rj.theshadowrising-第161部分

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heen　on　their　hair。　Elayne　sometimes　wondered　how　the　woman　ran　such　a　successful　inn　when　she　seemed　to　think　of　nothing　but　her　hair　and　her　clothes。　That　she　did　was　obvious；　it　was　the　how　that　puzzled　Elayne。　Of　course；　she　did　wear　pretty　clothes；　just　not　entirely　suitable。　The　servant　who　brought　the　tea　and　blue　porcelain　cups　and　tiny　cakes　on　a　tray　was　the　slender；　dark…eyed　young　man　who　had　kept　filling　Elayne's　winecup　on　that　very　embarrassing　night。　And　had　tried　again　more　than　once；　though　she　had　privately　vowed　never　again　to　drink　more　than　a　single　cup。　A　handsome　man；　but　she　gave　him　her　coolest　stare；　so　that　he　hurried　from　the　room　gladly。
　　　　　　　Egeanin　watched　quietly　until　Rendra　left；　too。　〃You　are　not　what　I　expected；〃　she　said　then；　balancing　her　cup　on　her　fingertips　in　an　odd　way。　〃The　innkeeper　babbles　of　frivolities　as　if　you　were　her　sisters　and　as　foolish　as　she；　and　you　allow　it。　The　dark　man　…　he　is　a　servant　of　sorts；　I　think　…　mocks　you。　That　serving　boy　stares　with　open　hunger　in　his　eyes；　and　you　allow　it。　You　are。。。　Aes　Sedai；　are　you　not？〃　Without　waiting　for　an　answer；　she　shifted　her　sharp　blue　eyes　to　Elayne。　〃And　you　are　of　the。。。　You　are　nobly　born。　Nynaeve　spoke　of　your　mother's　palace。〃
　　　　　　　〃Such　things　do　not　count　for　very　much　in　the　White　Tower；〃　Elayne　told　her　ruefully；　hastily　brushing　cake　crumbs　from　her　chin。　It　was　very　spicy　cake；　almost　sharp。　〃If　a。　queen　went　there　to　learn；　she　would　have　to　scrub　floors　like　any　other　novice　and　jump　when　she　was　told。〃
　　　　　　　Egeanin　nodded　slowly。　〃So　that　is　how　you　rule。　By　ruling　the　rulers。　Do。。。　many。。。　queens　go　to　be　trained　so？〃
　　　　　　　〃None　that　I　know　of。〃　Elayne　laughed。　〃Though　it　is　our　tradition　in　Andor　for　the　Daughter…Heir　to　go。　A　good　many　noblewomen　go；　really；　though　they　usually　do　not　want　it　known　and　most　leave　having　failed　to　even　sense　the　True　Source。　It　was　only　an　example。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　are　also　of　the。。。　a　noble？〃　Egeanin　asked；　and　Nynaeve　snorted。
　　　　　　　〃My　mother　was　a　farmwife；　and　my　father　herded　sheep　and　farmed　tabac。　Few　where　I　e　from　can　make　do　without　wool　and　tabac　both　to　sell。　What　of　your　parents；　Egeanin？〃
　　　　　　　〃My　father　was　a　soldier；　my　mother　the。。。　an　officer　on　a　ship。〃　For　a　moment　she　sipped　her　unsweetened　tea；　studying　them。　〃You　are　searching　for　someone；〃　she　said　at　last。　〃For　these　women　the　dark　man　spoke　of。　I　do　some　small　trade　in　information；　among　other　things。　I　have　sources　who　tell　me　things。　Perhaps　I　can　help。　I　would　not　charge；　except　to　ask　you　to　tell　me　more　of　Aes　Sedai。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　have　helped　too　much　already；〃　Elayne　said　hastily；　remembering　Nynaeve　telling　almost　everything　to　Bayle　Domon。　〃I　am　grateful；　but　we　could　not　accept　more。〃　Letting　this　woman　know　about　the　Black　Ajah　and　letting　her　bee　involved　without　knowing　were　equally　out　of　the　question。　〃Truly　we　could　not。〃
　　　　　　　Caught　with　her　mouth　half…open；　Nynaeve　glared　at　her。　〃I　was　about　to　say　the　same；〃　she　said　in　a　flat　voice；　then　went　on　more　brightly。　〃Our　gratitude　certainly　extends　to　answering　questions；　Egeanin。　As　much　as　we　can。〃　She　surely　meant　there　were　a　good　many　questions　for　which　they　had　no　answers；　but　Egeanin　took　it　differently。
　　　　　　　〃Of　course。　I　will　not　pry　into　the　secret　affairs　of　your　White　Tower。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　seem　very　interested　in　Aes　Sedai；〃　Elayne　said。　〃I　cannot　sense　the　ability　in　you；　but　perhaps　you　can　learn　to　channel。〃
