rj.theshadowrising-第68部分

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assage？〃　Her　reluctance　was　still　there。
　　　　　　　〃Let　us　see　why　they　are　here　first；〃　Nynaeve　said　in　a　flat　voice　that　did　not　bode　well　for　either　man。
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　I　should　do　the　talking；〃　Elayne　suggested；　gently　but　firmly。　〃That　way；　you　can　watch　to　see　if　they　are　hiding　anything。〃　She　did　not　say　that　that　way　Nynaeve's　temper　would　not　get　the　better　of　her；　but　the　wry　smile　the　other　woman　gave　her　said　she　had　heard　it　anyway。
　　　　　　　〃Very　well；　Elayne。　I　will　watch　them。　Perhaps　you　might　study　how　I　keep　calm。　You　know　how　you　are　when　you　bee　overwrought。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　had　to　laugh。
　　　　　　　The　two　men　straightened　as　she　and　Nynaeve　approached。　Around　them　the　crew　bustled；　swarming　into　the　rigging；　hauling　ropes；　lashing　some　things　down　and　unlashing　others；　to　orders　relayed　from　the　Sailmistress。　They　moved　around　the　four　shorepeople　with　barely　a　glance。
　　　　　　　Elayne　frowned　at　Thom　Merrilin　thoughtfully。　She　was　sure　she　had　never　seen　the　gleeman　before　his　appearance　in　the　Stone；　yet　even　then　she　had　been　struck　by　something　familiar　about　him。　Not　that　that　was　likely。　Gleemen　were　village　performers；　in　the　main；　her　mother　had　certainly　never　had　one　at　the　palace　in　Caemlyn。　The　only　gleemen　Elayne　could　remember　seeing　had　been　in　the　villages　near　her　mother's　country　estates；　and　this　white…haired　hawk　of　a　man　had　surely　never　been　there。
　　　　　　　She　decided　to　speak　to　the　thief…catcher　first。　He　insisted　on　that；　she　remembered；　what　was　a　thief…taker　elsewhere　was　a　thief…catcher　in　Tear；　and　the　distinction　seemed　important　to　him。
　　　　　　　〃Master　Sandar；〃　she　said　gravely。　〃You　may　not　remember　us。　I　am　Elayne　Trakand；　and　this　is　my　friend；　Nynaeve　al'Meara。　I　understand　that　you　wish　to　travel　to　the　same　destination　as　we。　Might　I　ask　why？　The　last　time　we　saw　you；　you　had　not　served　us　very　well。〃
　　　　　　　The　man　did　not　blink　at　the　suggestion　he　might　not　remember　them。　His　eyes　flickered　across　their　hands；　noting　the　absence　of　rings。　Those　dark　eyes　noted　everything；　and　recorded　it　indelibly。　〃I　do　remember；　Mistress　Trakand；　and　well。　But；　if　you　will　forgive　me；　the　last　time　I　served　you　was　in　the　pany　of　Mat　Cauthon；　when　we　pulled　you　both　out　of　the　water　before　the　silverpike　could　get　you。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　harrumphed；　but　not　loudly。　It　had　been　a　cell；　not　the　water；　and　the　Black　Ajah；　not　silverpike。　Nynaeve　in　particular　did　not　like　being　reminded　that　they　had　needed　help　that　time。　Of　course；　they　would　not　have　been　in　that　cell　without　Juilin　Sandar。　No；　that　was　not　entirely　fair。　True；　but　not　pletely　fair。
　　　　　　　〃That　is　all　very　well；〃　Elayne　said　briskly；　〃but　you　still　haven't　said　why　you　want　to　go　to　Tanchico。〃
　　　　　　　He　drew　a　deep　breath　and　eyed　Nynaeve　warily。　Elayne　was　not　sure　that　she　liked　him　being　more　careful　of　the　other　woman　than　of　her。　〃I　was　rousted　out　of　my　house　no　more　than　half　an　hour　gone；〃　he　said　carefully；　〃by　a　man　you　know；　I　think。　A　tall；　stone　faced　man　calling　himself　Lan。〃　Nynaeve's　eyebrows　rose　slightly。　〃He　came　on　behalf　of　another　man　you　know。　A。。。　shepherd；　I　was　told。　I　was　given　a　great　quantity　of　gold　and　told　to　acpany　you。　Both　of　you。　I　was　told　that　if　you　do　not　return　safely　from　this　journey。。。　Shall　we　just　say　it　would　be　better　to　drown　myself　than　e　back？　Lan　was　emphatic；　and　the。。。　shepherd　no　less　so　in　his　message。　The　Sailmistress　tells　me　I　cannot　have　passage　unless　you　agree。　I　am　not　without　certain　skills　that　can　be　useful。〃　The　staff　whirled　in　his　hands；　a　whistling　blur；　and　was　still。　His　fingers　touched　the　sword…breaker　on　his　hip；　like　a　short　sword　but　unsharpened；　its　slots　meant　to　catch　a　blade。
