rj.acrownofswords-第137部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　　To　Flinn's　evident　surprise；　Samitsu　rounded　the　bed　to　help　him　rise。　〃You　will　tell　me　what　you　did；〃　she　said；　regal　tone　at　strong　odds　with　the　way　her　quick　fingers　straightened　the　old　man's　collar　and　smoothed　his　lapels。　〃If　only　there　was　some　way　you　could　show　me！　But　you　will　describe　it。　You　must！　I　will　give　you　all　the　gold　I　possess；　bear　your　child；　whatever　you　wish；　but　you　will　tell　me　all　that　you　can。〃　Apparently　not　sure　herself　whether　she　was　manding　or　begging；　she　led　a　very　bemused　Flinn　over　by　the　windows。　He　opened　his　mouth　more　than　once；　but　she　was　too　busy　trying　to　make　him　talk　to　see　it。
　　　Not　caring　what　anyone　thought；　Min　climbed　onto　the　bed　and　lay　so　she　could　tuck　Rand's　head　under　her　chin　and　wrap　her　arms　around　him。　A　chance。　Furtively　she　studied　the　three　people　gathered　around　the　bed。　Cadsuane　in　her　chair；　Amys　standing　opposite；　Dashiva　leaning　against　one　of　the　square　bedposts　at　the　foot；　all　with　unreadable　auras　and　images　dancing　around　them。　All　with　their　eyes　intent　on　Rand。　No　doubt　Amys　saw　some　disaster　for　the　Aiel　if　Rand　died；　and　Dashiva；　the　only　one　with　any　expression；　a　dark　yet　worried　scowl；　disaster　for　the　Asha'man。　And　Cadsuane。。。　Cadsuane；　who　was　not　only　known　to　Bera　and　Kiruna；　but　made　them　jump　like　girls　for　all　their　oaths　to　Rand。　Cadsuane；　who　would　not　hurt　Rand　〃any　more　than　she　had　to。〃
　　　Cadsuane's　gaze　met　Min's　for　a　moment；　and　Min　shivered。　Somehow；　she　would　protect　him　while　he　could　not　protect　himself；　from　Amys；　and　Dashiva；　and　Cadsuane。　Somehow。　Unconsciously；　she　began　to　hum　a　lullaby；　rocking　Rand　gently。　Somehow。
　　　
　　　
Chapter　37　
（Dice）　
A　Note　from　the　Palace　
　　　
　　　The　day　after　the　Festival　of　Birds　dawned　to　strong　winds　off　the　Sea　of　Storms　that　actually　cut　the　heat　in　Ebou　Dar。　A　sky　without　a　cloud　and　the　red…gold　dome　of　the　sun　on　the　horizon　gave　promises　for　once　the　wind　died；　though。　Mat　hurried　down　through　the　Tarasin　Palace　with　his　green　coat　undone　and　his　shirt　only　half…laced　in　anticipation。　He　did　not　quite　jump　at　every　sound；　but　he　did　give　a　start；　considerably　more　wide…eyed　than　he　liked；　whenever　one　of　the　serving　women　passed；　swishing　her　petticoats　and　smiling　at　him。　Every　last　one　of　them　smiled；　in　a　particularly。。。　knowing。。。　way。　It　was　all　he　could　do　not　to　run。
　　　At　the　last；　he　slowed；　easing　onto　the　shaded　walk　bordering　the　stableyard　almost　on　tiptoe。　Between　the　fluted　columns　of　the　walk；　yellowish　reedy　plants　in　big　red　pottery　bowls　and　vines　with　wide；　red…striped　leaves　dangling　from　metal　baskets　on　chains　formed　a　thin　screen。　Unconsciously；　he　tugged　his　hat　lower　to　obscure　his　face。
　　　His　hands　ran　along　his　spear　…　an　ashandarei；　Birgitte　called　it　…　unthinkingly　fingering　the　haft　as　if　he　might　need　to　defend　himself。　The　dice　tumbled　inside　his　head　fiercely；　yet　that　had　nothing　to　do　with　his　uneasiness。　The　source　of　that　was　Tylin。
