rj.eyeoftheworld-第21部分

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rrilin。　And　tell　her　I　said　hurry；　or　I'll　know　the　reason　why！　Rest　easy；　Tam。　We'll　soon　have　you　in　a　good；　soft　bed。　Go；　gleeman；　go！〃
　　　　　　　Thom　Merrilin　vanished　through　the　doorway　before　Rand　could　speak。　〃Nynaeve　wouldn't　do　anything。　She　said　she　couldn't　help　him。　I　knew　。。。　I　hoped　you'd　think　of　something。〃
　　　　　　　Master　al'Vere　looked　at　Tam　more　sharply；　then　shook　his　head。　〃We　will　see；　boy。　We　will　see。〃　But　he　no　longer　sounded　confident。　〃Let's　get　him　into　a　bed。　He　can　rest　easy；　at　least。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　let　himself　be　prodded　toward　the　stairs　at　the　back　of　the　mon　room。　He　tried　hard　to　keep　his　certainty　that　somehow　Tam　would　be　all　right；　but　it　had　been　thin　to　begin　with；　he　realized；　and　the　sudden　doubt　in　the　Mayor's　voice　shook　him。
　　　　　　　On　the　second　floor　of　the　inn；　at　the　front；　were　half　a　dozen　snug；　well…appointed　rooms　with　windows　overlooking　the　Green。　Mostly　they　were　used　by　the　peddlers；　or　people　down　from　Watch　Hill　or　up　from　Deven　Ride；　but　the　merchants　who　came　each　year　were　often　surprised　to　find　such　fortable　rooms。　Three　of　them　were　taken　now；　and　the　Mayor　hurried　Rand　to　one　of　the　unused　ones。
　　　　　　　Quickly　the　down　forter　and　blankets　were　stripped　back　on　the　wide　bed；　and　Tam　was　transferred　to　the　thick　feather　mattress；　with　goose…down　pillows　tucked　under　his　head。　He　made　no　sound　beyond　hoarse　breathing　as　he　was　moved；　not　even　a　groan；　but　the　Mayor　brushed　away　Rand's　concern；　telling　him　to　set　a　fire　to　take　the　chill　off　the　room。　While　Rand　dug　wood　and　kindling　from　the　woodbox　next　to　the　fireplace；　Bran　threw　back　the　curtains　on　the　window；　letting　in　the　morning　light；　then　began　to　gently　wash　Tam's　face。　By　the　time　the　gleeman　returned；　the　blaze　on　the　hearth　was　warming　the　room。
　　　　　　　〃She　will　not　e；〃　Thom　Merrilin　announced　as　he　stalked　into　the　room。　He　glared　at　Rand；　his　bushy　white　brows　drawing　down　sharply。　〃You　didn't　tell　me　she　had　seen　him　already。　She　almost　took　my　head　off。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　thought　。。。　I　don't　know　。。。　maybe　the　Mayor　could　do　something；　could　make　her　see　。。。　〃　Hands　clenched　in　anxious　fists；　Rand　turned　from　the　fireplace　to　Bran。　〃Master　al'Vere；　what　can　I　do？〃　The　rotund　man　shook　his　head　helplessly。　He　laid　a　freshly　dampened　cloth　on　Tam's　forehead　and　avoided　meeting　Rand's　eye。　〃I　can't　just　watch　him　die；　Master　al'Vere。　I　have　to　do　something。〃　The　gleeman　shifted　as　if　to　speak。　Rand　rounded　on　him　eagerly。　。〃Do　you　have　an　idea？　I'll　try　anything。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　was　just　wondering；〃　Thom　said；　tamping　his　long…stemmed　pipe　with　his　thumb；　〃if　the　Mayor　knew　who　scrawled　the　Dragon's　Fang　on　his　door。〃　He　peered　into　the　bowl；　then　looked　at　Tam　and　replaced　the　unlit　pipe　between　his　teeth　with　a　sigh。　〃Someone　seems　not　to　like　him　anymore。　Or　maybe　it's　his　guests　they　don't　like。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　gave　him　a　disgusted　look　and　turned　away　to　stare　into　the　fire。　His　thoughts　danced　like　the　flames；　and　like　the　flames　they　concentrated　fixedly　on　one　thing。　He　would　not　give　up。　He　could　not　just　stand　there　and　watch　Tam　die。　My　father；　he　thought　fiercely。　My　father。　Once　the　fever　was　gone；　that　could　be　cleared　up　as　well。　But　the　fever　first。　Only；　how？
　　　　　　　Bran　al'Vere's　mouth　tightened　as　he　looked　at　Rand's　back；　and　the　glare　he　directed　at　the　gleeman　would　have　given　a　bear　pause；　but　Thom　just　waited　expectantly　as　if　he　had　not　noticed　it。
