rj.theshadowrising-第147节

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es　of　the　table；　and　his　voice　dropped　to　a　hoarse　whisper。　〃Stirring　up　trouble；　as　it　were？　I　heard　a　rumor　…　from　a　fellow　who's　body…servant　to　Lord　Brys　…　about　the　Assembly；　and　choosing　the　new　Panarch。　I　think　maybe　it's　true。　The　man　was　drunk；　and　when　he　realized　what　he　had　said；　he　nearly　fouled　himself。　Even　if　it　isn't；　it　would　still　rip　Tanchico　wide　open。〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　really　believe　there　is　any　need　to　buy　trouble　in　this　city？〃　Tanchico　was　a　rotting　bellfruit　ready　to　fall　in　the　first　wind。　The　whole　of　this　wretched　land　was。　For　a　moment　she　was　tempted　to　buy　his　〃rumor。〃　She　was　supposed　to　be　a　trader　in　whatever　goods　or　information　came　along；　and　she　had　even　sold　some。　But　dealing　with　Gelb　sickened　her。　And　her　own　doubts　frightened　her。　〃That　will　be　all；　Master　Gelb。　You　know　how　to　make　contact　with　me　if　you　find　another　of　these。〃　She　touched　the　rough…woven　sack。
　　　　　　　Instead　of　rising；　he　sat　staring；　trying　to　see　through　her　mask。　〃Where　are　you　from；　Mistress　Elidar？　The　way　you　talk；　all　slurred　out　and　soft…like　…　begging　your　pardon；　no　offense　meant　…　I　can't　place　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　will　be　all；　Gelb。〃　Maybe　it　was　the　quarterdeck　voice；　or　maybe　the　mask　failed　to　hide　her　cold　stare；　but　Gelb　bounced　to　his　feet；　ducking　bows　and　stammering　apologies　while　he　fumbled　open　the　door　in　the　lacework　wall。
　　　　　　　She　sat　there　after　he　was　gone；　giving　him　time　to　leave　the　Garden　of　Silver　Breezes。　Someone　would　follow　him　outside；　to　make　certain　he　did　not　wait　to　shadow　her。　All　this　skulking　and　hiding　disgusted　her；　she　almost　wished　something　would　destroy　her　disguise　and　give　her　an　honest　face…to…face　fight。
　　　　　　　A　new　ship　was　sweeping　into　the　harbor　below；　a　Sea　Folk　raker　with　its　towering　masts　and　clouds　of　sail。　She　had　examined　a　captured　raker；　but　she　would　have　given　almost　anything　to　take　one　out；　though　she　expected　a　Sea　Folk　crew　would　be　necessary　to　wring　the　most　from　the　vessel。　The　Atha'an　Miere　were　stubborn　about　taking　the　oaths；　it　would　not　be　as　good　if　she　had　to　buy　a　crew。　Buy　an　entire　crew！　The　amount　of　gold　that　came　in　by　the　courier　boats　for　her　to　fling　about　was　going　to　her　head。
　　　　　　　Taking　up　the　jute　bag；　she　started　to　rise；　then　sat　back　down　hurriedly　at　the　sight　of　a　wide；　thick…shouldered　man　leaving　another　table。　Dark　hair；　long　to　his　shoulders；　and　a　beard　that　left　his　upper　lip　bare　framed　Bayle　Domon's　round　face。　He　was　not　masked；　of　course；　he　ran　a　dozen　coasting　vessels　in　and　out　of　Tanchico　and　apparently　did　not　care　who　knew　his　whereabouts。　Masked。　She　was　not　thinking　straight。　He　would　not　recognize　her　in　a　mask。　Still；　she　waited　until　he　was　gone　before　leaving　her　table。　The　man　might　have　to　be　dealt　with　yet；　if　he　became　a　danger。
