rj.theshadowrising-第74节

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hides　his　feelings　so　deeply　I　cannot　find　them；　that　is　what　he　is！
　　　　　　　Coine　turned。　〃Not　the　Prophecies　of　the　Dragon；　Aes　Sedai。　The　Jendai　Prophecy；　the　prophecy　of　the　Coramoor。　Not　the　one　you　wait　for　and　dread；　the　one　we　seek；　herald　of　a　new　Age。　At　the　Breaking　of　the　World　our　ancestors　fled　to　the　safety　of　the　sea　while　the　land　heaved　and　broke　as　storm　waves　do。　It　is　said　they　knew　nothing　of　the　ships　they　took　to　flee；　but　the　Light　was　with　them；　and　they　survived。　They　did　not　see　the　land　again　until　it　was　still　once　more；　and　by　then；　much　had　changed。　All　…　everything　…　the　world　…　drifted　on　the　water　and　the　wind。　It　was　in　the　years　after　that　the　Jendai　Prophecy　was　first　spoken。　We　must　wander　the　waters　until　the　Coramoor　returns；　and　serve　him　at　his　ing。
　　　　　　　〃We　are　bound　to　the　sea；　the　salt　water　courses　in　our　veins。　Most　of　us　set　no　foot　on　the　land　except　to　await　another　ship；　another　sailing。　Strong　men　weep　when　they　must　serve　ashore。　Women　ashore　go　onto　a　ship　to　bear　their　children　…　into　a　rowboat　if　no　more　is　at　hand　…　for　we　must　be　born　on　the　water；　as　we　must　die　on　it；　and　be　given　to　it　in　death。
　　　　　　　〃The　Prophecy　is　being　fulfilled。　He　is　the　Coramoor。　Aes　Sedai　serve　him。　You　are　proof　of　that；　that　you　are　here　in　this　city。　That　is　in　the　Prophecy　as　well。　'The　White　Tower　shall　be　broken　by　his　name；　and　Aes　Sedai　shall　kneel　to　wash　his　feet　and　dry　them　with　their　hair。'〃
　　　　　　　〃You　will　have　a　long　wait　if　you　expect　to　see　me　wash　any　man's　feet；〃　Nynaeve　said　wryly。　〃What　does　this　have　to　do　with　our　passage？　Will　you　take　us；　or　not？〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　cringed；　but　the　Sailmistress　came　back　just　as　directly。　〃Why　do　you　wish　to　journey　to　Tanchico？　It　is　an　unpleasant　port　of　call　now。　I　docked　there　last　winter。　Shore…folk　nearly　swarmed　my　vessel　seeking　passage　out；　to　anywhere。　They　did　not　care；　so　long　as　it　was　away　from　Tanchico。　I　cannot　believe　conditions　are　any　better　now。〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　always　question　your　passengers　so？〃　Nynaeve　said。　〃I've　offered　you　enough　to　buy　a　village。　Two　villages！　If　you　want　more；　name　your　price。〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　a　price；〃　Elayne　hissed　in　her　ear。　〃A　gift！〃
　　　　　　　If　Coine　was　offended；　or　even　had　heard；　she　gave　no　sign。　〃Why？〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　took　a　tight　grip　on　her　braid；　but　Elayne　laid　a　hand　on　her　arm。　They　had　planned　to　keep　a　few　secrets　themselves；　but　surely　they　had　learned　enough　since　sitting　down　to　alter　any　plan。　There　was　a　time　for　secrecy　and　a　time　for　truth。　〃We　hunt　the　Black　Ajah；　Sailmistress。　We　believe　some　of　them　are　in　Tanchico。〃　She　met　Nynaeve's　angry　stare　calmly。　〃We　must　find　them；　else　they　may　harm。。。　the　Dragon　Reborn。　The　Coramoor。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Light　see　us　safe　to　docking；〃　the　Windfinder　breathed。　It　was　the　first　time　she　had　spoken；　and　Elayne　stared　at　her　in　surprise。　Jorin　was　frowning；　and　not　looking　at　anyone；　but　she　spoke　to　the　Sailmistress。　〃We　can　take　them；　my　sister。　We　must。〃　Coine　nodded。
