rj.eyeoftheworld-第103章

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nything；　and　what　there　is　costs　the　earth；　so　I'll　give　you　beds　…　not　the　best；　but　warm　and　dry　…　and　something　to　eat；　and　I　cannot　promise　more；　however　much　I'd　like。〃
　　　　　　　〃Thank　you；〃　Rand　said　with　a　quizzical　glance　at　Mat。　〃It's　more　than　I　expected。〃　What　was　the　right　sort；　and　why　should　he　promise　more？
　　　　　　　〃Well；　Thom's　a　good　friend。　An　old　friend。　Hot…headed　and　liable　to　say　the　worst　possible　thing　to　the　one　person　he　shouldn't；　but　a　good　friend　all　the　same。　If　he　doesn't　show　up　。。。　well；　we'll　figure　something　out　then。　Best　you　don't　talk　any　more　talk　about　Aes　Sedai　helping　you。　I'm　a　good　Queen's　man；　but　there　are　too　many　in　Caemlyn　right　now　who'd　take　it　wrong；　and　I　don't　mean　just　the　Whitecloaks。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　snorted。　〃For　all　I　care；　the　ravens　can　take　every　Aes　Sedai　straight　to　Shayol　Ghul！〃
　　　　　　　〃Watch　your　tongue；〃　Master　Gill　snapped。　〃I　said　I　don't　love　them；　I　didn't　say　I'm　a　fool　thinks　they're　behind　everything　that's　wrong。　The　Queen　supports　Elaida；　and　the　Guards　stand　for　the　Queen。　The　Light　send　things　don't　go　so　bad　that　changes。　Anyway；　lately　some　Guards　have　forgotten　themselves　enough　to　be　a　little　rough　with　folks　they　overhear　speaking　against　Aes　Sedai。　Not　on　duty；　thank　the　Light；　but　it's　happened；　just　the　same。　I　don't　need　off…duty　Guards　breaking　up　my　mon　room　to　teach　you　a　lesson；　and　I　don't　need　Whitecloaks　egging　somebody　on　to　paint　the　Dragon's　Fang　on　my　door；　so　if　you　want　any　help　out　of　me；　you　just　keep　thoughts　about　Aes　Sedai　to　yourself；　good　or　bad。〃　He　paused　thoughtfully；　then　added；　〃Maybe　it's　best　you　don't　mention　Thom's　name；　either；　where　anyone　but　me　can　hear。　Some　of　the　Guards　have　long　memories；　and　so　does　the　Queen。　No　need　taking　chances。　〃
　　　　　　　〃Thom　had　trouble　with　the　Queen？〃　Rand　said　incredulously；　and　the　innkeeper　laughed。
　　　　　　　〃So　he　didn't　tell　you　everything。　Don't　know　why　he　should。　On　the　other　hand；　I　don't　know　why　you　shouldn't　know；　either。　Not　like　it's　a　secret；　exactly。　Do　you　think　every　gleeman　thinks　as　much　of　himself　as　Thom　does？　Well；　e　to　think　of　it；　I　guess　they　do；　but　it　always　seemed　to　me　Thom　had　an　extra　helping　of　thinking　a　lot　of　himself。　He　wasn't　always　a　gleeman；　you　know；　wandering　from　village　to　village　and　sleeping　under　a　hedge　as　often　as　not。　There　was　a　time　Thom　Merrilin　was　Court…bard　right　here　in　Caemlyn；　and　known　in　every　royal　court　from　Tear　to　Maradon。　〃
　　　　　　　〃Thom？〃　Mat　said。
　　　　　　　Rand　nodded　slowly。　He　could　picture　Thom　at　a　Queen's　court；　with　his　stately　manner　and　grand　gestures。
