rj.eyeoftheworld-第50部分

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scraped　back　their　chairs　hurriedly；　making　polite　murmurs　while　trying　not　to　actually　run　on　their　way　out。　Even　Lan　started　for　the　door　at　a　signal　from　Moiraine；　drawing　Thom　with　him。
　　　　　　　Rand　followed；　and　the　Warder　shut　the　door　behind　them；　then　took　up　guard　across　the　hallway。　Under　Lan's　eyes　the　others　moved　on　down　the　hall　a　short　distance；　they　were　not　to　be　allowed　even　the　slightest　chance　of　eavesdropping。　When　they　had　gone　far　enough　to　suit　him；　Lan　leaned　back　against　the　wall。　Even　without　his　color…shifting　cloak；　he　was　so　still　that　it　would　be　easy　not　to　notice　him　until　you　were　right　on　him。
　　　　　　　The　gleeman　muttered　something　about　better　things　to　do　with　his　time　and　left　with　a　stern　〃Remember　what　I　said；〃　over　his　shoulder　to　the　boys。　No　one　else　seemed　inclined　to　leave。
　　　　　　　〃What　did　he　mean？〃　Egwene　asked　absently；　her　eyes　on　the　door　that　hid　Moiraine　and　Nynaeve。　She　kept　fiddling　with　her　hair　as　if　torn　between　continuing　to　hide　the　fact　that　it　was　no　longer　braided　and　pushing　back　the　hood　of　her　cloak。
　　　　　　　〃He　gave　us　some　advice；〃　Mat　said。
　　　　　　　Perrin　gave　him　a　sharp　look。　〃He　said　not　to　open　our　mouths　until　we　were　sure　what　we　were　going　to　say。　〃
　　　　　　　〃That　sounds　like　good　advice；〃　Egwene　said；　but　clearly　she　was　not　really　interested。
　　　　　　　Rand　was　engrossed　in　his　own　thoughts。　How　could　Nynaeve　possibly　be　part　of　it？　How　could　any　of　them　be　involved　with　Trollocs；　and　Fades；　and　Ba'alzamon　appearing　in　their　dreams？　It　was　crazy。　He　wondered　if　Min　had　told　Moiraine　about　Nynaeve。　What　are　they　saying　in　there？
　　　　　　　He　had　no　idea　how　long　he　had　been　standing　there　when　the　door　finally　opened。　Nynaeve　stepped　out；　and　gave　a　start　when　she　saw　Lan。　The　Warder　murmured　something　that　made　her　toss　her　head　angrily；　then　he　slipped　past　her　through　the　door。
　　　　　　　She　turned　toward　Rand；　and　for　the　first　time　he　realized　the　others　had　all　quietly　disappeared。　He　did　not　want　to　face　the　Wisdom　alone；　but　he　could　not　get　away　now　that　he　had　met　Nynaeve's　eye。　A　particularly　searching　eye；　he　thought；　puzzled。　What　did　they　say？　He　drew　himself　up　as　she　came　closer。
　　　　　　　She　indicated　Tam's　sword。　〃That　seems　to　fit　you；　now；　though　I　would　like　it　better　if　it　did　not。　You've　grown；　Rand。〃
　　　　　　　〃In　a　week？〃　He　laughed；　but　it　sounded　forced；　and　she　shook　her　head　as　if　he　did　not　understand。　〃Did　she　convince　you？〃　he　asked。　〃It　really　is　the　only　way。〃　He　paused；　thinking　of　Min's　sparks。　〃Are　you　ing　with　us？〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve's　eyes　opened　wide。　〃ing　with　you！　Why　would　I　do　that？　Mavra　Mallen　came　up　from　Deven　Ride　to　see　to　things　till　I　return；　but　she'll　be　wanting　to　get　back　as　soon　as　she　can。　I　still　hope　to　make　you　see　sense　and　e　home　with　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　can't。〃　He　thought　he　saw　something　move　at　the　still…open　door；　but　they　were　alone　in　the　hallway。
　　　　　　　〃You　told　me　that；　and　she　did；　too。〃　Nynaeve　frowned。　〃If　she　wasn't　mixed　up　in　it　。。。　Aes　Sedai　are　not　to　be　trusted；　Rand。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　sound　as　if　you　really　do　believe　us；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃What　happened　at　the　village　meeting？〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　looked　back　at　the　doorway　before　answering；　there　was　no　movement　there　now。　〃It　was　a　shambles；　but　there　is　no　need　for　her　to　know　we　can't　handle　our　affairs　any　better　than　that。　And　I　believe　only　one　thing：　you　are　all　in　danger　as　long　as　you　are　with　her。　〃
