rj.eyeoftheworld-第138部分

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y　itself；　but　pared　with　the　Ogier　it　seemed　a　pony。
　　　　　　　Loial　eyed　the　big　horse　and　muttered　doubtfully；　〃My　own　feet　have　always　been　good　enough。〃
　　　　　　　Master　Gill　motioned　to　Rand。　The　innkeeper　was　lending　him　a　bay　almost　the　color　of　his　own　hair；　tall　and　deep　of　chest；　but　with　none　of　the　fire　in　his　step　that　Cloud　had　had；　Rand　was　glad　to　see。　Master　Gill　said　his　name　was　Red。
　　　　　　　Egwene　went　straight　to　Bela；　and　Nynaeve　to　her　long…legged　mare。
　　　　　　　Mat　brought　his　dun…colored　horse　over　by　Rand。　〃Perrin's　making　me　nervous；〃　he　muttered。　Rand　looked　at　him　sharply。　〃Well；　he's　acting　strange。　Don't　you　see　it；　too？　I　swear　it's　not　my　imagination；　or　。。。　or　。。。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　nodded。　Not　the　dagger　taking　hold　of　him　again；　thank　the　Light。　〃He　is；　Mat；　but　just　be　easy。　Moiraine　knows　about　。。。　whatever　it　is。　Perrin's　fine。〃　He　wished　he　could　believe　it；　but　it　seemed　to　satisfy　Mat；　a　little　at　least。
　　　　　　　〃Of　course；〃　Mat　said　hastily；　still　watching　Perrin　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye。　〃I　never　said　he　wasn't。〃
　　　　　　　Master　Gill　conferred　with　the　head　groom。　That　leathery…skinned　man；　with　a　face　like　one　of　the　horses；　knuckled　his　forehead　and　hurried　to　the　back　of　the　stable。　The　innkeeper　turned　to　Moiraine　with　a　satisfied　smile　on　his　round　face。　〃Ramey　says　the　way　is　clear；　Aes　Sedai。〃
　　　　　　　The　rear　wall　of　the　stable　appeared　solid　and　stout；　lined　with　heavy　racks　of　tools。　Ramey　and　another　stableman　cleared　away　the　hayforks；　rakes；　and　shovels；　then　reached　behind　the　racks　to　manipulate　hidden　latches。　Abruptly　a　section　of　the　wall　swung　inward　on　hinges　so　well　concealed　that　Rand　was　not　sure　he　could　find　them　even　with　the　disguised　door　standing　open。　Light　from　the　stable　illuminated　a　brick　wall　only　a　few　feet　away。
　　　　　　　〃It's　only　a　narrow　run　between　buildings；〃　the　innkeeper　said；　〃but　nobody　outside　this　stable　knows　there's　a　way　into　it　from　here。　Whitecloaks　or　white　cockades；　there'll　not　be　any　watchers　to　see　where　you　e　out。〃
　　　　　　　The　Aes　Sedai　nodded。　〃Remember；　good　innkeeper；　if　you　fear　any　trouble　from　this；　write　to　Sheriam　Sedai；　of　the　Blue　Ajah；　in　Tar　Valon；　and　she　will　help。　I　fear　my　sisters　and　I　have　a　good　deal　to　put　right　already　for　those　who　have　helped　me。〃
　　　　　　　Master　Gill　laughed；　not　the　laugh　of　a　worried　man。　〃Why；　Aes　Sedai；　you've　already　given　me　the　only　inn　in　all　of　Caemlyn　without　any　rats。　What　more　could　I　ask　for？　I　can　double　my　custom　on　that　alone。〃　His　grin　faded　into　seriousness。　〃Whatever　you're　up　to；　the　Queen　holds　with　Tar　Valon；　and　I　hold　with　the　Queen；　so　I　wish　you　well。　The　Light　illumine　you；　Aes　Sedai。　The　Light　illumine　you　all。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Light　illumine　you；　also；　Master　Gill；〃　Moiraine　replied　with　a　bow　of　her　head。　〃But　if　the　Light　is　to　shine　on　any　of　us；　we　must　be　quick。〃　Briskly　she　turned　to　Loial。　〃Are　you　ready？〃
　　　　　　　With　a　wary　look　at　its　teeth；　the　Ogier　took　the　reins　of　the　big　horse。　Trying　to　keep　that　mouth　the　length　of　the　reins　from　his　hand；　he　led　the　animal　to　the　opening　at　the　back　of　the　stable。　Ramey　hopped　from　one　foot　to　the　other；　impatient　to　close　it　again。　For　a　moment　Loial　paused　with　his　head　cocked　as　if　feeling　a　breeze　on　his　cheek。　〃This　way；〃　he　said；　and　turned　down　the　narrow　alley。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　followed　right　behind　Loial's　horse；　then　Rand；　and　Mat。　Rand　had　the　first　turn　leading　the　packhorse。　Nynaeve　and　Egwene　made　the　middle　of　the　column；　with　Perrin　behind　them；　and　Lan　bringing　up　the　rear。　The　hidden　door　swung　hastily　shut　as　soon　as　Mandarb　stepped　into　the　dirt　alleyway。　The　snick…snick　of　latches　locking；　shutting　them　off；　sounded　unnaturally　loud　to　Rand。
