rj.acrownofswords-第107部分

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　much　like　Aes　Sedai；　but。。。　The　Tarasin　Palace；　Mat。〃
　　　Mat　winced；　bad　enough　the　man　could　drink　a　barrel　of　brandy　with　no　effect　the　next　morning；　but　did　he　have　to　grin　so？　〃Ah；　Mat；　now　we　can　forget　dice；　and　play　cards　with　our　own　kind。〃　He　meant　nobles；　the　only　ones　who　could　afford　to　play　except　for　well…to…do　merchants　who　would　not　remain　well…to…do　long　if　they　began　betting　for　the　stakes　nobles　did。　Nalesean　rubbed　his　hands　briskly　while　Lopin　tried　to　settle　his　laces；　even　his　beard　seemed　eager。　〃Silk　sheets；〃　he　murmured。　Whoever　heard　of　silk　sheets？　Those　old　memories　nudged；　but　Mat　refused　to　listen。
　　　〃Full　of　nobles；〃　Vanin　growled　downstairs；　pursing　his　lips　to　spit。　His　glance　searching　for　Mistress　Anan　was　automatic　now；　he　decided　instead　to　swallow　from　the　mug　of　rough　wine　that　was　his　breakfast。　〃Be　good　to　see　the　Lady　Elayne　again；　though；〃　he　mused。　His　free　hand　rose　as　if　to　knuckle　his　forehead；　he　did　not　seem　aware　of　the　gesture。　Mat　groaned。　That　woman　had　ruined　a　good　man。　〃You　want　me　to　look　in　on　Carridin　again？〃　Vanin　went　on　as　if　the　rest　was　unimportant。　〃His　street's　so　full　of　beggars；　it's　hard　to　see　anything；　but　he　has　an　awful　lot　of　folk　e　to　call。〃　Mat　told　him　that　would　be　fine。　No　wonder　Vanin　did　not　care　whether　the　palace　was　full　of　。nobles　and　Aes　Sedai；　he　would　spend　the　day　sweating　in　the　sun　and　jostled　by　the　crowds。　Much　more　fortable。
　　　There　was　no　point　trying　to　warn　Harnan　and　the　rest　of　the　Redarms；　all　shoveling　down　white　porridge　and　tiny　black　sausages　while　they　nudged　one　another　in　the　ribs　and　laughed　about　the　serving　women　in　the　palace；　who；　they　had　heard；　were　all　chosen　for　their　beauty　and　remarkably　free　with　their　favors。　A　true　fact；　they　kept　assuring　themselves。
　　　Things　did　not　get　any　better　when　he　went　into　the　kitchens　searching　for　Mistress　Anan　to　settle　the　bill。　Caira　was　there；　but　with　all　her　bad　temper　of　the　night　before　doubled；　she　stuck　out　her　lower　lip；　glowering　at　him；　and　stalked　out　the　door　to　the　stableyard　rubbing　the　back　of　her　skirt。　Maybe　she　had　gotten　herself　into　some　misery　or　other；　but　how　she　could　blame　Mat　Cauthon　was　beyond　him。
　　　Mistress　Anan　was　out；　it　seemed　…　she　was　always　organizing　soup　kitchens　for　refugees　or　leaping　into　some　other　good　work　…　but　Enid　was　waving　a　long　wooden　spoon　at　her　scurrying　helpers　and　ready　to　take　his　coin　in　her　stout　hand。　〃You　squeeze　too　many　melons；　my　young　Lord；　and　you　shouldn't　be　surprised　when　a　rotten　one　breaks　in　your　hand；〃　she　said　darkly　for　some　reason。　〃Or　two；〃　she　added　after　a　moment；　nodding。　She　leaned　close；　tilting　up　her　sweating　round　face　with　an　intent　stare。　〃You'll　only　make　trouble　for　yourself　if　you　say　a　word。　You　won't。〃　That　did　not　sound　like　a　question。
　　　〃Not　a　word；〃　Mat　said。　What　in　the　Light　was　she　talking　about？　It　seemed　the　right　response；　though；　because　she　nodded　and　waddled　away　waving　that　spoon　twice　as　vigorously　as　before。　For　a　moment；　he　had　thought　she　meant　to　thump　him　with　it。　The　pure　truth　was；　women　all　had　a　violent　streak；　not　just　some　of　them。
