rj.acrownofswords-第155节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


d　so　many　things　to　blame　on　the　nearest　man　that　he　wound　up　thinking　maybe　he　really　was　at　fault。　In　his　experience；　old　memories　or　new；　there　were　only　two　times　a　woman　admitted　she　was　wrong：　when　she　wanted　something；　and　when　it　snowed　at　midsummer。
　　　Nynaeve　seized　at　her　braid；　but　not　as　if　her　heart　was　in　it。　Her　fingers　fumbled　and　fell　away；　and　she　started　wringing　her　hands　instead。　〃Lan；〃　she　began　unsteadily；　〃you　mustn't　think　I　would　talk　about　…　〃
　　　The　Warder　cut　in　smoothly；　bowing　and　offering　her　his　arm。　〃We　are　in　public；　Nynaeve。　Whatever　you　want　to　say　in　public；　you　may。　May　I　escort　you　to　the　boat？〃
　　　〃Yes；〃　she　said；　nodding　so　vigorously　that　her　hat　nearly　fell　off。　She　straightened　it　hurriedly　with　both　hands。　〃Yes。　In　public。　You　will　escort　me。〃　Taking　his　arm；　she　regained　some　measure　of　posure；　at　least　insofar　as　her　face　went。　Gathering　her　dust…cloak　in　her　free　hand；　she　practically　dragged　him　across　the　quay　toward　the　landing。
　　　Mat　wondered　whether　she　might　be　ill。　He　rather　enjoyed　seeing　Nynaeve　dropped　a　peg　or　six；　but　she　hardly　ever　let　it　last　two　breaths。　Aes　Sedai　could　not　Heal　themselves。　Maybe　he　should　suggest　to　Elayne　that　she　deal　with　whatever　was　wrong　with　Nynaeve。　He　avoided　Healing　like　death　or　marriage　himself；　but　it　was　different　for　other　people　as　he　saw　it。　First；　though；　he　had　a　few　choice　words　to　say　about　secrets。
　　　Opening　his　mouth；　he　raised　an　admonitory　finger。。。
　　　。　。　。　and　Elayne　poked　him　in　the　chest　with　hers；　her　scowl　beneath　that　plumed　hat　so　cold　it　made　his　toes　hurt。　〃Mistress　Corly；〃　she　said　in　the　icy　voice　of　a　queen　pronouncing　judgment；　〃explained　to　Nynaeve　and　me　the　significance　of　those　red　flowers　on　the　basket；　which　I　see　you　at　least　have　shame　enough　to　have　hidden。〃
　　　His　face　went　redder　than　Nynaeve's　had　thought　of。　A　few　paces　away；　Reanne　Corly　and　the　other　two　were　tying　on　hats　and　adjusting　dresses　the　way　women　did　every　time　they　stood　up；　sat　down　or　moved　three　steps。　Yet　despite　giving　their　attention　to　their　clothes；　they　had　enough　left　over　for　glances　in　his　direction；　and　for　once　they　were　neither　disapproving　nor　startled。　He　had　not　known　the　bloody　flowers　meant　anything！　Ten　sunsets　would　not　have　done　for　his　face。
　　　〃So！〃　Elayne's　voice　was　low；　for　his　ears　alone；　but　it　dripped　disgust　and　contempt。　She　gave　her　cloak　a　twitch；　to　keep　it　from　touching　him。　〃It's　true！　I　could　not　believe　it　of　you；　not　even　you！　I'm　sure　Nynaeve　couldn't。　Any　promise　I　made　to　you　is　abolished。　I　will　not　keep　any　promise　to　a　man　who　could　force　his　attentions　on　a　woman；　on　any　woman；　but　especially　on　a　Queen　who　has　offered　him　…　〃
　　　〃Me　force　my　attentions　on　her！〃　he　shouted。　Or　rather；　he　tried　to　shout；　choking　made　it　e　out　in　a　wheeze。
