rj.theshadowrising-第178节

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f　anything　of　value；　even　clothes　and　boots。　She　wished　she　knew　how　they　had　discovered　her　identity；　but　there　was　no　way　to　bring　one　along　to　find　out。　They　were　definitely　going　to　have　bodyguards　from　now　on；　no　matter　what　Nynaeve　said。
　　　　　　　Egeanin　might　not　have　been　hesitant；　but　she　was　uneasy。　Elayne　could　see　it　in　her　eyes　as　they　wove　through　the　crowd。　〃You　saw；　didn't　you？〃　she　asked。　The　woman　missed　a　step；　all　the　confirmation　Elayne　needed；　and　she　added　hurriedly；　〃We　won't　harm　you。　Certainly　not　after　you　came　to　our　rescue。〃　Again　she　had　to　spit　out　her　veil。　Nynaeve　did　not　seem　to　have　that　problem。　〃You　needn't　frown　at　me；　Nynaeve。　She　saw　what　I　did。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know　that；〃　Nynaeve　said　dryly。　〃And　it　was　the　right　thing　to　do。　But　we　are　not　snug　in　your　mother's　palace　tucked　away　from　prying　ears。〃　Her　gesture　took　in　the　people　around　them。　Between　Egeanin's　staff　and　their　staves；　most　were　giving　them　a　wide　berth。　To　Egeanin　she　said；　〃The　larger　part　of　any　rumors　you　may　have　heard　are　not　true。　Few　of　them　are。　You　need　not　be　afraid　of　us；　but　you　can　understand　there　are　matters　we　do　not　care　to　speak　of　here。〃
　　　　　　　〃Afraid　of　you？〃　Egeanin　looked　startled。　〃I　had　not　thought　I　should　be。　I　will　keep　silent　until　you　wish　to　speak。〃　She　was　as　good　as　her　word；　they　walked　on　in　silence　through　the　murmurs　of　the　crowd　all　the　way　back　down　the　peninsula　to　the　Three　Plum　Court。　All　this　walking　was　making　Elayne's　feet　ache。
　　　　　　　A　handful　of　men　and　women　sat　in　the　mon　room　despite　the　early　hour；　nursing　their　wine　or　ale。　The　woman　with　her　hammered　dulcimer　was　being　acpanied　by　a　thin　man　playing　a　flute　that　sounded　as　reedy　as　he　was。　Juilin　sat　at　a　table　near　the　door；　smoking　a　short…stemmed　pipe。　He　had　not　returned　from　his　nightly　foray　when　they　left。　Elayne　was　glad　to　see　that　for　once　he　did　not　have　a　new　bruise　or　cut；　what　he　called　the　underside　of　Tanchico　seemed　even　rougher　than　the　face　the　city　presented　to　the　world。　His　one　concession　to　Tanchican　dress　had　been　to　replace　his　flat　straw　hat　with　one　of　those　dark　conical　felt　caps；　which　he　wore　perched　on　the　back　of　his　head。
　　　　　　　〃I　have　found　them；〃　he　said；　popping　up　from　his　bench　and　snatching　off　his　cap；　before　he　saw　they　were　not　alone。　He　gave　Egeanin　a　hooded　look　and　a　small　bow；　she　returned　it　with　an　inclination　of　her　head　and　a　look　just　as　guarded。
　　　　　　　〃You've　found　them？〃　Nynaeve　exclaimed。　〃Are　you　sure？　Speak；　man。　Have　you　swallowed　your　tongue？〃　And　her　with　her　warnings　about　talking　in　front　of　other　people。
　　　　　　　〃I　should　have　said　I　found　where　they　were。〃　He　did　not　look　at　Egeanin　again；　but　he　chose　his　words　carefully。　〃The　woman　with　the　white　stripe　in　her　hair　led　me　to　a　house　where　she　was　staying　with　a　number　of　other　women；　though　few　were　ever　seen　outside。　The　locals　thought　they　were　rich　escapees　from　the　countryside。　Little　remains　now　save　a　few　scraps　of　food　in　the　pantry　…　even　the　servants　are　gone　…　but　from　one　thing　and　another　I　would　say　they　left　late　yesterday　or　early　last　night。　I　doubt　they　have　any　fear　of　the　night　in　Tanchico。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　had　a　fistful　of　her　narrow　braids　in　a　white…knuckled　grip。　〃You　went　inside？〃　she　said　in　a　very　level　voice。　Elayne　thought　she　was　an　inch　from　raising　the　stave　dangling　at　her　side。
