rj.acrownofswords-第104节

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　　　〃Don't　stir　a　toe　and　don't　touch　anything；　or　you'll　catch　the　old　what…for；〃　then　vanished。
　　　Nynaeve　looked　at　Elayne。
　　　〃Nynaeve；　one　woman　channeling　doesn't　mean　…　〃　The　feel　changed；　swelling　for　a　moment；　then　subsiding；　lower　than　before。　〃Even　two　women　doesn't　mean　anything；〃　Elayne　protested；　but　she　sounded　doubtful。　〃That　was　the　most　ill…mannered　maid　I've　ever　seen。〃　She　took　a　tall…backed　red　chair；　and　after　a　moment　Nynaeve　sat　too；　but　she　perched　on　the　edge。　From　eagerness；　not　nerves。　Not　nerves　at　all。
　　　The　room　was　not　grand；　but　the　blue…and…white　floor　tiles　glistened；　and　the　pale　green　walls　looked　freshly　painted。　No　trace　of　gilt　showed　anywhere；　of　course；　yet　fine　carving　covered　the　red　chairs　arrayed　along　the　walls　and　several　small　tables　of　a　darker　blue　than　the　tiles。　The　lamps　hanging　from　sconces　were　clearly　brass；　polished　till　they　shone。　Carefully　arranged　evergreen　branches　filled　the　swept　hearth；　and　the　lintel　above　the　fireplace　was　carved；　not　plain　stonework。　The　carving　seemed　an　odd　choice　…　what　people　around　Ebou　Dar　called　the　Thirteen　Sins；　a　man　with　eyes　that　nearly　filled　his　whole　face　for　Envy；　a　fellow　with　his　tongue　hanging　to　his　ankles　for　Gossip；　a　snarling；　sharp…toothed　man　clutching　coins　to　his　chest　for　Greed；　and　so　on　…　but　all　in　all；　it　satisfied　her　very　much。　Whoever　could　afford　that　room　could　afford　fresh　plaster　outside；　and　the　only　reason　not　to　put　it　up　was　to　keep　low；　avoiding　notice。
　　　The　maid　had　left　the　door　open；　and　suddenly　voices　ing　up　the　hall　drifted　through。
　　　〃I　cannot　believe　you　brought　them　here。〃　The　speaker's　tone　was　tight　with　incredulity　and　anger。　〃You　know　how　careful　we　are；　Setalle。　You　know　more　than　you　should；　and　you　surely　know　that。〃
　　　〃I　am　very　sorry；　Reanne；〃　Mistress　Anan　answered　stiffly。　〃I　suppose　I　didn't　think。　I。。。　submit　myself；　both　to　stand　surety　for　these　girls'　behavior　and　to　your　judgment。〃
　　　〃Of　course　not！〃　Reanne's　tone　was　high　with　shock；　now。　〃That　is　to　say。。。　I　mean；　you　shouldn't　have；　but。。。　Setalle；　I　apologize　for　raising　my　voice。　Say　you　forgive　me。〃
　　　〃You　have　no　reason　to　apologize；　Reanne。〃　The　innkeeper　managed　to　sound　rueful　and　reluctant　at　the　same　time。　〃I　did　wrong　to　bring　them。〃
　　　〃No；　no；　Setalle。　I　shouldn't　have　spoken　to　you　so。　Please；　you　must　forgive　me。　Please　do。〃
　　　The　Anan　woman　and　Reanne　Corly　entered　the　sitting　room；　and　Nynaeve　blinked　in　surprise。　From　the　exchange；　she　had　expected　someone　younger　than　Setalle　Anan；　but　Reanne　had　hair　more　gray　than　not　and　a　face　full　of　what　might　have　been　smile　lines；　though　they　were　creased　in　worry　now。　Why　would　the　older　woman　humble　herself　so　to　the　younger；　and　why　would　the　younger　allow　it；　however　halfheartedly？　Customs　were　different　here；　the　Light　knew；　some　more　different　than　she　liked　to　think　about；　yet　not　this　much；　surely。　Of　course；　she　had　never　gone　very　far　toward　being　humble　with　the　Women's　Circle　back　home；　but　this。。。
