rj.theshadowrising-第147章

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　Meeting　Nynaeve's　flat　stare；　she　added　meaningfully；　〃I　would　not　want　to　be　kidnapped　on　the　streets　in　broad　daylight。〃
　　　　　　　〃No；〃　Thom　said。　〃We　would　not　want　that。〃　Elayne　thought　she　heard　a　half…said　〃child〃　at　the　end　of　that；　and　this　time　he　did　touch　her　shoulder；　a　swift　brush　of　fingers。　〃Actually；〃　he　went　on；　〃the　men　are　already　waiting　in　the　street　outside。　I　am　trying　to　find　a　carriage；　those　chairs　are　too　vulnerable。〃　He　seemed　to　know　he　had　gone　too　far；　bringing　Domon's　men　before　they　agreed；　not　to　mention　this　talk　of　a　carriage　without　a　hint　of　asking　first；　but　he　faced　them　like　an　old　wolf　at　bay；　bushy　eyebrows　drawn　down。　〃I　would。。。　regret。　。　。　personally；　if　anything　happened　to　you。　The　carriage　will　be　here　as　soon　as　I　can　find　a　team。　If　there　is　one　to　be　found。〃
　　　　　　　Eyes　wide；　Nynaeve　was　obviously　teetering　on　the　edge　of　whether　or　not　to　give　him　an　upbraiding　he　would　never　forget；　and　Elayne　would　not　have　minded　adding　a　gentler　admonishment。　Somewhat　gentler；　child；　indeed！
　　　　　　　He　took　advantage　of　their　hesitation　to　sweep　a　bow　that　would　have　graced　any　palace　and　departed　while　he　had　the　chance。
　　　　　　　Egeanin　had　set　down　her　cup　and　was　staring　at　them　in　consternation。　Elayne　supposed　they　had　not　given　a　very　good　appearance　of　being　Aes　Sedai；　letting　Thom　bully　them。　〃I　must　go；〃　the　woman　said；　rising　and　taking　her　staff　from　against　the　wall。
　　　　　　　〃But　you　have　not　asked　your　questions；〃　Elayne　protested。　〃We　owe　you　answers　to　them；　at　the　very　least。〃
　　　　　　　〃Another　time；〃　Egeanin　said　after　a　moment。　〃If　it　is　permitted；　I　will　e　another　time。　I　need　to　learn　about　you。　You　are　not　what　I　expected。〃　They　assured　her　she　could　e　any　time　they　were　there　and　tried　to　convince　her　to　stay　long　enough　to　finish　her　tea　and　cakes；　but　she　was　adamant　that　she　had　to　leave　now。
　　　　　　　Turning　from　seeing　the　woman　to　the　door；　Nynaeve　put　her　fists　on　her　hips：　〃Kidnap　you？　If　you　have　forgotten；　Elayne；　it　was　me　those　men　tried　to　grab！〃
　　　　　　　〃To　take　you　out　of　the　way　so　they　could　seize　me；〃　Elayne　said。　〃If　you　have　forgotten；　I　am　the　Daughter…Heir　of　Andor。　My　mother　would　have　made　them　wealthy　to　have　me　back。〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps；〃　Nynaeve　muttered　doubtfully。　〃Well；　at　least　they　were　nothing　to　do　with　Liandrin。　That　lot　wouldn't　send　a　pack　of　louts　to　try　stuffing　us　in　a　sack。　Why　do　men　always　do　things　without　asking？　Does　growing　hair　on　their　chests　sap　their　brains？〃
　　　　　　　The　sudden　change　did　not　confuse　Elayne。　〃We　do　not　have　to　worry　about　finding　bodyguards；　at　any　rate。　You　do　agree　they　are　necessary；　even　if　Thom　did　overstep　himself？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　suppose　so。〃　Nynaeve　had　a　remarkable　dislike　for　admitting　she　was　wrong。　Thinking　those　men　had　been　after　her；　for　instance。　〃Elayne；　do　you　realize　we　still　have　nothing　except　an　empty　house？　If　Juilin　…　or　Thom　…　slips　and　lets　himself　be　found　out。。。　We　must　find　the　Black　sisters　without　them　suspecting；　or　we　will　never　have　a　chance　of　following　them　to　whatever　this　thing　is　that's　dangerous　to　Rand。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know；〃　Elayne　said　patiently。　〃We　have　discussed　it。〃
　　　　　　　The　older　woman　frowned　at　nothing。　〃We　still　have　not　a　glimmer　as　to　what　it　is；　or　where。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know。〃
　　　　　　　〃Even　if　we　could　bag　Liandrin　and　the　rest　right　this　minute；　we　cannot　leave　it　floating　about　out　there；　waiting　for　someone　else　to　find。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know　that；　Nynaeve。〃　Reminding　herself　to　be　patient；　Elayne　softened　her　tone。　〃We　will　find　them。　They　must　make　some　sort　of　slip；　and　between　Thom's　rumors；　and　Juilin's　thieves；　and　Bayle　Domon's　sailors；　we　will　learn　of　it。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve's　frown　became　thoughtful。　〃Did　you　notice　Egeanin's　eyes　when　Thom　mentioned　Domon？〃