　　　　　　　〃That　he　was；〃　Master　Gill　said。　〃It　was　not　long　after　Taringail　Damodred　died　that　the　。。。　trouble　about　his　nephew　cropped　up。　There　were　some　said　Thom　was；　shall　we　say；　closer　to　the　Queen　than　was　proper。　But　Morgase　was　a　young　widow；　and　Thom　was　in　his　prime；　then；　and　the　Queen　can　do　as　she　wishes　is　the　way　I　look　at　it。　Only　she's　always　had　a　temper；　has　our　good　Morgase；　and　he　took　off　without　a　word　when　he　learned　what　kind　of　trouble　his　nephew　was　in。　The　Queen　didn't　much　like　that。　Didn't　like　him　meddling　in　Aes　Sedai　matters；　either。　Can't　say　I　think　it　was　right；　either；　nephew　or　no。　Anyway；　when　he　came　back；　he　said　some　words；　all　right。　Words　you　don't　say　to　a　Queen。　Words　you　don't　say　to　any　woman　with　Morgase's　spirit。　Elaida　was　set　against　him　because　of　his　trying　to　mix　in　the　business　with　his　nephew；　and　between　the　Queen's　temper　and　Elaida's　animosity；　Thom　left　Caemlyn　half　a　step　ahead　of　a　trip　to　prison；　if　not　the　headsman's　axe。　As　far　as　I　know；　the　writ　still　stands。〃
　　　　　　　〃If　it　was　a　long　time　ago；〃　Rand　said；　〃maybe　nobody　remembers。〃
　　　　　　　Master　Gill　shook　his　head。　〃Gareth　Bryne　is　Captain…General　of　the　Queen's　Guards。　He　personally　manded　the　Guardsmen　Morgase　sent　to　bring　Thom　back　in　chains；　and　I　misdoubt　he'll　ever　forget　returning　empty…handed　to　find　Thom　had　already　been　back　to　the　Palace　and　left　again。　And　the　Queen　never　forgets　anything。　You　ever　know　a　woman　who　did？　My；　but　Morgase　was　in　a　taking。　I'll　swear　the　whole　city　walked　soft　and　whispered　for　a　month。　Plenty　of　other　Guardsmen　old　enough　to　remember；　too。　No；　best　you　keep　Thom　as　close　a　secret　as　you　keep　that　Aes　Sedai　of　yours。　e；　I'll　get　you　something　to　eat。　You　look　as　if　your　bellies　are　gnawing　at　your　backbones。　〃

Chapter　36
Web　of　the　Pattern
　
　　　　　　　Master　Gill　took　them　to　a　corner　table　in　the　mon　room　and　had　one　of　the　serving　maids　bring　them　food。　Rand　shook　his　head　when　he　saw　the　plates；　with　a　few　thin　slices　of　gravy…covered　beef；　a　spoonful　of　mustard　greens；　and　two　potatoes　on　each。　It　was　a　rueful；　resigned　headshake；　though；　not　angry。　Not　enough　of　anything；　the　innkeeper　had　said。　Picking　up　his　knife　and　fork；　Rand　wondered　what　would　happen　when　there　was　nothing　left。　It　made　his　half…covered　plate　seem　like　a　feast。　It　made　him　shiver。
　　　　　　　Master　Gill　had　chosen　a　table　well　away　from　anyone　else；　and　he　sat　with　his　back　to　the　corner；　where　he　could　watch　the　room。　Nobody　could　get　close　enough　to　overhear　what　they　said　without　him　seeing。　When　the　maid　left；　he　said　softly；　〃Now；　why　don't　you　tell　me　about　this　trouble　of　yours？　If　I'm　going　to　help；　I'd　best　know　what　I'm　getting　into。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　looked　at　Mat；　but　Mat　was　frowning　at　his　plate　as　if　he　were　mad　at　the　potato　he　was　cutting。　Rand　took　a　deep　breath。　〃I　don't　really　understand　it　myself；〃　he　began。
