rj.thepathofdaggers-第76部分

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ords　and　ladies　clustered　around　each　Sitter；　some　thrusting　their　chins　demandingly；　others　diffidently　bending　their　necks；　yet　every　one　insistent　on　being　heard。　The　sharp　breeze　whisked　away　the　mist　of　their　breath　and　fluttered　cloaks　forgotten　in　the　importance　of　asking　their　questions。　Sheriam　was　buttonholed　too；　by　red…faced　Lord　Donel；　who　blustered　and　jerked　bows　by　turns。
　　　　　　　Egwene　pulled　Sheriam　away　from　the　narrow…eyed　man。　〃Find　out　discreetly　all　you　can　about　these　sisters　and　Tower　Guards　in　Andor；〃　she　whispered　hastily。　As　soon　as　she　released　the　woman；　Donel　reclaimed　her。　Sheriam　actually　looked　put…upon；　but　her　frown　disappeared　quickly。　Donel　blinked　uneasily　as　she　began　questioning　him。
　　　　　　　Romanda　and　Lelaine　gazed　at　Egwene　through　the　crowd　with　faces　carved　from　ice；　but　each　had　acquired　a　pair　of　nobles　who　wanted。。。　Something。　Reassurance　that　there　was　no　hidden　trick　in　Egwene's　words；　perhaps。　How　they　would　hate　doing　that；　but　dodge　and　duck　as　they　would　…　and　they　would！　…　there　was　no　way　to　really　avoid　that　reassurance　without　repudiating　her　on　the　spot。　Even　those　two　would　not　go　that　far。　Not　here；　not　publicly。
　　　　　　　Siuan　slipped　close　to　Egwene；　features　set　in　meekness。　Except　that　her　eyes　darted；　maybe　looking　for　Romanda　or　Lelaine　ing　to　seize　them　where　they　stood；　and　forget　law；　custom；　propriety　and　who　was　watching。　〃Shein　Chunla；〃　she　all　but　hissed　in　a　whisper。
　　　　　　　Egwene　nodded；　but　her　eyes　searched　for　Talmanes。　Most　of　the　men　and　some　of　the　women　were　tall　enough　to　hide　him。　With　everyone　shifting　about。。。　She　went　up　on　her　toes。　Where　had　he　gone　to？
　　　　　　　Segan　planted　herself　in　front　of　her；　fists　on　her　hips；　eyeing　Siuan　doubtfully。　Egwene　let　her　heels　down　hurriedly。　The　Amyrlin　could　not　bob　about　like　a　girl　at　a　dance　looking　for　a　boy。　A　rosebud　unfolding。　Calm。　Serenity。　Drat　all　men！
　　　　　　　A　slender　woman　with　long　dark　hair；　Segan　seemed　to　have　been　born　petulant；　her　full　mouth　fixed　in　a　pout。　Her　dress　was　good　blue　wool　and　made　for　warmth；　but　it　had　far　too　much　vivid　green　embroidery　across　her　bosom；　and　her　gloves　were　bright　enough　for　a　Tinker。　She　looked　Egwene　up　and　down；　pursing　her　lips；　with　as　much　incredulity　on　her　face　as　she　had　given　Siuan。　〃What　you　said　about　the　novice　book；〃　she　said　abruptly。　〃Were　you　meaning　any　woman　of　any　age　at　all？　Any　can　bee　Aes　Sedai；　then？〃
　　　　　　　A　question　close　to　Egwene's　heart；　and　an　answer　she　dearly　wanted　to　give　…　along　with　a　box　on　the　ear　for　the　doubt　…　but　just　then　a　small　gap　in　the　flow　of　people　showed　her　Talmanes　near　the　back　of　the　pavilion。　Talking　with　Pelivar！　They　stood　stiffly；　mastiffs　not　quite　ready　to　show　teeth；　yet　they　were　keeping　a　watch　to　make　sure　no　one　came　close　enough　to　overhear　what　they　had　to　say。　〃Any　woman　of　any　age　at　all；　daughter；〃　she　agreed　absently。　Pelivar？
　　　　　　　〃Thank　you；〃　Segan　said；　and　haltingly　added；　〃Mother。〃　She　sketched　a　curtsy；　the　barest　hint　of　one；　before　hurrying　off。　Egwene　stared　after　her。　Well；　it　was　a　beginning。
