rj.acrownofswords-第123节

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old…and…silver　belt；　and　then　another　just　like　it；　waggling　the　pair　at　him。　〃People　always　keep　keys　in　a　box　near　the　door。〃　That　was　where　he　had　left　his。　〃And　no　one　ever　thinks　there　might　be　a　second　key。〃　One　key　went　back　behind　her　belt；　the　other　was　turned　in　the　lock　with　a　loud　click　before　joining　its　fellow。　〃Now；　lambkin。〃　She　smiled。
　　　It　was　too　much。　The　woman　hounded　him；　tried　to　starve　him；　now　she　locked　them　in　together　like。。。　like　he　did　not　know　what。　Lambkin！　Those　bloody　dice　were　bouncing　around　in　his　skull。　Besides；　he　had　important　business　to　see　to。　The　dice　had　never　had　anything　to　do　with　finding　something；　but。。。　He　reached　her　in　two　long　strides；　seized　her　arm；　and　began　fumbling　in　her　belt　for　the　keys。　〃I　don't　have　bloody　time　for　…　〃　His　breath　froze　as　the　sharp　point　of　her　dagger　beneath　his　chin　shut　his　mouth　and　drove　him　right　up　onto　his　toes。
　　　〃Remove　your　hand；〃　she　said　coldly。　He　managed　to　look　down　his　nose　at　her　face。　She　was　not　smiling　now。　He　let　go　of　her　arm　carefully。　She　did　not　lessen　the　pressure　of　her　blade；　though。　She　shook　her　head。　〃Tsk；　tsk。　I　do　try　to　make　allowances　for　you　being　an　outlander；　gosling；　but　since　you　wish　to　play　roughly。。。　Hands　at　your　sides。　Move。〃　The　knifepoint　gave　a　direction。　He　shuffled　backward　on　tiptoe　rather　than　have　his　neck　sliced。
　　　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　he　mumbled　through　his　teeth。　A　stretched　neck　put　a　strain　in　his　voice。　A　stretched　neck　among　other　things。　〃Well？〃　He　could　try　grabbing　her　wrist；　he　was　quick　with　his　hands。　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　Quick　enough；　with　the　knife　already　at　his　throat？　That　was　the　question。　That；　and　the　one　he　asked　her。　If　she　intended　to　kill　him；　a　shove　of　her　wrist　right　there　would　drive　the　dagger　straight　up　into　his　brain。　〃Will　you　answer　me！〃　That　was　not　panic　in　his　voice。　He　was　not　in　a　panic。　〃Majesty？　Tylin？〃　Well；　maybe　he　was　in　a　bit　of　a　panic；　to　use　her　name。　You　could　call　any　woman　in　Ebou　Dar　〃duckling〃　or　〃pudding〃　all　day；　and　she　would　smile；　but　use　her　name　before　she　said　you　could；　and　you　found　a　hotter　reception　than　you　would　for　goosing　a　strange　woman　on　the　street　anywhere　else。　A　few　kisses　exchanged　were　never　enough　for　permission；　either。
　　　Tylin　did　not　answer；　only　kept　him　tiptoeing　backward；　until　suddenly　his　shoulders　bumped　against　something　that　stopped　him。　With　that　flaming　dagger　never　easing　a　hair；　he　could　not　move　his　head；　but　eyes　that　had　been　focused　on　her　face　darted。　They　were　in　the　bedchamber；　a　flower…carved　red　bedpost　hard　between　his　shoulder　blades。　Why　would　she　bring　him。。。？　His　face　was　suddenly　as　crimson　as　the　bedpost。　No。　She　could　not　mean　to。。。　It　was　not　decent！　It　was　not　possible！
　　　〃You　can't　do　this　to　me；〃　he　mumbled　at　her；　and　if　his　voice　was　a　touch　breathy　and　shrill；　he　surely　had　cause。
　　　〃Watch　and　learn；　my　kitten；〃　Tylin　said；　and　drew　her　marriage　knife。