　　　　　　　Juilin　seemed　to　think　so；　too。　Eyeing　the　stave；　he　said；　〃You　know　very　well　I　take　no　risks　with　them。　An　empty　house　has　a　look　about　it；　a　feel；　no　matter　how　big。　You　cannot　chase　thieves　as　long　as　I　have　without　learning　to　see　as　they　do。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　if　you　had　triggered　a　trap？〃　Nynaeve　almost　hissed　the　words。　〃Does　your　grand　talent　for　feeling　things　extend　to　traps？〃　Juilin's　dark　face　went　a　little　gray；　he　wet　his　lips　as　if　to　explain　or　defend　himself；　but　she　cut　him　off。　〃We　will　talk　of　this　later；　Master　Sandar。〃　Her　eyes　shifted　slightly　toward　Egeanin；　finally　she　had　remembered　there　were　other　ears　there　to　hear。　〃Tell　Rendra　we　will　take　tea　in　the　Falling　Blossoms　Room。〃
　　　　　　　〃Chamber　of　Falling　Blossoms；〃　Elayne　corrected　softly；　and　Nynaeve　shot　her　a　look。　Juilin's　news　had　left　the　older　woman　in　a　bad　humor。
　　　　　　　He　bowed　deeply　with　his　hands　spread。　〃As　you　mand；　Mistress　al'Meara；　so　I　obey　from　the　heart；〃　he　said　wryly；　then　stuck　his　dark　cap　back　on　top　of　his　head　and　stalked　off；　his　back　eloquently　indignant。　It　must　be　unfortable　to　find　yourself　taking　orders　from　someone　with　whom　you　had　once　tried　to　flirt。
　　　　　　　〃Fool　man！〃　Nynaeve　growled。　〃We　should　have　left　both　of　them　on　the　dock　in　Tear。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　is　your　servant？〃　Egeanin　said　slowly。
　　　　　　　〃Yes；〃　Nynaeve　snapped；　just　as　Elayne　said；　〃No。〃
　　　　　　　They　looked　at　each　other；　Nynaeve　still　frowning。
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　he　is；　in　a　way；〃　Elayne　sighed；　right　on　top　of　Nynaeve's　muttered；　〃I　suppose　he　is　not；　at　that。〃
　　　　　　　〃I。。。see；〃　Egeanin　said。
　　　　　　　Rendra　came　bustling　between　the　tables　with　a　smile　on　her　rosebud　lips　behind　her　veil。　Elayne　wished　she　did　not　look　so　much　like　Liandrin。　〃Ah。　You　are　so　pretty　this　morning。　Your　dresses；　they　are　magnificent。　Beautiful。〃　As　if　the　honey…haired　woman　had　not　had　as　much　to　do　with　choosing　the　fabric　and　cut　as　they。　Her　own　was　red　enough　for　a　Tinker　and　definitely　not　suitable　for　public。　〃But　you　have　been　foolish　again；　yes？　That　is　why　the　fine　Juilin；　he　wears　the　large　scowl。　You　should　not　worry　him　so。〃　A　twinkle　in　her　big　brown　eyes　said　Juilin　had　found　someone　for　his　flirting。　〃e。　You　will　take　your　tea　in　the　cool　and　the　privacy；　and　if　you　must　go　out　again；　you　will　allow　me　to　provide　the　bearers　and　the　guards；　yes？　The　pretty　Elayne　would　not　have　lost　so　many　purses　if　you　were　properly　guarded。　But　we　will　not　talk　of　such　things　now。　Your　tea；　it　is　nearly　prepared。　e。〃　It　had　to　be　a　learned　skill；　that　was　how　Elayne　saw　it；　you　must　have　to　learn　how　to　talk　without　eating　your　veil。
