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an of Tanchico。〃
Chapter 31
（Harp）
The Woman of Tanchico
The mon room of the inn was brightly lit； the tables not near a quarter full so late。 A few white…aproned serving women with mugs of ale or wine passed among the men； and a low murmur of talk ran under the sound of a harp being strummed and plucked。 The patrons； some with pipes clenched in their teeth and one pair hunched over a stones board； had the look of ship's officers and minor merchants from the smaller houses； their coats well cut and of fine wool； but with none of the gold or silver or embroidery that richer men might have had。 And for once there was no clack and rattle of dice to be heard。 Fires blazed on the long hearths at the ends of the room； but even without those there would have been a warm feeling about the place。
The harper stood on a tabletop； reciting 〃Mara and the Three Foolish Kings；〃 to the music of his harp。 His instrument； all worked in gold and silver； was fit for a palace。 Mat knew him。 He had saved Mat's life； once。
The harper was a lean man who would have been tall except for a stoop； and he moved with a limp when he shifted his footing on the tabletop。 Even here inside； he wore his cloak； all covered with fluttering patches in a hundred colors。 He always wanted everyone to know he was a gleeman。 His long mustaches and bushy eyebrows were as snow…white as the thick hair on his head； and his blue eyes held a look of sorrow as he recited。 The look was as unexpected as the man。 Mat had never known Thom Merrilin to be a sorrowful man。
He took a table； setting his things on the floor by his stool； and ordered two mugs。 The pretty young serving girl's big brown eyes twinkled at him。
〃Two； young master？ You do not look such a hard…drinking man as that。〃 Her voice held a mischievous edge of laughter。
After rummaging a bit； he brought out two silver pennies from his pocket。 One more than paid for the wine； but he slipped her another for her eyes。 〃My friend will be joining me。〃
He knew Thom had seen him。 The old gleeman had nearly stopped the story dead when Mat came in。 That was new； too。 Few things startled Thom enough for him to let it show； and nothing short of Trollocs had ever made him stop a story in the middle that Mat knew。 When the girl brought the wine and his coppers in change； he let the pewter mugs sit and listened to the end of the story。
〃'It was as we have said it should be；' said King Madel； trying to untangle a fish from his long beard。〃 Thom's voice seemed almost to echo inside a great hall； not an ordinary mon room。 His plucked harp sounded the three kings' final foolishness。 〃'It was as we said it would be；' announced Orander。 And； feet slipping in the mud； he sat down with a great splash。 'It was as we said it must be；' proclaimed Kadar as he searched； up to his elbows in the river； for his crown。 'The woman knows not whereof she speaks。 She is the fool！' Madel and Orander agreed with him loudly。 And with that； Mara had had enough。 'I've given them all the chances they deserve and more；' she murmured to herself。 Slipping Kadar's crown into her bag with the first two； she climbed back onto her cart； clucked to her mare； and drove straight back to her village。 And when Mara had told them all that happened； the people of Heape would have no king at all。〃 He strummed the major theme of the kings' foolishness once more； this time sliding to a crescendo that sounded even more like laughter； made a sweeping bow； and nearly fell off the table。
Men laughed and stamped their feet； though likely every one of them had heard the story many times before； and called for more。 The story of Mara was always well received； except perhaps by kings。
Thom nearly fell again climbing down from the table； and he was more unsteady in his walk than a somewhat stiff leg could account for as he came to where Mat was sitting。 Casually putting his harp on the table； he dropped onto a stool in front of the second mug and gave Mat a flat stare。 His eyes had always been sharp as awls； but they seemed to be having trouble focusing。
〃mon；〃 he muttered。 His voice was still deep； but it no longer seemed to reverberate。 〃The tale is a hundred times better in Plain Chant； and a thousand in High； but they want mon。〃 Without another word； he buried his face in his wine。
Mat could not recall ever seeing Thom finish playing that harp without immediately putting it away in its hard leather case。 He had never seen him the worse for drink。 It was a relief to hear the gleeman plaining about his listeners； Thom never thought their standards were as high as his。 At least something of him had not changed。
The serving girl was back； with no twinkle in her eyes。 〃Oh； Thom；〃 she said softly； then rounded on Mat。 〃If I'd known he was the friend you awaited； I'd not have brought you wine for him if you gave a hundred silver pence。〃
〃I did not know he was drunk；〃 Mat protested。
But her attention was back on Thom； her voice gentle again。 〃Thom； you need some rest。 They'll keep you telling stories all night and all day； if you let them。〃
Another woman appeared on Thom's other side； lifting her apron off over her head。 She was older than the first； but no less pretty。 The two might have been sisters。 〃A beautiful story； I've always thought； Thom； and you tell it beautifully。 e； I've slipped a warming pan into your bed； and you can tell me all about the court in Caemlyn。〃
Thom peered into the mug as if surprised to find it empty； then blew out his long mustaches and looked from one woman to the other。 〃Pretty Mada。 Pretty Saal。 Did I ever tell you that two pretty women have loved me in my life？ That is more than most men can claim。〃
〃You've told us all about it； Thom；〃 the older woman said sadly。 The younger glared at Mat as if this were all his fault。
〃Two；〃 Thom murmured。 〃Morgase had a temper； but I thought I could ignore that； so it ended with her wanting to kill me。 Dena； I killed。 As good as。 Not much difference。 Two chances I've had； more than most； and I threw them both away。〃
〃I will take care of him；〃 Mat said。 Mada and Saal were both glaring at him； now。 He gave them his best smile； but it did not work。 His stomach muttered loudly。 〃Don't I smell chicken roasting？ Bring me three or four。〃 The two women blinked and exchanged startled looks when he added； 〃Do you want something to eat； too； Thom？〃
〃I could do with more of this fine Andoran wine。〃 The gleeman raised his cup hopefully。
〃No more wine for you tonight； Thom。〃 The older woman would have taken his cup if he had let her。
Almost on top of the first woman； the younger said； in a mixture of firmness and pleading； 〃You'll have some chicken； Thom。 It is very good。〃
Neither would leave until the gleeman agreed to eat something； and when they did go； they gave Mat such a bination of stares and sniffs that he could only shake his head。 Burn me； you would think I was encouraging him to drink more！ Women！ But pretty eyes on the pair of them。
〃Rand said you were alive；〃 he told Thom when Mada and Saal were out of h