　　　　　　　Selindrin　took　the　gold　she　proffered　with　a　sleek　smile　and　murmured　wishes　for　Egeanin's　continued　patronage。　Dark　hair　in　dozens　of　narrow　braids；　the　proprietress　of　the　Garden　of　Silver　Breezes　wore　clinging　white　silk；　nearly　thin　enough　for　a　serving　girl；　and　one　of　those　transparent　veils　that　always　made　Egeanin　want　to　ask　Taraboners　what　dances　they　could　perform。　Shea　dancers　wore　almost　identical　veils　and　little　more。　Still；　Egeanin　thought　as　she　started　toward　the　street；　the　woman　had　a　sharp　mind；　else　she　could　not　maneuver　through　the　shoals　of　Tanchico；　catering　to　every　faction　while　earning　the　enmity　of　none。
　　　　　　　A　reminder　of　that　was　the　tall；　white…cloaked　man；　gray　at　the　temples　but　hard…faced　and　hard…eyed；　who　passed　Egeanin　and　was　greeted　by　Selindrin。　Jaichim　Carridin's　cloak　bore　a　golden　sunburst　on　the　breast；　with　four　golden　knots　below　and　a　crimson　shepherd's　crook　behind。　An　Inquisitor　of　the　Hand　of　the　Light；　a　high　officer　in　the　Children　of　the　Light。　The　very　concept　of　the　Children　outraged　Egeanin；　a　military　body　answerable　only　to　itself。　But　Carridin　and　his　few　hundred　soldiers　had　power　of　a　sort　in　Tanchico；　where　any　kind　of　authority　seemed　to　be　lacking　most　of　the　time。　The　Civil　Watch　no　longer　patrolled　the　streets；　and　the　army　…　as　much　as　was　still　loyal　to　the　King　…　was　too　busy　holding　the　fortresses　around　the　city。　Egeanin　noted　that　Selindrin　did　not　even　glance　at　the　sword　on　Carridin's　hip。　He　definitely　had　power。
　　　　　　　As　soon　as　she　stepped　into　the　street　her　bearers　came　running　with　her　chair　from　the　cluster　waiting　for　their　patrons；　and　her　bodyguards　closed　in　around　her　with　their　spears。　They　were　a　mismatched　lot；　some　in　steel　caps；　three　wearing　leather　shirts　sewn　with　steel　scales；　rough…faced　men；　possibly　deserters　from　the　army；　but　aware　that　continued　full　bellies　and　silver　to　spend　depended　on　her　continued　safety。　Even　the　bearers　carried　stout　knives；　and　cudgels　stuck　out　of　their　sashes。　No　one　who　looked　as　though　they　had　money　dared　appear　out…of…doors　unguarded。　In　any　case；　had　she　cared　to　risk　it；　it　would　only　draw　attention　to　her。
　　　　　　　The　guards　forced　a　way　through　the　crowds　with　no　trouble。　The　throngs　eddied　and　swirled　in　the　narrow　streets　that　wound　through　the　city's　hills；　creating　clear　pockets　around　sedan　chairs　surrounded　by　bodyguards。　There　were　very　few　carriages　to　be　seen。　Horses　were　being　an　extravagance。
　　　　　　　Worn　was　the　only　fit　description　for　the　milling　masses；　worn　and　frenzied。　Worn　faces；　worn　clothes；　and　too…bright；　frenzied　eyes；　desperate；　hoping　when　they　knew　there　was　no　hope。　Many　had　surrendered；　crouching　against　walls；　huddled　in　doorways；　clutching　wives；　husbands；　children；　not　simply　worn　but　ragged　and　blank…faced。　Sometimes　they　roused　enough　to　cry　out　to　some　passerby　for　a　coin；　a　crust；　anything。
　　　　　　　Egeanin　kept　her　eyes　straight　ahead；　of　necessity　trusting　the　bodyguards　to　detect　any　danger。　Meeting　a　beggar's　eyes　meant　twenty　of　them　jamming　themselves　hopefully　around　her　chair。　Tossing　a　coin　meant　a　hundred　crowding　in；　clamoring　and　weeping。　She　was　already　using　part　of　the　money　the　courier　boats　brought　to　support　a　soup　kitchen；　just　as　if　she　were　one　of　the　Blood。　She　shuddered　to　think　what　discovery　of　that　overstepping　of　her　place　would　mean。　As　well　put　on　a　brocaded　robe　and　shave　her　head。