　　　　　　　The　run；　as　Master　Gill　had　called　it；　was　very　narrow　indeed；　and　even　darker　than　the　stableyard；　if　that　was　possible。　Tall；　blank　walls　of　brick　or　wood　lined　both　sides；　with　only　a　narrow　strip　of　black　sky　overhead。　The　big；　woven　baskets　slung　on　the　packhorse　scraped　the　buildings　on　both　sides。　The　panniers　bulged　with　supplies　for　the　journey；　most　of　it　clay　jars　filled　with　oil。　A　bundle　of　poles　was　lashed　lengthwise　down　the　horse's　back；　and　each　had　a　lantern　swinging　at　the　end　of　it。　In　the　Ways；　Loial　said；　it　was　darker　than　the　darkest　night。
　　　　　　　The　partially　filled　lanterns　sloshed　with　the　motion　of　the　horse；　and　clinked　against　each　other　with　a　tinny　sound。　It　was　not　a　very　loud　noise；　but　in　the　hour　before　dawn　Caemlyn　was　quiet。　Silent。　The　dull　metallic　clinks　sounded　as　if　they　could　be　heard　a　mile　away。
　　　　　　　When　the　run　let　out　into　a　street；　Loial　chose　his　direction　without　a　pause。　He　seemed　to　know　exactly　where　he　was　going；　now；　as　if　the　route　he　needed　to　follow　was　being　clearer。　Rand　did　not　understand　how　the　Ogier　could　find　the　Waygate；　and　Loial　had　not　been　able　to　explain　very　well。　He　just　knew；　he　said；　he　could　feel　it。　Loial　claimed　it　was　like　trying　to　explain　how　to　breathe。
　　　　　　　As　they　hurried　up　the　street　Rand　looked　back　toward　the　corner　where　The　Queen's　Blessing　lay。　According　to　Lamgwin；　there　were　still　half　a　dozen　Whitecloaks　not　far　down　from　that　corner。　Their　interest　was　all　on　the　inn；　but　a　noise　would　surely　bring　them。　No　one　was　out　at　this　hour　for　a　reputable　reason。　The　horseshoes　seemed　to　ring　on　the　paving　stones　like　bells；　the　lanterns　clattered　as　if　the　packhorse　were　shaking　them　deliberately。　Not　until　they　had　rounded　another　corner　did　he　stop　looking　over　his　shoulder。　He　heard　relieved　sighs　from　the　other　Emond's　Fielders　as　they　came　round　it；　too。
　　　　　　　Loial　appeared　to　be　following　the　most　direct　path　to　the　Waygate；　wherever　it　took　them。　Sometimes　they　trotted　down　broad　avenues；　empty　save　for　an　occasional　dog　skulking　in　the　dark。　Sometimes　they　hurried　along　alleys　as　narrow　as　the　stable　run；　where　things　squished　under　an　unwary　step。　Nynaeve　plained　softly　about　the　resulting　smells；　but　no　one　slowed　down。
　　　　　　　The　darkness　began　to　lessen；　fading　toward　a　dark　gray。　Faint　glimmers　of　dawn　pearled　the　sky　above　the　eastern　rooftops。　A　few　people　appeared　on　the　streets；　bundled　up　against　the　early　cold；　heads　down　while　they　yet　dreamed　of　their　beds。　Most　paid　no　mind　to　anyone　else。　Only　a　handful　even　glanced　at　the　line　of　people　and　horses　with　Loial　at　its　head；　and　only　one　of　those　truly　saw　them。
　　　　　　　That　one　man　flicked　his　eyes　at　them；　just　like　the　others；　already　sinking　back　into　his　own　thoughts　when　suddenly　he　stumbled　and　almost　fell；　turning　himself　back　around　to　stare。　There　was　only　light　enough　to　see　shapes；　but　that　was　too　much。　Seen　at　a　distance　by　himself；　the　Ogier　could　have　passed　for　a　tall　man　leading　an　ordinary　horse；　or　for　an　ordinary　man　leading　an　under…sized　horse。　With　the　others　in　a　line　behind　him　to　give　perspective；　Loial　looked　exactly　as　big　as　he　was；　half　again　as　tall　as　any　man　should　be。　The　man　took　one　look　and；　with　a　strangled　cry；　set　off　running；　his　cloak　flapping　behind　him。