　　　　　　　Siuan　snorted。　〃I　don't　mind　sailing　the　Fingers　of　the　Dragon　in　the　dark　if　I　must；〃　she　muttered　half　under　her　breath。　〃We　discussed　that；　we　weighed　the　dangers；　and　anyway；　there　doesn't　seem　to　be　a　gull's　last　dinner　for　choice。　But　you　have　to　set　a　fire　on　deck　just　to　make　things　interesting。　Netting　lionfish　isn't　enough　for　you。　You　have　to　stuff　a　prickleback　down　your　dress；　too。　You　aren't　content　trying　to　wade　a　school　of　silver…pike　…　〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　broke　in。　〃Siuan；　I　think　I　should　tell　Lord　Bryne　you're　head　over　heels　in　love　with　him。　It's　only　fair　that　he　know；　don't　you　agree？〃　Siuan's　blue　eyes　bulged；　and　her　mouth　worked；　but　all　that　came　out　was　a　sort　of　gobbling。　Egwene　patted　her　shoulder。　〃You're　Aes　Sedai；　Siuan。　Try　to　maintain　at　least　a　little　dignity。　And　try　to　find　out　about　those　sisters　in　Andor。〃　The　crowd　parted　again。　She　saw　Talmanes　in　a　different　place；　but　still　on　the　edge　of　the　pavilion。　And　alone；　now。
　　　　　　　Trying　not　to　hurry；　she　walked　in　his　direction；　leaving　Siuan　still　gobbling。　A　pretty；　black…haired　serving　man；　whose　bulky　woolen　breeches　could　not　quite　hide　neatly　turned　calves；　offered　Siuan　a　steaming　silver　cup　from　a　tray。　Other　servants　were　moving　about　with　other　silver　trays。　Refreshment　was　being　offered；　if　a　bit　late。　It　was　much　too　late　for　the　kiss　of　peace。　She　did　not　hear　what　Siuan　said　as　she　snatched　a　cup；　but　from　the　way　the　fellow　jerked　and　started　bobbing　bows；　he　had　received　sharp　shards　of　her　temper　at　the　least。　Egwene　sighed。
　　　　　　　Talmanes　stood　with　arms　folded；　observing　the　goings…on　with　an　amused　smile　that　did　not　reach　his　eyes。　He　seemed　poised　to　explode　into　motion；　but　his　eyes　were　tired。　At　her　approach；　he　made　a　respectful　leg；　but　there　was　a　wry　touch　to　his　voice　when　he　said；　〃You　changed　a　border　today。〃　He　gathered　his　cloak　against　the　icy　breeze。　〃It　has　always　been。。。　fluid。。。　between　Andor　and　Murandy；　no　matter　what　maps　say；　but　Andor　has　never　e　south　in　such　numbers　before。　Except　for　the　Aiel　War；　and　the　Whitecloak　War；　anyway；　but　they　were　only　passing　through；　then。　Once　they　have　been　here　a　month；　new　maps　will　show　a　new　line。　Look　at　the　Murandians　scramble；　fawning　over　Pelivar　and　his　panions　as　much　as　they　do　the　sisters。　They　are　hoping　to　make　new　friends　for　the　new　day。〃
　　　　　　　To　Egwene；　trying　to　conceal　her　careful　watch　on　those　who　might　be　watching　her；　it　seemed　that　all　of　the　nobles；　Murandian　and　Andoran；　were　intent　on　the　Sitters；　crowding　around　them。　In　any　case；　she　had　slightly　more　important　matters　in　mind　than　borders。　To　her；　if　not　to　the　nobles。　Except　for　brief　moments；　none　of　the　Sitters　were　visible　beyond　the　tops　of　their　heads。　Only　Halima　and　Siuan　seemed　to　notice　her；　and　a　babble　like　that　of　a　flock　of　excited　geese　filled　the　air。　She　lowered　her　voice；　and　chose　her　words　carefully。
　　　　　　　〃Friends　are　always　important；　Talmanes。　You've　been　a　good　friend　to　Mat；　and　I　think　to　me。　I　hope　that　hasn't　changed。　I　hope　you've　not　told　anyone　what　you　shouldn't。〃　Light；　she　was　anxious；　or　she　would　not　have　been　so　direct。　Next；　she　would　e　right　out　and　ask　what　he　and　Pelivar　had　been　talking　about！
　　　　　　　Luckily；　he　did　not　laugh　at　her　for　a　blunt…tongued　village　woman。　Though　he　might　have　been　thinking　it。　He　studied　her　seriously　before　speaking。　In　a　soft　voice。　He　also　knew　caution。　〃Not　all　men　gossip。　Tell　me；　when　you　sent　Mat　south；　did　you　know　what　you　would　do　here　today？〃
　　　　　　　〃How　could　I　know　that　two　months　ago？　No；　Aes　Sedai　aren't　omniscient；　Talmanes。〃　She　had　hoped　for　something　that　would　put　her　in　the　place　she　was；　had　planned　for　it；　but　she　had　not　known；　not　back　then。　She　also　hoped　he　did　not　gossip。　Some　men　did　not。
