rj.eyeoftheworld-第131部分

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　quite　something　else　having　her　appear　in　the　kitchen　…　then　bowed　deeply。　〃You　are　wele　to　The　Queen's　Blessing；　Aes　Sedai；　as　my　guest。　Though　I　suppose　you　will　be　staying　at　the　Palace　with　Elaida　Sedai；　and　the　Aes　Sedai　who　came　with　the　false　Dragon。〃　Bowing　again；　he　gave　Rand　a　quick；　worried　look。　It　was　all　very　well　to　say　he　did　not　speak　ill　of　Aes　Sedai；　but　that　was　not　the　same　as　saying　he　wanted　one　sleeping　under　his　roof。
　　　　　　　Rand　nodded　encouragingly；　trying　to　tell　him　silently　that　it　was　all　right。　Moiraine　was　not　like　Elaida；　with　a　threat　hidden　behind　every　glance；　under　every　word。　Are　you　sure？　Even　now；　are　you　sure？
　　　　　　　〃I　believe　I　will　stay　here；〃　Moiraine　said；　〃for　the　short　time　I　remain　in　Caemlyn。　And　you　must　allow　me　to　pay。〃
　　　　　　　A　calico　cat　sauntered　in　from　the　hallway　to　strop　the　innkeeper's　ankles。　No　sooner　had　the　calico　begun　than　a　fuzzy　gray　sprang　from　under　the　table；　arching　its　back　and　hissing。　The　calico　crouched　with　a　threatening　growl；　and　the　gray　streaked　past　Lan　into　the　stableyard。
　　　　　　　Master　Gill　began　apologizing　for　the　cats　at　the　same　time　he　protested　that　Moiraine　would　honor　him　by　being　his　guest；　and　was　she　sure　she　would　not　prefer　the　Palace；　which　he　would　quite　understand；　but　he　hoped　she　would　accept　his　best　room　as　a　gift。　It　made　a　jumble　to　which　Moiraine　seemed　to　pay　no　attention　at　all。　Instead　she　bent　down　to　scratch　the　orange…and…white　cat；　it　promptly　left　Master　Gill's　ankles　for　hers。
　　　　　　　〃I've　seen　four　other　cats　here；　so　far；〃　she　said。　〃You　have　a　problem　with　mice？　Rats？〃
　　　　　　　〃Rats；　Moiraine　Sedai。〃　The　innkeeper　sighed。　〃A　terrible　problem。　Not　that　I　don't　keep　a　clean　place；　you　understand。　It's　all　the　people。　The　whole　city　is　full　of　people　and　rats。　But　my　cats　take　care　of　it。　You'll　not　be　troubled；　I　promise。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　exchanged　a　fleeting　look　with　Perrin；　who　put　his　eyes　down　again　right　away。　There　was　something　odd　about　Perrin's　eyes。　And　he　was　so　silent；　Perrin　was　almost　always　slow　to　speak；　but　now　he　was　saying　nothing　at　all。　〃It　could　be　all　the　people；〃　he　said。
　　　　　　　〃With　your　permission；　Master　Gill；〃　Moiraine　said；　as　if　she　took　it　for　granted。　〃It　is　a　simple　matter　to　keep　rats　away　from　this　street。　With　luck；　the　rats　will　not　even　realize　they　are　being　kept　away。〃
　　　　　　　Master　Gill　frowned　at　that　last；　but　he　bowed；　accepting　her　offer。　〃If　you　are　sure　you　don't　want　to　stay　at　the　Palace；　Aes　Sedai。　〃
　　　　　　　〃Where　is　Mat？〃　Nynaeve　said　suddenly。　〃She　said　he　was　here；　too。〃
　　　　　　　〃Upstairs；〃　Rand　said。　〃He's　。。。　not　feeling　well。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve's　head　came　up。　〃He's　sick？　I'll　leave　the　rats　to　her；　and　I'll　attend　to　him。　Take　me　to　him　now；　Rand。　〃
　　　　　　　〃All　of　you　go　up；〃　Moiraine　said。　〃I　will　join　you　in　a　few　minutes。　We　are　crowding　Master　Gill's　kitchen；　and　it　would　be　best　if　we　could　all　be　somewhere　quiet　for　a　time。〃　There　was　an　undercurrent　in　her　voice。　Stay　out　of　sight。　The　hiding　is　not　done　yet。
　　　　　　　〃e　on；〃　Rand　said。　〃We'll　go　up　the　back　way。〃
　　　　　　　The　Emond's　Field　folk　crowded　after　him　to　the　back　staircase；　leaving　the　Aes　Sedai　and　the　Warder　in　the　kitchen　with　Master　Gill。　He　could　not　get　over　being　back　together。　It　was　nearly　as　if　he　were　home　again。　He　could　not　stop　grinning。