　　　　　　　He　kept　the　story　simple；　and　he　kept　Trollocs　and　Fades　out　of　it。　When　somebody　offered　help；　it　would　not　do　to　tell　them　it　was　all　about　fables。　But　he　did　not　think　it　was　fair　to　understate　the　danger；　either；　not　fair　to　pull　someone　in　when　they　had　no　idea　what　they　were　getting　into。　Some　men　were　after　him　and　Mat；　and　a　couple　of　friends　of　theirs；　too。　They　appeared　where　they　were　least　expected；　these　men；　and　they　were　deadly　dangerous　and　set　on　killing　him　and　his　friends；　or　worse。　Moiraine　said　some　of　them　were　Darkfriends。　Thom　did　not　trust　Moiraine　pletely；　but　he　stayed　on　with　them；　he　said；　because　of　his　nephew。　They　had　been　separated　during　an　attack　while　trying　to　reach　Whitebridge；　and　then；　in　Whitebridge；　Thom　died　saving　them　from　another　attack。　And　there　had　been　other　tries。　He　knew　there　were　holes　in　it；　but　it　was　the　best　he　could　do　on　short　notice　without　telling　more　than　was　safe。
　　　　　　　〃We　just　kept　on　till　we　reached　Caemlyn；〃　he　explained。　〃That　was　the　plan；　originally。　Caemlyn；　and　then　Tar　Valon。〃　He　shifted　unfortably　on　the　edge　of　his　chair。　After　keeping　everything　secret　for　so　long；　it　felt　odd　to　be　telling　somebody　even　as　much　as　he　was。　〃If　we　stay　on　that　route；　the　others　will　be　able　to　find　us；　sooner　or　later。〃
　　　　　　　〃If　they're　alive；〃　Mat　muttered　at　his　plate。
　　　　　　　Rand　did　not　even　glance　at　Mat。　Something　pelled　him　to　add；　〃It　could　bring　you　trouble；　helping　us。〃
　　　　　　　Master　Gill　waved　it　off　with　a　plump　hand。　〃Can't　say　as　I　want　trouble；　but　it　wouldn't　be　the　first　I've　seen。　No　bloody　Darkfriend　will　make　me　turn　my　back　on　Thom's　friends。　This　friend　of　yours　from　up　north；　now　…　if　she　es　to　Caemlyn；　I'll　hear。　There　are　people　keep　their　eyes　on　ings　and　goings　like　that　around　here；　and　word　spreads。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　hesitated；　then　asked；　〃What　about　Elaida？〃
　　　　　　　The　innkeeper　hesitated　too；　and　finally　shook　his　head。　〃I　don't　think　so。　Maybe　if　you　didn't　have　a　connection　to　Thom。　She'd　winkle　it　out；　and　then　where　would　you　be？　No　telling。　Maybe　in　a　cell。　Maybe　worse。　They　say　she　has　a　way　of　feeling　things；　what's　happened；　what's　going　to　happen。　They　say　she　can　cut　right　through　to　what　a　man　wants　to　hide。　I　don't　know；　but　I　wouldn't　risk　it。　If　it　wasn't　for　Thom；　you　could　go　to　the　Guards。　They'd　take　care　of　any　Darkfriends　quick　enough。　But　even　if　you　could　keep　Thom　quiet　from　the　Guards；　word　would　reach　Elaida　as　soon　as　you　mentioned　Darkfriends；　and　then　you're　back　where　we　started。〃
　　　　　　　〃No　Guards；〃　Rand　agreed。　Mat　nodded　vigorously　while　stuffing　a　fork　into　his　mouth　and　got　gravy　on　his　chin。
　　　　　　　〃Trouble　is；　you're　caught　up　in　the　fringes　of　politics；　lad；　even　if　it's　none　of　your　doing；　and　politics　is　a　foggy　mire　full　of　snakes。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　about　…〃　Rand　began；　but　the　innkeeper　grimaced　suddenly；　his　chair　creaking　under　his　bulk　as　he　sat　up　straight。