　　　Six　closed　coaches　with　the　green　Anchor　and　Sword　of　House　Mitsobar　lacquered　on　the　doors　already　waited　in　line　before　the　tall　arched　outer　gates　with　teams　hitched　and　liveried　drivers　mounted。　He　could　see　Nalesean　yawning　in　a　yellow…striped　coat　on　the　far　side　of　them；　and　Vanin　sat　slumped　atop　an　upended　barrel　not　far　from　the　stable　doors；　apparently　asleep。　Most　of　the　other　Redarms　were　squatting　patiently　on　the　stableyard　flagstones；　a　few　tossed　dice　in　the　shadow　of　the　huge　white　stables。　Elayne　stood　between　Mat　and　the　coaches；　just　the　other　side　of　the　screen　of　plants。　Reanne　Corly　was　with　her；　and　close　by；　seven　more　of　the　women　who　were　at　that　peculiar　meeting　he　had　burst　into　the　evening　before；　Reanne　was　the　only　one　not　wearing　the　red　belt　of　a　Wise　Woman。　He　had　half…expected　them　not　to　appear　this　morning。　They　had　the　features　of　women　used　to　ordering　their　own　lives　and　other's；　and　most　had　at　least　a　bit　of　gray　in　their　hair；　yet　they　watched　fresh…faced　Elayne　with　an　air　of　expectation；　seemingly　on　their　toes；　as　though　ready　to　jump　at　her　mand。　The　whole　lot　caught　less　than　half　his　attention；　though；　none　of　them　was　the　woman　who　had　him　ready　to　jump　out　of　his　skin。　Tylin　made　him　feel。。。　well。。。　helpless　was　the　only　word　that　seemed　to　fit；　however　ridiculous　it　seemed。
　　　〃We　do　not　need　them；　Mistress　Corly；〃　Elayne　said。　The　Daughter…Heir　sounded　like　a　woman　patting　a　child　on　the　head。　〃I've　told　them　to　remain　here　until　we　return。　We　will　attract　less　attention；　especially　across　the　river；　without　anyone　recognizably　Aes　Sedai。〃　Her　notion　of　what　to　wear　visiting　the　roughest　part　of　the　city　without　attracting　attention　was　a　wide　green　hat　with　green…dyed　plumes；　a　light　dustcloak　of　green　linen　worked　in　golden　scrolls　hanging　down　her　back；　and　a　high…necked　green　silk　riding　dress　with　gold　embroidery　climbing　the　divided　skirts　and　thickly　emphasizing　the　oval　that　exposed　half　her　bosom。　She　even　wore　one　of　those　necklaces　for　a　marriage　knife。　That　broad　band　of　woven　gold　would　make　every　thief's　hand　in　the　Rahad　itch。　She　carried　no　weapon　beyond　a　small　belt　knife。　But　as　to　that；　what　weapon　did　a　woman　who　could　channel　need？　Of　course；　every　one　of　those　red　belts　had　a　curved　dagger　tucked　behind　it。　So　did　Reane's　belt　of　plain　worked　leather。
　　　Reanne　removed　a　large　blue　straw　hat；　frowned　at　it；　then　put　it　back　on　and　retied　the　ribbons。　Elayne's　tone　did　not　seem　to　be　what　was　bothering　her。　She　put　on　a　diffident　smile　with　the　hat；　and　a　timid　tone。　〃But　why　does　Merilille　Sedai　think　we　are　lying；　Elayne　Sedai？〃
　　　〃They　all　do；〃　one　of　the　red…belts　said　breathlessly。　All　of　them　wore　Ebou　Dari　dresses　in　sober　colors；　with　narrow　plunging　necklines　and　skirts　sewn　up　on　one　side　to　expose　layered　petticoats；　but　only　this　one；　bone…lean　and　with　more　white　than　black　in　her　long　hair；　had　the　olive　skin　and　dark　eyes　of　an　Ebou　Dari。　〃Sareitha　Sedai　called　me　liar　to　my　face；　about　our　numbers；　about　…　〃　She　cut　off　short　at　a　frown　and　a　〃Be　quiet；　Tamarla〃　from　Reanne；　Mistress　Corly　might　be　ready　to　curtsy　and　simper　for　a　child　if　the　child　was　Aes　Sedai；　but　she　kept　a　tight　rein　on　her　panions。
　　　Mat　frowned　up　at　the　windows　overlooking　the　stable…yard；　those　he　could　see　from　where　he　stood。　Elaborate　white　wrought…iron　screens　covered　some；　white　wooden　screens　of　intricately　carved　piercework　others。　Not　likely　Tylin　was　up　there；　not　likely　she　would　appear　in　the　stableyard。　He　had　been　very　careful　not　to　wake　her　getting　dressed。　Besides；　she　would　not　try　anything　here。　At　least；　he　did　not　think　she　would。　Then　again；　was　anything　past　the　woman　who　had　had　half　a　dozen　serving　women　seize　him　in　the　halls　last　night　and　drag　him　into　her　apartments？　The　bloody　woman　treated　him　like　a　toy！　He　was　not　going　to　put　up　with　it　anymore。　He　was　not。　Light；　who　was　he　trying　to　fool？　If　they　did　not　grab　this　Bowl　of　the　Winds　and　get　out　of　Ebou　Dar；　Tylin　would　be　pinching　his　bottom　and　calling　him　her　little　pigeon　again　tonight。
