rj.theshadowrising-第60章

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ose；　a　helmet　like　the　head　of　some　monstrous　insect；　lacquered　in　red　and　green；　with　a　narrow　white　plume　to　either　side；　one　broken。
　　　　　　　The　helmet　Elayne　recognized。　〃Seanchan；〃　she　gasped　before　thinking。　Nynaeve　gave　her　a　vexed　look；　and　deservedly；　they　had　agreed　it　would　make　more　sense；　and　ring　more　true；　if　Nynaeve；　as　the　older；　took　the　lead　and　did　most　of　the　talking。
　　　　　　　Coine　and　Jorin　exchanged　unreadable　glances。　〃You　know　of　them？〃　the　Sailmistress　said。　〃Of　course。　One　must　expect　Aes　Sedai　to　know　these　things。　This　far　east　we　hear　a　score　of　stories；　the　truest　less　than　half…true。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　knew　she　should　leave　it　at　that；　but　curiosity　tickled　her　tongue。　〃How　did　you　e　by　the　helmet？　If　I　may　ask。〃
　　　　　　　〃Wavedancer　encountered　a　Seanchan　ship　last　year；〃　Coine　replied。　〃They　wished　to　take　him；　but　I　did　not　wish　to　give　him　up。〃　She　shrugged　slightly。　〃I　have　the　helmet　to　remind　me；　and　the　sea　took　the　Seanchan；　the　Light　be　merciful　to　all　who　sail。　I　will　not　go　close　to　a　vessel　with　ribbed　sails　again。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　were　lucky；〃　Nynaeve　said　curtly。　〃The　Seanchan　hold　captive　women　who　can　channel；　and　make　them　channel　as　a　weapon。　If　they　had　had　one　on　that　ship；　you　would　be　regretting　ever　having　seen　it。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　grimaced　at　her；　though　it　was　too　late。　She　could　not　tell　whether　the　Sea　Folk　women　were　offended　by　Nynaeve's　tone。　The　pair　kept　the　same　neutral　expressions；　but　Elayne　was　beginning　to　realize　they　did　not　show　very　much　on　their　faces；　not　to　strangers；　anyway。
　　　　　　　〃Let　us　speak　of　passage；〃　Coine　said。　〃If　it　pleases　the　Light；　we　may　call　where　you　wish　to　go。　All　things　are　possible；　in　the　Light。　Let　us　sit。〃
　　　　　　　The　chairs　around　the　table　did　not　slide　back；　they　and　the　table　were　fastened　to　the　floor　…　deck。　Instead　the　arms　swung　out　like　gates　and　latched　in　place　once　you　had　sat。　The　arrangement　seemed　to　bear　out　Elayne's　dire　predictions　of　heaving　and　pitching。　She　did　very　well　with　it　herself；　of　course；　but　too　much　rolling　on　a　riverboat　set　Nynaeve's　stomach　jumping。　It　must　be　worse　on　the　ocean　than　on　a　river；　however　fierce　the　wind；　and　the　worse　Nynaeve's　stomach；　the　worse　her　temper。　Nynaeve　sicking　up　and　in　a　bad　choler　at　the　same　time：　there　were　few　things　more　dreadful；　in　Elayne's　experience。
　　　　　　　She　and　Nynaeve　were　placed　together　on　one　side　of　the　table；　with　the　Sailmistress　and　the　Windfinder　at　the　ends。　At　first　it　seemed　strange；　until　she　realized　they　would　both　look　at　whichever　of　the　two　was　talking；　allowing　the　other　to　watch　them　unobserved。　Do　they　always　deal　with　passengers　this　way；　or　is　it　because　we're　Aes　Sedai？　Well；　because　they　think　we　are。　It　was　a　caution　that　everything　might　not　be　as　simple　as　they　hoped　with　these　people。　She　hoped　Nynaeve　was　taking　notice。
　　　　　　　Elayne　had　not　seen　any　order　passed；　but　a　slender　young　woman　with　only　one　ring　in　each　ear　appeared；　bearing　a　tray　with　a　square　white　brass…handled　teapot　and　large　handleless　cups；　not　of　Sea　Folk　porcelain　as　might　have　been　expected；　but　thick　pottery。　Less　likely　to　be　broken　in　heavy　weather；　she　decided　bleakly。　It　was　the　young　woman　who　took　her　attention；　though；　and　nearly　brought　a　gasp。　She　was　bare　to　the　waist；　just　like　the　men　above。　Elayne　hid　her　shock　very　well；　she　thought；　but　Nynaeve　sniffed　loudly。
　　　　　　　The　Sailmistress　waited　until　the　girl　had　poured　tea　brewed　to　blackness；　then　said；　〃Have　we　sailed；　Dorele；　when　I　did　not　see？　Is　there　no　land　in　sight？〃
　　　　　　　The　slender　woman　blushed　furiously。　〃There　is　land；　Sailmistress。〃　It　was　a　miserable　whisper。
　　　　　　　Coine　nodded。　〃Until　there　is　no　land　in　sight；　and　has　been　none　for　one　full　day；　you　will　work　at　cleaning　the　bilges；　where　garments　are　a　hindrance。　You　may　leave。〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　Sailmistress；〃　the　girl　said；　even　more　woefully。　She　turned　away；　undoing　her　red　sash　dejectedly　as　she　went　through　the　door　at　the　far　end　of　the　room。
