rj.eyeoftheworld-第97部分

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a　six…ball　circle　that　he　really　did　almost　drop。　But　they　took　it　in　good　part；　Master　Grinwell　and　his　wife　applauding　as　hard　as　their　children。　When　Mat　was　done；　bowing　around　the　room　with　as　many　flourishes　as　Thom　might　have　made；　Rand　took　Thom's　flute　from　its　case。
　　　　　　　He　could　never　handle　the　instrument　without　a　pang　of　sadness。　Touching　its　gold…and…silver　scrollwork　was　like　touching　Thom's　memory。　He　never　handled　the　harp　except　to　see　that　it　was　safe　and　dry　…　Thom　had　always　said　the　harp　was　beyond　a　farmboy's　clumsy　hands　…　but　whenever　a　farmer　allowed　them　to　stay；　he　always　played　one　tune　on　the　flute　after　supper。　It　was　just　a　little　something　extra　to　pay　the　farmer；　and　maybe　a　way　of　keeping　Thom's　memory　fresh。
　　　　　　　With　a　laughing　mood　already　set　by　Mat's　juggling；　he　played　〃Three　Girls　in　the　Meadow。〃　Master　and　Mistress　Grinwell　clapped　along；　and　the　smaller　children　danced　around　the　floor；　even　the　smallest　boy；　who　could　barely　walk；　stomping　his　feet　in　time。　He　knew　he　would　win　no　prizes　at　Bel　Tine；　but　after　Thom's　teaching　he　would　not　be　embarrassed　to　enter。
　　　　　　　Else　was　sitting　cross…legged　in　front　of　the　fire；　and　as　he　lowered　the　flute　after　the　last　note；　she　leaned　forward　with　a　long　sigh　and　smiled　at　him。　〃You　play　so　beautifully。　I　never　heard　anything　so　beautiful。〃
　　　　　　　Mistress　Grinwell　suddenly　paused　in　her　sewing　and　raised　an　eyebrow　at　her　daughter；　then　gave　Rand　a　long；　appraising　look。
　　　　　　　He　had　picked　up　the　leather　case　to　put　the　flute　away；　but　under　her　stare　he　dropped　the　case　and　almost　the　flute；　too。　If　she　accused　him　of　trifling　with　her　daughter　。。。　In　desperation　he　put　the　flute　back　to　his　lips　and　played　another　song；　then　another；　and　another。　Mistress　Grinwell　kept　watching　him。　He　played　〃The　Wind　That　Shakes　the　Willow；〃　and　〃ing　Home　From　Tarwin's　Gap；〃　and　〃Mistress　Aynora's　Rooster；〃　and　〃The　Old　Black　Bear。〃　He　played　every　song　he　could　think　of；　but　she　never　took　her　eyes　off　him。　She　never　said　anything；　either；　but　she　watched；　and　weighed。
　　　　　　　It　was　late　when　Master　Grinwell　finally　stood　up；　chuckling　and　rubbing　his　hands　together。　〃Well；　this　has　been　rare　fun；　but　it's　way　past　our　bedtime。　You　traveling　lads　make　your　own　hours；　but　morning　es　early　on　a　farm。　I'll　tell　you　lads；　I　have　paid　good　money　at　an　inn　for　no　better　entertainment　than　I've　had　this　night。　For　worse。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　think　they　should　have　a　reward；　father；〃　Mistress　Grinwell　said　as　she　picked　up　her　youngest　boy；　who　had　long　since　fallen　asleep　in　front　of　the　fire。　〃The　barn　is　no　fit　place　to　sleep。　They　can　sleep　in　Else's　room　tonight；　and　she　will　sleep　with　me。〃
　　　　　　　Else　grimaced。　She　was　careful　to　keep　her　head　down；　but　Rand　saw　it。　He　thought　her　mother　did；　too。
　　　　　　　Master　Grinwell　nodded。　〃Yes；　yes；　much　better　than　the　barn。　If　you　don't　mind　sleeping　two　to　a　bed；　that　is。〃　Rand　flushed；　Mistress　Grinwell　was　still　looking　at　him。　〃I　do　wish　I　could　hear　more　of　that　flute。　And　your　juggling；　too。　I　like　that。　You　know；　there's　a　little　task　you　could　help　with　tomorrow；　and　…〃
　　　　　　　〃They'll　be　wanting　an　early　start；　father；〃　Mistress　Grinwell　cut　in。　〃Arien　is　the　next　village　the　way　they're　going；　and　if　they　intend　to　try　their　luck　at　the　inn　there；　they'll　have　to　walk　all　day　to　get　there　before　dark。〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　mistress；〃　Rand　said；　〃we　will。　And　thank　you。〃