　　　　　　　The　same　relief；　almost　joyous；　seemed　to　be　affecting　the　others。　They　chuckled　to　themselves；　and　kept　reaching　out　to　grip　his　arm。　Perrin's　voice　seemed　subdued；　and　he　still　kept　his　head　down；　but　he　began　to　talk　as　they　climbed。
　　　　　　　〃Moiraine　said　she　could　find　you　and　Mat；　and　she　did。　When　we　rode　into　the　city；　the　rest　of　us　couldn't　stop　staring　…　well；　all　except　Lan；　of　course　…　all　the　people；　the　buildings；　everything。〃　His　thick　curls　swung　as　he　shook　his　head　in　disbelief。　〃It's　all　so　big。　And　so　many　people。　Some　of　them　kept　staring　at　us；　too；　shouting　'Red　or　white？'　like　it　made　some　kind　of　sense。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　touched　Rand's　sword；　fingering　the　red　wrappings。　〃What　does　it　mean？〃
　　　　　　　〃Nothing；〃　he　said。　〃Nothing　important。　We're　leaving　for　Tar　Valon；　remember？〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　gave　him　a　look；　but　she　removed　her　hand　from　the　sword　and　took　up　where　Perrin　had　left　off。　〃Moiraine　didn't　look　at　anything　any　more　than　Lan　did。　She　led　us　back　and　forth　through　all　those　streets　so　many　times；　like　a　dog　hunting　a　scent；　that　I　thought　you　couldn't　be　here。　Then；　all　of　a　sudden；　she　took　off　down　a　street；　and　the　next　thing　I　knew　we　were　handing　the　horses　to　the　stablemen　and　marching　into　the　kitchen。　She　never　even　asked　if　you　were　here。　Just　told　a　woman　who　was　mixing　batter　to　go　tell　Rand　al'Thor　and　Mat　Cauthon　that　someone　wanted　to　see　them。　And　there　you　were〃　…　she　grinned　…〃like　a　ball　popping　into　the　gleeman's　hand　out　of　nowhere。〃
　　　　　　　〃Where　is　the　gleeman？〃　Perrin　asked。　〃Is　he　with　you？〃
　　　　　　　Rand's　stomach　lurched　and　the　good　feeling　of　having　friends　around　him　dimmed。　〃Thom's　dead。　I　think　he's　dead。　There　was　a　Fade　。。。〃　He　could　not　say　any　more。　Nynaeve　shook　her　head；　muttering　under　her　breath。
　　　　　　　The　silence　thickened　around　them；　stifling　the　little　chuckles；　flattening　the　joy；　until　they　reached　the　head　of　the　stairs。
　　　　　　　〃Mat's　not　sick；　exactly；〃　he　said　then。　〃It's　。。。　You'll　see。〃　He　flung　open　the　door　to　the　room　he　shared　with　Mat。　〃Look　who's　here；　Mat。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　was　still　curled　up　in　a　ball　on　the　bed；　just　as　Rand　had　left　him。　He　raised　his　head　to　stare　at　them。　〃How　do　you　know　they're　really　who　they　look　like？〃　he　said　hoarsely。　His　face　was　flushed；　the　skin　tight　and　slick　with　sweat。　〃How　do　I　know　you're　who　you　look　like？〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　sick？〃　Nynaeve　gave　Rand　a　disdainful　look　as　she　pushed　past　him；　already　unslinging　her　bag　from　her　shoulder。
　　　　　　　〃Everybody　changes；〃　Mat　rasped。　〃How　can　I　be　sure？　Perrin？　Is　that　you？　You've　changed；　haven't　you？〃　His　laugh　sounded　more　like　a　cough。　〃Oh；　yes；　you've　changed。〃
　　　　　　　To　Rand's　surprise　Perrin　dropped　onto　the　edge　of　the　other　bed　with　his　head　in　hands；　staring　at　the　floor。　Mat's　hacking　laughter　seemed　to　pierce　him。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　knelt　beside　Mat's　bed　and　put　a　hand　to　his　face；　pushing　up　his　headcloth。　He　jerked　back　from　her　with　a　scornful　look。　His　eyes　were　bright　and　glazed。　〃You're　burning；〃　she　said；　〃but　you　should　not　be　sweating　with　this　much　fever。〃　She　could　not　keep　the　worry　out　of　her　voice。　〃Rand；　you　and　Perrin　fetch　some　clean　cloths　and　as　much　cool　water　as　you　can　carry。　I'll　bring　your　temperature　down　first；　Mat；　and　…〃
