rj.theshadowrising-第123部分

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；　sometimes　she　absently　cleaned　the　nib　of　her　pen　on　the　sleeve　of　her　dark　wool　dress。　Marillin　Gemalphin　sat　beside　one　of　the　narrow　windows；　blue　eyes　dreamily　staring　out　at　the　tiny　fountain　tinkling　in　a　little　courtyard；　idly　scratching　the　ears　of　a　scrawny　yellow　cat　and　apparently　unaware　of　the　hairs　it　shed　all　over　er　green　silk　dress。　She　and　Eldrith　were　both　Browns；　but　if　Marillin　ever　found　out　that　Eldrith　was　the　reason　the　stray　cats　she　brought　in　continually　disappeared；　there　would　be　trouble。
　　　　　　　They　had　been　Browns。　Sometimes　it　was　difficult　to　remember　they　no　longer　were；　or　that　she　herself　was　no　longer　a　Red。　So　much　of　what　had　marked　them　clearly　as　members　of　their　old　Ajahs　remained　even　now　that　they　were　openly　pledged　to　the　Black。　Take　the　two　former　Greens。　Coppery…skinned；　swan…necked　Jeaine　Caide　wore　the　thinnest；　most　clinging　silk　dresses　she　could　find　…　white；　today　…　and　laughed　that　the　gowns　would　have　to　do；　since　there　was　nothing　available　in　Tarabon　to　catch　a　man's　eye。　Jeaine　was　from　Arad　Doman；　Domani　women　were　infamous　for　their　scandalous　clothes。　Asne　Zeramene；　with　her　dark；　tilted　eyes　and　bold　nose；　looked　almost　demure　in　pale　gray；　plainly　cut　and　high…necked；　but　Liandrin　had　heard　her　regret　leaving　her　Warders　behind　more　than　once。　And　as　for　Rianna　Andomeran。。。　Black　hair　with　a　stark　white　streak　above　her　left　ear　framed　a　face　with　the　cold；　arrogant　certainty　only　a　White　could　assume。
　　　　　　　〃It　is　done；〃　Liandrin　announced。　〃Jaichim　Carridin　will　move　his　Whitecloaks　to　the　Panarch's　Palace　and　hold　it　for　us。　He　does　not　yet　know　we　will　have　guests。。。　of　course。〃　There　were　a　few　grimaces；　changing　Ajahs　had　certainly　not　altered　anyone's　feelings　toward　men　who　hated　women　who　could　channel。　〃There　is　an　interesting　thing。　He　believed　I　was　there　to　kill　him。　For　failing　to　kill　Rand　al'Thor。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　makes　no　sense；〃　Asne　said；　frowning。　〃We　are　to　bind　him；　control　him；　not　kill　him。〃　She　laughed　suddenly；　soft　and　low；　and　leaned　back　in　her　chair。　〃If　there　is　a　way　to　control　him；　I　would　not　mind　binding　him　to　me。　He　is　a　good…looking　young　man；　from　the　little　I　saw。〃　Liandrin　sniffed；　she　had　no　liking　for　men　at　all。
　　　　　　　Rianna　shook　her　head　worriedly。　〃It　makes　troubling　sense。　Our　orders　from　the　Tower　were　clear；　yet　it　is　also　clear　that　Carridin　has　others。　I　can　only　postulate　dissension　among　the　Forsaken。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Forsaken；〃　Jeaine　muttered；　folding　her　arms　tightly；　thin　white　silk　molded　her　breasts　even　more　revealingly。　〃What　good　are　promises　that　we　will　rule　the　world　when　the　Great　Lord　returns　if　we　are　crushed　between　warring　Forsaken　first？　Does　anyone　believe　we　could　stand　against　any　of　them？〃
　　　　　　　〃Balefire。〃　Asne　looked　around；　dark　tilted　eyes　challenging。　〃Balefire　will　destroy　even　one　of　the　Forsaken。　And　we　have　the　means　to　produce　it。〃　One　of　the　ter'angreal　they　had　removed　from　the　Tower；　a　fluted　black　rod　a　pace　long；　had　that　use。　None　of　them　knew　why　they　had　been　ordered　to　take　it；　not　even　Liandrin　herself。　Too　many　of　the　ter'angreal　were　like　that；　taken　because　they　had　been　told　to；　with　no　reasons　given；　but　some　orders　had　to　be　obeyed。　Liandrin　wished　they　had　been　able　to　secure　even　one　angreal。
　　　　　　　Jeaine　gave　a　sharp　sniff。　〃If　any　of　us　could　control　it。　Or　have　you　forgotten　that　the　one　test　we　dared　nearly　killed　me？　And　burned　a　hole　through　both　sides　of　the　ship　before　I　could　stop　it？　Fine　good　it　would　have　done　us　to　drown　before　reaching　Tanchico。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　need　have　we　of　balefire？〃　Liandrin　said。　〃If　we　can　control　the　Dragon　Reborn；　let　the　Forsaken　think　how　they　will　deal　with　us。〃　Suddenly　she　became　aware　of　another　presence　in　the　room。　The　woman　Gyldin；　wiping　down　a　carved；　low…backed　chair　in　one　corner。　〃What　are　you　doing　here；　woman？〃
