rj.theshadowrising-第199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！


　outside　my　investiture。。。　The　Children　of　the　Light；　they　killed　very　many　of　the　rioters。　Perhaps　this　means　there　will　not　be　another　riot；　but　perhaps　it　means　the　next　riot；　it　will　be　twice　so　big；　or　ten　times。　I　think　that　I；　too；　would　keep　the　Watch　and　the　Children　close　around　me。　But　this　is　no　talk　to　disturb　the　meal。〃　Examining　the　table；　she　nodded　to　herself　in　approval；　the　beads　in　her　thin　plaits　clicking。　As　she　turned　toward　the　door；　she　paused　with　a　small　smile。　〃It　is　the　fashion　to　eat　the　Domani　food　with　the　sursa；　and　of　course　one　does　what　is　the　fashion。　But。。。　there　are　none　here　to　see　save　yourselves；　yes？　Should　you　perhaps　wish　the　spoons　and　the　forks；　they　are　under　the　napkin。〃　She　indicated　the　tray　on　the　end　of　the　table。　〃Enjoy。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　and　Egeanin　waited　until　the　door　closed　behind　the　innkeeper；　then　grinned　at　each　other　and　reached　for　the　tray　with　decidedly　unseemly　haste。　Elayne　still　managed　to　get　her　spoon　and　fork　first；　neither　of　the　others　had　ever　had　to　eat　in　the　few　minutes　between　a　novice's　chores　and　lessons。
　　　　　　　〃It　is　tasty　enough；〃　Egeanin　said　after　her　first　mouthful；　〃when　you　can　put　any　on　your　tongue。〃　Nynaeve　laughed　with　her。
　　　　　　　In　the　seven　days　since　meeting　the　dark…haired　woman　with　her　sharp　blue　eyes　and　slow　drawl；　they　had　both　e　to　like　her。　She　was　a　refreshing　change　from　Rendra's　chatter　about　hair　and　clothes　and　plexions；　or　stares　in　the　street　from　people　who　looked　as　if　they　would　slit　a　throat　for　a　copper。　This　was　her　fourth　visit　since　that　first　meeting；　and　Elayne　had　enjoyed　every　one。　Egeanin　had　a　directness　and　an　air　of　independence　she　admired。　The　woman　might　be　only　a　small　trader　in　whatever　came　her　way；　but　she　could　challenge　Gareth　Bryne　for　saying　what　she　meant　and　bowing　to　no　one。
　　　　　　　Still；　Elayne　wished　the　visits　had　not　been　so　frequent。　Or　rather　that　she　and　Nynaeve　had　not　been　at　the　Three　Plum　Court　so　often　for　Egeanin　to　find。　Almost　constant　riots　since　Amathera's　investiture　made　moving　about　the　city　all　but　impossible；　however；　despite　their　coterie　of　Domon's　tough　sailors。　Even　Nynaeve　had　admitted　as　much　after　they　had　had　to　flee　a　shower　of　fist…sized　stones。　Thom　still　promised　to　find　them　a　carriage　and　team；　but　she　was　not　too　certain　how　hard　he　was　looking。　He　and　Juilin　both　seemed　insufferably　pleased　that　she　and　Nynaeve　were　mired　inside　the　inn。　They　e　back　bruised　or　bleeding　and　don't　want　us　to　even　stub　a　toe；　she　thought　wryly。　Why　did　men　always　think　it　was　right　to　keep　you　safer　than　they　kept　themselves？　Why　did　they　think　their　injuries　mattered　less　than　yours？
　　　　　　　From　the　taste　of　the　meat；　she　suspected　Thom　should　look　in　the　kitchens　here　if　he　wanted　to　find　horses。　The　thought　of　eating　horse　made　her　stomach　queasy。　She　chose　a　bowl　containing　only　vegetables；　bits　of　dark　mushroom；　red　peppers　and　some　sort　of　feathery　green　sprouts　in　a　pale；　tangy　sauce。　〃What　shall　we　discuss　today？〃　Nynaeve　asked　Egeanin。　〃You　have　asked　almost　every　question　I　can　think　of。〃　Nearly　every　one　they　knew　how　to　answer　at　any　rate。　〃If　you　want　to　learn　any　more　about　Aes　Sedai；　you'll　have　to　go　to　the　Tower　as　a　novice。〃
