rj.eyeoftheworld-第40部分

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could　not　overhear；　and　went　on。　〃Tear　is　the　greatest　port　on　the　Sea　of　Storms；　and　the　Stone　of　Tear　is　the　fortress　that　guards　it。　The　Stone　is　said　to　be　the　first　fortress　built　after　the　Breaking　of　the　World；　and　in　all　this　time　it　has　never　fallen；　though　more　than　one　army　has　tried。　One　of　the　Prophecies　says　that　the　Stone　of　Tear　will　never　fall　until　the　People　of　the　Dragon　e　to　the　Stone。　Another　says　the　Stone　will　never　fall　till　the　Sword　That　Cannot　Be　Touched　is　wielded　by　the　Dragon's　hand。〃　Thom　grimaced。　〃The　fall　of　the　Stone　will　be　one　of　the　major　proofs　that　the　Dragon　has　been　reborn。　May　the　Stone　stand　till　I　am　dust。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　sword　that　cannot　be　touched？〃
　　　　　　　〃That's　what　it　says。　I　don't　know　whether　it　really　is　a　sword。　Whatever　it　is；　it　lies　in　the　Heart　of　the　Stone；　the　central　citadel　of　the　fortress。　None　but　the　Great　Lords　of　Tear　can　enter　there；　and　they　never　speak　of　what　lies　inside。　Certainly　not　to　gleemen；　anyway。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　frowned。　〃The　Stone　cannot　fall　until　the　Dragon　wields　the　sword；　but　how　can　he；　unless　the　Stone　has　already　fallen？　Is　the　Dragon　supposed　to　be　a　Great　Lord　of　Tear？〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　much　chance　of　that；〃　the　gleeman　said　dryly。　〃Tear　hates　anything　to　do　with　the　Power　even　more　than　Amador；　and　Amador　is　the　stronghold　of　the　Children　of　the　Light。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　how　can　the　Prophecy　be　fulfilled？〃　Rand　asked。　〃I'd　like　it　well　enough　if　the　Dragon　was　never　reborn；　but　a　prophecy　that　cannot　be　fulfilled　doesn't　make　much　sense。　It　sounds　like　a　story　meant　to　make　people　think　the　Dragon　never　will　be　reborn。　Is　that　it？〃
　　　　　　　〃You　ask　an　awful　lot　of　questions；　boy；〃　Thom　said。　〃A　prophecy　that　was　easily　fulfilled　would　not　be　worth　much；　now　would　it？〃　Suddenly　his　voice　brightened。　〃Well；　we're　here。　Wherever　here　is。　〃
　　　　　　　Lan　had　stopped　by　a　section　of　head…high　wooden　fence　that　looked　no　different　from　any　other　they　had　passed。　He　was　working　the　blade　of　his　dagger　between　two　of　the　boards。　Abruptly　he　gave　a　grunt　of　satisfaction；　pulled；　and　a　length　of　the　fence　swung　out　like　a　gate。　In　fact　it　was　a　gate；　Rand　saw；　though　one　meant　to　be　opened　only　from　the　other　side。　The　metal　latch　that　Lan　had　lifted　with　his　dagger　showed　that。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　went　through　immediately；　drawing　Aldieb　behind　her。　Lan　motioned　the　others　to　follow；　and　brought　up　the　rear；　closing　the　gate　behind　him。
　　　　　　　On　the　other　side　of　the　fence　Rand　found　himself　in　the　stableyard　of　an　inn。　A　loud　bustle　and　clatter　came　from　the　building's　kitchen；　but　what　struck　him　was　its　size；　it　covered　more　than　twice　as　much　ground　as　the　Winespring　Inn；　and　was　four　stories　high　besides。　Well　over　half　the　windows　were　aglow　in　the　deepening　twilight。　He　wondered　at　this　city　that　could　have　so　many　strangers　in　it。
　　　　　　　No　sooner　had　they　e　well　into　the　stableyard　than　three　men　in　dirty　canvas　aprons　appeared　at　the　huge　stable's　broad；　arched　doors。　One；　a　wiry　fellow　and　the　only　one　without　a　manure　fork　in　his　hands；　came　forward　waving　his　arms。
　　　　　　　〃Here！　Here！　You　can't　e　in　that　way！　You'll　have　to　go　round　the　front！〃
