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ust like them。
Suddenly there was a roar from the deck of one of the smaller ships。 〃You！ It do be you！〃 A wide； round…faced man in a green silk coat leaped onto the dock； ignoring Juilin's raised staff to stare at her and Nynaeve。 A beard with no mustache marked him as an Illianer； and so did his accent。 He seemed vaguely familiar。
〃Master Domon？〃 Nynaeve said after a moment； giving her braid a sharp tug。 〃Bayle Domon？〃
He nodded。 〃Aye。 I did never think to see you again。 I。。。 did wait as long as I could in Falme； but the time did e when I must sail or watch my ship burn。〃
Elayne knew him now。 He had agreed to carry them out of Falme； but chaos had seized that city before they could reach his vessel。 That coat said he had done well since。
〃A pleasure to see you again；〃 Nynaeve said coolly； 〃but if you will excuse us； we must find rooms in the city。〃
〃That will be hard。 Tanchico do burst its caulking。 I do know a place where my word may bring something； though。 I could no remain longer in Falme； but I do feel I owe you some debt。〃 Domon paused； frowning with sudden unease。 〃Your being here。 Will the same happen here as in Falme； then？〃
〃No； Master Domon；〃 Elayne said when Nynaeve hesitated。 〃Of course not。 And we will be glad to accept your help。〃
She half…expected some protest out of Nynaeve； yet the older woman only nodded thoughtfully and made introductions among the men。 Thom's cloak made Domon's eyebrows rise … for an instant she almost thought it looked as though he recognized the gleeman … but Juilin's Tairen garb brought a frown that was returned in kind。 Neither man said anything； though； perhaps they could keep the animosity between Tear and Illian out of Tanchico。 If they could not； she would have to speak firmly with them。
Domon talked of what had happened with him since Falme as he acpanied them down the dock； and he had indeed done well。 〃A dozen good coasting ships the Panarch's taxmen do know about；〃 he laughed； 〃and four deepwater they do no。〃
He could hardly have acquired so many honestly in so short a time。 It shocked her to hear him speak so openly on a dock full of men。
〃Aye； I do smuggle； and make such profits as I did never believe。 A tenth the amount of the excise in the customs men's pockets do turn their eyes and seal their mouths。〃
Two Tanchicans in those veils and round hats strolled past； hands clasped behind their backs。 Each wore a heavy brass key dangling from a thick chain about his neck； it had the look of a mark of office。 They nodded to Domon in a familiar way。 Thom looked amused； but Juilin glared at Domon and the two Tanchicans equally。 As a thief…catcher he had a proper dislike of those who flouted the law。
〃I do no believe it will last much longer though；〃 Domon said when the Tanchicans had passed。 〃Things do be even worse in Arad Doman than here； and it do be bad enough here。 Perhaps the Lord Dragon does no Break the World yet； but he did break Arad Doman and Tarabon。〃
Elayne wanted to say something sharp to him； but they had reached the foot of the dock； and she watched in silence while he hired sedan chairs and bearers； and a dozen men with stout staves and hard faces。 Guards with swords and spears stood at the end of the dock； with the look of hired men； not soldiers。 From across the wide street along the row of docks； hundreds of defeated； sunken faces stared at the guards。 Sometimes eyes flickered toward the ships； but mainly they fixed on the men holding them back from those ships。 Remembering what Coine had said about people here mobbing her vessel； desperate to buy passage anywhere away from Tanchico； Elayne shivered。 When these hungry eyes looked at the ships； need burned in them。 Elayne sat rigidly in her chair as it jounced through the crowds behind prodding staves； and tried not to look at anything。 She did not want to see those faces。 Where was their king？ Why was he not taking care of them？
A sign above the gate of the white…plastered inn Domon took them to； below the Great Circle； proclaimed the Three Plum Court。 The only court Elayne saw was the high…walled courtyard paved with flagstones in front of the inn； which was three square stories with no windows near the ground and the upper windows grilled with fanciful ironwork。 Inside； men and women crowded the mon room； most in Tanchican clothes； and the buzz of voices nearly drowned out the tune of a hammered dulcimer。
Nynaeve gasped at her first sight of the innkeeper； a pretty woman not much older than herself with brown eyes and pale honey braids； her veil not hiding a plump rosebud of a mouth。 Elayne gave a start； too； but it was not Liandrin。 The woman … her name was Rendra … obviously knew Domon well。 With weling smiles for Elayne and Nynaeve； and making much over Thom being a gleeman； she gave them her last two rooms at what Elayne suspected might be less than the going rate。
Elayne made sure she and Nynaeve got the one with the larger bed； she had shared a bed with Nynaeve before； and the woman was free with her elbows。
Rendra also provided supper in a private room； laid out by two veiled young serving men。 Elayne found herself staring at a plate of a roast lamb with spiced apple jelly and some sort of long yellowish beans prepared with pinenuts。 She could not touch it。 All those hungry faces。 Domon ate readily enough； him and his smuggling and his gold。 Thom and Juilin showed no reticence either。
〃Rendra；〃 Nynaeve said quietly； 〃does anyone here help the poor？ I can lay my hands on a good bit of gold if it would help。〃
〃You could donate to Bayle's kitchen；〃 the innkeeper replied； giving Domon a smile。 〃The man avoids all of the taxes； yet he taxes himself。 For each crown he gives as the bribe； he gives two for the soup and the bread for the poor。 He has even talked me into giving； and I pay my taxes。〃
〃It do be less than the taxes；〃 Domon muttered； hunching his shoulders defensively。 〃I do make a very healthy profit； Fortune prick me if I do no。〃
〃It is good that you like to help people； Master Domon；〃 Nynaeve said when Rendra and the servants had gone。 Thom and Juilin both get up to see they really had gone。 With a half…bow； Thom let Juilin open the door； the hall outside was empty。 Nynaeve went right on。 〃We may need your help； too。〃
The Illianer's knife and fork paused in cutting a piece of lamb。 〃How？〃 he asked suspiciously。
〃I do not know exactly； Master Domon。 You have ships。 You must have men。 We may need ears and eyes。 Some of the Black Ajah may very well be in Tanchico； and we must find them if they are。〃 Nynaeve lifted a forkful of beans to her mouth as if she had said nothing out of the ordinary。 She seemed to be telling everyone about the Black Ajah of late。
Domon gaped at her； then stared incredulously at Thom and Juilin as they settled back in their chairs。 When they nodded； he pushed his plate aside and put his head down on his arms。 He very nearly earned himself a thump from Nynaeve； if the way her mouth tightened was any indication； and Elayne would not have blamed her。 Why should he need them to confirm