rj.eyeoftheworld-第49部分

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o　let　go　as　to　hold　on。　He　felt　Moiraine's　eyes　on　him；　and　Nynaeve's；　and　his　face　became　hot；　but　he　sat　down　anyway；　halfway　between　the　two。
　　　　　　　For　a　minute　the　room　was　as　still　as　a　carving；　then　Egwene　and　Perrin；　and　finally　Mat；　made　their　reluctant　way　to　the　table　and　took　seats…toward　the　middle；　with　Rand。　Egwene　tugged　her　hood　further　forward；　enough　to　half　hide　her　face；　and　they　all　avoided　looking　at　anyone。
　　　　　　　〃Well；〃　Thom　snorted；　from　his　place　beside　the　door。　〃At　least　that　much　is　done。〃
　　　　　　　〃Since　everyone　is　here；〃　Lan　said；　leaving　the　fireplace　and　filling　one　of　the　silver　cups　with　wine；　〃perhaps　you　will　finally　take　this。〃　He　proffered　the　cup　to　Nynaeve；　she　looked　at　it　suspiciously。　〃There　is　no　need　to　be　afraid；〃　he　said　patiently。　〃You　saw　the　innkeeper　bring　the　wine；　and　neither　of　us　has　had　a　chance　to　put　anything　in　it。　It　is　quite　safe。〃
　　　　　　　The　Wisdom's　mouth　tightened　angrily　at　the　word　afraid；　but　she　took　the　cup　with　a　murmured；　〃Thank　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　interested；〃　he　said；　〃in　how　you　found　us。〃
　　　　　　　〃So　am　I。〃　Moiraine　leaned　forward　intently。　〃Perhaps　you　are　willing　to　speak　now　that　Egwene　and　the　boys　have　been　brought　to　you？〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　sipped　the　wine　before　answering　the　Aes　Sedai。　〃There　was　nowhere　for　you　to　go　except　Baerlon。　To　be　safe；　though；　I　followed　your　trail。　You　certainly　cut　back　and　forth　enough。　But　then；　I　suppose　you　would　not　care　to　risk　meeting　decent　people。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　。。。　followed　our　trail？〃　Lan　said；　truly　surprised　for　the　first　time　that　Rand　could　remember。　〃I　must　be　getting　careless。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　left　very　little　trace；　but　I　can　track　as　well　as　any　man　in　the　Two　Rivers；　except　perhaps　Tam　al'Thor。〃　She　hesitated；　then　added；　〃Until　my　father　died；　he　took　me　hunting　with　him；　and　taught　me　what　he　would　have　taught　the　sons　he　never　had。〃　She　looked　at　Lan　challengingly；　but　he　only　nodded　with　approval。
　　　　　　　〃If　you　can　follow　a　trail　I　have　tried　to　hide；　he　taught　you　well。　Few　can　do　that；　even　in　the　Borderlands。〃
　　　　　　　Abruptly　Nynaeve　buried　her　face　in　her　cup。　Rand's　eyes　widened。　She　was　blushing。　Nynaeve　never　showed　herself　even　the　least　bit　disconcerted。　Angry；　yes；　outraged；　often；　but　never　out　of　countenance。　But　she　was　certainly　red…cheeked　now；　and　trying　to　hide　in　the　wine。
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　now；〃　Moiraine　said　quietly；　〃you　will　answer　a　few　of　my　questions。　I　have　answered　yours　freely　enough。〃
　　　　　　　〃With　a　great　sackful　of　gleeman's　tales；〃　Nynaeve　retorted。　〃The　only　facts　I　can　see　are　that　four　young　people　have　been　carried　off；　for　the　Light　alone　knows　what　reason；　by　an　Aes　Sedai。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　have　been　told　that　isn't　known　here；〃　Lan　said　sharply。　〃You　must　learn　to　guard　your　tongue。〃
　　　　　　　〃Why　should　I？〃　Nynaeve　demanded。　〃Why　should　I　help　hide　you；　or　what　you　are？　I've　e　to　take　Egwene　and　the　boys　back　to　Emond's　Field；　not　help　you　spirit　them　away。〃
　　　　　　　Thom　broke　in；　in　a　scornful　voice。　〃If　you　want　them　to　see　their　village　again　…　or　you；　either　…　you　had　better　be　more　careful。　There　are　those　in　Baerlon　who　would　kill　her〃　…　he　jerked　his　head　toward　Moiraine　…　〃for　what　she　is。　Him；　too。〃　He　indicated　Lan；　then　abruptly　moved　forward　to　put　his　fists　on　the　table。　He　loomed　over　Nynaeve；　and　his　long　mustaches　and　thick　eyebrows　suddenly　seemed　threatening。