　　　　　　　〃Pretty　Nynaeve；〃　Mat　spat。　〃A　Wisdom　isn't　supposed　to　think　of　herself　as　a　woman；　is　she？　Not　a　pretty　woman。　But　you　do；　don't　you？　Now。　You　can't　make　yourself　forget　that　you're　a　pretty　woman；　now；　and　it　frightens　you。　Everybody　changes。〃　Nynaeve's　face　paled　as　he　spoke；　whether　with　anger　or　something　else；　Rand　could　not　tell。　Mat　gave　a　sly　laugh；　and　his　feverish　eyes　slid　to　Egwene。　〃Pretty　Egwene；〃　he　croaked。　〃Pretty　as　Nynaeve。　And　you　share　other　things　now；　don't　you？　Other　dreams。　What　do　you　dream　about　now？〃　Egwene　took　a　step　back　from　the　bed。
　　　　　　　〃We　are　safe　from　the　Dark　One's　eyes　for　the　time　being；〃　Moiraine　announced　as　she　walked　into　the　room　with　Lan　at　her　heels。　Her　eyes　fell　on　Mat　as　she　stepped　through　the　doorway；　and　she　hissed　as　if　she　had　touched　a　hot　stove。　〃Get　away　from　him！〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　did　not　move　except　for　turning　to　stare　at　the　Aes　Sedai　in　surprise。　In　two　quick　steps　Moiraine　seized　the　Wisdom　by　the　shoulders；　hauling　her　across　the　floor　like　a　sack　of　grain。　Nynaeve　struggled　and　protested；　but　Moiraine　did　not　release　her　until　she　was　well　away　from　the　bed。　The　Wisdom　continued　her　protests　as　she　got　to　her　feet；　angrily　straightening　her　clothes；　but　Moiraine　ignored　her　pletely。　The　Aes　Sedai　watched　Mat　to　the　exclusion　of　everything　else；　eyeing　him　the　way　she　would　a　viper。
　　　　　　　〃All　of　you　stay　away　from　him；〃　she　said。　〃And　be　quiet。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　stared　back　as　intently　as　she。　He　bared　his　teeth　in　a　silent；　snarling　rictus；　and　pulled　himself　into　an　ever　tighter　knot；　but　he　never　took　his　eyes　from　hers。　Slowly　she　put　one　hand　on　him；　lightly；　on　a　knee　drawn　up　to　his　chest。　A　convulsion　shook　him　at　her　touch；　a　shudder　of　revulsion　spasming　through　his　entire　body；　and　abruptly　he　pulled　one　hand　out；　slashing　at　her　face　with　the　ruby…hilted　dagger。
　　　　　　　One　minute　Lan　was　in　the　doorway；　the　next　he　was　at　the　bedside；　as　if　he　had　not　bothered　with　the　intervening　space。　His　hand　caught　Mat's　wrist；　stopping　the　slash　as　if　it　had　struck　stone。　Still　Mat　held　himself　in　that　tight　ball。　Only　the　hand　with　the　dagger　tried　to　move；　straining　against　the　Warder's　implacable　grip。　Mat's　eyes　never　left　Moiraine；　and　they　burned　with　hate。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　also　did　not　move。　She　did　not　flinch　from　the　blade　only　inches　from　her　face；　as　she　had　not　when　he　first　struck。　〃How　did　he　e　by　this？〃　she　asked　in　a　steel　voice。　〃I　asked　if　Mordeth　had　given　you　anything。　I　asked；　and　I　warned　you；　and　you　said　he　had　not。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　didn't；〃　Rand　said。　〃He　。。。　Mat　took　it　from　the　treasure　room。〃　Moiraine　looked　at　him；　her　eyes　seeming　to　burn　as　much　as　Mat's。　He　almost　stepped　back　before　she　turned　away　again；　back　to　the　bed。　〃I　didn't　know　until　after　we　were　separated。　I　didn't　know。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　did　not　know。〃　Moiraine　studied　Mat。　He　still　lay　with　his　knees　pulled　up　to　his　chest；　still　snarled　soundlessly　at　her；　and　his　hand　yet　fought　Lan　to　reach　her　with　the　dagger。　〃It　is　a　wonder　you　got　this　far；　carrying　this。　I　felt　the　evil　of　it　when　I　laid　eyes　on　him；　the　touch　of　Mashadar；　but　a　Fade　could　sense　it　for　miles。　Even　though　he　would　not　know　exactly　where；　he　would　know　it　was　near；　and　Mashadar　would　draw　his　spirit　while　his　bones　remembered　that　this　same　evil　swallowed　an　army　…　Dreadlords；　Fades；　Trollocs；　and　all。　Some　Darkfriends　could　probably　feel　it；　too。　Those　who　have　truly　given　away　their　souls。　There　could　not　help　but　be　those　who　would　wonder　at　suddenly　feeling　this；　as　if　the　very　air　around　them　itched。　They　would　be　pelled　to　seek　it。　It　should　have　drawn　them　to　it　as　a　magnet　draw