　　　　　　　〃Something　happened；〃　he　insisted。　〃Why　do　you　want　us　to　go　back　if　you　think　there's　even　a　chance　we　are　right？　And　why　you；　at　all？　As　soon　send　the　Mayor　himself　as　the　Wisdom。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　have　grown。〃　She　smiled；　and　for　a　moment　her　amusement　had　him　shifting　his　feet。　〃I　can　think　of　a　time　when　you　would　not　have　questioned　where　I　chose　to　go　or　what　I　chose　to　do；　wherever　or　whatever　it　was。　A　time　just　a　week　ago。〃
　　　　　　　He　cleared　his　throat　and　pressed　on　stubbornly。　〃It　doesn't　make　sense。　Why　are　you　really　here？〃
　　　　　　　She　half　glanced　at　the　still…empty　doorway；　then　took　his　arm。　〃Let's　walk　while　we　talk。〃　He　let　himself　be　led　away；　and　when　they　were　far　enough　from　the　door　not　to　be　overheard；　she　began　again。　〃As　I　said；　the　meeting　was　a　shambles。　Everybody　agreed　someone　had　to　be　sent　after　you；　but　the　village　split　into　two　groups。　One　wanted　you　rescued；　though　there　was　considerable　argument　over　how　that　was　to　be　done　considering　that　you　were　with　a　。。。　the　likes　of　her。〃
　　　　　　　He　was　glad　she　was　remembering　to　watch　what　she　said。　〃The　others　believed　Tam？〃　he　said。
　　　　　　　〃Not　exactly；　but　they　thought　you　shouldn't　be　among　strangers；　either；　especially　not　with　someone　like　her。　Either　way；　though；　almost　every　man　wanted　to　be　one　of　the　party。　Tam；　and　Bran　al'Vere；　with　the　scales　of　office　around　his　neck；　and　Haral　Luhhan；　till　Alsbet　made　him　sit　down。　Even　Cenn　Buie。　The　Light　save　me　from　men　who　think　with　the　hair　on　their　chests。　Though　I　don't　know　as　there　are　any　other　kind。〃　She　gave　a　hearty　sniff；　and　looked　up　at　him；　an　accusing　glance。　〃At　any　rate；　I　could　see　it　would　be　another　day；　perhaps　more；　before　they　came　to　any　decision；　and　somehow　。。。　somehow　I　was　sure　we　did　not　dare　wait　that　long。　So　I　called　the　Women's　Circle　together　and　told　them　what　had　to　be　done。　I　cannot　say　they　liked　it；　but　they　saw　the　right　of　it。　And　that　is　why　I　am　here；　because　the　men　around　Emond's　Field　are　stubborn　wool…heads。　They're　probably　still　arguing　about　who　to　send；　though　I　left　word　I　would　take　care　of　it。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve's　story　explained　her　presence；　but　it　did　nothing　to　reassure　him。　She　was　still　determined　to　bring　them　back　with　her。
　　　　　　　〃What　did　she　say　to　you　in　there？〃　he　asked。　Moiraine　would　surely　have　covered　every　argument；　but　if　there　was　one　she　had　missed；　he　would　make　it。
　　　　　　　〃More　of　the　same；〃　Nynaeve　replied。　〃And　she　wanted　to　know　about　you　boys。　To　see　if　she　could　reason　out　why　you　。。。　have　attracted　the　kind　of　attention　you　have　。。。　she　said。〃　She　paused；　watching　him　out　of　the　corner　of　her　eye。　〃She　tried　to　disguise　it；　but　most　of　all　she　wanted　to　know　if　any　of　you　was　born　outside　the　Two　Rivers。〃
　　　　　　　His　face　was　suddenly　as　taut　as　a　drumhead。　He　managed　a　hoarse　chuckle。　〃She　does　think　of　some　odd　things。　I　hope　you　assured　her　we're　all　Emond's　Field　born。　〃
　　　　　　　〃Of　course；〃　she　replied。　There　had　only　been　a　heartbeat's　pause　before　she　spoke；　so　brief　he　would　have　missed　it　if　he　had　not　been　watching　for　it。
　　　　　　　He　tried　to　think　of　something　to　say；　but　his　tongue　felt　like　a　piece　of　leather。　She　knows。　She　was　the　Wisdom；　after　all；　and　the　Wisdom　was　supposed　to　know　everything　about　everyone。　If　she　knows；　it　was　no　fever…dream。　Oh；　Light　help　me；　father！
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　Nynaeve　asked。
