rj.eyeoftheworld-第34章
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es Sedai got out of it； the stories were silent； but he was not about to believe they did not get something。
〃I'll be careful；〃 Rand said。 〃I just wish I knew why。 It doesn't make any sense。 Why me？ Why us？〃
〃I wish I knew； too； boy。 Blood and ashes； I wish I knew。〃 Tam sighed heavily。 〃Well； no use trying to put a broken egg back in the shell； I suppose。 How soon do you have to go？ I'll be back on my feet in a day or two； and we can see about starting a new flock。 Oren Dautry has some good stock he might be willing to part with； with the pastures all gone； and so does Jon Thane。〃
〃Moiraine 。。。 the Aes Sedai said you had to stay in bed。 She said weeks。〃 Tam opened his mouth； but Rand went on。 〃 And she talked to Mistress al'Vere。〃
〃Oh。 Well； maybe I can talk Marin around。〃 Tam did not sound hopeful of it； though。 He gave Rand a sharp look。 〃The way you avoided answering means you have to leave soon。 Tomorrow？ Or tonight？〃
〃Tonight；〃 Rand said quietly； and Tam nodded sadly。
〃Yes。 Well； if it must be done； best not to delay。 But we will see about this 'weeks' business。〃 He plucked at his blankets with more irritation than strength。 〃Perhaps I'll follow in a few days anyway。 Catch you up on the road。 We will see if Marin can keep me in bed when I want to get up。〃
There was a tap at the door； and Lan stuck his head into the room。 〃Say your goodbyes quickly； sheepherder； and e。 There may be trouble。〃
〃Trouble？〃 Rand said； and the Warder growled at him impatiently。
〃Just hurry！〃
Hastily Rand snatched up his cloak。 He started to undo the sword belt； but Tam spoke up。
〃Keep it。 You will probably have more need of it than I； though； the Light willing； neither of us will。 Take care； lad。 You hear？〃
Ignoring Lan's continued growls； Rand bent to grab Tam in a hug。 〃I will e back。 I promise you that。〃
〃Of course you will。〃 Tam laughed。 He returned the hug weakly； and ended by patting Rand on the back。 〃I know that。 And I'll have twice as many sheep for you to tend when you return。 Now go； before that fellow does himself an injury。〃
Rand tried to hang back； tried to find the words for the question he did not want to ask； but Lan entered the room to catch him by the arm and pull him into the hall。 The Warder had donned a dull gray…green tunic of overlapping metal scales。 His voice rasped with irritation。
〃We have to hurry。 Don't you understand the word trouble？〃
Outside the room Mat waited； cloaked and coated and carrying his bow。 A quiver hung at his waist。 He was rocking anxiously on his heels； and he kept glancing off toward the stairs with what seemed to be equal parts impatience and fear。 〃This isn't much like the stories； Rand； is it？〃 he said hoarsely。
〃What kind of trouble？〃 Rand demanded； but the Warder ran ahead of him instead of answering； taking the steps down two at a time。 Mat dashed after him with quick gestures for Rand to follow。
Shrugging into his cloak； he caught up to them downstairs。 Only a feeble light filled the mon room； half the candles had burned out and most of the rest were guttering。 It was empty except for the three of them。 Mat stood next to one of the front windows； peeping out as if trying not to be seen。 Lan held the door open a crack and peered into the inn yard。
Wondering what they could be watching； Rand went to join him。 The Warder muttered at him to take a care； but he did open the door a trifle wider to make room for Rand to look； too。
At first he was not sure exactly what he was seeing。 A crowd of village men； some three dozen or so； clustered near the burned…out husk of the peddler's wagon； night pushed back by the torches some of them carried。 Moiraine faced them； her back to the inn； leaning with seeming casualness on her walking staff。 Hari Coplin stood in the front of the crowd with his brother； Darl； and Bili Congar。 Cenn Buie was there； as well； looking unfortable。 Rand was startled to see Hari shake his fist at Moiraine。
