rj.acrownofswords-第139部分

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doubt　Nynaeve　thought　she　and　Elayne　would　do　that。　They　let　him　bring　along　the　Redarms；　all　the　while　laughing　up　their　sleeves　at　him　while　they　…
　　　〃Aren't　you　going　to　read　my　mother's　note；　Mat？〃　Until　Beslan　mentioned　it；　he　had　not　realized　there　was　a　sheet　of　paper；　folded　small；　tucked　in　between　the　basket　and　the　striped　cloth。　Just　enough　showed　to　reveal　the　green　seal　impressed　with　the　Anchor　and　Sword。
　　　He　broke　the　wax　with　his　thumb　and　unfolded　the　page；　holding　it　so　Beslan　could　not　see　what　was　written。　As　well　he　did；　or　then　again；　considering　how　the　other　man　saw　things；　maybe　it　did　not　matter。　Either　way；　Mat　was　just　as　glad　no　eyes　but　his　saw　those　words。　His　heart　sank　deeper　by　the　line。
　　　
　　　Mat；　my　sweet；
　　　I　am　having　your　things　moved　to　my　apartments。　So　much　more　convenient。　By　the　time　you　return；　Riselle　will　be　in　your　old　rooms　to　look　after　young　Olver。　He　seems　to　enjoy　her　pany。
　　　I　have　seamstresses　ing　to　measure　you。　I　will　enjoy　watching　that。　You　must　wear　shorter　coats。　And　new　breeches；　of　course。　You　have　a　delightful　bottom。　Duckling；　who　is　this　Daughter　of　the　Nine　Moons　I　made　you　think　of？　I　have　thought　of　several　delicious　ways　to　make　you　tell　me。
　　　Tylin
　　　
　　　The　others　were　all　looking　at　him　expectantly。　Well；　Lan　was　simply　looking；　but　his　gaze　was　more　unnerving　than　the　rest；　that　stare　seemed　almost。。。　dead。
　　　〃The　Queen　thinks　I　need　new　clothes；〃　Mat　said；　stuffing　the　note　into　his　coat　pocket。　〃I　think　I'll　take　a　nap。〃
　　　He　pulled　the　brim　of　his　hat　down　over　his　eyes；　but　he　did　not　close　them；　staring　out　the　window；　where　the　tied…back　curtain　let　in　occasional　eddies　of　dust。　It　also　let　in　the　wind；　though；　which　was　considerably　better　than　the　heat　of　a　closed　coach。
　　　Moghedien　and　Tylin。　Of　the　two；　he　would　rather　confront　Moghedien。　He　touched　the　foxhead　hanging　in　the　open　neck　of　his　shirt。　At　least　he　had　some　protection　against　Moghedien。　Against　Tylin；　he　had　no　more　than　he　did　against　the　Daughter　of　the　bloody　Nine　Moons；　whoever　she　was。　Unless　he　could　find　some　way　to　make　Nynaeve　and　Elayne　leave　Ebou　Dar　before　tonight；　everybody　was　going　to　know。　Sullenly；　he　tugged　his　hat　lower。　These　flaming　women　really　were　making　him　act　like　a　girl。　In　another　minute；　he　was　afraid；　he　might　just　start　crying。
　　　
　　　
Chapter　38　
（Female　Silhouettes）　
Six　Stories　
　　　
　　　Mat　would　have　gotten　out　and　pulled　the　coach　himself；　if　he　could。　He　thought　they　might　have　moved　faster。　The　streets　were　already　full　with　the　sun　not　all　the　way　up；　wagons　and　carts　wending　their　way　nosily　through　the　crowds　and　windblown　dust　to　shouts　and　curses　both　from　drivers　and　those　forced　to　get　out　of　the　way。　So　many　barges　slid　along　the　canals　on　the　bargemen's　poles　that　a　man　almost　could　have　walked　the　canals　like　streets；　stepping　from　one　barge　to　the　next。　A　noisy　hum　hung　over　the　gleaming　white　city。　Ebou　Dar　seemed　to　be　trying　to　make　up　for　time　lost　yesterday；　not　to　mention　at　High　Chasaline　and　the　Feast　of　Lights；　and　well　it　might；　considering　that　tomorrow　night　was　the　Feast　of　Embers；　with　Maddin's　Day；　celebrating　the　founder　of　Altara；　two　days　after　that；　and　the　Feast　of　the　Half　Moon　the　following　night。　Southerners　had　a　reputation　for　industry；　but　he　thought　it　was　because　they　had　to　work　so　hard　to　make　up　for　all　the　festivals　and　feastdays。　The　wonder　was　that　they　had　the　strength　for　it。
