rj.theshadowrising-第179章

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　　　　　　　〃Do　not　scowl　so；　Nynaeve；〃　Elayne　said。　〃I　chased　her　down　quickly；　and　we　had　a　little　talk。　I　think　she　is　in　perfect　agreement　with　me　now。〃
　　　　　　　The　Panarch's　cheek　twitched；　〃I　am　in　agreement；　Aes　Sedai；〃　she　said　hastily。　〃I　will　do　exactly　as　you　say；　and　I　will　provide　papers　that　should　make　even　the　rebels　let　you　pass　unhindered。　There　is　no　need　for　more。。。　talking。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　nodded　as　if　all　of　that　made　sense；　motioning　for　the　women　to　be　quiet。　Whereupon　the　Panarch　obediently　closed　her　mouth。　A　trifle　sullenly；　but　perhaps　that　was　just　the　shape　of　her　mouth。　Clearly　there　had　been　some　very　odd　goings　on；　and　Nynaeve　intended　to　find　the　bottom　of　them。　Later。　The　narrow　hallway　was　still　empty　in　both　directions；　but　panicked　shouts　still　echoed　from　deeper　in　the　palace。　The　mob　rumbled　beyond　the　small　door。
　　　　　　　〃But　what　of　you？〃　Elayne　went　on　with　a　frown。　〃You　were　supposed　to　be　here　half　an　hour　ago。　Did　you　cause　all　of　this？　I　felt　two　women　channeling　enough　of　the　Power　to　shake　the　palace　down；　and　then　a　bit　later　someone　did　try　to　shake　it　down。　I　thought　it　must　be　you。　I　had　to　restrain　Egeanin　from　going　to　find　you。〃
　　　　　　　Egeanin？　Nynaeve　hesitated；　then　made　herself　touch　the　Seanchan　woman's　shoulder。　〃Thank　you。〃　Egeanin　looked　as　though　she　did　not　quite　understand　herself　what　she　had　done；　but　she　gave　a　quick　nod。　〃Moghedien　found　me；　and　because　I　was　worrying　about　how　to　bring　her　out　for　trial；　Jeaine　Caide　nearly　took　my　head　off　with　balefire。〃　Elayne　gave　a　small　squeak；　and　she　hurried　to　reassure　her。　〃It　didn't　really　e　close　to　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　captured　Moghedien？　You　captured　one　of　the　Forsaken？〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　but　she　got　away。〃　There。　She　had　admitted　everything。　Conscious　of　all　their　eyes　on　her；　she　shifted　unfortably。　She　did　not　like　being　in　the　wrong。　She　especially　did　not　like　being　in　the　wrong　when　it　was　she　who　had　pointed　out　that　it　was　wrong　in　the　first　place。　〃Elayne；　I　know　what　I　said　about　being　careful；　but　once　I　had　her　in　my　hands；　it　seemed　all　I　could　think　of　was　bringing　her　to　trial。〃　Taking　a　deep　breath；　Nynaeve　made　her　voice　apologetic。　She　hated　doing　that。　Where　were　those　fool　men？　〃I　endangered　everything　because　I　didn't　keep　my　mind　on　what　we　were　about；　but　please　don't　scold　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　won't；〃　Elayne　said　firmly。　〃So　long　as　you　remember　to　be　careful　in　the　future。〃　Egeanin　cleared　her　throat。　〃Oh；　yes；〃　Elayne　added　hastily。　The　waiting　seemed　to　be　getting　to　her；　there　were　spots　of　color　in　her　cheeks。　〃Did　you　find　the　collar；　and　the　seal？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　them。〃　She　patted　her　pouch。　The　shouting　outside　seemed　to　be　getting　louder。　And　the　shouts　echoing　down　the　halls　were；　too。　Liandrin　must　be　turning　the　palace　upside　down　to　find　out　what　had　happened。　〃What　is　keeping　those　men？〃
　　　　　　　〃My　Legion；〃　Amathera　began。　Elayne　looked　at　her；　and　she　snapped　her　mouth　shut。　Whatever　talk　they　had　had　must　have　been　something。　The　Panarch　was　pouting　like　a　girl　afraid　of　being　sent　to　bed　without　supper。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　glanced　at　Egeanin。　The　Seanchan　woman　was　watching　the　door　intently。　She　had　wanted　to　e　after　her。　Why　won't　she　let　me　hate　her？　Am　I　so　different　from　her？
　　　　　　　Suddenly　the　door　swung　open。　Juilin　pulled　two　thin　bent　metal　rods　out　of　the　lock　and　straightened　from　a　crouch。　Blood　ran　down　the　side　of　his　face。　〃Hurry。　We　must　be　away　from　here　before　it　gets　out　of　hand。〃
