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。 〃I'm sure the Lord Dragon will do just as you say。〃 His laugh was shaky。 〃You wanted to talk to me。 And not about my old inn； I'm sure。〃
Perrin exhaled wearily。 He had thought nothing could be worse than old friends and neighbors bowing and scraping； but at least they forgot sometimes and spoke their minds。 And none of them was afraid of him。 〃You're a long way from home；〃 he said in a gentle voice。 No need to go too fast； not with a man ready to jump out of his skin。 〃I wondered what brought you here。 Not troubles of any kind； I hope。〃
〃You tell him right； Basel Gill；〃 Lini said sharply； marching up to the oak。 〃No embroidery； mind。〃 She had not been gone very long； yet somehow she had found time to wash her face and hands and work her hair into a neat white bun on the back of her head。 And to beat most of the dust from her plain woolen dress。 Bobbing a perfunctory curtsy in Perrin's direction； she turned to shake a gnarled finger at Gill。 〃 'Three things annoy to distraction： a tooth that aches； a shoe that pinches； and a man that chatters。' So you hold to the point and don't go telling the young lord more than he wants to hear。〃 For a moment she held the gaping innkeeper with an admonitory stare； then abruptly gave Perrin another quick curtsy。 〃He does love the sound of his own voice … most men do … but he'll tell it to you properly； now； my Lord。〃
Master Gill glowered at her； and muttered under his breath when she waved sharply for him to speak。 〃Bony old。。。 〃 was what Perrin heard。 〃What happened … the simple and straight of it … 〃 The round man glared at Lini again； but she did not appear to notice； 〃was that I had some business down to Lugard。 A chance to import wine。 But you're not interested in that。 I took Lamgwin along； of course； and Breane； because she won't let him out of her sight an hour she doesn't have to。 Along the way； we met Mistress Dorlain； Mistress Maighdin as we call her； and Lini； and Tallanvor。 And Balwer； of course。 On the road。 Near to Lugard。〃
〃Maighdin and I were in service in Murandy；〃 Lini put in impatiently。 〃Until the troubles。 Tallanvor was an armsman to the House； and Balwer the secretary。 Bandits burned the manor； and our lady couldn't afford to keep us； so we decided to travel together for protection。〃
〃I was telling it； Lini；〃 Master Gill grumbled； scratching behind his ear。 〃The wine merchant had left Lugard for the country； for some reason； and。。。 〃 He shook his head。 〃It's all too much to go into； Perrin。 Lord Perrin； I mean。 Forgive me。 You know there's trouble everywhere nowadays； one kind or another。 Seems like every time we ran from one kind； we found another； and always getting further from Caemlyn。 Till here we are； tired and grateful for a rest。 And that's the short of it。〃
Perrin nodded slowly。 That could be simple truth； though he had learned that people had a hundred reasons for lying； or just shading the truth。 Grimacing； he raked fingers through his hair。 Light！ He was being suspicious as a Cairhienin； and the deeper Rand tangled him； the worse it got。 Why on earth would Basel Gill； of all people； lie to him？ A lady's maid； accustomed to privilege and fallen on hard times； that explained Maighdin。 Some things were simple。
Lini's hands were folded at her waist； but she watched with a keen eye； no little like a falcon herself； and Master Gill began fidgeting as soon as he stopped talking。 He seemed to take Perrin's grimace as a demand for more。 He laughed； more on edge than amused。 〃I haven't seen so much of the world since the Aiel War； and I was considerably skinnier； then。 Why； we've been as far as Amador。 Of course； we left after those Seanchan took the city； but truth； they aren't any worse than the Whitecloaks； that I could … 〃 He cut off as Perrin leaned forward abruptly and seized his lapel。
〃Seanchan； Master Gill？ Are you sure of that？ Or is it one of those rumors； like the Aiel； or Aes Sedai？〃
〃I saw them；〃 Gill replied； exchanging uncertain looks with Lini。 〃And that's what they call themselves。 I'm surprised you don't know。 Word's been running ahead of us all the way from Amador。 These Seanchan want people to know what they're about。 Strange people； with strange creatures。〃 His voice picked up intensity。 〃Like Shadowspawn。 Big leathery things that fly； and carry men； and these things like lizards； only they're big as horses； and they have three eyes。 I saw them！ I did！〃
〃I believe you；〃 Perrin said； releasing the man's coat。 〃I've seen them； too。〃 At Falme； where a thousand Whitecloaks died in minutes and it had taken dead heroes of legend； called by the Horn of Valere； to throw the Seanchan back。 Rand had said they would return； but how could they have so soon？ Light！ If they held Amador； they had to have Tarabon as well； or most of it。 Only a fool killed a deer when he knew there was a wounded bear behind his back。 How much had they taken？ 〃I can't send you to Caemlyn right away； Master Gill； but if you stay with me a while longer； I'll see you there safely。〃 If staying with him any length of time was safe。 The Prophet； Whitecloaks； and now maybe Seanchan added in。
〃I think you're a good man；〃 Lini said suddenly。 〃I'm afraid we didn't tell you the whole truth； and maybe we should。〃
〃Lini； what are you saying？〃 Master Gill exclaimed； bounding to his feet。 〃I think the heat's getting to her；〃 he told Perrin。 〃And all the travel。 She has strange fancies； sometimes。 You know how old folks can get。 Hush； now； Lini！〃
Lini slapped away the hand he was trying to put over her mouth。 〃You mind yourself； Basel Gill！ I'll 'old' you！ Maighdin was running from Tallanvor； in a manner of speaking； and he was chasing her。 We all were； four days now； and near killing us and the horses both。 Well； it's no wonder she doesn't know her own mind half the time； you men snarl up a woman's wits so she can hardly think； then you pretend you've done nothing at all。 The lot of you ought to have your ears boxed on general principle。 The girl's afraid of her own heart！ Those two should be married； and the quicker the better。〃
Master Gill gaped at her； and Perrin was not sure his own mouth might not be hanging open。 〃I'm not certain I understand what it is you want of me；〃 he said slowly； and the white…haired woman leaped in before he was well finished。
〃Don't pretend to be dense。 I won't believe it in you for a moment。 I can see you have more wits than most men。 That's the worst habit you men have； making believe you don't see what's plain under your noses。〃 What had happened to all those curtsies？ Folding thin arms across her chest； she eyed him sternly。 〃Well； if you must pretend； I'll set it out for you。 This Lord Dragon of yours does whatever he wants； the way I hear。 Your Prophet picks out people and marries them on the spot。 Very well； you snatch up Maighdin and Tallanvor and marry them。 He'll thank you； and so will she。 When her mind settles。〃
Stunned； Perrin glanced at Master Gill； who shrugged and made a sickly grin。 〃If you will forgive me；〃 Perrin told the frowning woman； 〃I have some matters I must see to。〃 He hurried away； only looking back once。 Lini was