　　　　　　　〃Share　this　tea；　if　it　please　you；〃　the　Sailmistress　said；　〃that　we　may　talk　in　peace。〃　She　sipped　at　her　own　and　continued　while　Elayne　and　Nynaeve　were　tasting　theirs。　〃I　ask　that　you　forgive　any　offense；　Aes　Sedai；　This　is　Dorele's　first　voyage　except　between　the　islands。　The　young　often　forget　the　ways　of　the　shorebound。　I　will　punish　her　further；　if　you　are　affronted。〃
　　　　　　　〃There　is　no　need；〃　Elayne　said　hastily；　taking　the　excuse　to　set　her　cup　down。　The　tea　was　even　stronger　than　it　looked；　very　hot；　unsweetened　and　quite　bitter。　〃Truly；　we　were　not　offended。　There　are　different　ways　among　different　peoples。〃　The　Light　send　not　too　many　more　as　different　as　that！　Light；　what　if　they　don't　wear　any　clothes　at　all　once　they　get　out　to　sea？　Light！　〃Only　a　fool　takes　offense　at　customs　different　from　her　own。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　gave　her　a　level　look；　bland　enough　for　the　Aes　Sedai　they　were　pretending　to　be；　and　took　a　deep　swallow　from　her　cup。　All　she　said　was　〃Please　think　no　more　of　it。〃　It　was　not　possible　to　tell　if　she　meant　it　for　Elayne　or　the　Sea　Folk　women。
　　　　　　　〃Then　we　will　speak　of　passage；　if　it　pleases　you；〃　Coine　said。　〃To　what　port　do　you　wish　to　sail？〃
　　　　　　　〃Tanchico；〃　Nynaeve　said；　a　bit　more　briskly　than　she　should　have。　〃I　know　you　may　not　mean　to　sail　there；　but　we　need　to　go　quickly；　as　quickly　as　only　a　raker　can；　and　without　stopping；　if　that　is　possible。　I　offer　this　small　gift；　for　the　inconvenience。〃　She　took　a　paper　from　her　belt　pouch　and　unfolded　it；　pushing　it　down　the　table　to　the　Sailmistress。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　had　given　that　to　them；　and　another　like　it；　letters…of…rights。　Each　allowed　the　bearer　to　draw　up　to　three　thousand　gold　crowns　from　bankers　and　moneylenders　in　various　cities；　though　it　was　not　likely　any　of　those　men　and　women　knew　it　was　White　Tower　money　they　held。　Elayne　had　goggled　at　the　amount　…　Nynaeve　had　gaped　openly　…　but　Moiraine　said　it　might　be　needed　to　make　the　Sailmistress　forsake　her　intended　ports　of　call。
　　　　　　　Coine　touched　the　letter…of…rights　with　one　finger；　read。　〃A　vast　sum　for　the　gift　of　passage；〃　she　murmured；〃　even　counting　that　you　ask　me　to　alter　my　sailing　plans。　I　am　more　surprised　now　than　before。　You　know　that　we　very　seldom　carry　Aes　Sedai　on　our　ships。　Very　seldom。　Of　all　who　ask　passage；　only　Aes　Sedai　may　be　refused；　and　almost　always　are；　as　from　the　first　day　of　the　first　sailing。　Aes　Sedai　know　this；　and　so　almost　never　ask。〃　She　was　looking　into　her　teacup；　not　at　them；　but　Elayne　glanced　the　other　way　and　caught　the　Windfinder　studying　their　hands　lying　on　the　table。　No；　their　rings。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　had　not　said　anything　about　this。　She　had　pointed　out　the　raker　as　the　swiftest　ship　available　and　encouraged　them　to　make　use　of　it。　Then　again；　she　had　given　them　these　letters…of…rights；　very　likely　sufficient　to　buy　a　fleet　of　ships　like　this　one。　Well；　several　ships；　at　the　least。　Because　she　knew　it　would　take　that　much　to　bribe　them　to　carry　us？　But　why　had　she　kept　secrets？　A　foolish　question；　Moiraine　always　kept　secrets。　But　why　waste　their　time？
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　mean　to　refuse　us　passage？〃　Nynaeve　had　abandoned　tact　for　bluntness。　〃If　you　do　not　carry　Aes　Sedai；　why　did　you　bring　us　down　here？　Why　not　tell　us　up　above　and　be　done　with　it？〃
　　　　　　　The　Sailmistress　unlatched　one　arm　of　her　chair；　rose　and　went　to　peer　out　of　the　sternwindows　at　the　Stone。　Her　earrings　and　the　medallions　across　her　left　cheek　glittered　in　the　light　of　the　rising　sun。　〃He　can　wield　the　One　Power；　so　I　have　heard；　and　he　holds　the　Sword　That　Cannot　Be　Touched。　The　Aiel　have　e　over　the　Dragon　wall　to　his　call；　I　have　seen　several　in　the　streets；　and　it　is　said　they　fill　the　Stone。　The　Stone　of　Tear　has　fallen；　and　war　breaks　over　the　nations　of　the　land。　Those　who　once　ruled　have　returned；　and　been　driven　back　for　the　first　time。　Prophecy　is　being　fulfilled。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　looked　as　confounded　as　Elayne　felt　at　this　change　of　subject。　〃The　Prophecies　of　the　Dragon？〃　Elayne　said　after　a　moment。　〃Yes；　they　are　being　fulfilled。　He　is　the　Dragon　Reborn；　Sailmistress。〃　He's　a　stubborn　man　who　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？