　　　　　　　〃It's　probably　the　work　of　one　of　the　Congars；　or　a　Coplin；〃　the　Mayor　said　finally；　〃though　the　Light　alone　knows　which。　They're　a　large　brood；　and　if　there's　ill　to　be　said　of　someone；　or　even　if　there　isn't；　they'll　say　it。　They　make　Cenn　Buie　sound　honey…tongued。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　wagonload　who　came　in　just　before　dawn？〃　the　gleeman　asked。　〃They　hadn't　so　much　as　smelled　a　Trolloc；　and　all　they　wanted　to　know　was　when　Festival　was　going　to　start；　as　if　they　couldn't　see　half　the　village　in　ashes。〃
　　　　　　　Master　al'Vere　nodded　grimly。　〃One　branch　of　the　family。　But　none　of　them　are　very　different。　That　fool　Darl　Coplin　spent　half　the　night　demanding　I　put　Mistress　Moiraine　and　Master　Lan　out　of　the　inn；　out　of　the　village；　as　if　there　would　be　any　village　at　all　left　without　them。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　had　only　half　listened　to　the　conversation；　but　this　last　tugged　him　to　speak。　〃What　did　they　do？〃
　　　　　　　〃Why；　she　called　ball　lightning　out　of　a　clear　night　sky；〃　Master　al'Vere　replied。　〃Sent　it　darting　straight　at　the　Trollocs。　You've　seen　trees　shattered　by　it。　The　Trollocs　stood　it　no　better。〃
　　　　　　　〃Moiraine？〃　Rand　said　incredulously；　and　the　Mayor　nodded。
　　　　　　　〃Mistress　Moiraine。　And　Master　Lan　was　a　whirlwind　with　that　sword　of　his。　His　sword？　The　man　himself　is　a　weapon；　and　in　ten　places　at　once；　or　so　it　seemed。　Burn　me；　but　I　still　wouldn't　believe　it　if　I　couldn't　step　outside　and　see　。。。〃　He　rubbed　a　hand　over　his　bald　head。　〃Winternight　visits　just　beginning；　our　hands　full　of　presents　and　honeycakes　and　our　heads　fall　of　wine；　then　the　dogs　snarling；　and　suddenly　the　two　of　them　burst　out　of　the　inn；　running　through　the　village；　shouting　about　Trollocs。　I　thought　they'd　had　too　much　wine。　After　all　。。。　Trollocs？　Then；　before　anyone　knew　what　was　happening；　those　。。。　those　things　were　right　in　the　streets　with　us；　slashing　at　people　with　their　swords；　torching　houses；　howling　to　freeze　a　man's　blood。〃　He　made　a　sound　of　disgust　in　his　throat。　〃We　just　ran　like　chickens　with　a　fox　in　the　henyard　till　Master　Lan　put　some　backbone　into　us。〃
　　　　　　　〃No　need　to　be　so　hard；〃　Thom　said。　〃You　did　as　well　as　anyone　could。　Not　every　Trolloc　lying　out　there　fell　to　the　two　of　them。〃
　　　　　　　〃Umm　。。。　yes；　well。〃　Master　al'Vere　gave　himself　a　shake。　〃It's　still　almost　too　much　to　believe。　An　Aes　Sedai　in　Emond's　Field。　And　Master　Lan　is　a　Warder。〃
　　　　　　　〃An　Aes　Sedai？〃　Rand　whispered。　〃She　can't　be。　I　talked　to　her。　She　isn't　。。。　She　doesn't　。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃Did　you　think　they　wore　signs？〃　the　Mayor　said　wryly。　〃'Aes　Sedai'　painted　across　their　backs；　and　maybe；　'Danger；　stay　away'？〃　Suddenly　he　slapped　his　forehead。　〃Aes　Sedai。　I'm　an　old　fool；　and　losing　my　wits。　There's　a　chance；　Rand；　if　you're　willing　to　take　it。　I　can't　tell　you　to　do　it；　and　I　don't　know　if　I'd　have　the　nerve；　if　it　were　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃A　chance？〃　Rand　said。　〃I'll　take　any　chance；　if　it'll　help　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃Aes　Sedai　can　heal；　Rand。　Burn　me；　lad；　you've　heard　the　stories。　They　can　cure　where　medicines　fail。　Gleeman；　you　should　have　remembered　that　better　than　I。　Gleemen's　tales　are　full　of　Aes　Sedai。　Why　didn't　you　speak　up；　instead　of　letting　me　flail　around？〃