　　　　　　　〃Men　will　find　ways　to　get　'round　what　you　tell　them　to　do；〃　Nynaeve　murmured；　sounding　not　unpleased。
　　　　　　　Elayne　only　frowned　vexedly。　Rand　had　sent　him？　He　must　not　have　read　the　second　letter　before　he　did。　Burn　him！　Why　does　he　leap　about　so？　No　time　to　send　another　letter；　and　it　would　probably　only　confuse　him　more　if　I　did。　And　make　me　look　a　bigger　fool。　Burn　him！
　　　　　　　〃And　you；　Master　Merrilin？〃　Nynaeve　said。　〃Did　the　shepherd　send　a　gleeman　after　us；　too？　Or　the　other　man？　To　keep　us　amused　with　your　juggling　and　fire　eating；　perhaps。〃
　　　　　　　Thom　had　been　scrutinizing　Sandar　closely；　but　he　shifted　his　attentions　smoothly　and　made　an　elegant　bow；　only　spoiling　it　with　a　too…elaborate　flourish　of　that　patch…covered　cloak。　〃Not　the　shepherd；　Mistress　al'Meara。　A　lady　of　our　mutual　acquaintance　asked　…　asked　…　me　to　acpany　you。　The　lady　who　found　you　and　the　shepherd　in　Emond's　Field。〃
　　　　　　　〃Why？〃　Nynaeve　said　suspiciously。
　　　　　　　〃I；　too；　have　useful　skills；〃　Thom　told　her　with　a　glance　at　the　thief…catcher。　〃Other　than　juggling；　that　is。　And　I　have　been　to　Tanchico　several　times。　I　know　the　city　well。　I　can　tell　you　where　to　find　a　good　inn；　and　what　districts　are　dangerous　in　daylight　as　well　as　after　dark；　and　who　must　be　bribed　so　the　Civil　Watch　does　not　take　too　close　an　interest　in　your　doings。　They　are　keen　on　watching　outlanders。　I　can　help　you　with　a　good　many　things。〃
　　　　　　　That　familiarity　tickled　at　Elayne's　mind　again。　Before　she　realized　what　she　was　doing；　she　reached　up　and　tugged　at　one　of　his　long　white　mustaches。　He　gave　a　start；　and　she　clapped　both　hands　to　her　mouth；　flushing　crimson。　〃Forgive　me。　I。。。　I　seemed　to　remember　doing　that　before。　I　mean。。。　I　am　sorry。〃　Light；　why　did　I　do　that？　He　must　think　me　an　imbecile。〃
　　　　　　　I。。。　would　remember；〃　he　said；　very　stiffly。
　　　　　　　She　hoped　he　was　not　affronted。　It　was　hard　to　tell　from　his　expression。　Men　could　be　offended　when　they　should　be　amused；　and　amused　when　they　should　be　offended。　If　they　were　going　to　be　traveling　together。。。　That　was　the　first　time　she　realized　that　she　had　decided　they　could　e。　〃Nynaeve？〃　she　said。
　　　　　　　The　other　woman　understood　the　unspoken　question；　of　course。　She　studied　the　two　men　thoroughly；　then　nodded。　〃They　may　e。　As　long　as　they　agree　to　do　as　they　are　told。　I'll　not　have　some　wool…brained　man　going　his　own　way　and　endangering　us。〃
　　　　　　　〃As　you　mand；　Mistress　al'Meara；〃　Sandar　said　immediately；　with　a　bow；　but　Thom　said；　〃A　gleeman　is　a　free　soul；　Nynaeve；　but　I　can　promise　I　will　not　endanger　you。　Far　from　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃As　you　are　told；〃　Nynaeve　said　pointedly。　〃Your　word　on　it；　or　you　will　watch　this　ship　sail　from　the　dock。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Atha'an　Miere　do　not　refuse　passage　to　anyone；　Nynaeve。〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　think　not？　Was　the　thief…taker〃　…　Sandar　winced　…〃the　only　one　told　he　needed　our　permission？　As　you　are　told；　Master　Merrilin。〃
　　　　　　　Thom　tossed　his　white　head　like　a　fractious　horse　and　breathed　heavily；　but　finally　he　nodded。　〃My　word　on　it；　Mistress　al'Meara。〃
　　　　　　　〃Very　well　then；〃　Nynaeve　said　in　a　bracing　voice。　〃It　is　settled。　You　two　find　the　Sailmistress　now；　and　tell　her　I　said　to　find　the　pair　of　you　a　cubbyhole　somewhere　if　she　can；　out　of　our　way。　Off　with　you；　now。　Quickly。〃