　　　　　　　The　cook　was　standing　in　the　doorway　to　the　kitchen；　wiping　her　hands　with　her　apron。　When　she　saw　the　innkeeper　looking　she　motioned　for　him　to　e；　then　vanished　back　into　the　kitchen。
　　　　　　　〃Might　as　well　be　married　to　her。〃　Master　Gill　sighed。　〃Finds　things　that　need　fixing　before　I　know　there's　anything　wrong。　If　it's　not　the　drains　stopped　up；　or　the　downspouts　clogged；　it's　rats。　I　keep　a　clean　place；　you　understand；　but　with　so　many　people　in　the　city；　rats　are　everywhere。　Crowd　people　together　and　you　get　rats；　and　Caemlyn　has　a　plague　of　them　all　of　a　sudden。　You　wouldn't　believe　what　a　good　cat；　a　prime　ratter；　fetches　these　days。　Your　room　is　in　the　attic。　I'll　tell　the　girls　which；　any　of　them　can　show　you　to　it。　And　don't　worry　about　Darkfriends。　I　can't　say　much　good　about　the　Whitecloaks；　but　between　them　and　the　Guards；　that　sort　won't　dare　show　their　filthy　faces　in　Caemlyn。〃　His　chair　squeaked　again　as　he　pushed　it　back　and　stood。　〃I　hope　it　isn't　the　drains　again。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　went　back　to　his　food；　but　he　saw　that　Mat　had　stopped　eating。　〃I　thought　you　were　hungry；〃　he　said。　Mat　kept　staring　at　his　plate；　pushing　one　piece　of　potato　in　a　circle　with　his　fork。　〃You　have　to　eat；　Mat。　We　need　to　keep　up　our　strength　if　we're　going　to　reach　Tar　Valon。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　let　out　a　low；　bitter　laugh。　〃Tar　Valon！　All　this　time　it's　been　Caemlyn。　Moiraine　would　be　waiting　for　us　in　Caemlyn。　We'd　find　Perrin　and　Egwene　in　Caemlyn。　Everything　would　be　all　right　if　we　only　got　to　Caemlyn。　Well；　here　we　are；　and　nothing's　right。　No　Moiraine；　no　Perrin；　no　anybody。　Now　it's　everything　will　be　all　right　if　we　only　get　to　Tar　Valon。　〃
　　　　　　　〃We're　alive；〃　Rand　said；　more　sharply　than　he　had　intended。　He　took　a　deep　breath　and　tried　to　moderate　his　tone。　〃We　are　alive。　That　much　is　all　right。　And　I　intend　to　stay　alive。　I　intend　to　find　out　why　we're　so　important。　I　won't　give　up。〃
　　　　　　　〃All　these　people；　and　any　of　them　could　be　Darkfriends。　Master　Gill　promised　to　help　us　awfully　quick。　What　kind　of　man　just　shrugs　off　Aes　Sedai　and　Darkfriends？　It　isn't　natural。　Any　decent　person　would　tell　us　to　get　out；　or　。　。　。　or　。。。　or　something。〃
　　　　　　　〃Eat；〃　Rand　said　gently；　and　watched　until　Mat　began　chewing　a　piece　of　beef。
　　　　　　　He　left　his　own　hands　resting　beside　his　plate　for　a　minute；　pressing　them　against　the　table　to　keep　them　from　shaking。　He　was　scared。　Not　about　Master　Gill；　of　course；　but　there　was　enough　without　that。　Those　tall　city　walls　would　not　stop　a　Fade。　Maybe　he　should　tell　the　innkeeper　about　that。　But　even　if　Gill　believed；　would　he　be　as　willing　to　help　if　he　thought　a　Fade　might　show　up　at　The　Queen's　Blessing？　And　the　rats。　Maybe　rats　did　thrive　where　there　were　a　lot　of　people；　but　he　remembered　the　dream　that　was　not　a　dream　in　Baerlon；　and　a　small　spine　snapping。　Sometimes　the　Da