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〃and great petitions； which rightly draw gleemen from the whole world over。 But；〃 he added dryly； 〃I fear we could not afford the fare at the rates you charge。〃
〃Aye； well； as to that 。。。〃 The captain produced a leather purse from his coat pocket and tossed it to Thom。 It clinked when Thom caught it。 〃Your fares back； and a bit more besides。 The damage was no so bad as I thought； and you've worked your way and more with your tales and your harp。 I could maybe manage as much again if you stay aboard to the Sea of Storms。 And I would set you ashore in Illian。 A good gleeman can make his fortune there； even aside from the petitions。〃
Thom hesitated； weighing the purse on his palm； but Rand spoke up。 〃We're meeting friends here； Captain； and going on to Caemlyn together。 We'll have to see Illian another time。〃
Thom's mouth twisted wryly； then he blew out his long mustaches and tucked the purse into his pocket。 〃Perhaps if the people we are to meet are not here； Captain。〃
〃Aye；〃 Domon said sourly。 〃You think on it。 Too bad I can no keep Gelb aboard to take the others' anger； but I do what I say I will do。 I suppose I must ease up now； even if it means taking three times as long to reach Illian as I should。 Well； mayhap those Trollocs were after you three。〃
Rand blinked but kept silent； but Mat was not so cautious。
〃Why do you think they weren't？〃 he demanded。 〃They were after the same treasure we were hunting。〃
〃Mayhap；〃 the captain grunted； sounding unconvinced。 He bed thick fingers through his beard； then pointed at the pocket where Thom had put the purse。 〃Twice that if you e back to keep the men's minds off how hard I work them。 Think on it。 I sail with the first light on the morrow。〃 He turned on his heel and strode back to the merchants； arms spreading wide as he began an apology for keeping them waiting。
Thom still hesitated； but Rand hustled him down the gangplank without giving him a chance to argue； and the gleeman let himself be herded。 A murmur passed through the people on the dock as they saw Thom's patch…covered cloak； and some called out to discover where he would be performing。 So much for not being noticed； Rand thought； dismayed。 By sundown it would be all over Whitebridge that there was a gleeman in town。 He hurried Thom along； though； and Thom； wrapped in sulky silence； did not even try to slow down enough to preen under the attention。
The carriage drivers looked down at Thom with interest from their high perches； but apparently the dignity of their positions forbade shouting。 With no idea of where to go exactly； Rand turned up the street that ran along the river and under the bridge。
〃We need to find Moiraine and the others；〃 he said。 〃And fast。 We should have thought of changing Thom's cloak。〃
Thom suddenly shook himself and stopped dead。 〃An innkeeper will be able to tell us if they're here； or if they've passed through。 The right innkeeper。 Innkeepers have all the news and gossip。 If they aren't here 。。。〃 He looked back and forth from Rand to Mat。 〃We have to talk； we three。〃 Cloak swirling around his ankles； he set off into the town； away from the river。 Rand and Mat had to step quickly to keep up。
The broad； milk…white arch that gave the town its name dominated Whitebridge as much close up as it did from afar； but once Rand was in the streets he realized that the town was every bit as big as Baerlon； though not so crowded with people。 A few carts moved in the streets； pulled by horse or ox or donkey or man； but no carriages。 Those most likely all belonged to the merchants and were clustered down at the dock。
Shops of every description lined the streets； and many of the tradesmen worked in front of their establishments； under the signs swinging in the wind。 They passed a man mending pots； and a tailor holding folds of cloth up to the light for a customer。 A shoemaker； sitting in his doorway； tapped his hammer on the heel of a boot。 Hawkers cried their services at sharpening knives and scissors； or tried to interest the passersby in their skimpy trays of fruit or vegetables； but none was getting much interest。 Shops selling food had the same pitiful displays of produce Rand remembered from Baerlon。 Even the fishmongers displayed only small piles of small fish； for all the boats on the river。 Times were not really hard yet； but everyone could see what was ing if the weather did not change soon； and those faces that were not fixed into worried frowns seemed to stare at something unseen； something unpleasant。
Where the White Bridge came down in the center of the town was a big square； paved with stones worn by generations of feet and wagon wheels。 Inns surrounded the square； and shops； and tall； red brick houses with signs out front bearing the same names Rand had seen on the carriages at the dock。 It was into one of those inns； seemingly chosen at random； that Thom ducked。 The sign over the door； swinging in the wind； had a striding man with a bundle on his back on one side and the same man with his head on a pillow on the other； and proclaimed The Wayfarers' Rest。
The mon room stood empty except for the fat innkeeper drawing ale from a barrel and two men in rough workman's clothes staring glumly into their mugs at a table in the back。 Only the innkeeper looked up when they came in。 A shoulder…high wall split the room in two from front to back； with tables and a blazing fireplace on each side。 Rand wondered idly if all innkeepers were fat and losing their hair。
Rubbing his hands together briskly； Thom mented to the innkeeper on the late cold and ordered hot spiced wine； then added quietly； 〃Is there somewhere my friends and I could talk without being disturbed？〃
The innkeeper nodded to the low wall。 〃The other side that's as best I've got unless you want to take a room。 For when sailors e up from the river。 Seems like half the crews got grudges against the other half。 I won't have my place broke up by fights； so I keep them apart。〃 He had been eyeing Thom's cloak the whole while； and now he cocked his head to one side； a sly look in his eyes。 〃You staying？ Haven't had a gleeman here in some time。 Folks would pay real good for something as would take their minds off things。 I'd even take some off on your room and meals。〃
Unnoticed； Rand thought glumly。
〃You are too generous；〃 Thom said with a smooth bow。 〃Perhaps I will take up your offer。 But for now； a little privacy。〃
〃I'll bring your wine。 Good money here for a gleeman。〃
The tables on the far side of the wall were all empty； but Thom chose one right in the middle of the space。 〃So no one can listen without us knowing；〃 he explained。 〃Did you hear that fellow？ He'll take some off。 Why； I'd double his custom just by sitting here。 Any honest innkeeper gives a gleeman room and board and a good bit besides。〃
The bare table was none too clean； and the floor had not been swept in days if not weeks。 Rand looked around and grimaced。 Master al'Vere would not have let his inn get that dirty if he had had to climb out of a sickbed to see to it。
〃We're only after information。 Remember？〃