　　　　　　　She　gave　him　a　tight…lipped　smile　as　if　she　knew　very　well　that　his　thanks　were　for　more　than　her　advice；　or　even　supper　and　a　warm　bed。
　　　　　　　The　whole　next　day　Mat　twitted　him　about　Else　as　they　made　their　way　down　the　road。　He　kept　trying　to　change　the　subject；　and　what　the　Grinwells　had　suggested　about　performing　at　inns　was　the　easiest　thing　to　mind。　In　the　morning；　with　Else　pouting　as　he　left；　and　Mistress　Grinwell　watching　with　a　sharp…eyed　look　of　good…riddance　and　soonest…mended；　it　was　just　something　to　keep　Mat　from　talking。　By　the　time　they　did　reach　the　next　village；　it　was　something　else　again。
　　　　　　　With　dusk　descending；　they　entered　the　only　inn　in　Arien；　and　Rand　spoke　to　the　innkeeper。　He　played　〃Ferry　O'er　the　River〃　…　which　the　plump　innkeeper　called　〃Darling　Sara〃　…　and　part　of　〃The　Road　to　Dun　Aren；〃　and　Mat　did　a　little　juggling；　and　the　upshot　was　that　they　slept　in　a　bed　that　night　and　ate　roasted　potatoes　and　hot　beef。　It　was　the　smallest　room　in　the　inn；　to　be　sure；　up　under　the　eaves　in　the　back；　and　the　meal　came　in　the　middle　of　a　long　night　of　playing　and　juggling；　but　it　was　still　a　bed　beneath　a　roof。　Even　better；　to　Rand；　every　daylight　hour　had　been　spent　traveling。　And　the　inn's　patrons　did　not　seem　to　care　if　Mat　stared　at　them　suspiciously。　Some　of　them　even　looked　askance　at　one　another。　The　times　made　suspicion　of　strangers　a　monplace；　and　there　were　always　strangers　at　an　inn。
　　　　　　　Rand　slept　better　than　he　had　since　leaving　Whitebridge；　despite　sharing　a　bed　with　Mat　and　his　nocturnal　muttering。　In　the　morning　the　innkeeper　tried　to　talk　them　into　staying　another　day　or　two；　but　when　he　could　not；　he　called　over　a　bleary…eyed　farmer　who　had　drunk　too　much　to　drive　his　cart　home　the　night　before。　An　hour　later　they　were　five　miles　further　east；　sprawling　on　their　backs　on　the　straw　in　the　back　of　Eazil　Forney's　cart。
　　　　　　　That　became　the　way　of　their　traveling。　With　a　little　luck；　and　maybe　a　ride　or　two；　they　could　almost　always　reach　the　next　village　by　dark。　If　there　was　more　than　one　inn　in　a　village；　the　innkeepers　would　bid　for　them　once　they　heard　Rand's　flute　and　saw　Mat　juggle。　Together　they　still　did　not　e　close　to　a　gleeman；　but　they　were　more　than　most　villages　saw　in　a　year。　Two　or　three　inns　in　a　town　meant　a　better　room；　with　two　beds；　and　more　generous　portions　of　a　better　cut　of　meat；　and　sometimes　even　a　few　coppers　in　their　pockets　when　they　left　besides。　In　the　mornings　there　was　almost　always　someone　to　offer　a　ride；　another　farmer　who　had　stayed　too　late　and　drunk　too　much；　or　a　merchant　who　had　liked　their　entertainment　enough　not　to　mind　if　they　hopped　up　on　the　back　of　one　of　his　wagons。　Rand　began　to　think　their　problems　were　over　till　they　reached　Caemlyn。　But　then　they　came　to　Four　Kings。

Chapter　32
Four　Kings　in　Shadow
　
　　　　　　　The　village　was　bigger　than　most；　but　still　a　scruffy　town　to　bear　a　name　like　Four　Kings。　As　usual；　the　Caemlyn　Road　ran　straight　through　the　center　of　the　town；　but　another　heavily　traveled　highway　came　in　from　the　south；　too。　Most　villages　were　markets　and　gathering　places　for　the　farmers　of　the　area；　but　there　were　few　farmers　to　be　seen　here。　Four　Kings　survived　as　a　stopover　for　merchants'　wagon　trains　on　their　way　to　Caemlyn　and　to　the　mining　towns　in　the　Mountains　of　Mist　beyond　Baerlon；　as　well　as　the　villages　between。　The　southern　road　carried　Lugard's　trade　with　the　mines　in　the　west；　Lugarder　merchants　going　to　Caemlyn　had　a　more　direct　route。　The　surrounding　country　held　few　farms；　barely　enough　to　feed　themselves　and　the　town；　and　everything　in　the　village　centered　on　the　merchants　and　their　wagons；　the　men　who　drove　them　and　the　laborers　who　loaded　the　goods。
