rj.acrownofswords-第87部分

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walls　pale　red　and　the　ceiling　green；　changing　with　every　turn；　binations　to　jar　any　eye　but　a　Tinker's。　Mat's　boots　sounded　loud　on　floor　tiles　that　made　patterns　of　two　or　three　or　sometimes　four　colors　in　diamonds　or　stars　or　triangles。　Wherever　hallways　crossed　the　floor　was　a　mosaic　of　tiny　tiles；　intricate　swirls　and　scrolls　and　loops。　A　few　silk　tapestries　displayed　scenes　of　the　sea；　and　arched　niches　held　carved　crystal　bowls　and　small　statues　and　yellow　Sea　Folk　porcelain　that　would　fetch　a　fine　penny　anywhere。　Occasionally　a　liveried　servant　hurried　along　silently；　often　as　not　carrying　a　silver　tray；　or　a　golden。
　　　Normally；　displays　of　wealth　made　Mat　feel　fortable。　For　one　thing；　where　there　was　money；　some　might　stick　to　his　fingers。　This　time　he　felt　impatient；　more　so　by　the　step。　And　anxious。　The　last　time　he　had　felt　the　dice　rolling　so　hard　in　his　head　was　just　before　he　found　himself　with　three　hundred　of　the　Band；　a　thousand　of　Gaebril's　White　Lions　on　a　ridge　to　his　front　and　another　thousand　ing　hard　up　the　road　behind　him；　when　all　he　had　been　trying　to　do　was　ride　away　from　the　entire　mess。　That　time　he　had　avoided　the　chop　by　the　grace　of　other　men's　memories　and　more　luck　than　he　had　a　right　to。　The　dice　almost　always　meant　danger；　and　something　else　he　had　not　figured　out　yet。　The　prospect　of　having　his　skull　cracked　was　not　enough；　and　once　or　twice　there　had　been　no　possibility　of　such；　yet　the　uping　likelihood　of　Mat　Cauthon　dead　in　some　spectacular　fashion　seemed　the　most　usual　cause。　Unlikely；　maybe；　in　the　Tarasin　Palace；　but　unlikely　did　not　make　the　dice　go　away。　He　was　going　to　leave　his　message；　grab　Nynaeve　and　Elayne　by　the　scruff　of　the　neck　if　he　had　an　opportunity；　give　them　a　talking…to　that　made　their　ears　glow；　and　then　get　out。
　　　The　young　woman　glided　ahead　of　him　until　they　reached　a　short；　bullish　man　a　little　older　than　she；　another　servant；　in　tight　white　breeches；　a　white　shirt　with　wide　sleeves；　and　a　long　green　vest　with　the　Anchor　and　Sword　of　House　Mitsobar　in　a　white　disc。　〃Master　Jen；〃　she　said；　curtsying　once　more；　〃this　is　Lord　Mat　Cauthon；　who　wishes　to　leave　a　message　for　the　honored　Elayne　Aes　Sedai　and　the　honored　Nynaeve　Aes　Sedai。〃
　　　〃Very　good；　Haesel。　You　may　go。〃　He　bowed　to　Mat　〃May　it　please　you　to　follow　me；　my　Lord？〃
　　　Jen　led　him　as　far　as　a　dark；　grim…faced　woman　short　of　her　middle　years；　and　bowed。　〃Mistress　Carin；　this　is　Lord　Mat　Cauthon；　who　wishes　to　leave　a　message　for　the　honored　Elayne　Aes　Sedai　and　the　honored　Nynaeve　Aes　Sedai。〃
　　　〃Very　good；　Jen。　You　may　go。　May　it　please　you　to　follow　me；　my　Lord？〃
　　　Carin　took　him　up　a　sweeping　flight　of　marble　stairs；　the　risers　painted　yellow　and　red；　to　a　skinny　woman　named　Matilde；　who　handed　him　over　to　a　stout　fellow　named　Bren；　who　led　him　to　a　balding　man　named　Madic；　each　a　little　older　than　the　one　before。　Where　five　corridors　met　like　the　spokes　of　a　wheel；　Madic　left　him　with　a　round　woman　called　Laren；　who　had　a　touch　of　gray　at　her　temples　and　a　stately　carriage。　Like　Carin　and　Matilde；　she　wore　what　the　Ebou　Dari　called　a　marriage　knife；　hanging　hilt　down　from　a　close…fitting　silver　necklace　between　more　than　plump　breasts。　Five　white　stones　in　the　hilt；　two　set　in　red；　and　four　red　stones；　one　surrounded　by　black；　said　three　of　her　nine　children　were　dead；　two　sons　in　duels。　Rising　out　of　her　curtsy　to　Mat；　Laren　began　to　float　up　one　of　the　hallways；　but　he　hurried　to　catch　her　arm。
　　　Dark　eyebrows　rose　slightly　as　she　glanced　at　his　hand。　She　had　no　dagger　except　the　marriage　knife；　but　he　released　her　immediately。　Custom　said　she　could　only　use　that　on　her　husband；　yet　there　was　no　point　in　pushing。　He　did　not　soften　his　voice；　though。　〃How　far　do　I　have　to　go　to　leave　a　note？　Show　me　to　their　rooms。　A　pair　of　Aes　Sedai　shouldn't　be　that　hard　to　find。　This　isn't　the　bloody　White　Tower。〃
　　　〃Aes　Sedai？〃　a　woman　said　behind　him　in　a　heavy　Illianer　accent。　〃If　you　do　seek　two　Aes　Sedai；　you　have　found　two。〃
