rj.acrownofswords-第157节

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　　　Children　darted　from　every　second　door　with　chipped　pottery　cups　of　water；　sent　by　their　mothers　in　case　the　Wise　Women　wished　a　drink。　Men　with　scarred　faces　and　murder　etched　into　their　eyes　stared　openmouthed　at　seven　Wise　Women　together；　then　bobbed　jerky　bows　and　inquired　politely　if　they　could　be　of　assistance；　was　there　anything　that　required　carrying？　Women；　sometimes　with　as　many　scars　and　always　eyes　to　make　Tylin　flinch；　curtsied　awkwardly　and　breathlessly　asked　whether　they　might　supply　directions；　had　anyone　made　a　bother　of　themselves　to　bring　so　many　Wise　Women？　If　so；　the　strong　implication　was；　Tamarla　and　the　rest　had　no　need　of　troubling　themselves　if　they　would　just　supply　the　name。
　　　Oh；　they　glared　at　the　soldiers　as　hotly　as　ever；　though　even　the　hardest　flinched　away　from　Lan　after　a　single　look。　And；　oddly　enough；　from　Vanin。　A　few　of　the　men　growled　at　Beslan　and　Nalesean　whenever　they　gazed　too　long　at　a　woman's　deep　neckline。　Some　growled　at　Mat；　though　he　could　not　understand　why；　unlike　those　two；　he　was　never　in　danger　of　his　eyeballs　falling　down　the　front　of　a　woman's　dress。　He　knew　how　to　look　discreetly。　Nynaeve　and　Elayne　were　ignored；　for　all　their　finery；　and　so　was　Reanne　in　her　red　wool　dress；　they　did　not　have　the　red　belt。　But　they　did　have　the　protection　of　those　belts。　Mat　realized　that　Beslan　had　been　right。　He　could　empty　his　purse　on　the　ground；　and　no　one　would　pick　up　a　copper；　at　least　so　long　as　the　Wise　Women　remained。　He　could　pinch　the　bottom　of　every　woman　in　sight；　and　even　if　she　had　apoplexy；　she　would　walk　away。
　　　〃What　a　pleasant　walk；〃　Nalesean　said　dryly；　〃with　such　interesting　sights　and　smells。　Did　I　tell　you　I　didn't　get　much　sleep　last　night；　Mat？〃
　　　〃Do　you　want　to　die　in　bed？〃　Mat　grumbled。　They　might　as　well　all　have　stayed　in　bed；　they　were　bloody　useless　here；　that　was　for　sure。　The　Tairen　snorted　indignantly。　Beslan　laughed；　but　he　probably　thought　Mat　meant　something　else。
　　　Across　the　Rahad　they　marched；　until　Reanne　finally　stopped　in　front　of　a　building　exactly　like　every　other；　all　flaking　plaster　and　crumbling　brick；　the　same　Mat　had　followed　another　woman　to　yesterday。　No　laundry　hung　from　these　windows；　only　rats　lived　in　there。　〃In　here；〃　she　said。
　　　Elayne's　eyes　climbed　slowly　to　the　flat　roof。　〃Six；〃　she　murmured　in　tones　of　great　satisfaction。
　　　〃Six；〃　Nynaeve　sighed；　and　Elayne　patted　her　arm　as　though　sympathizing　with　her。
　　　〃I　wasn't　really　sure；〃　she　said。　So　Nynaeve　smiled　and　patted　her。　Mat　did　not　understand　a　word　of　it。　So　the　building　had　six　floors。　Women　behaved　very　strangely　sometimes。　Well；　most　of　the　time。
　　　Inside；　a　long　hallway　carpeted　with　dust　ran　dimly　to　the　back；　the　far　end　lost　in　shadows。　Few　of　the　doorways　held　doors；　and　those　were　rough　planks。　One　opening；　almost　a　third　of　the　way　down　the　hall；　led　to　a　narrow　flight　of　steep　stone…faced　steps　climbing　upward。　That　was　the　way　he　had　gone　the　day　before；　following　footprints　in　the　dust；　but　he　thought　some　of　those　other　openings　must　be　crossing　corridors。　He　had　not　taken　time　to　look　around　then；　but　the　building　was　too　deep　and　too　wide　for　this　floor　to　be　served　by　only　the　one　they　saw。　It　was　too　big　for　only　one　way　in。