　　　Eventually　the　coaches　did　reach　the　river；　drawing　up　at　one　of　the　long　stone　landings　that　jutted　out　into　the　water；　all　lined　with　steps　for　boarding　the　boats　tied　alongside。　Sticking　a　wedge　of　dark　yellow　cheese　and　a　butt　end　of　bread　into　his　pocket；　he　stuffed　the　basket　well　under　the　seat。　He　was　hungry；　but　someone　in　the　kitchens　had　been　in　too　much　of　a　hurry；　most　of　the　basket　was　filled　by　a　clay　pot　full　of　oysters；　but　the　kitchens　had　forgotten　to　cook　them。
　　　Scrambling　down　behind　Lan；　he　left　Nalesean　and　Beslan　to　help　Vanin　and　the　others　down　from　the　last　coaches。　Nearly　a　dozen　men；　and　not　even　the　Cairhienin　really　small；　they　had　been　jammed　in　like　apples　in　a　barrel　and　clambered　out　stiffly。　Mat　strode　ahead　of　the　Warder　toward　the　lead　coach；　the　ashandarei　slanted　across　his　shoulder。　Nynaeve　and　Elayne　were　both　going　to　get　a　piece　of　his　mind　no　matter　who　was　listening。　Trying　to　keep　Moghedien　hidden！　Not　to　mention　two　of　his　men　dead！　He　was　going　to　…！　Suddenly　very　conscious　of　Lan　towering　behind　him　like　a　stone　statue　with　that　sword　on　his　hip；　he　amended　his　thoughts。　The　Daughter…Heir　at　least　was　going　to　hear　about　keeping　that　sort　of　secret。
　　　Nynaeve　was　standing　on　the　landing；　tying　on　her　blue…plumed　hat　and　talking　back　up　into　the　coach　when　he　reached　it。　〃。。。　Will　work　out；　of　course；　but　who　would　think　the　Sea　Folk；　of　all　people；　would　demand　such　a　thing；　even　just　in　private？〃
　　　〃But；　Nynaeve；〃　Elayne　said　as　she　stepped　down　with　her　green…plumed　hat　in　her　hand；　〃if　last　night　was　as　glorious　as　you　say；　how　can　you　plain　about　…？〃
　　　That　was　when　they　became　aware　of　him　and　Lan。　Of　Lan；　really。　Nynaeve's　eyes　opened　wider　and　wider；　filling　her　face　as　it　reddened　to　shame　two　sunsets。　Maybe　three。　Elayne　froze　with　one　foot　still　on　the　coach　step；　giving　the　Warder　such　a　frown　you　would　have　thought　he　had　sneaked　up　on　them。　Lan　gazed　down　at　Nynaeve；　though；　with　no　more　expression　than　a　fence　post；　and　for　all　Nynaeve　appeared　ready　to　crawl　under　the　coach　and　hide；　she　stared　up　at　Lan　as　if　no　one　else　existed　in　the　world。　Realizing　her　frown　was　wasted　there；　Elayne　took　her　foot　off　the　step　and　moved　out　of　the　way　of　Reanne　and　the　two　Wise　Women　who　had　shared　the　coach；　Tamarla　and　a　graying　Saldaean　woman　named　Janira；　but　the　Daughter…Heir　did　not　give　up；　oh；　no。　She　transferred　that　scowl　to　Mat　Cauthon；　and　if　it　altered　a　whit；　it　was　to　deepen。　He　snorted　and　shook　his　head。　Usually　when　a　woman　was　in　the　wrong；　she　could　find　so　many　things　to　blame　on　the　nearest　man　that　he　wound　up　thinking　maybe　he　really　was　at　fault。　In　his　experience；　old　memories　or　new；　there　were　only　two　times　a　woman　admitted　she　was　wrong：　when　she　wanted　something；　and　when　it　snowed　at　midsummer。
　　　Nynaeve　seized　at　her　braid；　but　not　as　if　her　heart　was　in　it。　Her　fingers　fumbled　and　fell　away；　and　she　started　wringing　her　hands　instead。　〃Lan；〃　she　began　unsteadily；　〃you　mustn't　think　I　would　talk　about　…　〃
　　　The　Warder　cut　in　smoothly；　bowing　and　offering　her　his　arm。　〃We　are　in　public；　Nynaeve。　Whatever　you　want　to　say　in　public；　you　may。　May　I　escort　you　to　the　boat？〃