　　　　　　　Lan's　hand　went　to　his　purse　again；　but　even　as　it　did　another　man；　as　big　around　as　Master　al'Vere；　came　hurrying　out　of　the　inn。　Puffs　of　hair　stuck　out　above　his　ears；　and　his　sparkling　white　apron　was　as　good　as　a　sign　proclaiming　him　the　innkeeper。
　　　　　　　〃It's　all　right；　Mutch；〃　the　newer　said。　〃It's　all　right。　These　folk　are　expected　guests。　Take　care　of　their　horses；　now。　Good　care。〃
　　　　　　　Mutch　sullenly　knuckled　his　forehead；　then　motioned　his　two　panions　to　e　help。　Rand　and　the　others　hurriedly　got　their　saddlebags　and　blanketrolls　down　while　the　innkeeper　turned　to　Moiraine。　He　gave　her　a　deep　bow；　and　spoke　with　a　genuine　smile。
　　　　　　　〃Wele；　Mistress　Alys。　Wele。　It's　good　to　be　seeing　you；　you　and　Master　Andra；　both。　Very　good。　Your　fine　conversation　has　been　missed。　Yes；　it　has。　I　must　say　I　worried；　you　going　downcountry　and　all。　Well；　I　mean；　at　a　time　like　this；　with　the　weather　all　crazy　and　wolves　howling　right　up　to　the　walls　in　the　night。〃　Abruptly　he　slapped　both　hands　against　his　round　belly　and　shook　his　head。　〃Here　I　go　on　like　this；　chattering　away；　instead　of　taking　you　inside。　e。　e。　Hot　meals　and　warm　beds；　that's　what　you'll　be　wanting。　And　the　best　in　Baerlon　are　right　here。　The　very　best。　〃
　　　　　　　〃And　hot　baths；　too；　I　trust；　Master　Fitch？〃　Moiraine　said；　and　Egwene　echoed　her　fervently。　〃Oh；　yes。〃
　　　　　　　〃Baths？〃　the　innkeeper　said。　〃Why；　just　the　best　and　the　hottest　in　Baerlon。　e。　Wele　to　the　Stag　and　Lion。　Wele　to　Baerlon。〃

Chapter　14
The　Stag　and　Lion
　
　　　　　　　Inside；　the　inn　was　every　bit　as　busy　as　the　sounds　ing　from　it　had　indicated　and　more。　The　party　from　Emond's　Field　followed　Master　Fitch　through　the　back　door；　soon　weaving　around　and　between　a　constant　stream　of　men　and　women　in　long　aprons；　platters　of　food　and　trays　of　drink　held　high。　The　bearers　murmured　quick　apologies　when　they　got　in　anyone's　way；　but　they　never　slowed　by　a　step。　One　of　the　men　took　hurried　orders　from　Master　Fitch　and　disappeared　at　a　run。
　　　　　　　〃The　inn　is　near　full；　I'm　afraid；〃　the　innkeeper　told　Moiraine。　〃Almost　to　the　rafters。　Every　inn　in　the　town　is　the　same。　With　the　winter　we　just　had　。。。　well；　as　soon　as　it　cleared　enough　for　them　to　get　down　out　of　the　mountains　we　were　inundated　…　yes；　that's　the　word　…　inundated　by　men　from　the　mines　and　smelters；　all　telling　the　most　horrible　tales。　Wolves；　and　worse。　The　kind　of　tales　men　tell　when　they've　been　cooped　up　all　winter。　I　can't　think　there's　anyone　left　up　there　at　all；　we　have　that　many　here。　But　never　fear。　Things　may　be　a　little　crowded；　but　I'll　do　my　best　by　you　and　Master　Andra。　And　your　friends；　too；　of　course。〃　He　glanced　curiously　once　or　twice　at　Rand　and　the　others；　except　for　Thom　their　clothes　named　them　country　folk；　and　Thom's　gleeman's　cloak　made　him　a　strange　traveling　panion　as　well　for　〃Mistress　Alys〃　and　〃Master　Andra〃。　〃I　will　do　my　best；　you　may　rest　assured。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　stared　at　the　bustle　around　them　and　tried　to　avoid　being　stepped　on；　though　none　of　the　help　really　seemed　to　be　in　any　danger　of　that。　He　kept　thinking　of　how　Master　al'Vere　and　his　wife　tended　the　Winespring　Inn　with　sometimes　a　little　assistance　from　their　daughters。
　　　　　　　Mat　and　Perrin　craned　their　necks　in　interest　toward　the　mon　room；　from　which　rolled　a　wave　of　laughter　and　singing　and　jovial　shouting　whenever　the　wide　door　at　the　end　of　the　hall　swung　open。　Muttering　about　finding　out　the　news；　the　Warder　grimly　disappeared　through　that　swinging　door；　swallowed　by　a　wave　of　merriment。
