rj.theshadowrising-第137部分

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he　had　to　know　more　if　she　hoped　to　avoid　the　Death　of　Ten　Thousand　Tears。　To　begin　with；　that　meant　spreading　more　money　to　Gelb　and　other　ferrety　skulkers　like　him；　finding　more　sul'dam　and　seeing　if　a'dam　held　them。　Beyond　that。。。　Beyond　that　she　was　sailing　uncharted　reefs　with　no　linesman　in　the　bow。
　　　　　　　Touching　the　crossbow；　still　lying　there　with　its　lethal　bolt；　she　realized　that　something　else　was　certain。　She　was　not　going　to　let　the　Seekers　kill　her。　Not　just　to　help　the　High　Lady　Suroth　keep　a　secret。　Perhaps　not　for　any　reason。　It　was　a　thought　shiveringly　close　to　treason；　but　it　would　not　go　away。

Chapter　39
（Harp）
A　Cup　of　Wine
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　When　Elayne　came　on　deck　with　her　things　neatly　bundled；　the　setting　sun　seemed　to　be　just　touching　the　water　out　beyond　the　mouth　of　Tanchico's　harbor；　and　the　final　thick　hawsers　were　being　tied　to　snug　Wavedancer　to　a　ship…lined　dock；　only　one　of　many　along　this　westernmost　peninsula　of　the　city。　Some　of　the　crew　were　furling　the　last　sails。　Beyond　the　long　wharves　the　city　rose　on　hills；　shining　white；　domed　and　spired；　with　polished　weather　vanes　glittering。　Perhaps　a　mile　north　she　could　make　out　high；　round　walls；　the　Great　Circle；　if　she　remembered　correctly。
　　　　　　　Slinging　her　bundle　on　the　same　shoulder　as　her　leather　script；　she　went　to　join　Nynaeve　by　the　gangplank；　with　Coine　and　Jorin。　It　seemed　almost　odd　to　see　the　sisters　fully　dressed　again；　in　bright　brocaded　silk　blouses　that　matched　their　wide　trousers。　Earrings　and　even　nose　rings　she　had　bee　used　to；　and　the　fine　gold　chain　across　each　woman's　dark　cheek　hardly　made　her　wince　at　all　now。
　　　　　　　Thom　and　Juilin　stood　apart　with　their　own　bundles；　looking　a　touch　sullen。　Nynaeve　had　been　right。　They　had　tried　to　second…guess；　starting　when　the　real　purpose　of　this　journey；　or　some　of　it；　was　revealed　to　them　two　days　ago。　Neither　seemed　to　think　two　young　women　were　petent　…　petent！　…　to　seek　the　Black　Ajah。　A　threat　by　Nynaeve　to　have　them　transferred　to　another　Sea　Folk　ship；　headed　the　other　way；　had　nipped　that　in　the　bud。　At　least　it　had　once　Toram　and　a　dozen　crewmen　gathered　ready　to　shove　them　into　a　boat　to　be　rowed　across。　Elayne　gave　them　a　searching　look。　Sullenness　meant　rebellion；　they　were　going　to　have　more　trouble　from　these　two。
　　　　　　　〃Where　will　you　go　now；　Coine？〃　Nynaeve　was　asking　as　Elayne　reached　them。〃To　Dantora；　and　the　Aile　Jafar；〃　the　Sailmistress　replied；　〃and　then　on　to　Cantorin　and　the　Aile　Somera；　spreading　news　of　the　Coramoor；　if　it　pleases　the　Light。　But　I　must　allow　Toram　to　trade　here；　or　he　will　burst。〃
　　　　　　　Her　husband　was　down　on　the　docks　now；　without　his　strange　wire…framed　lens；　bare…chested　and　be…ringed；　talking　earnestly　with　men　in　baggy　white　trousers　and　coats　embroidered　with　scrollwork　on　the　shoulders。　Each　Tanchican　wore　a　dark；　cylindrical　cap；　and　a　transparent　veil　across　his　face。　The　veils　looked　ridiculous；　especially　on　the　men　with　thick　mustaches。
　　　　　　　〃The　Light　send　you　a　safe　voyage；〃　Nynaeve　said；　shifting　her　bundles　on　her　back。　〃If　we　discover　any　danger　here　that　might　threaten　you　before　you　sail；　we　will　send　word。〃　Coine　and　her　sister　looked　remarkably　calm。　Knowledge　of　the　Black　Ajah　hardly　fazed　them；　it　was　the　Coramoor；　Rand；　who　was　important。
