rj.theshadowrising-第200节

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　　　　　　　Nynaeve　appeared　to　be　having　no　such　difficulty。　Planting　her　fists　on　the　table；　she　leaned　toward　Egeanin　so　fiercely　her　braids　dangled　among　the　small　bowls。　〃Why　are　you　here　in　Tanchico？　I　thought　you　had　all　fled　after　Falme。　And　why　have　you　tried　to　wriggle　your　way　into　our　trust　like　some　egg…eating　snake？　If　you　think　you　can　collar　us；　think　again！〃
　　　　　　　〃That　was　never　my　intention；〃　Egeanin　said　stiffly。　〃All　I　ever　wanted　from　you　was　to　learn　about　Aes　Sedai。　I。。。〃　For　the　first　time　she　seemed　hesitant；　unsure　of　herself。　pressing　her　lips；　she　looked　from　Nynaeve　to　Elayne　and　shook　her　head。　〃You　are　not　as　I　was　taught。　The　Light　be　upon　me；　I。。。　like　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　like　us。〃　Nynaeve　made　it　sound　a　crime。　〃That　answers　none　of　my　questions。〃
　　　　　　　Egeanin　hesitated　again；　then　held　her　head　up；　defying　them　to　do　their　worst。　〃Sul'dam　were　left　behind　at　Falme。　Some　deserted　after　the　disaster。　A　few　of　us　were　sent　to　bring　them　back。　I　only　found　one；　but　I　discovered　that　an　a'dam　would　hold　her。〃　Seeing　Nynaeve's　fists　tighten；　she　quickly　added；　〃I　let　her　go　last　night。　I　will　pay　dearly　if　that　is　ever　discovered；　but　after　talking　with　you；　I　could　not。。。〃　Grimacing；　she　shook　her　head。　〃That　is　why　I　stayed　with　you　after　Elayne　revealed　herself。　I　knew　Bethamin　was　a　sul'dam。　To　discover　the　a'dam　held　her；　that　she　could。。。　I　had　to　know；　to　understand；　about　women　who　could　channel。〃　She　took　a　deep　breath。　〃What　do　you　mean　to　do　with　me？〃　Her　hands；　folded　on　the　table；　did　not　tremble。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　opened　her　mouth　angrily；　and　closed　it　again　slowly。　Elayne　knew　her　difficulty。　Nynaeve　might　hate　Egeanin　now；　but　what　were　they　to　do　with　her？　It　was　not　clear　she　had　mitted　any　crime　in　Tanchico；　and　in　any　event　the　Civil　Watch　seemed　interested　in　nothing　beyond　saving　its　own　collective　skin。　She　was　Seanchan；　she　had　used　sul'dam　and　damane；　but　on　the　other　hand；　she　claimed　to　have　let　this　Bethamin　go　free。　For　what　crime　could　they　punish　her？　Asking　questions　they　had　answered　freely？　Making　them　like　her？
　　　　　　　〃I'd　like　to　stripe　your　hide　till　you　glow　like　a　sunset；〃　Nynaeve　growled。　Abruptly　her　head　swung　toward　Domon。　〃You　found　them？　You　said　you　found　them。　Where？〃　He　shifted　his　feet；　shooting　a　meaning　look　at　the　back　of　Egeanin's　head；　eyebrows　rising　in　a　question。
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　believe　she　is　a　Darkfriend；〃　Elayne　said　when　Nynaeve　hesitated。
　　　　　　　〃I　certainly　am　not！〃　Egeanin's　stare　was　fierce…eyed　and　offended。
　　　　　　　Folding　her　arms　as　if　to　keep　from　tugging　her　braids；　Nynaeve　glared　at　the　woman；　then　shifted　an　accusatory　frown　to　Domon；　as　though　this　entire　mess　were　his　fault。　〃There　isn't　anywhere　to　lock　her；〃　she　said　finally；　〃and　Rendra　would　surely　demand　reasons。　Go　ahead；　Master　Domon。〃
　　　　　　　He　gave　a　last；　doubtful　look　at　Egeanin。　〃At　the　Panarch's　Palace；　one　of　my　men　did　see　two　of　the　women　on　your　list。　The　one　with　the　cats；　and　the　Saldaean　woman。〃
