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le。 They all applauded when he finished； including the two toughs； and once more when Mat sent a shower of colored balls spinning through his hands。 Outside； the sky muttered again。 The rain was holding off； but the pressure of it was palpable； the longer it waited； the harder it would fall。
Word spread； and by the time it was dark outside the inn was packed full with men laughing and talking so loud that Rand could barely hear what he was playing。 Only the thunder overpowered the noise in the mon room。 Lightning flashed in the windows； and in the momentary lulls he could faintly hear rain drumming on the roof。 Men who came in now dripped trails across the floor。
Whenever he paused； voices shouted the names of tunes through the din。 A good many names he did not recognize； though when he got someone to hum a bit of it； he often found he did know the song。 It had been that way other places； before。 〃Jolly Jaim〃 was 〃Rhea's Fling〃 here； and had been 〃Colors of the Sun〃 at an earlier stop。 Some names stayed the same； others changed with ten miles' distance； and he had learned new songs； too。 〃The Drunken Peddler〃 was a new one； though sometimes it was called 〃Tinker in the Kitchen。〃 〃Two Kings Came Hunting〃 was 〃Two Horses Running〃 and several other names besides。 He played the ones he knew； and men pounded the tables for more。
Others called for Mat to juggle again。 Sometimes fights broke out between those wanting music and those who fancied juggling。 Once a knife flashed； and a woman screamed； and a man reeled back from a table with blood streaming down his face； but Jak and Strom； the two bouncers； closed in swiftly and with plete impartiality threw everyone involved into the street with lumps on their heads。 That was their tactic with any trouble。 The talk and the laughing went on as if nothing had occurred。 Nobody even looked around except those the bouncers jostled on their way to the door。
The patrons were free with their hands； too； when one of the serving maids let herself grow unwary。 More than once Jak or Strom had to rescue one of the women； though they were none too quick about it。 The way Hake carried on； screaming and shaking the woman involved； he always considered it her fault； and the teary eyes and stammered apologies said she was willing to accept his opinion。 The women jumped whenever Hake frowned； even if he was looking somewhere else。 Rand wondered why any of them put up with it。
Hake smiled when he looked at Rand and Mat。 After a while Rand realized Hake was not smiling at them； the smiles came when his eyes slid behind them； to where the heron…mark sword lay。 Once； when Rand set the gold…and…silver…chased flute down beside his stool； the flute got a smile； too。
The next time he changed places with Mat at the front of the dais； he leaned over to speak in Mat's ear。 Even that close he had to speak loudly； but with all the noise he doubted if anyone else could hear。 〃Hake's going to try to rob us。〃
Mat nodded as if it was nothing he had not expected。 〃We'll have to bar our door tonight。〃
〃Bar our door？ Jak and Strom could break down a door with their fists。 Let's get out of here。〃
〃Wait till after we eat； at least。 I'm hungry。 They can't do anything here；〃 Mat added。 The packed mon room shouted impatiently for them to get on with it。 Hake was glaring at them。 〃Anyway； you want to sleep outside tonight？〃 An especially strong crack of lightning drowned out everything else； and for an instant the light through the windows was stronger than the lamps。
〃I just want to get out without my head being broken；〃 Rand said； but Mat was already slouching back to take his rest on the stool。 Rand sighed and launched into 〃The Road to Dun Aren。〃 A lot of them seemed to like that one； he had already played it four times； and they still shouted for it。
The trouble was that Mat was right； as far as he went。 He was hungry； too。 And he could not see how Hake could give them any trouble while the mon room was full； and getting fuller。 For every man who left or was thrown out by Jak and Strom； two came in from the street。 They shouted for the juggling or for a particular tune； but mostly they were interested in drinking and fondling the serving maids。 One man was different； though。
He stood out in every way among the crowd in The Dancing Cartman。 Merchants apparently had no use for the run…down inn； there were not even any private dining rooms for them； as far as he could make out。 The patrons were all rough…dressed； with the tough skin of men who labored in the sun and wind。 This man was sleekly fleshy； with a soft look to his hands； and a velvet coat； and a dark green velvet cloak lined with blue silk was slung around his shoulders。 All of his clothes had an expensive cut to them。 His shoes … soft velvet slippers； not boots … were not made for the rutted streets of Four Kings； or for any streets at all； for that matter。
He came in well after dark； shaking the rain off his cloak as he looked around； a twist of distaste on his mouth。 He scanned the room once； already turning to go； then suddenly gave a start at nothing Rand could see and sat down at a table Jak and Strom had just emptied。 A serving maid stopped at his table； then brought him a mug of wine which he pushed to one side and never touched again。 She seemed in a hurry to leave his table both times； though he did not try to touch her of even look at her。 Whatever it was about him that made her uneasy； others who came close to him noticed it； too。 For all of his soft look； whenever some callus…handed wagon driver decided to share his table； one glance was all it took to send the man looking elsewhere。 He sat as if there were no one else in the room but him … and Rand and Mat。 Them he watched over steepled hands that glittered with a ring on each finger。 He watched them with a smile of satisfied recognition。
Rand murmured to Mat as they were changing places again； and Mat nodded。 〃I saw him；〃 he muttered。 〃Who is he？ I keep thinking I know him。 〃
The same thought had occurred to Rand； tickling the back of his memory； but he could not bring it forward。 Yet he was sure that face was one he had never seen before。
When they had been performing for two hours； as near as Rand could estimate； he slipped the flute into its case and he and Mat gathered up their belongings。 As they were stepping down from the low platform； Hake came bustling up； anger twisting his narrow face。
〃It's time to eat；〃 Rand said to forestall him； 〃and we don't want our things stolen。 You want to tell the cook？〃 Hake hesitated； still angry； trying unsuccessfully to keep his eyes off what Rand held in his arms。 Casually Rand shifted his bundles so he could rest one hand on the sword。 〃Or you can try throwing us out。〃 He made the emphasis deliberately； then added； 〃There's a lot of night left for us to play； yet。 We have to keep our strength up if we're going to perform well enough to keep this crowd spending money。 How long do you think this room will stay full if we fall over from hunger？〃
Hake's eyes twitched over the room full of men putting money in his pocket； then he turned and stuck his head through the door to the rear of the inn。 〃Feed 'em！〃 he shouted。 Rounding on Rand and Mat； he snarled； 〃Don't be all night about it。 I expect you up there till the last man's gone。 〃
Some of the patrons were shouting for the musician and the juggler； and Hake turned to soothe them。 The man in the velvet cloak was one of the anxious ones。 Rand motioned Mat to follow him。
A stout door separated the kitchen from the front of the inn； and； except when it opened to let a serving maid through； the rain pounding the roof was louder in the kitchen than the shouts from the mon room。 It was a big room； hot and steamy from stoves and ovens； with a huge table covered with half…prepared food and dishes ready to be served。 Some of the serving maids sat clustered on a bench near the rear door； rubbing their feet and chattering away all at once with the fat cook； who talked back at the same time and waved a big spoon to emphasize her points。 They all glanced up as Rand and Mat came