rj.acrownofswords-第113部分

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s　what　she　meant。　According　to　her；　drunkenness　was　not　the　only　excuse　he　could　find　for　lying　in　bed　till　all　hours；　far　from　it。
　　　〃Besides；〃　Elayne　added；　〃that　way；　you　can　keep　an　eye　on　us。〃　Nynaeve　made　a　sound　in　her　throat；　very　close　to　a　groan。　Did　she　not　see　that　he　must　be　enticed？　It　was　not　as　if　she　had　promised　to　actually　allow　him　to　keep　an　eye　on　them。
　　　He　seemed　not　to　have　heard　her　or　Nynaeve。　Haggard　eyes　stared　right　through　her。　〃Why　did　they　bloody　well　have　to　stop　now？〃　he　moaned；　so　softly　she　barely　heard。　What　under　the　Light　did　he　mean　by　that？
　　　〃The　rooms　are　fit　for　a　king；　Master。。。　Mat。　Tylin　herself　chose　them；　just　down　from　her　own。　She　has　taken　a　very　personal　interest。　Mat；　you　wouldn't　have　us　offend　the　Queen；　would　you？〃
　　　One　look　at　his　face；　and　Elayne　hurriedly　channeled　to　push　open　the　window　and　empty　the　washbasin　through　it。　If　she　had　ever　seen　a　man　about　to　lose　the　contents　of　his　stomach；　he　was　staring　red…eyed　at　her　right　that　minute。
　　　〃I　don't　see　why　you're　making　such　a　fuss；〃　she　said。　Actually；　she　supposed　she　did。　Some　of　the　serving　women　here　probably　let　him　paw　them；　but　she　doubted　many　in　the　palace　would；　if　any。　He　would　not　be　able　to　drink　and　gamble　his　nights　away；　either。　Tylin　surely　would　not　allow　a　bad　example　for　Beslan。　〃We　all　must　make　sacrifices。〃　With　an　effort　she　stopped　there；　not　telling　him　that　his　was　small　and　only　right；　theirs　monstrous　and　unjust；　no　matter　what　Aviendha　said。　Nynaeve　had　certainly　railed　against　any　sacrifice。
　　　He　put　his　head　in　his　hands　again；　making　strangled　noises　while　his　shoulders　shook。　He　was　laughing！　She　hefted　the　basin　on　a　flow　of　Air；　considering　hitting　him　with　it。　When　he　raised　his　eyes　again；　though；　he　looked　outraged　for　some　reason。　〃Sacrifices？〃　he　snarled。　〃If　I　asked　you　to　make　the　same；　you'd　box　every　ear　in　sight　and　pull　the　roof　down　on　my　head！〃　Could　he　still　be　drunk？
　　　She　decided　to　ignore　his　frightful　glare。　〃Speaking　of　your　head；　if　you　would　like　Healing；　I'm　sure　Nynaeve　would　oblige。〃　If　she　had　ever　been　angry　enough　to　channel；　she　was　now。
　　　Nynaeve　gave　a　small　jerk　and　glanced　at　her　from　the　corner　of　one　eye。　〃Of　course；〃　she　said　hurriedly。　〃If　you　want。〃　The　color　in　her　cheeks　confirmed　all　of　Elayne's　suspicions　about　that　morning。
　　　Gracious　as　ever；　he　sneered。　〃You　just　forget　my　head。　I　do　very　well　without　Aes　Sedai。〃　And　then；　just　to　confuse　matters　she　was　sure；　he　added　in　a　hesitant　voice；　〃I　thank　you　for　asking；　though。〃　Almost　as　if　he　meant　it！
　　　Elayne　managed　not　to　gape。　Her　knowledge　of　men　was　limited　to　Rand　and　what　Lini　and　her　mother　had　told　her。　Was　Rand　going　to　be　as　confusing　as　Mat　Cauthon？
　　　Last　thing　before　going；　she　remembered　to　secure　a　promise　that　he　would　start　moving　to　the　palace　immediately。　He　kept　his　word　once　given；　so　Nynaeve　had　made　clear；　however　reluctantly；　but　leave　one　crack；　and　he　could　find　a　hundred　ways　to　slip　through。　That　she　had　been　all　too　eager　to　emphasize。　He　gave　his　promise　with　a　bleak；　resentful　grimace；　or　maybe　that　was　just　his　eyes　again。　When　she　set　the　basin　down　at　his　feet；　he　actually　looked　grateful。　She　would　not　feel　sympathy。　She　would　not。
　　　Once　back　in　the　corridor；　with　the　door　to　Mat's　room　closed；　Nynaeve　shook　her　fist　at　the　ceiling。　〃That　man　could　try　the　patience　of　a　stone！　I'm　glad　he　wants　to　cuddle　with　his　head！　Do　you　hear　me？　Glad！　He　will　make　trouble。　He　will。〃
　　　〃You　two　will　make　more　trouble　for　him　than　he　ever　could。〃　The　speaker　stalked　down　the　hall　toward　them；　a　woman　with　a　touch　of　gray　in　her　hair；　a　strong　face　and　a　manding　voice。　She　also　wore　a　frown　little　short　of　a　scowl。　Despite　the　marriage　knife　hanging　into　her　cleavage；　she　was　too　fair　for　an　Ebou　Dari。　〃I　couldn't　believe　it　when　Caira　told　me。　I　doubt　I've　ever　seen　so　much　foolishness　poured　into　just　two　dresses。〃
　　　Elayne　eyed　the　woman　up　and　down。　Not　even　as　a　novice　had　she　gotten　used　to　being　addressed　in　that　tone。　〃And　who　might　you　be；　my　good　woman？〃
