the Gathering Storm by Jordan Robert - Wheel Of Time 12

Author:Jordan, Robert - Wheel Of Time 12 [12, Jordan, Robert - Wheel Of Time]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2010-12-20T02:03:42.609000+00:00

Chapter 27

The Tipsy Gelding.

Mat didn't escape the camp without the Aes Sedai, of course. Bloody women. He r ode down the ancient stone roadway, no longer followed by the Band. He was , however, accompanied by the three Aes Sedai, two Warders, five soldiers , Talmanes, a pack animal and Thom. At least Aludra, Amathera and Egeanin hadn't i nsisted on coming. This group was too big as it was.

The three-needle pines guarded the road, smelling of pine sap, and the air wa s m elodic with mountain finches' calls. It was still several hours until sundown; he'd halted the Band near noon. He rode slightly ahead of the clustered Ae s Sedai and Warders. After he'd refused Joline horses and funds, they hadn't bee n a bout to let him win another point. Not when they could force him to take the m d own to the village, where they could spend at least one night in an inn wit h s oft beds and warm baths.

He didn't argue too loudly. He hated to have more tongues wagging about th e Band, and women did gossip, even Aes Sedai. But there was little chance of th e Band passing without causing a stir in the village anyway. If any Seancha n p atrols made it through these twisting mountain paths... Well, Mat would jus t h ave to keep the Band on a steady pace northward and that was that. No us e c rying about it.

Besides, he was beginning to feel right again, riding Pips down that road , spring breeze crisp in the air. He'd taken to wearing one of his older coats , red with brown trim, unbuttoned to show his old tan shirt beneath.

This was what it was about. Traveling to new villages, throwing dice in th e i nns, pinching a few barmaids. He would not think of Tuon. Flaming Seanchan.

She'd be all right, wouldn't she?

No. His hands almost itched to be at the dicing. It had been far too long sinc e h e'd sat down in a corner somewhere and thrown with the ordinary sort. They'd b e a little dirtier of face and coarser of language, but as good of heart as an y m an. Better than most lords.

Talmanes rode just ahead. He'd probably wish for a nicer tavern than Mat, a p lace to join a game of cards rather than throwing dice. But they might not hav e m uch of a choice. The village was of decent size, probably worthy of bein g c alled a town, but was unlikely to have more than three or four inns. Their choices would be limited.

Decent size, Mat thought, grinning to himself as he took off his hat an d s cratched at the back of his head. Hinderstap would only have three or fou r i nns, and that made it a "small" town. Why, Mat could remember when he'd though t Baerlon a large city, and it probably wasn't much larger than this Hinderstap!

A horse pulled up beside him.

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