　　　Of　course；　Reanne　could　channel　…　she　had　expected　that；　hoped　for　it；　anyway　…　but　she　had　not　expected　the　strength。　Reanne　was　not　as　strong　as　Elayne；　or　even　Nicola　…　burn　that　wretched　girl！　…　but　she　easily　equaled　Sheriam；　say；　or　Kwamesa　or　Kiruna。　Not　many　women　possessed　so　much　strength；　and　for　all　she　herself　bettered　it　by　a　fair　margin；　she　was　surprised　to　find　it　here。　The　woman　must　be　one　of　the　wilders；　the　Tower　would　have　found　a　way　to　keep　its　hands　on　a　woman　like　this　if　they　had　to　hold　her　in　a　novice　dress　her　whole　life。
　　　Nynaeve　rose　as　they　came　through　the　doorway；　smoothing　her　skirts。　Not　from　nervousness；　certainly；　certainly　not。　Oh；　but　if　only　this　came　out　right。。。
　　　Reanne's　sharp　blue　eyes　studied　the　two　of　them　with　the　air　of　someone　who　had　just　found　a　pair　of　pigs　in　her　kitchen；　fresh　from　the　sty　and　dripping　mud。　She　dabbed　at　her　face　with　a　tiny　handkerchief；　though　the　interior　of　the　house　was　cooler　than　outside。　〃I　suppose　we'll　have　to　do　something　with　them；〃　she　murmured；　〃if　they　are　what　they　claim。〃　Her　voice　was　quite　high　even　now；　musical　and　almost　youthful。　As　she　finished　speaking　she　gave　a　small　start　for　some　reason　and　eyed　the　innkeeper　sideways；　which　set　off　another　round　of　Mistress　Anan's　reluctant　apologies　and　Mistress　Corly's　flustered　attempts　to　deflect　them。　In　Ebou　Dar；　when　folk　were　truly　being　polite；　apologies　back　and　forth　could　flow　for　an　hour。
　　　Elayne　had　risen　too；　wearing　a　slightly　fixed　smile。　She　raised　an　eyebrow　at　Nynaeve；　cupped　her　elbow　in　one　hand　and　laid　a　finger　against　her　cheek。
　　　Nynaeve　cleared　her　throat。　〃Mistress　Corly；　my　name　is　Nynaeve　al'Meara；　and　this　is　Elayne　Trakand。　We　are　looking　for　…　〃
　　　〃Setalle　has　told　me　all　about　you；〃　the　blue…eyed　woman　cut　in　ominously。　However　many　gray　hairs　on　her　head；　Nynaeve　suspected　she　was　also　hard　as　a　stone　fence。　〃Abide　with　patience；　girl；　and　I'll　deal　with　you　directly。〃　She　turned　back　to　Setalle；　blotting　her　cheeks　with　the　handkerchief。　Barely　suppressed　diffidence　once　more　tinged　her　voice。　〃Setalle；　if　you　will　please　excuse　me；　I　must　question　these　girls；　and　…　〃
　　　〃Look　who　is　returned　after　all　these　years；〃　a　short；　stout　woman　in　her　middle　years　blurted　as　she　barged　into　the　room；　nodding　at　her　panion。　Despite　her　red…belted　Ebou　Dari　dress　and　a　tanned　face　that　glistened　damply；　her　accents　were　pure　Cairhienin。　Her　equally　sweaty　panion；　in　the　dark；　plainly　cut　woolens　of　a　merchant；　was　a　head　taller；　no　older　than　Nynaeve；　with　dark　tilted　eyes；　a　strongly　hooked　nose；　and　a　wide　mouth。　〃It's　Garenia！　She　…　〃　The　flow　of　words　terminated　abruptly　in　confusion　as　the　stout　woman　realized　others　were　present。
　　　Reanne　clasped　her　hands　as　if　in　prayer；　or　perhaps　because　she　wanted　to　hit　someone。　〃Berowin；〃　she　said　with　an　edge；　〃one　day　you　will　run　right　off　a　cliff　before　you　see　it　under　your　feet。〃
　　　〃I　am　sorry；　Eld…〃　Blushing；　the　Cairhienin　lowered　her　eyes。　The　Saldaean　became　intent　on　fiddling　with　a　circle　of　red　stones　pinned　at　her　breast。