　　　　　　　All　of　this　could　be　put　aright　once　Tanchico　fell；　with　everyone　fed；　everyone　put　in　their　proper　place。　And　she　could　abandon　dresses　and　things　she　had　no　experience　or　taste　for；　return　to　her　ship。　Tarabon；　at　least；　and　perhaps　Arad　Doman　as　well；　were　ready　to　crumble　at　a　touch；　like　charred　silk。　Why　was　the　High　Lady　Suroth　holding　back？　Why？
　
　　　　　　　Jaichim　Carridin　lounged　in　his　chair；　cloak　spread　over　the　carved　arms；　studying　the　Taraboner　noblemen　who　occupied　the　private　room's　other　chairs。　They　sat　stiffly　in　their　gold…embroidered　coats；　mouths　tight　below　masks　fancifully　worked　to　resemble　hawks'　faces；　and　lions'　and　leopards'。　He　had　more　to　worry　him　than　they；　but　he　managed　a　calm　demeanor。　It　was　two　months　since　he　had　received　word　of　a　cousin　found　skinned　alive　in　his　own　bedchamber；　three　since　his　youngest　sister；　Dealda；　being　carried　off　from　her　bridal　feast　by　a　Myrddraal。　The　family　steward　wrote　disbelievingly；　frantic　with　all　the　tragedy　befalling　House　Carridin。　Two　months。　He　hoped　Dealda　had　died　quickly。　It　was　said　women　did　not　cling　to　sanity　long　in　Myrddraal　hands。　Two　whole　months。　Anyone　else　but　Jaichim　Carridin　would　have　been　sweating　blood。
　　　　　　　Each　man　held　a　golden　goblet　of　wine；　but　there　were　no　servants　present。　Selindrin　had　served　them　before　removing　herself　with　an　assurance　that　they　would　not　be　disturbed。　There　was；　in　fact；　no　one　else　on　this；　the　highest　floor　of　the　Garden　of　Silver　Breezes。　Two　men　who　had　e　with　the　nobles　…　members　of　the　King's　Life　Guard；　unless　Carridin　missed　his　guess　…　stood　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs　to　guarantee　continued　privacy。
　　　　　　　Carridin　sipped　his　wine。　None　of　the　Taraboners　had　touched　theirs。　〃So；〃　he　said　lightly；　〃King　Andric　wishes　the　Children　of　the　Light　to　aid　in　restoring　order　in　the　city。　We　do　not　often　let　ourselves　bee　involved　in　the　internal　affairs　of　nations。〃　Not　openly。　〃Certainly　I　cannot　remember　such　a　request。　I　do　not　know　what　the　Lord　Captain　mander　will　say。〃　Pedron　Niall　would　say　to　do　what　was　needed　and　make　sure　the　Taraboners　knew　that　they　owed　a　debt　to　the　Children；　make　sure　they　paid　it　in　full。
　　　　　　　〃There　is　no　time　for　you　to　request　instructions　from　Amador；〃　a　man　in　a　black…spotted　leopard　mask　said　urgently。　None　had　offered　names；　but　Carridin　did　not　need　them。
　　　　　　　〃What　we　ask　is　necessary；〃　another　snapped；　his　thick　mustache　below　a　hawk　mask　giving　him　the　look　of　a　peculiar　owl。　〃You　must　understand　that　we　would　not　make　this　request　unless　it　were　necessary　in　the　extreme。　We　must　have　unity；　not　more　division；　yes？　There　are　many　divisive　elements；　even　within　Tanchico。　They　must　be　suppressed　if　there　is　to　be　even　the　hope　of　imposing　peace　on　the　countryside。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　death　of　the　Panarch　has　made　matters　most　difficult；〃　the　first　fellow　added。
　　　　　　　Carridin　raised　an　eyebrow　questioningly。　〃Have　you　discovered　yet　who　killed　her？〃
　　　　　　　His　own　supposition　was　that　Andric　hi