　　　〃Really；　Mat；〃　Nynaeve　said　when　he　told　off　Harnan　and　half　the　Redarms　to　find　any　back　way　in　and　guard　it。　Lan　kept　so　close　to　her　side；　he　might　have　been　glued　there。　〃Don't　you　see　by　now　there's　no　need？〃
　　　Her　tone　was　so　mild　that　Elayne　must　have　passed　on　the　truth　about　Tylin；　but　if　anything；　that　only　soured　his　mood　further。　He　did　not　want　anyone　to　know。　Bloody　useless！　But　those　dice　were　still　rattling　around　in　his　head。　〃Maybe　Moghedien　likes　back　doors；〃　he　said　dryly。　Something　cluttered　in　the　dark　end　of　the　hall；　and　one　of　the　men　with　Harnan　cursed　loudly　about　rats。
　　　〃You　told　him；〃　Nynaeve　breathed　furiously　at　Lan；　one　hand　snapping　shut　on　her　braid。
　　　Elayne　made　an　exasperated　sound。　〃This　is　no　time　to　stop　for　an　argument；　Nynaeve。　The　Bowl　is　upstairs！　The　Bowl　of　the　Winds！〃　A　small　ball　of　light　suddenly　appeared；　floating　in　front　of　her；　and　without　waiting　to　see　whether　or　not　Nynaeve　was　ing；　she　gathered　her　skirts　and　darted　up　the　stairs。　Vanin　dashed　after　her　with　a　startling　turn　of　speed　for　his　bulk；　followed　by　Reanne　and　most　of　the　Wise　Women。　Round…faced　Sumeko　and　Ieine；　tall　and　dark　and　pretty　despite　the　lines　at　the　corners　of　her　eyes；　hesitated；　then　remained　with　Nynaeve。
　　　Mat　would　have　gone；　too；　if　Nynaeve　and　Lan　had　not　been　in　his　way。　〃Would　you　let　me　by；　Nynaeve？〃　he　asked。　He　deserved　to　be　there；　at　least；　when　this　fabulous　bloody　Bowl　was　uncovered。　〃Nynaeve？〃　She　was　so　focused　on　Lan　she　seemed　to　have　forgotten　anyone　else。　Mat　exchanged　glances　with　Beslan；　who　grinned　and　squatted　easily　with　Corevin　and　the　remaining　Redarms。　Nalesean　leaned　against　the　wall　and　yawned　ostentatiously。　Which　was　a　mistake　with　all　that　dust　about；　the　yawn　turned　into　a　coughing　fit　that　darkened　his　face　and　doubled　him　over。
　　　Even　that　did　not　distract　Nynaeve。　Carefully；　she　took　her　hand　away　from　her　braid。　〃I　am　not　angry；　Lan；〃　she　said。
　　　〃Yes；　you　are；〃　he　replied　calmly。　〃But　he　had　to　be　told。〃
　　　〃Nynaeve？〃　Mat　said。　〃Lan？〃　Neither　one　so　much　as　flickered　an　eye　his　way。
　　　〃I　would　have　told　him　when　I　was　ready；　Lan　Mandragoran！〃　Her　mouth　clamped　shut；　but　her　lips　writhed　as　though　she　were　talking　to　herself。　〃I　will　not　be　angry　with　you；〃　she　went　on　in　a　much　milder　tone；　and　that　sounded　addressed　to　herself　as　well。　Very　deliberately　she　tossed　her　braid　back　over　her　shoulder；　jerked　that　blue…plumed　hat　straight；　and　clasped　her　hands　at　her　waist。
　　　〃If　you　say　so；〃　Lan　said　mildly。
　　　Nynaeve　quivered。　〃Don't　you　take　that　tone　with　me！〃　she　shouted。　〃I　tell　you；　I'm　not　angry！　Do　you　hear　me？〃
　　　〃Blood　and　ashes；　Nynaeve；〃　Mat　growled。　〃He　doesn't　think　you're　angry。　I　don't　think　you're　angry。〃　A　good　thing　women　had　taught　him　to　lie　with　a　straight　face。　〃Now　could　we　go　upstairs　and　fetch　this　bloody　Bowl　of　the　Winds？〃
