rj.thegreathunt-第74节

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　　　　　　　The　inn；　at　the　very　top　of　the　hill；　was　stone　like　every　other　building　in　the　town；　and　plainly　marked　by　a　painted　sign　hanging　over　the　wide　doors。　The　Nine　Rings。　Rand　swung　down　with　a　smile　and　tied　Red　to　one　of　the　hitching　posts　out　front。　〃The　Nine　Rings〃　had　been　one　of　his　favorite　adventure　stories　when　he　was　a　boy；　he　supposed　it　still　was。
　　　　　　　Selene　still　seemed　uneasy　when　he　helped　her　dismount。　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　he　asked。　〃I　didn't　frighten　you　back　there；　did　I？　Red　would　never　fall　over　a　cliff　with　me。〃　He　wondered　what　had　really　happened。
　　　　　　　〃You　terrified　me；〃　she　said　in　a　tight　voice；　〃and　I　do　not　frighten　easily。　You　could　have　killed　yourself；　killed　。。。〃　She　smoothed　her　dress。　〃Ride　with　me。　Tonight。　Now。　Bring　the　Horn；　and　I　will　stay　by　your　side　forever。　Think　of　it。　Me　by　your　side；　and　the　Horn　of　Valere　in　your　hands。　And　that　will　only　be　the　beginning；　I　promise。　What　more　could　you　ask　for？〃
　　　　　　　Rand　shook　his　head。　〃I　can't；　Selene。　The　Horn　。。。〃　He　looked　around。　A　man　looked　out　his　window　across　the　way；　then　twitched　the　curtains　closed；　evening　darkened　the　street；　and　there　was　no　one　else　in　sight　now　except　Loial　and　Hurin。　〃The　Horn　is　not　mine。　I　told　you　that。〃　She　turned　her　back　on　him；　her　white　cloak　walling　him　off　as　effectively　as　bricks。


　
Chapter　21
（Harp）
The　Nine　Rings

　　　　　　　Rand　expected　the　mon　room　to　be　empty；　since　it　was　nearly　suppertime；　but　half　a　dozen　men　crowded　one　table；　dicing　among　their　jacks　of　ale；　and　another　sat　by　himself　over　a　meal。　Though　the　dicers　carried　no　weapons　in　sight　and　wore　no　armor；　only　plain　coats　and　breeches　of　dark　blue；　something　about　the　way　they　held　themselves　told　Rand　they　were　soldiers。　His　eyes　went　to　the　solitary　man。　An　officer；　with　the　tops　of　his　high　boots　turned　down；　and　his　sword　propped　against　the　table　beside　his　chair。　A　single　slash　of　red　and　one　of　yellow　crossed　the　chest　of　the　officer's　blue　coat　from　shoulder　to　shoulder；　and　the　front　of　his　head　was　shaved；　though　his　black　hair　hung　long　in　the　back。　The　soldiers'　hair　was　clipped　short；　as　if　it　all　had　been　cut　under　the　same　bowl。　All　seven　turned　to　look　as　Rand　and　the　others　came　in。
　　　　　　　The　innkeeper　was　a　lean　woman　with　a　long　nose　and　graying　hair；　but　her　wrinkles　seemed　part　of　her　ready　smile　more　than　anything　else。　She　came　bustling　up；　wiping　her　hands　on　a　spotless　white　apron。　〃Good　even　to　you〃　…　her　quick　eyes　took　in　Rand's　gold…embroidered　red　coat；　and　Selene's　fine　white　dress　…　〃my　Lord；　my　Lady。　I　am　Maglin　Madwen；　my　Lord。　Be　wele　to　The　Nine　Rings。　And　an　Ogier。　Not　many　of　your　kind　e　this　way；　friend　Ogier。　Would　you　be　up　from　Stedding　Tsofu；　then？〃
　　　　　　　Loial　managed　an　awkward　half　bow　under　the　weight　of　the　chest。　〃No；　good　innkeeper。　I　e　the　other　way；　from　the　Borderlands。〃