　　　　　　　〃He　said　。。。　said　I　。。。　wasn't　his　son。　When　he　was　delirious　。。。　with　the　fever。　He　said　he　found　me。　I　thought　it　was　just　。。。〃　His　throat　began　to　burn；　and　he　had　to　stop。
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　Rand。〃　She　stopped　and　took　his　face　in　both　hands。　She　had　to　reach　up　to　do　it。　〃People　say　strange　things　in　a　fever。　Twisted　things。　Things　that　are　not　true；　or　real。　Listen　to　me。　Tam　al'Thor　ran　away　seeking　adventure　when　he　was　a　boy　no　older　than　you。　I　can　just　remember　when　he　came　back　to　Emond's　Field；　a　grown　man　with　a　red…haired；　outlander　wife　and　a　babe　in　swaddling　clothes。　I　remember　Kari　al'Thor　cradling　that　child　in　her　arms　with　as　much　love　given　and　delight　taken　as　I　have　ever　seen　from　any　woman　with　a　babe。　Her　child；　Rand。　You。　Now　you　straighten　up　and　stop　this　foolishness。〃
　　　　　　　〃Of　course；〃　he　said。　I　was　born　outside　the　Two　Rivers。　〃Of　course。〃　Maybe　Tam　had　been　having　a　fever…dream；　and　maybe　he　had　found　a　baby　after　a　battle。　〃Why　didn't　you　tell　her？〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　none　of　any　outlander's　business。　〃
　　　　　　　〃Were　any　of　the　others　born　outside？〃　As　soon　as　the　question　was　out；　he　shook　his　head。　〃No；　don't　answer。　It's　none　of　my　business；　either。〃　But　it　would　be　nice　to　know　if　Moiraine　had　some　special　interest　in　him；　over　and　above　what　she　had　in　the　whole　lot　of　them。　Would　it？
　　　　　　　〃No；　it　isn't　your　business；〃　Nynaeve　agreed。　〃It　might　not　mean　anything。　She　could　just　be　searching　blindly　for　a　reason；　any　reason；　why　those　things　are　after　you。　After　all　of　you。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　managed　a　grin。　〃Then　you　do　believe　they're　chasing　us。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　shook　her　head　wryly。　〃You've　certainly　learned　to　twist　words　since　you　met　her。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　he　asked。
　　　　　　　She　studied　him；　he　met　her　eyes　steadily。　〃Today；　I　am　going　to　have　a　bath。　For　the　rest；　we　will　have　to　see；　won't　we？〃

Chapter　17
Watchers　and　Hunters
　
　　　　　　　After　the　Wisdom　left　him；　Rand　made　his　way　to　the　mon　room。　He　needed　to　hear　people　laughing；　to　forget　what　Nynaeve　had　said　and　the　trouble　she　might　cause　alike。
　　　　　　　The　room　was　crowded　indeed；　but　no　one　was　laughing；　though　every　chair　and　bench　was　filled　and　people　lined　the　walls。　Thom　was　performing　again；　standing　on　a　table　against　the　far　wall；　his　gestures　grand　enough　to　fill　the　big　room。　It　was　The　Great　Hunt　of　the　Horn　again；　but　no　one　plained；　of　course。　There　were　so　many　tales　to　be　told　about　each　of　the　Hunters；　and　so　many　Hunters　to　tell　of；　that　no　two　tellings　were　ever　the　same。　The　whole　of　it　in　one　telling　would　have　taken　a　week　or　more。　The　only　sound　peting　with　the　gleeman's　voice　and　harp　was　the　crackling　of　the　fires　in　the　fireplaces。
　　　　　　　〃　。。。　To　the　eight　corners　of　the　world；　the　Hunters　ride；　to　the　eight　pillars　of　heaven；　where　the　winds　of　time　blow　and　fate　seizes　the　mighty　and　the　small　alike　by　the　forelock。　Now；　the　greatest　of　the　Hunters　is　Rogosh　of　Talmour；　Rogosh　Eagle…eye；　famed　at　the　court　of　the　High　King；　feared　on　the　slopes　of　Shayol　Ghul　。。。〃　The　Hunters　were　always　mighty　heroes；　all　of　them。
　　　　　　　Rand　spotted　his　two　friends　and　squeezed　onto　a　place　Perrin　made　for　him　on　the　end　of　their　bench。　Kitchen　smells　drifting　into　the　room　reminded　him　that　he　was　hungry；　but　even　the　people　who　had　food　in　front　of　them　gave　it　little　attention。　The　maids　who　should　have　been　serving　stood　entranced；　clutching　their　aprons　and　loo