rj.acrownofswords-第88部分

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ame　us。〃
　　　〃The　boy　is　the　same　age　as　you；〃　Thom　told　her　in　stuffy　tones。
　　　A　baffled　look　passed　between　Nynaeve　and　Elayne。　What　was　his　point？　Everyone　knew　that　a　man　did　not　achieve　his　proper　wits；　such　as　they　were；　until　ten　years　later　than　a　woman。
　　　The　puzzlement　faded　from　Elayne's　face；　replaced　by　firmness　and　no　little　anger　as　she　focused　on　Birgitte　again。　Words　were　going　to　be　said；　words　both　women　might　regret　tomorrow。
　　　〃If　you　and　Juilin　will　leave　us　now；　Thom；〃　Nynaeve　said　quickly。　It　was　extremely　unlikely　they　would　see　the　need　on　their　own。　〃You　need　your　sleep　to　be　fresh　first　thing　in　the　morning。〃　They　sat　there；　gaping　at　her　like　belled　fools；　so　she　made　her　tone　firmer。　〃Now？〃
　　　〃This　game　was　done　twenty　stones　ago；〃　Thom　said；　glancing　at　the　board。　〃What　do　you　say　we　go　down　to　our　own　room　and　start　another？　I'll　spot　you　ten　stones　to　place　as　you　will　any　time　during　the　game。〃
　　　〃Ten　stones？〃　Juilin　yelped；　scraping　back　his　chair。　〃Will　you　offer　me　fish　broth　and　milk…bread；　as　well？〃
　　　They　argued　all　the　way　out；　but　at　the　door；　each　of　them　glanced　back　in　sullen　resentment。　She　would　not　put　it　past　them　to　remain　awake　all　night　just　because　she　had　sent　them　to　bed。
　　　〃Mat　won't　corrupt　Beslan；〃　Birgitte　said　dryly　as　the　door　closed　behind　the　men。　〃I　doubt　nine　feather　dancers　with　a　shipload　of　brandy　could　corrupt　him。　They　wouldn't　know　where　to　begin。〃
　　　Nynaeve　was　relieved　to　hear　it；　though　something　was　odd　about　the　woman's　tone　…　likely　the　drink　…　but　Beslan　was　not　at　all　the　issue。　She　said　so；　and　Elayne　added；　〃No；　he　isn't。　You　got　drunk；　Birgitte！　And　I　felt　it。　I　still　feel　tipsy　if　I　don't　concentrate。　The　bond　is　not　supposed　to　work　that　way。　Aes　Sedai　don't　fall　over　giggling　if　their　Warders　drink　too　much。〃　Nynaeve　threw　up　her　hands。
　　　〃Don't　look　at　me　that　way；〃　Birgitte　said。　〃You　know　more　than　I　do。　Aes　Sedai　and　Warders　have　always　been　men　and　women　before。　Maybe　that's　the　difference。　Maybe　we　are　too　alike。〃　Her　grin　was　skewed　slightly。　There　had　not　been　near　enough　water　in　that　pitcher。　〃That　might　be　embarrassing；　I　suppose。〃
　　　〃If　we　could　stay　with　what　is　important？〃　Nynaeve　said　tightly。　〃Such　as　Mat？〃　Elayne　had　her　mourn　open　for　a　retort　to　Birgitte；　but　she　closed　it　quickly；　the　red　spots　in　her　cheeks　most　definitely　chagrin　this　time。　〃Now；〃　Nynaeve　went　on。　〃Will　Mat　be　here　in　the　morning；　or　is　he　in　the　same　revolting　state　as　you？〃
　　　〃He　might　e；〃　Birgitte　said；　taking　a　cup　of　mint　tea　from　Aviendha；　who　of　course　sat　down　on　the　floor。　Elayne　frowned　at　her　a　moment；　then；　of　all　things；　folded　up　her　legs　and　sat　beside　her！
　　　〃What　do　you　mean；　he　might？〃　Nynaeve　demanded。　She　channeled；　and　the　chair　she　had　been　sitting　in　floated　over　to　her；　and　if　it　banged　to　the　floor；　she　meant　it　to。　Drinking　too　much；　sitting　on　the　floor。　What　was　next？　〃If　he　expects　us　to　e　to　him　on　hands　and　knees。。。！〃
　　　Birgitte　took　a　sip　of　the　tea　with　a　grateful　murmur；　and　oddly；　when　she　looked　at　Nynaeve　again；　she　did　not　seem　so　intoxicated。　〃I　talked　him　out　of　that。　I　don't　think　he　was　really　serious。　All　he　wants　now　is　an　apology　and　thanks。〃
　　　Nynaeve's　eyes　popped。　She　had　talked　him　out　of　that？　Apologize？　To　Matrim　Cauthon？　〃Never；〃　she　growled。