　　　Seizing　Elayne's　shoulders；　he　pulled　her　away　from　the　carriages　a　little　distance。　Shirtless　dockmen　in　stained　green　leather　vests　hurried　by；　carrying　sacks　on　their　shoulders　or　rolling　barrels　along　the　quay；　some　pushing　low　barrows　loaded　with　crates；　all　giving　the　coaches　a　wide　berth。　The　Queen　of　Altara　might　not　have　much　power；　but　her　sigil　on　a　coach　door　ensured　that　moners　would　give　it　room。　Nalesean　and　Beslan　were　chatting　as　they　led　the　Redarms　onto　the　landing；　Vanin　bringing　up　the　rear　and　staring　gloomily　at　the　choppy　river；　he　claimed　to　have　a　tender　belly　when　it　came　to　boats。　The　Wise　Women　from　both　coaches　had　gathered　around　Reanne；　watching；　but　they　were　not　close　enough　to　overhear。　He　whispered　hoarsely　just　the　same。
　　　〃You　listen　to　me！　That　woman　won't　take　no　for　an　answer；　I　say　no；　and　she　laughs　at　me。　She's　starved　me；　bullied　me；　chased　me　down　like　a　stag！　She　has　more　hands　than　any　six　women　I　ever　met。　She　threatened　to　have　the　serving　women　undress　me　if　I　didn't　let　her　…　〃　Abruptly；　what　he　was　saying　hit　him。　And　who　he　was　saying　it　to。　He　managed　to　close　his　mouth　before　he　swallowed　a　fly。　He　became　very　interested　in　one　of　the　dark　metal　ravens　inlaid　in　the　haft　of　the　ashandarei；　so　he　would　not　have　to　meet　her　eyes。　〃What　I　mean　to　say　is；　you　don't　understand；〃　he　muttered。　〃You　have　it　all　backwards。〃　He　risked　a　glance　at　her　under　the　edge　of　his　hatbrim。
　　　A　faint　blush　crept　into　her　cheeks；　but　her　face　became　solemn　as　a　marble　bust。　〃It。。。　appears　that　I　may　have　misunderstood；〃　she　said　soberly。　〃That　is。。。　very　bad　of　Tylin。〃　He　thought　her　lips　twitched。　〃Have　you　considered　practicing　different　smiles　in　a　mirror；　Mat？〃
　　　Startled；　he　blinked。　〃What？〃
　　　〃I　have　heard　reliably　that　that　is　what　young　women　do　who　attract　the　eyes　of　kings。〃　Something　cracked　the　sobriety　of　her　voice；　and　this　time　her　lips　definitely　twitched。　〃You　might　try　batting　your　eyelashes；　too。〃　Catching　her　lower　lip　with　her　teeth；　she　turned　away；　shoulders　shaking；　dust…cloak　streaming　behind　as　she　hurried　toward　the　landing。　Before　she　darted　beyond　hearing；　he　heard　her　chortle　something　about　〃a　taste　of　his　own　medicine。〃　Reanne　and　the　Wise　Women　scurried　in　her　wake；　a　flock　of　hens　following　a　chick　instead　of　the　other　way　around。　The　few　bare…chested　boatmen　up　out　of　their　boats　stopped　coiling　lines　or　whatever　they　were　doing　and　bowed　their　heads　respectfully　as　the　procession　went　by。
　　　Snatching　off　his　hat；　Mat　considered　throwing　it　down　and　jumping　on　it。　Women！　He　should　have　known　better　than　to　expect　sympathy。　He　would　like　to　throttle　the　bloody　Daughter…Heir。　And　Nynaeve；　too；　on　general　principle。　Except；　of　course；　that　he　could　not。　He　had　made　promises。　And　those　dice　were　still　using　his　skull　for　a　dice　cup。　And　one　of　the　Forsaken　might　be　around　somewhere。　Settling　the　hat　squarely　back　on　his　head；　he　marched　down　the　landing；　brushed　past　the　Wise　Women　and　caught　up　to　Elayne。　She　was　still　trying　to　fight　down　giggles；　but　every　time　she　cut　her　eyes　his　way；　the　color　in　her　cheeks　renewed　itself　and　so　did　the　giggles。