　　　　　　　Jorin　kissed　her　fingertips　and　pressed　them　to　Elayne's　lips。　〃The　Light　willing；　we　shall　meet　again。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Light　willing；〃　Elayne　responded；　duplicating　the　Windfinder's　gesture。　It　still　felt　odd；　but　it　was　an　honor；　too；　used　only　between　close　family　members　or　lovers。　She　was　going　to　miss　the　Sea　Folk　woman。　She　had　learned　a　great　deal；　and　taught　a　little；　as　well。　Jorin　could　certainly　weave　Fire　much　better　now。
　　　　　　　When　they　reached　the　foot　of　the　gangplank；　Nynaeve　heaved　a　sigh　of　relief。　An　oily　potion　Jorin　produced　had　settled　her　stomach　after　two　days　at　sea；　but　all　the　same　she　had　been　tight…eyed　and　tight…mouthed　until　Tanchico　came　in　sight。
　　　　　　　The　two　men　bracketed　them　immediately；　without　any　instructions；　Juilin　taking　the　lead　with　his　bundle　on　his　back　and　his　pale；　thumb…thick　staff　held　in　both　hands；　dark　eyes　alert。　Thom　brought　up　the　rear；　somehow　managing　a　dangerous　look　despite　his　white　hair　and　his　limp　and　his　gleeman's　cloak。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　pursed　her　lips　for　a　moment　but　said　nothing；　which　Elayne　thought　wise。　Before　they　had　gone　fifty　paces　down　the　long　stone　dock　she　had　seen　as　many　slitty…eyed；　hungry…faced　men　studying　them；　and　Tanchicans　and　others　shifting　crates　and　bales　and　sacks　on　the　dock。　She　suspected　any　of　them　would　have　been　willing　to　cut　her　throat　in　the　hope　that　a　silk　dress　meant　money　in　her　purse。　They　did　not　frighten　her；　she　could　handle　any　two　or　three　of　them；　she　was　sure。　But　she　and　Nynaeve　had　their　Great　Serpent　rings　in　their　pouches；　and　it　would　be　useless　to　pretend　no　connection　with　the　White　Tower　if　she　channeled　in　front　of　a　hundred　men。　Best　if　Juilin　and　Thom　looked　as　fierce　as　they　could。　She　would　not　have　minded　having　ten　more　just　like　them。
　　　　　　　Suddenly　there　was　a　roar　from　the　deck　of　one　of　the　smaller　ships。　〃You！　It　do　be　you！〃　A　wide；　round…faced　man　in　a　green　silk　coat　leaped　onto　the　dock；　ignoring　Juilin's　raised　staff　to　stare　at　her　and　Nynaeve。　A　beard　with　no　mustache　marked　him　as　an　Illianer；　and　so　did　his　accent。　He　seemed　vaguely　familiar。
　　　　　　　〃Master　Domon？〃　Nynaeve　said　after　a　moment；　giving　her　braid　a　sharp　tug。　〃Bayle　Domon？〃
　　　　　　　He　nodded。　〃Aye。　I　did　never　think　to　see　you　again。　I。。。　did　wait　as　long　as　I　could　in　Falme；　but　the　time　did　e　when　I　must　sail　or　watch　my　ship　burn。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　knew　him　now。　He　had　agreed　to　carry　them　out　of　Falme；　but　chaos　had　seized　that　city　before　they　could　reach　his　vessel。　That　coat　said　he　had　done　well　since。
　　　　　　　〃A　pleasure　to　see　you　again；〃　Nynaeve　said　coolly；　〃but　if　you　will　excuse　us；　we　must　find　rooms　in　the　city。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　will　be　hard。　Tanchico　do　burst　its　caulking。　I　do　know　a　place　where　my　word　may　bring　something；　though。　I　could　no　remain　longer　in　Falme；　but　I　do　feel　I　owe　you　some　debt。〃　Domon　paused；　frowning　with　sudden　unease。　〃Your　being　here。　Will　the　same　happen　here　as　in　Falme；　then？〃
　　　　　　　〃No；　Master　Domon；〃　Elayne　said　when　Nynaeve　hesitated。　〃Of　course　not。　And　we　will　be　glad　to　accept　your　help。〃
　　　　　　　She　half…expected　some　protest　out　of　Nynaeve；　yet　the　older　woman　only　nodded　thoughtfully　and　made　introductions　among　the　men。　Thom's　cloak　made　Domon's　eyebrows　rise　…　for　an　instant　she　almost　thought　it　looked　as　though　he　recognized　the　gleeman　…　but　Juilin's　Tairen　garb　brought　a　frown　that　was　returned　in　kind。　Neither　man　said　anything；　though；　perhaps　they　could　keep　the　animosity　between　Tear　and　Illian　out　of　Tanchico。　If　they　could　not；　she　would　have　to　speak　firmly　with　them。