　　　　　　　Egeanin　flinched　unconsciously；　as　she　did　at　any　words　linking　the　Power　to　her。　For　a　moment　she　stirred　the　contents　of　one　of　the　small　bowls；　frowning　at　it。　〃You　have　not　made　any　real　effort；〃　she　said　slowly；　〃to　keep　secret　from　me　that　you　are　looking　for　someone。　Women。　If　it　does　not　intrude　on　your　secrets；　I　would　ask　…〃　She　cut　off　at　a　knock　on　the　door。
　　　　　　　Bayle　Domon　strode　in　without　waiting；　grim　satisfaction　warring　with　uneasiness　on　his　round　face。　〃I　have　found　them；〃　he　began；　then　gave　a　start　at　the　sight　of　Egeanin。　〃You！〃
　　　　　　　Shockingly；　Egeanin　knocked　over　her　chair　leaping　up；　and　threw　a　fist　at　Domon's　thick　middle　almost　too　fast　to　see。　Somehow　Domon　caught　her　wrist　in　a　big　hand；　twisted　…　there　was　a　flurried　instant　where　they　seemed　to　be　trying　to　hook　each　other's　ankle　with　a　foot；　Egeanin　attempted　to　strike　him　in　the　throat　…　then　somehow；　she　was　facedown　on　the　floor；　Domon's　boot　on　her　shoulder　and　her　arm　levered　up　hard　against　his　knee。　Despite　that　she　snatched　her　belt　knife　free。
　　　　　　　Elayne　wove　flows　of　Air　around　the　pair　before　she　even　knew　she　had　embraced　saidar；　freezing　them　where　they　were。　〃What　is　the　meaning　of　this？〃　she　demanded　in　her　best　icy　tone。
　　　　　　　〃How　dare　you；　Master　Domon？〃　Nynaeve's　voice　was　equally　cold。　〃Unhand　her！〃　More　warmly；　worriedly；　she　added；　〃Egeanin；　why　did　you　try　to　hit　him？　I　told　you　to　release　her；　Domon！〃
　　　　　　　〃He　cannot；　Nynaeve。〃　Elayne　did　wish　the　other　woman　could　at　least　see　flows　clearly　without　being　angry。　She　did　try　to　hit　him　first。　〃Egeanin；　why？〃
　　　　　　　The　dark…haired　woman　lay　there　with　eyes　shut　and　mouth　tight；　her　knuckles　stood　out　bloodless　from　her　grip　on　the　knife　hilt。
　　　　　　　Domon　glared　from　Elayne　to　Nynaeve；　his　odd　Illianer　beard　nearly　bristling。　His　head　was　all　that　Elayne　had　left　free　to　move。　〃The　woman　do　be　Seanchan！〃　he　growled。
　　　　　　　Elayne　exchanged　startled　looks　with　Nynaeve。　Egeanin？　Seanchan？　It　was　impossible。　It　must　be　impossible。
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　certain？〃　Nynaeve　asked　slowly；　quietly。　She　sounded　as　stunned　as　Elayne　felt。
　　　　　　　〃I　will　never　forget　her　face；〃　Domon　replied　firmly。　〃A　ship　captain。　It　did　be　she　who　did　take　me　to　Falme；　me　and　my　ship；　captives　to　the　Seanchan。〃
　　　　　　　Egeanin　made　no　effort　to　deny　it；　only　lay　there　gripping　her　knife。　Seanchan。　But　I　like　her！
　　　　　　　Carefully；　Elayne　shifted　the　weave　of　flows　until　Egeanin's　knife　hand　lay　uncovered　to　the　wrist。　〃Let　go　of　it；　Egeanin；〃　she　said；　kneeling　beside　the　woman。　〃Please。〃　After　a　moment；　Egeanin's　hand　fell　open。　Elayne　picked　up　the　knife　and　backed　away；　loosing　the　flows　pletely。　〃Let　her　up；　Master　Domon。〃
　　　　　　　〃She　be　Seanchan；　Mistress；〃　he　protested；　〃and　hard　as　iron　spikes。〃
　　　　　　　〃Let　her　up。〃