　　　　　　　〃I'm　a　stranger　here；〃　Thom　said；　looking　longingly　at　his　unlit　pipe；　〃and　Goodman　Coplin　isn't　the　only　one　who　wants　nothing　to　do　with　Aes　Sedai。　Best　the　idea　came　from　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃An　Aes　Sedai；〃　Rand　muttered；　trying　to　make　the　woman　who　had　smiled　at　him　fit　the　stories。　Help　from　an　Aes　Sedai　was　sometimes　worse　than　no　help　at　all；　so　the　stories　said；　like　poison　in　a　pie；　and　their　gifts　always　had　a　hook　in　them；　like　fishbait。　Suddenly　the　coin　in　his　pocket；　the　coin　Moiraine　had　given　him；　seemed　like　a　burning　coal。　It　was　all　he　could　do　not　to　rip　it　out　of　his　coat　and　throw　it　out　the　window。
　　　　　　　〃Nobody　wants　to　get　involved　with　Aes　Sedai；　lad；〃　the　Mayor　said　slowly。　〃It　is　the　only　chance　I　can　see；　but　it's　still　no　small　decision。　I　cannot　make　it　for　you；　but　I　have　seen　nothing　but　good　from　Mistress　Moiraine　。。。　Moiraine　Sedai；　I　should　call　her；　I　suppose。　Sometimes〃　…　he　gave　a　meaningful　took　at　Tam　…　〃you　have　to　take　a　chance；　even　if　it's　a　poor　one。〃
　　　　　　　〃Some　of　the　stories　are　exaggerated；　in　a　way；〃　Thom　added；　as　if　the　words　were　being　dragged　from　him。　〃Some　of　them。　Besides；　boy；　what　choice　do　you　have？〃
　　　　　　　〃None；〃　Rand　sighed。　Tam　still　had　not　moved　a　muscle；　his　eyes　were　sunken　as　if　he　had　been　sick　a　week。　〃I'll　。。。　I'll　go　find　her。　〃
　　　　　　　〃The　other　side　of　the　bridges；〃　the　gleeman　said；　〃where　they　are　。。。　disposing　of　the　dead　Trollocs。　But　be　careful；　boy。　Aes　Sedai　do　what　they　do　for　reasons　of　their　own；　and　they　aren't　always　the　reasons　others　think。〃
　　　　　　　The　last　was　a　shout　that　followed　Rand　through　the　door。　He　had　to　hold　onto　the　sword　hilt　to　keep　the　scabbard　from　tangling　in　his　legs　as　he　ran；　but　he　would　not　take　the　time　to　remove　it。　He　clattered　down　the　stairs　and　dashed　out　of　the　inn；　tiredness　forgotten　for　the　moment。　A　chance　for　Tam；　however　small；　was　enough　to　overe　a　night　without　sleep；　for　a　time　at　least。　That　the　chance　came　from　an　Aes　Sedai；　or　what　the　price　of　it　might　be；　he　did　not　want　to　consider。　And　as　for　actually　facing　an　Aes　Sedai　。。。　He　took　a　deep　breath　and　tried　to　move　faster。
　　　　　　　The　bonfires　stood　well　beyond　the　last　houses　to　the　north；　on　the　Westwood　side　of　the　road　to　Watch　Hill。　The　wind　still　carried　the　oily　black　columns　of　smoke　away　from　the　village；　but　even　so　a　sickly　sweet　stink　filled　the　air；　like　a　roast　left　hours　too　long　on　the　spit。　Rand　gagged　at　the　smell；　then　swallowed　hard　when　he　realized　its　source。　A　fine　thing　to　do　with　Bel　Tine　fires。　The　men　tending　the　fires　had　cloths　tied　over　their　noses　and　mouths；　but　their　grimaces　made　it　plain　the　vinegar　dampening　the　cloths　was　not　enough。　Even　if　it　did　kill　the　stench；　they　still　knew　the　stench　was　there；　and　they　still　knew　what　they　were　doing。
　　　　　　　Two　of　the　men　were　untying　the　harness　straps　of　one　of　the　big　Dhurrans　from　a　Trolloc's　ankles。　Lan；　squatting　beside　the　body；　had　tossed　back　the　blanket　enough　to　reveal　the　Trolloc's　shoulders　and　goat…snouted　head。　As　Rand　trotted　up；　the　Warder　unfastened　a　metal　badge；　a　blood…red　enamelled　trident；　from　one　spiked　shoulder　of　the　Trolloc's　shirt　of　black　mail。
　　　　　　　〃Ko'bal；〃　he　announced。　He　bounced　the　badge　on　his　palm　and　snatched　it　out　of　the　air　with　a　growl。　〃That　makes　seven　bands　so　far。〃
　　　　　　　Moiraine；　seated　cross…legged　on　the　ground　a　short　distance　off；　shook　her　head　tiredly。　A　walking　staff；　covered　from　end　to　end　in　carved　vines　and　flowers；　lay　across　her　knees；　and　her　dress　had　the　rumpled　look　of　having　been　worn　too　long。　〃Seven　bands。　Seven！　That　many　have　not　acted　together　since　the　Trolloc　Wars。　Bad　ne