　　　〃It's　your　ages；　Reanne。〃　Elayne　did　not　exactly　sound　hesitant　…　she　never　did　that　…　but　her　tone　became　very　careful。　〃It　is　considered　rude　among　Aes　Sedai　to　speak　of　age；　but。。。　Reanne；　apparently　no　Aes　Sedai　since　the　Breaking　has　lived　as　long　as　any　of　you　in　the　Knitting　Circle　claim。〃　That　was　the　odd　name　these　Kin　gave　their　ruling　council。　〃In　your　own　case；　not　by　over　a　hundred　years。〃　The　red…belts　gasped；　going　wide…eyed。　A　slender　brown…eyed　woman　with　pale　honey　hair　gave　a　nervous　giggle　and　instantly　covered　her　mouth　at　Reanne's　whip…quick　〃Famelle！〃
　　　〃That　can't　be　possible；〃　Reanne　said　faintly　to　Elayne。　〃Surely；　Aes　Sedai　must　…　〃
　　　〃Good　morning；〃　Mat　said；　stepping　past　the　screen　of　plants。　The　whole　discussion　was　idiotic；　everyone　knew　Aes　Sedai　lived　longer　than　anybody　else。　Instead　of　wasting　time；　they　should　be　on　their　way　to　the　Rahad。　〃Where　are　Thom　and　Juilin？　And　Nynaeve。〃　She　had　to　have　e　back　last　night；　or　Elayne　would　have　been　in　a　swivet。　〃Blood　and　ashes；　I　don't　see　Birgitte　either。　We　need；　to　be　on　our　way；　Elayne；　not　standing　around。　Is　Aviendha　ing？〃
　　　She　frowned　at　him　slightly；　with　just　a　flicker　of　her　eyes　toward　Reanne；　and　he　knew　she　was　deciding　what　performance　to　give　him。　Wide…eyed　innocence　might　damage　her　standing　with　these　women　as　much　as　flashing　her　dimple　at　him　would；　Elayne　always　expected　that　dimple　to　work　where　all　else　failed。　Her　chin　rose　slightly。　〃Thorn　and　Juilin　are　helping　Aviendha　and　Birgitte　watch　Carridin's　palace；　Mat。〃　It　was　to　be　the　Daughter…Heir　in　near　full…bloom。　Not　the　whole　flowering；　since　she　surely　knew　how　he　would　react　to　that；　but　a　voice　full　of　certainty；　cool　blue　eyes　demanding；　and　that　pretty　face　chill　if　not　exactly　frozen　with　arrogance。　Was　there　any　woman　in　the　world　who　was　just　one　person？　〃Nynaeve　will　be　down　shortly；　I'm　sure。　There　is　no　reason　for　you　to　e；　you　know；　Mat。　Nalesean　and　your　soldiers　are　a　more　than　adequate　bodyguard。　You　could　enjoy　yourself　right　here　in　the　palace　until　we　return。〃
　　　〃Carridin！〃　he　cried。　〃Elayne；　we　aren't　staying　in　Ebou　Dar　to　settle　Jaichim　Carridin。　We　are　getting　the　Bowl；　then　you　or　Nynaeve　is　going　to　make　a　gateway；　and　we　are　leaving。　Is　that　clear？　And　I'm　going　with　you　to　the　Rahad。〃　Enjoy　himself！　The　Light　only　knew　what　Tylin　would　get　up　to　if　he　remained　in　the　palace　all　day。　The　very　thought　made　him　want　to　laugh　hysterically。
　　　Icy　stares　stabbed　at　him　from　the　Wise　Women；　stout　Sumeko　pursed　her　lips　angrily；　and　Melore；　a　plump　Domani　in　her　middle　years　whose　bosom　he　had　enjoyed　eyeing　yesterday；　planted　fists　on　hips　with　a　face　like　a　thunderhead。　They　should　have　known　from　yesterday　that　he　was　not　intimidated　by　Aes　Sedai；　yet　even　Reanne　gave　him　such　a　scowl　he　half　thought　she　might　try　to　box　his　ears。　Apparently；　if　they　were　going　to　fall　all　over　themselves　around　Aes　Sedai；　then　everybody　else　had　to　as　well。
　　　Elayne　struggled　with　herself　visibly。　Her　lips　pressed；　but　one　thing　he　had　to　give　her；　she　was　too　smart　to　go　on　with　what　obviously　would　not　work。　On　the　other　hand；　sh