　　　Afterward；　a　considerable　time　later；　he　irritably　pulled　the　sheet　up　to　his　chest。　A　silk　sheet；　Nalesean　had　been　right。　The　Queen　of　Altara　hummed　happily　beside　the　bed；　arms　twisted　behind　her　to　do　up　the　buttons　of　her　dress。　All　he　had　on　was　the　foxhead　medallion　on　its　cord　…　much　good　that　had　done　…　and　the　black　scarf　tied　around　his　neck。　A　ribbon　on　her　present；　the　bloody　woman　called　it。　He　rolled　over　and　snatched　his　silver…mounted　pipe　and　tabac　pouch　from　the　small　table　on　the　other　side　from　her。　Golden　tongs　and　a　hot　coal　in　a　golden　bowl　of　sand　provided　the　means　for　lighting。　Folding　his　arms；　he　puffed　away　as　fiercely　as　he　frowned。
　　　〃You　should　not　flounce；　duckling；　and　you　shouldn't　pout。〃　She　yanked　her　dagger　from　where　it　was　driven　into　a　bedpost　beside　her　marriage　knife；　examining　the　point　before　sheathing　it。　〃What　is　the　matter？　You　know　you　enjoyed　yourself　as　much　as　I　did；　and　I。。。　〃　She　laughed　suddenly；　and　oh　so　richly；　resheathing　the　marriage　knife　as　well。　〃If　that　is　part　of　what　being　ta'veren　means；　you　must　be　very　popular。〃　Mat　flushed　like　fire。
　　　〃It　isn't　natural；〃　he　burst　out；　yanking　the　pipestem　from　between　his　teeth。　〃I'm　the　one　who's　supposed　to　do　the　chasing！〃　Her　astonished　eyes　surely　mirrored　his　own。　Had　Tylin　been　a　tavern　maid　who　smiled　the　right　way；　he　might　have　tried　his　luck　…　well；　if　the　tavern　maid　lacked　a　son　who　liked　poking　holes　in　people　…　but　he　was　the　one　who　chased。　He　had　just　never　thought　of　it　that　way　before。　He　had　never　had　the　need　to；　before。
　　　Tylin　began　laughing；　shaking　her　head　and　wiping　at　her　eyes　with　her　fingers。　〃Oh；　pigeon。　I　do　keep　forgetting。　You　are　in　Ebou　Dar；　now。　I　left　a　little　present　for　you　in　the　sitting　room。〃　She　patted　his　foot　through　the　sheet。　〃Eat　well　today。　You　are　going　to　need　your　strength。〃
　　　Mat　put　a　hand　over　his　eyes　and　tried　very　hard　not　to　weep。　When　he　uncovered　them；　she　was　gone。
　　　Climbing　out　of　the　bed；　he　tucked　the　sheet　around　him；　for　some　reason；　the　notion　of　walking　around　bare　felt　unfortable。　The　bloody　woman　might　leap　out　of　the　wardrobe。　The　garments　he　had　been　wearing　lay　on　the　floor。　Why　bother　with　laces；　he　thought　sourly；　when　you　can　just　cut　somebody's　clothes　off！　She　had　no　call　to　slice　up　his　red　coat　that　way；　though。　She　had　just　enjoyed　peeling　him　with　her　knife。
　　　Not　quite　holding　his　breath；　he　pulled　open　the　tall　red…and…gilt　wardrobe。　She　was　not　hiding　inside。　His　choices　were　limited；　Nerim　had　most　of　his　coats　for　cleaning　or　mending。　Dressing　quickly；　he　chose　a　plain　coat　of　dark　bronze　silk；　then　stuffed　the　sliced　rags　as　far　under　the　bed　as　he　could　reach　until　he　could　dispose　of　them　without　Nerim　seeing。　Or　anyone　else；　for　that　matter。　Too　many　people　already　knew　entirely　too　much　of　what　was　going　on　between　him　and　Tylin；　there　was　no　way　he　could　face　anybody　knowing　this。