　　　〃For　what？〃　Elayne　wanted　to　know；　as　if　that　mattered。　She　pretended　not　to　see　Nynaeve's　glare。
　　　〃The　Stone　of　Tear；〃　Birgitte　said；　and　Nynaeve's　head　whipped　around。　The　woman　no　longer　sounded　intoxicated　at　all。　〃He　says　he　went　into　the　Stone；　him　and　Juilin；　to　free　the　pair　of　you　from　a　dungeon　you　couldn't　escape　on　your　own。〃　She　shook　her　head　slowly；　in　wonder。　〃I　don't　know　that　I　would　have　done　that　for　anyone　short　of　Gaidal。　Not　the　Stone。　He　says　you　gave　him　a　backhanded　thanks　and　made　him　feel　he　ought　to　be　grateful　you　didn't　kick　him。〃
　　　It　was　true；　in　a　way；　but　all　distorted。　There　Mat　had　been　with　that　mocking　grin　of　his；　saying　he　was　there　to　pull　their　chestnuts　off　the　fire　or　some　such。　Even　then　he　had　thought　he　could　tell　them　what　to　do。　〃Only　one　of　the　Black　sisters　was　on　guard　in　the　dungeon；〃　Nynaeve　muttered；　〃and　we　had　taken　care　of　her。〃　True；　they　hadn't　yet　been　able　to　figure　out　how　to　open　the　door；　shielded。　〃Be'lal　wasn't　really　interested　in　us；　anyway　…　it　was　just　to　lure　Rand。　Moiraine　may　already　have　killed　him；　by　then；　for　all　we　know。〃
　　　〃The　Black　Ajah。〃　Birgitte's　voice　was　flatter　than　the　floor　tiles。　〃And　one　of　the　Forsaken。　Mat　never　mentioned　them。　You　owe　him　thanks　on　your　knees；　Elayne。　Both　of　you　do。　The　man　deserves　it。　And　Juilin；　as　well。〃
　　　Blood　rushed　to　Nynaeve's　face。　He　had　never　mentioned。。。？　That　despicable；　despicable　man！　〃I　will　not　apologize　to　Matrim　Cauthon；　not　on　my　deathbed。〃
　　　Aviendha　leaned　toward　Elayne；　touching　her　knee。　〃Near…sister；　I　will　say　this　delicately。〃　She　looked　and　sounded　about　as　delicate　as　a　stone　post。　〃If　this　is　true；　you　have　toh　toward　Mat　Cauthon；　you　and　Nynaeve。　And　you　have　made　it　worse　since；　just　by　the　actions　I　have　seen。〃
　　　〃Toh！〃　Nynaeve　exclaimed。　Those　two　were　always　talking　about　this　toh　foolery。　〃We　aren't　Aiel；　Aviendha。　And　Mat　Cauthon　is　a　thorn　in　the　foot　to　everybody　he　meets。〃
　　　But　Elayne　was　nodding。　〃I　see。　You　are　right；　Aviendha。　But　what　must　we　do？　You　will　have　to　help　me；　near…sister。　I　don't　intend　to　try　to　bee　Aiel；　but　I。。。　I　want　you　to　be　proud　of　me。〃
　　　〃We　will　not　apologize！〃　Nynaeve　snapped。
　　　〃I　have　pride　in　knowing　you；〃　Aviendha　said；　touching　Elayne's　cheek　lightly。　〃An　apology　is　a　beginning；　yet　not　enough　to　meet　toh；　now。〃
　　　〃Are　you　listening　to　me？〃　Nynaeve　demanded。　〃I　said；　I　will　…　not　…　apologize！〃
　　　They　went　right　on　talking。　Only　Birgitte　looked　at　her；　and　the　woman　wore　a　smile　not　far　from　outright　laughter。　Nynaeve　throttled　her　braid　with　both　hands。　She　had　known　that　they　should　have　sent　Thom　and　Juilin。
　　　
　　　
Chapter　22　
（Flame　of　Tar　Valon）　
Small　Sacrifices　
　　　
　　　Squinting　up　at　the　sign　above　the　inn's　arched　door；　a　crudely　drawn　woman　with　a　walking　staff　peering　hopefully　into　the　distance；　Elayne　wished　she　were　back　in　her　bed　instead　of　up　with　the　sun。　Not　that　she　could　have　slept。　Mol　Hara　Square　stood　empty　behind　her　except　for　a　few　creaking　ox…　and　donkey…carts　on　their　way　to　the　markets；　a　scattering　of　women　balancing　huge　baskets　on　their　heads。　A　one…legged　beggar　sat　with　his　bowl　at　a　corner　of　the　inn；　the　first　of　many　who　would　dot　the　square　later；　she　had　already　given　him　a　silver　mark；　enough　to　feed　him　for　a　week　even　now；　but　he　tucked　it　under　his　ragged　coat　with　a　toothless　grin　and　waited　on。　The　sky　was　still　gray；　yet　the　day　already　promised　to　scorch。　Keeping　concentration　well　enough　to　ignore　the　heat　was　a　problem　this　morning。
