the　soldiers。　The　Warder　sniffed　the　air　and　grimaced；　growling　under　his　breath。　It　was　no　wonder　to　Nynaeve；　with　the　stink　of　burn　so　strong。
　　　　　　　〃The　Wheel　weaves　as　the　Wheel　wills；〃　Moiraine　mumbled。　〃No　eye　can　see　the　Pattern　until　it　is　woven。〃
　　　　　　　In　the　next　moment　she　was　down　off　Aldieb　and　speaking　to　townsfolk。　She　did　not　ask　questions；　she　gave　sympathy；　and　to　Nynaeve's　surprise　it　appeared　genuine。　People　who　shied　away　from　Lan；　ready　to　hurry　from　any　stranger；　stopped　to　speak　with　Moiraine。　They　appeared　startled　themselves　at　what　they　were　doing；　but　they　opened　up；　after　a　fashion；　under　Moiraine's　clear　gaze　and　soothing　voice。　The　Aes　Sedai's　eyes　seemed　to　share　the　people's　hurt；　to　empathize　with　their　confusion；　and　tongues　loosened。
　　　　　　　They　still　lied；　though。　Most　of　them。　Some　denied　there　had　been　any　trouble　at　all。　Nothing　at　all。　Moiraine　mentioned　the　burned　buildings　all　around　the　square。　Everything　was　fine；　they　insisted；　staring　past　what　they　did　not　want　to　see。
　　　　　　　One　fat　fellow　spoke　with　a　hollow　heartiness；　but　his　cheek　twitched　at　every　noise　behind　him。　With　a　grin　that　kept　slipping；　he　claimed　an　overturned　lamp　had　started　a　fire　that　spread　with　the　wind　before　anything　could　be　done。　One　glance　showed　Nynaeve　that　no　burned　structure　stood　alongside　another。
　　　　　　　There　were　almost　as　many　different　stories　as　there　were　people。　Several　women　lowered　their　voices　conspiratorially。　The　truth　of　the　matter　was　there　was　a　man　somewhere　in　the　town　meddling　with　the　One　Power。　It　was　time　to　have　the　Aes　Sedai　in；　past　time；　was　the　way　they　saw　it；　no　matter　what　the　men　said　about　Tar　Valon。　Let　the　Red　Ajah　settle　matters。
　　　　　　　One　man　claimed　it　had　been　an　attack　by　bandits；　and　another　said　a　riot　by　Darkfriends。　〃Those　ones　going　to　see　the　false　Dragon；　you　know；〃　he　confided　darkly。　〃They're　all　over　the　place。　Darkfriends；　every　one。〃
　　　　　　　Still　others　spoke　of　some　kind　of　trouble　…　they　were　vague　about　exactly　what　kind　…　that　had　e　downriver　on　a　boat。
　　　　　　　〃We　showed　them；〃　a　narrow…faced　man　muttered；　scrubbing　his　hand　together　nervously。　〃Let　them　keep　that　kind　of　thing　in　the　Borderlands；　where　it　belongs。　We　went　down　to　the　docks　and　…〃　He　cut　off　so　abruptly　his　teeth　clicked。　Without　another　word　he　scurried　off；　peering　back　over　his　shoulder　at　them　as　if　he　thought　they　might　chase　him　down。
　　　　　　　The　boat　had　gotten　away　…　that　much　was　clear；　eventually；　from　others　…　cutting　its　moorings　and　fleeing　downriver　only　the　day　before　while　a　mob　poured　onto　the　docks。　Nynaeve　wondered　if　Egwene　and　the　boys　had　been　on　board。　One　woman　said　that　a　gleeman　had　been　on　the　boat。　If　that　had　been　Thom　Merrilin　。。。
　　　　　　　She　tried　her　opinion　on　Moiraine；　that　some　of　the　Emond's　Fielders　might　have　fled　on　the　boat。　The　Aes　Sedai　listened　patiently；　nodding；　until　she　was　done。
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps；〃　Moiraine　said　then；　but　she　sounded　doubtful。
　　　　　　　An　inn　still　stood　in　the　square；　the　mon　room　divided　in　two　by　a　shoulder…high　wall。　Moiraine　paused　as　she　stepped　into　the　inn；　feeling　the　air　with　her　hand。　She　smiled　at　whatever　it　was　she　felt；　but　she　would　say　nothing　of　it；　then。
　　　　　　　Their　meal　was　consumed　in　silence；　silence　not　only　at　their　table；　but　throughout　the　mon　room。　The　handful　of　people　eating　there　concentrated　on　their　own　plates　and　their　own　thoughts。　The　innkeeper；　dusting　tables　with　a　corner　of　his　apron；　muttered　to　himself　continually；　but　always　too　low　to　be　heard。　Nynaeve　thought　it　would　not　be　pleasant　sleeping　there；　even　the　air　was　heavy　with　fear。
　　　　　　　About　the　time　they　pushed　their　plates　away；　wiped　clean　with　the　last　scraps　of　bread；　one　of　the　red…uniformed　soldiers　appeared　in　the　doorway。　He　seemed　resplendent　to　Nynaeve；　in　his　peaked　helmet　and　burnished　breastplate；　until　he　took　a　pose　just　inside　the　door；　with　a　hand　resting　on　the　hilt　of　his　sword　and　a　stern　look　on　his　face；　and　used　a　finger　to　ease　his　too…tight　collar。　It　made　her　think　of　Cenn　Buie　trying　to　act　the　way　a　Village　Councilor　should。
　　　　　　　Lan　spared　him　one　glance　and　snorted。　〃Militia。　Useless。〃