　　　　　　　〃No。　Do　you　think　she　knows　him？　Why　would　she　not　say　so？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　know；〃　Nynaeve　said　vexedly。　〃Her　face　did　not　change；　but　her　eyes。。。　She　was　startled。　She　knows　him。　I　wonder　what　…〃　Someone　tapped　softly　on　the　door。　〃Is　everyone　in　Tanchico　going　to　march　in　on　us？〃　she　growled；　jerking　it　open。
　　　　　　　Rendra　gave　a　start　at　the　look　on　Nynaeve's　face；　but　her　ever…present　smile　returned　immediately。　〃Forgive　me　for　disturbing　you；　but　there　is　the　woman　below　who　asks　for　you。　Not　by　name；　but　she　describes　you　as　you　stand。　She　says　that　she　believes　she　knows　you。　She　is。。。〃　That　rosebud　mouth　tightened　in　a　slight　grimace。　〃I　forgot　to　ask　her　name。　This　morning　I　am　the　witless　goat。　She　is　a　well…dressed　woman；　not　yet　to　her　middle　years。　Not　of　Tarabon。〃　She　gave　a　little　shiver。　〃A　stern　woman；　I　think。　When　first　she　saw　me；　she　looked　at　me　as　my　older　sister　did　when　we　were　children　and　she　was　thinking　of　tying　my　braids　to　the　bush。〃
　　　　　　　〃Or　have　they　found　us　first？〃　Nynaeve　said　softly。
　　　　　　　Elayne　embraced　the　True　Source　before　she　thought　of　it；　and　felt　a　shudder　of　relief　that　she　could；　that　she　had　not　been　shielded　unaware。　If　the　woman　below　was　Black　Ajah。。。　But　if　she　was；　why　announce　herself？　Even　so；　she　wished　the　glow　of　saidar　surrounded　Nynaeve；　too。　If　only　the　woman　could　channel　without　anger。
　　　　　　　〃Send　her　in；〃　Nynaeve　said；　and　Elayne　realized　she　was　very　much　aware　of　her　lack；　and　afraid。　As　Rendra　turned　to　go；　Elayne　began　weaving　flows　of　Air；　thick　as　cables　and　ready　to　bind；　flows　of　Spirit　to　shield　another　from　the　Source。　If　this　woman　so　much　as　resembled　one　on　their　list；　if　she　tried　to　channel　a　spark。。。
　　　　　　　The　woman　who　stepped　into　the　Chamber　of　Falling　Blossoms；　in　a　shimmering　black　silk　gown　of　unfamiliar　cut；　was　no　one　Elayne　had　ever　seen　before；　and　surely　not　on　the　list　of　the　women　who　had　gone　with　Liandrin。　Dark　hair　spilling　loose　to　her　shoulders　framed　a　sturdily　handsome　face　with　large；　dark　eyes　and　smooth　cheeks；　but　not　with　Aes　Sedai　agelessness。　Smiling；　she　closed　the　door　behind　her。　〃Forgive　me；　but　I　thought　you　were…〃　The　glow　of　saidar　surrounded　her；　and　she。。。
　　　　　　　Elayne　released　the　True　Source。　There　was　something　very　manding　in　those　dark　eyes；　in　the　halo　around　her；　the　pale　radiance　of　the　One　Power。　She　was　the　most　regal　woman　Elayne　had　ever　seen。　Elayne　found　herself　hurriedly　curtsying；　flushing　that　she　had　considered。。。　What　had　she　considered？　So　hard　to　think。
　　　　　　　The　woman　studied　them　for　a　moment；　then　gave　a　satisfied　nod　and　swept　to　the　table；　taking　the　carved　chair　at　its　head。　〃e　here　where　I　can　see　you　both　more　closely；〃　she　said　in　a　peremptory　voice。　〃e。　Yes。　That's　it。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　realized　she　was　standing　beside　the　table；　looking　down　at　the　dark…eyed；　glowing　woman。　She　did　hope　that　was　all　right。　On　the　other　side　of　the　table　Nynaeve　had　a　tangle　of　her　long；　thin　braids　gripped　in　her　fist；　but　she　stared　at　the　visitor　with　a　foolishly　rapt　expression。　It　made　Elayne　want　to　giggle。
　　　　　　　〃About　what　I　have　e　to　expect；〃　the　woman　said。　〃Little　more　than　girls；　and　obviously　not　close　to　half…trained。　Strong；　though；　strong　enough　to　be　more　than　troublesome。　Especially　you。〃　She　fixed　Nynaeve　with　her　eyes。　〃You　might　bee　something　one　day。　But　you've　blocked　yourself；　haven't　you？　We　would　have　had　that　out　of　you　though　you　howled　for　it。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　still　had　that　tight　hold　on　her　braids；　but　her　face　went　from　a　pleased；　girlish　smile　at　praise　to　shamed　lip…trembling。　〃I　am　sorry　I　blocked　myself；〃　she　almost　whimpered。　〃I'm　afraid　of　it　。　。　all　that　power。。。　the　One　Power。。。　how　can　I　…？〃