　　　One　thing　and　another；　it　was　a　relief　when　Nerim　and　Lopin　got　into　a　shouting　match　over　whose　master's　baggage　would　be　carried　over　first。　Smoothing　their　feathers　required　a　good　half　an　hour　from　him　and　Nalesean　both。　A　manservant　with　his　dander　ruffled　could　make　your　life　miserable。　Then　he　had　to　settle　which　of　the　Redarms　were　to　have　the　honor　of　lugging　the　chest　of　gold　across　and　which　were　to　take　the　horses。　Anyway；　it　was　that　much　longer　outside　the　bloody　Tarasin　Palace。
　　　Once　he　was　ensconced　in　his　new　rooms；　though；　he　almost　forgot　troubles　at　first。　He　had　a　large　sitting　room　and　a　small；　what　they　called　a　sulking　room　hereabouts；　and　an　immense　bedchamber　with　the　biggest　bed　he　had　ever　seen；　the　massive　bedposts　carved　with　entwined　flowers　of　all　things；　and　painted　red。　Most　of　the　furniture　was　bright　red　or　bright　blue；　where　it　was　not　layered　with　gilt。　A　small　door　near　the　bed　led　to　a　cramped　room　for　Nerim；　which　the　fellow　seemed　to　think　was　excellent　despite　a　narrow　bed　and　no　window。　Mat's　rooms　all　had　tall　arched　windows　letting　onto　white　wrought…iron　balconies　that　overlooked　the　Mol　Hara。　The　stand…lamps　were　gilded；　and　so　were　the　mirror　frames；　there　were　two　mirrors　in　the　sulking　room；　three　in　the　sitting　room；　and　four　in　the　bedchamber。　The　clock　…　a　clock！　…　on　the　marble　mantel　above　the　fireplace　in　the　sitting　room　sparkled　with　gilt；　as　well。　The　washbasin　and　pitcher　were　red　Sea　Folk　porcelain。　He　was　almost　disappointed　to　discover　that　the　chamber　pot　under　the　bed　was　only　plain　white　pottery。　There　was　even　a　shelf　in　the　large　sitting　room　with　a　full　dozen　books。　Not　that　he　read　much。
　　　Even　given　the　jarring　colors　of　walls　and　ceilings　and　floor　tiles；　the　rooms　shouted　rich。　Any　other　time；　he　would　have　danced　a　jig。　Any　time　when　he　was　not　aware　that　a　woman　with　chambers　right　down　the　hall　wanted　to　stick　him　in　hot　water　and　put　a　bellows　to　the　fire。　If　Teslyn　or　Merilille　or　one　of　that　lot　did　not　manage　it　first　despite　his　medallion。　Why　had　the　dice　in　his　head　stopped　tumbling　as　soon　as　Elayne　mentioned　these　bloody　rooms？　Curiosity。　He　had　heard　a　saying　on　several　women's　lips　back　home；　usually　when　he　had　done　something　that　looked　fun　at　the　time。　〃Men　teach　cats　curiosity；　but　cats　keep　sense　for　themselves。〃
　　　〃I'm　no　bloody　cat；〃　he　muttered；　stalking　out　of　the　bedchamber　into　the　sitting　room。　He　just　had　to　know；　that　was　all。
　　　〃Of　course　you're　not　a　cat；〃　Tylin　said。　〃You're　a　succulent　little　duckling；　is　what　you　are。〃
　　　Mat　gave　a　start　and　stared。　Duckling？　And　a　little　duckling；　at　that！　The　woman　stood　well　short　of　his　shoulder。　Indignation　or　no　indignation；　he　managed　an　elegant　bow　anyway。　She　was　the　Queen；　he　had　to　remember　that。　〃Majesty；　thank　you　for　these　wonderful　apartments。　I'd　love　to　talk　with　you；　but　I　have　to　go　out　and　…　〃
　　　Smiling；　she　advanced　across　the　red…and…green　floor　tiles；　layered　blue　and　white　silk　petticoats　swishing；　large　dark　eyes　fixed　on　him。　He　had　no　desire　at　all　to　look　at　the　marriage　knife　nestled　in　her　generous　cleavage。　Or　the　larger；　gem…studded　dagger　thrust　behind　an　equally　gem…studded　belt。　He　backed　away。
　　　〃Majesty；　I　have　an　important　…　〃
　　　She　started　humming。　He　recognized　the　tune；　he　had　hummed　it　to　a　few　girls　lately。　He　was　wise　enough　not　to　try　actually　singing　with　his　voice；　and　besides；　the　words　they　used　in　Ebou　Dar　would　have　singed　his　ears。　Around　here；　they　called　it　〃I　Will　Steal　Your　Breath　with　Kisses。〃
