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g to his scalp； down across a fan of dried blood that covered his cheek and stained one long white mustache。 A purple lump the size of a hen's egg stood out beside Juilin's eye； and he held his thumb…thick staff of pale ridged wood in a hand roughly wrapped with a bloody bandage。 That ridiculous conical red cap； sitting on the back of his head； appeared to have been trampled。
From the noises inside the canvas walls； the horse handlers were already at work cleaning cages； and no doubt Cerandin was with her s'redit … none of the men would go near them … but there was relatively little stir around the wagons as yet。 Petra was smoking his long…stemmed pipe while he helped Clarine prepare their breakfast。 Two of the Chavanas were studying some piece of apparatus with Muelin； the contortionist； while the other pair were chatting with two of the six female acrobats Luca had hired away from Sillia Cerano's show。 They claimed to be sisters named Murasaka； despite being even more disparate in looks and coloring than the Chavanas。 One of the pair lounging in colorful silk robes with Brugh and Taeric had blue eyes and almost white hair； the other skin nearly as dark as her eyes。 Everyone else was already garbed for the day's first performance； the men bare…chested in colorful breeches； Muelin in gauzy red and a tight matching vest； Clarine in high…necked green sequins。
Thom and Juilin attracted a few looks； but fortunately no one thought it necessary to e inquire after their health。 Perhaps it was the hangdog way they sat； shoulders slumped； eyes on the ground under their boots。 Doubtless they knew they were in for a tongue…lashing that would sear their hides。 Nynaeve certainly intended to give them one。
Elayne； though； gasped at the sight of them and went running to kneel beside Thom； all the anger of a moment before taking wing。 〃What happened？ Oh； Thom； your poor head。 That must hurt so。 This is beyond my abilities。 Nynaeve will take you inside and see to it。 Thom； you are too old to get yourself into scrapes like this。〃
Indignantly； he fended her off as best he could while holding his press in place。 〃Leave over； child。 I've had worse than this falling out of bed。 Will you leave over？〃
Nynaeve was not about to do any Healing； despite being angry enough。 She planted herself in front of Juilin； fists on her hips and a brook…no…nonsense； answer…me…right…now look on her face。 〃What do you mean； sneaking off without telling me？〃 As well to start letting Elayne know that she was not in charge。 〃If you had gotten your throat cut instead of a mouse on your eye； how would we know what had happened to you？ There was no reason for you to go。 None！ Finding a ship has been seen to。〃
Juilin glared up at her； shoving his cap forward over his forehead。 〃Seen to； is it？ Is that why the three of you have taken to stalking about like …？〃 He cut off as Thom groaned loudly and swayed。
Once the old gleeman had quieted Elayne's concerned flutters with protestations that it had just been a momentary pang； that he was fit to attend a ball … and given Juilin a significant glance he obviously hoped the women would not see … Nynaeve turned a dangerous eye back to the dark Tairen； to learn just what it was he thought they had been stalking about like。
〃A good thing we did go；〃 he told her instead in a tight voice。 〃Samara's a school of silverpike around a chunk of bloody meat。 There are mobs on every street hunting Darkfriends and anybody else who isn't ready to hail the Prophet as the one true voice of the Dragon Reborn。〃
〃It started three hours or so ago； near the river；〃 Thom put in； giving in with a sigh to Elayne's bathing his face with a damp cloth。 He appeared to be ignoring her mutters； which must have taken some doing； since Nynaeve could clearly hear 〃foolish old man〃 and 〃need someone to take care of you before you get yourself killed〃 among other things in a tone easily as exasperated as it was fond。 〃How it began； I don't know。 I heard Aes Sedai blamed； Whitecloaks； Trollocs； everybody but the Seanchan； and if they knew the name； they'd blame them； too。〃 He winced at Elayne's pressure。 〃The last hour we were a little too personally involved in getting clear to learn much。〃
〃There are fires；〃 Birgitte said。 Petra and his wife noticed her pointing and stood to stare worriedly。 Two dark plumes of smoke rose above the canvas wall in the direction of the town。
Juilin rose and looked Nynaeve in the eyes with a hard gaze。 〃It is time to go。 Maybe we'll stand out enough for Moghedien to find us； but I doubt it； there are people running every direction they can run。 In another two hours； it won't be a pair of fires； it will be fifty； and avoiding her won't do much good if we're torn to pieces by a mob。 They'll turn to the shows once they have smashed what can be smashed in the town。〃
〃Don't use that name；〃 Nynaeve said sharply； with a frown for Elayne that the younger woman did not see。 Letting men know too much was always a mistake。 The trouble was； he was right； but letting a man know that too quickly was a mistake； too。 〃I will consider your suggestion； Juilin。 I would hate to run away for no reason； and then learn that a ship had e right after we left。〃 He stared at her as if she were mad； and Thom shook his head despite Elayne's holding it still for her washing； but a figure making his way through the wagons brightened Nynaeve。 〃Perhaps it's e already。〃
Uno's painted eyepatch and scarred face； his topknot and the sword on his back； attracted casual nods from Petra and the various Chavanas and one shiver from Muelin。 He had made each of the evening visits himself； though with nothing to report。 His presence now had to mean there was something。
As usual he grinned at Birgitte as soon as he saw her； and rolled his lone eye in an ostentatious stare at her exposed bosom； and as usual she grinned back and eyed him up and down lazily。 For once； though； Nynaeve did not care how reprehensibly they behaved。 〃Is there a ship？〃
Uno's grin faded。 〃There's a bloo… a ship；〃 he said grimly； 〃if I can get you to it whole。〃
〃We know all about the rioting。 Surely fifteen Shienarans can get us safely through。〃
〃You know about the rioting；〃 he muttered； eyeing Thom and Juilin。 〃Do you fla… do you know Masema's people are fighting Whitecloaks in the streets？ Do you know he's bloo… he's ordered his people to take Amadicia with fire and sword？ There are thousands across the blo… aagh！ … the river already。〃
〃That's as may be；〃 Nynaeve said firmly； 〃but I expect you to do as you said you would。 You promised to obey me； if you recall。〃 She put just a slight emphasis on the word； and gave Elayne a meaning look。
Pretending not to see； the woman stood； bloodied washcloth in her hand； and directed her attention to Uno。 〃I have always been told that Shienarans are among the bravest soldiers in the world。〃 That razor edge to her voice had suddenly bee regal silk and honey。 〃I heard many stories of Shienaran bravery when I was a child。〃 She rested a hand on Thom's shoulder； but her eyes remained on Uno。 〃I remember them still。 I hope I shall