　　　In　the　sitting　room；　he　lifted　the　lid　of　the　lacquerware　box　by　the　door；　then　let　it　fall　with　a　sigh；　he　had　not　really　expected　Tylin　to　replace　the　key。　He　leaned　against　the　door。　The　unlocked　door。　Light；　what　was　he　going　to　do？　Move　back　to　the　inn？　Burn　why　the　dice　had　stopped　before。　Only；　he　would　not　put　it　past　Tylin　to　bribe　Mistress　Anan　and　Enid；　or　the　innkeeper　wherever　he　went。　He　would　not　put　it　past　Nynaeve　and　Elayne　to　claim　he　had　broken　some　agreement　and　put　an　end　to　their　promises。　Burn　all　women！
　　　A　large　parcel　elaborately　wrapped　in　green　paper　sat　on　one　of　the　tables。　It　contained　an　eagle　mask　in　black　and　gold　and　a　coat　covered　with　feathers　to　match。　There　was　also　a　red　silk　purse　holding　twenty　gold　crowns　and　a　note　that　smelled　of　flowers。
　　　
　　　I　would　have　bought　you　an　earring；　piglet；　but　I　noticed　your　ear　is　not　pierced。　Have　it　done；　and　buy　yourself　something　nice。
　　　
　　　He　nearly　wept　again。　He　gave　women　presents。　The　world　was　standing　on　its　head！　Piglet？　Oh；　Light！　After　a　minute；　he　did　take　the　mask；　she　owed　him　that　much；　for　his　coat　alone。
　　　When　he　finally　reached　the　small；　shaded　courtyard　where　they　had　been　meeting　each　morning　beside　a　tiny　round　pool　of　lily　pads　and　brightly　spotted　white　fish；　he　found　Nalesean　and　Birgitte　ready　for　the　Festival　of　Birds；　too。　The　Tairen　had　contented　himself　with　a　plain　green　mask；　but　Birgitte's　was　a　spray　of　yellow…and…red　with　a　crest　of　plumes；　her　golden　hair　hung　loose；　with　feathers　tied　all　down　its　length；　and　she　wore　a　dress　with　a　wide　yellow　belt；　diaphanous　beneath　more　red　and　yellow　feathers。　It　did　not　reveal　nearly　as　much　as　Riselle's；　yet　it　seemed　about　to　every　time　she　moved。　He　had　never　thought　of　her　wearing　a　dress　like　other　women。
　　　〃Sometimes　it's　fun　to　be　looked　at；〃　she　said；　poking　him　in　the　ribs；　when　he　mented。　Her　grin　would　have　done　for　Nalesean　saying　how　much　fun　it　was　to　pinch　serving　girls。　〃There's　a　lot　more　to　it　than　feather　dancers　wore；　but　not　enough　to　it　to　slow　me　down；　and　anyway；　I　cannot　see　we'll　have　to　move　quickly　on　this　side　of　the　river。〃　The　dice　rattled　in　his　head。　〃What　kept　you？〃　she　went　on。　〃You　didn't　make　us　wait　so　you　could　tickle　a　pretty　girl；　I　hope。〃　He　hoped　he　was　not　blushing。
　　　〃I　…　〃　He　was　not　certain　what　excuse　he　would　have　made；　but　just　then　half　a　dozen　men　wearing　feathered　coats　strolled　into　the　courtyard；　all　with　those　narrow　swords　on　their　hips；　all　but　one　wearing　an　elaborate　mask　with　colorful　crest　and　beak　that　represented　no　bird　ever　seen　by　human　eyes。　The　exception　was　Beslan；　twirling　his　mask　by　its　ribbon。　〃Oh；　blood　and　bloody　ashes；　what's　he　doing　here？〃
　　　〃Beslan？〃　Nalesean　folded　his　hands　on　the　pommel　of　his　sword　and　shook　his　head　in　disbelief。　〃Why；　burn　my　soul；　he　says　he　intends　to　spend　the　festival　in　your　pany。　Some　promise　you　two　made；　he　says。　I　told　him　it　would　be　deadly　boring；　but　he　wouldn't　believe　me。〃
　　　〃I　cannot　think　it　is　ever　boring　around　Mat；〃　Tylin's　son　said；　his　bow　took　them　all　in；　but　his　dark　eyes　especially　lingered　on　Birgitte。　〃I've　never　had　so　much　fun　as　I　did　drinking　with　him　and　the　Lady　Elayne's　Warder　on　Swovan　Night；　though　truth；　I　remember　little。〃　He　did　not　see