　　　Laughing　nervously；　he　tried　to　put　a　lapis…inlaid　table　between　them；　but　she　somehow　got　around　it　first　without　seeming　to　increase　her　speed。　〃Majesty；　I　…　〃
　　　She　laid　a　hand　flat　on　his　chest；　back…heeled　him　into　a　high…backed　chair；　and　plumped　herself　down　on　his　lap。　Between　her　and　the　chair　arms；　he　was　trapped。　Oh；　he　could　have　picked　her　up　and　set　her　on　her　feet　quite　easily。　Except　that　she　did　have　that　bloody　big　dagger　in　her　belt；　and　he　doubted　his　manhandling　her　would　be　as　acceptable　to　her　as　her　manhandling　him　seemed　to　be。　This　was　Ebou　Dar；　after　all；　where　a　woman　killing　a　man　was　justified　until　proven　otherwise。　He　could　have　picked　her　up　easily；　except。。。
　　　He　had　seen　fishmongers　in　the　city　selling　peculiar　creatures　called　squid　and　octopus　…　Ebou　Dari　actually　ate　the　things！　…　but　they　had　nothing　on　Tylin。　The　woman　possessed　ten　hands。　He　thrashed　about；　vainly　trying　to　fend　her　off；　and　she　laughed　softly。　Between　kisses；　he　breathlessly　protested　that　someone　might　walk　in；　and　she　just　chuckled。　He　babbled　his　respect　for　her　crown；　and　she　chortled。　He　claimed　betrothal　to　a　girl　back　home　who　held　his　heart　in　her　hands。　She　really　laughed　at　that。
　　　〃What　she　does　not　know　cannot　harm　her；〃　she　murmured；　her　twenty　hands　not　slowing　for　an　instant。
　　　Someone　knocked　at　the　door。
　　　Prying　his　mouth　free；　he　shouted；　〃Who　is　it？〃　Well；　it　was　a　shout。　A　high…pitched　shout。　He　was　out　of　breath；　after　all。
　　　Tylin　was　off　his　lap　and　three　paces　away　so　fast　it　seemed　she　was　just　here　then　there。　The　woman　had　the　nerve　to　give　him　a　reproachful　look！　And　then　she　made　a　kiss　at　him。
　　　That　barely　left　her　lips　before　the　door　opened；　and　Thom　stuck　his　head　in。　〃Mat？　I　wasn't　sure　that　was　you。　Oh！　Majesty。〃　For　a　scrawny　old　gleeman　with　pretensions；　Thom　could　flourish　a　bow　with　the　best　in　spite　of　his　limp。　Juilin　could　not；　but　he　snatched　off　his　ridiculous　red　hat　and　did　what　he　could。　〃Forgive　us。　We　won't　disturb　…　〃　Thom　began；　but　Mat　broke　in　hurriedly。
　　　〃e　in；　Thom！〃　Snatching　his　coat　back　all　the　way　on；　he　started　to　stand；　then　realized　that　somehow　the　bloody　woman　had　untied　the　waist　of　his　breeches　without　him　noticing。　These　two　might　miss　that　his　shirt　was　undone　to　his　belly；　but　they　would　not　miss　his　breeches　falling　off。　Tylin's　blue　dress　was　not　mussed　at　all！　〃Juilin；　e　in！〃
　　　〃I　am　glad　you　find　the　rooms　acceptable；　Master　Cauthon；〃　Tylin　said；　dignity　incarnate。　Except　for　her　eyes；　anyway；　when　she　stood　so　Thom　and　Juilin　could　not　see　them。　Her　eyes　laced　innocuous　words　with　added　meaning。　〃I　look　forward　to　having　your　pany　with　pleasure；　I　shall　find　it　interesting；　having　a　ta'veren　where　I　can　reach　out　and　touch　him　at　will。　But　I　must　leave　you　to　your　friends；　now。　No；　do　not　stand；　please。〃　That　with　just　the　hint　of　a　mocking　smile。
　　　〃Well；　boy；〃　Thom　said；　knuckling　his　mustaches　when　she　was　gone；　〃there's　luck　for　you；　being　weled　with　open　arms　by　the　Queen　herself。〃　Juilin　became　very　interested　in　his　cap。
　　　Mat　eyed　them　warily；　mentally　daring　them　to　say　a　word　more　…　just　one　word！　…　but　once　he　asked　after　Nynaeve　and　Elayne；　he　quit　worrying　what　they　suspected。　The　women　were　not　back。　He　almost　leaped　up；　breeches　or　no。　They　were　trying　to　wiggle　out　of　their　agreement　already；　he　had　to　explain　what　he　meant　in　between　their　outbursts　of　incredulity；　in　between　expressing　his　opinions　of　Nynaeve　bloody　al'Meara