　　　　　　　〃Be　silent　unless　I　ask　a　question；〃　the　woman　said　firmly。　〃And　do　not　start　crying。　You　are　joyful　at　seeing　me；　ecstatic。　All　you　want　is　to　please　me　and　answer　my　questions　truthfully。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　nodded　vigorously；　smiling　even　more　rapturously　than　before。　Elayne　realized　that　she　was；　too。　She　was　sure　she　could　answer　the　questions　first。　Anything　to　please　this　woman。
　　　　　　　〃Now。　Are　you　alone？　Are　there　any　other　Aes　Sedai　with　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃No；〃　Elayne　said　quickly　in　answer　to　the　first　question；　and　just　as　fast；　to　the　second；　〃There　are　no　Aes　Sedai　with　us。〃　Perhaps　she　should　tell　that　they　were　not　really　Aes　Sedai　either。　But　she　had　not　been　asked　that。　Nynaeve　glared　at　her；　knuckles　white　on　her　braids；　furious　at　being　beaten　to　the　answer。
　　　　　　　〃Why　are　you　in　this　city？〃　the　woman　said。
　　　　　　　〃We　are　hunting　Black　sisters；〃　Nynaeve　burst　out；　shooting　Elayne　a　triumphant　look。
　　　　　　　The　handsome　woman　laughed。　〃So　that　is　why　I　have　not　felt　you　channel　before　today。　Wise　of　you　to　keep　low　when　it　is　eleven　to　two。　I　have　always　followed　that　policy　myself。　Let　other　fools　leap　about　in　full　view。　They　can　be　brought　low　by　a　spider　hiding　in　the　cracks；　a　spider　they　never　see　until　it　is　too　late。　Tell　me　all　you　have　discovered　about　these　Black　sisters；　all　you　know　of　them。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　spilled　out　everything；　battling　with　Nynaeve　to　be　first。　It　was　not　very　much。　Their　descriptions；　the　ter'angreal　they　had　stolen；　the　murders　in　the　Tower　and　the　fear　of　more　Black　sisters　still　there；　aiding　one　of　the　Forsaken　in　Tear　before　the　Stone　fell；　their　flight　here　seeking　something　dangerous　to　Rand。　〃They　were　all　staying　in　a　house　together；〃　Elayne　finished　up；　panting；　〃but　they　left　last　night。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　seems　you　came　very　close；〃　the　woman　said　slowly。　〃Very　close。　Ter'angreal。　Turn　out　your　purses　on　the　table；　your　pouches。〃　They　did；　and　she　fingered　quickly　through　coins　and　sewing　kits　and　handkerchiefs　and　the　like。　〃Do　you　have　any　ter'angreal　in　your　rooms？　Angreal　or　sa'angreal？〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　was　conscious　of　the　twisted　stone　ring　hanging　between　her　breasts；　but　that　was　not　the　question。　〃No；〃　she　said。　They　had　none　of　those　things　in　their　room。
　　　　　　　Pushing　everything　away；　the　woman　leaned　back；　speaking　half　to　herself。　〃Rand　al'Thor。　So　that　is　his　name　now。〃　Her　face　crumpled　in　a　momentary　grimace。　〃An　arrogant　man　who　stank　of　piety　and　goodness。　Is　he　still　the　same？　No；　do　not　bother　to　answer　that。　An　idle　question。　So　Be'lal　is　dead。　The　other　sounds　like　Ishamael；　to　me。　All　his　pride　at　being　only　half…caught；　whatever　the　price　…　there　was　less　human　left　in　him　than　any　of　us　when　I　saw　him　again；　I　think　he　half…believed　he　was　the　Great　Lord　of　the　Dark　…　all　his　three　thousand　years　of　machinations；　and　it　es　to　an　untaught　boy　hunting　him　down。　My　way　is　best。　Softly；　softly；　in　the　shadows。　Something　to　control　a　man　who　can　channel。　Yes；　it　would　have　to　be　that。〃　Her　eyes　turned　sharp；　studying　them　in　turn。　〃Now。　What　to　do　with　you。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　waited　patiently。　Nynaeve　wore　a　silly　smile；　her　lips　parted　expectantly；　it　looked　especially　foolish　with　the　way　she　was　gripping　her　braids。
　　　　　　　〃You　are　too　strong　to　waste；　you　may　be　useful　one　day。　I　would　love　to　see　Rahvin's　eyes　the　day　he　meets　you　unblocked；〃　she　told　Nynaeve。　〃I　would　put　you　off　this　hunt　of　yours；　if　I　could。　A　pity　pulsion　is　so　limited。　Still；　with　the　little　you　have　learned；　you　are　too　far　behind　to　catch　up　now。　I　suppose　I　must　collect　you　later　and　see　to　your。。。　retraining。〃　She　stood；　and　suddenly　Elayne's　entire　body　tingled。　Her　brain　seemed　to　shiver；　she　was　conscious　of　nothing　but　the　woman's　voice；　roaring　in　her　ears　from　a　great