　　　　　　　〃Cleaning。〃　The　dark…braided　woman　straightened　unconcernedly。　〃You　told　me　to　clean。〃
　　　　　　　Liandrin　almost　struck　out　with　the　Power。　Almost。　But　Gyldin　certainly　did　not　know　they　were　Aes　Sedai。　How　much　had　the　woman　heard？　Nothing　of　importance。　〃You　will　go　to　the　cook；〃　she　said　in　a　cold　fury；　〃and　tell　him　he　is　to　strap　you。　Very　hard！　And　you　are　to　have　nothing　to　eat　until　the　dust　it　is　all　gone。〃　Again。　The　woman　had　made　her　speak　like　a　moner　again。
　　　　　　　Marillin　stood；　nuzzling　the　yellow　cat's　nose　with　hers；　and　handed　the　creature　to　Gyldin。　〃See　that　he　gets　a　dish　of　cream　when　the　cook　is　done　with　you。　And　some　of　that　nice　lamb。　Cut　it　small　for　him；　he　doesn't　have　many　teeth　left；　poor　thing。〃　Gyldin　looked　at　her；　not　blinking；　and　she　added；　〃Is　there　something　you　don't　understand？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　understand。〃　Gyldin's　mouth　was　tight。　Perhaps　she　did　finally　understand；　she　was　a　servant；　not　their　equal。
　　　　　　　Liandrin　waited　a　moment　after　she　left；　the　cat　cradled　in　her　arms；　then　snatched　open　one　of　the　doors。　The；　entry　hall　was　empty。　Gyldin　was　not　eavesdropping。　She　did　not　trust　the　woman。　But　then；　she　could　not　think　of　anyone　she　did　trust。
　　　　　　　〃We　must　be　concerned　with　what　concerns　us；〃　she　said　tightly；　closing　the　door。　〃Eldrith；　have　you　found　a　new　clue　in　those　pages？　Eldrith？〃
　　　　　　　The　plump　woman　gave　a　start；　then　stared　around　at　them；　blinking。　It　was　the　first　time　she　had　raised　her　head　from　the　battered　yellow　manuscript；　she　seemed　surprised　to　see　Liandrin。　〃What？　Clue？　Oh。　No。　It　is　difficult　enough　getting　into　the　King's　Library；　if　I　extracted　so　much　as　a　page；　the　librarians　would　know　it　immediately。　But　if　I　disposed　of　them；　I　would　never　find　anything。　That　place　is　a　maze。　No；　I　found　this　in　a　bookseller's　near　the　King's　Palace。　It　is　an　interesting　treatise　on　…〃
　　　　　　　Embracing　saidar；　Liandrin　sent　the　pages　showering　across　the　floor。　〃Unless　they　are　a　treatise　on　the　controlling　of　Rand　al'Thor；　let　them　be　burned！　What　have　you　learned　about　what　we　seek？〃
　　　　　　　Eldrith　blinked　at　the　scattered　papers。　〃Well；　it　is　in　the　Panarch's　Palace。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　learned　that　two　days　ago；〃
　　　　　　　〃And　it　must　be　a　ter'angreal。　To　control　someone　who　can　channel　must　require　the　Power；　and　since　it　is　a　specialized　use　that　means　a　ter'angreal。　We　will　find　it　in　the　exhibition　room；　or　perhaps　among　the　Panarch's　collection。〃
　　　　　　　〃Something　new；　Eldrith。〃　With　an　effort　Liandrin　made　her　voice　less　shrill。　〃Have　you　found　anything　that　is　new？　Anything？〃
　　　　　　　The　round…faced　woman　blinked　uncertainly。　〃Actually。。。。　No。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　does　not　matter；〃　Marillin　said。　〃In　a　few　days；　once　they　have　invested　their　precious　Panarch；　we　can　begin　searching；　and　if　we　must　inspect　every　candlestick；　we　will　find　it。　We　are　on　the　brink；　Liandrin。　We　will　put　Rand　al'Thor　on　a　leash　and　teach　him　to　sit　up　and　roll　over。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　yes；〃　Eldrith　said；　smiling　happily。　〃On　a　leash。〃
　　　　　　　Liandrin　hoped　it　was　so。　She　was　tired　of　waiting；　tired　of　hiding。　Let　the　world　know　her。　Let　people　bend　knee　as　had　been　promised　when　she　first　forswore　old　oaths　for　new。
　
　　　　　　　Egeanin　knew　she　was　not　alone　as　soon　as　she　stepped　into　her　small　house　by　the　kitchen　door；　but　she　dropped　her　mask　and　the　jute　bag　carelessly　on　the　table　and　walked　over　to　where　a　bucket　of　water　stood　beside　the　brick　fireplace。　As　she　bent　to　take　the　copper　ladle；　her　right　hand　darted　into　a　low　hollow　where　two　bricks　had　been　removed　behind　the　bucket；　she　spun　erect；　a　small　crossbow　in　her　hand。　No　more　than　a　foot　long；　it　had　little　power　or　range；　but　she　always　kept　it　drawn；　and　the　dark　stain　tipping　the　sharp　steel　bolt　would　kill　in　a　heartbeat。
