rj.eyeoftheworld-第87部分
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he would stop。 If it was a duel； she had not managed to score once； and Moiraine did not even seem to realize she was in a fight。 Nynaeve could have done without his cool blue eyes； without even a silent audience。
That had been the way of their journey； for the most part。 Quiet； except when her temper got the best of her； and sometimes when she shouted the sound of her voice seemed to crash in the silence like breaking glass。 The land itself was quiet； as if the world were pausing to catch its breath。 The wind moaned in the trees； but all else was still。 The wind seemed distant； too； even when it was cutting through the cloak on her back。
At first the stillness was restful after everything that had happened。 It seemed as if she had not known a moment of quiet since before Winternight。 By the end of the first day alone with the Aes Sedai and the Warder； though； she was looking over her shoulder and fidgeting in her saddle as if she had an itch in the middle of her back where she could not reach。 The silence seemed like crystal doomed to shatter； and waiting for the first crack put her teeth on edge。
It weighed on Moiraine and Lan； too； as outwardly unperturbable as they were。 She soon realized that； beneath their calm surfaces； hour by hour they wound tighter and tighter； like clocksprings being forced to the breaking point。 Moiraine seemed to listen to things that were not there； and what she heard put a crease in her forehead。 Lan watched the forest and the river as if the leafless trees and wide； slow water carried the signs of traps and ambushes waiting ahead。
Part of her was glad that she was not the only one who apprehended that poised…on…the…brink feel to the world； but if it affected them； it was real； and another part of her wanted nothing so much as for it to be just her imagination。 Something of it tickled the corners of her mind； as when she listened to the wind； but now she knew that that had to do with the One Power； and she could not bring herself to embrace those ripples at the edge of thought。
〃It is nothing；〃 Lan said quietly when she asked。 He did not look at her while he spoke； his eyes never ceased their scanning。 Then； contradicting what he had just said； he added； 〃You should go back to your Two Rivers when we reach Whitebridge； and the Caemlyn Road。 It's too dangerous here。 Nothing will try to stop you going back； though。〃 It was the longest speech he made all that day。
〃She is part of the Pattern； Lan；〃 Moiraine said chidingly。 Her gaze was elsewhere； too。 〃It is the Dark One； Nynaeve。 The storm has left us 。。。 for a time； at least。〃 She raised one hand as though feeling the air； then scrubbed it on her dress unconsciously； as if she had touched filth。 〃He is still watching； however〃 … she sighed … 〃and his gaze is stronger。 Not on us； but on the world。 How much longer before he is strong enough to 。。。〃
Nynaeve hunched her shoulders； suddenly she could almost feel someone staring at her back。 It was one explanation she would just as soon the Aes Sedai had not given her。
Lan scouted their path down the river； but where before he had chosen the way； now Moiraine did so； as surely as if she followed some unseen track； footprints in air； the scent of memory。 Lan only checked the route she intended； to see that it was safe。 Nynaeve had the feeling that even if he said it was not； Moiraine would insist on it anyway。 And he would go； she was sure。 Straight down the river to 。。。
With a start； Nynaeve pulled out of her thoughts。 They were at the foot of the White Bridge。 The pale arch shone in the sunlight； a milky spiderweb too delicate to stand； sweeping across the Arinelle。 The weight of a man would bring it crashing down； much less that of a horse。 Surely it would collapse under its own weight any minute。
Lan and Moiraine rode unconcernedly ahead； up the gleaming white approach and onto the bridge； hooves ringing； not like steel on glass； but like steel on steel。 The surface of the bridge certainly looked as slick as glass； wet glass； but it gave the horses a firm； sure footing。
Nynaeve made herself follow； but from the first step she half waited for the entire structure to shatter under them。 If lace were made of glass； she thought； it would look like this。
It was not until they were almost all the way across that she noticed the tarry smell of char thickening the air。 In a moment she saw。
Around the square at the foot of the White Bridge piles of blackened timbers； still leaking smoky threads； replaced half a dozen buildings。 Men in poorly fitting red uniforms and tarnished armor patrolled the streets； but they marched quickly； as if afraid of finding anything； and they looked over their shoulders as they went。 Townspeople … the few who were out … almost ran； shoulders hunched； as though something were chasing them。
Lan looked grim； even for him； and people walked wide of the three of them； even the soldiers。 The Warder sniffed the air and grimaced； growling under his breath。 It was no wonder to Nynaeve； with the stink of burn so strong。