　　　　　　　Her　eyes　widened；　and　she　started　to　lean　back；　away　from　him；　then　her　back　stiffened　defiantly。　Thom　did　not　appear　to　notice；　he　went　right　on　in　an　ominously　soft　voice。　〃They'd　swarm　over　this　inn　like　murderous　ants　on　a　rumor；　a　whisper。　Their　hate　is　that　strong；　their　desire　to　kill　or　take　any　like　these　two。　And　the　girl？　The　boys？　You？　You　are　all　associated　with　them；　enough　for　the　Whitecloaks；　anyway。　You　wouldn't　like　the　way　they　ask　questions；　especially　when　the　White　Tower　is　involved。　Whitecloak　Questioners　assume　you're　guilty　before　they　start；　and　they　have　only　one　sentence　for　that　kind　of　guilt。　They　don't　care　about　finding　the　truth；　they　think　they　know　that　already。　All　they　go　after　with　their　hot　irons　and　pincers　is　a　confession。　Best　you　remember　some　secrets　are　too　dangerous　for　saying　aloud；　even　when　you　think　you　know　who　hears。〃　He　straightened　with　a　muttered；　〃I　seem　to　tell　that　to　people　often　of　late。〃
　　　　　　　〃Well　put；　gleeman；〃　Lan　said。　The　Warder　had　that　weighing　look　in　his　eyes　again。　〃I'm　surprised　to　find　you　so　concerned。〃
　　　　　　　Thom　shrugged。　〃It's　known　I　arrived　with　you；　too。　I　don't　care　for　the　thought　of　a　Questioner　with　a　hot　iron　telling　me　to　repent　my　sins　and　walk　in　the　Light。〃
　　　　　　　〃That；〃　Nynaeve　put　in　sharply；　〃is　just　one　more　reason　for　them　to　e　home　with　me　in　the　morning。　Or　this　afternoon；　for　that　matter。　The　sooner　we're　away　from　you　and　on　our　way　back　to　Emond's　Field；　the　better。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　can't；〃　Rand　said；　and　was　glad　that　his　friends　all　spoke　up　at　the　same　time。　That　way　Nynaeve's　glare　had　to　be　spread　around；　she　spared　no　one　as　it　was。　But　he　had　spoken　first；　and　they　all　fell　silent；　looking　at　him。　Even　Moiraine　sat　back　in　her　chair；　watching　him　over　steepled　fingers。　It　was　an　effort　for　him　to　meet　the　Wisdom's　eyes。　〃If　we　go　back　to　Emond's　Field；　the　Trollocs　will　e　back；　too。　They're　。。。　hunting　us。　I　don't　know　why；　but　they　are。　Maybe　we　can　find　out　why　in　Tar　Valon。　Maybe　we　can　find　out　how　to　stop　it。　It's　the　only　way。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　threw　up　her　hands。　〃You　sound　just　like　Tam。　He　had　himself　carried　to　the　village　meeting　and　tried　to　convince　everybody。　He'd　already　tried　with　the　Village　Council。　The　Light　knows　how　your　。。。　Mistress　Alys〃　…　she　invested　the　name　with　a　wagonload　of　scorn　…　〃managed　to　make　him　believe；　he　has　a　mite　of　sense；　usually；　more　than　most　men。　In　any　case；　the　Council　is　a　pack　of　fools　most　of　the　time；　but　not　foolish　enough　for　that；　and　neither　was　anyone　else。　They　agreed　you　had　to　be　found。　Then　Tam　wanted　to　be　the　one　to　e　after　you；　and　him　not　able　to　stand　by　himself。　Foolishness　must　run　in　your　family。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　cleared　his　throat；　then　mumbled；　〃What　about　my　da？　What　did　he　say？〃
　　　　　　　〃He's　afraid　you'll　try　your　tricks　with　outlanders　and　get　your　head　thumped。　He　seemed　more　afraid　of　that　than　of　。。。　Mistress　Alys；　here。　But　then；　he　was　never　much　brighter　than　you。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　seemed　unsure　how　to　take　what　she　had　said；　or　how　to　reply；　or　even　whether　to　reply。
　　　　　　　〃I　expect；〃　Perrin　began　hesitantly。　〃I　mean；　I　suppose　Master　Luhhan　was　not　too　pleased　about　my　leaving；　either。〃