　　　　　　　The　soldier　looked　over　the　room；　letting　his　eyes　e　to　rest　on　them。　He　hesitated；　then　took　a　deep　breath　before　stomping　over　to　demand；　all　in　a　rush；　who　they　were；　what　their　business　was　in　Whitebridge；　and　how　long　they　intended　to　stay。
　　　　　　　〃We　are　leaving　as　soon　as　I　finish　my　ale；〃　Lan　said。　He　took　another　slow　swallow　before　looking　up　at　the　solider。　〃The　Light　illumine　good　Queen　Morgase。　〃
　　　　　　　The　red…uniformed　man　opened　his　mouth；　then　took　a　good　look　at　Lan's　eyes　and　stepped　back。　He　caught　himself　immediately；　with　a　glance　at　Moiraine　and　her。　She　thought　for　a　moment　that　he　was　going　to　do　something　foolish　to　keep　from　looking　the　coward　in　front　of　two　women。　In　her　experience；　men　were　often　idiots　that　way。　But　too　much　had　happened　in　Whitebridge；　too　much　uncertainty　had　escaped　from　the　cellars　of　men's　minds。　The　militiaman　looked　back　at　Lan　and　reconsidered　once　more。　The　Warder's　hard…planed　face　was　expressionless；　but　there　were　those　cold　blue　eyes。　So　cold。
　　　　　　　The　militiaman　settled　on　a　brisk　nod。　〃See　that　you　do。　Too　many　strangers　around　these　days　for　the　good　of　the　Queen's　peace。〃　Turning　on　his　heel　he　stomped　out　again；　practicing　his　stern　look　on　the　way。　None　of　the　locals　in　the　inn　seemed　to　notice。
　　　　　　　〃Where　are　we　going？〃　Nynaeve　demanded　of　the　Warder。　The　mood　in　the　room　was　such　that　she　kept　her　voice　low；　but　she　made　sure　it　was　firm；　too。　〃After　the　boat？〃
　　　　　　　Lan　looked　at　Moiraine；　who　shook　her　head　slightly　and　said；　〃First　I　must　find　the　one　I　can　be　sure　of　finding；　and　at　present　he　is　somewhere　to　the　north　of　us。　I　do　not　think　the　other　two　went　with　the　boat　in　any　case。〃　A　small；　satisfied　smile　touched　her　lips。　〃They　were　in　this　room；　perhaps　a　day　ago；　no　more　than　two。　Afraid；　but　they　left　alive。　The　trace　would　not　have　lasted　without　that　strong　emotion。〃
　　　　　　　〃Which　two？〃　Nynaeve　leaned　over　the　table　intently。　〃Do　you　know？〃　The　Aes　Sedai　shook　her　head；　the　slightest　of　motions；　and　Nynaeve　settled　back。　〃If　they're　only　a　day　or　two　ahead；　why　don't　we　go　after　them　first？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know　they　were　here；〃　Moiraine　said　in　that　insufferably　calm　voice；　〃but　beyond　that　I　cannot　say　if　they　went　east　or　north　or　south。　I　trust　they　are　smart　enough　to　have　gone　east；　toward　Caemlyn；　but　I　do　not　know；　and　lacking　their　tokens；　I　will　not　know　where　they　are　until　I　am　perhaps　within　half　a　mile。　In　two　days　they　could　have　gone　twenty　miles；　or　forty；　in　any　direction；　if　fear　urged　them；　and　they　were　certainly　afraid　when　they　left　here。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　…〃
　　　　　　　〃Wisdom；　however　fearful　they　were；　in　whatever　direction　they　ran；　eventually　they　will　remember　Caemlyn；　and　it　is　there　I　will　find　them。　But　I　will　help　the　one　I　can　find　now；　first。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　opened　her　mouth　again；　but　Lan　cut　her　off　in　a　soft　voice。　〃They　had　reason　to　be　afraid。〃　He　looked　around；　then　lowered　his　voice。　〃There　was　a　Halfman　here。〃　He　grimaced；　the　way　he　had　in　the　square。　〃I　can　still　smell　him　everywhere。〃
　　　　　　　Moiraine　sighed。　〃I　will　keep　hope　until　I　know　it　is　gone。　I　refuse　to　believe　the　Dark　One　can　win　so　easily。　I　will　find　all　three　of　them　alive　and　well。　I　must　believe　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　want　to　find　the　boys；　too；〃　Nynaeve　said；　〃but　what　about　Egwene？　You　never　even　mention　her；　and　you　ignore　me　when　I　ask。　I　thought　you　were　going　to　take　her　off　to〃　…　she　glanced　at　the　other　tables；　and　lowered　her　voice　…　〃to　Tar　Valon。〃
　　　　　　　The　Aes　Sedai　studied　the　tabletop　for　a　moment　before　raising　her　eyes　to　Nynaeve's；　and　when　she　did；　Nynaeve　started　back　from　a　flash　of　anger　that　almost　seemed　to　make　Moiraine's　eyes　glow。　Then　her　back　stiffened；　her　own　anger　rising；　but　before　she　could　say　a　word；　the　Aes　Sedai　spoke　coldly。
　　　　　　　〃I　hope　to　find　Egwene　alive　and　well；　too。　I　do　not　easily　give　up　young　women　with　that　much　ability　once　I　have　found　them。　But　it　will　be　as　the　Wheel　weaves。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　felt　a　cold　ball　in　the　pit　of　her　stomach。　Am　I　one　of　those　young　women　you　won't　give　up？　We'll　see　about　that；　Aes　Sedai。　The　Light　burn　you；　we'll