　　　〃I　might　be　and　am　Setalle　Anan；　the　owner　of　this　inn；　child〃　was　the　dry　reply；　and　with　that；　the　woman　flung　open　a　door　across　the　hallway；　seized　them　each　by　an　arm；　and　hustled　them　through　so　fast　Elayne　thought　her　slippers　had　left　the　floor。
　　　〃You　seem　under　some　misapprehension；　Mistress　Anan；〃　she　said　coolly　as　the　woman　released　them　to　shut　the　door。
　　　Nynaeve　was　in　no　mood　for　niceties。　Holding　her　hand　so　her　Great　Serpent　ring　was　plain；　she　said　heatedly；　〃Now；　you　look　here　…　〃
　　　〃Very　pretty；〃　the　woman　said；　and　pushed　each　of　them　so　hard　they　found　themselves　sitting　side…by…side　on　the　bed。　Elayne's　eyes　popped　in　disbelief。　This　Anan　woman　confronted　them；　grim…faced；　fists　on　her　hips；　for　all　the　world　like　a　mother　about　to　castigate　her　daughters。　〃Flaunting　that　just　shows　how　silly　you　are。　That　young　man　will　dandle　you　on　his　knee　…　one　on　each；　I　shouldn't　wonder；　if　you　allow　…　he'll　take　a　few　kisses　and　as　much　else　as　you're　willing　to　give；　but　he　won't　harm　you。　You　can　harm　him；　though；　if　you　keep　on　with　this。〃
　　　Harm　him？　The　woman　thought　they　…　she　thought　he　had　dandled　…　she　thought　…　Elayne　did　not　know　whether　to　laugh　or　cry；　but　she　stood　up；　straightening　her　skirts。　〃As　I　said；　Mistress　Anan；　you　are　under　a　misapprehension。〃　Her　voice　became　smoother　as　she　went　on；　confusion　giving　way　to　calm。　〃I　am　Elayne　Trakand；　Daughter…Heir　of　Andor　and　Aes　Sedai　of　the　Green　Ajah。　I　don't　know　what　you　think　…　〃　Her　eyes　nearly　crossed　as　Mistress　Anan　pushed　a　finger　to　the　tip　of　her　nose。
　　　〃Elayne；　if　that　is　your　name；　all　that　keeps　me　from　dragging　you　down　to　the　kitchen　and　washing　your　mouth　out；　yours　and　that　other　foolish　girl's　there；　is　the　possibility　that　you　actually　can　channel　somewhat。　Or　are　you　silly　enough　to　wear　that　ring　when　you　can't　even　do　that？　I　warn　you；　it　will　make　no　difference　to　the　sisters　over　in　the　Tarasin　Palace。　Do　you　even　know　about　them？　If　you　do；　frankly；　you　are　not　foolish；　you're　blind　stupid。〃
　　　Elayne's　temper　grew　by　the　word。　Foolish　girl？　Blind　stupid？　She　would　not　put　up　with　it；　especially　not　right　after　being　forced　to　crawl　to　Mat　Cauthon。　Dandle？　Mat　Cauthon？　She　maintained　her　outward　posure；　though；　but　not　so　Nynaeve。
　　　She　glared　in　a　fury；　and　the　glow　of　saidar　enveloped　her　as　she　bounded　to　her　feet。　Flows　of　Air　wrapped　mistress　Anan　from　shoulders　to　ankles；　crushing　her　skirts　and　petticoats　against　her　legs；　just　short　of　tight　enough　to　topple　her。　〃I　happen　to　be　one　of　those　sisters　in　the　palace。　Nynaeve　al'Meara　of　the　Yellow　Ajah；　to　be　exact。　Now　would　you　like　me　to　carry　you　down　to　the　kitchens？　I　know　something　of　how　to　wash　out　a　mouth。〃　Elayne　stepped　away　from　the　innkeeper's　outstretched　arm。
　　　The　woman　had　to　feel　the　pressure　of　the　flows；　and　even　a　half…wit　would　have　known　what　those　invisible　bonds　must　be；　yet　she　did　not　blink！　Her　green…flecked　eyes　narrowed；　no　more。　〃So　one　of　you　can　channel；　at　least；〃　she　said　calmly。　〃I　should　let　you　drag　me　downstairs；　child。　Whatever　you　do　to　me；　you　would　be　in　the　hands　of　real　Aes　Sedai　by　noon；　I'll　wager　that。〃
　　　〃Didn't　you　hear　me？〃　Nynaeve　demanded。　〃I　…　！〃
　　　The　Anan　woman　did　not　even　pause。　〃You'll　not　only　spend　the　next　year　blubbering；　you　will　do　part　of　it　in　front　of　anyone　you　told　that　you　are　Aes　Sedai。　Be　sure；　they'll　make　you　tell。　They　will　turn　your　liver　to　water。　I　should　let　you　go　blundering　on　your　way；　or　else　run　across　to　the　palace　as　soon　as　you　loose　me。　The　only　reason　I　don't　is　that　they'll　make　an　example　of　Lord　Mat　nearly　as　much　as　of　you；　if　they　even　suspect　he's　helped　you；　and　as　I　said；　I　like　the　young　man。〃
　　　〃I'm　telling　you　…　〃　Nynaeve　tried　again；　but　still　the　innkeeper　gave　her　no　chance　to　tell　anything。　Tied　like　a　bundle；　the　woman　was　a　boulder　rolling　downhill。　She　was　the　whole　hillside　falling；　flattening　whatever　lay　in　its　path。
　　　〃Trying　to　keep　up　the　lie　does　no　good；　Nynaeve。　You　look　to　be；　oh；　twenty…one　give　or　t