　　　　　　　Elayne　exchanged　looks　with　Nynaeve　and　saw　her　own　questions　mirrored　in　the　other　woman's　eyes。　Why　was　it　the　Windfinder　who　decided？　Why　not　the　Sailmistress？　She　was　the　captain；　whatever　her　title。　At　least　they　were　going　to　get　passage　after　all。　For　how　much？　Elayne　wondered。　How　large　a　'gift'？　She　wished　Nynaeve　had　not　revealed　that　they　had　more　than　was　in　that　one　letter…of…rights。　And　she　accuses　me　of　tossing　gold　about。
　　　　　　　The　door　opened　and　a　heavy…shouldered　gray…haired　man　in　loose　green　silk　breeches　and　sash　came　in；　ruffling　through　a　sheaf　of　papers。　Four　gold　rings　decorated　each　ear；　and　three　heavy　gold　chains　hung　at　his　neck；　including　one　with　a　perfume　box。　A　long　puckered　scar　down　his　cheek；　and　two　curved　knives　tucked　in　his　sash；　gave　him　something　of　a　dangerous　air。　He　was　fastening　a　peculiar　wire　framework　over　his　ears　to　hold　clear　lenses　in　front　of　his　eyes。　The　Sea　Folk　made　the　best　looking　glasses　and　burning　lenses　and　the　like；　of　course；　somewhere　on　their　islands；　but　Elayne　had　never　seen　anything　like　this　device。　He　peered　through　the　lenses　at　the　papers　and　began　talking　without　looking　up。
　　　　　　　〃Coine；　this　fool　is　willing　to　trade　me　five　hundred　snowfox　pelts　from　Kandor　for　those　three　small　barrels　of　Two　Rivers　tabac　I　got　in　Ebou　Dar。　Five　hundred！　He　can　have　them　here　by　midday。〃　His　eyes　rose；　and　he　gave　a　start。　〃Forgive　me；　my　wife。　I　did　not　know　you　had　guests。　The　Light　be　with　you　all。〃
　　　　　　　〃By　midday；　my　husband；〃　Coine　said；　〃I　will　be　falling　downriver。　By　nightfall　I　will　be　at　sea。〃
　　　　　　　He　stiffened。　〃Am　I　still　Cargomaster；　wife；　or　has　my　place　been　taken　while　I　did　not　see？〃
　　　　　　　〃You　are　Cargomaster；　husband；　but　the　trading　must　stop　now　and　preparations　begin　for　getting　under　way。　We　sail　for　Tanchico。〃
　　　　　　　〃Tanchico！〃　The　papers　crumpled　in　his　fist；　and　he　brought　himself　under　control　with　an　effort。　〃Wife　…　No！　Sailmistress；　you　told　me　our　next　port　was　Mayene；　and　then　eastward　to　Shara。　I　have　traded　with　that　in　mind。　Shara；　Sailmistress；　not　Tarabon。　What　I　have　in　my　holds　will　bring　little　in　Tanchico。　Perhaps　nothing！　May　I　ask　why　my　trade　is　to　be　ruined　and　Wavedancer　impoverished？〃
　　　　　　　Coine　hesitated；　but　when　she　spoke　her　voice　was　still　formal。　〃I　am　Sailmistress；　my　husband。　Wavedancer　sails　when　and　where　I　say。　It　must　be　enough；　for　now。〃
　　　　　　　〃As　you　say；　Sailmistress；〃　he　rasped；　〃so　it　is。〃　He　touched　his　heart　…　Elayne　thought　Coine　flinched　…　and　padded　out　with　his　back　stiff　as　one　of　the　ship's　masts。
　　　　　　　〃I　must　make　this　up　to　him；〃　Coine　murmured　softly；　staring　at　the　door。　〃Of　course；　it　is　pleasant　making　up　with　him。　Usually。　He　saluted　me　like　a　deckboy；　sister。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　regret　being　a　cause　of　trouble；　Sailmistress；〃　Elayne　said　carefully。　〃And　we　regret　having　witnessed　this。　If　we　have　caused　any　embarrassment；　to　anyone；　please　accept　our　apologies。〃
