Chapter 28 - A Cluster of Rosebuds

Summary

梅特·考顿随着瓦兰·卢卡的巡回剧团一路向北，在连绵不断的冬雨中艰难前行。他对缓慢的行进速度感到沮丧，同时时刻担忧着真龙转生者巡逻队和马匹悬赏令的威胁。他观察到随行的艾伊尔人和苏达姆之间紧张的关系，注意到她们试图在保持低调的同时搜集情报。梅特进入图恩所在的马车拜访她，带来礼物并玩石子游戏以安抚她的情绪，却从埃加宁那里得知，在逃亡过程中他意外地承诺成为她的丈夫。尽管内心惊慌失措，他仍继续每晚去探望图恩并与她傍晚散步，而图恩则始终保持安静且敏锐的观察。在穿越科拉门的埃尔达河并在胡拉多尔表演之后，梅特终于同意完成婚礼仪式；图恩的微笑瞬间让他脑海中警告的骰子停止了转动。

Characters

• Mat — 在应对焦虑的同时，勉强跟上卢卡的节目节奏，这种焦虑源于谢恩人的巡逻以及一桩意外的婚姻誓言。最终，当一抹微笑瞬间平息了内心的警告声后，她同意完成仪式。
• Valan Luca — 带领巡回演出队向北行进，注重利润与排场，抱怨开支，并坚持在每一个定居点停留，尽管 Mat 催促不已。
• Chel Vanin — 库克斯在雨中炖煮食物，同时展示了他作为铁匠、追踪者和马贼的技能，并悲观地预测了他们缓慢的进展。
• Gorderan — 将帐篷桩打入泥中，并警告费尔金不要雇佣马匹管理员，以免装备被盗。
• Fergin — 抱怨在雨中看守女性，不小心用锤子砸到了拇指，并了解到她们为何必须自己搭帐篷。
• Harnan — 与戈德兰和梅特温共用一顶帐篷，随后在夜间出现报告外围平静，同时与愤怒的埃吉安宁保持距离。
• Metwyn — 在缓慢的北方行军期间，与哈南、戈德兰和瓦宁共用一顶帐篷。
• Noal / Noal Charin — 向马特提出为除掉图恩，但遭到坚决拒绝；后来在与奥弗玩耍时吟诵了一段关于命运与渡鸦的龙语预言诗句。
• Blaeric — 当马特靠近艾伊萨德的马车时，他裹着毯子坐起身来，默默观察着车内紧张的对峙局面，一言不发。
• Fen — Remains wrapped in blankets near Blaeric, watching Mat enter the wagon without speaking or reacting to the storm outside.
• Edesina / Edesina Sedai — Confronts Mat about sending watchdogs after her group, asserts independence from his orders, and maintains a tense alliance with the sul’dam.
• Bethamin — Acts as the de facto leader among the sul’dam, calmly reports Seanchan rumors of an eastern campaign toward Illian, and enforces strict protocols on her companions.
• Seta — Eagerly offers to eavesdrop in towns for Mat, curtsies obsequiously, and trails the Aes Sedai to monitor them while gathering intelligence.
• Renna — Suggests using an a’dam to confine the Aes Sedai, bows formally to Mat, and works alongside Seta to gather intelligence for their captor.
• Teslyn / Teslyn Sedai — Relays military rumors about Seanchan targeting Illian, displays lingering fear of the sul’dam, and maintains a grateful but formal demeanor toward Mat.
• Joline / Joline Maza — Maintains haughty Aes Sedai serenity while glaring at the sul’dam and Mat, refusing to acknowledge the Seanchan women as beneath her notice.
• Thorn / Thorn Merrilin — Reports intelligence gathered from taverns about a powerful new ally for Suroth and an impending Seanchan hammer-blow on Illian, growing sadder as Juilin becomes happier.
• Juilin / Juilin Sandar — Delivers intelligence over mulled wine while caring for Thera, bridling at any suggestion that she might be unreliable to Seanchan interrogators.
• Thera — Huddles beside Juilin in their tent, displaying a submissive tendency to kneel at drawling accents that Mat fears would compromise her cover.
• Lopin — Sits cross-legged in Mat’s tent, examining his coats for repairs while Thorn reports intelligence and the group discusses their route.
• Nerim — Assists Lopin in inspecting Mat’s clothing for necessary mending during their northern journey, remaining quietly focused on his task.
• Domon — Insists on flipping a coin with Mat for sleeping arrangements, fiercely defending Egeanin’s pride when she refuses to visit Tuon alone.
• Egeanin / Leilwin — Learns from Mat that he accidentally pledged himself as her husband, reacts with stoic fury to being forced into the role of a shea dancer, and throws away the expensive necklace Tuon gave her.
• Tuon / Tuon Athaem Kore Paendrag — Plays stones with Mat while deflecting personal questions, accepts gifts through Selucia, and quietly agrees to evening walks before finally smiling to silence his panic over their marriage.
• Selucia — Enforces strict Seanchan protocol, sneers at Mat’s gifts, and commands Egeanin to wear the necklace while maintaining a protective distance from her mistress.
• Setalle — Watches Mat closely, warns him against lounging near their wagon, and maintains an uneasy alliance with Selucia while traveling as Tuon’s companion.
• Olver — Plays Snakes and Foxes with Tuon, excitedly shares lore about the Ayyad from Noal, and carefully learns to curtsy before departing for bed.
• Pips — Carries Mat across the Eldar River ferry while he anxiously watches Tuon’s purple wagon disembark, appearing ordinary enough to avoid suspicion.
• Mistress Anan — Mentioned by Tuon as having called Mat a scoundrel, highlighting his notorious reputation among her people and the reach of Seanchan gossip.
• Suroth — Referenced in rumors that she has secured an alliance with a powerful king to gain access to vast new lands for the Seanchan Empire.