　　　〃Yes；〃　she　said；　nodding　so　vigorously　that　her　hat　nearly　fell　off。　She　straightened　it　hurriedly　with　both　hands。　〃Yes。　In　public。　You　will　escort　me。〃　Taking　his　arm；　she　regained　some　measure　of　posure；　at　least　insofar　as　her　face　went。　Gathering　her　dust…cloak　in　her　free　hand；　she　practically　dragged　him　across　the　quay　toward　the　landing。
　　　Mat　wondered　whether　she　might　be　ill。　He　rather　enjoyed　seeing　Nynaeve　dropped　a　peg　or　six；　but　she　hardly　ever　let　it　last　two　breaths。　Aes　Sedai　could　not　Heal　themselves。　Maybe　he　should　suggest　to　Elayne　that　she　deal　with　whatever　was　wrong　with　Nynaeve。　He　avoided　Healing　like　death　or　marriage　himself；　but　it　was　different　for　other　people　as　he　saw　it。　First；　though；　he　had　a　few　choice　words　to　say　about　secrets。
　　　Opening　his　mouth；　he　raised　an　admonitory　finger。。。
　　　。　。　。　and　Elayne　poked　him　in　the　chest　with　hers；　her　scowl　beneath　that　plumed　hat　so　cold　it　made　his　toes　hurt。　〃Mistress　Corly；〃　she　said　in　the　icy　voice　of　a　queen　pronouncing　judgment；　〃explained　to　Nynaeve　and　me　the　significance　of　those　red　flowers　on　the　basket；　which　I　see　you　at　least　have　shame　enough　to　have　hidden。〃
　　　His　face　went　redder　than　Nynaeve's　had　thought　of。　A　few　paces　away；　Reanne　Corly　and　the　other　two　were　tying　on　hats　and　adjusting　dresses　the　way　women　did　every　time　they　stood　up；　sat　down　or　moved　three　steps。　Yet　despite　giving　their　attention　to　their　clothes；　they　had　enough　left　over　for　glances　in　his　direction；　and　for　once　they　were　neither　disapproving　nor　startled。　He　had　not　known　the　bloody　flowers　meant　anything！　Ten　sunsets　would　not　have　done　for　his　face。
　　　〃So！〃　Elayne's　voice　was　low；　for　his　ears　alone；　but　it　dripped　disgust　and　contempt。　She　gave　her　cloak　a　twitch；　to　keep　it　from　touching　him。　〃It's　true！　I　could　not　believe　it　of　you；　not　even　you！　I'm　sure　Nynaeve　couldn't。　Any　promise　I　made　to　you　is　abolished。　I　will　not　keep　any　promise　to　a　man　who　could　force　his　attentions　on　a　woman；　on　any　woman；　but　especially　on　a　Queen　who　has　offered　him　…　〃
　　　〃Me　force　my　attentions　on　her！〃　he　shouted。　Or　rather；　he　tried　to　shout；　choking　made　it　e　out　in　a　wheeze。
　　　Seizing　Elayne's　shoulders；　he　pulled　her　away　from　the　carriages　a　little　distance。　Shirtless　dockmen　in　stained　green　leather　vests　hurried　by；　carrying　sacks　on　their　shoulders　or　rolling　barrels　along　the　quay；　some　pushing　low　barrows　loaded　with　crates；　all　giving　the　coaches　a　wide　berth。　The　Queen　of　Altara　might　not　have　much　power；　but　her　sigil　on　a　coach　door　ensured　that　moners　would　give　it　room。　Nalesean　and　Beslan　were　chatting　as　they　led　the　Redarms　onto　the　landing；　Vanin　bringing　up　the　rear　and　staring　gloomily　at　the　choppy　river；　he　claimed　to　have　a　tender　belly　when　it　came　to　boats。　The　Wise　Women　from　both　coaches　had　gathered　around　Reanne；　watching；　but　they　were　not　close　enough　to　overhear。　He　whispered　hoarsely　just　the　same。
　　　〃You　listen　to　me！　That　woman　won't　take　no　for　an　answer；　I　say　no；　and　she　laughs　at　me。　She's　starved　me；　bullied　me；　chased　me　down　like　a　stag！　She　has　more　hands　than　any　six　women　I　ever　met。　She　threatened　to　have　the　serving　women　undress　me　if　I　didn't　let　her　…　〃　Abruptly；　what　he　was　saying　hit　him。　And　who　he　was　saying　it　to。　He　managed　to　close　his　mouth　before　he　swallowed　a　fly。　He　became　very　interested　in　one　of　the　dark　metal　ravens　inlaid　in　the　haft　of　the　ashandarei；　so　he　would　not　have　to　meet　her　eyes。　〃What　I