rj.eyeoftheworld-第112部分

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　　　　　　　〃Not　yet；　we　won't；〃　Rand　retorted。　〃Everybody　dies。　The　Wheel　turns。　I'm　not　going　to　curl　up　and　wait　for　it　to　happen；　though。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　sound　like　Master　al'Vere；〃　Mat　grumbled；　but　his　voice　had　a　little　spirit　in　it。
　　　　　　　〃Good；〃　Rand　said。　〃Good。〃　Light；　let　the　others　be　all　right。　Please　don't　let　us　be　alone。
　　　　　　　He　began　asking　directions　to　The　Queen's　Blessing。　The　responses　varied　widely；　a　curse　for　all　those　who　did　not　stay　where　they　belonged　or　a　shrug　and　a　blank　look　being　the　most　mon。　Some　stalked　on　by　with　no　more　than　a　glance；　if　that。
　　　　　　　A　broad…faced　man；　nearly　as　big　as　Perrin；　cocked　his　head　and　said；　〃The　Queen's　Blessing；　eh？　You　country　boys　Queen's　men？〃　He　wore　a　white　cockade　on　his　wide…brimmed　hat；　and　a　white　armband　on　his　long　coat。　〃Well；　you've　e　too　late。〃
　　　　　　　He　went　off　roaring　with　laughter；　leaving　Rand　and　Mat　to　stare　at　one　another　in　puzzlement。　Rand　shrugged；　there　were　plenty　of　odd　folk　in　Caemlyn；　people　like　he　had　never　seen　before。
　　　　　　　Some　of　them　stood　out　in　the　crowd；　skins　too　dark　or　too　pale；　coats　of　strange　cut　or　bright　colors；　hats　with　pointed　peaks　or　long　feathers。　There　were　women　with　veils　across　their　faces；　women　in　stiff　dresses　as　wide　as　the　wearer　was　tall；　women　in　dresses　that　left　more　skin　bare　than　any　tavernmaid　he　had　seen。　Occasionally　a　carriage；　all　vivid　paint　and　gilt；　squeezed　through　the　thronged　streets　behind　a　four…　or　six…horse　team　with　plumes　on　their　harness。　Sedan　chairs　were　everywhere；　the　polemen　pushing　along　with　never　a　care　for　who　they　shoved　aside。
　　　　　　　Rand　saw　one　fight　start　that　way；　a　brawling　heap　of　men　swinging　their　fists　while　a　pale…skinned　man　in　a　red…striped　coat　climbed　out　of　the　sedan　chair　lying　on　its　side。　Two　roughly　dressed　men；　who　seemed　to　have　been　just　passing　by　up　till　then；　jumped　on　him　before　he　was　clear。　The　crowd　that　had　stopped　to　watch　began　to　turn　ugly；　muttering　and　shaking　fists。　Rand　pulled　at　Mat's　sleeve　and　hurried　on。　Mat　needed　no　second　urging。　The　roar　of　a　small　riot　followed　them　down　the　street。
　　　　　　　Several　times　men　approached　the　two　of　them　instead　of　the　other　way　around。　Their　dusty　clothes　marked　them　as　newers；　and　seemed　to　act　like　a　magnet　on　some　types。　Furtive　fellows　who　offered　relics　of　Logain　for　sale　with　darting　eyes　and　feet　set　to　run。　Rand　calculated　he　was　offered　enough　scraps　of　the　false　Dragon's　cloak　and　fragments　of　his　sword　to　make　two　swords　and　half　a　dozen　cloaks。　Mat's　face　brightened　with　interest；　the　first　time　at　least；　but　Rand　gave　them　all　a　curt　no；　and　they　took　it　with　a　bob　of　the　head　and　a　quick；　〃Light　illumine　the　Queen；　good　master；〃　and　vanished。　Most　of　the　shops　had　plates　and　cups　painted　with　fanciful　scenes　purporting　to　show　the　false　Dragon　being　displayed　before　the　Queen　in　chains。　And　there　were　Whitecloaks　in　the　streets。　Each　walked　in　an　open　space　that　moved　with　him；　just　as　in　Baerlon。
　　　　　　　Staying　unnoticed　was　something　Rand　thought　about　a　great　deal。　He　kept　his　cloak　over　his　sword；　but　that　would　not　be　good　enough　for　very　long。　Sooner　or　later　someone　would　wonder　what　he　was　hiding。　He　would　not　…　could　not　…　take　Bunt's　advice　to　stop　wearing　it；　not　his　link　to　Tam。　To　his　father。