　　　〃A　marvelous　idea；〃　said　a　woman's　voice　from　the　door　to　the　street。　〃Shall　we　go　up　together　and　surprise　Elayne？〃　Mat　had　never　seen　the　two　women　who　walked　into　the　hall　before；　but　their　faces　were　Aes　Sedai　faces。　The　speaker's　was　long　and　cold　as　her　voice；　her　panion's　framed　by　scores　of　thin　dark　braids　worked　with　colored　beads。　Nearly　two　dozen　men　crowded　in　behind　them；　bulky　fellows　with　heavy　shoulders；　clubs　and　knives　in　hand。　Mat　shifted　his　grip　on　the　ashandarei；　he　knew　trouble　when　he　saw　it；　and　the　foxhead　on　his　chest　was　cool；　almost　cold　against　his　skin。　Somebody　was　holding　the　One　Power。
　　　The　two　Wise　Women　nearly　fell　over　dropping　curtsies　as　soon　as　they　saw　those　ageless　features；　but　Nynaeve　certainly　knew　trouble；　too。　Her　mouth　worked　soundlessly　as　the　pair　came　down　the　hallway；　her　face　all　consternation　and　self…recrimination。　Behind　him；　Mat　heard　a　sword　leaving　its　scabbard；　but　he　was　not　about　to　look　back　to　see　whose。　Lan　just　stood　there；　which　meant　of　course　that　he　looked　like　a　leopard　ready　to　pounce。
　　　〃They're　Black　Ajah；〃　Nynaeve　said　at　last。　Her　voice　started　faint　and　gained　strength；　as　she　went　on。　〃Falion　Bhoda　and　Ispan　Shefar。　They　mitted　murder　in　the　Tower；　and　worse　since。　They're　Darkfriends；　and。。。　〃　Her　voice　faltered　for　an　instant；　〃。。。　they　have　me　shielded。〃
　　　The　newers　continued　to　advance　serenely。　〃Have　you　ever　heard　such　nonsense；　Ispan？〃　the　long…faced　Aes　Sedai　asked　her　panion；　who　stopped　grimacing　at　the　dust　long　enough　to　smirk　at　Nynaeve。　〃Ispan　and　I　e　from　the　White　Tower；　while　Nynaeve　and　her　friends　are　rebels　against　the　Amyrlin　Seat。　They'll　be　punished　severely　for　that；　and　so　will　anyone　who　helps　them。〃　With　a　shock；　Mat　realized　the　woman　did　not　know；　she　thought　that　he　and　Lan　and　the　others　were　just　hired　strongarms。　Falion　directed　a　smile　at　Nynaeve；　it　made　a　blizzard　warm　by　parison。　〃There's　someone　who　will　be　overjoyed　to　see　you　when　we　take　you　back；　Nynaeve。　She　thinks　you　are　dead。　Better　the　rest　of　you　go　now。　You　don't　want　to　meddle　in　Aes　Sedai　affairs。　My　men　will　see　you　to　the　river。〃　Without　taking　her　eyes　from　Nynaeve；　Falion　motioned　for　the　men　behind　her　to　e　forward。
　　　Lan　moved。　He　did　not　draw　his　sword；　and　against　Aes　Sedai　he　should　have　had　no　chance　if　he　had；　no　chance　in　any　case；　but　one　moment　he　was　standing　still　and　the　next　he　had　thrown　himself　at　the　pair。　Just　before　he　struck；　he　grunted　as　though　hit　hard；　but　he　crashed　into　them；　carrying　both　Black　sisters　to　the　dusty　floor。　That　opened　the　sluicegates　wide。
　　　Lan　pushed　himself　to　hands　and　knees；　shaking　his　head　groggily；　and　one　of　the　bulky　fellows　raised　an　iron…strapped　club　to　smash　his　skull。　Mat　stabbed　the　fellow　in　the　belly　with　his　spear　as　Beslan　and　Nalesean　and　the　five　Redarms　rushed　to　meet　the　Darkfriends'　shouting　charge。　Lan　staggered　to　his　feet；　sword　sweeping　out　to　open　a　Darkfriend　from　crotch　to　neck。　There　was　not　much　room　to　work　sword　or　ashandarei　in　t