rj.theshadowrising-第132部分

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ess　of　the　Garden　of　Silver　Breezes；　a　sleek　woman　of　indeterminate　age　named　Selindrin；　allowed　no　weapons　past　the　street　now。　Her　rule　was　not　broken；　at　least　openly。
　　　　　　　From　her　usual　table　against　the　balustrade；　Egeanin　watched　the　ships　in　the　harbor；　especially　those　under　sail。　They　made　her　want　to　be　back　on　a　deck　giving　orders。　She　had　never　expected　duty　to　bring　her　to　this。
　　　　　　　Unconsciously　she　adjusted　the　velvet　mask　that　hid　the　upper　half　of　her　face；　she　felt　ridiculous　wearing　the　thing；　but　it　was　necessary　to　blend　in　to　some　extent。　The　mask　…　blue　to　match　her　high…necked　silk　gown　…　the　gown　itself；　and　her　dark　hair；　grown　down　to　her　shoulders　now；　were　as　far　as　she　could　make　herself　go。　Passing　for　a　Taraboner　was　unnecessary　…　Tanchico　bulged　with　refugees；　a　good　many　of　them　foreigners　swept　up　in　the　troubles　…　and　it　was　beyond　her　in　any　case。　These　people　were　animals；　they　had　no　discipline；　no　order。
　　　　　　　Regretfully；　she　turned　from　the　harbor　to　her　table　panion；　a　narrow…faced　fellow　with　a　weasel's　greedy　smile。　Floran　Gelb's　frayed　collar　did　not　belong　in　the　Garden　of　Silver　Breezes；　and　he　continually　wiped　his　hands　on　his　coat。　She　always　met　them　here；　the　greasy　little　men　she　was　forced　to　deal　with。　It　was　a　reward　for　them；　and　a　means　of　keeping　them　off　balance。
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　have　for　me；　Master　Gelb？〃
　　　　　　　Wiping　his　hands　again；　he　lifted　a　coarse　jute　bag　onto　the　table　and　watched　her　anxiously。　She　held　the　bag　down　beside　her　before　opening　it。　A　silvery　metal　a'dam　lay　inside；　a　collar　and　bracelet　connected　by　a　leash　cunningly　worked　and　joined。　She　closed　the　bag　and　set　it　on　the　floor。　This　made　three　that　Gelb　had　recovered；　more　than　anyone　else。
　　　　　　　〃Very　good；　Master　Gelb。〃　A　small　purse　went　across　the　table　the　other　way；　Gelb　made　it　disappear　under　his　coat　as　if　it　held　the　Empress's　crown　instead　of　a　handful　of　silver。　〃And　do　you　have　anything　else？〃
　　　　　　　〃Those　women。　The　ones　you　want　me　to　look　for？〃　She　had　grown　used　to　the　quick　speech　of　these　people；　but　she　wished　he　would　not　lick　his　lips　that　way。　It　did　not　make　him　any　harder　to　understand；　but　it　was　unsightly。
　　　　　　　She　very　nearly　told　him　she　was　not　interested　anymore。　But　this　was　a　part　of　why　she　was　in　Tanchico；　after　all；　maybe　the　whole　reason；　now。　〃What　of　them？〃　That　she　could　even　think　of　shirking　her　duty　made　her　speak　more　harshly　than　she　had　intended；　and　Gelb　flinched。
　　　　　　　〃I。。。　I　think　I've　found　another　one。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　are　sure？　There　have　been。。。　mistakes。〃
　　　　　　　Mistakes　was　a　gentle　way　to　put　it。　Near　a　dozen　women　who　came　only　vaguely　near　the　descriptions　had　been　nuisances　she　could　ignore　once　she　had　seen　them。　But　that　noblewoman；　a　refugee　from　estates　burned　out　by　the　war。　Gelb　had　kidnapped　the　woman　off　the　street；　thinking　to　earn　more　for　delivering　her　than　for　telling　where　she　was。　In　his　defense；　the　Lady　Leilwin　closely　matched　one　of　the　women　Egeanin　sought；　but　she　had　told　him　they　would　not　speak　with　any　accent　he　recognized；　certainly　not　a　Taraboner　accent。　Egeanin　had　not　wanted　to　kill　the　woman；　yet　even　in　Tanchico　someone　might　have　listened　to　her　story。　Leilwin　had　gone　bound　and　gagged　onto　one　of　the　courier　boats　in　the　dead　of　night；　she　was　young　and　pretty；　and　someone　would　find　a　better　use　for　her　than　slitting　her　throat。　But　Egeanin　was　not　in　Tanchico　to　find　serving　girls　for　the　Blood。
