rj.theshadowrising-第214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！


　to　the　top。
　　　　　　　As　Elayne　was　taking　hers；　Domon　came　to　the　end　of　the　cart　and　pretended　to　inspect　the　ice　peppers。　〃The　Whitecloaks　and　the　Panarch's　Legion　do　be　close　to　blows；　it　do　appear；〃　he　murmured；　fingering　peppers。　〃That　lieutenant　did　say　the　Legion　could　protect　the　Panarch　themselves　if　most　of　the　Legion　had　no　been　sent　to　the　ring　forts。　Jaichim　Carridin　do　have　access　to　the　Panarch；　but　no　the　Lord　Captain　of　the　Legion。　And　they　are　no　pleased　that　all　the　guards　inside　do　be　Civil　Watch。　A　suspicious　man　might　say　someone　do　want　the　Panarch's　guards　to　watch　each　other　more　than　anything　else。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　is　good　to　know；〃　Nynaeve　murmured　without　looking　at　him。　〃I've　always　said　you　can　learn　useful　things　listening　to　men's　gossip。〃
　　　　　　　Domon　grunted　sourly。　〃I　will　take　you　inside；　then　I　must　go　back　to　my　men　to　make　sure　they　do　no　get　caught　up　in　the　mob。〃　Every　sailor　from　every　ship　Domon　had　in　port　was　out　in　the　streets　around　the　palace。
　　　　　　　Hefting　her　own　basket　on　her　back；　Elayne　followed　the　other　two　women　behind　him；　keeping　her　head　down　and　wincing　at　every　step　until　she　was　on　the　reddish…brown　tiles　of　the　kitchen。　The　smells　of　spices　and　cooking　meat　and　sauces　filled　the　room。
　　　　　　　〃Ice　peppers　for　the　Panarch；〃　Domon　announced。　〃A　gift　from　Bayle　Domon；　a　good　shipowner　of　this　city。〃
　　　　　　　〃More　of　the　ice　peppers？〃　a　stout；　dark…braided　woman　in　a　white　apron　and　the　ever…present　veil　said；　barely　looking　up　from　a　silver　tray　where　she　was　arranging　an　ornately　folded　white　napkin　among　dishes　of　thin；　golden　Sea　Folk　porcelain。　There　were　a　dozen　or　more　aproned　women　in　the　kitchen；　as　well　as　a　pair　of　boys　turning　dripping　roasts　on　spits　in　two　of　the　six　fireplaces；　but　clearly　she　was　the　chief　cook。　〃Well；　the　Panarch；　she　seems　to　have　enjoyed　the　last。　Into　the　storeroom　there。〃　She　gestured　vaguely　toward　one　of　the　doors　on　the　far　side　of　the　room。　〃I　have　no　time　to　bother　with　you　now。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　kept　her　eyes　on　the　floor　as　she　trailed　after　Nynaeve　and　Egeanin；　sweating；　and　not　for　the　heat　of　the　iron　stoves　and　fireplaces。　A　skinny　woman　in　green　silk　not　of　Tarabon　cut　stood　beside　one　of　the　wide　tables；　scratching　the　ears　of　a　scrawny　gray　cat　as　it　lapped　cream　from　a　porcelain　dish。　The　cat　named　her；　as　well　as　her　narrow　face　and　wide　nose。　Marillin　Gemalphin；　once　of　the　Brown　Ajah；　now　of　the　Black。　If　she　looked　up　from　that　cat；　if　she　really　became　aware　of　them；　there　would　be　no　need　for　channeling　for　her　to　know　that　two　of　them　could；　this　close　the　woman　would　be　able　to　sense　the　ability　itself。
