rj.acrownofswords-第69部分

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ow　impatient。〃
　　　〃Great　Master。。。　〃　He　worked　his　mouth　to　find　moisture。　〃Great　Master；　there　are　witches。。。　Aes　Sedai。。。　here。　I　cannot　be　sure　how　many。　If　they　hear　a　whisper。。。　〃
　　　Waving　him　to　silence；　Sammael　paced　a　few　quick　steps；　three　times　up　and　back；　hands　clasped　behind　his　back。　He　did　not　look　worried；　only。。。　considering。　Finally　he　nodded。　〃I　will　send　you。。。　someone。。。　to　deal　with　these　Aes　Sedai。〃　He　barked　a　short　laugh。　〃I　almost　wish　I　could　see　their　faces。　Very　well。　You　have　a　little　while　longer。　Then　perhaps　someone　else　will　have　a　chance。〃　He　lifted　a　strand　of　Shiaine's　hair　with　a　finger；　she　still　did　not　move；　her　eyes　stared　unblinking。　〃This　child　would　certainly　leap　at　the　opportunity。〃
　　　Carridin　fought　down　a　stab　of　fear。　The　Chosen　cast　down　as　quickly　as　they　raised　up；　and　as　often。　Failure　never　went　unpunished。　〃Great　Master；　the　favor　I　asked　of　you。　If　I　might　know。。。　Have　you。。。　will　you　…？〃
　　　〃There　is　very　little　luck　in　you；　Carridin；〃　Sammael　said　with　another　smile。　〃You　had　better　hope　you　have　more　carrying　out　my　orders。　It　seems　that　someone　is　making　sure　at　least　some　of　Ishmael's　mands　are　still　carried　out。〃　He　was　smiling；　but　he　seemed　far　from　amused。　Or　perhaps　it　was　just　the　scar。　〃You　failed　him；　and　you've　lost　your　entire　family　for　it。　Only　my　hand　protects　you；　now。　Once；　long　ago；　I　saw　three　Myrddraal　make　a　man　give　them　his　wife　and　his　daughters　one　by　one；　then　beg　them　to　cut　off　his　right　leg；　then　the　left；　then　his　arms；　and　burn　out　his　eyes。〃　The　perfectly　ordinary　conversational　tone　made　the　recitation　worse　than　any　shouts　or　snarls　ever　could　have。　〃It　was　a　game　with　them；　you　understand；　to　see　how　much　they　could　make　him　beg　them　to　take。　They　left　his　tongue　for　last；　of　course；　but　there　wasn't　a　great　deal　of　him　remaining　by　then。　He　had　been　quite　powerful；　handsome　and　famous。　Envied。　No　one　would　ever　envy　what　they　finally　tossed　to　the　Trollocs。　You　wouldn't　believe　the　sounds　it　made。　Find　what　I　want；　Carridin。　You　will　not　like　it　if　I　withdraw　my　hand。〃
　　　Abruptly　there　was　a　vertical　line　of　light　in　the　air　before　the　Chosen。　It　seemed　to　turn　in　some　fashion；　widening　as　it　did　into　a　square。。。　hole。　Carridin　gaped。　He　was　staring　through　a　hole　in　the　air；　at　somewhere　full　of　gray　columns　and　thick　mist。　Sammael　stepped　through；　and　the　opening　snapped　shut；　a　brilliant　bar　of　light　that　vanished；　leaving　only　a　purple　afterimage　glowing　in　Carridin's　eyes。
　　　Unsteadily；　he　pushed　himself　to　his　feet。　Failure　was　always　punished；　but　no　one　survived　disobeying　one　of　the　Chosen。
　　　Suddenly　Shiaine　moved；　pleting　her　halted　rise　from　the　chair。　〃You　mark　me；　Bors；〃　she　began；　then　cut　off；　staring　at　the　window　where　he　had　been　standing。　Her　eyes　darted；　found　him；　and　she　jumped。　He　could　have　been　one　of　the　Chosen　himself　from　the　way　those　eyes　bulged。
　　　No　one　survived　disobeying　the　Chosen。　He　pressed　his　hands　against　his　temples。　His　head　felt　tight　to　bursting。　〃There　is　a　man　in　the　city；　Mat　Cauthon。　You　will　…　〃　She　gave　a　small　start；　and　he　frowned。　〃You　know　him？〃
　　　〃I　have　heard　the　name；〃　she　said　warily。　And　angrily；　he　would　have　said。　〃Few　linked　to　al'Thor　remain　unknown　for　long。〃　As　he　stepped　closer；　she　crossed　her　arms　protectively　in　front　of　herself；　and　held　her　place　with　an　obvious　effort。　〃What　is　a　seedy　farmboy　doing　in　Ebou　Dar？　How　did　he　…？〃
