rj.acrownofswords-第92部分

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；　e　along。　It's　lucky　for　you　I　like　Lord　Mat。〃
　　　Elayne　held　on　to　cool　posure　by　a　fingernail。　Sulky　pouting？　Sulky　pouting！　When　she　had　the　chance；　she　was　going　to　kick　Nynaeve　where　it　hurt！
　　　
　　　
Chapter　23　
（Serpent　and　Wheel）　
Next　Door　to　a　Weaver　
　　　
　　　Nynaeve　did　want　to　talk　to　Elayne；　away　from　the　innkeeper's　ears；　but　she　did　not　find　the　chance　right　away。　The　woman　marched　them　out　of　the　room　doing　a　fine　imitation　of　a　guard　on　prisoners；　her　stony　impatience　undented　by　the　wary　look　she　cast　at　Mat's　door。　At　the　back　of　the　inn　a　set　of　unrailed　stone　steps　led　down　into　a　large　hot　kitchen　full　of　baking　smells；　where　the　roundest　woman　Nynaeve　had　ever　seen　was　wielding　a　large　wooden　spoon　like　a　scepter；　directing　three　others　in　sliding　crusty　brown　loaves　from　the　ovens　and　replacing　them　with　rolls　of　pale　dough。　A　large　pot　of　the　coarse　white　porridge　that　was　eaten　for　breakfast　hereabout　bubbled　gently　on　one　of　the　white…tiled　stoves。
　　　〃Enid；〃　Mistress　Anan　addressed　the　round　woman；　〃I　am　going　out　for　a　little　while。　I　need　to　take　these　two　children　to　someone　who　has　time　to　mother　them　properly。〃
　　　Wiping　broad；　floury　hands　on　a　piece　of　white　toweling；　Enid　studied　Nynaeve　and　Elayne　disapprovingly。　Everything　about　her　was　round；　her　sweaty　olive…skinned　face；　her　dark　eyes；　all　of　her；　she　seemed　made　of　very　large　balls　stuffed　into　a　dress。　The　marriage　knife　she　wore　hanging　outside　her　snowy　apron　sparkled　with　a　full　dozen　stones。　〃Is　this　the　pair　of　barkers　Caira　was　chattering　about；　Mistress？　Fancy　bits　for　the　young　Lord's　taste；　I'd　have　said。　He　likes　them　with　a　bit　of　wiggle。〃　That　amused　her；　by　her　tone。
　　　The　innkeeper　shook　her　head　in　vexation。　〃I　told　that　girl　to　hold　her　tongue。　I　won't　let　that　sort　of　rumor　touch　The　Wandering　Woman。　Remind　Caira　for　me；　Enid；　and　use　your　spoon　to　get　her　attention；　if　need　be。〃　The　gaze　she　turned　on　Nynaeve　and　Elayne　was　so　disparaging　that　Nynaeve　nearly　gasped。　〃Would　anyone　with　half　their　wits　believe　these　two　were　Aes　Sedai？　Spent　all　their　coin　on　dresses　to　impress　the　man；　and　now　they'd　starve　unless　they　smile　for　him。　Aes　Sedai！〃　Giving　Enid　no　chance　to　answer；　she　seized　Nynaeve's　ear　with　her　right　hand；　Elayne's　with　her　left；　and　in　three　quick　steps　had　them　out　into　the　stableyard。
　　　That　was　as　long　as　Nynaeve's　shock　held。　Then　she　pulled　free；　or　tried　to；　because　the　woman　let　go　at　the　same　instant　and　she　stumbled　half　a　dozen　paces；　glaring　indignantly。　She　had　not　bargained　for　being　dragged　about。　Elayne's　chin　rose；　her　blue　eyes　so　cold　Nynaeve　would　not　have　been　surprised　to　see　frost　forming　in　her　curls。
　　　Hands　on　hips；　Mistress　Anan　seemed　not　to　notice。　Or　perhaps　she　simply　did　not　care。　〃I　can　hope　no　one　in　there　believes　Caira　after　that；〃　she　said　calmly。　〃If　I　could　have　been　sure　you　had　the　wits　to　keep　your　mouths　shut；　I'd　have　said　and　done　more；　and　made　certain。〃　She　was　calm；　but　not　at　all　pleasant　or　soft；　they　had　troubled　her　morning。　〃Now　follow　me　and　don't　get　lost。　Or　if　you　do；　do　not　show　your　faces　anywhere　near　my　inn　again；　or　I'll　send　somebody　to　the　palace　to　tell　Merilille　and　Teslyn。　They　are　two　of　the　real　sisters；　and　they'll　probably　rip　you　each　down　the　middle　and　share　you　out。〃