　　　　　　　Sweat　dripped　from　the　end　of　Elayne's　nose　by　the　time　she　pushed　the　storeroom　door　shut　behind　her　with　a　hip。　〃Did　you　see　her？〃　she　demanded　in　a　low　voice；　letting　her　basket　half…fall　to　the　floor。　Fretwork　carved　through　the　plastered　wall　just　under　the　ceiling　let　in　dim　light　from　the　kitchen。　Rows　of　tall　shelves　filled　the　floor　of　the　large　room；　laden　with　sacks　and　net　bags　of　vegetables　and　large　jars　of　spice。　Barrels　and　casks　stood　everywhere；　and　a　dozen　dressed　lambs　and　twice　as　many　geese　hung　on　hooks。　According　to　the　sketchy　floorplan　Domon　and　Thom　had　drawn　between　them；　this　was　the　smallest　storeroom　for　food　in　the　palace。　〃This　is　disgusting；〃　she　said。　〃I　know　Rendra　keeps　a　full　kitchen；　but　at　least　she　buys　what　she　needs　as　she　can。　These　people　have　been　feasting　while　…〃
　　　　　　　〃Hold　your　concern　until　you　can　do　something　about　it；〃　Nynaeve　told　her　in　a　sharp　whisper。　She　had　upended　her　basket　on　the　floor　and　was　stripping　off　her　rough　farm　woman's　dress。　Egeanin　was　already　down　to　her　shift。　〃I　did　see　her。　If　you　want　her　to　e　in　here　to　see　what　the　noise　is　about；　keep　talking。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　sniffed；　but　let　it　pass。　She　had　not　been　making　that　much　noise。　Pulling　off　her　own　dress；　she　dumped　the　peppers　out　of　her　basket；　and　what　had　been　hidden　under　them　as　well。　Among　other　things；　a　dress　of　white　belted　in　green；　fine…spun　wool　embroidered　above　the　left　breast　with　a　green　tree　of　spreading　branches　atop　the　outline　of　a　trefoil　leaf。　Her　grimy　veil　was　replaced　by　a　clean　one；　of　linen　scraped　nearly　as　sheer　as　silk。　White　slippers　with　padded　soles　were　wele　on　feet　bruised　by　that　walk　from　cart　to　kitchen。
　　　　　　　The　Seanchan　woman　had　been　the　first　out　of　her　old　clothes；　but　she　was　the　last　into　her　white　garment；　muttering　all　the　while　about　〃indecent〃　and　〃serving　girl；〃　which　made　no　sense。　The　dresses　were　servants'　dresses；　the　whole　point　was　that　servants　could　go　anywhere　and　a　palace　had　too　many　for　anyone　to　notice　three　more。　And　as　for　indecent。。。　Elayne　could　remember　being　a　touch　hesitant　about　wearing　the　Tarabon　style　in　public；　but　she　had　bee　used　to　it　soon　enough；　and　even　this　thin　wool　could　not　cling　as　silk　did。　Egeanin　seemed　to　have　very　strict　ideas　of　modesty。
　　　　　　　Eventually；　though；　the　woman　had　done　up　her　last　lace；　and　the　farm　clothes　had　been　stuffed　into　the　baskets　and　covered　with　ice　peppers。
　　　　　　　Marillin　Gemalphin　was　gone　from　the　kitchen；　though　the　raggedy…eared　gray　cat　still　lapped　cream　on　the　table。　Elayne　and　the　other　two　started　for　the　door　that　led　deeper　into　the　palace。
　　　　　　　One　of　the　undercooks　was　frowning　at　the　cat；　fist　on　her　ample　hips。　〃I　would　like　to　strangle　this　cat；〃　she　muttered；　pale　brown　braids　swinging　as　she　shook　her　head　angrily。　〃It　eats　the　cream；　and　because　I　put　the　drop　of　cream　on　the　berries　for　my　breakfast；　I　have　the　bread　and　water　for　my　meals！〃
　　　　　　　〃Count　yourself　lucky　you　are　not　out　in　the　street；　or　swinging　from　the　gallows。〃　The　chief　cook　did　not　sound　sympathetic。　〃If　a　lady　says　you　have　stolen；　then　you　have　stolen；　even　if　it　is　the　cream　for　her　cats；　yes？　You；　there！〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　and　her　panions　froze　at　the　shout。
　　　　　　　The　dark…braided　woman　shook　a　long　wooden　spoon　at　them。　〃You　e　into　my　kitchen　and　stroll　about　as　in　the　garden；　you　lazy　sows　you？　You　have　e　for　the　breakfast　of　the　Lady　Ispan；　yes？　If　you　do　not　have　it　there　when　she　wakes；　you　will　learn　how　to　jump。　Well？〃　She　gestured　at　the　silver　tray　she　had　been　laboring　over　before；　covered　now　with　a　snowy　linen　cloth。