　　　　　　　Sandar　bowed　again　and　left；　Thom　quivered　visibly　before　joining　him；　stiff…backed。
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　not　being　too　hard　on　them？〃　Elayne　said　as　soon　as　they　were　out　of　earshot。　That　was　not　far；　with　all　the　hurly…burly　on　deck。　〃We　do　have　to　travel　together；　after　all。　'Smooth　words　make　smooth　panions。'　〃
　　　　　　　〃Best　to　begin　as　we　mean　to　go　on。　Elayne；　Thom　Merrilin　knows　very　well　we　are　not　full　Aes　Sedai。〃　She　lowered　her　voice　and　glanced　around　as　she　said　it。　None　of　the　crew　was　even　looking　at　them；　except　for　the　Sailmistress；　back　near　the　sterndeck　where　she　was　listening　to　the　tall　gleeman　and　the　thief…catcher。　〃Men　talk　…　they　always　do　…　so　Sandar　will　know　it　soon　enough；　as　well。　They'd　present　no　trouble　to　Aes　Sedai；　but　two　Accepted。。。？　Given　half　a　chance；　they　would　both　be　doing　things　they　thought　for　the　best　no　matter　what　we　said。　I　do　not　mean　to　give　them　even　that　half　chance。〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　you　are　right。　Do　you　think　they　know　why　we　are　going　to　Tanchico？〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　sniffed。　〃No；　or　they'd　not　be　so　sanguine；　I　think。　And　I　would　rather　not　tell　them　until　we　must。〃　She　gave　Elayne　a　meaningful　look；　there　was　no　need　for　her　to　say　she　would　not　have　told　the　Sailmistress；　either；　had　it　been　left　to　her。　〃Here　is　a　saying　for　you。　'Borrow　trouble；　and　you　repay　tenfold。'　〃
　　　　　　　〃You　speak　as　if　you　don't　trust　them；　Nynaeve。〃　She　would　have　said　the　other　woman　was　behaving　like　Moiraine；　but　Nynaeve　would　not　appreciate　the　parison。
　　　　　　　〃Can　we？　Juilin　Sandar　betrayed　us　once　before。　Yes；　yes；　I　know　no　man　could　have　avoided　it；　but　there　it　is　just　the　same。　And　Liandrin　and　the　others　know　his　face。　We　will　have　to　put　him　in　different　clothes。　Perhaps　make　him　let　his　hair　grow　longer。　Perhaps　a　mustache；　like　that　thing　infesting　the　gleeman's　face。　It　might　do。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　Thom　Merrilin？〃　Elayne　asked。　〃I　think　we　can　trust　him。　I　don't　know　why；　but　I　do。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　admitted　being　sent　by　Moiraine；〃　Nynaeve　said　wearily。　〃What　has　he　not　admitted；　though？　What　did　she　tell　him　that　he　hasn't　told　us？　Is　he　meant　to　help　us；　or　something　else？　Moiraine　plays　her　own　game　so　often；　I　trust　her　this　much　more　than　I　do　Liandrin。〃　She　held　her　thumb　and　forefinger　half　an　inch　apart。　〃She　will　use　us　…　you　and　me　both　…　use　us　up；　if　it　helps　Rand。　Or　rather；　if　it　helps　whatever　she　has　planned　for　Rand。　She　would　leash　him　for　a　lapdog　if　she　could。〃
　　　　　　　〃Moiraine　knows　what　has　to　be　done；　Nynaeve。〃　For　once　she　was　reluctant　to　admit　that。　What　Moiraine　knew　had　to　be　done　might　well　speed　Rand　on　his　way　toward　Tarmon　Gai'don　that　much　faster。　On　his　way　toward　death；　perhaps。　Rand　balanced　against　the　world。　It　was　silly　…　foolish　and　childish　…　that　those　scales　should　tremble　so　evenly　for　her。　Yet　she　did　not　dare　make　them　swing；　even　in　her　mind；　because　she　was　not　sure　which　way　she　would　send　them。　〃She　knows　it　better　than　he　does；〃　she　said；　making　her　voice　firm。　〃Better　than　we。〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps。〃　Nynaeve　sighed。　〃But　I　do　not　have　to　like　it。〃
　　　　　　　Ropes　were　cast　off　at　the　bow；　where　triangular　sails　suddenly　broke　out；　and　Wavedancer　heeled　away　from　the　dock。　More　sails　appeared；　great　white　squares　and　triangles；　the　sternline