　　　　　　　Domon　talked　of　what　had　happened　with　him　since　Falme　as　he　acpanied　them　down　the　dock；　and　he　had　indeed　done　well。　〃A　dozen　good　coasting　ships　the　Panarch's　taxmen　do　know　about；〃　he　laughed；　〃and　four　deepwater　they　do　no。〃
　　　　　　　He　could　hardly　have　acquired　so　many　honestly　in　so　short　a　time。　It　shocked　her　to　hear　him　speak　so　openly　on　a　dock　full　of　men。
　　　　　　　〃Aye；　I　do　smuggle；　and　make　such　profits　as　I　did　never　believe。　A　tenth　the　amount　of　the　excise　in　the　customs　men's　pockets　do　turn　their　eyes　and　seal　their　mouths。〃
　　　　　　　Two　Tanchicans　in　those　veils　and　round　hats　strolled　past；　hands　clasped　behind　their　backs。　Each　wore　a　heavy　brass　key　dangling　from　a　thick　chain　about　his　neck；　it　had　the　look　of　a　mark　of　office。　They　nodded　to　Domon　in　a　familiar　way。　Thom　looked　amused；　but　Juilin　glared　at　Domon　and　the　two　Tanchicans　equally。　As　a　thief…catcher　he　had　a　proper　dislike　of　those　who　flouted　the　law。
　　　　　　　〃I　do　no　believe　it　will　last　much　longer　though；〃　Domon　said　when　the　Tanchicans　had　passed。　〃Things　do　be　even　worse　in　Arad　Doman　than　here；　and　it　do　be　bad　enough　here。　Perhaps　the　Lord　Dragon　does　no　Break　the　World　yet；　but　he　did　break　Arad　Doman　and　Tarabon。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　wanted　to　say　something　sharp　to　him；　but　they　had　reached　the　foot　of　the　dock；　and　she　watched　in　silence　while　he　hired　sedan　chairs　and　bearers；　and　a　dozen　men　with　stout　staves　and　hard　faces。　Guards　with　swords　and　spears　stood　at　the　end　of　the　dock；　with　the　look　of　hired　men；　not　soldiers。　From　across　the　wide　street　along　the　row　of　docks；　hundreds　of　defeated；　sunken　faces　stared　at　the　guards。　Sometimes　eyes　flickered　toward　the　ships；　but　mainly　they　fixed　on　the　men　holding　them　back　from　those　ships。　Remembering　what　Coine　had　said　about　people　here　mobbing　her　vessel；　desperate　to　buy　passage　anywhere　away　from　Tanchico；　Elayne　shivered。　When　these　hungry　eyes　looked　at　the　ships；　need　burned　in　them。　Elayne　sat　rigidly　in　her　chair　as　it　jounced　through　the　crowds　behind　prodding　staves；　and　tried　not　to　look　at　anything。　She　did　not　want　to　see　those　faces。　Where　was　their　king？　Why　was　he　not　taking　care　of　them？
　　　　　　　A　sign　above　the　gate　of　the　white…plastered　inn　Domon　took　them　to；　below　the　Great　Circle；　proclaimed　the　Three　Plum　Court。　The　only　court　Elayne　saw　was　the　high…walled　courtyard　paved　with　flagstones　in　front　of　the　inn；　which　was　three　square　stories　with　no　windows　near　the　ground　and　the　upper　windows　grilled　with　fanciful　ironwork。　Inside；　men　and　women　crowded　the　mon　room；　most　in　Tanchican　clothes；　and　the　buzz　of　voices　nearly　drowned　out　the　tune　of　a　hammered　dulcimer。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　gasped　at　her　first　sight　of　the　innkeeper；　a　pretty　woman　not　much　older　than　herself　with　brown　eyes　and　pale　honey　braids；　her　veil　not　hiding　a　plump　rosebud　of　a　mouth。　Elayne　gave　a　start；　too；　but　it　was　not　Liandrin。　The　woman　…　her　name　was　Rendra　…　obviously　knew　Domon　well。　With　weling　smiles　for　Elayne　and　Nynaeve；　and　making　much　over　Thom　being　a　gleeman；　she　gave　them　her　last　two　rooms　at　what　Elayne　suspected　might　be　less　than　the　going　rate。　
　　　　　　　Elayne　made　sure　she　and　Nynaeve　got　the　one　with　the　larger　bed；　she　had　shared　a　bed　with　Nynaeve　before；　and　the　woman　was　free　with　her　elbows。
　　　　　　　Rendra　also　provided　supper　in　a　private　room；　la