　　　　　　　〃No　mistakes；　Mistress　Elidar；〃　he　said　hastily；　flashing　that　smile　full　of　teeth。　〃Not　this　time。　But。　。　。　I　need　a　little　gold。　To　be　sure。　To　get　close　enough。　Four　or　five　crowns？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　pay　for　results；〃　Egeanin　told　him　firmly。　〃After　your。。。　mistakes；　you　are　lucky　that　I　pay　you　at　all。〃
　　　　　　　Gelb　licked　his　lips　nervously。　〃You　said。。。　Back　in　the　beginning；　you　said　you'd　have　a　few　coins　for　those　as　could　do　special　sorts　of　work。〃　A　muscle　in　his　cheek　twitched；　his　eyes　darted　as　if　someone　might　be　listening　at　the　lace…carved　wall　around　three　sides　of　the　table；　and　his　voice　dropped　to　a　hoarse　whisper。　〃Stirring　up　trouble；　as　it　were？　I　heard　a　rumor　…　from　a　fellow　who's　body…servant　to　Lord　Brys　…　about　the　Assembly；　and　choosing　the　new　Panarch。　I　think　maybe　it's　true。　The　man　was　drunk；　and　when　he　realized　what　he　had　said；　he　nearly　fouled　himself。　Even　if　it　isn't；　it　would　still　rip　Tanchico　wide　open。〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　really　believe　there　is　any　need　to　buy　trouble　in　this　city？〃　Tanchico　was　a　rotting　bellfruit　ready　to　fall　in　the　first　wind。　The　whole　of　this　wretched　land　was。　For　a　moment　she　was　tempted　to　buy　his　〃rumor。〃　She　was　supposed　to　be　a　trader　in　whatever　goods　or　information　came　along；　and　she　had　even　sold　some。　But　dealing　with　Gelb　sickened　her。　And　her　own　doubts　frightened　her。　〃That　will　be　all；　Master　Gelb。　You　know　how　to　make　contact　with　me　if　you　find　another　of　these。〃　She　touched　the　rough…woven　sack。
　　　　　　　Instead　of　rising；　he　sat　staring；　trying　to　see　through　her　mask。　〃Where　are　you　from；　Mistress　Elidar？　The　way　you　talk；　all　slurred　out　and　soft…like　…　begging　your　pardon；　no　offense　meant　…　I　can't　place　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　will　be　all；　Gelb。〃　Maybe　it　was　the　quarterdeck　voice；　or　maybe　the　mask　failed　to　hide　her　cold　stare；　but　Gelb　bounced　to　his　feet；　ducking　bows　and　stammering　apologies　while　he　fumbled　open　the　door　in　the　lacework　wall。
　　　　　　　She　sat　there　after　he　was　gone；　giving　him　time　to　leave　the　Garden　of　Silver　Breezes。　Someone　would　follow　him　outside；　to　make　certain　he　did　not　wait　to　shadow　her。　All　this　skulking　and　hiding　disgusted　her；　she　almost　wished　something　would　destroy　her　disguise　and　give　her　an　honest　face…to…face　fight。
　　　　　　　A　new　ship　was　sweeping　into　the　harbor　below；　a　Sea　Folk　raker　with　its　towering　masts　and　clouds　of　sail。　She　had　examined　a　captured　raker；　but　she　would　have　given　almost　anything　to　take　one　out；　though　she　expected　a　Sea　Folk　crew　would　be　necessary　to　wring　the　most　from　the　vessel。　The　Atha'an　Miere　were　stubborn　about　taking　the　oaths；　it　would　not　be　as　good　if　she　had　to　buy　a　crew。　Buy　an　entire　crew！　The　amount　of　gold　that　came　in　by　the　courier　boats　for　her　to　fling　about　was　going　to　her　head。
　　　　　　　Taking　up　the　jute　bag；　she　started　to　rise；　then　sat　back　down　hurriedly　at　the　sight　of　a　wide；　thick…shouldered　man　leaving　another　table。　Dark　hair；　long　to　his　shoulders；　and　a　beard　that　left　his　upper　lip　bare　framed　Bayle　Domon's　round　face。　He　was　not　masked；　of　course；　he　ran　a　dozen　coasting　vessels　in　and　out　of　Tanchico　and　apparently　did　not　care　who　knew　his　whereabouts。　Masked。　She　was　not　thinking　straight。　He　would　not　recognize　her　in　a　mask。　Still；　she　waited　until　he　was　gone　before　leaving　her　table。　The　man　might　have　to　be　dealt　with　yet；　if　he　became　a　danger。