　　　　　　　〃From　the　Borderlands；　you　say。　Well。　And　you；　my　Lord？　Forgive　me　for　asking；　but　you've　not　the　look　of　the　Borderlands；　if　you　don't　mind　my　saying　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'm　from　the　Two　Rivers；　Mistress　Madwen；　in　Andor。〃　He　glanced　at　Selene　…　she　did　not　seem　to　admit　he　existed；　her　level　look　barely　admitted　that　the　room　existed；　or　anyone　in　it。　〃The　Lady　Selene　is　from　Cairhien；　from　the　capital；　and　I　am　from　Andor。〃
　　　　　　　〃As　you　say；　my　Lord。〃　Mistress　Madwen's　glance　flickered　to　Rand's　sword；　the　bronze　herons　were　plain　on　scabbard　and　hilt。　She　frowned　slightly；　but　her　face　was　clear　again　in　a　blink。　〃You'll　be　wanting　a　meal　for　yourself　and　your　beautiful　Lady；　and　your　followers。　And　rooms；　I　expect。　I'll　have　your　horses　seen　to。　I've　a　good　table　for　you；　right　this　way；　and　pork　with　yellow　peppers　on　the　fire。　Would　you　be　hunting　the　Horn　of　Valere；　then；　my　Lord；　you　and　your　Lady？〃
　　　　　　　In　the　act　of　following　her；　Rand　almost　stumbled。　〃No！　Why　would　you　think　we　were？〃
　　　　　　　〃No　offense；　my　Lord。　We've　had　two　through　here　already；　all　polished　to　look　like　heroes　…　not　to　suggest　anything　of　the　kind　about　you；　my　Lord…in　the　last　month。　Not　many　strangers　e　here；　except　traders　up　from　the　capital　to　buy　oats　and　barley。　I'd　not　suppose　the　Hunt　has　left　Illian；　yet；　but　maybe　some　don't　think　they　really　need　the　blessing；　and　they'll　get　a　jump　on　the　others　by　missing　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　are　not　hunting　the　Horn；　mistress。〃　Rand　did　not　glance　at　the　bundle　in　Loial's　arms；　the　blanket　with　its　colorful　stripes　hung　bunched　over　the　Ogier's　thick　arms　and　disguised　the　chest　well。　〃We　surely　are　not。　We　are　on　our　way　to　the　capital。〃
　　　　　　　〃As　you　say；　my　Lord。　Forgive　me　for　asking；　but　is　your　Lady　well？〃
　　　　　　　Selene　looked　at　her；　and　spoke　for　the　first　time。　〃I　am　quite　well。〃　Her　voice　left　a　chill　in　the　air　that　stifled　talk　for　a　moment。
　　　　　　　〃You're　not　Cairhienin；　Mistress　Madwen；〃　Hurin　said　suddenly。　Burdened　down　with　their　saddlebags　and　Rand's　bundle；　he　looked　like　a　walking　baggage　cart。　〃Pardon；　but　you　don't　sound　it。〃
　　　　　　　Mistress　Madwen's　eyebrows　rose；　and　she　shot　a　glance　at　Rand；　then　grinned。　〃I　should　have　known　you'd　let　your　man　speak　freely；　but　I've　grown　used　to　…　〃　Her　glance　darted　toward　the　officer；　who　had　gone　back　to　his　own　meal。　〃Light；　no；　I'm　not　Cairhienin；　but　for　my　sins；　I　married　one。　Twenty…three　years　I　lived　with　him；　and　when　he　died　on　me　…　the　Light　shine　on　him　…　I　was　all　ready　to　go　back　to　Lugard；　but　he　had　the　last　laugh；　he　did。　He　left　me　the　inn；　and　his　brother　the　money；　when　I　was　sure　it　would　be　the　other　way　round。　Tricksome　and　scheming；　Barin　was；　like　every　man　I've　ever　known；　Cairhienin　most　of　all。　Will　you　be　seated；　my　Lord？　My　Lady？〃
　　　　　　　The　innkeeper　gave　a　surprised　blink　when　Hurin　sat　at　table　with　them　…　an　Ogier；　it　seemed；　was　one　thing；　but　Hurin　was　clearly　a　servant　in　her　eyes。　With　another　quick　look　at　Rand；　she　bustled　off　to　the　kitchens；　and　soon　serving　girls　came　with　their　meal；　giggling　and　staring　at　the　lord　and　the　lady；　and　the　Ogier；　till　Mistress　Madwen　chased　them　back　to　their　work。
