rj.thegreathunt-第127部分

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on　the　other　side。　She　was　relieved　there　was　no　need　for　urging；　the　other　two　watched　the　linked　women　go　as　warily　as　she。　〃Since　we　don't　have　an　army；　the　three　of　us　will　have　to　do　it。　I　hope　one　of　you　can　think　of　something　I　haven't；　I've　wracked　my　brains；　and　I　always　stumble　when　it　es　to　the　a'dam；　the　leash　and　collar。　Sul'dam　don't　like　anyone　watching　too　closely　when　they　open　them。　I　think　I　can　get　you　inside；　if　that　will　help。　One　of　you；　anyway。　They　think　of　me　as　a　servant；　but　servants　may　have　visitors；　as　long　as　they　keep　to　the　servants'　quarters。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　wore　a　thoughtful　frown；　but　her　face　cleared　almost　immediately；　taking　on　a　purposeful　look。　〃Don't　you　worry；　Min。　I　have　a　few　ideas。　I　have　not　spent　my　time　here　idly。　You　take　me　to　this　man。　If　he　is　any　harder　to　handle　than　the　Village　Council　with　their　backs　up；　I　will　eat　this　coat。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　nodded；　grinning；　and　Min　felt　the　first　real　hope　she　had　had　since　arriving　in　Falme。　For　an　instant　Min　found　herself　reading　the　auras　of　the　other　two　women。　There　was　danger；　but　that　was　to　be　expected　…　and　new　things；　too；　among　the　images　she　had　seen　before；　it　was　like　that；　sometimes。　A　man's　ring　of　heavy　gold　floated　above　Nynaeve's　head；　and　above　Elayne's；　a　red…hot　iron　and　an　axe。　They　meant　trouble；　she　was　sure；　but　it　seemed　distant；　somewhere　in　the　future。　Only　for　a　moment　did　the　reading　last；　and　then　all　she　saw　was　Elayne　and　Nynaeve；　watching　her　expectantly。
　　　　　　　〃It's　down　near　the　harbor；〃　she　said。
　　　　　　　The　sloping　street　became　more　crowded　the　further　down　they　went。　Street　peddlers　rubbed　elbows　with　merchants　who　had　brought　wagons　in　from　the　inland　villages　and　would　not　go　out　again　until　winter　had　e　and　gone；　hawkers　with　their　trays　called　to　the　passersby；　Falmen　in　embroidered　cloaks　brushed　past　farm　families　in　heavy　fleece　coats。　Many　people　had　fled　here　from　villages　further　from　the　coast。　Min　saw　no　point　to　it…they　had　leaped　from　the　possibility　of　a　visit　from　the　Seanchan　to　the　certainty　of　Seanchan　all　around　them…but　she　had　heard　what　the　Seanchan　did　when　they　first　came　to　a　village；　and　she　could　not　blame　the　villagers　too　much　for　fearing　another　appearance。　Everyone　bowed　when　Seanchan　walked　past　or　a　curtained　palanquin　was　carried　by　up　the　steep　street。
　　　　　　　Min　was　glad　to　see　Nynaeve　and　Elayne　knew　about　the　bowing。　Bare…chested　bearers　paid　no　more　mind　to　the　people　who　bent　themselves　than　did　arrogant；　armored　soldiers；　but　failure　to　bow　would　surely　catch　their　eyes。
　　　　　　　They　talked　a　little　as　they　moved　down　the　street；　and　she　was　surprised　at　first　to　learn　they　had　been　in　the　town　only　a　few　days　less　than　Egwene　and　herself。　After　a　moment；　though；　she　decided　it　was　no　wonder　they　had　not　met　earlier；　not　with　the　crowds　in　the　streets。　She　had　been　reluctant　to　spend　time　further　from　Egwene　than　was　necessary；　there　was　always　the　fear　that　she　would　go　for　her　allowed　visit　and　find　Egwene　gone。　And　now　she　will　be。　Unless　Nynaeve　can　think　of　something。
　　　　　　　The　smell　of　salt　and　pitch　grew　heavy　in　the　air；　and　gulls　cried；　wheeling　overhead。　Sailors　appeared　in　the　throng；　many　still　barefoot　despite　the　cold。
