rj.acrownofswords-第143部分

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at　burn　and　three　stab　wounds；　with　the　knife　hilt　still　jutting　out　beneath　his　arm；　he　had　to　be　slowed　enough　for　Mat　to　get　past　him　to　the　stairs。　Avenging　Elayne　was　all　very　well；　and　Nalesean　too；　but　it　was　not　going　to　happen　today；　apparently；　and　there　was　no　call　to　supply　a　reason　for　avenging　Mat　Cauthon。
　　　Jerking　the　knife　out　of　his　side；　the　man　hurled　it　at　him。　Mat　snagged　it　out　of　the　air　without　thinking。　Thom　had　taught　him　to　juggle；　and　Thom　said　he　had　the　quickest　hands　he　had　ever　seen。　Ripping　the　knife　around　so　he　held　it　properly；　pointed　slanted　up；　he　noticed　the　gleaming　blade；　and　his　heart　sank。　No　blood。　There　should　have　been　at　least　a　smear　of　red；　but　the　steel　shone；　bright　and　clean。　Maybe　even　three　stab　wounds　were　not　going　to　slow　this　…　whatever　he　was。
　　　He　risked　a　glance　over　his　shoulder。　The　other　men　were　streaming　out　of　that　door　they　had　pried　open；　the　door　those　footprints　had　led　him　to　yesterday；　but　their　arms　seemed　full　of　rubbish；　small　half…rotted　chests；　a　cask　with　cloth…wrapped　objects　bulging　through　missing　staves；　even　a　broken　chair　and　a　cracked　mirror。　They　must　have　had　orders　to　take　everything。　Paying　no　attention　whatever　to　Mat；　they　hurried　toward　the　far　end　of　the　hall　and　vanished　around　a　corner。　There　had　to　be　another　set　of　stairs　back　there。　Maybe　he　could　follow　them　down　at　a　distance。　Maybe。。。　Just　before　the　doorway　they　had　e　out　of；　Vanin　made　another　effort　to　stand；　and　fell　back。　Mat　bit　back　a　curse。　Lugging　Vanin　was　going　to　slow　him；　but　if　his　luck　was　in。。。　It　had　not　saved　Elayne；　but　maybe。。。　From　the　corner　of　his　eye；　he　saw　her　move；　lifting　a　hand　to　her　head。
　　　The　man　in　the　gray　coat　saw　it；　too。　With　a　smile；　he　turned　toward　her。
　　　Sighing；　Mat　tucked　the　useless　knife　into　its　scabbard。　〃You　can't　have　her；〃　he　said　loudly。　Promises。　One　jerk　broke　the　leather　cord　around　his　neck；　the　silver　foxhead　dangled　a　foot　below　his　fist。　It　made　a　low　hum　as　he　whirled　it　in　a　double　loop。　〃You　can't　bloody　have　her。〃　He　started　forward；　keeping　the　medallion　spinning。　The　first　step　was　the　hardest；　but　he　had　a　promise　to　keep。
　　　The　fellow's　smile　faded。　Watching　the　flashing　foxhead　warily；　he　backed　away　on　his　toes。　The　same　light　that　glittered　on　the　whirling　silver；　from　the　single　window；　made　a　halo　around　him。　If　Mat　could　drive　him　that　far；　maybe　he　could　see　whether　a　six…story　drop　would　do　what　a　knife　could　not。
　　　Brand　livid　on　his　face；　the　fellow　backed　away；　sometimes　half…reaching　as　if　to　try　grabbing　past　the　medallion。　And　suddenly；　he　darted　to　one　side；　into　one　of　the　rooms。　This　one　had　a　door　that　he　pulled　shut　behind　him。　Mat　heard　the　bar　drop。
　　　Maybe　he　should　have　left　it　there；　but　without　thinking；　he　raised　a　foot　and　slammed　the　heel　of　his　boot　against　the　center　of　the　door。　Dust　leaped　off　the　rough　wood。　A　second　kick；　and　rotten　bar…catches　gave　way；　along　with　a　rusted　hinge。　The　door　fell　in；　hanging　at　a　slanted　angle。
　　　The　room　was　not　entirely　dark。　A　little　light　reached　it　from　the　window　at　the　end　of　the　hall；　just　one　door　away；　and　a　broken　triangle　of　mirror　leaning　against　the　far　wall　spread　a　faint　illumination。　That　mirror　let　him　see　everything　without　going　in。　Aside　from　that　and　a　piece　of　a　chair；　there　was　nothing　else　to　see。　The　only　openings　were　the　doorway　and　a　rathole　beside　the　mirror；　but　the　man　in　the　gray　coat　was　gone。