　　　　　　　At　first；　Rand　stared　at　his　food　doubtfully。　The　pork　was　cut　in　small　bits；　mixed　with　long　strips　of　yellow　peppers；　and　peas；　and　a　number　of　vegetables　and　things　he　did　not　recognize；　all　in　some　sort　of　clear；　thick　sauce。　It　smelled　sweet　and　sharp；　both　at　the　same　time。　Selene　only　picked　at　hers；　but　Loial　was　eating　with　a　will。
　　　　　　　Hurin　grinned　at　Rand　over　his　fork。　〃They　spice　their　food　oddly；　Cairhienin　do；　Lord　Rand；　but　for　all　that；　it's　not　bad。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　won't　bite　you；　Rand；〃　Loial　added。
　　　　　　　Rand　took　a　hesitant　mouthful；　and　almost　gasped。　It　tasted　just　as　it　smelled；　sweet　and　sharp　together；　the　pork　crisp　on　the　outside　and　tender　inside；　a　dozen　different　flavors；　spices；　all　blending　and　contrasting。　It　tasted　like　nothing　he　had　ever　put　in　his　mouth　before。　It　tasted　wonderful。　He　cleaned　his　plate；　and　when　Mistress　Madwen　returned　with　the　serving　girls　to　clear　away；　he　nearly　asked　for　more　the　way　Loial　did。　Selene's　was　still　half　full；　but　she　motioned　curtly　for　one　of　the　girls　to　take　it。
　　　　　　　〃A　pleasure；　friend　Ogier。〃　The　innkeeper　smiled。　〃It　takes　a　lot　to　fill　up　one　of　you。　Catrine；　bring　another　helping；　and　be　quick。〃　One　of　the　girls　darted　away。　Mistress　Madwen　turned　her　smile　on　Rand。　〃My　Lord；　I　had　a　man　here　who　played　the　bittern；　but　he　married　a　girl　off　one　of　the　farms；　and　she　has　him　strumming　reins　behind　a　plow；　now。　I　couldn't　help　noticing　what　looks　like　a　flute　case　sticking　out　of　your　man's　bundle。　Since　my　musician's　gone；　would　you　let　your　man　favor　us　with　a　little　music？〃
　　　　　　　Hurin　looked　embarrassed。
　　　　　　　〃He　doesn't　play；〃　Rand　explained。　〃I　do。〃
　　　　　　　The　woman　blinked。　It　appeared　lords　did　not　play　the　flute；　at　least　not　in　Cairhien。　〃I　withdraw　the　request；　my　Lord。　Light's　own　truth；　I　meant　no　offense；　I　assure　you。　I'd　never　ask　one　such　as　yourself　to　be　playing　in　a　mon　room。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　hesitated　only　a　moment。　It　had　been　too　long　since　he　had　practiced　the　flute　rather　than　the　sword；　and　the　coins　in　his　pouch　would　not　last　forever。　Once　he　was　rid　of　his　fancy　clothes　…　once　he　turned　the　Horn　over　to　Ingtar　and　the　dagger　over　to　Mat　…　he　would　need　the　flute　to　earn　his　supper　again　while　he　searched　for　somewhere　safe　from　Aes　Sedai。　And　safe　from　myself？　Something　did　happen　back　there。　What？
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　mind；〃　he　said。　〃Hurin；　hand　me　the　case。　Just　slide　it　out。〃　There　was　no　need　to　show　a　gleeman's　cloak；　enough　unspoken　questions　shone　in　Mistress　Madwen's　dark　eyes　as　it　was。
　　　　　　　Worked　gold　chased　with　silver；　the　instrument　looked　the　sort　a　lord　might　play；　if　lords　anywhere　played　the　flute。　The　heron　branded　on　his　right　palm　did　not　interfere　with　his　fingering。　Selene's　salves　had　worked　so　well　he　hardly　thought　of　the　brand　unless　he　saw　it。　Yet　it　was　in　his　thoughts　now；　and　unconsciously　he　began　to　play　〃Heron　on　the　Wing。〃
　　　　　　　Hurin　bobbed　his　head　to　the　tune；　and　Loial　beat　time　on　the　table　with　a　thick　finger。　Selene　looked　at　Rand　as　if　wondering　what　he　was　…　I'm　not　a　lord；　my　Lady。　I'm　a　shepherd；　and　I　play　the　flute　in　mon　rooms　…　but　the　soldiers　turned　from　their　talk　to　listen；　and