　　　　　　　The　Chamber　of　Falling　Blossoms；　located　down　a　short　corridor　off　the　mon　room；　was　a　small；　windowless　room　with　a　low　table　and　carved　chairs　with　red　seat　cushions。　Nynaeve　and　Elayne　took　their　meals　there　with　Thom　or　Juilin　or　both；　when　Nynaeve　was　not　in　a　taking　at　them。　The　plastered　brick　walls；　painted　with　a　veritable　grove　of　plum　trees　and　a　namesake　shower　of　flowers　were　thick　enough　to　preclude　any　eavesdropping。　Elayne　practically　tore　her　veil　off　and　tossed　the　filmy　scrap　on　the　table　before　sitting；　even　Taraboner　women　did　not　try　to　eat　or　drink　wearing　the　things。　Nynaeve　merely　unfastened　hers　from　her　hair　on　one　side。
　　　　　　　Rendra　kept　up　her　chatter　while　they　were　being　served；　her　topics　bouncing　from　a　new　seamstress　who　could　sew　them　dresses　in　the　newest　style　from　the　thinnest　imaginable　silk　…　she　suggested　Egeanin　try　the　woman；　getting　a　level　look　for　reply；　it　did　not　faze　her　even　a　trifle　…　to　why　they　should　listen　to　Juilin　since　the　city　was　just　too　dangerous　for　a　woman　to　go　out　alone　now　even　in　daylight；　to　a　scented　soap　that　would　put　the　finest　sheen　on　their　hair。　Elayne　sometimes　wondered　how　the　woman　ran　such　a　successful　inn　when　she　seemed　to　think　of　nothing　but　her　hair　and　her　clothes。　That　she　did　was　obvious；　it　was　the　how　that　puzzled　Elayne。　Of　course；　she　did　wear　pretty　clothes；　just　not　entirely　suitable。　The　servant　who　brought　the　tea　and　blue　porcelain　cups　and　tiny　cakes　on　a　tray　was　the　slender；　dark…eyed　young　man　who　had　kept　filling　Elayne's　winecup　on　that　very　embarrassing　night。　And　had　tried　again　more　than　once；　though　she　had　privately　vowed　never　again　to　drink　more　than　a　single　cup。　A　handsome　man；　but　she　gave　him　her　coolest　stare；　so　that　he　hurried　from　the　room　gladly。
　　　　　　　Egeanin　watched　quietly　until　Rendra　left；　too。　〃You　are　not　what　I　expected；〃　she　said　then；　balancing　her　cup　on　her　fingertips　in　an　odd　way。　〃The　innkeeper　babbles　of　frivolities　as　if　you　were　her　sisters　and　as　foolish　as　she；　and　you　allow　it。　The　dark　man　…　he　is　a　servant　of　sorts；　I　think　…　mocks　you。　That　serving　boy　stares　with　open　hunger　in　his　eyes；　and　you　allow　it。　You　are。。。　Aes　Sedai；　are　you　not？〃　Without　waiting　for　an　answer；　she　shifted　her　sharp　blue　eyes　to　Elayne。　〃And　you　are　of　the。。。　You　are　nobly　born。　Nynaeve　spoke　of　your　mother's　palace。〃
　　　　　　　〃Such　things　do　not　count　for　very　much　in　the　White　Tower；〃　Elayne　told　her　ruefully；　hastily　brushing　cake　crumbs　from　her　chin。　It　was　very　spicy　cake；　almost　sharp。　〃If　a。　queen　went　there　to　learn；　she　would　have　to　scrub　floors　like　any　other　novice　and　jump　when　she　was　told。〃
　　　　　　　Egeanin　nodded　slowly。　〃So　that　is　how　you　rule。　By　ruling　the　rulers。　Do。。。　many。。。　queens　go　to　be　trained　so？〃
　　　　　　　〃None　that　I　know　of。〃　Elayne　laughed。　〃Though　it　is　our　tradition　in　Andor　for　the　Daughter…Heir　to　go。　A　good　many　noblewomen　go；　really；　though　they　usually　do　not　want　it　known　and　most　leave　having　failed　to　even　sense　the　True　Source。　It　was　only　an　example。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　are　also　of　the。。。　a　noble？〃　Egeanin　asked；　and　Nynaeve　snorted。
　　　　　　　〃My　mother　was　a　farmwife；　and　my　father　herded　sheep　and　farmed　tabac。　Few　where　I　e　from　can　make　do　without