　　　　　　　Many　others　among　the　throng　wore　swords；　but　none　with　the　heron…mark　to　pull　the　eye。　All　the　Caemlyn　men；　though；　and　some　of　the　strangers；　had　their　swords　wound　in　strips　of　cloth；　sheath　and　hilt；　red　bound　with　white　cord；　or　white　bound　with　red。　A　hundred　heron…marks　could　be　hidden　under　those　wrappings　and　no　one　would　see。　Besides；　following　local　fashion　would　make　them　seem　to　fit　in　more。
　　　　　　　A　good　many　shops　were　fronted　with　tables　displaying　the　cloth　and　cord；　and　Rand　stopped　at　one。　The　red　cloth　was　cheaper　than　the　white；　though　he　could　see　no　difference　apart　from　the　color；　so　he　bought　that　and　the　white　cord　to　go　with　it；　despite　Mat's　plaints　about　how　little　money　they　had　left。　The　tight…lipped　shopkeeper　eyed　them　up　and　down　with　a　twist　to　his　mouth　while　he　took　Rand's　coppers；　and　cursed　them　when　Rand　asked　for　a　place　inside　to　wrap　his　sword。
　　　　　　　〃We　didn't　e　to　see　Logain；〃　Rand　said　patiently。　〃We　just　came　to　see　Caemlyn。〃　He　remembered　Bunt；　and　added；　〃The　grandest　city　in　the　world。〃　The　shopkeeper's　grimace　remained　in　place。　〃The　Light　illumine　good　Queen　Morgase；〃　Rand　said　hopefully。
　　　　　　　〃You　make　any　trouble；〃　the　man　said　sourly；　〃and　there's　a　hundred　men　in　sound　of　my　voice　will　take　care　of　you　even　if　the　Guards　won't。〃　He　paused　to　spit；　just　missing　Rand's　foot。　〃Get　on　about　your　filthy　business。　〃
　　　　　　　Rand　nodded　as　if　the　man　had　bid　him　a　cheerful　farewell；　and　pulled　Mat　away。　Mat　kept　looking　back　over　his　shoulder　toward　the　shop；　growling　to　himself；　until　Rand　tugged　him　into　an　empty　alleyway。　With　their　backs　to　the　street　no　passerby　could　see　what　they　were　doing。　Rand　pulled　off　the　sword　belt　and　set　to　wrapping　the　sheath　and　hilt。
　　　　　　　〃I'll　bet　he　charged　you　double　for　that　bloody　cloth；〃　Mat　said。　〃Triple。〃
　　　　　　　It　was　not　as　easy　as　it　looked；　fastening　the　strips　of　cloth　and　the　cord　so　the　whole　thing　would　not　fall　off。
　　　　　　　〃They'll　all　be　trying　to　cheat　us；　Rand。　They　think　we've　e　to　see　the　false　Dragon；　like　everybody　else。　We'll　be　lucky　if　somebody　doesn't　hit　us　on　the　head　while　we　sleep。　This　is　no　place　to　be。　There　are　too　many　people。　Let's　leave　for　Tar　Valon　now。　Or　south；　to　Illian。　I　wouldn't　mind　seeing　them　gather　for　the　Hunt　of　the　Horn。　If　we　can't　go　home；　let's　just　go。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'm　staying；〃　Rand　said。　〃If　they're　not　here　already；　they'll　e　here　sooner　or　later；　looking　for　us。〃
　　　　　　　He　was　not　sure　if　he　had　the　wrappings　done　the　way　everyone　else　did；　but　the　herons　on　scabbard　and　hilt　were　hidden　and　he　thought　it　was　secure。　As　he　went　back　out　on　the　street；　he　was　sure　that　he　had　one　less　thing　to　worry　about　causing　trouble。　Mat　trailed　along　beside　him　as　reluctantly　as　if　he　were　being　pulled　on　a　leash。
　　　　　　　Bit　by　bit　Rand　did　get　the　directions　he　wanted。　At　first　they　were　vague；　on　the　order　of　〃somewhere　in　that　direction〃　and　〃over　that　way。〃　The　nearer　they　came；　though；　the　clearer　the　instructions；　until　at　last　they　stood　before　a　broad　stone　building　with　a　sign　over　the　door　creaking　in　the　wind。　A　man　kneeling　before　a　woman　with　red…gold　hair　and　a　crown；　one　of　her　hands　resting　on　his　bowed　head。　The　Queen's　Blessing。
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　sure　about　this？〃　Mat　asked。
　　　　　　　〃Of　course；〃　Rand　said。　He　took　a　deep　breath　and　pushed　open　the　door。
　　　　　　　The　mon　room　was　large　and　paneled　with　dark　wood；　and　fires　on　two　hearths　warmed　it。　A　serving　maid　was　sweeping　the　floor；　though　it　was　clean；　and　another　was　polishing　candlesticks　in　the　corner。　Each　smiled　at　the　two　newers　before　going　back　to　her　work。
