rj.theshadowrising-第124部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


　　　　　　　〃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　the　others；　only　the　Seekers　did。　It　is　regrettable　that　there　are　not　more　Seekers　with　the　Hailene。〃　Settling　his　coat　on　his　shoulders；　he　plucked　the　Seeker's　plaque　from　her　hand。　〃There　has　been　some　embarrassment　over　the　return　of　sul'dam　deserters。　Such　desertions　must　not　bee　mon　knowledge。　Much　better　that　they　simply　vanish。〃
　　　　　　　Only　because　she　had　a　little　time　to　think　was　she　able　to　keep　her　face　smooth。　Sul'dam　had　been　left　behind　in　the　debacle　at　Falme；　she　had　been　told。　Possibly　some　had　deserted。　Her　instruction；　delivered　by　the　High　Lady　Suroth　herself；　had　been　to　return　any　who　could　be　found；　whether　they　wanted　to　return　or　not；　and　if　that　was　not　possible；　dispose　of　them。　The　last　had　seemed　only　a　final　alternative。　Until　now。
　　　　　　　〃I　regret　that　these　lands　do　not　know　kaf；〃　he　said；　taking　a　seat　at　the　table。　〃Even　in　Cantorin；　only　the　Blood　still　have　kaf。　Or　it　was　so　when　I　left。　Perhaps　supply　ships　have　arrived　from　Seanchan　since。　Tea　must　do。　Fix　me　tea。〃
　　　　　　　She　very　nearly　knocked　him　out　of　his　chair。　The　man　was　property。　And　a　Seeker。　She　brewed　tea。　And　served　it　to　him；　standing　beside　his　chair　with　the　pot　to　keep　his　cup　full。　She　was　surprised　he　did　not　ask　her　to　don　a　veil　and　dance　on　the　table。
　　　　　　　She　was　permitted　to　sit　at　last；　after　fetching　pen　and　ink　and　paper；　but　only　to　sketch　maps　of　Tanchico　and　its　defenses；　to　draw　every　other　city　and　town　she　knew　the　least　thing　about。　She　listed　the　various　forces　in　the　field；　as　much　as　she　knew　of　their　strength　and　loyalties；　what　she　had　deduced　of　their　dispositions。
　　　　　　　When　she　was　done；　he　stuffed　it　all　in　his　pocket；　told　her　to　send　the　contents　of　the　jute　sack　by　the　next　courier　boat；　and　left　with　one　of　those　amused　smiles；　saying　he　might　check　on　her　progress　again　in　a　few　weeks。
　　　　　　　She　sat　there　for　a　long　time　after　he　was　gone。　Every　map　she　had　drawn；　every　list　she　had　made；　duplicated　papers　sent　out　by　courier　boats　long　since。　Having　her　do　it　all　again　while　he　watched　might　have　been　a　punishment　for　forcing　him　to　show　his　tattoos。　Deathwatch　Guards　flaunted　their　ravens；　Seekers　rarely　did。　It　might　have　been　that。　At　least　he　had　not　gone　down　to　the　basement　before　she　arrived。　Or　had　he？　Had　he　just　been　waiting　for　her　to　speak？
　　　　　　　The　stout　iron　lock　hung　seemingly　undisturbed　on　the　door　in　the　hall　just　beyond　the　kitchen；　but　it　was　said　Seekers　knew　how　to　open　locks　without　keys。　Taking　the　key　from　her　belt　pouch；　she　unfastened　the　lock　and　went　down　the　narrow　steps。
　　　　　　　One　lamp　on　a　shelf　lit　the　dirt…floored　basement。　Just　four　brick　walls；　cleared　of　everything　that　might　help　an　escape。　A　faint　smell　of　the　slop　pail　hung　in　the　air。　On　the　side　opposite　the　lamp；　a　woman　in　a　dirty　dress　sat　despondently　on　a　few　rough　woolen　blankets。　Her　head　lifted　at　the　sound　of　Egeanin's　steps；　dark　eyes　fearful　and　pleading。　She　had　been　the　first　sul'dam　Egeanin　had　found。　The　first；　the　only。　Egeanin　had　all　but　stopped　looking；　after　she　found　Bethamin。　And　Bethamin　had　been　in　this　basement　since；　while　courier　boats　came　and　went。
　　　　　　　〃Did　anyone　e　down　here？〃　Egeanin　said。
　　　　　　　〃No。　I　heard　footsteps　overhead；　but。。。　No。〃　Bethamin　stretched　out　her　hands。　〃Please；　Egeanin。　This　is　all　a　mistake。　You　have　known　me　for　ten　years。　Take　this　thing　off　of　me。〃
