rj.thegreathunt-第130部分

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ng　else　even　without　armor。　And　one　or　two　of　you　will　make　no　difference。　Five　is　few　enough　to　enter　without　attracting　attention；　and　it　is　fitting　that　three　of　them　should　be　the　three　ta'veren　among　us。　No；　Loial；　you　must　stay　behind；　too。　There　are　no　Ogier　on　Toman　Head。　You　would　attract　as　many　eyes　as　all　the　rest　put　together。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　about　you？〃　Rand　asked。
　　　　　　　Verin　shook　her　head。　〃You　forget　the　damane。〃　Her　mouth　twisted　around　the　word　in　distaste。　〃The　only　way　I　could　help　you　would　be　if　I　channeled　the　Power；　and　that　would　be　no　help　at　all　if　I　brought　those　down　on　you。　Even　if　they　were　not　close　enough　to　see；　one　might　well　feel　a　woman　…　or　a　man；　for　that　matter　…　channeling；　if　care　was　not　taken　to　keep　the　Power　channeled　small。〃　She　did　not　look　at　Rand；　to　him；　she　seemed　ostentatious　in　not　doing　so；　and　Mat　and　Perrin　were　suddenly　intent　on　their　own　feet。
　　　　　　　〃A　man；〃　Ingtar　snorted。　〃Verin　Sedai；　why　add　problems？　We　have　enough　already　without　supposing　men　channeling。　But　it　would　be　well　if　you　were　there。　If　we　have　need　of　you　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃No；　you　five　must　go　alone。〃　Her　foot　scrubbed　across　the　wheel　drawn　in　the　dirt；　partially　obliterating　it。　She　studied　each　of　them　in　turn；　intent　and　frowning。　〃Five　will　ride　forth。〃
　　　　　　　For　a　moment　it　seemed　that　Ingtar　would　ask　again；　but　meeting　her　level　gaze；　he　shrugged　and　turned　to　Hurin。　〃How　long　to　reach　Falme？〃
　　　　　　　The　sniffer　scratched　his　head。　〃If　we　left　now　and　rode　through　the　night；　we　could　be　there　by　sunrise　tomorrow　morning。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　that　is　what　we　will　do。　I'll　waste　no　more　time。　All　of　you　saddle　your　horses。　Uno；　I　warn　you　to　bring　the　others　along　behind　us；　but　keep　out　of　sight；　and　do　not　let　anyone　。。。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　peered　at　the　sketched　wheel　as　Ingtar　went　on　with　his　instructions。　It　was　a　broken　wheel；　now；　with　only　four　spokes。　For　some　reason　that　made　him　shiver。　He　realized　Verin　was　watching　him；　dark　eyes　bright　and　intent　like　a　bird's。　It　took　an　effort　to　pull　his　gaze　away　and　begin　getting　his　things　together。
　　　　　　　You're　letting　fancies　take　you；　he　told　himself　irritably。　She　can't　do　anything　if　she　isn't　there。


Chapter　45
（Heron…Mark　Sword　Hilt）
Blademaster

　　　　　　　The　rising　sun　pushed　its　crimson　edge　above　the　horizon　and　sent　long　shadows　down　the　cobblestone　streets　of　Falme　toward　the　harbor。　A　sea　breeze　bent　the　smoke　of　breakfast　cook　fires　inland　from　the　chimneys。　Only　the　early　risers　were　already　out　of　doors；　their　breath　making　steam　in　the　morning　cold。　pared　to　the　crowds　that　would　fill　the　streets　in　another　hour；　the　town　seemed　nearly　empty。
　　　　　　　Sitting　on　an　upended　barrel　in　front　of　a　still…closed　ironmonger's　shop；　Nynaeve　warmed　her　hands　under　her　arms　and　surveyed　her　army。　Min　sat　on　a　doorstep　across　the　way；　swathed　in　her　Seanchan　cloak　and　eating　a　wrinkled　plum；　and　Elayne　in　her　fleece　coat　huddled　at　the　edge　of　an　alley　just　down　the　street　from　her。　A　large　sack；　pilfered　from　the　docks；　lay　neatly　folded　beside　Min。　My　army；　Nynaeve　thought　grimly。　But　there　isn't　anybody　else。