　　　　　　　Only　a　few　tables　had　people　at　them；　but　a　dozen　men　was　a　crowd　for　so　early　in　the　day；　and　if　none　looked　exactly　happy　to　see　him　and　Mat；　at　least　they　looked　clean　and　sober。　The　smells　of　roasting　beef　and　baking　bread　drifted　from　the　kitchen；　making　Rand's　mouth　water。
　　　　　　　The　innkeeper　was　fat；　he　was　pleased　to　see；　a　pink…faced　man　in　a　starched　white　apron；　with　graying　hair　bed　back　over　a　bald　spot　that　it　did　not　quite　cover。　His　sharp　eye　took　them　in　from　head　to　toe；　dusty　clothes　and　bundles　and　worn　boots；　but　he　had　a　ready；　pleasant　smile；　too。　Basel　Gill　was　his　name。
　　　　　　　〃Master　Gill；〃　Rand　said；　〃a　friend　of　ours　told　us　to　e　here。　Thom　Merrilin。　He　…　〃　The　innkeeper's　smile　slipped。　Rand　looked　at　Mat；　but　he　was　too　busy　sniffing　the　aromas　ing　from　the　kitchen　to　notice　anything　else。　〃Is　something　wrong？　You　do　know　him？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know　him；〃　Gill　said　curtly。　He　seemed　more　interested　in　the　flute　case　at　Rand's　side　now；　than　in　anything　else。　〃e　with　me。〃　He　jerked　his　head　toward　the　back。　Rand　gave　Mat　a　jerk　to　get　him　started；　then　followed；　wondering　what　was　going　on。
　　　　　　　In　the　kitchen；　Master　Gill　paused　to　speak　to　the　cook；　a　round　woman　with　her　hair　in　a　bun　at　the　back　of　her　head　who　almost　matched　the　innkeeper　pound　for　pound。　She　kept　stirring　her　pots　while　Master　Gill　talked。　The　smells　were　so　good　…　two　days'　hunger　made　a　fine　sauce　for　anything；　but　this　smelled　as　good　as　Mistress　al'Vere's　kitchen　…　that　Rand's　stomach　growled。　Mat　was　leaning　toward　the　pots；　nose　first。　Rand　nudged　him；　Mat　hastily　wiped　his　chin　where　he　had　begun　drooling。
　　　　　　　Then　the　innkeeper　was　hurrying　them　out　the　back　door。　In　the　stableyard　he　looked　around　to　make　sure　no　one　was　close；　then　rounded　on　them。　On　Rand。　〃What's　in　the　case；　lad？〃
　　　　　　　〃Thom's　flute；〃　Rand　said　slowly。　He　opened　the　case；　as　if　showing　the　gold…and…silver…chased　flute　would　help。　Mat's　hand　crept　under　his　coat。
　　　　　　　Master　Gill　did　not　take　his　eyes　off　Rand。　〃Aye；　I　recognize　it。　I　saw　him　play　it　often　enough；　and　there's　not　likely　two　like　that　outside　a　royal　court。〃　The　pleasant　smiles　were　gone；　and　his　sharp　eyes　were　suddenly　as　sharp　as　a　knife。　〃How　did　you　e　by　it？　Thom　would　part　with　his　arm　as　soon　as　that　flute。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　gave　it　to　me。〃　Rand　took　Thom's　bundled　cloak　from　his　back　and　set　it　on　the　ground；　unfolding　enough　to　show　the　colored　patches；　as　well　as　the　end　of　the　harp　case。　〃Thom's　dead；　Master　Gill。　If　he　was　your　friend；　I'm　sorry。　He　was　mine；　too。〃
　　　　　　　〃Dead；　you　say。　How？〃
　　　　　　　〃A　。。。　a　man　tried　to　kill　us。　Thom　pushed　this　at　me　and　told　us　to　run。〃　The　patches　fluttered　in　the　wind　like　butterflies。　Rand's　throat　caught；　he　folded　the　cloak　carefully　back　up　again。　〃We'd　have　been　killed　if　it　hadn't　been　for　him。　We　were　on　our　way　to　Caemlyn　together。　He　told　us　to　e　here；　to　your　inn。　〃
　　　　　　　〃I'll　believe　he's　dead；〃　the　innkeeper　said　slowly；　〃when　I　see　his　corpse。〃　He　nudged　the　bundled　cloak　with　his　toe　and　cleared　his　throat　roughly。　〃Nay；　nay；　I　believe　you　saw　whatever　it　was　you　saw；　I　just　don't　believe　he's　dead。　He's　a　harder　man　to　kill　than　you　might　believe；　is　old　Thom　Merrilin。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　put　a　hand　on　Mat's　shoulder。　〃It's　all　right；　Mat。　He's　a　friend。〃
　　　　　　　Master　Gill　glanc