　　　〃Mat；〃　Elayne　called　faintly。　He　hurried　away　from　the　room　as　much　as　toward　her。　There　was　shouting　somewhere　below；　but　Nynaeve　and　the　rest　would　have　to　take　care　of　themselves　for　the　moment。
　　　Elayne　was　sitting　up；　working　her　jaw　and　wincing；　when　he　knelt　beside　her。　Dust　covered　her　dress；　her　hat　hung　askew；　some　of　the　plumes　broken；　and　her　red…gold　hair　looked　as　if　she　had　been　dragged　by　it。　〃He　hit　me　so　hard；〃　she　said　painfully。　〃I　don't　think　anything　is　broken；　but。。。　〃　Her　eyes　latched　on　to　his；　and　if　he　had　ever　thought　she　looked　at　him　as　if　he　were　a　stranger；　he　saw　it　for　true　now。　〃I　saw　what　you　did；　Mat。　With　him。　We　might　as　well　have　been　chickens　in　a　box　with　a　weasel。　Channeling　wouldn't　touch　him；　the　flows　melted　the　way　they　do　with　your。。。　〃　Glancing　at　the　medallion　still　hanging　from　his　fist；　she　drew　a　breath　that　did　interesting　things　to　that　oval　cut…out。　〃Thank　you；　Mat。　I　apologize　for　everything　I　ever　did　or　thought。〃　She　sounded　as　though　she　really　meant　it。　〃I　keep　building　up　toh　toward　you；〃　she　smiled　ruefully；　〃but　I　am　not　going　to　let　you　beat　me。　You　are　going　to　have　to　let　me　save　you　at　least　once　to　balance　matters。〃
　　　〃I'll　see　what　I　can　arrange；〃　he　said　dryly；　stuffing　the　medallion　into　a　coat　pocket。　Toh？　Beat　her？　Light！　The　woman　was　definitely　spending　too　much　time　with　Aviendha。
　　　Once　he　helped　her　to　her　feet；　she　looked　at　the　hallway；　at　Vanin　with　his　blood…smeared　face；　and　the　women　lying　where　they　had　fallen；　and　she　grimaced。　〃Oh；　Light！〃　she　breathed。　〃Oh；　blood　and　bloody　flaming　ashes！〃　Despite　the　situation；　he　gave　a　start。　It　was　not　just　that　he　had　never　expected　to　hear　those　words　out　of　her　mouth；　they　seemed　peculiar；　as　if　she　knew　the　sounds　but　not　the　meanings。　Somehow；　they　made　her　sound　younger　than　she　looked。
　　　Shaking　off　his　arm；　she　discarded　her　hat；　just　tossing　it　aside；　and　hurried　to　kneel　beside　the　nearest　Wise　Woman；　Reanne；　and　take　her　head　in　both　hands。　The　woman　lay　limp；　face　down　and　arms　stretched　out　as　though　she　had　been　tripped　up　running。　Toward　the　room　everyone　had　been　after；　toward　her　attacker；　not　away。
　　　〃This　is　beyond　me；〃　Elayne　muttered。　〃Where　is　Nynaeve？　Why　didn't　she　e　up　with　you；　Mat？　Nynaeve！〃　she　shouted　toward　the　stairs。
　　　〃No　need　to　shriek　like　a　cat；〃　Nynaeve　growled；　appearing　in　the　stairwell。　She　was　looking　back　over　her　shoulder　down　the　stairs；　though。　〃You　hold　her　tight；　you　hear　me？〃　she　shrieked　like　a　cat。　She　carried　her　hat；　and　shook　it　at　whoever　she　was　shouting　at。　〃You　let　her　get　away；　too；　and　I'll　box　your　ears　till　you　hear　bells　next　year！〃
　　　She　turned；　then；　and　her　eyes　nearly　bulged　out　of　her　head。　〃The　Light　shine　on　us；〃　she　breathed；　hurrying　to　bend　over　Janira。　One　touch；　and　she　straightened；　wincing　painfully。　He　could　have　told　her　the　woman　was　dead。　Nynaeve　seemed　to　take　death　personally。　Giving　herself　a　shake；　she　went　on　to　the　next；　Tamarla；　and　this　time　it　appeared　there　was　something　she　could　Heal。　It　also　appeared　Tamarla's　injuries　were　not　simple；　because　she　knelt　over　her；　frowning。　〃What　happened　here；　Mat？〃　she　demanded　without　looking　around　at　him。　Her　tone　made　him　sigh；　he　might　have　known　she　would　decide　it　was　his　fault。　〃Well；　Mat？　What　happened？　Will　you　speak　up；　man；　or　do　I　have　to　…　〃　He　never　learned　what　threat　she　intended　to　offer。