　　　The　last　remnants　of　Birgitte's　morning…after　head　remained　in　the　back　of　her　own；　dwindling　but　not　yet　gone。　If　only　her　small　ability　with　Healing　had　not　proved　too　small。　She　hoped　Aviendha　and　Birgitte　would　manage　to　learn　something　useful　about　Carridin　this　morning；　in　their　Illusion　disguises。　Not　that　Carridin　would　know　any　of　them　from　a　shoemaker；　of　course；　but　it　was　best　to　be　careful。　She　felt　pride　that　Aviendha　had　not　asked　to　e　along　here；　had　in　fact　been　surprised　at　the　suggestion。　Aviendha　did　not　believe　she　needed　anyone　to　watch　her；　to　make　sure　she　did　what　was　needful。
　　　With　a　sigh；　she　straightened　her　dress；　though　there　was　no　need。　Blue　and　cream；　with　a　bit　of　cream…colored　Vandalra　lace；　the　garment　did　make　her　feel　just　a　touch。。。　exposed。　The　only　time　she　had　balked　at　donning　a　local　fashion　was　while　she　and　Nynaeve　traveled　to　Tanchico　with　the　Sea　Folk；　but　in　its　own　way；　Ebou　Dari　fashion　was　almost。。。　She　sighed　again。　She　was　just　trying　to　delay。　Aviendha　should　have　e　to　lead　her　by　the　hand。
　　　〃I　will　not　apologize；〃　Nynaeve　said　suddenly　at　her　shoulder。　She　clutched　her　own　gray　skirts　with　both　hands；　staring　at　The　Wandering　Woman　as　though　Moghedien　herself　waited　inside。　〃I　won't！〃
　　　〃You　should　have　worn　white　after　all；〃　Elayne　murmured；　earning　a　suspicious　sideways　glance。　After　a　moment；　she　added；　〃You　did　say　it　was　the　color　for　funerals。〃　Which　produced　a　satisfied　nod；　though　it　was　not　what　she　had　meant　at　all。　This　would　be　disaster　if　they　could　not　keep　peace　among　themselves。　Birgitte　had　had　to　settle　for　an　infusion　of　herbs　this　morning；　and　a　particularly　bitter　mix　at　that；　because　Nynaeve　claimed　she　was　not　angry　enough　to　channel。　She　had　gone　on　in　the　most　dramatic　manner　about　funeral　white　being　the　only　suitable　color；　insisted　she　was　not　ing；　until　Elayne　dragged　her　out　of　their　apartments；　and　announced　at　least　twenty　times　since　that　she　would　not　apologize。　Peace　had　to　be　kept；　but。。。　〃You　agreed　to　this；　Nynaeve。　No；　I　don't　want　to　hear　any　more　about　the　rest　of　us　bullying　you。　You　agreed。　So　stop　sulking。〃
　　　Nynaeve　spluttered；　eyes　going　wide　with　outrage。　She　was　not　to　be　diverted；　though；　despite　one　fiercely　incredulous　〃Sulking？〃　under　her　breath。　〃We　need　to　discuss　this　further；　Elayne。　There　is　no　need　to　be　so　hasty。　There　must　be　a　thousand　reasons　why　this　won't　work；　ta'veren　or　no　ta'veren；　and　Mat　Cauthon　is　nine　hundred　of　them。〃
　　　Elayne　gave　her　a　level　look。　〃Did　you　deliberately　choose　the　bitterest　herbs　that　would　work　this　morning？〃　Wide…eyed　outrage　turned　to　wide…eyed　innocence；　but　red　stained　Nynaeve's　cheeks。　Elayne　pushed　open　the　door。　Nynaeve　followed；　muttering。　Elayne　would　not　have　been　surprised　if　she　stuck　out　her　tongue；　too。　Sulky　was　not　even　in　it；　this　morning。
　　　The　smell　of　breads　baking　wafted　from　the　kitchens；　and　all　the　shutters　were　open　to　air　out　the　mon　room。　A　plump…cheeked　serving　woman　standing　atop　a　tall　stool　stretched　on　tiptoes　to　take　down　bedraggled　evergreen　branches　from　above　the　windows；　while　others　replaced　tables　and　benches　and　chairs　that　must　have　been　taken　away　for　the　dancing。　This　early；　no　one　else　was　about；　except　for　a　skinny　girl　in　a　white　apron；