Thom frowned as if considering it； but in the end he shook his head firmly。 〃Boy； I like you well enough； but you know as well as I do that I only helped before because there was an Aes Sedai mixed in it。 Seaghan doesn't try to cheat me more than I expect； and with the King's Gift added in； I could never earn as much in the villages。 To my very great surprise； Dena seems to love me； and … as much a surprise … I return the feeling。 Now； why should I leave that to go be chased by Trollocs and Darkfriends？ The Horn of Valere？ Oh； it is a temptation； I'll admit； but no。 No； I will not get mixed up in it again。〃
He leaned over to pick up one of the wooden instrument cases； long and narrow。 When he opened it； a flute lay inside； plainly made but mounted with silver。 He closed it again and slid it across the table。 〃You might need to earn your supper again someday； boy。〃
〃I might at that；〃 Rand said。 〃At least we can talk。 I will be in … 〃
The gleeman was shaking his head。 〃A clean break is best； boy。 If you're always ing around； even if you never mention it； I won't be able to get the Horn out of my head。 And I won't be tangled in it。 I won't。〃
After Rand left； Thom threw his cloak on the bed and sat with his elbows on the table。 The Horn of Valere。 How did that farmboy find 。。。 He shut off that line of thought。 Think about the Horn too long； and he would find himself running off with Rand to carry it to Shienar。 That would make a story； carrying the Horn of Valere to the Borderlands with Trollocs and Darkfriends pursuing。 Scowling； he reminded himself of Dena。 Even if she had not loved him； talent such as hers was not to be found every day。 And she did love； even if he could not begin to imagine why。
〃Old fool；〃 he muttered。
〃Aye； an old fool；〃 Zera said from the door。 He gave a start； he had been so absorbed in his thoughts that he had not heard the door open。 He had known Zera for years； off and on in his wanderings； and she always took full advantage of the friendship to speak her mind。 〃An old fool who's playing the Game of Houses again。 Unless my ears are failing； that young lord has the sound of Andor on his tongue。 He's no Cairhienin； that's for certain sure。 Daes Dae'mar is dangerous enough without letting an outland lord mix you in his schemes。〃
Thom blinked； then considered the way Rand had looked。 That coat had surely been fine enough for a lord。 He was growing old； letting things like that slip by him。 Ruefully； he realized he was considering whether to tell Zera the truth or let her continue thinking as she did。 All it takes is to think about the Great Game； and I start playing it。 〃The boy is a shepherd； Zera； from the Two Rivers。〃
She laughed scornfully。 〃And I'm the Queen of Ghealdan。 I tell you； the Game has grown dangerous in Cairhien the last few years。 Nothing like what you knew in Caemlyn。 There are murders done； now。 You'll have your throat cut for you； if you don't watch out。〃
〃I tell you； I am not in the Great Game any longer。 That's all twenty years in the past； near enough。〃
〃Aye。〃 She did not sound as if she believed it。 〃But be that as it may； and young outland lords aside； you've begun performing at the lords' manors。〃
〃They pay well。〃
〃And they'll pull you into their plots as soon as they see how。 They see a man； and think how to use him； as naturally as breathing。 This young lord of yours won't help you； they will eat him alive。〃
He gave up on trying to convince her he was out of it。 〃Is that what you came up to say； Zera？〃
〃Aye。 Forget playing the Great Game； Thom。 Marry Dena。 She'll take you； the more fool her； bony and white…haired as you are。 Marry her； and forget this young lord and Daes Dae'mar。〃
〃I thank you for the advice；〃 he said dryly。 Marry her？ Burden her with an old husband。 She'll never be a bard with my past hanging around her neck。 〃If you don't mind； Zera； I want to be alone for a while。 I perform for Lady Arilyn and her guests tonight； and I need to prepare。〃
She gave him a snort and a shake of her head and banged the door shut behind her。
Thom drummed his fingers on the table。 Coat or no coat； Rand was still only a shepherd。 If he had been more； if he had been what Thom once suspected … a man who could channel … neither Moiraine nor any other Aes Sedai would ever have let him walk away ungentled。 Horn or no Horn； the boy was only a shepherd。
〃He is out of it；〃 he said aloud； 〃and so am I。〃
Chapter 27
（Horned Skull）
The Shadow in the Night
〃I do not understand it；〃 Loial said。 〃I was winning； most of the time。 And then Dena came in and joined the game； and she won it all right back。 Every toss。 She called it a little lesson。 What did she mean by that？〃
Rand and the Ogier were making their way through the Foregate； The Bunch of Grapes behind them。 The sun sat low in the west； a red ball half below the horizon； throwing long shadows behind them。 The street was empty save for one of the big puppets； a goat…horned Trolloc with a sword at its belt； ing toward them with five men working the poles； but sounds of merriment drifted still from other parts of the Foregate； where the halls of entertainment and the taverns stood。 Here； doors were already barred and windows shuttered。
Rand stopped fingering the wooden flute case and slung it on his back。 I suppose I couldn't expect him to throw over everything and e with me； but at least he could talk to me。 Light； I wish Ingtar would show up。 He stuffed his hands in his pockets and felt Selene's note。
〃You don't suppose she 。。。〃 Loial paused unfortably。 〃You don't suppose she cheated； do you？ Everybody was grinning as if she were doing something clever。〃
Rand shrugged at his cloak。 I have to take the Horn and go。 If we wait for Ingtar； anything can happen。 Fain will e sooner or later。 I have to stay ahead of him。 The men with the puppet were almost to them。
〃Rand；〃 Loial said suddenly； 〃I don't think that's a …〃
Abruptly the men let their poles clatter to the packed dirt street； instead of collapsing； the Trolloc leaped for Rand with outstretched hands。
There was no time to think。 Instinct brought the sword out of its sheath in a flashing arc。 The Moon Rises Over the Lakes。 The Trolloc staggered back with a bubbling cry； snarling even as it fell。
For an instant everyone stood frozen。 Then the men … the Darkfriends； they had to be … looked from the Trolloc lying in the street to Rand； with the sword in his hands and Loial at his side。 They turned and ran。
Rand was staring at the Trolloc； too。 The void had surrounded him before his hand touched hilt； saidin shone in his mind； beckoning； sickening。 With an effort； he made the void vanish； and licked his lips。 Without the emptiness； fear crawled on his skin。
〃Loial； we have to get back to the inn。 Hurin's alone； and they…〃 He grunted as he was lifted into the air by a thick arm long enough to pin both of his to his chest。 A hairy hand grabbed his throat。 He caught sight of a tusked snout just over his head。 A rank smell filled his nose； equal parts sour sweat and pigsty。
As quickly as it had seized him； the hand at his throat was torn away。 Stunned； Rand stared at it； at the thick Ogier fingers clutching the Trolloc's wrist。
〃Hold on； Rand。〃 Loial's voice sounded strained。 The Ogier's other hand came around and took hold of the arm still holding Rand above the ground。 〃Hold on。〃
Rand was shaken from side to side as Ogier and Trolloc struggled。 Abruptly he fell free。 Staggering； he took two steps to get clear and turned back with sword raised。
Standing behind the boar…snouted Trolloc； Loial had it by wrist and forearm； holding its arms spread wide； breathing hard with the effort。 The Trolloc snarled gutturally in the harsh Trolloc tongue； throwing its head back in efforts to catch Loial with a tusk。 Their boots scuffled across the dirt of the street。
Rand tried to find a place to put his blade in the Trolloc without hurting Loial； but Ogier and Trolloc spun in their rough dance so much that he could find no opening。