　　　　　　　Plots　of　bare　earth；　ground　to　dust；　lay　scattered　through　Four　Kings；　filled　with　wagons　parked　wheel　to　wheel　and　abandoned　except　for　a　few　bored　guards。　Stables　and　horse…lots　lined　the　streets；　all　of　which　were　wide　enough　to　allow　wagons　to　pass　and　deeply　rutted　from　too　many　wheels。　There　was　no　village　green；　and　the　children　played　in　the　ruts；　dodging　wagons　and　the　curses　of　wagon　drivers。　Village　women；　their　heads　covered　with　scarves；　kept　their　eyes　down　and　walked　quickly；　sometimes　followed　by　wagoneers'　ments　that　made　Rand　blush；　even　Mat　gave　a　start　at　some　of　them。　No　woman　stood　gossiping　over　the　fence　with　a　neighbor。　Drab　wooden　houses　stood　cheek　by　jowl；　with　only　narrow　alleys　between　and　whitewash　…　where　anyone　had　bothered　to　whitewash　the　weathered　boards　…　faded　as　if　it　had　not　been　freshened　in　years。　Heavy　shutters　on　the　houses　had　not　been　open　in　so　long　that　the　hinges　were　solid　lumps　of　rust。　Noise　hung　over　everything；　clanging　from　blacksmiths；　shouts　from　the　wagon　drivers；　raucous　laughter　from　the　town's　inns。
　　　　　　　Rand　swung　down　from　the　back　of　a　merchant's　canvas…topped　wagon　as　they　came　abreast　of　a　garishly　painted　inn；　all　greens　and　yellows　that　caught　the　eye　from　afar　among　the　leaden　houses。　The　line　of　wagons　kept　moving。　None　of　the　drivers　even　seemed　to　notice　that　he　and　Mat　had　gone；　dusk　was　falling；　and　they　all　had　their　eyes　on　unhitching　the　horses　and　reaching　the　inns。　Rand　stumbled　in　a　rut；　then　leaped　quickly　to　avoid　a　heavy…laden　wagon　clattering　the　other　way。　The　driver　shouted　a　curse　at　him　as　the　wagon　rolled　by。　A　village　woman　stepped　around　him　and　hurried　on　without　ever　meeting　his　eye。
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know　about　this　place；〃　he　said。　He　thought　he　could　hear　music　mixed　in　the　din；　but　he　could　not　tell　from　where　it　was　ing。　From　the　inn；　maybe；　but　it　was　hard　to　be　sure。　〃I　don't　like　it。　Maybe　we'd　better　go　on　this　time。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　gave　him　a　scornful　look；　then　rolled　his　eyes　at　the　sky。　Dark　clouds　thickened　overhead。　〃And　sleep　under　a　hedge　tonight？　In　that？　I'm　used　to　a　bed　again。〃　He　cocked　his　head　to　listen；　then　grunted。　〃Maybe　one　of　these　places　doesn't　have　musicians。　Anyway；　I'll　bet　they　don't　have　a　juggler。〃　He　slung　his　bow　across　his　shoulders　and　started　for　the　bright　yellow　door；　studying　everything　through　narrowed　eyes。　Rand　followed　doubtfully。
　　　　　　　There　were　musicians　inside；　their　zither　and　drum　almost　drowned　in　coarse　laughter　and　drunken　shouting。　Rand　did　not　bother　to　find　the　landlord。　The　next　two　inns　had　musicians　as　well；　and　the　same　deafening　cacophony。　Roughly　dressed　men　filled　the　tables　and　stumbled　across　the　floor；　waving　mugs　and　trying　to　fondle　serving　maids　who　dodged　with　fixed；　long…suffering　smiles。　The　buildings　shook　with　the　racket；　and　the　smell　was　sour；　a　stench　of　old　wine　and　unwashed　bodies。　Of　the　merchants；　in　their　silk　and　velvet　and　lace；　there　was　no　sign；　private　dining　rooms　abovestairs　protected　their　ears　and　noses。　He　and　Mat　only　put　their　heads　in　the　doors　before　leaving。　He