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　certain？〃　Nynaeve　said。　〃At　the　Panarch's　Palace？　I　wish　you　had　seen　for　yourself。　More　women　than　Marillin　Gemalphin　like　cats。　And　Asne　Zeramene　is　not　the　only　woman　from　Saldaea；　even　in　Tanchico。〃
　　　　　　　〃A　narrow…faced　blue…eyed　woman　with　a　wide　nose　feeding　a　dozen　cats　in　this　city　where　people　do　eat　cats？　In　the　pany　of　another　with　that　Saldaean　nose　and　tilted　eyes？　That　is　no　so　mon　a　pair；　Mistress　al'Meara。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　not；〃　she　agreed。　〃But　the　Panarch's　Palace？　Master　Domon；　in　case　you　have　forgotten；　five　hundred　Whitecloaks　guard　that　place；　manded　by　an　Inquisitor　of　the　Hand　of　the　Light！　Jaichim　Carridin　and　his　officers　at　least　must　know　Aes　Sedai　on　sight。　Would　they　remain　if　they　saw　the　Panarch　sheltering　Aes　Sedai？〃　He　opened　his　mouth；　but　Nynaeve's　point　was　telling；　and　nothing　came　out。
　　　　　　　〃Master　Domon；〃　Elayne　said；　〃what　was　one　of　your　men　doing　at　the　Panarch's　Palace？〃
　　　　　　　He　tugged　at　his　beard　in　an　embarrassed　way；　and　rubbed　his　bare　upper　lip　with　a　wide　finger。　〃You　see；　the　Panarch　Amathera　do　be　known　to　like　ice　peppers；　the　white　kind　that　be　very　hot；　and　whether　or　no　she　be　amenable　to　gifts　herself；　the　customs　men　will　know　who　did　give　her　one　and　be　more　amenable　themselves。〃
　　　　　　　〃Gifts？〃　Elayne　said　in　her　best　reproving　voice。　〃You　were　more　honest　on　the　docks；　and　called　them　bribes。〃　Surprisingly；　Egeanin　had　twisted　around　in　her　chair　to　give　him　a　disapproving　look；　too。
　　　　　　　〃Fortune　prick　me；〃　he　muttered；　〃you　did　no　ask　me　to　give　up　my　trade。　And　I　would　no　if　you　did；　no　if　you　did　bring　my　aged　mother　to　ask。　A　man　do　have　a　right　to　his　trade。〃　Egeanin　snorted　and　righted　herself。
　　　　　　　〃His　bribes　are　not　our　problem；　Elayne。〃　Nynaeve　sounded　exasperated。　〃I　don't　care　if　he　bribes　the　entire　city　and　smuggles　…〃　A　rap　at　the　door　cut　her　off。　With　a　cautioning　look　at　the　others；　she　snapped　〃You　sit　quiet〃　to　Egeanin；　and　raised　her　voice。　〃e。〃
　　　　　　　Juilin　stuck　his　head　into　the　room　with　that　silly　cylindrical　cap　on；　frowning　as　usual　at　Domon。　The　gash　on　his　dark　cheek；　the　blood　already　dried；　was　not　unusual　either；　the　streets　were　rougher　now　by　daylight　than　they　had　been　by　dark　in　the　beginning。　〃May　I　speak　to　you　alone；　Mistress　al'Meara？〃　he　said　when　he　saw　Egeanin　sitting　at　the　table。
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　e　in；〃　Nynaeve　told　him　sharply。　〃After　what　she's　heard　already；　it　won't　matter　if　she　hears　a　little　more。　Have　you　found　them　in　the　Panarch's　Palace；　too？〃
　　　　　　　In　the　act　of　shutting　the　door；　he　shot　an　unreadable；　tight…mouthed　glance　at　Domon。　The　smuggler　smiled；　showing　too　many　teeth。　For　a　moment　it　seemed　they　might　e　to　blows。
　　　　　　　〃So　the　Illianer　is　ahead　of　me；〃　Juilin　muttered　ruefully。　Ignoring　Domon；　he　addressed　Nynaeve。　〃I　told　you　the　woman　with　the　white　stripe　would　lead　me　to　them。　That　is　a　very　distinctive　thing。　And　I　saw　the　Domani　woman　there；　too。　From　a　distance　…　I　am　not　fool　enough　to　wade　into　a　school　of　silverpike　…　but　I　cannot　believe　there　is　another　Domani　woman　besides　Jeaine　Caide　in　all　of　Tarabon。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　mean　they　are　in　the　Panarch's　Palace？〃　Nynaeve　exclaimed。