　　　Elayne　shifted　her　gaze　from　the　innkeeper　to　Nynaeve。　Not　a　glare；　or　a　frown；　yet　a　very　meaning　look　just　the　same。　Nynaeve　wondered　whether　she　was　going　to　be　able　to　go　through　with　this。　The　thought　of　Mat　convinced　her；　any　chance　was　better　than　that。
　　　〃We　won't　lose　ourselves；　Mistress　Anan；〃　she　said；　striving　for　meekness。　She　thought　she　did　fairly　well；　considering　how　foreign　meekness　was　to　her。　〃Thank　you　for　helping　us。〃　Smiling　at　the　innkeeper；　she　did　her　best　to　ignore　Elayne；　whose　stare　became　more　meaningful；　hard　as　that　was　to　credit。　Looks　or　no　looks；　she　had　to　make　sure　the　woman　continued　to　think　them　worth　the　trouble。　〃We　are　truly　grateful；　Mistress　Anan。〃
　　　Mistress　Anan　eyed　her　askance；　then　sniffed　and　shook　her　head。　When　this　was　done；　Nynaeve　decided；　she　was　going　to　drag　the　innkeeper　to　the　palace；　if　need　be；　and　make　the　other　sisters　acknowledge　her　in　Mistress　Anan's　presence。
　　　This　early；　the　stableyard　was　empty　save　for　a　lone　boy　of　ten　or　twelve　with　a　bucket　and　a　sieve　who　sprinkled　water　to　dampen　the　hard…packed　ground　against　dust。　The　white　plastered　stable's　doors　were　wide　open；　and　a　barrow　sat　in　front　with　a　dung…fork　resting　across　it。　Sounds　like　a　huge　frog　being　stepped　on　floated　out；　Nynaeve　decided　it　was　a　man　singing。　Would　they　have　to　ride　to　reach　their　destination？　Even　a　short　journey　would　not　be　pleasant；　walking　only　across　the　square　and　meaning　to　be　back　before　the　sun　rose　very　high；　they　had　brought　neither　hats　nor　parasols　nor　hooded　cloaks。
　　　Mistress　Anan　led　them　through　the　stableyard；　however；　down　a　narrow　alleyway　between　the　stable　and　a　high　wall　that　had　drought…bedraggled　trees　poking　above　the　top。　Someone's　garden；　no　doubt。　A　small　gate　at　the　end　let　into　a　dusty　alley　so　cramped　dawn　had　not　pletely　reached　it　yet。
　　　〃You　children　keep　up　now；　mind　you；〃　the　innkeeper　told　them；　starting　away　down　the　dim　alley。　〃You　lose　yourselves；　and　I　vow　I'll　go　to　the　palace　myself。〃
　　　Nynaeve　took　a　grip　on　her　braid　with　both　hands　as　she　followed；　to　keep　them　from　the　Anan　woman's　throat。　How　she　yearned　for　her　first　gray　hairs。　First　the　other　Aes　Sedai；　then　the　Sea　Folk　…　Light；　she　did　not　want　to　think　about　them！　…　and　now　an　innkeeper！　No　one　took　you　seriously　until　you　had　at　least　a　little　gray；　even　an　Aes　Sedai's　ageless　face　could　not　possibly　do　as　well　in　her　estimation。
　　　Elayne　was　lifting　her　skirts　out　of　the　dust；　though　their　slippers　still　kicked　up　little　puffs　that　settled　on　the　hems　of　their　dresses。　〃Let　me　see；〃　Elayne　said　softly；　looking　straight　ahead。　Softly；　but　coolly。　Very　coolly；　in　fact。　She　had　a　way　of　slashing　someone　to　tatters　without　letting　her　tone　heat　that　Nynaeve　admired。　Usually。　Now；　it　just　made　her　want　to　box　the　other　woman's　ears。　〃We　could　be　back　in　the　palace　drinking　blueberry　tea　and　enjoying　the　breezes　while　we　waited　for　Master　Cauthon　to　move　his　belongings。　Perhaps　Aviendha　and　Birgitte　might　return　with　something　useful。　We　could　finally　be　settling　exactly　what　to　do　with　the　man。　Do　we　simply　follow　him　along　the　streets　of　the　Rahad　and　see　what　happens；　or　take　him　into　buildings　that　look　likely；　or　let　him　choose？　There　must　be　a　hundred　worthwhile　uses　for　this　morning；　including　deciding　whether　it's　safe　to　go　back　to　Egwene　…　ever　…　after　that　bargain　the　Sea　Folk　wrung　out　of　us。　We　have　to　talk　about　that　sooner　or　later；　ignoring　it　won't　help。　Instead；　we　are　off　on　a　walk　of　who　knows　what　length；　squinting　into　the　sun　the　whole　way　if　we　keep　on　as　we　are；　to　visit　women　who　feed　runaways　from　the　Tower。　Myself；　I　don't　have　much　interest　in　catching　runaways　this　morning　or　any　morning。　But　I'm　sure　you　can　explain　it　so　I　will　understand。　I　do　so　want　to　understand；　Nynaeve。　I　would　hate　to　think　I'm　going　to　kick　you　the　length　of　the　Mol　Hara　for　nothing。〃
