rj.acrownofswords-第99节

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ss。。。　She　actually　had　suggested　letting　the　man　switch　them！　〃What　we　did　agree　to　is　quite　possible。〃　Barely。　She　rapped　loudly　on　the　paneled　door　with　her　knuckles。　There　was　a　fish　carved　on　the　door；　a　round　thing　with　stripes　and　a　snout。　All　of　the　doors　had　different　carvings；　most　of　fish。　There　was　no　answer。
　　　Nynaeve　puffed　out　a　breath　she　must　have　been　holding。　〃Perhaps　he　has　gone　out。　We'll　just　have　to　e　back　another　time。〃
　　　〃At　this　hour？〃　She　rapped　once　more。　〃You　say　he　always　lies　abed　when　he　can。〃　Still　no　sound　from　inside。
　　　〃Elayne；　if　Birgitte　is　any　indication；　Mat　got　himself　juicy　as　a　fiddler　last　night。　He　won't　thank　us　for　waking　him。　Why　don't　we　just　go　away　and　…　〃
　　　Elayne　lifted　the　latch　and　went　in。　Nynaeve　followed　with　a　sigh　that　could　have　been　heard　back　in　the　Palace。
　　　Mat　Cauthon　was　sprawled　on　his　bed　atop　the　knitted　red　coverlet；　a　folded　cloth　lying　over　his　eyes　and　dripping　onto　the　pillow。　The　room　was　not　very　tidy　despite　the　absence　of　dust。　A　boot　stood　on　the　washstand　…　the　washstand！　…　next　to　a　white　basin　full　of　unused　water；　the　stand…mirror　sat　askew；　as　if　he　had　stumbled　into　it　and　simply　left　it　tilted　back　sharply；　and　his　wrinkled　coat　lay　tossed　across　a　ladder…back　chair。　He　wore　everything　else；　including　that　black　scarf　he　seemed　never　to　take　off；　and　the　other　boot。　The　silver　foxhead　dangled　from　his　unlaced　shirt。
　　　The　medallion　made　her　fingers　itch。　If　he　really　was　lying　there　sodden　with　drink；　she　might　be　able　to　remove　it　unfelt。　One　way　or　another；　she　intended　to　find　out　how　the　thing　absorbed　the　Power。　Finding　out　how　almost　anything　worked　was　a　fascination　to　her；　but　that　foxhead　was　all　the　puzzles　in　the　world　rolled　into　one。
　　　Nynaeve　caught　her　sleeve　and　jerked　her　head　toward　the　door；　silently　mouthing　〃asleep〃　and　something　else　she　could　not　make　out。　Probably　another　plea　to　go。
　　　〃Leave　me　alone；　Nerim；〃　he　mumbled　suddenly。　〃I　told　you　before；　I　don't　want　anything　but　a　new　skull。　And　close　the　door　softly；　or　I'll　pin　your　ears　to　it。〃
　　　Nynaeve　jumped；　and　tried　to　pull　her　toward　the　door；　but　she　stood　her　ground。　〃It　is　not　Nerim；　Master　Cauthon。〃
　　　Raising　his　head　from　the　pillow；　he　used　both　hands　to　lift　the　cloth　a　trifle　and　squinted　at　them　with　reddened　eyes。
　　　Grinning；　Nynaeve　made　no　effort　at　all　to　hide　her　pleasure　at　his　wretched　state。　What　Elayne　could　not　understand　at　first　was　why　she　wanted　to　grin；　too。　Her　one　experience　with　drinking　too　much　had　left　her　with　nothing　but　pity　and　sympathy　for　anyone　so　snared。　In　the　back　of　her　mind　she　felt　Birgitte's　head　throbbing　still；　and　it　came　to　her。　Certainly　she　could　not　like　Birgitte　drowning　herself　in　drink；　whatever　the　reason；　but　neither　could　she　like　the　thought　that　anyone　could　do　anything　at　all　better　than　her　first　Warder。　A　ridiculous　thought。　Embarrassing。　But　satisfying；　too。
　　　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　he　demanded　hoarsely；　then　winced　and　lowered　his　voice。　〃It's　the　middle　of　the　night。〃