　　　　　　　Juilin's　face　did　not　change；　but　his　dark　eyes　widened　slightly；　flickered　toward　Domon。　〃So　he　had　no　proof；〃　he　murmured　in　a　satisfied　tone。
　　　　　　　〃I　did　have　proof；〃　Domon　avoided　looking　at　the　Tairen。　〃If　you　did　no　accept　it　before　this　fisherman　did　e；　Mistress　al'Meara；　it　be　no　fault　of　mine。〃
　　　　　　　Juilin　drew　himself　up；　but　Elayne　cut　in　before　the　thief…catcher　could　speak。　〃You　both　found　them；　and　you　both　brought　proof。　Very　likely　neither　would　have　been　sufficient　without　the　other。　Now　we　know　where　they　are　because　of　you　both。〃　If　anything；　they　looked　more　disgruntled　than　before。　Men　could　be　absolutely　silly　at　times。
　　　　　　　〃The　Panarch's　Palace。〃　Nynaeve　jerked　a　fistful　of　braids；　then　flung　the　long　plaits　over　her　shoulder　with　a　toss　of　her　head。　〃What　they　are　after　must　be　there。　But　if　they　have　it；　why　are　they　still　in　Tanchico？　The　palace　is　huge。　Maybe　they　haven't　found　it　yet。　Not　that　that　helps　if　we　are　out　here　while　they　are　inside！〃
　　　　　　　Thom；　as　usual；　entered　without　knocking；　taking　in　everyone　at　one　glance。　〃Mistress　Egeanin；〃　he　murmured；　with　an　elegant　bow　his　limp　did　nothing　to　diminish。　〃Nynaeve；　if　I　could　speak　with　you　alone；　I　have　important　news。〃
　　　　　　　The　fresh　bruise　on　his　leathery　cheek　made　Elayne　even　angrier　than　the　new　tear　in　his　good　brown　cloak。　The　man　was　too　old　to　be　braving　the　streets　of　Tanchico。　Or　any　rough　streets；　for　that　matter。　It　was　time　she　arranged　a　pension　for　him；　and　somewhere　safe　and　fortable　to　live。　No　more　gleeman　wanderings　from　village　to　village　for　him。　She　would　see　to　it。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　gave　Thom　a　sharp　look。　〃I've　no　time　for　that　now。　The　Black　sisters　are　in　the　Panarch's　Palace；　and　for　all　I　know；　Amathera　is　helping　them　search　it　from　cellar　to　attic。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　found　out　less　than　an　hour　ago；〃　he　said　disbelievingly。　〃How　did　you。。。？〃　He　looked　at　Domon　and　Juilin；　both　still　glowering　like　boys　who　had　each　wanted　the　whole　cake。
　　　　　　　It　was　obvious　that　he　dismissed　either　as　Nynaeve's　source　of　information。　Elayne　felt　like　grinning。　He　did　so　pride　himself　on　knowing　all　the　undercurrents；　all　the　hidden　doings。　〃The　Tower　has　its　ways；　Thom；〃　she　told　him；　cool　and　mysterious。　〃It　is　best　not　to　inquire　too　closely　into　the　methods　of　Aes　Sedai。〃　He　frowned；　bushy　white　eyebrows　drawing　down　uncertainly。　Most　satisfactory。　She　became　aware　of　Juilin　and　Domon　frowning　at　her；　too；　and　suddenly　it　was　all　she　could　do　not　to　blush。　If　they　talked；　she　would　look　a　fool。　They　would；　eventually；　men　did。　Best　to　bury　it　quickly　and　hope。　〃Thom；　have　you　heard　anything　that　might　indicate　whether　Amathera　is　a　Darkfriend？〃
　　　　　　　〃Nothing。〃　He　tugged　one　long　mustache　irritably。　〃Apparently　she　has　not　seen　Andric　since　donning　the　Crown　of　the　Tree。　Maybe　the　troubles　in　the　streets　make　travel　between　the　King's　Palace　and　the　Panarch's　too　dangerous。　Maybe　she　has　simply　realized　that　her　power　equals　his　now；　and　is　no　longer　as　pliant　as　before。　Nothing　to　say　what　her　allegianc