　　　〃Don't　bother　me　with　foolish　questions；　Shiaine。〃　His　head　had　never　hurt　like　this；　never。　It　felt　as　though　a　dagger　was　being　driven　into　his　skull　between　his　eyes。　No　one　survived。。。　〃You　will　put　your　circle　to　locating　Cauthon　immediately。　All　of　them。〃　Old　Cully　was　ing　tonight；　slipping　in　through　the　back　of　the　stables；　she　did　not　need　to　know　there　would　be　others。　〃Nothing　else　is　to　get　in　the　way。〃
　　　〃But　I　thought　…　〃
　　　She　broke　off　with　a　gasp　as　he　seized　her　neck。　A　slim　dagger　appeared　in　her　hand；　but　he　wrenched　it　away。　She　twisted　and　jerked；　but　he　drove　her　face　down　onto　the　table；　her　cheek　smudging　still…damp　ink　on　the　discarded　letter　to　Pedron　Niall。　The　dagger；　stabbing　down　just　in　front　of　her　eyes；　froze　her。　By　chance；　the　blade　piercing　the　paper　had　caught　an　ant　by　the　tip　of　one　leg。　It　struggled　as　vainly　as　she　had。
　　　〃You　are　an　insect；　Mili。〃　The　pain　in　his　head　made　his　voice　rasp。　〃It　is　time　you　understand　that。　One　insect　is　much　like　another；　and　if　one　won't　do。。。　〃　Her　eyes　followed　his　thumb　down；　and　when　it　flattened　on　the　ant；　she　flinched。
　　　〃I　live　to　serve　and　obey；　master；〃　she　breathed。　She　had　said　that　to　Old　Cully　every　time　he　saw　them　together；　but　never　before　to　him。
　　　〃And　this　is　how　you　will　obey。。。〃　No　one　survived　disobedience。　No　one。
　　　
　　　
Chapter　16　
（Flame　of　Tar　Valon）　
A　Touch　on　the　Cheek　
　　　
　　　The　Tarasin　Palace　was　a　mass　of　shining　marble　and　white　plaster；　with　screened　balconies　of　white…painted　wrought　iron　and　columned　walks　as　much　as　four　stories　above　the　ground。　Pigeons　wheeled　around　pointed　domes　and　tall；　balcony…wreathed　spires　banded　in　red　and　green　tiles；　glittering　in　the　sun。　Sharp…arched　gates　in　the　palace　itself　led　to　various　courtyards；　and　more　pierced　the　high　wall　hiding　the　gardens；　but　deep；　snowy　white　steps　ten　spans　wide　climbed　on　the　side　facing　Mol　Hara　Square　to　great　doors　carved　in　coiling　patterns　like　me　balcony　screens　and　covered　with　beaten　gold。
　　　The　dozen　or　so　guards　lined　up　before　those　doors；　sweating　in　the　sun；　wore　gilded　breastplates　over　green　coats　and　baggy　white　trousers　stuffed　into　dark　green　boots。　Green　cords　secured　thick　twists　of　white　cloth　around　glittering　golden　helmets；　with　the　long　ends　hanging　down　their　backs。　Even　their　halberds　and　the　scabbards　of　their　daggers　and　short　swords　shone　with　gold。　Guards　for　being　looked　at；　not　fighting。　But　then；　when　Mat　reached　the　top；　he　could　see　swordsmen's　calluses　on　their　hands。　Always　before　he　had　entered　through　one　of　the　stableyards；　to　peruse　the　palace　horses　in　passing；　but　this　time　he　was　going　in　the　way　a　lord　would。
　　　〃The　Light's　blessing　on　all　here；〃　he　said　to　their　officer；　a　man　not　much　older　than　he。　Ebou　Dari　were　polite　people。　〃I've　e　to　leave　a　message　for　Nynaeve　Sedai　and　Elayne　Sedai。　Or　to　give　it　to　them；　if　they've　returned。〃
　　　The　officer　stared　at　him；　looked　at　the　stairs　in　consternation。　Gold　cord　as　well　as　green　on　his　pointed　helmet　signified　some　rank　Mat　did　not　know；　and　he　carried　a　gilded　rod　instead　of　a　halberd；　with　a　sharp　end　and　a　hook　like　an　ox…goad。　By　his　expression；　no　one　had　ever　e　up　that　way　before。　Studying　Mat's　coat；　he　mulled　it　over　visibly；　and　at　last　decided　he　could　not　tell　him　to　go　away。　With　a　sigh；　the　man　murmured　a　benison　in　return　and　asked　Mat's　name；　pushed　open　a　small　door　in　one　of　the　larger　and　ushered　him　into　a　grand　entry　hall　encircled　by　five　stone…railed　balconies　beneath　a　domed　ceiling　painted　like　the　sky；　plete　with　clouds　and　a　sun。