　　　〃It's　morning；〃　Nynaeve　said　sharply。　〃Don't　you　remember　talking　with　Birgitte？〃
　　　〃Could　you　not　be　so　loud？〃　he　whispered；　closing　his　eyes。　The　next　instant；　they　popped　open　again。　〃Birgitte？〃　Sitting　up　abruptly；　he　swung　his　legs　over　the　side　of　the　bed。　For　a　time　he　just　sat　there；　peering　at　the　floorboards；　elbows　on　his　knees　and　the　medallion　swinging　from　its　thong　around　his　neck。　At　last　he　turned　his　head　to　look　at　them　balefully。　Or　perhaps　his　eyes　just　made　it　seem　so。　〃What　did　she　tell　you？〃
　　　〃She　informed　us　of　your　demands；　Master　Cauthon；〃　Elayne　said　formally。　This　must　be　how　it　felt　to　stand　before　the　headsman's　block；　there　was　nothing　for　it　but　to　keep　her　head　high　and　face　whatever　came　proudly。　〃I　wish　to　thank　you　from　my　heart　for　rescuing　me　from　the　Stone　of　Tear。〃　There；　she　had　begun；　and　it　had　not　hurt。　Not　very　much。
　　　Nynaeve　stood　there；　glowering；　her　lips　growing　tighter　and　tighter。　The　woman　was　not　going　to　leave　her　to　do　this　alone。　Elayne　embraced　the　Source　almost　before　she　thought；　and　channeled　a　thin　flow　of　Air　that　flicked　Nynaeve's　earlobe　like　a　snapping　finger。　The　woman　clapped　a　hand　to　her　ear　and　glowered；　but　Elayne　simply　turned　coolly　back　to　Master　Cauthon　and　waited。
　　　〃I　thank　you；　too；〃　Nynaeve　mumbled　sullenly　at　last。　〃From　the　heart。〃
　　　Elayne　rolled　her　eyes　in　spite　of　herself。　Well；　he　had　asked　them　to　speak　more　softly。　And　he　did　seem　to　hear。　Strangely；　he　shrugged　with　embarrassment。
　　　〃Oh；　that。　It　was　nothing。　Likely　thing；　you'd　have　gotten　yourself　free　in　another　tick　without　me。〃　His　head　sank　to　his　hands；　and　he　pressed　the　damp　cloth　to　his　eyes　once　more。　〃On　your　way　out；　would　you　ask　Caira　to　bring　me　some　wine…punch？　A　slender　girl；　pretty；　with　a　warm　eye。〃
　　　Elayne　quivered。　Nothing？　The　man　demanded　an　apology；　she　humbled　herself　to　give　it；　and　now　it　was　nothing？　He　was　not　deserving　of　sympathy　or　pity！　She　still　held　saidar；　and　she　considered　thumping　him　with　a　much　thicker　flow　than　she　had　used　on　Nynaeve。　Not　that　that　would　do　any　good　so　long　as　he　wore　the　foxhead。　Then　again；　it　hung　loose；　not　touching　him。　Did　it　offer　the　same　protection　when　it　was　not。。。？
　　　Nynaeve　ended　her　speculation　by　lunging　for　him；　fingers　clawed。　Elayne　managed　to　put　herself　between　them　and　seize　the　other　woman　by　the　shoulders。　For　a　stretched　moment　they　stood　nose…to…nose　except　for　the　difference　in　their　heights；　with　a　grimace；　Nynaeve　finally　relaxed；　and　Elayne　felt　it　was　safe　to　release　her。
　　　The　man　still　had　his　head　bowed；　all　unaware。　Whether　the　medallion　protected　him　or　not；　she　could　snatch　his　bowstave　from　the　corner　and　beat　him　till　he　howled。　She　felt　heat　rise　in　her　face：　She　had　stopped　Nynaeve　from　ruining　everything；　only　to　think　of　ruining　it　herself。　Worse；　by　the　smirky；　self…satisfied　little　smile　the　other　woman　gave　her；　she　knew　very　well　what　had　been　in　her　head。