　　　Nynaeve's　eyebrows　drew　down。　Kick　her？　Elayne　really　was　being　violent；　spending　so　much　time　with　Aviendha。　Someone　ought　to　slap　some　sense　into　that　pair。　〃The　sun　isn't　high　enough　to　make　us　squint　yet；〃　she　muttered。　It　would　be　soon；　unfortunately。　〃Think；　Elayne。　Fifty　women　who　can　channel；　helping　wilders　and　women　put　out　of　the　Tower。〃　She　felt　guilty　sometimes；　using　the　term　wilders；　in　the　mouths　of　most　Aes　Sedai；　it　was　an　insult；　but　she　intended　to　make　them　speak　it　as　a　badge　of　pride　one　day。　〃And　she　called　them　'the　Circle。'　That　doesn't　sound　like　a　few　friends　to　me。　It　sounds　organized。〃　The　alley　meandered　between　high　walls　and　the　backs　of　buildings；　many　showing　bare　brick　through　the　plaster；　between　palace　gardens　and　shops　where　an　open　back　door　revealed　silversmiths　or　tailors　or　wood…carvers　at　work。　Every　so　often　Mistress　Anan　looked　over　her　shoulder　to　make　sure　they　still　followed。　Nynaeve　gave　her　smiles　and　nods　she　hoped　would　convey　eagerness。
　　　〃Nynaeve；　if　two　women　who　could　channel　made　a　society；　the　Tower　would　fall　on　them　like　a　pack　of　wolves。　How　would　Mistress　Anan　know　whether　they　can　or　not；　anyway？　Women　who　can　and　aren't　Aes　Sedai　do　not　go　about　making　a　show　of　themselves；　you　know。　Not　for　very　long；　anyway。　In　any　case；　I　can't　see　it　makes　a　difference。　Egwene　might　want　to　bring　every　woman　who　can　channel　into　the　Tower　somehow；　but　that　is　not　what　we　are　about　here。〃　The　frosty　patience　in　Elayne's　voice　tightened　Nynaeve's　hands　on　her　braid。　How　could　the　woman　be　so　dense？　She　bared　her　teeth　again　for　Mistress　Anan；　and　managed　not　to　scowl　at　the　innkeeper's　back　when　her　head　turned　forward　once　more。
　　　〃Fifty　women　isn't　two；〃　Nynaeve　whispered　fiercely。　They　could　channel；　they　must　be　able　to；　everything　hinged　on　that。　〃It's　beyond　reason　that　this　Circle　can　be　in　the　same　city　with　a　storeroom　packed　full　of　angreal　and　such　without　at　least　knowing　of　it。　And　if　they　do。。。　〃　She　could　not　keep　satisfaction　from　honeying　her　voice。　〃。。。　we'll　have　found　the　Bowl　without　Master　Matrim　Cauthon。　We　can　forget　those　absurd　promises。〃
　　　〃They　were　not　a　bribe；　Nynaeve；〃　Elayne　said　absently。　〃I　will　keep　them；　and　so　will　you；　if　you　have　any　honor；　and　I　know　you　do。〃　She　was　spending　entirely　too　much　time　with　Aviendha。　Nynaeve　wished　she　knew　why　Elayne　had　begun　thinking　they　all　had　to　follow　this　preposterous　Aiel　ji…whatever…it…was。
　　　Elayne　bit　her　underlip；　frowning。　All　that　iciness　seemed　to　have　vanished；　she　was　herself　again；　apparently。　Finally　she　said；　〃We　would　never　have　gone　to　the　inn　without　Master　Cauthon；　so　we'd　never　have　met　the　remarkable　Mistress　Anan　or　been　taken　to　this　Circle。　So　if　the　Circle　does　lead　us　to　the　Bowl；　we　have　to　say　he　was　the　root　cause。〃
　　　Mat　Cauthon；　his　name　boiled　in　her　head。　Nynaeve　stumbled　over　her　own　feet　and　let　go　of　her　braid　to　lift　her　skirts。　The　alley　was　hardly　as　smooth　as　a