　　　Lan　had　followed　Nynaeve　out　of　the　stairwell；　of　course；　with　Sumeko　right　at　his　heels。　The　stout　Wise　Woman　took　one　look　at　the　hall　and　immediately　lifted　her　skirts　and　ran　to　Reanne。　She　did　give　Elayne　one　worried　glance　before　lowering　herself　to　her　knees　and　beginning　to　move　her　hands　over　Reanne　in　an　odd　way。　That　was　what　pulled　Nynaeve　up　short。
　　　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　she　said　sharply。　Not　halting　what　she　was　doing　to　Tamarla；　she　spared　the　round…faced　woman　only　short　glances；　but　they　were　as　piercing　as　her　voice。　〃Where　did　you　learn　that？〃
　　　Sumeko　gave　a　start；　but　her　hands　did　not　stop。　〃Forgive　me；　Aes　Sedai；〃　she　said　in　a　breathless；　disjointed　rush。　〃I　know　I'm　not　supposed　to。。。　She'll　die　if　I　don't。。。　I　know　I　wasn't　supposed　to　keep　trying　to。。。　I　just　wanted　to　learn；　Aes　Sedai。　Please。〃
　　　〃No；　no；　go　on；〃　Nynaeve　said　absently。　Most　of　her　attention　was　fixed　on　the　woman　under　her　hands；　but　not　all。　〃You　seem　to　know　a　few　things　even　I　…　That　is　to　say；　you　have　a　very　interesting　way　with　the　flows。　I　suspect　you'll　find　that　a　great　many　sisters　want　to　learn　from　you。〃　Half　under　her　breath；　she　added；　〃Maybe　now　they'll　leave　me　alone。〃　Sumeko　could　not　have　heard　that　last；　but　what　she　did　hear　dropped　her　chin　to　her　considerable　chest。　Her　hands　barely　paused；　though。
　　　〃Elayne；〃　Nynaeve　went　on；　〃would　you　look　for　the　Bowl；　please？　I　suspect　that　door　is　the　one。〃　She　nodded　to　the　correct　door；　standing　open　like　half　a　dozen　others。　That　made　Mat　blink　until　he　saw　two　tiny　cloth…wrapped　bundles　lying　in　front　of　it　where　the　looters　must　have　dropped　them。
　　　〃Yes；〃　Elayne　muttered。　〃Yes；　I　can　do　that　much；　at　least。〃　Half…raising　a　hand　toward　Vanin；　still　on　his　knees；　she　let　it　fall　with　a　sigh　and　strode　through　the　doorway；　which　almost　immediately　emitted　a　cloud　of　dust　and　the　sound　of　coughing。
　　　The　more…than…plump　Wise　Woman　had　not　been　the　only　one　following　Nynaeve　and　Lan。　Ieine　stalked　out　of　the　stairwell；　forcing　the　Taraboner　Darkfriend　in　front　of　her　by　means　of　an　arm　twisted　up　into　her　back　and　a　fist　clutching　the　back　of　her　neck。　Ieine's　jaw　was　set；　her　mouth　tight；　her　face　was　half　frightened　certainty　that　she　would　be　skinned　alive　for　manhandling　an　Aes　Sedai；　and　half　determination　to　hold　on　no　matter　what。　Nynaeve　had　that　effect　on　people；　sometimes。　The　Black　sister　was　wide…eyed　with　terror；　sagging　so　she　surely　would　have　fallen　except　for　Ieine's　grip。　She　must　have　been　shielded；　certainly；　and　with　equal　surety　she　probably　would　have　chosen　being　skinned　to　whatever　was　going　to　happen　to　her。　Tears　began　leaking　from　her　eyes；　and　her　mouth　sagged　in　silent　sobs。
　　　Behind　them　came　Beslan；　who　gave　a　sad　sigh　at　the　sight　of　Nalesean　and　a　sadder　for　the　women；　and　then　Harnan　and　three　of　the　Redarms；　Fergin　and　Gorderan　and　Metwyn。　Three　who　had　been　at　the　front　of　the　building。　Harnan　and　two　of　the　others　had　bloody　gashes　in　their　coats；　but　Nynaeve　must　have　Healed　them　below。　They　did　not　move　as　if　they　still　had　injuries。　They　looked　very　subdued；　though。
　　　〃What　happened　at　the　back？〃　Mat　asked　quietly。
　　　〃Burn　me　if　I　know；〃　Harnan　replied。　〃We　walked　right　into　a　knot　of　shoulder　thumpers　with　knives　in　the　dark。　There　was　one；　moved　like　a　sn