　　　　　　　Staring　past　him　wide…eyed；　Nynaeve　wondered　what　he　considered　out　of　hand。　Bayle　Domon's　sailors；　at　least　three　hundred　of　them；　formed　a　semicircle　two　deep　about　the　door；　Domon　himself　waving　a　cudgel；　shouting　to　encourage　them。　He　had　to　shout　for　the　roar　that　filled　the　wide　street。　Men　jostled　and　struggled　and　shouted　in　a　seething　mass；　barely　held　back　by　the　sailors'　clubs　and　staffs。　Not　that　they　were　really　interested　in　the　sailors。　Scattered　through　the　crowd；　clumps　of　mounted　Whitecloaks　swung　their　swords　at　men　crowding　them　with　pitchforks　and　barrel　staves　and　bare　hands。　Showers　of　stones　fell　around　them；　sometimes　banging　off　a　helmet；　but　silently　in　the　uproar。　A　lone　Whitecloak's　horse　suddenly　screamed　and　reared；　and　toppled　over　backward；　it　scrambled　to　its　feet　quickly；　minus　its　rider。　Other　riderless　animals　dotted　the　mass　of　men。　Was　this　what　they　had　set　off　just　to　cover　themselves？　She　tried　reminding　herself　why　…　put　her　hand　on　her　pouch　to　feel　the　cuendillar　seal；　the　collar　and　bracelets　…　but　it　was　hard。　Men　were　dying　out　there；　surely。
　　　　　　　〃Will　you　women　move？〃　Thom　called；　waving　for　them　to　e　out。　He　had　a　bleeding　gash　over　one　bushy　eyebrow；　perhaps　from　a　stone；　and　his　brown　cloak　would　not　even　do　for　the　ragbag　now。　〃If　the　Panarch's　Legion　ever　stops　running；　this　could　grow　messy。〃
　　　　　　　Amathera　made　a　startled　sound；　just　before　Elayne　pushed　her　firmly　out。　Nynaeve　and　Egeanin　followed；　and　as　soon　as　all　four　women　were　out；　the　sailors　folded　in　around　them　in　a　tight　ring　that　began　straggling　away　from　the　palace。　It　was　all　Nynaeve　could　do　to　keep　her　feet；　jostled　by　the　men　who　were　trying　to　protect　her。　Once　Egeanin　slipped　and　nearly　fell。　Nynaeve　caught　her　arm；　helped　her　back　up；　and　got　a　grateful　grin。　We　are　not　so　different；　she　thought。　Not　the　same；　but　not　all　that　different。　She　did　not　have　to　make　herself　smile　encouragingly　at　the　Seanchan　woman。
　　　　　　　The　milling　mass　lasted　several　streets　away　from　the　palace；　but　once　they　broke　clear　the　narrow　twisting　ways　were　almost　empty。　Those　who　were　not　actually　involved　in　the　riot　seemed　wise　enough　to　stay　clear　of　it。　The　sailors　spread　out　a　little；　giving　the　women　more　room。　Any　straggler　who　looked　in　their　direction　got　hard　stares；　though。　The　streets　of　Tanchico　were　still　the　streets　of　Tanchico。　Somehow　that　surprised　Nynaeve。　It　seemed　that　she　had　been　weeks　inside　the　palace。　Surely　the　city　should　be　different。
　　　　　　　When　the　babble　began　to　fade　behind　them；　Thom　managed　a　quite　elegant　bow　to　Amathera　as　he　limped　along。　〃An　honor；　Panarch；〃　he　said。　〃If　I　may　be　of　any　service；　you　have　only　to　speak。〃
　　　　　　　Shockingly；　Amathera　glanced　at　Elayne；　grimaced　slightly；　and　said；　〃You　mistake　me；　good　sir。　I　am　only　a　poor　refugee　from　the　countryside；　rescued　by　these　good　women。〃
　　　　　　　Thom　exchanged　startled　looks　with　Juilin　and　Domon；　but　when　he　opened　his　mouth；　Elayne　said；　〃Could　we　get　on　to　the　inn；　Thom？　This　is　hardly　the　place　for　conversation。〃
　　　　　　　When　they　reached　the　Three　Plum　Court；　it　was　scarcely　less　surprising　to　hear　Elayne　introduce　the　Panarch　to　Rendra　as　Thera；　a　refugee　with　no　money　who　needed　a　pallet；　and　maybe　some　work　to　earn　her　meals。　The　innkeeper　shrugged　resignedly；　but　as　she　led　〃Thera〃　away　to　the　kitchens　she　was　already　telling　the　woman　what　lovely　hair　she　had　and　how　pretty　she　would　look　in　the　right　dress。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　waited　until　the　rest　of　them　were　in　the　Chamber　of　Falling　Blossoms　with　the　door　closed　before　saying；　〃Thera？　And　she　went　along！　Elayne；　Rendra　will　have　the　woman　serving　at　table　in　the　mon　room！〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　did　not　seem　surprised。　〃Yes；　very　likely。〃　Sinking　into　a　chair　with　a　sigh；　she　kicked　off　her　slippers　and　began　massaging　her　feet　vigorously。　〃It　was　not　difficult　to　convince　Amathera　she　should　stay　in　hiding　for　a　few　days。　It　really　isn't　that　far　from　'The　Panarch　is　dead'　to　'Death　to　the　Panarch。'　I　think　seeing　the　riot　helped；　too。　She　doesn't　want　to　depend　on　Andric　to　put　her　back　on　her　throne；　she　wants　her　own　soldiers　to　do　it；　even　if　it　means　hiding　until　she　can　get　in　touch　with　the　Lord　Captain　of　the　Legion。　I　believe　Andric　is　in　for　a　surprise　with　her。　It　is　too　bad　he　doesn't　surprise　her。　She　deserves　it。〃　Domon　and　Juilin　exchanged　glances；　shook；　their　heads　unprehendingly。　Egeanin　nodded　to　herself　as　if　she；　at　least；　understood；　and　approved。