　　　The　guard's　snapping　fingers　summoned　a　slim　young　serving　woman　in　a　white　dress；　sewn　up　on　the　left　to　show　green　petticoats　and　embroidered　on　the　left　breast　with　a　green　Anchor　and　Sword。　She　scurried　across　the　red…and…blue　marble　floor　looking　startled；　curtsying　to　Mat　and　the　officer　each。　Short　black　hair　framed　a　sweetly　pretty　face；　with　silken　olive　skin；　and　her　livery　had　the　deep　narrow　neckline　mon　to　all　women　except　nobles　in　Ebou　Dar。　For　once；　Mat　did　not　really　notice。　When　she　heard　what　he　wanted；　her　big　black　eyes　widened　even　more。　Aes　Sedai　were　not　unpopular　in　Ebou　Dar；　exactly；　but　most　Ebou　Dari　would　go　a　long　distance　out　of　their　way　to　avoid　one。
　　　〃Yes；　Sword…Lieutenant；〃　she　said；　bobbing　again。　〃Of　course；　Sword…Lieutenant。　May　it　please　you　to　follow　me；　my　Lord？〃　It　did。
　　　Outside；　Ebou　Dar　sparkled　white；　but　inside；　color　ran　wild。　There　seemed　to　be　miles　of　broad　corridor　in　the　palace；　and　here　the　high　ceiling　was　blue　and　the　walls　yellow；　there　the　walls　pale　red　and　the　ceiling　green；　changing　with　every　turn；　binations　to　jar　any　eye　but　a　Tinker's。　Mat's　boots　sounded　loud　on　floor　tiles　that　made　patterns　of　two　or　three　or　sometimes　four　colors　in　diamonds　or　stars　or　triangles。　Wherever　hallways　crossed　the　floor　was　a　mosaic　of　tiny　tiles；　intricate　swirls　and　scrolls　and　loops。　A　few　silk　tapestries　displayed　scenes　of　the　sea；　and　arched　niches　held　carved　crystal　bowls　and　small　statues　and　yellow　Sea　Folk　porcelain　that　would　fetch　a　fine　penny　anywhere。　Occasionally　a　liveried　servant　hurried　along　silently；　often　as　not　carrying　a　silver　tray；　or　a　golden。
　　　Normally；　displays　of　wealth　made　Mat　feel　fortable。　For　one　thing；　where　there　was　money；　some　might　stick　to　his　fingers。　This　time　he　felt　impatient；　more　so　by　the　step。　And　anxious。　The　last　time　he　had　felt　the　dice　rolling　so　hard　in　his　head　was　just　before　he　found　himself　with　three　hundred　of　the　Band；　a　thousand　of　Gaebril's　White　Lions　on　a　ridge　to　his　front　and　another　thousand　ing　hard　up　the　road　behind　him；　when　all　he　had　been　trying　to　do　was　ride　away　from　the　entire　mess。　That　time　he　had　avoided　the　chop　by　the　grace　of　other　men's　memories　and　more　luck　than　he　had　a　right　to。　The　dice　almost　always　meant　danger；　and　something　else　he　had　not　figured　out　yet。　The　prospect　of　having　his　skull　cracked　was　not　enough；　and　once　or　twice　there　had　been　no　possibility　of　such；　yet　the　uping　likelihood　of　Mat　Cauthon　dead　in　some　spectacular　fashion　seemed　the　most　usual　cause。　Unlikely；　maybe；　in　the　Tarasin　Palace；　but　unlikely　did　not　make　the　dice　go　away。　He　was　going　to　leave　his　message；　grab　Nynaeve　and　Elayne　by　the　scruff　of　the　neck　if　he　had　an　opportunity；　give　them　a　talking…to　that　made　their　ears　glow；　and　then　get　out。
　　　The　young　woman　glided　ahead　of　him　until　they　reached　a　short；　bullish　man　a　little　older　than　she；　another　servant；　in　tight　white　breeches；　a　white　shirt　with　wide　sleeves；　and　a　long　green　vest　with　the　Anchor　and　Sword　of　House　Mitsobar　in　a　white　disc。　〃Master　Jen；〃　she　said；　curtsying　once　more；　〃this　is　Lord　Mat　Cauthon；