〃Leave Emond's Field！〃 the sour…faced farmer shouted。 A few voices in the crowd echoed him； but hesitantly； and no one pushed forward。 They might be willing to confront an Aes Sedai from within a crowd； but none of them wanted to be singled out。 Not by an Aes Sedai who had every reason to take offense。
〃You brought those monsters！〃 Darl roared。 He waved a torch over his head； and there were shouts of； 〃You brought them！〃 and 〃It's your fault！〃 led by his cousin Bill。
Hari elbowed Cenn Buie； and the old thatcher pursed his lips and gave him a sidelong glare。 〃Those things 。。。 those Trollocs didn't appear until after you came；〃 Cenn muttered； barely loud enough to be heard。 He swung his head from side to side dourly as if wishing he were somewhere else and looking for a way to get there。 〃You're an Aes Sedai。 We want none of your sort in the Two Rivers。 Aes Sedai bring trouble on their backs。 If you stay； you will only bring more。〃
His speech brought no response from the gathered villagers； and Hari scowled in frustration。 Abruptly he snatched Darl's torch and shook it in her direction。 〃Get out！〃 he shouted。 〃Or we'll burn you out！〃
Dead silence fell； except for the shuffling of a few feet as men drew back。 Two Rivers folk could fight back if they were attacked； but violence was far from mon； and threatening people was foreign to them； beyond the occasional shaking of a fist。 Cenn Buie； Bili Congar； and the Coplins were left out front alone。 Bili looked as if he wanted to back away； too。
Hari gave an uneasy start at the lack of support； but he recovered quickly。 〃Get out！〃 he shouted again； echoed by Darl and； more weakly； by Bili。 Hari glared at the others。 Most of the crowd failed to meet his eye。
Suddenly Bran al'Vere and Haral Luhhan moved out of the shadows； stopping apart from both the Aes Sedai and the crowd。 In one hand the Mayor casually carried the big wooden maul he used to drive spigots into casks。 〃Did someone suggest burning my inn？〃 he asked softly。
The two Coplins took a step back； and Cenn Buie edged away from them。 Bili Congar dived into the crowd。 〃Not that；〃 Darl said quickly。 〃We never said that； Bran 。。。 ah； Mayor。 〃
Bran nodded。 〃Then perhaps I heard you threatening to harm guests in my inn？〃
〃She's an Aes Sedai；〃 Hari began angrily； but his words cut off as Haral Luhhan moved。
The blacksmith simply stretched； thrusting thick arms over his head； tightening massive fists until his knuckles cracked； but Hari looked at the burly man as if one of those fists had been shaken under his nose。 Haral folded his arms across his chest。 〃Your pardon； Hari。 I did not mean to cut you off。 You were saying？〃
But Hari； shoulders hunched as though he were trying to draw into himself and disappear； seemed to have nothing more to say。
〃I'm surprised at you people；〃 Bran rumbled。 〃Paet al'Caar； your boy's leg was broken last night； but I saw him walking on it today … because of her。 Eward Candwin； you were lying on your belly with a gash down your back like a fish for cleaning； till she laid hands on you。 Now it looks as if it happened a month ago； and unless I misdoubt there'll barely be a scar。 And you； Cenn。〃 The thatcher started to fade back into the crowd； but stopped； held unfortably by Bran's gaze。 〃I'd be shocked to see any man on the Village Council here； Cenn； but you most of all。 Your arm would still be hanging useless at your side； a mass of burns and bruises； if not for her。 If you have no gratitude； have you no shame？〃
Cenn half lifted his right hand； then looked away from it angrily。 〃I cannot deny what she did；〃 he muttered； and he did sound ashamed。 〃She helped me； and others；〃 he went on in a pleading tone； 〃but she's an Aes Sedai； Bran。 If those Trollocs didn't e because of her； why did they e？ We want no part of Aes Sedai in the Two Rivers。 Let them keep their troubles away from us。〃
A few men； safely back in the crowd； shouted then。 〃We want no Aes Sedai troubles！〃 〃Send her away！〃 〃Drive her out！〃 〃Why did they e if not because of her？〃
A scowl grew on Bran's face； but before he