　　　　　　　A　silver　collar　encircled　her　neck；　attached　by　a　thick　silver　leash　to　a　bracelet　of　the　same　metal　that　hung　on　a　peg　a　few　feet　above　her　head。　It　had　been　almost　an　accident；　putting　it　on　her；　simply　a　means　of　securing　her　for　a　few　moments。　And　then　she　had　managed　to　knock　Egeanin　down；　trying　a　dashing　for　freedom。
　　　　　　　〃If　you　bring　it　to　me；　I　will；〃　Egeanin　said　angrily。　She　was　angry　with　many　things；　not　with　Bethamin。　〃Bring　the　a'dam　over　here；　and　I　will　remove　it。〃
　　　　　　　Bethamin　shivered；　let　her　hands　fall。　〃It　is　a　mistake；〃　she　whispered。　〃A　horrible　mistake。〃　But　she　made　no　move　toward　the　bracelet。　Her　first　attempted　flight　had　left　her　writhing　on　the　floor　upstairs；　wracked　by　nausea；　and　had　left　Egeanin　stunned。
　　　　　　　Sul'dam　controlled　damane；　women　who　could　channel；　by　means　of　a'dam。　It　was　damane　who　could　channel；　not　sul'dam。　But　an　a'dam　could　only　control　a　woman　who　could　channel。　No　other　woman；　and　not　a　man　…　young　men　with　that　ability　were　executed；　of　course　…　only　a　woman　who　could　channel。　A　woman　who　had　that　ability　and　was　collared　could　not　move　more　than　a　few　steps　without　her　bracelet　on　the　wrist　of　a　sul'dam　to　plete　the　link。
　　　　　　　Egeanin　felt　very　tired　climbing　the　stairs　and　locking　the　door　again。　She　wanted　some　tea　herself；　but　the　little　the　Seeker　had　left　was　cold；　and　she　did　not　feel　like　brewing　more。　Instead　she　sat　down　and　pulled　the　a'dam　out　of　the　jute　bag。　To　her　it　was　only　finely　jointed　silver；　she　could　not　use　it；　and　it　could　not　harm　her　unless　somebody　hit　her　with　it。
　　　　　　　Even　linking　herself　with　an　a'dam　that　far；　denying　its　ability　to　control　her；　was　enough　to　send　a　shiver　down　her　spine。　Women　who　could　channel　were　dangerous　animals　rather　than　people。　It　had　been　they　who　Broke　the　World。　They　must　be　controlled；　or　they　would　turn　everyone　into　their　property。　That　was　what　she　had　been　taught；　what　had　been　taught　in　Seanchan　for　a　thousand　years。　Strange　that　that　seemed　not　to　have　happened　here。　No。　That　was　a　dangerous；　foolish　line　of　thought。
　　　　　　　Tucking　the　a'dam　back　into　the　bag；　she　cleaned　the　tea　things　to　settle　her　mind。　She　liked　tidiness；　and　there　was　a　small　satisfaction　in　making　the　kitchen　so。　Before　she　realized　it　she　was　brewing　a　pot　of　tea　for　herself。　She　did　not　want　to　think　about　Bethamin；　and　that　was　dangerously　foolish　too。　Settling　herself　back　at　the　table；　she　stirred　honey　into　a　cup　of　tea　as　black　as　she　could　make　it。　Not　kaf；　but　it　would　do。
　　　　　　　Despite　her　denials；　despite　her　pleas；　Bethamin　could　channel。　Could　other　sul'dam？　Was　that　why　the　High　Lady　Suroth　wanted　those　left　behind　at　Falme　killed？　It　was　unthinkable。　It　was　impossible。　The　yearly　testings　all　across　Seanchan　found　every　girl　who　had　the　spark　of　channeling　in　her：　each　was　struck　from　the　rolls　of　citizens；　struck　from　family　records；　taken　away　to　bee　collared　damane。　The　same　testings　found　the　girls　who　could　learn　to　wear　the　bracelet　of　the　sul'dam。　No　woman　escaped　being　tested　each　year　until　she　was　old　enough　that　she　would　have　begun　channeling　if　the　spark　was　there。　How　could　even　one　girl　be　taken　for　sul'dam　when　she　was　damane？　Yet　there　Bethamin　was　in　the　basement；　held　by　an　a'dam　as　by　an　anchor。
　　　　　　　One　thing　was　certain。　The　possibilities　here　were　potentially　deadly。　This　involved　the　Blood；　and　Seekers。　Maybe　even　the　Crystal　Throne。　Would　the　High　Lady　Suroth　dare　keep　knowledge　of　this　sort　from　the　Empress？　A　mere　ship　captain　could　die　screaming　for　a　misplaced　frown　in　that　pany；　or　find　herself　property　for　a　whim。　She　had　to　know　more　if　she　hoped　to　avoid　the　Death　of　Ten　Thousand　Tears。　To　begin　with；　that　meant　spreading　more　money　to　Gelb　and　other　ferrety　skulkers　like　him；　finding　more　sul'dam　and　seeing　if　a'dam　held　them。　Beyond　that。。。　Beyond　that　she　was　sailing　uncharted　reefs　with　no　linesman　in　the　bow。