　　　　　　　The　inn　had　been　hastily　renamed　The　Three　Plum　Blossoms；　but　part　of　the　word　〃Watcher〃　still　showed　through　the　slapdash　paint　work　on　the　sign。　Despite　the　crowds　outside；　the　mon　room　was　little　more　than　half　full；　prices　were　too　high　for　many　people　to　afford　time　sitting　over　ale。　Roaring　fires　on　hearths　at　either　end　of　the　room　warmed　it；　and　the　fat　innkeeper　was　in　his　shirtsleeves。　He　eyed　the　three　women；　frowning；　and　Min　thought　it　was　her　Seanchan　dress　that　stopped　him　from　telling　them　to　leave。　Nynaeve　and　Elayne；　in　their　farm　women's　coats；　certainly　did　not　look　as　if　they　had　money　to　spend。
　　　　　　　The　man　she　was　looking　for　was　alone　at　a　table　in　a　corner；　in　his　accustomed　place；　muttering　into　his　wine。　〃Do　you　have　time　to　talk；　Captain　Domon？〃　she　said。
　　　　　　　He　looked　up；　brushing　a　hand　across　his　beard　when　he　saw　she　was　not　alone。　She　still　thought　his　bare　upper　lip　looked　odd　with　the　beard。　〃So　you　do　bring　friends　to　drink　up　my　coin；　do　you？　Well；　that　Seanchan　lord　bought　my　cargo；　so　coin　I　have。　Sit。〃　Elayne　jumped　as　he　suddenly　bellowed；　〃Innkeeper！　Mulled　wine　here！〃
　　　　　　　〃It's　all　right；〃　Min　told　her；　taking　a　place　on　the　end　of　one　of　the　benches　at　the　table。　〃He　only　looks　and　sounds　like　a　bear。〃　Elayne　sat　down　on　the　other　end；　looking　doubtful。
　　　　　　　〃A　bear；　do　I　be？〃　Domon　laughed。　〃Maybe　I　do。　But　what　of　you；　girl？　Have　you　given　over　thought　of　leaving？　That　dress　do　look　Seanchan　to　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃Never！〃　Min　said　fiercely；　but　the　appearance　of　a　serving　girl　with　the　steaming；　spiced　wine　made　her　fall　silent。
　　　　　　　Domon　was　just　as　wary。　He　waited　until　the　girl　had　gone　with　his　coins　before　saying；　〃Fortune　prick　me；　girl；　I　mean　no　offense。　Most　people　only　want　to　go　on　with　their　lives；　whether　their　lords　be　Seanchan　or　any　other。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　leaned　her　forearms　on　the　table。　〃We　also　want　to　go　on　with　our　lives；　Captain；　but　without　any　Seanchan。　I　understand　you　intend　to　sail　soon。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　would　sail　today；　if　I　could；〃　Domon　said　glumly。　〃Every　two　or　three　days　that　Turak　do　send　for　me　to　tell　him　tales　of　the　old　things　I　have　seen。　Do　I　look　a　gleeman　to　you？　I　did　think　I　could　spin　a　tale　or　two　and　be　on　my　way；　but　now　I　think　when　I　no　entertain　him　any　longer；　it　be　an　even　wager　whether　he　do　let　me　go　or　have　my　head　cut　off。　The　man　do　look　soft；　but　he　be　as　hard　as　iron；　and　as　coldhearted。〃
　　　　　　　〃Can　your　ship　avoid　the　Seanchan？〃　Nynaeve　asked。
　　　　　　　〃Fortune　prick　me；　could　I　make　it　out　of　the　harbor　without　a　damane　rips　Spray　to　splinters；　I　can。　If　I　do　no　let　a　Seanchan　ship　with　a　damane　e　too　close　once　I　do　make　the　sea。　There　be　shoal　waters　all　along　this　coast；　and　Spray　do　have　a　shallow　draft。　I　can　take　her　into　waters　those　lumbering　Seanchan　hulks　can　no　risk。　They　must　be　wary　of　the　winds　close　inshore　this　time　of　year；　and　once　I　do　have　Spray　…〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　cut　him　off。　〃Then　we　will　take　passage　with　you；　Captain。　There　will　be　four　of　us；　and　I　will　expect　you　to　be　ready　to　sail　as　soon　as　we　are　aboard。〃
　　　　　　　Domon　scrubbed　a　finger　across　his　upper　lip　and　peered　into　his　wine。　〃Well；　as　to　that；　there　still　do　be　the　matter　of　getting　out　of　the　harbor；　you　see。　These　damane　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃What　if　I　tell　you　you　will　sail　with　something　better　than　damane？〃　Nynaeve　said　softly。　Min's　eyes　widened　as　she　realized　what　Nynaeve　intended。
　　　　　　　Almost　under　her　breath；　Elayne　murmured；　〃And　you　tell　me　to　be　careful。〃