　　　　　　　Egeanin　almost　dropped　her　porcelain　cup。　〃It。。。　can　be　learned？　I　did　not。。。　No。　No；　I　do　not　want　to。。。　to　learn。〃
　　　　　　　Her　agitation　made　Elayne　sad。　Even　among　people　not　fearful　of　Aes　Sedai；　too　many　still　feared　anything　to　do　with　the　One　Power。　〃What　do　you　want　to　know；　Egeanin？〃
　　　　　　　Before　the　woman　could　speak；　a　rap　at　the　door　was　followed　by　Thom；　in　the　rich　brown　cloak　he　had　taken　to　wearing　when　he　went　out。　It　certainly　attracted　less　notice　than　the　gleeman's　patch…covered　garment。　In　fact；　it　made　him　appear　quite　dignified；　with　that　mane　of　white　hair；　though　he　should　brush　it　more。　Imagining　him　younger；　Elayne　thought　she　could　see　what　had　first　attracted　her　mother。　That　did　not　absolve　him　of　leaving；　of　course。　She　smoothed　her　face　before　he　could　see　her　frown。
　　　　　　　〃I　was　told　you　were　not　alone；〃　he　said；　giving　Egeanin　a　guarded　look　almost　identical　to　Juilin's；　men　were　always　suspicious　of　anyone　they　did　not　know。　〃But　I　thought　you　might　like　to　hear　that　the　Children　of　the　Light　surrounded　the　Panarch's　Palace　this　morning。　The　streets　are　beginning　to　buzz　over　it。　It　seems　the　Lady　Amathera　is　to　be　invested　as　Panarch　tomorrow。〃
　　　　　　　〃Thom；〃　Nynaeve　said　wearily；　〃unless　this　Amathera　is　really　Liandrin；　I　do　not　care　if　she　bees　Panarch；　King；　and　Wisdom　of　the　whole　Two　Rivers　all　rolled　together。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　interesting　thing；〃　Thom　said；　limping　to　the　table；　〃is　that　rumor　says　the　Assembly　refused　to　choose　Amathera。　Refused。　So　why　is　she　being　invested？　Things　this　odd　are　worth　noting；　Nynaeve。〃
　　　　　　　As　he　started　to　lower　himself　into　a　chair；　she　said　quietly；　〃We　are　having　a　private　conversation；　Thom；　I　am　sure　you　will　find　the　mon　room　more　congenial。〃　She　took　a　sip　of　tea；　eyeing　him　over　the　cup　in　clear　expectation　of　his　departure。
　　　　　　　Flushing；　he　levered　himself　back　up　without　ever　having　actually　sat；　but　he　did　not　leave　immediately。　〃Whether　the　Assembly　has　changed　its　mind　or　not；　this　will　likely　cause　riots。　The　streets　still　believe　Amathera　has　been　rejected。　If　you　must　insist　on　going　out；　you　cannot　go　alone。〃　He　was　looking　at　Nynaeve；　but　Elayne　had　the　impression　that　he　almost　put　a　hand　on　her　shoulder。　〃Bayle　Domon　is　mired　in　that　little　room　down　near　the　docks；　tying　up　his　affairs　in　case　he　has　to　run；　but　he　has　agreed　to　provide　fifty　picked　men；　tough　fellows　used　to　a　brawl　and　handy　with　knife　or　sword。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　opened　her　mouth；　but　Elayne　cut　her　off。　〃We　are　grateful；　Thom；　to　you　and　Master　Domon　both。　Please　tell　him　we　accept　his　kind　and　generous　offer。〃　Meeting　Nynaeve's　flat　stare；　she　added　meaningfully；　〃I　would　not　want　to　be　kidnapped　on　the　streets　in　broad　daylight。〃
　　　　　　　〃No；〃　Thom　said。　〃We　would　not　want　that。〃　Elayne　thought　she　heard　a　half…said　〃child〃　at　the　end　of　that；　and　this　time　he　did　touch　her　shoulder；　a　swift　brush　of　fingers。　〃Actually；〃　he　went　on；　〃the　men　are　already　waiting　in　the　street　outside。　I　am　trying　to　find　a　carriage；　those　chairs　are　too　vulnerable。〃　He　seemed　to　know　he　had　gone　too　far；　bringing　Domon's　men　before　they　agreed；　not　to　mention　this　talk　of　a　carriage　without　a　hint　of　asking　first；　but　he　faced　them　like　an　old　wolf　at　bay；　bushy　eyebrows　drawn　down。　〃I　would。。。　regret。　。　。　personally；　if　anything　happened　to　you。　The　carriage　will　be　here　as　soon　as　I　can　find　a　team。　If　there　is　one　to　be　found。〃