　　　Laren's　face　did　not　change；　or　almost　not。　Her　nearly　black　eyes　darted　past　him；　and　he　was　sure　they　tightened　with　worry。
　　　Doffing　his　hat；　Mat　turned　wearing　an　easy　smile。　With　that　silver　foxhead　around　his　neck；　Aes　Sedai　did　not　put　him　off　at　all。　Well；　not　very　much。　It　had　those　flaws。　Maybe　the　smile　was　not　that　easy。
　　　The　two　women　confronting　him　could　not　have　been　more　different。　One　was　slender；　with　a　fetching　smile；　in　a　green…and…gold　dress　that　showed　a　hint　of　what　he　judged　to　be　a　fine　bosom。　Except　for　that　ageless　face；　he　might　have　thought　to　strike　up　a　conversation。　It　was　a　pretty　face；　with　eyes　large　enough　for　a　man　to　sink　into。　A　pity。　The　other　had　the　agelessness　too；　but　seeing　it　took　him　a　moment。　He　thought　she　was　scowling　until　he　realized　that　must　be　her　normal　expression。　Her　dark；　almost　black；　dress　covered　her　to　the　wrists　and　chin；　for　which　he　was　grateful。　She　looked　scrawny　as　an　old　bramble。　She　looked　as　if　she　ate　brambles　for　breakfast。
　　　〃I'm　trying　to　leave　a　message　for　Nynaeve　and　Elayne；〃　he　told　them。　〃This　woman　…　〃　He　blinked；　looking　down　each　of　the　corridors。　Servants　hurried　by；　but　Laren　was　nowhere　in　sight。　He　would　not　have　thought　she　could　move　so　fast。　〃Anyway；　I　want　to　leave　a　note。〃　Suddenly　cautious；　he　added；　〃Are　you　friends　of　theirs？〃
　　　〃Not　exactly；〃　the　pretty　one　said。　〃I　am　Joline；　and　this　is　Teslyn。　And　you　are　Mat　Cauthon。〃　Mat's　stomach　tightened。　Nine　Aes　Sedai　in　the　palace；　and　he　had　to　walk　into　the　two　who　followed　Elaida。　And　one　of　them　Red。　Not　that　he　had　anything　to　fear。　He　lowered　his　hand　to　his　side　before　it　could　touch　the　foxhead　under　his　clothes。
　　　The　one　who　ate　brambles　…　Teslyn　…　stepped　closer。　She　was　a　Sitter；　according　to　Thom；　though　what　a　Sitter　was　doing　here　even　Thom　did　not　understand。　〃We　would　be　their　friends　if　we　could。　They　do　need　friends；　Master　Cauthon；　as　do　you。〃　Her　eyes　tried　to　dig　holes　in　his　head。
　　　Joline　moved　to　flank　him；　laying　a　hand　on　his　lapel。　He　would　have　considered　that　smile　inviting　from　another　woman。　She　was　Green　Ajah。　〃They　are　on　dangerous　ground　and　blind　to　what　lies　beneath　their　feet。　I　know　you　are　their　friend。　You　might　show　it　by　telling　them　to　abandon　this　nonsense　before　it　is　too　late。　Foolish　children　who　go　too　far　can　find　themselves　punished　quite　severely。〃
　　　Mat　wanted　to　back　away；　even　Teslyn　stood　close　enough　to　be　almost　touching　him。　Instead　he　put　on　his　most　insolent　grin。　It　had　always　landed　him　in　trouble　back　home；　but　it　seemed　appropriate。　Those　dice　in　his　head　could　have　nothing　to　do　with　this　pair；　or　they　would　have　stopped　spinning。　And　he　did　have　the　medallion。　〃They　see　pretty　well；　I'd　say。〃　Nynaeve　badly　needed　to　be　snatched　down　a　peg　or　six；　and　Elayne　even　more；　but　he　was　not　about　to　stand　by　and　listen　to　this　woman　talk　Nynaeve　down。　If　that　meant　defending　Elayne　too；　so　be　it　〃Maybe　you　should　abandon　your　nonsense。〃　Joline's　smile　vanished；　but　Teslyn　replaced　it　with　one　of　her　own；　a　razored　smile。
　　　〃We　do　know　about　you；　Master　Cauthon。〃　She　looked　a　woman　who　wanted　to　skin　something；　and　whoever　was　handy　would　do。　〃Ta'veren；　it　do　be　said。　With　dangerous　associations　of　your　own。　That　do　be　more　than　hearsay。〃
　　　Joline's　face　was　ice。　〃A　young　man　in　your　position　who　wished　to　be　assured　of　his　future　could　do　much　worse　than　seek　the　protection　of　the　Tower。　You　should　never　have　left　it。〃
　　　His　stomach　clenched　tighter。　What　else　did　they　know？　Surely　not　about　the　medallion。　Nynaeve　and　Elayne　knew；　and　Adeleas　and　Vandene；　and　the　Light　only　knew　who　they　had　told；　but　surely　not　this　pair。　There　was　worse　than　ta'veren　or　the　foxhead；　though；　or　even　Rand；　as　far　as　he　was　concerned。　If　they　knew　about　the　bloody　Horn。。。
　　　Abruptly　he　was　yanked　away　from　them　so　hard　that　he　stumbled　and　nearly　dropped　his　hat。　A　slender　woman　with　a　smooth　face　and　nearly　white　hair　gathered　at　the　back　of　her　neck　had　him　by　sleeve　and　lapel。　Reflexively　Teslyn　seized　him　the　same　way　on　the　other　side。　He　recognized　the　straight…backed　newer　in　her　plain　gray　dress；　in　a　way