　　　　　　　There　was　no　way　to　speak；　if　any　one　of　them　opened　her　mouth；　her　first　words　would　show　her　no　Taraboner。　Thinking　quickly；　Elayne　bobbed　a　servant's　curtsy　and　picked　up　the　tray；　a　servant　carrying　something　was　going　about　her　work　and　not　likely　to　be　stopped　or　told　to　do　something　else。　Lady　Ispan？　Not　an　unmon　name　in　Tarabon；　but　there　was　an　Ispan　on　the　list　of　Black　sisters。
　　　　　　　〃So　you　mock　me；　do　you；　you　little　cow　you？〃　the　stout　woman　roared；　and　started　around　the　table　waving　her　thick　wooden　spoon　threateningly。
　　　　　　　There　was　nothing　to　do　without　giving　herself　away；　nothing　but　stay　and　be　hit；　or　run。　Elayne　darted　out　of　the　kitchen　with　the　tray；　Nynaeve　and　Egeanin　at　her　heels。　The　cook's　shouts　followed　them；　but　not　the　cook；　thankfully。　An　image　of　the　three　of　them　running　through　the　palace　pursued　by　the　stout　woman　made　Elayne　want　to　giggle　hysterically。　Mock　her？　She　was　sure　that　had　been　exactly　the　same　curtsy　servants　had　given　her　thousands　of　times。
　　　　　　　More　storerooms　lined　the　narrow　hallway　leading　away　from　the　kitchen；　and　tall　cupboards　for　brooms　and　mops；　buckets　and　soaps；　linens　for　tables；　and　all　sorts　of　assorted　things。　Nynaeve　found　a　fat　feather　duster　in　one。　Egeanin　took　an　armful　of　folded　towels　from　another；　and　a　stout　stone　pestle　out　of　a　mortar　in　a　third。　She　hid　the　pestle　under　the　towels。
　　　　　　　〃A　cudgel　is　sometimes　handy；〃　she　said　when　Elayne　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃Especially　when　no　one　expects　you　to　have　it。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　sniffed　but　said　nothing。　She　had　hardly　acknowledged　Egeanin　at　all　since　agreeing　to　her　presence。
　　　　　　　Deeper　in　the　palace　the　hallways　broadened　and　heightened；　the　white　walls　carved　with　friezes　and　the　ceilings　set　with　gleaming　arabesques　of　gold。　Long；　bright　carpets　ran　along　white…tiled　floors。　Ornate　golden　lamps　on　gilded　stands　gave　light　and　the　scent　of　perfumed　oil。　Sometimes　the　corridor　opened　into　courtyards　rounded　by　walks　with　slim；　fluted　columns；　overlooked　by　balconies　screened　by　filigreed　stonework。　Large　fountains　burbled；　fish　red　and　white　and　golden　swam　beneath　lily　pads　with　huge　white　flowers。　Not　at　all　like　the　city　outside。
　　　　　　　Occasionally　they　saw　other　servants；　men　and　women；　in　white；　tree　and　leaf　embroidered　on　one　shoulder；　hurrying　about　their　tasks；　or　men　in　the　gray　coats　and　steel　caps　of　the　Civil　Watch　carrying　staffs　or　cudgels。　No　one　spoke　to　them　or　even　looked　twice；　not　at　three　serving　women　obviously　at　their　work。
　　　　　　　At　last　they　came　to　the　narrow　servants'　stairs　marked　on　their　sketchy　map。
　　　　　　　〃Remember；〃　Nynaeve　said　quietly；　〃if　there　are　guards　on　her　door；　leave。　If　she　is　not　alone；　leave。　She　is　far　from　the　most　important　reason　we　are　here。〃　She　took　a　deep　breath；　making　herself　look　at　Egeanin。　〃If　you　let　anything　happen　to　her…〃
　　　　　　　A　trumpet　sounded　faintly　from　outside。　A　moment　later　a　gong　rang　inside；　and　shouted　orders