　　　　　　　Selindrin　took　the　gold　she　proffered　with　a　sleek　smile　and　murmured　wishes　for　Egeanin's　continued　patronage。　Dark　hair　in　dozens　of　narrow　braids；　the　proprietress　of　the　Garden　of　Silver　Breezes　wore　clinging　white　silk；　nearly　thin　enough　for　a　serving　girl；　and　one　of　those　transparent　veils　that　always　made　Egeanin　want　to　ask　Taraboners　what　dances　they　could　perform。　Shea　dancers　wore　almost　identical　veils　and　little　more。　Still；　Egeanin　thought　as　she　started　toward　the　street；　the　woman　had　a　sharp　mind；　else　she　could　not　maneuver　through　the　shoals　of　Tanchico；　catering　to　every　faction　while　earning　the　enmity　of　none。
　　　　　　　A　reminder　of　that　was　the　tall；　white…cloaked　man；　gray　at　the　temples　but　hard…faced　and　hard…eyed；　who　passed　Egeanin　and　was　greeted　by　Selindrin。　Jaichim　Carridin's　cloak　bore　a　golden　sunburst　on　the　breast；　with　four　golden　knots　below　and　a　crimson　shepherd's　crook　behind。　An　Inquisitor　of　the　Hand　of　the　Light；　a　high　officer　in　the　Children　of　the　Light。　The　very　concept　of　the　Children　outraged　Egeanin；　a　military　body　answerable　only　to　itself。　But　Carridin　and　his　few　hundred　soldiers　had　power　of　a　sort　in　Tanchico；　where　any　kind　of　authority　seemed　to　be　lacking　most　of　the　time。　The　Civil　Watch　no　longer　patrolled　the　streets；　and　the　army　…　as　much　as　was　still　loyal　to　the　King　…　was　too　busy　holding　the　fortresses　around　the　city。　Egeanin　noted　that　Selindrin　did　not　even　glance　at　the　sword　on　Carridin's　hip。　He　definitely　had　power。
　　　　　　　As　soon　as　she　stepped　into　the　street　her　bearers　came　running　with　her　chair　from　the　cluster　waiting　for　their　patrons；　and　her　bodyguards　closed　in　around　her　with　their　spears。　They　were　a　mismatched　lot；　some　in　steel　caps；　three　wearing　leather　shirts　sewn　with　steel　scales；　rough…faced　men；　possibly　deserters　from　the　army；　but　aware　that　continued　full　bellies　and　silver　to　spend　depended　on　her　continued　safety。　Even　the　bearers　carried　stout　knives；　and　cudgels　stuck　out　of　their　sashes。　No　one　who　looked　as　though　they　had　money　dared　appear　out…of…doors　unguarded。　In　any　case；　had　she　cared　to　risk　it；　it　would　only　draw　attention　to　her。
　　　　　　　The　guards　forced　a　way　through　the　crowds　with　no　trouble。　The　throngs　eddied　and　swirled　in　the　narrow　streets　that　wound　through　the　city's　hills；　creating　clear　pockets　around　sedan　chairs　surrounded　by　bodyguards。　There　were　very　few　carriages　to　be　seen。　Horses　were　being　an　extravagance。
　　　　　　　Worn　was　the　only　fit　description　for　the　milling　masses；　worn　and　frenzied。　Worn　faces；　worn　clothes；　and　too…bright；　frenzied　eyes；　desperate；　hoping　when　they　knew　there　was　no　hope。　Many　had　surrendered；　crouching　against　walls；　huddled　in　doorways；　clutching　wives；　husbands；　children；　not　simply　worn　but　ragged　and　blank…faced。　Sometimes　they　roused　enough　to　cry　out　to　some　passerby　for　a　coin；　a　crust；　anything。
　　　　　　　Egeanin　kept　her　eyes　straight　ahead；　of　necessity　trusting　the　bodyguards　to　detect　any　danger。　Meeting　a　beggar's　eyes　meant　twenty　of　them　jamming　themselves　hopefully　around　her　chair。　Tossing　a　coin　meant　a　hundred　crowding　in；　clamoring　and　weeping。　She　was　already　using　part　of　the　money　the　courier　boats　brought　to　support　a　soup　kitchen；　just　as　if　she　were　one　of　the　Blood。　She　shuddered　to　think　what　discovery　of　that　overstepping　of　her　place　would　mean。　As　well　put　o