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he painting on the sign gave the name an explicit interpretation。
The mon room was like every mon room he had seen in Lugard； wagon drivers and merchants' guards packed in with stablemen； farriers； laborers； every sort of man； all talking or laughing as loud as they could while drinking as much as they could； one hand for the cup and one to fondle the serving girls。 For that matter； it was not all that much different from mon rooms and taverns in many other towns； though most were considerably milder。 A buxom young woman； in a blouse that seemed about to fall off； capered and sang atop a table at one side of the room； to the supposed music of two flutes and a twelve…string bittern。
He had little ear for music； but he paused a moment to appreciate her song； she would have gone over well in any soldiers' camp he had ever seen。 But then； she would have been as popular if she could not sing a note。 Wearing that blouse； she would have found a husband in short order。
Joni and Barim were already there； Joni's size enough to grant them a table by themselves despite his thin hair and the bandage he still wore around his temples。 They were listening to the girl sing。 Or at least staring at her。 He touched each man on the shoulder and nodded toward the side door that led to the stableyard； where a sullen groom with a squint delivered their horses for three silver pennies。 A year or so earlier Bryne could have bought a fair horse for no more。 The troubles to the west and in Cairhien were playing havoc with trade and prices。
No one spoke until they passed the city gates and were on a seldom…traveled road winding north toward the River Storn； little more than a wide dirt track。 Then Barim said； 〃They was here yesterday； my Lord。〃
Bryne had learned that much himself。 Three pretty young women together； obvious outlanders； could not pass through a city like Lugard without being remarked。 By men； anyway。
〃Them and a fellow with shoulders；〃 Barim went on。 〃Sounds maybe like that Dalyn was with them when they burned down Nem's barn。 Anyway； whoever he is； they was at The Nine Horse Hitch for a bit； but all they did was drink some and leave。 That Domani girl the lads was telling me about； she nearly kicked up a fuss flashing her smile and swaying about； but then she calmed everything down again the same way。 Burn me； but I'd like to meet me a Domani woman。〃
〃Did you hear which way they went； Barim？〃 Bryne asked patiently。 He had not been able to learn that。
〃Uh； no； my Lord。 But I heard there's been plenty of Whitecloaks passing through； all heading west。 You think maybe old Pedron Niall's planning something？ Maybe in Altara？〃
〃That's not our business anymore； Barim。〃 Bryne knew his patience sounded a little frayed this time； but Barim was an old enough campaigner to stick to the matter at hand。
〃I know where they went； my Lord；〃 Joni said。 〃West； on the Jehannah Road； and pushing hard by what I heard。〃 He sounded troubled。 〃My Lord； I found two merchant's guards； lads who used to be in the Guards； and had a drink with them。 Happens they were in a stew called The Good Night's Ride when that girl Mara came in and asked for a job singing。 She didn't get it … didn't want to show her legs the way the singers in most of these places do； as who can blame her？ … and she left。 From what Barim told me； it was right after that they all set off west。 I don't like it； my Lord。 She isn't the kind of girl to want a job in a place like that。 I think she's trying to get away from that Dalyn fellow。〃
Strangely； despite the lump on his head； Joni had no animosity toward the three young women。 It was his opinion； often expressed since leaving the manor； that the girls were in some sort of predicament and needed to be rescued。 Bryne suspected that if he did catch up to the young women and take them back to his estate； Joni would be after him to turn them over to Joni's daughters to mother。
Barim had no such feelings。 〃Ghealdan。〃 He scowled。 〃Or maybe Altara； or Amadicia。 We'll kiss the Dark One getting them back。 Hardly seems worth the annoyance for a barn and some cows。〃
Bryne said nothing。 They had followed the girl this far； and Murandy was a bad place for Andormen； too many border troubles over too many years。 Only a fool would chase into Murandy after an oathbreaker's eyes。 How much bigger a fool to follow halfway across the world？
〃Those lads I talked to；〃 Joni said diffidently。 〃My Lord； it seems a lot of the old lads who … who served under you are being sent off。〃 Emboldened by Bryne's silence； he went on。 〃Lots of new fellows in。 Lots。 Those lads said at least four or five for everyone told he wasn't wanted anymore。 The sort that like to cause trouble more than stop it。 There's some calling themselves the White Lions who only answer to this Gaebril〃 … he spat to show what he thought of that…〃and a bunch more not part of the Guards at all。 Not House levies。 Near as they could say； Gaebril's got ten times as many men under arms as there are Guards； and they've all sworn to the throne of Andor； but not to the Queen。〃
〃That's no longer our business； either；〃 Bryne said curtly。 Barim had his tongue stuffed into his cheek； the way he always did when he knew something he either did not want to tell or was not sure was important enough。 〃What is it； Barim？ Out with it； man。〃
The leather…faced fellow stared at him in amazement。 Barim had never figured out how Bryne knew he was holding back。 〃Well； my Lord； some of the folks I talked to said some of those Whitecloaks yesterday was asking questions。 About a girl sounds like that Mara。 Wanted to know who she was； where she went。 Like that。 I heard they got real interested when they learned she was gone。 If they're after her； she could be hanged before we ever find her。 If they have to go to the trouble of chasing her down； they might not ask too many questions about whether she's really a Darkfriend。 Or whatever it is they're after her for。〃
Bryne frowned。 Whitecloaks？ What would the Children of the Light want with Mara？ He would never believe she was a Darkfriend。 But then； he had seen a baby…faced young fellow； hanged in Caemlyn； a Darkfriend who had been teaching children in the streets about the glories of the Dark One … the Great Lord of the Dark； he had called him。 The lad had killed nine of them in three years； as near as could be discovered； when they looked like turning him in。 No。 That girl is no Darkfriend； and I'll stake my life on it。 Whitecloaks were suspicious of everyone。 And if they took it into their heads that she had fled Lugard to avoid them。。。
He booted Traveler to a canter。 The big…nosed bay gelding was not flashy； but he had endurance； and courage。 The other two caught up soon enough； and they kept their mouths shut； seeing the mood he was in。
Two miles or so from Lugard； he turned off into a thicket of oak and leatherleaf。 The rest of his men had made a temporary camp here； in a clear space under thick； spreading oak limbs。 Several small； smokeless fires were burning； they would take any opportunity to brew up some tea。 Some were dozing； sleep was another t