　　　He　stared　straight　ahead。　Bloody　women！　Bloody　promises。　Removing　his　hat　long　enough　to　pull　the　leather　cord　from　around　his　neck；　he　reluctantly　shoved　it　in　her　direction。　The　silver　foxhead　dangled　beneath　his　fist。　〃You　and　Nynaeve　will　have　to　decide　which　of　you　wears　this。　But　I　want　it　back　when　we　leave　Ebou　Dar。　You　understand？　The　moment　we　leave　…　〃
　　　Suddenly　he　realized　he　was　walking　alone。　Turning；　he　found　Elayne　standing　stock　still　two　paces　back；　staring　at　him　with　Reanne　and　the　rest　clustered　behind　her。
　　　〃What's　the　matter　now？〃　he　demanded。　〃Oh。　Yes；　I　know　all　about　Moghedien。〃　A　skinny　fellow　with　red　stones　on　his　brass…hoop　earrings；　bending　over　a　mooring　line；　jerked　around　so　fast　at　that　name　that　he　pitched　over　the　side　with　a　loud　yell　and　a　louder　splash。　Mat　did　not　care　who　heard。　〃Trying　to　keep　her　secret　…　and　two　of　my　men　dead！　…　after　you　promised。　Well；　we'll　talk　about　that　later。　I　made　a　promise；　too；　I　promised　to　keep　the　pair　of　you　alive。　If　Moghedien　shows　up；　she'll　go　after　you　two。　Now；　here。〃　He　pushed　the　medallion　at　her　again。
　　　She　shook　her　head　slowly　in　puzzlement；　then　turned　to　murmur　to　Reanne。　Only　after　the　older　women　were　on　their　way　toward　where　Nynaeve　stood　beckoning　them　at　the　head　of　a　flight　of　boat　stairs　did　Elayne　take　the　foxhead；　turning　it　over　in　her　fingers。
　　　〃Do　you　have　any　notion　what　I　would　have　done　to　have　this　for　study？〃　she　said　quietly。　〃Any　notion　at　all？〃　She　was　tall　for　a　woman；　but　she　still　had　to　look　up　at　him。　She　might　never　have　seen　him　before。　〃You　are　a　troublesome　man；　Mat　Cauthon。　Lini　would　say　I　was　repeating　myself；　but　you。。。！〃　Expelling　her　breath；　Elayne　reached　up　to　pull　his　hat　off　and　slip　the　cord　over　his　head。　She　actually　tucked　the　foxhead　into　his　shirt　and　patted　it　before　handing　him　his　hat。　〃I　won't　wear　that　while　Nynaeve　doesn't　have　one；　or　Aviendha；　and　I　think　they　feel　the　same。　You　wear　it。　After　all；　you　can　hardly　keep　your　promise　if　Moghedien　kills　you。　Not　that　I　think　she's　still　here。　I　think　she　believes　she　killed　Nynaeve；　and　I　would　not　be　surprised　if　that　was　all　she　came　for。　You　must　be　careful；　though。　Nynaeve　says　there's　a　storm　ing；　and　she　doesn't　mean　this　wind。　I。。。　〃　That　faint　blush　returned　to　her　cheeks。　〃I　am　sorry　I　laughed　at　you。〃　She　cleared　her　throat；　looking　away。　〃Sometimes　I　forget　my　duty　to　my　subjects。　You　are　a　worthy　subject；　Matrim　Cauthon。　I　will　see　that　Nynaeve　understands　the　right　of。。。　of　you　and　Tylin。　Perhaps　we　can　help。〃
　　　〃No；〃　he　spluttered。　〃I　mean；　yes。　I　mean。。。　That　is。。。　Oh；　kiss　a　flaming　goat　if　I　know　what　I　mean。　I　almost　wish　you　didn't　know　the　truth。〃　Nynaeve　and　Elayne　sitting　down　to　discuss　him　with　Tylin　over　tea。　Could　he　ever　live　that　down？　Could　he　ever　again　look　any　of　them　in　the　eye　afterward？　But　if　they　did　not。。。　He　was　between　the　wolf　and　the　bear　with　nowhere　to　run。　〃Oh；　sheep　swallop！　Sheep　swallop　and　bloody　buttered　onions！〃　He　nearly　wished　she　would　call　him　down　for　his　language　the　way　Nynaeve　would；　just　to　change　the　subject。
　　　Her　lips　moved　silently；　and　for　an　instant　he　had　the　strange　impression　that　sh