　　　〃There　is　more；　Master　Cauthon；〃　she　announced；　squaring　her　shoulders。　The　smile　vanished　from　Nynaeve's　face。　〃We　also　wish　to　apologize　for　delaying　so　long　in　giving　you　your　much　deserved　thanks。　And　we　apologize。。。　humbly。。。〃　She　stumbled　a　little　on　that。　〃。。。　for　the　way　we　have　treated　you　since。〃　Nynaeve　stretched　out　a　beseeching　hand　that　she　ignored。　〃To　show　the　depth　of　our　regret；　we　undertake　the　following　promises。〃　Aviendha　had　said　an　apology　was　only　a　beginning。　〃We　will　not　belittle　or　demean　you　in　any　way；　nor　shout　at　you　for　any　reason；　nor。。。　nor　attempt　to　give　you　orders。〃　Nynaeve　winced。　Elayne's　mouth　tightened　too；　but　she　did　not　stop。　〃Recognizing　your　due　concern　for　our　safety；　we　will　not　leave　the　palace　without　telling　you　where　we　are　going；　and　we　will　listen　to　your　advice。〃　Light；　she　had　no　wish　to　be　Aiel；　no　wish　to　do　any　of　this；　but　she　wanted　Aviendha's　respect。　〃If　you。。。　if　you　decide　that　we　are。。。　〃　Not　that　she　had　any　intention　of　being　a　sister…wife　…　the　very　idea　was　indecent！　…　but　she　did　like　her。　〃。。。　are　putting　ourselves　in　needless　danger。。。　〃　It　was　not　Aviendha's　fault　that　Rand　had　caught　both　their　hearts。　And　Min's　as　well。　〃。。。　we　will　accept　bodyguards　of　your　choosing。。。　〃　Fate　or　ta'veren　or　whatever；　what　was；　was。　She　loved　both　women　like　sisters。　〃。。。　and　keep　them　with　us　as　long　as　possible。〃　Burn　the　man　for　doing　this　to　her！　It　was　not　Mat　Cauthon　she　meant。　〃This　I　swear　by　the　Lion　Throne　of　Andor。〃　She　breathed　in　as　if　she　had　run　a　mile。　Nynaeve　wore　a　face　like　a　cornered　badger。
　　　His　head　swiveled　toward　them　ever　so　slowly；　and　he　lowered　the　cloth　just　enough　to　expose　one　red…streaked　eye。　〃You　sound　like　you　have　an　iron　rod　down　your　throat；　my　Lady；〃　he　said　mockingly。　〃You　have　my　permission　to　call　me　Mat。〃　Odious　man！　He　would　not　know　civility　if　it　bit　him　on　the　nose！　That　sanguine　eye　slanted　toward　her。　〃What　about　you；　Nynaeve？　I　heard　a　lot　of　'we'　from　her；　but　not　a　word　from　you。〃
　　　〃I　won't　shout　at　you；〃　Nynaeve　shouted。　〃And　all　the　rest；　too。　I　promise；　you。。。　you。。。！〃　She　gobbled　on　the　edge　of　swallowing　her　tongue　as　she　realized　she　could　not　call　him　one　of　the　names　he　warranted　without　breaking　the　promise　already。　And　yet；　the　effect　of　her　shout　was　most　gratifying。
　　　With　a　cry；　he　shuddered　and　dropped　the　cloth；　clutched　his　head　with　both　hands。　His　eyes　bulged。　〃Flaming　dice；〃　he　whimpered；　or　something　very　like。　It　suddenly　struck　Elayne　that　he　would　be　a　very　good　source　of　pithy　language。　Stablemen　and　the　like　always　seemed　to　scrape　their　tongues　clean　the　moment　they　saw　her。　Of　course；　she　had　promised　herself　to　civilize　him；　to　make　him　useful　to　Rand；　but　that　need　not　interfere　too　much　with　his　language。　In　fact；　she　realized　there　was　a　good　deal　she　had　not　promised　not　to　do。　Pointing　that　out　should　settle　Nynaeve　considerably。
　　　After　a　long　moment；　he　spoke　in　a　hollow　voice。　〃Thank　you；　Nynaeve。〃　He　paused　to　swallow　hard。　〃I　thought　you　two　must　be　somebody　else　in　disguise；　there　for　a　bit。　Since　I　still　seem　to　be　alive；　we　might　as　well　take　care　of　the　re