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llow tree without finding out what's inside first。'〃
〃A wise woman； Lini；〃 Nynaeve said。 〃We may learn more if I see another bunch of yellow flowers hanging upside down； but until then I think we should behave as though the Black Ajah itself has control of the Tower。〃
〃Mistress Macura will have sent off another pigeon to Narenwin by now。 With descriptions of this coach； and the dresses we took； and most likely Thom and Juilin； too。〃
〃It cannot be helped。 This would not have happened if we hadn't dawdled across Tarabon。 We should have taken ship。〃 Elayne gaped at her accusatory tone； and Nynaeve had the grace to blush again。 〃Well； done is done。 Moiraine knows Siuan Sanche。 Perhaps Egwene can ask her if …〃
Abruptly the coach lurched to a halt； throwing Elayne forward on top of Nynaeve。 She could hear horses screaming and thrashing as she frantically untangled herself； Nynaeve pushing her off as well。
Embracing saidar； she put her head out of the window … and released it again in relief。 Here was something of a sort that she had seen pass through Caemlyn more than once。 A traveling menagerie was camped amid afternoon shadows in a large clearing by the side of the road。 A great； black…maned lion lay half…asleep in one cage that took up the entire back of a wagon； while his two consorts paced in the confines of another。 A third cage stood open； in front of it a woman was making two black bears with white faces balance themselves on big red balls。 Another cage held what appeared to be a large； hairy boar； except that its snout was too pointed and it had toes with claws； that came from the Aiel Waste； she knew； and was called a capar。 Other cages held other animals； and brightly colored birds； but unlike any menagerie she had ever seen； this one traveled with human performers： two men were juggling ribbon…twined hoops between them； four acrobats were practicing standing on one another's shoulders in a tall column； and a woman was feeding a dozen dogs that walked on their hind legs and did backflips for her。 In the background； some other men were putting up two tall poles； she had no idea what they were for。
None of that was what had the horses rearing in their harness and rolling their eyes； though； despite all that Thom could do with the reins。 She could smell the lions herself； but it was at three huge； wrinkled gray animals that the horses gazed； wild…eyed。 Two were as tall as the coach； with big ears and great curving tusks beside a long nose that dangled to the ground。 The third； shorter than the horses if likely as heavy； had no tusks。 A baby； she supposed。 A woman with pale yellow hair was scratching that one behind the ear with a heavy； hooked goad。 Elayne had seen creatures like this before； too。 And had never expected to see them again。
A tall； dark…haired man strode out of the camp； of all things in this heat wearing a red silk cloak that he flourished as he made an elegant bow。 He was good…looking； with a well…turned leg； and very much aware of both things。 〃Forgive me； my Lady； if the giant boar…horses frightened your animals。〃 As he straightened； he beckoned two of his men to help quiet the horses； then paused； staring at her； and murmured； 〃Be still； my heart。〃 It was just loud enough for Elayne to be sure she was supposed to hear。 〃I am Valan Luca； my Lady； showman extraordinary。 Your presence overwhelms me。〃 He made another bow； even more elaborate than the first。
Elayne shared a look with Nynaeve； catching the same amused smile that she knew she herself wore。 A man very full of himself； this Valan Luca。 His men did seem to be very good at soothing the horses； they still snorted and stamped； but their eyes were not so wide as they had been。 Thom and Juilin were staring at the strange animals almost as hard as the horses were。
〃Boar…horses； Master Luca？〃 Elayne said。 〃Where do they e from？〃
〃Giant boar…horses； my Lady〃 was the ready reply； 〃from fabled Shara； where I myself led an expedition into a wilderness full of strange civilizations and stranger sights to trap them。 It would fascinate me to tell you of them。 Gigantic people twice the size of Ogier。〃 He made grand gestures to illustrate。 〃Beings with no heads。 Birds big enough to carry off a full…grown bull。 Snakes that can swallow a man。 Cities made of solid gold。 Descend； my Lady； and let me tell you。〃
Elayne had no doubt that Luca would fascinate himself with his own tales； but she certainly doubted that those animals came from Shara。 For one thing； even the Sea Folk saw no more of Shara than the walled ports they were confined to； any who went beyond the walls were never seen again。 The Aiel knew little more。 For another； she and Nynaeve had both seen creatures like these in Falme； during the Seanchan invasion。 The Seanchan used them for work animals； and for war。
〃I think not； Master Luca；〃 she told him。
〃Then let us perform for you；〃 he said quickly。 〃As you can see； this is no ordinary wandering menagerie； but something entirely new。 A private performance。 Tumblers； jugglers； trained animals； the strongest man in the world。 Even fireworks。 We have an Illuminator with us。 We are on our way to Ghealdan； and tomorrow we will be gone on the wind。 But for a pittance …〃
〃My mistress said she thinks not；〃 Nynaeve broke in。 〃She has better things to spend her money on than looking at animals。〃 In fact； she herself kept a tight fist on all their coin； reluctantly doling out what they needed。 She seemed to think everything should cost what it had back in her Two Rivers。
〃Why would you want to go to Ghealdan； Master Luca？〃 Elayne asked。 The other woman did make rough spots and leave them to her to smooth over。 〃I hear there is a great deal of trouble there。 I hear the army has not been able to suppress this man called the Prophet； with his preaching of the Dragon Reborn。 Surely you do not want to travel into riots。〃
〃Greatly exaggerated； my Lady。 Greatly exaggerated。 Where there are crowds； people want to be entertained。 And where people want to be entertained； my show is always wele。〃 Luca hesitated； then stepped closer to the coach。 An embarrassed look crossed his face as he gazed up into Elayne's eyes。 〃My Lady； the truth of the matter is that you would do me a very great favor by allowing me to perform for you。 The fact is that one of the boar…horses caused a little trouble in the next town up the road。 It was an accident；〃 he added hastily； 〃I assure you。 They are gentle creatures。 Not dangerous at all。 But not only are the people of Sienda unwilling to let me put on a show； or even e to one here。。。 Well； it took all of my coin to pay for the damages； and the fines。〃 He winced。 〃Especially the fines。 If you allowed me to entertain you … for a trifle； truly … I would name you as patroness of my show wherever we go across the world； spreading the fame of your generosity； my Lady。。。？〃
〃Morelin；〃 she said。 〃The Lady Morelin of House Samared。〃 With her new hair； she could pass for Cairhienin。 She had no time to see his show； as much as she would have enjoyed it another time； and she told him so； adding； 〃But I will help you a little； if