〃The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills；〃 Moiraine mumbled。 〃No eye can see the Pattern until it is woven。〃
In the next moment she was down off Aldieb and speaking to townsfolk。 She did not ask questions； she gave sympathy； and to Nynaeve's surprise it appeared genuine。 People who shied away from Lan； ready to hurry from any stranger； stopped to speak with Moiraine。 They appeared startled themselves at what they were doing； but they opened up； after a fashion； under Moiraine's clear gaze and soothing voice。 The Aes Sedai's eyes seemed to share the people's hurt； to empathize with their confusion； and tongues loosened。
They still lied； though。 Most of them。 Some denied there had been any trouble at all。 Nothing at all。 Moiraine mentioned the burned buildings all around the square。 Everything was fine； they insisted； staring past what they did not want to see。
One fat fellow spoke with a hollow heartiness； but his cheek twitched at every noise behind him。 With a grin that kept slipping； he claimed an overturned lamp had started a fire that spread with the wind before anything could be done。 One glance showed Nynaeve that no burned structure stood alongside another。
There were almost as many different stories as there were people。 Several women lowered their voices conspiratorially。 The truth of the matter was there was a man somewhere in the town meddling with the One Power。 It was time to have the Aes Sedai in； past time； was the way they saw it； no matter what the men said about Tar Valon。 Let the Red Ajah settle matters。
One man claimed it had been an attack by bandits； and another said a riot by Darkfriends。 〃Those ones going to see the false Dragon； you know；〃 he confided darkly。 〃They're all over the place。 Darkfriends； every one。〃
Still others spoke of some kind of trouble … they were vague about exactly what kind … that had e downriver on a boat。
〃We showed them；〃 a narrow…faced man muttered； scrubbing his hand together nervously。 〃Let them keep that kind of thing in the Borderlands； where it belongs。 We went down to the docks and …〃 He cut off so abruptly his teeth clicked。 Without another word he scurried off； peering back over his shoulder at them as if he thought they might chase him down。
The boat had gotten away … that much was clear； eventually； from others … cutting its moorings and fleeing downriver only the day before while a mob poured onto the docks。 Nynaeve wondered if Egwene and the boys had been on board。 One woman said that a gleeman had been on the boat。 If that had been Thom Merrilin 。。。
She tried her opinion on Moiraine； that some of the Emond's Fielders might have fled on the boat。 The Aes Sedai listened patiently； nodding； until she was done。
〃Perhaps；〃 Moiraine said then； but she sounded doubtful。
An inn still stood in the square； the mon room divided in two by a shoulder…high wall。 Moiraine paused as she stepped into the inn； feeling the air with her hand。 She smiled at whatever it was she felt； but she would say nothing of it； then。
Their meal was consumed in silence； silence not only at their table； but throughout the mon room。 The handful of people eating there concentrated on their own plates and their own thoughts。 The innkeeper； dusting tables with a corner of his apron； muttered to himself continually； but always too low to be heard。 Nynaeve thought it would not be pleasant sleeping there； even the air was heavy with fear。
About the time they pushed their plates away； wiped clean with the last scraps of bread； one of the red…uniformed soldiers appeared in the doorway。 He seemed resplendent to Nynaeve； in his peaked helmet and burnished breastplate； until he took a pose just inside the door； with a hand resting on the hilt of his sword and a stern look on his face； and used a finger to ease his too…tight collar。 It made her think of Cenn Buie trying to act the way a Village Councilor should。
Lan spared him one glance and snorted。 〃Militia。 Useless。〃
The soldier looked over the room； letting his eyes e to rest on them。 He hesitated； then took a deep breath before stomping over to demand； all in a rush； who they were； what their business was in Whitebridge； and how long they intended to stay。
〃We are leaving as soon as I finish my ale；〃 Lan said。 He took another slow swallow before looking up at the solider。 〃The Light illumine good Queen Morgase。 〃
The red…uniformed man opened his mouth； then took a good look at Lan's eyes and stepped back。 He caught himself immediately； with a glance at Moiraine and her。 She thought for a moment that he was going to do something foolish to keep from looking the coward in front of two women。 In her experience； men were often idiots that way。 But too much had happened in Whitebridge； too much uncertainty had escaped from the cellars of men's minds。 The militiaman looked back at Lan and reconsidered once more。 The Warder's hard…planed face was expressionless； but there were those cold blue eyes。 So cold。
The militiaman settled on a brisk nod。 〃See that you do。 Too ma