　　　　　　　〃Embarrassment？〃　Coine　sounded　startled。　〃Aes　Sedai；　I　am　Sailmistress。　I　doubt　your　presence　embarrassed　Toram；　and　I　would　not　apologize　to　him　for　that　if　it　did。　Trade　is　his；　but　I　am　Sailmistress。　I　must　make　up　to　him　…　and　it　will　not　be　easy；　since　I　must　keep　the　reason　secret　still　…　because　he　is　right；　and　I　could　not　think　quickly　enough　to　give　him　a　reason　beyond　what　I　would　give　a　raw　hand。　That　scar　on　his　face　he　earned　clearing　the　Seanchan　from　Wavedancer's　decks。　He　has　older　scars　earned　defending　my　ship；　and　I　have　only　to　put　out　my　hand　to　have　gold　placed　in　it　because　of　his　trading。　It　is　the　things　I　cannot　tell　him　I　must　make　up　to　him；　because　he　deserves　to　know。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　understand；〃　Nynaeve　said。　〃We　would　ask　you　to　keep　the　Black　Ajah　secret。。。〃　…　she　shot　a　hard　look　at　Elayne；　one　that　promised　hard　words　once　they　were　alone；　Elayne　intended　a　few　words　of　her　own；　about　the　meaning　of　tact　…〃。。。but　surely　three　thousand　crowns　is　reason　enough　to　take　us　to　Tanchico。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　must　keep　you　secret；　Aes　Sedai。　What　you　are；　and　why　you　travel。　Many　among　my　crew　consider　Aes　Sedai　bad　luck。　If　they　knew　they　not　only　carried　Aes　Sedai；　but　toward　a　port　where　other　Aes　Sedai　may　serve　the　Father　of　Storms。。。　The　grace　of　the　Light　shone　on　us　that　none　was　close　enough　to　hear　me　call　you　so　above。　Will　it　offend　if　I　ask　you　to　keep　below　as　much　as　possible；　and　not　to　wear　your　rings　when　on　deck？〃
　　　　　　　For　answer；　Nynaeve　plucked　her　Great　Serpent　ring　off　and　dropped　it　into　her　pouch。　Elayne　did　the　same；　a　bit　more　reluctantly；　she　rather　enjoyed　having　people　see　her　ring。　Not　quite　trusting　Nynaeve's　remaining　store　of　diplomacy　at　this　point；　she　spoke　up　before　the　other　woman　could。　〃Sailmistress；　we　have　offered　you　a　gift　of　passage；　if　it　pleases　you。　If　it　does　not；　may　I　ask　what　would？〃
　　　　　　　Coine　came　back　to　the　table　to　look　at　the　letter…of…rights　again；　then　pushed　it　back　to　Nynaeve。　〃I　do　this　for　the　Coramoor。　I　will　see　you　safe　ashore　where　you　wish；　if　it　pleases　the　Light。　It　shall　be　done。〃　She　touched　the　fingers　of　her　right　hand　to　her　lips。　〃It　is　agreed；　under　the　Light。〃
　　　　　　　Jorin　made　a　strangled　sound。　〃My　sister；　has　a　Cargomaster　ever　mutinied　against　his　Sailmistress？〃
　　　　　　　Coine　gave　her　a　flat…eyed　stare。　〃I　will　put　in　the　gift　of　passage　from　my　own　chest。　And　if　Toram　ever　hears　of　it；　my　sister；　I　will　put　you　in　the　bilges　with　Dorele。　For　ballast；　perhaps。〃
　　　　　　　That　the　two　Sea　Folk　women　had　dropped　formality　was　confirmed　when　the　Windfinder　laughed　aloud。　〃And　then　your　next　port　would　be　in　Chachin；　my　sister；　or　Caemlyn；　for　you　could　not　find　the　water　without　me。〃
　　　　　　　The　Sailmistress　addressed　Elayne　and　Nynaeve　regretfully。　〃Properly；　Aes　Sedai；　since　you　serve　the　Coramoor；　I　should　honor　you　as　I　would　Sailmistress　and　Windfinder　of　another　ship。　We　should　bathe　together　and　drink　honeyed　wine　and　tell　each　other　stories　to　make　ourselves　laugh　and　weep。　But　I　must　make　ready　to　sail；　and　…〃
　　　　　　　Wavedancer　rose　like　his　name；　leaping；　pounding　against　the　dock。　Elayne　whipped　back　and　forth　in　her　chair；　wondering　as　it　continued　whether　this　was　really　better　than　being　thrown　to　the　deck。
　　　　　　　Then；