rj.eyeoftheworld-第172章
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Chapter 44
The Dark Along the Ways
In the darkness just before dawn Rand followed Moiraine down to the back hall； where Master Gill and the others were waiting； Nynaeve and Egwene as anxiously as Loial； Perrin almost as calm as the Warder。 Mat stayed on Rand's heels as if he were afraid to be even a little alone now； even as much as a few feet away。 The cook and her helpers straightened； staring as the party passed silently into the kitchen； already brightly lit and hot with preparations for breakfast。 It was not usual for patrons of the inn to be up and out at that hour。 At Master Gill's soothing words； the cook gave a loud sniff and slapped her dough down hard。 They were all back to tending griddles and kneading dough before Rand reached the stableyard door。
Outside； the night was still pitch…black。 To Rand； everyone else was only a darker shadow at best。 He followed the innkeeper and Lan blindly； blind in truth； hoping Master Gill's knowledge of his own stableyard and the Warder's instincts would get them across it without someone breaking a leg。 Loial stumbled more than once。
〃I don't see why we can't have just one light；〃 the Ogier grumbled。 〃We don't go running about in the dark in the stedding。 I'm an Ogier； not a cat。〃 Rand had a sudden image of Loial's tufted ears twitching irritably。
The stable loomed up suddenly out of the night； a threatening mass until the stable door creaked open； spilling a narrow stream of light into the yard。 The innkeeper only opened it wide enough for them to go in one at a time； and hastily pulled it to behind Perrin； almost clipping his heels。 Rand blinked in the sudden light inside。
The stablemen were not surprised by their appearance； as the cook had been。 Their horses were saddled and waiting。 Mandarb stood arrogantly； ignoring everyone but Lan； but Aldieb stretched her nose out to nuzzle Moiraine's hand。 There was a packhorse； bulky with wicker panniers； and a huge animal with hairy fetlocks； taller even than the Warder's stallion； for Loial。 It looked big enough to pull a loaded haywain by itself； but pared with the Ogier it seemed a pony。
Loial eyed the big horse and muttered doubtfully； 〃My own feet have always been good enough。〃
Master Gill motioned to Rand。 The innkeeper was lending him a bay almost the color of his own hair； tall and deep of chest； but with none of the fire in his step that Cloud had had； Rand was glad to see。 Master Gill said his name was Red。
Egwene went straight to Bela； and Nynaeve to her long…legged mare。
Mat brought his dun…colored horse over by Rand。 〃Perrin's making me nervous；〃 he muttered。 Rand looked at him sharply。 〃Well； he's acting strange。 Don't you see it； too？ I swear it's not my imagination； or 。。。 or 。。。〃
Rand nodded。 Not the dagger taking hold of him again； thank the Light。 〃He is； Mat； but just be easy。 Moiraine knows about 。。。 whatever it is。 Perrin's fine。〃 He wished he could believe it； but it seemed to satisfy Mat； a little at least。
〃Of course；〃 Mat said hastily； still watching Perrin out of the corner of his eye。 〃I never said he wasn't。〃
Master Gill conferred with the head groom。 That leathery…skinned man； with a face like one of the horses； knuckled his forehead and hurried to the back of the stable。 The innkeeper turned to Moiraine with a satisfied smile on his round face。 〃Ramey says the way is clear； Aes Sedai。〃
The rear wall of the stable appeared solid and stout； lined with heavy racks of tools。 Ramey and another stableman cleared away the hayforks； rakes； and shovels； then reached behind the racks to manipulate hidden latches。 Abruptly a section of the wall swung inward on hinges so well concealed that Rand was not sure he could find them even with the disguised door standing open。 Light from the stable illuminated a brick wall only a few feet away。
〃It's only a narrow run between buildings；〃 the innkeeper said； 〃but nobody outside this stable knows there's a way into it from here。 Whitecloaks or white cockades； there'll not be any watchers to see where you e out。〃
The Aes Sedai nodded。 〃Remember； good innkeeper； if you fear any trouble from this； write to Sheriam Sedai； of the Blue Ajah； in Tar Valon； and she will help。 I fear my sisters and I have a good deal to put right already for those who have helped me。〃
Master Gill laughed； not the laugh of a worried man。 〃Why； Aes Sedai； you've already given me the only inn in all of Caemlyn without any rats。 What more could I ask for？ I can double my custom on that alone。〃 His grin faded into seriousness。 〃Whatever you're up to； the Queen holds with Tar Valon； and I hold with the Queen； so I wish you well。 The Light illumine you； Aes Sedai。 The Light illumine you all。〃
〃The Light illumine you； also； Master Gill；〃 Moiraine replied with a bow of her head。 〃But if the Light is to shine on any of us； we must be quick。〃 Briskly she turned to Loial。 〃Are you ready？〃
With a wary look at its teeth； the Ogier took the reins of the big horse。 Trying to keep that mouth the length of the reins from his hand； he led the animal to the opening at the back of the stable。 Ramey hopped from one foot to the other； impatient to close it again。 For a moment Loial paused with his head cocked as if feeling a breeze on his cheek。 〃This way；〃 he said； and turned down the narrow alley。
Moiraine followed right behind Loial's horse； then Rand； and Mat。 Rand had the first turn leading the packhorse。 Nynaeve and Egwene made the middle of the column； with Perrin behind them； and Lan bringing up the rear。 The hidden door swung hastily shut as soon as Mandarb stepped into the dirt alleyway。 The snick…snick of latches locking； shutting them off； sounded unnaturally loud to Rand。
The run； as Master Gill had called it； was very narrow indeed； and even darker than the stableyard； if that was possible。 Tall； blank walls of brick or wood lined both sides； with only a narrow strip of black sky overhead。 The big； woven baskets slung on the packhorse scraped the buildings on both sides。 The panniers bulged with supplies for the journey； most of it clay jars filled with oil。 A bundle of poles was lashed lengthwise down the horse's back； and each had a lantern swinging at the end of it。 In the Ways； Loial said； it was darker than the darkest night。
The partially filled lanterns sloshed with the motion of the horse； and clinked against each other with a tinny sound。 It was not a very loud noise； but in the hour before dawn Caemlyn was quiet。 Silent。 The dull metallic clinks sounded as if they could be heard a mile away。
When the run let out into a street； Loial chose his direction without a pause。 He seemed to know exactly where he was going； now； as if the route he needed to follow was being clearer。 Rand did not understand how the Ogier could find the Waygate； and Loial had not been able to explain very well。 He just knew； he said； he could feel it。 Loial claimed it was like trying to explain how to breathe。
As they hurried up the street Rand looked back toward the corner where The Queen's Blessing lay。 According to Lamgwin； there were still half a dozen Whitecloaks not far down from that corner。 Their interest was all on the inn； but a noise would surely bring them。 No one was out at this hour for a reputable reason。 The horseshoes seemed to ring on the paving stones like bells； the lanterns clattered as if the packhorse were shaking them deliberately。 Not until they had rounded another corner did he stop looking over his shoulder。 He heard relieved sighs from the other Emond's Fielders as they came round it； too。
Loial appeared to be following the most direct path to the Waygate； wherever it took them。 Sometimes they trotted down broad avenues； empty save for an occasional dog skulking in the dark。 Sometimes they hurried along alleys as narrow as the stable run； where things squished under an unwary step。 Nynaeve plained softly about the resulting smells； but no one slowed down。
The darkness began to lessen； fading toward a dark gray。 Faint glimmers of dawn pearled the sky above the eastern rooftops。 A few people appeared on the s