　　　　　　　She　caught　sight　of　a　sul'dam　and　a　damane　climbing　the　street；　a　yellow…haired　woman　wearing　the　bracelet　and　a　dark　woman　the　collar；　both　yawning　sleepily。　The　few　Falmen　sharing　the　street　with　them　averted　their　eyes　and　gave　them　a　wide　berth。　As　far　as　she　could　see　down　toward　the　harbor；　there　was　not　another　Seanchan。　She　did　not　turn　her　head　the　other　way。　Instead；　she　stretched　and　shrugged　as　if　working　cold　shoulders　before　settling　back　as　she　had　been。
　　　　　　　Min　tossed　her　half…eaten　plum　aside；　glanced　casually　up　the　street；　and　leaned　back　on　the　doorpost。　The　way　was　clear　there；　too；　or　she　would　have　put　her　hands　on　her　knees。　Min　had　started　rubbing　her　hands　nervously；　and　Nynaeve　realized　that　Elayne　was　now　bouncing　eagerly　on　her　toes。
　　　　　　　If　they　give　us　away；　I'll　thump　both　their　heads。　But　she　knew　if　they　were　discovered；　it　would　be　the　Seanchan　who　would　say　what　happened　to　all　three　of　them。　She　was　all　too　aware　that　she　had　no　real　notion　of　whether　what　she　planned　would　work　or　not。　It　could　easily　be　her　own　failure　that　would　give　them　away。　Once　again　she　resolved　that　if　anything　went　wrong；　she　would　somehow　pull　attention　to　herself　while　Min　and　Elayne　escaped。　She　had　told　them　to　run　if　anything　went　wrong；　and　let　them　think　she　would　run；　too。　What　she　would　do　then；　she　did　not　know。　Except　I　won't　let　them　take　me　alive。　Please；　Light；　not　that。
　　　　　　　Sul'dam　and　damane　came　up　the　street　until　they　were　bracketed　by　the　three　waiting　women。　A　dozen　Falmen　walked　wide　of　the　linked　pair。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　gathered　all　of　her　anger。　Leashed　Ones　and　Leash　Holders。　They　had　put　their　filthy　collar　on　Egwene's　neck；　and　they　would　put　it　on　hers；　and　Elayne's；　if　they　could。　She　had　made　Min　tell　her　how　sul'dam　enforced　their　will。　She　was　sure　Min　had　kept　some　back；　the　worst；　but　what　she　told　was　enough　to　heat　Nynaeve　to　white…hot　fury。　In　an　instant　a　white　blossom　on　a　black；　thorny　branch　had　opened　to　light；　to　saidar；　and　the　One　Power　filled　her。　She　knew　there　was　a　glow　around　her；　for　those　who　could　see　it。　The　pale…skinned　sul'dam　gave　a　start；　and　the　dark　damane's　mouth　fell　open；　but　Nynaeve　gave　them　no　chance。　It　was　only　a　trickle　of　the　Power　that　she　channeled；　but　she　cracked　it；　a　whip　snapping　a　dust　mote　out　of　the　air。
　　　　　　　The　silver　collar　sprang　open　and　clattered　to　the　cobblestones。　Nynaeve　heaved　a　sigh　of　relief　even　as　she　leaped　to　her　feet。
　　　　　　　The　sul'dam　stared　at　the　fallen　collar　as　if　at　a　poisonous　snake。　The　damane　put　a　shaking　hand　to　her　throat；　but　before　the　woman　in　the　lightning…marked　dress　had　time　to　move；　the　damane　turned　and　punched　her　in　the　face；　the　sul'dam's　knees　buckled；　and　she　almost　fell。
　　　　　　　〃Good　for　you！〃　Elayne　shouted。　She　was　already　running　forward；　too；　and　so　was　Min。
　　　　　　　Before　any　of　them　reached　the　two　women；　the　damane　took　one　startled　look　around；　then　ran　as　hard　as　she　could。
　　　　　　　〃We　won't　hurt　you！〃　Elayne　called　after　her。　〃We　are　friends！〃
　　　　　　　〃Be　quiet！〃　Nynaeve　hissed。　She　produced　a　handful　of　rags　from　her　pocket　and　ruthlessly　stuffed　them　into　the　gaping　mouth　of　the　still　staggering　sul'dam。　Min　hastily　shook　out　the　sack　in　a　cloud　of　dust　and　plunged　it　over　the　sul'dam's　head；　shrouding　the　woman　to　the　waist。　〃We　are　already　attracting　too　much　attention。〃
　　　　　　　It　was　true；　and　yet　not　entirely　true。　The　four　of　them　stood　in　a　rapidly　emptying　street；　but　the　people　who　had　decided　to　be　elsewhere　were　avoiding　looking　at　them。　Nynaeve　had　been　counting　on　that　…　people　doing　their　best　to　ignore　anything　that　had　to　do　with　Seanchan　…　to　gain　them　a　few　moments。　They　would　talk　eventually；　but　in　whispers；　it　might　take　hours　for　the　Seanchan　to　learn　anything　had　happened。