　　　For　Nynaeve's　part；　she　gave　Elayne　a　triumphant　look。　Both　newers　could　channel；　and　saidar　was　still　being　wielded　somewhere　in　the　house。　Two　more；　and　while　Berowin　was　not　very　strong；　Garenia　stood　even　above　Reanne；　she　could　match　Lelaine　or　Romanda。　Not　that　that　mattered；　of　course；　yet　this　made　at　least　five。　Elayne's　chin　set　stubbornly；　but　then　she　sighed　and　gave　a　small　nod。　Sometimes　it　took　the　most　incredible　effort　to　convince　her　of　anything。
　　　〃Your　name　is　Garenia？〃　Mistress　Anan　said　slowly；　frowning　at　the　woman　in　question。　〃You　look　very　much　like　someone　I　met　once。　Zarya　Alkaese。〃
　　　Dark　tilted　eyes　blinked　in　surprise。　Plucking　a　lace…trimmed　handkerchief　from　her　sleeve；　the　Saldaean　merchant　touched　her　cheeks。　〃That　is　my　grandmother's　sister's　name；〃　she　said　after　a　moment。　〃I'm　told　I　favor　her　strongly。　Was　she　well　when　you　saw　her？　She　forgot　her　family　pletely　after　she　went　off　to　bee　Aes　Sedai。〃
　　　〃Your　grandmother's　sister。〃　The　innkeeper　laughed　softly。　〃Of　course。　She　was　well　when　I　saw　her；　but　that　was　a　long　time　ago。　I　was　younger　than　you　are　now〃
　　　Reanne　had　been　hovering　at　her　side；　all　but　grabbing　her　elbow；　and　now　she　leaped　in。　〃Setalle；　I　truly　am　sorry；　but　I　really　must　ask　you　to　excuse　us。　You　will　forgive　me　not　showing　you　to　the　door？〃
　　　Mistress　Anan　made　her　own　apologies；　as　if　she　was　at　fault　because　the　other　woman　could　not　escort　her　down；　and　departed　with　a　last；　very　dubious　look　at　Nynaeve　and　Elayne。
　　　〃Setalle！〃　Garenia　exclaimed　as　soon　as　the　innkeeper　was　gone。　〃That　was　Setalle　Anan？　How　did　she　…？　Light　of　Heaven！　Even　after　seventy　years；　the　Tower　would　…　〃
　　　〃Garenia；〃　Mistress　Corly　said　in　an　extremely　sharp　tone。　Her　stare　was　sharper　still；　and　the　Saldaean's　face　reddened。　〃Since　you　two　are　here；　we　can　make　up　the　three　for　questioning。　You　girls　stay　where　you　are　and　keep　silent。〃　That　last　was　for　Nynaeve　and　Elayne。　The　other　women　withdrew　to　a　corner　in　a　huddle　and　began　conversing　in　soft　murmurs。
　　　Elayne　moved　nearer　Nynaeve。　〃I　did　not　like　being　treated　as　a　novice　when　I　was　a　novice。　How　long　do　you　intend　to　continue　this　farce？〃
　　　Nynaeve　hissed　at　her　for　quiet　〃I'm　trying　to　listen；　Elayne；〃　she　whispered。
　　　Using　the　Power　was　out　of　the　question；　of　course。　The　three　would　have　known　on　the　instant。　Fortunately；　they　wove　no　barriers；　perhaps　not　knowing　how；　and　sometimes　their　voices　rose　just　enough。
　　　〃。。。　said　they　may　be　wilders；〃　Reanne　said；　and　shock　and　revulsion　bloomed　on　the　other　women's　faces。
　　　〃Then　we　show　them　the　door；〃　Berowin　said。　〃The　back　door。　Wilders！〃
　　　〃I　still　want　to　know　who　this　Setalle　Anan　is；〃　Garenia　put　in。
　　　〃If　you　can't　keep　your　mind　on　the　straight；〃　Reanne　told　her；　〃perhaps　you　should　spend　this　turn　on　the　farm。　Alise　knows　how　to　concentrate　a　mind　wonderfully。　Now。。。　〃　The　words　dropped　back　to　a　buzz。
　　　Another　maid　appeared；　a　slender　woman；　pretty　except　for　a　sullen　expression；　with　a