　　　　　　　Domon　had　eyes　only　for　Nynaeve；　and　they　were　wary　eyes。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　he　whispered。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　opened　her　coat　to　fumble　at　the　back　of　her　neck；　finally　pulling　out　a　leather　cord　that　had　been　tucked　inside　her　dress。　Two　gold　rings　hung　on　the　cord。　Min　gasped　when　she　saw　one　…　it　was　the　heavy　man's　ring　she　had　seen　when　she　read　Nynaeve　in　the　street…but　she　knew　it　was　the　other；　slighter　and　made　for　a　woman's　slender　finger；　that　made　Domon's　eyes　bulge。　A　serpent　biting　its　own　tail。
　　　　　　　〃You　know　what　this　means；〃　Nynaeve　said；　starting　to　slip　the　Serpent　ring　from　the　cord；　but　Domon　closed　his　hand　over　it。
　　　　　　　〃Put　it　away。〃　His　eyes　darted　uneasily；　no　one　was　looking　at　them　that　Min　could　see；　but　he　looked　as　if　he　thought　everyone　was　staring。　〃That　ring　do　be　dangerous。　If　it　be　seen　。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃As　long　as　you　know　what　it　means；〃　Nynaeve　said　with　a　calm　that　made　Min　envious。　She　pulled　the　cord　from　Domon's　hand　and　retied　it　around　her　neck。
　　　　　　　〃I　know；〃　he　said　hoarsely。　〃I　do　know　what　it　means。　Maybe　there　do　be　a　chance　if　you。。。　Four；　you　say？　This　girl　who　do　like　to　listen　to　my　tongue　wag；　she　do　be　one　of　the　four；　I　take　it。　And　you；　and。。。〃　He　frowned　at　Elayne。　〃Surely　this　child　is　no　…　no　one　like　you。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　straightened　angrily；　but　Nynaeve　put　a　hand　on　her　arm　and　smiled　soothingly　at　Domon。　〃She　travels　with　me；　Captain。　You　might　be　surprised　by　what　we　can　do　even　before　we　earn　the　right　to　a　ring。　When　we　sail；　you　will　have　three　on　your　ship　who　can　fight　damane　if　need　be。〃
　　　　　　　〃Three；〃　he　breathed。　〃There　do　be　a　chance。　Maybe　。。。〃　His　face　brightened　for　a　moment；　but　as　he　looked　at　them；　it　grew　serious　again。　〃I　should　take　you　to　Spray　right　now　and　cast　off；　but　Fortune　prick　me　if　I　can　no　tell　you　what　you　face　here　if　you　stay；　and　maybe　even　if　you　go　with　me。　Listen　to　me；　and　mark　what　I　do　say。〃　He　took　another　cautious　look　around；　and　still　lowered　his　voice　and　chose　his　words　carefully。　〃I　did　see　a　…　a　woman　who　wore　a　ring　like　that　taken　by　the　Seanchan。　A　pretty；　slender　little　woman　she　was；　with　a　big　War　…　a　big　man　with　her　who　did　look　as　if　he　did　know　how　to　use　his　sword。　One　of　them　must　have　been　careless；　for　the　Seanchan　did　have　an　ambush　laid　for　them。　The　big　man　put　six；　seven　soldiers　on　the　ground　before　he　did　die　himself。　The　…　the　woman　。。。　Six　damane　they　did　put　around　her；　stepping　out　of　the　alleys　of　a　sudden。　I　did　think　she　would　。。。　do　something　…　you　know　what　I　mean　…　but　。。。　I　know　nothing　of　these　things。　One　moment　she　did　look　as　if　she　would　destroy　them　all；　then　a　look　of　horror　did　e　on　her　face；　and　she　did　scream。〃
　　　　　　　〃They　cut　her　off　from　the　True　Source。〃　Elayne's　face　was　white。
　　　　　　　〃No　matter；〃　Nynaeve　said　calmly。　〃We　will　not　allow　the　same　to　be　done　to　us。〃
　　　　　　　〃Aye；　mayhap　it　will　be　as　you　say。　But　I　will　remember　it　until　I　die。　Ryma；　help　me。　That　is　what　she　did　scream。　And　one　of　the　damane　did　fall　down　crying；　and　they　did　put　one　of　those　collars　on　the　neck　of　the　。。。　woman；　and　I　。。。　I　did　run。〃　He　shrugged；　and　rubbed　his　nose；　and　peered　into　his　wine。　〃I　have　seen　three　women　taken；　and　I　have　no　stomach　for　it。　I　would　leave　my　aged　grandmother　standing　on　the　dock　to　sail　from　here；　but　I　did　have　to　tell　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃Egwene　said　they　have　two　prisoners；〃　Min　said　slowly。　〃Ryma；　a　Yellow；　and　she　didn't　know　who　the　other　is。〃　Nynaeve　gave　her　a　sharp　look；　and　sh