　　　　　　　Eyes　wide；　Nynaeve　was　obviously　teetering　on　the　edge　of　whether　or　not　to　give　him　an　upbraiding　he　would　never　forget；　and　Elayne　would　not　have　minded　adding　a　gentler　admonishment。　Somewhat　gentler；　child；　indeed！
　　　　　　　He　took　advantage　of　their　hesitation　to　sweep　a　bow　that　would　have　graced　any　palace　and　departed　while　he　had　the　chance。
　　　　　　　Egeanin　had　set　down　her　cup　and　was　staring　at　them　in　consternation。　Elayne　supposed　they　had　not　given　a　very　good　appearance　of　being　Aes　Sedai；　letting　Thom　bully　them。　〃I　must　go；〃　the　woman　said；　rising　and　taking　her　staff　from　against　the　wall。
　　　　　　　〃But　you　have　not　asked　your　questions；〃　Elayne　protested。　〃We　owe　you　answers　to　them；　at　the　very　least。〃
　　　　　　　〃Another　time；〃　Egeanin　said　after　a　moment。　〃If　it　is　permitted；　I　will　e　another　time。　I　need　to　learn　about　you。　You　are　not　what　I　expected。〃　They　assured　her　she　could　e　any　time　they　were　there　and　tried　to　convince　her　to　stay　long　enough　to　finish　her　tea　and　cakes；　but　she　was　adamant　that　she　had　to　leave　now。
　　　　　　　Turning　from　seeing　the　woman　to　the　door；　Nynaeve　put　her　fists　on　her　hips：　〃Kidnap　you？　If　you　have　forgotten；　Elayne；　it　was　me　those　men　tried　to　grab！〃
　　　　　　　〃To　take　you　out　of　the　way　so　they　could　seize　me；〃　Elayne　said。　〃If　you　have　forgotten；　I　am　the　Daughter…Heir　of　Andor。　My　mother　would　have　made　them　wealthy　to　have　me　back。〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps；〃　Nynaeve　muttered　doubtfully。　〃Well；　at　least　they　were　nothing　to　do　with　Liandrin。　That　lot　wouldn't　send　a　pack　of　louts　to　try　stuffing　us　in　a　sack。　Why　do　men　always　do　things　without　asking？　Does　growing　hair　on　their　chests　sap　their　brains？〃
　　　　　　　The　sudden　change　did　not　confuse　Elayne。　〃We　do　not　have　to　worry　about　finding　bodyguards；　at　any　rate。　You　do　agree　they　are　necessary；　even　if　Thom　did　overstep　himself？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　suppose　so。〃　Nynaeve　had　a　remarkable　dislike　for　admitting　she　was　wrong。　Thinking　those　men　had　been　after　her；　for　instance。　〃Elayne；　do　you　realize　we　still　have　nothing　except　an　empty　house？　If　Juilin　…　or　Thom　…　slips　and　lets　himself　be　found　out。。。　We　must　find　the　Black　sisters　without　them　suspecting；　or　we　will　never　have　a　chance　of　following　them　to　whatever　this　thing　is　that's　dangerous　to　Rand。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know；〃　Elayne　said　patiently。　〃We　have　discussed　it。〃
　　　　　　　The　older　woman　frowned　at　nothing。　〃We　still　have　not　a　glimmer　as　to　what　it　is；　or　where。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know。〃
　　　　　　　〃Even　if　we　could　bag　Liandrin　and　the　rest　right　this　minute；　we　cannot　leave　it　floating　about　out　there；　waiting　for　someone　else　to　find。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know　that；　Nynaeve。〃　Reminding　herself　to　be　patient；　Elayne　softened　her　tone。　〃We　will　find　them。　They　must　make　some　sort　of　slip；　and　between　Thom's　rumors；　and　Juilin's　thieves；　and　Bayle　Domon's　sailors；　we　will　learn　of　it。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve's　frown　became　thoughtful。　〃Did　you　notice　Egeanin's　eyes　when　Thom　mentioned　Domon？〃
　　　　　　　〃No。　Do　you　think　she　knows　him？　Why　would　she　not　say　so？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　know；〃　Nynaeve　said　vexedly。　〃Her　face　did　not　change；　but　her　eyes。。。　She　was　startled。　She　knows　him。　I　wonder　what　…〃　Someone　tapped　softly　on　the　door。　〃Is　everyone　in　Tanchico　going　to　march　in　on　us？〃　she　growled；　jerking　it　open。
　　　　　　　Rendra　gave　a　start　at　the　look　on　Nynaeve's　face；　but　her　eve