　　　　　　　If　the　man　leaning　casually　in　the　corner　saw　the　crossbow；　he　gave　no　outward　sign。　He　was　pale…haired　and　blue…eyed；　in　his　middle　years；　and　good…looking　if　too　slender　for　her　taste。　Clearly　he　had　watched　her　cross　the　narrow　yard　through　the　iron…grilled　window　beside　him。　〃Do　you　think　that　I　threaten　you？〃　he　said　after　a　moment。
　　　　　　　She　recognized　the　familiar　accents　of　home；　but　she　did　not　lower　the　crossbow。　〃Who　are　you？〃
　　　　　　　For　answer　he　dipped　two　fingers　carefully　into　his　belt　pouch　…　apparently　he　could　see　after　all　…　and　brought　out　something　small　and　flat。　She　motioned　him　to　lay　it　on　the　table　and　back　up　again。
　　　　　　　Only　after　he　was　back　in　the　corner　did　she　move　close　enough　to　pick　up　what　he　had　set　there。　Never　taking　her　eyes　or　the　crossbow　away　from　him；　she　lifted　it　up　where　she　could　see。　A　small　ivory　plaque　bordered　in　gold；　engraved　with　a　raven　and　a　tower。　The　raven's　eyes　were　black　sapphires。　A　raven；　symbol　of　the　Imperial　family；　the　Tower　of　Ravens；　symbol　of　Imperial　justice。
　　　　　　　〃Normally　this　would　be　enough；〃　she　told　him；　〃but　we　are　far　from　Seanchan；　in　a　land　where　the　bizarre　is　almost　monplace。　What　other　proof　can　you　offer？〃
　　　　　　　Smiling　with　silent　amusement；　he　removed　his　coat；　unlaced　his　shirt　and　stripped　it　off。　On　either　shoulder　was　the　tattoo　of　raven　and　tower。
　　　　　　　Most　Seekers　for　Truth　bore　the　ravens　as　well　as　the　tower；　but　not　even　someone　who　dared　steal　a　Seeker's　plaque　would　have　himself　marked　so。　To　wear　the　ravens　was　to　be　the　property　of　the　Imperial　family。　There　was　an　old　story　of　a　fool　young　lord　and　lady　who　had　themselves　tattooed　while　drunk；　some　three　hundred　years　gone。　When　the　then　Empress　learned　of　it；　she　had　them　brought　to　the　Court　of　the　Nine　Moons　and　set　to　scrubbing　floors。　This　fellow　might　be　one　of　their　descendants。　The　mark　of　the　raven　was　forever。
　　　　　　　〃My　apologies；　Seeker；〃　she　said；　setting　the　crossbow　down。　〃Why　are　you　here？〃　She　did　not　ask　a　name；　any　he　gave　might　or　might　not　be　his。
　　　　　　　He　left　her　holding　the　plaque　while　he　re…dressed　himself　in　a　leisurely　manner。　A　subtle　reminder。　She　was　a　captain　and　he　property；　but　he　was　also　a　Seeker；　and　under　the　law　he　could　have　her　put　to　the　question　on　his　own　authority。　By　law　he　had　the　right　to　send　her　out　to　buy　the　rope　to　bind　her　while　he　put　her　to　the　question　right　here；　and　he　would　expect　her　to　return　with　it。　Flight　from　a　Seeker　was　a　crime。　Refusal　to　cooperate　with　a　Seeker　was　a　crime。　She　had　never　in　her　life　considered　any　criminal　act；　no　more　than　she　had　considered　treason　against　the　Crystal　Throne。　But　if　he　asked　the　wrong　questions；　demanded　the　wrong　answers。。。　The　crossbow　was　still　close　to　her　hand；　and　Cantorin　was　far　away。　Wild　thoughts。　Dangerous　thoughts。
　　　　　　　〃I　serve　the　High　Lady　Suroth　and　the　Corenne；　for　the　Empress；〃　he　said。　〃I　am　checking　on　the　progress　of　the　agents　the　High　Lady　has　placed　in　these　lands。〃
　　　　　　　Checking？　What　had　to　be　checked；　and　by　a　Seeker？　〃I　have　heard　nothing　of　this　from　the　courier　boats。〃　His　smile　deepened；　and　she　flushed。　Of　course　the　crews　would　not　speak　of　a　Seeker。　Yet　he　answered　while　lacing　up　his　shirt。
　　　　　　　〃The　courier　boats　are　not　to　be　risked　with　my　trips。　I　have　taken　passage　on　the　vessels　of　a　local　smuggler；　a　man　called　Bayle　Domon。　His　craft　stop　everywhere　in　Tarabon　and　Arad　Doman　and　between。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　heard　of　him；〃　she　said　calmly。　〃All　goes　well？〃
　　　　　　　〃It　does　now。　I　am　glad　that　you；　at　least；　understood　your　instructions　properly。　Among　th