　　　　　　　There　would　be　more　people　in　the　streets　soon　…　very　soon。　Rand　eyed　a　woman　hurrying　past　on　the　other　side　of　the　street；　seeing　nothing　but　the　pavement　in　front　of　her　feet。　More　people　to　notice　soon。　The　eastern　sky　grew　lighter。
　　　　　　　〃There；〃　Loial　announced　at　last。　〃It　is　under　there。〃　It　was　a　shop　he　pointed　to；　still　closed　for　the　night。　The　tables　out　front　were　bare；　the　awnings　over　them　rolled　up　tight；　the　door　stoutly　shuttered。　The　windows　above；　where　the　shopkeeper　lived；　were　still　dark。
　　　　　　　〃Under？〃　Mat　exclaimed　incredulously。　〃How　in　the　Light　can　we…？〃
　　　　　　　Moiraine　raised　a　hand　that　cut　him　off；　and　motioned　for　them　to　follow　her　into　the　alley　beside　the　shop。　Horses　and　people　together；　they　crowded　the　opening　between　the　two　buildings。　Shaded　by　the　walls；　it　was　darker　there　than　on　the　street；　near　to　full　night　again。
　　　　　　　〃There　must　be　a　cellar　door；〃　Moiraine　muttered。　〃Ah；　yes。〃
　　　　　　　Abruptly　light　blossomed。　A　coolly　glowing　ball　the　size　of　a　man's　fist　hung　suspended　over　the　Aes　Sedai's　palm；　moving　as　she　moved　her　hand。　Rand　thought　that　it　was　a　measure　of　what　they　had　been　through　that　everyone　seemed　to　take　it　as　a　matter　of　course。　She　put　it　close　to　the　doors　she　had　found；　slanted　almost　flat　to　the　ground；　with　a　hasp　held　by　thick　bolts　and　an　iron　lock　bigger　than　Rand's　hand　and　thick　with　old　rust。
　　　　　　　Loial　gave　the　lock　a　tug。　〃I　can　pull　it　off；　hasp　and　all；　but　it　will　make　enough　noise　to　wake　the　whole　neighborhood。〃
　　　　　　　〃Let　us　not　damage　the　goodman's　property　if　we　can　avoid　it。〃　Moiraine　studied　the　lock　intently　for　a　moment。　Suddenly　she　gave　the　rusty　iron　a　tap　with　her　staff；　and　the　lock　fell　open　neatly。
　　　　　　　Hastily　Loial　undid　the　lock　and　swung　the　doors　up；　propping　them　back。　Moiraine　went　down　the　ramp　thus　revealed；　lighting　her　way　with　the　glowing　ball。　Aldieb　stepped　delicately　behind　her。
　　　　　　　〃Light　the　lanterns　and　e　down；〃　she　called　softly。　〃There　is　plenty　of　room。　Hurry。　It　will　be　light　out　soon。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　hurriedly　untied　the　poled　lanterns　off　the　packhorse；　but　even　before　the　first　was　lit　he　realized　he　could　see　Mat's　features。　People　would　be　filling　the　streets　in　minutes；　and　the　shopkeeper　would　be　ing　down　to　open　up　for　business；　all　wondering　why　the　alleyway　was　crammed　full　of　horses。　Mat　muttered　something　nervously　about　taking　horses　indoors；　but　Rand　was　glad　to　lead　his　down　the　ramp。　Mat　followed；　grumbling　but　no　less　quickly。
　　　　　　　Rand's　lantern　swung　on　the　end　of　its　pole；　bumping　the　ceiling　if　he　was　not　careful；　and　neither　Red　nor　the　packhorse　liked　the　ramp。　Then　he　was　down　and　getting　out　of　Mat's　way。　Moiraine　let　her　floating　light　die；　but　as　the　rest　joined　them；　the　added　lanterns　lit　the　open　space。
　　　　　　　The　cellar　was　as　long　and　as　wide　as　the　building　above；　much　of　the　space　taken　up　by　brick　columns；　flaring　up　from　narrow　bases　to　five　times　as　big　at　the　ceiling。　The　place　seemed　made　up　from　a　series　of　arches。　There　was　plenty　of　room；　but　Rand　still　felt　crowded。　Loial's　head　brushed　the　ceiling。　As　the　rusted　lock　had　foretold；　the　cellar　had　not　been　used　in　a　long　time。　The　floor　was　bare　except　for　a　few　brok