　　　　　　　Rand　wanted　to　follow　him；　but　he　wanted　a　bath　even　more。　He　could　have　done　with　people　and　laughing　right　then；　but　the　mon　room　would　appreciate　his　presence　more　when　he　was　clean。　Mat　and　Perrin　apparently　felt　the　same；　Mat　was　scratching　surreptitiously。
　　　　　　　〃Master　Fitch；〃　Moiraine　said；　〃I　understand　there　are　Children　of　the　Light　in　Baerlon。　Is　there　likely　to　be　trouble？〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　never　you　worry　about　them；　Mistress　Alys。　They're　up　to　their　usual　tricks。　Claim　there's　an　Aes　Sedai　in　the　town。〃　Moiraine　lifted　an　eyebrow；　and　the　innkeeper　spread　his　plump　hands。　〃Don't　you　worry。　They've　tried　it　before。　There's　no　Aes　Sedai　in　Baerlon；　and　the　Governor　knows　it。　The　Whitecloaks　think　if　they　show　an　Aes　Sedai；　some　woman　they　claim　is　an　Aes　Sedai；　people　will　let　all　of　them　inside　the　walls。　Well；　I　suppose　some　would。　Some　would。　But　most　people　know　what　the　Whitecloaks　are　up　to；　and　they　support　the　Governor。　No　one　wants　to　see　some　harmless　old　woman　hurt　just　so　the　Children　can　have　an　excuse　for　whipping　up　a　frenzy。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　glad　to　hear　it；〃　Moiraine　said　dryly。　She　put　a　hand　on　the　innkeeper's　arm。　〃Is　Min　still　here？　I　wish　to　talk　with　her；　if　she　is。〃
　　　　　　　Master　Fitch's　answer　was　lost　to　Rand　in　the　arrival　of　attendants　to　lead　them　to　the　baths。　Moiraine　and　Egwene　vanished　behind　a　plump　woman　with　a　ready　smile　and　an　armload　of　towels。　The　gleeman　and　Rand　and　his　friends　found　themselves　following　a　slight；　dark…haired　fellow；　Ara　by　name。
　　　　　　　Rand　tried　asking　Ara　about　Baerlon；　but　the　man　barely　said　two　words　together　except　to　say　Rand　had　a　funny　accent；　and　then　the　first　sight　of　the　bath　chamber　drove　all　thoughts　of　talk　right　out　of　Rand's　head。　A　dozen　tall；　copper　bathtubs　sat　in　a　circle　on　the　tiled　floor；　which　sloped　down　slightly　to　a　drain　in　the　center　of　the　big　stonewalled　room。　A　thick　towel；　neatly　folded；　and　a　large　cake　of　yellow　soap　sat　on　a　stool　behind　each　tub；　and　big　black　iron　cauldrons　of　water　stood　heating　over　fires　along　one　wall。　On　the　opposite　wall　logs　blazing　in　a　deep　fireplace　added　to　the　general　warmth。
　　　　　　　〃Almost　as　good　as　the　Winespring　Inn　back　home；〃　Perrin　said　loyally；　if　not　exactly　with　a　great　attention　to　truth。
　　　　　　　Thom　barked　a　laugh；　and　Mat　sniggered；　〃Sounds　like　we　brought　a　Coplin　with　us　and　didn't　know　it。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　shrugged　out　of　his　cloak　and　stripped　off　his　clothes　while　Ara　filled　four　of　the　copper　tubs。　None　of　the　others　was　far　behind　Rand　in　choosing　a　bathtub。　Once　their　clothes　were　all　in　piles　on　the　stools；　Ara　brought　them　each　a　large　bucket　of　hot　water　and　a　dipper。　That　done；　he　sat　on　a　stool　by　the　door；　leaning　back　against　the　wall　with　his　arms　crossed；　apparently　lost　in　his　own　thoughts。
　　　　　　　There　was　little　in　the　way　of　conversation　while　they　lathered　and　sluiced　away　a　week　of　grime　with　dippers　of　steaming　water。　Then　it　was　into　the　tubs　for　a　long　soak；　Ara　had　made　the　water　hot　enough　that　settling　in　was　a　slow　process　of　luxuriant　sighs。　The　air　in　the　room　went　from　warm　to　misty　and　hot。　For　a　long　time　there　was　no　sound　except　the　occasional　long；　relaxing　exhalation　as　tight　muscles　loosened　and　a　chill　that　they　had　e　to　think　permanent　was　drawn　out　of　their　bones。
　　　　　　　〃Need　anything　else？〃　Ara　asked　suddenly。　He　did　not　have　much　room　to　talk　about　people's　accents；　he　and　Master　Fitch　both　sounded　as　if　they　had　a　mouth　full　of　mush。　〃More　towels？　More　hot　water？〃
　　　　　　　〃Nothing；〃　Thom　said　in　his　reverberant　voice。　Eyes　cl