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over everything； clanging from blacksmiths； shouts from the wagon drivers； raucous laughter from the town's inns。
Rand swung down from the back of a merchant's canvas…topped wagon as they came abreast of a garishly painted inn； all greens and yellows that caught the eye from afar among the leaden houses。 The line of wagons kept moving。 None of the drivers even seemed to notice that he and Mat had gone； dusk was falling； and they all had their eyes on unhitching the horses and reaching the inns。 Rand stumbled in a rut； then leaped quickly to avoid a heavy…laden wagon clattering the other way。 The driver shouted a curse at him as the wagon rolled by。 A village woman stepped around him and hurried on without ever meeting his eye。
〃I don't know about this place；〃 he said。 He thought he could hear music mixed in the din； but he could not tell from where it was ing。 From the inn； maybe； but it was hard to be sure。 〃I don't like it。 Maybe we'd better go on this time。〃
Mat gave him a scornful look； then rolled his eyes at the sky。 Dark clouds thickened overhead。 〃And sleep under a hedge tonight？ In that？ I'm used to a bed again。〃 He cocked his head to listen； then grunted。 〃Maybe one of these places doesn't have musicians。 Anyway； I'll bet they don't have a juggler。〃 He slung his bow across his shoulders and started for the bright yellow door； studying everything through narrowed eyes。 Rand followed doubtfully。
There were musicians inside； their zither and drum almost drowned in coarse laughter and drunken shouting。 Rand did not bother to find the landlord。 The next two inns had musicians as well； and the same deafening cacophony。 Roughly dressed men filled the tables and stumbled across the floor； waving mugs and trying to fondle serving maids who dodged with fixed； long…suffering smiles。 The buildings shook with the racket； and the smell was sour； a stench of old wine and unwashed bodies。 Of the merchants； in their silk and velvet and lace； there was no sign； private dining rooms abovestairs protected their ears and noses。 He and Mat only put their heads in the doors before leaving。 He was beginning to think they would have no choice but to move on。
The fourth inn； The Dancing Cartman； stood silent。
It was as gaudy as the other inns； yellow trimmed in bright red and bilious； eye…wrenching green； though here the paint was cracked and peeling。 Rand and Mat stepped inside。
Only half a dozen men sat at the tables that filled the mon room； hunched over their mugs； each one glumly alone with his thoughts。 Business was definitely not good； but it had been better once。 Exactly as many serving maids as there were patrons busied themselves around the room。 There was plenty for them to do … dirt crusted the floor and cobwebs filled the corners of the ceiling … but most were not doing anything really useful； only moving so they would not be seen standing still。
A bony man with long； stringy hair to his shoulders turned to scowl at them as they came through the door。 The first slow peal of thunder rumbled across Four Kings。 〃What do you want？〃 He was rubbing his hands on a greasy apron that hung to his ankles。 Rand wondered if more grime was ing off on the apron or on the man's hands。 He was the first skinny innkeeper Rand had seen。 〃Well？ Speak up； buy a drink； or get out！ Do I look like a raree show？〃
Flushing； Rand launched into the spiel he had perfected at inns before this。 〃I play the flute； and my friend juggles； and you'll not see two better in a year。 For a good room and a good meal； we'll fill this mon room of yours。〃 He remembered the filled mon rooms he had already seen that evening； especially the man who had vomited right in front of him at the last one。 He had had to step lively to keep his boots untouched。 He faltered； but caught himself and went on。 〃We'll fill your inn with men who will repay the little we cost twenty times over with the food and drink they buy。 Why should …〃
〃I've got a man plays the dulcimer；〃 the innkeeper said sourly。
〃You have a drunk； Saml Hake；〃 one of the serving maids said。 She was passing him with a tray and two mugs； and she paused to give Rand and Mat a plump smile。 〃Most times； he can't see well enough to find the mon room；〃 she confided in a loud whisper。 〃Haven't even seen him in two days。〃
Without taking his eyes off Rand and Mat； Hake casually backhanded her across the face。 She gave a surprised grunt and fell heavily to the unwashed floor； one of the mugs broke； and the spilled wine washed rivulets in the dirt。 〃You're docked for the wine and breakage。 Get 'em fresh drinks。 And hurry。 Men don't pay to wait while you laze around。〃 His tone was as offhand as the blow。 None of the patrons looked up from their wine； and the other serving maids kept their eyes averted。
The plump woman rubbed her cheek and stared pure murder at Hake； but she gathered the empty mug and the broken pieces on her tray and went off without a word。
Hake sucked his teeth thoughtfully； eyeing Rand and Mat。 His gaze clung to the heron…mark sword before he pulled it away。 〃Tell you what；〃 he said finally。 〃You can have a couple of pallets in an empty storeroom in the back。 Rooms are too expensive to give away。 You eat when everybody's gone。 There ought to be something left。〃
Rand wished there was an inn in Four Kings they had not yet tried。 Since leaving Whitebridge he had met coolness； indifference； and outright hostility； but nothing that gave him the sense of unease that this man and this village did。 He told himself it was just the dirt and squalor and noise； but the misgivings did not go away。 Mat was watching Hake as if he suspected some trap； but he gave no sign of wanting to give up The Dancing Cartman for a bed under a hedge。 Thunder rattled the windows。 Rand Sighed。
〃The pallets will do if they're clean； and if there are enough clean blankets。 But we eat two hours after full dark； no later； and the best you have。 Here。 We'll show you what we can do。〃 He reached for the flute case； but Hake shook his head。
〃Don't matter。 This lot'll be satisfied with any kind of screeching so long as it sounds something like music。〃 His eyes touched Rand's sword again； his thin smile touched nothing but his lips。 〃Eat when you want； but if you don't bring the crowd in； out you go in the street。〃 He nodded over his shoulder at two hard…faced men sitting against the wall。 They were not drinking； and their arms were thick enough for legs。 When Hake nodded at them； their eyes shifted to Rand and Mat； flat and expressionless。
Rand put one hand on his sword hilt； hoping the twisting in his stomach did not show on his face。 〃As long as we get what's agreed on；〃 he said in a level tone。
Hake blinked； and for a moment he seemed uneasy himself。 Abruptly he nodded。 〃What I said； isn't it？ Well； get started。 You won't bring anybody in just standing there。〃 He stalked off； scowling and shouting at the serving maids as if there were fifty customers they were neglecting。
There was a small； raised platform at the far end of the room； near the door to the back。 Rand lifted a bench up on it； and settled his cloak； blanketroll； and Thom's bundled cloak behind the bench with the sword lying atop them。
He wondered if he had been wise to keep wearing the sword openly。 Swords were mon enough； but the heron…mark attracted attention and speculation。 Not from everybody； but any notice at all made him unfortable。 He could be leaving a clear trail for the Myrddraal … if Fades needed that kind of trail。 They did not seem to。 In any case； he was reluctant to stop wearing it。 Tam had given it to him。 His father。 As long as he wore the sword； there was still some connection between Tam and him； a thread that gave him the right to still call Tam father。 Too late now； he thought。 He was not sure what he meant； but he was sure it was true。 Too late。
At the first note of 〃Cock o' the North〃 the half…dozen patrons in the mon room lifted their heads out of their wine。 Even the two bouncers sat forward a little。 They all applauded when he finished； including the two toughs； and once more when Mat sent a sho