　　　　　　　〃But　why？〃　Nynaeve　demanded。　〃You　may　have　been　upset　because　she　sneaked　off　on　her　own；　but　this？　How　did　she　manage　that　anyway；　with　two　of　you　watching　her？〃　Egeanin's　eyes　flickered　toward　Elayne；　so　quickly　Nynaeve　was　not　sure　she　had　really　seen　it。
　　　　　　　Elayne　bent　to　rub　the　sole　of　one　foot。　It　must　have　hurt；　there　was　red　in　her　cheeks。　〃Nynaeve；　the　woman　has　no　idea　what　the　lives　of　the　mon　people　are　like。〃　As　if　she　did！　〃She　does　seem　to　have　a　true　concern　for　justice　…　I　think　she　does　…　yet　it　did　not　bother　her　at　all　that　there　was　enough　food　in　the　palace　for　a　year。　I　mentioned　the　soup　kitchens；　and　she　did　not　know　what　I　was　talking　about！　A　few　days　working　for　her　supper　will　do　her　good。〃　Stretching　her　legs　under　the　table；　she　worked　her　bare　toes。　〃Oh；　that　does　feel　good。　Not　that　she'll　have　many；　I　suppose。　Not　if　she　is　to　rally　the　Panarch's　Legion　to　pry　Liandrin　and　the　others　out　of　the　palace。　A　pity；　but　there　it　is。〃
　　　　　　　〃Well；　she　has　to；〃　Nynaeve　told　her　firmly。　It　was　good　to　sit　down；　though　she　could　not　understand　the　girl's　concern　with　her　feet。　They　had　hardly　walked　at　all　today。　〃And　the　sooner　the　better。　We　need　the　Panarch；　and　not　in　Rendra's　kitchen。〃　She　did　not　think　there　was　any　need　to　worry　about　Moghedien。　That　woman　had　had　every　opportunity　to　e　into　the　open；　after　she　had　freed　herself。　That　still　puzzled　her；　she　must　have　been　careless　in　tying　off　the　shield。　But　if　Moghedien　had　been　unwilling　to　face　her　then；　when　she　must　have　known　Nynaeve　was　nearly　exhausted；　she　could　not　think　the　woman　would　e　after　them。　Not　for　something　she　seemed　to　think　was　not　worth　very　much。　The　same　did　not　apply　to　Liandrin；　however。　If　Liandrin　figured　out　half　of　what　had　happened；　she　would　be　hunting　them。
　　　　　　　〃The　justice　of　the　Daughter…Heir；〃　Thom　murmured；　〃may　yet　supersede　the　justice　of　the　Panarch。　There　were　men　streaming　in　through　that　door　as　we　left；　and　I　think　some　had　already　got　in　the　front。　I　saw　smoke　ing　out　of　several　windows。　By　tonight；　little　more　than　a　fire…gutted　ruin　will　remain。　No　need　for　soldiers　to　chase　the　Black　Ajah；　and　thus　'Thera'　can　have　her　few　days　to　learn　the　lesson　you　want　to　teach。　You　will　make　a　fine　queen　one　day；　Elayne　of　Andor。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne's　pleased　smile　faded　as　she　looked　at　him。　Rising　to　pad　around　the　table；　she　rummaged　in　his　coat　pockets　for　a　kerchief　and　began　dabbing　blood　from　his　forehead　despite　his　protests。　〃Hold　still；〃　she　told　him；　sounding　for　all　the　world　like　a　mother　tending　an　unruly　child。
　　　　　　　〃Could　we　at　least　see　what　we　risked　our　necks　for？〃　he　said　when　it　became　clear　Elayne　was　going　to　do　exactly　as　she　wished。
　　　　　　　Opening　her　belt　pouch；　Nynaeve　laid　the　contents　out　on　the　table；　the　black…and…white　disc　that　helped　hold　the　Dark　One's　prison　shut；　the　collar　and　bracelets　that　sent　ripples　of　sorrow　through　her　before　she　could　lay　them　down。　Everyone　gathered　close　to　stare。
　　　　　　　Domon　fingered　the　seal。　〃I　did　own　a　thing　like　this　once。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　doubted　it。　Only　seven　had　been　made。　Three　were　broken　now；　cuendillar　or　no。　Another　was　in　Moiraine's　hands。　Four　surviving。　How　well　could　four　keep　that　prison　at　Shayol　Ghul　locked？　A　shivery　thought。
　　　　　　　Egeanin　to