　　　　　　　Muttering　under　his　breath；　he　released　Egeanin's　wrist；　moving；　away　from　her　quickly　as　if　he　expected　she　might　e　at　him　again。　The　dark…haired　woman　…　the　Seanchan　woman　…　merely　stood；　though。　She　worked　the　shoulder　he　had　wrenched；　eyeing　him　thoughtfully；　glanced　at　the　door；　then　raised　her　head　and　waited　with　every　outward　appearance　of　calm。　It　was　hard　not　to　keep　on　admiring　her。
　　　　　　　〃Seanchan；〃　Nynaeve　growled。　She　clutched　a　fistful　of　her　long　braids；　then　gave　her　hand　an　odd　stare　and　let　go；　but　her　brows　were　still　furrowed　and　her　eyes　hard。　〃Seanchan！　Worming　your　way　into　our　friendship。　I　thought　you　had　all　gone　back　where　you　came　from。　Why　are　you　here；　Egeanin？　Was　our　meeting　really　an　accident？　Why　did　you　seek　us　out？　Did　you　mean　to　lure　us　somewhere　your　filthy　sul'dam　could　lock　their　leashes　around　our　throats？〃　Egeanin's　blue　eyes　widened　fractionally。　〃Oh；　yes；〃　Nynaeve　told　her　sharply。　〃We　know　about　you　Seanchan　and　your　sul'dam　and　damane。　We　know　more　than　you。　You　chain　women　who　channel；　but　those　you　use　to　control　them　can　channel　too；　Egeanin。　For　every　woman　who　can　channel　that　you've　leashed　like　an　animal；　you　walk　by　another　ten　or　twenty　every　day　without　realizing　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know；〃　Egeanin　said　simply；　and　Nynaeve's　mouth　fell　open。
　　　　　　　Elayne　thought　her　own　eyes　were　going　to　pop　out　of　her　head。　〃You　know？〃　She　took　a　breath　and　went　on　in　something　less　like　an　incredulous　squeal。　〃Egeanin；　I　think　you　are　lying。　I've　not　met　many　Seanchan　before；　and　never　for　more　than　a　few　minutes；　but　I　know　someone　who　has。　Seanchan　don't　even　hate　women　who　channel。　They　think　they　are　animals。　You'd　not　take　it　so　easily　if　you　knew；　or　even　believed。〃
　　　　　　　〃Women　who　can　wear　the　bracelet　are　women　who　can　learn　to　channel；〃　Egeanin　said。　〃I　did　not　know　it　could　be　learned　…　I　was　taught　a　woman　either　could　or　could　not　…　but　when　you　told　me　that　girls　must　be　guided　if　they　are　not　born　with　it；　I　reasoned　it　out：　May　I　sit　down？〃　So　cool。
　　　　　　　Elayne　nodded；　and　Domon　set　Egeanin's　chair　upright；　standing　behind　it　while　she　sat。　Looking　over　her　shoulder　at　him；　the　dark…haired　woman　said；　〃You　were　not　so　…　difficult。。。　an　opponent　the　last　time　we　met。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　did　have　twenty　armored　soldiers　on　my　deck　then；　and　a　damane　ready　to　break　my　ship　apart　with　the　Power。　Just　because　I　can　hook　a　shark　from　a　boat；　I　do　no　offer　to　wrestle　it　in　the　water。〃　Surprisingly；　he　grinned　at　her；　rubbing　his　side　where　she　must　have　gotten　in　a　blow　Elayne　had　not　seen。　〃You　are　no　so　easy　an　opponent　yourself　as　I　did　think　you　would　be　without　your　armor　and　sword。〃
　　　　　　　The　woman's　world　had　to　have　been　turned　upside　down　by　her　own　reasoning；　but　she　was　taking　it　matter…of…factly。　Elayne　could　not　imagine　what　would　spin　her　own　world　topsy…turvy　that　way；　but　she　hoped　that　if　she　ever　found　out　she　could　face　it　with　Egeanin's　calm　reserve。　I　have　to　stop　liking　her。　She　is　Seanchan。　They'd　have　collared　me　far　a　pet　if　they　could。　Light；　how　do　you　stop　liking　someone？
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　appeared　to　be　having　no　such　difficulty。　Planting　her　fists　on　the　table；　she　leaned　tow