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ropped away。
Men ran everywhere on the boat； shouting； hacking mooring lines with axes。 The boat lurched and swung as if eager to be off。 Up in the bow three men struggled with a Trolloc。 Someone thrust over the side with a spear； though Rand could not see what he was stabbing at。 A bowstring snapped； and snapped again。 The man Rand had stepped on scrabbled away from him on hands and knees； then flung up his hands when he saw Rand looking at him。
〃Spare me！〃 he cried。 〃Take whatever you want； take the boat； take everything； but spare me！〃
Suddenly something slammed across Rand's back； smashing him to the deck。 His sword skittered away from his outstretched hand。 Openmouthed； gasping for a breath that would not e； he tried to reach the sword。 His muscles responded with agonized slowness； he writhed like a slug。 The fellow who wanted to be spared gave one frightened； covetous look at the sword； then vanished into the shadows。
Painfully Rand managed to look over his shoulder； and knew his luck had run out。 A wolf…muzzled Trolloc stood balanced on the railing； staring down at him and holding the splintered end of the catchpole that had knocked the wind out of him。 Rand struggled to reach the sword； to move； to get away； but his arms and legs moved jerkily； and only half as he wanted。 They wobbled and went in odd directions。 His chest felt as if it were strapped with iron bands； silver spots swam in his eyes。 Frantically he hunted for some way to escape。 Time seemed to slow as the Trolloc raised the jagged pole as if to spear him with it。 To Rand the creature appeared to be moving as if in a dream。 He watched the thick arm go back； he could already feel the broken haft ripping through his spine； feel the pain of it tearing him open。 He thought his lungs would burst。 I'm going to die！ Light help me； I'm going to 。。。 ！ The Trolloc's arm started forward； driving the splintered shaft； and Rand found the breath for one yell。 〃No！〃
Suddenly the ship lurched； and a boom swung out of the shadows to catch the Trolloc across the chest with a crunch of breaking bones； sweeping it over the side。
For a moment Rand lay panting and staring up at the boom swinging back and forth above him。 That has to have used up my luck； he thought。 There can't be any more after that。
Shakily he got to his feet and picked up his sword； for once holding it in both hands the way Lan had taught him； but there was nothing left on which to use it。 The gap of black water between the boat and the bank was widening quickly； the cries of the Trollocs were fading behind in the night。
As he sheathed his sword and slumped against the railing； a stocky man in a coat that hung to his knees strode up the deck to glare at him。 Long hair that fell to his thick shoulders and a beard that left his upper lip bare framed a round face。 Round but not soft。 The boom swung out again； and the bearded man spared part of his glare for that as he caught it； it made a crisp splat against his broad palm。
〃Gelb！〃 he bellowed。 〃Fortune！ Where do you be； Gelb？〃 He spoke so fast； with all the words running together； that Rand could barely understand him。 〃You can no hide from me on my own ship！ Get Floran Gelb out here！〃
A crewman appeared with a bull's…eye lantern； and two more pushed a narrow…faced man into the circle of light it cast。 Rand recognized the fellow who had offered him the boat。 The man's eyes shifted from side to side； never meeting those of the stocky man。 The captain； Rand thought。 A bruise was ing up on Gelb's forehead where one of Rand's boots had caught him。
〃Were you no supposed to secure this boom； Gelb？〃 the captain asked with surprising calm； though just as fast as before。
Gelb looked truly surprised。 〃But I did。 Tied it down tight。 I admit I'm a little slow about things now and then； Captain Domon； but I get them done。〃
〃So you be slow； do you？ No so slow at sleeping。 Sleeping when you should be standing watch。 We could be murdered to a man； for all of you。〃
〃No； Captain； no。 It was him。〃 Gelb pointed straight at Rand。 〃I was on guard； just like I was supposed to be； when he sneaked up and hit me with a club。〃 He touched the bruise on his head； winced； and glared at Rand。 〃I fought him； but then the Trollocs came。 He's in league with them； Captain。 A Darkfriend。 In league with the Trollocs。〃
〃In league with my aged grandmother！〃 Captain Domon roared。 〃Did I no warn you the last time； Gelb？ At Whitebridge； off you do go！ Get out of my sight before I put you off now。〃 Gelb darted out of the lantern light； and Domon stood opening and closing his hands while he stared at nothing。 〃These Trollocs do be following me。 Why will they no leave me be？ Why？〃
Rand looked over the rail and was shocked to find the riverbank no longer in sight。 Two men manned the long steering oar that stuck out over the stern； and there were six sweeps working to a side now； pulling the ship like a waterbug further out into the river。
〃Captain；〃 Rand said； 〃we have friends back there。 If you go back and pick them up； I am sure they'll reward you。〃
The captain's round face swung toward Rand； and when Thom and Mat appeared he included them in his expressionless stare as well。
〃Captain；〃 Thom began with a bow； 〃allow me to …〃
〃You e below；〃 Captain Domon said； 〃where I can see what manner of thing be hauled up on my deck。 e。 Fortune desert me； somebody secure this horn…cursed boom！〃 As crewmen rushed to take the boom； he stumped off toward the stern of the boat。 Rand and his two panions followed。
Captain Domon had a tidy cabin in the stern； reached by climbing down a short ladder； where everything gave the impression of being in its proper place； right down to the coats and cloaks hanging from pegs on the back of the door。 The cabin stretched the width of the ship； with a broad bed built against one side and a heavy table built out from the other。 There was only one chair； with a high back and sturdy arms； and the captain took that himself； motioning the others to find places on various chests and benches that were the only other furnishings。 A loud harrumph stopped Mat from sitting on the bed。
〃Now；〃 said the captain when they were all seated。 〃My name be Bayle Domon； captain and owner of the Spray； which be this ship。 Now who be you； and where be you going out here in the middle of nowhere； and why should I no throw you over the side for the trouble you've brought me？〃
Rand still had as much trouble as before in following Domon's rapid speech。 When he worked out the last part of what the captain had said he blinked in surprise。 Throw us over the side？
Mat hurriedly said； 〃We didn't mean to cause you any trouble。 We're on our way to Caemlyn； and then to …〃
〃And then where the wind takes us；〃 Thom interrupted smoothly。 〃That's how gleemen travel； like dust on the wind。 I am a gleeman； you understand； Thom Merrilin by name。〃 He shifted his cloak so the multihued patches stirred； as if the captain could have missed them。 〃These two country louts want to bee my apprentices； though I am not yet sure I want them。〃 Rand looked at Mat； who grinned。
〃That be all very well； man；〃 Captain Domon said placidly； 〃but it tells me nothing。 Less。 Fortune prick me； that place be on no road to Caemlyn from anywhere I ever heard tell of。〃
〃Now that is a story；〃 Thom said； and he straightaway began to unfold it。
According to Thom； he had been trapped by the winter snows in a mining town in the Mountains of Mist beyond Baerlon。 While there he heard legends of a treasure dating from the Trolloc Wars； in the lost ruin of a city called Aridhol。 Now it just so happened that he had earlier learned the location of Aridhol from a map given him many years ago by a dying friend in Illian whose life he had once saved； a man who expired breathing that the map would make Thom rich； which Thom never believed until he heard the legends。 When the snows melted enough； he set out with a few panions； including his two would…be apprentices； and after a journey of many hardships they actually found the ruined city。 But it turned out