　　　　　　　The　hooded　woman　began　to　struggle；　making　rag…muffled　shouts　from　the　sack；　but　Nynaeve　and　Min　threw　their　arms　around　her　and　wrestled　her　toward　a　nearby　alley。　The　leash　and　collar　trailed　across　the　cobblestones　behind　them；　clinking。
　　　　　　　〃Pick　it　up；〃　Nynaeve　snapped　at　Elayne。　〃It　won't　bite　you！〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　took　a　deep　breath；　then　gathered　the　silver　metal　gingerly；　as　if　she　feared　it　very　well　might。　Nynaeve　felt　some　sympathy；　but　not　much；　everything　rested　on　each　of　them　doing　as　they　had　planned。
　　　　　　　The　sul'dam　kicked　and　tried　to　throw　herself　free；　but　between　them；　Nynaeve　and　Min　forced　her　along；　down　the　alley　into　another；　slightly　wider　passage　behind　houses；　to　yet　another　alley　and　at　last　into　a　rough　wooden　shed　that　had　apparently　once　housed　two　horses；　by　the　stalls。　Few　could　afford　to　keep　horses　since　the　Seanchan　came；　and　in　a　day　of　Nynaeve's　watching；　no　one　had　gone　near　it。　The　interior　had　a　musty　dustiness　that　spoke　of　abandonment。　As　soon　as　they　were　inside；　Elayne　dropped　the　silver　leash　and　wiped　her　hands　on　some　straw。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　channeled　another　trickle；　and　the　bracelet　fell　to　the　dirt　floor。　The　sul'dam　squalled　and　hurled　herself　about。
　　　　　　　〃Ready？〃　Nynaeve　asked。　The　other　two　nodded；　and　they　yanked　the　sacking　off　their　prisoner。
　　　　　　　The　sul'dam　wheezed；　blue　eyes　teary　from　dust；　but　her　red　face　was　red　as　much　from　anger　as　from　the　sack。　She　darted　for　the　door；　but　they　caught　her　in　the　first　step。　She　was　not　weak；　yet　they　were　three；　and　when　they　were　done　the　sul'dam　was　stripped　to　her　shift　and　lying　in　one　of　the　stalls；　bound　hand　and　foot　with　stout　cord；　with　another　piece　of　cord　to　keep　her　from　forcing　the　gag　out。
　　　　　　　Soothing　a　puffy　lip；　Min　eyed　the　lightning…paneled　dress　and　soft　boots　they　had　laid　out。　〃It　might　fit　you；　Nynaeve。　It　won't　fit　Elayne　or　me。〃　Elayne　was　picking　straw　out　of　her　hair。
　　　　　　　〃I　can　see　that。　You　were　never　a　choice　anyway；　not　really。　They　know　you　too　well。〃　Nynaeve　hurriedly　removed　her　own　clothes。　She　tossed　them　aside　and　donned　the　sul'dam's　dress。　Min　helped　with　the　buttons。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　wiggled　her　toes　in　the　boots；　they　were　a　little　tight。　The　dress　was　tight；　too；　across　the　bosom；　and　loose　elsewhere。　The　hem　hung　almost　to　the　ground；　lower　than　sul'dam　wore　them；　but　the　fit　would　have　been　even　worse　on　any　of　the　others。　Snatching　up　the　bracelet；　she　took　a　deep　breath　and　closed　it　around　her　left　wrist。　The　ends　merged；　and　it　seemed　solid。　It　did　not　feel　like　anything　except　a　bracelet。　She　had　been　afraid　that　it　would。
　　　　　　　〃Get　the　dress；　Elayne。〃　They　had　dyed　a　pair　of　dresses　…　one　of　hers　and　one　of　Elayne's　…　to　the　gray　damane　wore；　or　as　close　as　they　could　manage；　and　hidden　them　here。　Elayne　did　not　move　except　to　stare　at　the　open　collar　and　lick　her　lips。　〃Elayne；　you　have　to　wear　it。　Too　many　of　them　have　seen　Min　for　her　to　do　it。　I　would　have　worn　it；　if　this　dress　had　fit　you　instead。〃　She　thought　she　would　have　gone　mad　if　she　had　had　to　wear　the　collar；　that　was　why　she　could　not　make　her　voice　sharp　with　Elayne　now。
　　　　　　　〃I　know。〃　Elayne　sighed。　〃I　just　wish　I　knew　more　of　what　it　does　to　you。〃　She　drew　her　red…gold　hair　out　of　the　way。　〃Min；　help　me；　please。〃　Min　began　undo