n Cairhien？ Why had an Andoran lord taken him； a gleeman； aside？ Too many questions。 He was not sure his answers had been clever enough。 His reflexes for the Great Game were rusty。
Before turning toward The Bunch of Grapes； he had gone to The Great Tree； it was not difficult to find where someone was staying in Cairhien； if you pressed a palm or two with silver。 He was still not sure what he had intended to say。 Rand was gone with his friends； and the Aes Sedai。 It left a feeling of something not done。 The boy's on his own； now。 Burn me； I'm out of it！
He strode through the mon room； empty as it seldom was； and took the steps two at a time。 At least； he tried to； his right leg did not bend well； and he nearly fell。 Muttering to himself； he climbed the rest of the way at a slower pace； and opened the door to his room softly； so as not to wake Dena。
Despite himself； he smiled when he saw her lying on the bed with her face turned to the wall； still in her dress。 Fell asleep waiting for me。 Fool girl。 But it was a kindly thought； he was not sure there was anything she would do that he would not forgive or excuse。 Deciding on the spur of the moment that tonight was the night he'd let her perform for the first time； he lowered his harp case to the floor and put a hand on her shoulder； to wake her and tell her。
She rolled limply onto her back； staring up at him； glazed eyes open wide above the gash across her throat。 The side of the bed that had been hidden by her body was dark and sodden。
Thom's stomach heaved； if his throat had not been so tight he could not breathe； he would have vomited； or screamed； or both。
He had only the creaking of wardrobe doors for warning。 He spun； knives ing out of his sleeves and leaving his hands in the same motion。 The first blade took the throat of a fat； balding man with a dagger in his hand； the man stumbled back； blood bubbling around his clutching fingers as he tried to cry out。
Spinning on his bad leg threw Thom's other blade off； though； the knife stuck in the right shoulder of a heavily muscled man with scars on his face； who was climbing out of the other wardrobe。 The big man's knife dropped from a hand that suddenly would not do what he wanted； and he lumbered for the door。
Before he could take a second step； Thom produced another knife and slashed him across the back of his leg。 The big man yelled and stumbled； and Thom seized a handful of greasy hair； slamming his face against the wall beside the door； the man screamed again as the knife hilt sticking out of his shoulder hit the door。
Thom thrust the blade in his hand to within an inch of the man's dark eye。 The scars on the big man's face gave him a hard look； but he stared at the point without blinking and did not move a muscle。 The fat man； lying half in the wardrobe； kicked a last kick and was still。
〃Before I kill you；〃 Thom said； 〃tell me。 Why？〃 His voice was quiet； numb； he felt numb inside。
〃The Great Game；〃 the man said quickly。 His accent was of the streets； and his clothes as well； but they were a shade too fine； too unworn； he had more coin to spend than any Foregater should。 〃Nothing against you personal； you see？ It is just the Game。〃
〃The Game？ I'm not mixed up in Daes Dae'mar！ Who would want to kill me for the Great Game？〃 The man hesitated。 Thom moved his blade closer。 If the fellow blinked； his eyelashes would brush the point。 〃Who？〃
〃Barthanes；〃 came the hoarse answer。 〃Lord Barthanes。 We would not have killed you。 Barthanes wants information。 We just wanted to find out what you know。 There can be gold in it for you。 A nice； fat golden crown for what you know。 Maybe two。〃
〃Liar！ I was in Barthanes's manor last night； as close to him as I am to you。 If he wanted anything of me； I'd never have left alive。〃
〃I tell you； we have been looking for you； or anyone who knows about this Andoran lord； for days。 I never heard your name until last night； downstairs。 Lord Barthanes is generous。 It could be five crowns。〃
The man tried to pull his head away from the knife in Thom's hand； and Thom pushed him harder against the wall。 〃What Andoran lord？〃 But he knew。 The Light help him； he knew。
〃Rand。 Of House al'Thor。 Tall。 Young。 A blademaster； or at least he wears the sword。 I know he came to see you。 Him and an Ogier； and you talked。 Tell me what you know。 I might even throw in a crown or two； myself。〃
〃You fool；〃 Thom breathed。 Dena died for this？ Oh； Light； she's dead。 He felt as if he wanted to cry。 〃The boy's a shepherd。〃 A shepherd in a fancy coat； with Aes Sedai around him like bees around honeyroses。 〃Just a shepherd。〃 He tightened his grip in the man's hair。
〃Wait！ Wait！ You can make more than any five crowns； or even ten。 A hundred； more like。 Every House wants to know about this Rand al'Thor。 Two or three have approached me。 With what you know； and my knowing who wants to know it； we could both fill our pockets。 And there has been a woman； a lady； I have seen more than once while asking after him。 If we can find out who she is 。。。 why； we could sell that； too。〃
〃You've made one real mistake in it all；〃 Thom said。
〃Mistake？〃 The man's far hand was beginning to slide down toward his belt。 No doubt he had another dagger there。 Thom ignored it。
〃You should never have touched the girl。〃
The man's hand darted for his belt； then he gave one convulsive start as Thom's knife went home。
Thom let him fall over away from the door and stood a moment before bending tiredly to tug his blades free。 The door banged open； and he whirled with a snarl on his face。
Zera jerked back； a hand to her throat； staring at him。 〃That fool Ella just told me；〃 she said unsteadily； 〃that two of Barthanes's men were asking after you last night； and with what I've heard this morning 。。。 I thought you said you didn't play in the Game anymore。〃
〃They found me；〃 he said wearily。
Her eyes dropped from his face and widened as they took in the bodies of the two men。 Hastily she stepped into the room； shutting the door behind her。 〃This is bad； Thom。 You'll have to leave Cairhien。〃 Her gaze fell on the bed； and her breath caught。 〃Oh； no。 Oh； no。 Oh； Thom； I'm so sorry。〃〃I cannot leave yet； Zera。〃 He hesitated； then tenderly drew a blanket over Dena； covering her face。 〃I have another man to kill； first。〃
The innkeeper gave herself a shake and pulled her eyes away from the bed。 Her voice was more than a little breathy。 〃If you mean Barthanes； you're too late。 Everybody's talking about it already。 He is dead。 His servants found him this morning； torn to pieces in his bedchamber。 The only way they knew it was him was his head stuck on a spike over the fireplace。〃 She laid a hand on his arm。 〃Thom； you can't hide that you were there last night； not from anybody who wants to know。 Add these two in； and there's nobody in Cairhien who won't believe you were involved。〃 There was a slight questioning note in her last words； as if she； too； were wondering。
〃It doesn't matter； I suppose；〃 he said dully。 He could not stop looking down at the blanket…covered shape on the bed。 〃Perhaps I will go back to Andor。 To Caemlyn。〃
She took his shoulders； turning him away from the bed。 〃You men；〃 she sighed； 〃always thinking with either your muscles or your hearts； and never your heads。 Caemlyn is as bad as Cairhien； for you。 Either place； you'll end up dead； or in prison。 Do you think she'd want that？ If you want to honor her memory； stay alive。〃
〃Will you take care of 。。。〃 He could not say it。 Growing old； he thought。 Going soft。 He pulled the heavy purse from his pocket and folded her hands around it。 〃This should take care of 。。。 everything。 And help when they start asking questions about me； too。〃
〃I will see to everything；〃 she said gently。 〃You must go； Thom。 Now。〃
He nodded reluctantly； and slowly began stuffing a few things in a set of saddlebags。 While he worked； Zera got her first close look at the fat man sprawled partway in the wardrobe； and she gave a loud gasp。 He looked at her inquiringly； as long as he had known her；