　　　　　　　Romanda　started　toward　her　with　a　firm　stride　and　a　frozen　face；　but　Arathelle　intercepted　her；　catching　the　Yellow　Sitter's　arm　and　refusing　to　be　put　off　despite　Romanda's　astonishment。
　　　　　　　〃Will　you　at　least　tell　me　where　Mat　is？〃　Talmanes　asked。　〃On　his　way　to　Caemlyn　with　the　Daughter…Heir？　Why　are　you　surprised？　A　serving　woman　will　speak　to　a　soldier　when　fetching　water　from　the　same　stream。　Even　when　he　is　a　horrible　Dragonsworn；〃　he　added　dryly。
　　　　　　　Light！　Men　really　were。。。　inconvenient。。。　at　times。　The　best　of　them　found　ways　to　say　exactly　the　wrong　thing　at　the　wrong　moment；　to　ask　the　wrong　question。　Not　to　mention　inveigling　serving　women　into　prattle。　So　much　easier　if　she　could　just　lie；　but　he　had　given　her　plenty　of　room　within　the　Oaths。　Half　the　truth　would　suffice；　and　keep　him　from　haring　off　to　Ebou　Dar。　Maybe　less　than　half。
　　　　　　　Over　in　the　far　corner　of　the　pavilion；　Siuan　stood　conversing　with　a　tall　young　redhead　with　curled　mustaches　who　was　eyeing　her　as　dubiously　as　Segan　had。　Nobles　usually　knew　the　look　of　Aes　Sedai。　But　he　held　only　a　part　of　Siuan's　attention。　Her　gaze　constantly　flickered　toward　Egwene。　It　seemed　to　shout；　loud　as　conscience。　Easier。　Expedient。　What　it　was　to　be　Aes　Sedai。　She　had　not　known　about　today；　only　hoped！　Egwene　expelled　an　irritated　breath。　Burn　the　woman！
　　　　　　　〃He　was　in　Ebou　Dar；　the　last　I　heard；〃　she　muttered。　〃But　he　must　be　hurrying　north　as　fast　as　he　can　by　now。　He　still　thinks　he　has　to　save　me；　Talmanes；　and　Matrim　Cauthon　wouldn't　miss　the　chance　to　be　on　the　spot　so　he　can　say　I　told　you　so。〃
　　　　　　　Talmanes　did　not　look　at　all　surprised。　〃I　thought　it　might　be　so；〃　he　sighed。　〃I　have。。。　felt。。。　something；　for　weeks　now。　Others　in　the　Band　have；　too。　Not　urgent；　but　always　there。　As　if　he　needed　me。　As　if　I　should　look　south；　anyway。　It　can　be　peculiar；　following　a　ta'veren。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　suppose　it　can；〃　she　agreed；　hoping　none　of　her　incredulity　showed。　It　was　strange　enough　to　think　of　Mat　the　wastrel　as　leader　of　the　Band　of　the　Red　Hand；　much　less　as　ta'veren；　but　surely　a　ta'veren　had　to　be　present；　nearby　at　least；　to　have　any　effect。
　　　　　　　〃Mat　was　wrong　about　you　needing　rescue。　You　never　had　any　intention　of　ing　to　me　for　help；　did　you？〃
　　　　　　　He　still　spoke　softly；　but　she　looked　around　hurriedly　anyway。　Siuan　was　still　watching　them。　And　so　was　Halima。　Paitr　stood　much　too　close　to　her；　puffing　and　preening　and　stroking　his　mustaches　…　from　the　way　he　stared　down　her　dress；　he　had　not　mistaken　her　for　a　sister；　that　was　certain！　…　but　she　was　giving　him　only　half　her　mind；　darting　sidelong　glances　in　Egwene's　direction　while　she　smiled　up　at　him　warmly。　Everyone　else　appeared　occupied；　and　no　one　stood　close　enough　to　hear。
　　　　　　　〃The　Amyrlin　Seat　could　hardly　go　running　for　sanctuary；　now　could　she？　But　there　have　been　times　it's　been　a　fort　knowing　you　were　there；〃　she　admitted。　Reluctantly。　The　Amyrlin　Seat　was　hardly　supposed　to　need　a　bolt…hole；　but　it　could　do　no　harm　so　long　as　none　of　the　Sitters　knew。　〃You　have　been　a　friend；　Talmanes。　I　hope　that　continues。　I　truly　do。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　have　been　more。。。　open。。。　with　me　than　I　expected；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃so　I　will　tell　you　something。〃　His　face　did　not　change　…　to　any　watcher；　he　must　have　seemed　as　casual　as　before　…　but　his　voice　dropped　to　a　whisper。　〃I　have　had　approach