　　　　　　　〃Did　you　expect　him　to　be？〃　Nynaeve　shook　her　head　disgustedly　and　looked　at　Egwene。　〃Maybe　I　should　not　be　surprised　at　this　harebrained　idiocy　from　you　three；　but　I　thought　others　had　more　judgment。　〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　sat　back　so　she　was　shielded　by　Perrin。　〃I　left　a　note；〃　she　said　faintly。　She　tugged　at　the　hood　of　her　cloak　as　if　she　was　afraid　her　unbound　hair　showed。　〃I　explained　everything。〃　Nynaeve's　face　darkened。
　　　　　　　Rand　sighed。　The　Wisdom　was　on　the　point　of　one　of　her　tongue…lashings；　and　it　looked　as　if　it　might　be　a　first…rate　one。　If　she　took　a　position　in　the　heat　of　anger　…　if　she　said　she　intended　to　see　them　back　in　Emond's　Field　no　matter　what　anybody　said；　for　instance…she　would　be　nearly　impossible　to　budge。　He　opened　his　mouth。
　　　　　　　〃A　note！〃　Nynaeve　began；　just　as　Moiraine　said；　〃You　and　I　must　still　talk；　Wisdom。〃
　　　　　　　If　Rand　could　have　stopped　himself；　he　would　have；　but　the　words　poured　out　as　if　it　were　a　floodgate　he　had　opened　instead　of　his　mouth。　〃All　this　is　very　well；　but　it　doesn't　change　anything。　We　can't　go　back。　We　have　to　go　on。〃　He　spoke　more　slowly　toward　the　end；　and　his　voice　sank；　so　he　finished　in　a　whisper；　with　the　Wisdom　and　the　Aes　Sedai　both　looking　at　him。　It　was　the　sort　of　look　he　received　if　he　came　on　women　talking　Women's　Circle　business；　the　sort　that　said　he　had　stepped　in　where　he　did　not　belong。　He　sat　back；　wishing　he　was　somewhere　else。
　　　　　　　〃Wisdom；〃　Moiraine　said；　〃you　must　believe　that　they　are　safer　with　me　than　they　would　be　back　in　the　Two　Rivers。〃
　　　　　　　〃Safer！〃　Nynaeve　tossed　her　head　dismissively。　〃You　are　the　one　who　brought　them　here；　where　the　Whitecloaks　are。　The　same　Whitecloaks　who；　if　the　gleeman　tells　the　truth；　may　harm　them　because　of　you。　Tell　me　how　they　are　safer；　Aes　Sedai。〃
　　　　　　　〃There　are　many　dangers　from　which　I　cannot　protect　them；〃　Moiraine　agreed；　〃any　more　than　you　can　protect　them　from　being　struck　by　lightning　if　they　go　home。　But　it　is　not　lightning　of　which　they　must　be　afraid；　nor　even　Whitecloaks。　It　is　the　Dark　One；　and　minions　of　the　Dark　One。　From　those　things　I　can　protect。　Touching　the　True　Source；　touching　saidar；　gives　me　that　protection；　as　it　does　to　every　Aes　Sedai。〃　Nynaeve's　mouth　tightened　skeptically。　Moiraine's　grew　tighter；　too；　with　anger；　but　she　went　on；　her　voice　hard　on　the　edge　of　patience。　〃Even　those　poor　men　who　find　themselves　wielding　the　Power　for　a　short　time　gain　that　much；　though　sometimes　touching　saidin　protects；　and　sometimes　the　taint　makes　them　more　vulnerable。　But　I；　or　any　Aes　Sedai；　can　extend　my　protection　to　those　close　by　me。　No　Fade　can　harm　them　as　long　as　they　are　as　close　to　me　as　they　are　right　now。　No　Trolloc　can　e　within　a　quarter　of　a　mile　without　Lan　knowing　it；　feeling　the　evil　of　it。　Can　you　offer　them　half　as　much　if　they　return　to　Emond's　Field　with　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃You　stand　up　straw　men；〃　Nynaeve　said。　〃We　have　a　saying　in　the　Two　Rivers。　'Whether　the　bear　beats　the　wolf　or　the　wolf　beats　the　bear；　the　rabbit　always　loses。'　Take　your　contest　somewhere　else　and　leave　Emond's　Field　folk　out　of　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃Egwene；〃　Moiraine　said　after　a　moment；　〃take　the　others　and　leave　the　Wisdom　alone　with　me　for　a　while。〃　Her　face　was　impassive；　Nynaeve　squared　herself　at　the　table　as　if　getting　ready　for　an　all…in　wrestling　match。
　　　　　　　Egwene　bounced　to　her　feet；　her　desire　to　be　dignified　obviously　warring　with　her　desire　to　avoid　a　confrontation　with　the　Wisdom　over　her　unbraided　hair。　She　had　no　difficulty　gathering　up　everyone　by　eye；　though。　Mat　and　Perrin　scraped　back　their　chairs　hurriedly；　making　polite　murmurs　while　trying　not　to　actually　run　on　their