　　　　　　　Touching　the　crossbow；　still　lying　there　with　its　lethal　bolt；　she　realized　that　something　else　was　certain。　She　was　not　going　to　let　the　Seekers　kill　her。　Not　just　to　help　the　High　Lady　Suroth　keep　a　secret。　Perhaps　not　for　any　reason。　It　was　a　thought　shiveringly　close　to　treason；　but　it　would　not　go　away。

Chapter　39
（Harp）
A　Cup　of　Wine
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　When　Elayne　came　on　deck　with　her　things　neatly　bundled；　the　setting　sun　seemed　to　be　just　touching　the　water　out　beyond　the　mouth　of　Tanchico's　harbor；　and　the　final　thick　hawsers　were　being　tied　to　snug　Wavedancer　to　a　ship…lined　dock；　only　one　of　many　along　this　westernmost　peninsula　of　the　city。　Some　of　the　crew　were　furling　the　last　sails。　Beyond　the　long　wharves　the　city　rose　on　hills；　shining　white；　domed　and　spired；　with　polished　weather　vanes　glittering。　Perhaps　a　mile　north　she　could　make　out　high；　round　walls；　the　Great　Circle；　if　she　remembered　correctly。
　　　　　　　Slinging　her　bundle　on　the　same　shoulder　as　her　leather　script；　she　went　to　join　Nynaeve　by　the　gangplank；　with　Coine　and　Jorin。　It　seemed　almost　odd　to　see　the　sisters　fully　dressed　again；　in　bright　brocaded　silk　blouses　that　matched　their　wide　trousers。　Earrings　and　even　nose　rings　she　had　bee　used　to；　and　the　fine　gold　chain　across　each　woman's　dark　cheek　hardly　made　her　wince　at　all　now。
　　　　　　　Thom　and　Juilin　stood　apart　with　their　own　bundles；　looking　a　touch　sullen。　Nynaeve　had　been　right。　They　had　tried　to　second…guess；　starting　when　the　real　purpose　of　this　journey；　or　some　of　it；　was　revealed　to　them　two　days　ago。　Neither　seemed　to　think　two　young　women　were　petent　…　petent！　…　to　seek　the　Black　Ajah。　A　threat　by　Nynaeve　to　have　them　transferred　to　another　Sea　Folk　ship；　headed　the　other　way；　had　nipped　that　in　the　bud。　At　least　it　had　once　Toram　and　a　dozen　crewmen　gathered　ready　to　shove　them　into　a　boat　to　be　rowed　across。　Elayne　gave　them　a　searching　look。　Sullenness　meant　rebellion；　they　were　going　to　have　more　trouble　from　these　two。
　　　　　　　〃Where　will　you　go　now；　Coine？〃　Nynaeve　was　asking　as　Elayne　reached　them。〃To　Dantora；　and　the　Aile　Jafar；〃　the　Sailmistress　replied；　〃and　then　on　to　Cantorin　and　the　Aile　Somera；　spreading　news　of　the　Coramoor；　if　it　pleases　the　Light。　But　I　must　allow　Toram　to　trade　here；　or　he　will　burst。〃
　　　　　　　Her　husband　was　down　on　the　docks　now；　without　his　strange　wire…framed　lens；　bare…chested　and　be…ringed；　talking　earnestly　with　men　in　baggy　white　trousers　and　coats　embroidered　with　scrollwork　on　the　shoulders。　Each　Tanchican　wore　a　dark；　cylindrical　cap；　and　a　transparent　veil　across　his　face。　The　veils　looked　ridiculous；　especially　on　the　men　with　thick　mustaches。
　　　　　　　〃The　Light　send　you　a　safe　voyage；〃　Nynaeve　said；　shifting　her　bundles　on　her　back。　〃If　we　discover　any　danger　here　that　might　threaten　you　before　you　sail；　we　will　send　word。〃　Coine　and　her　sister　looked　remarkably　calm。　Knowledge　of　the　Black　Ajah　hardly　fazed　them；　it　was　the　Coramoor；　Rand；　who　was　important。
　　　　　　　Jorin　kissed　her　fingertips　and　pressed　them　to　Elayne's　lips。　〃The　Light　willing；　we　shall　meet　again。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Light　willing；〃　Elayne　responded；　duplicating　the　Windfinder's　gesture。　It　still　felt　odd；　but　it　was　an　honor；　too；　used　only　between　close　family　members　or　lovers。　She　was　going　to　miss　the　Sea　Folk　woman。　She　had　learned　a　great　deal；　and　taught　a　little；　as　well。　Jorin　could　certainly　weave　Fire　much　better　now。
　　　　　　　When　they　reached　the　foot　of　the　gangplank；　Nynaeve　heaved　a　sigh　of　relief。　An　oily　potion　Jorin　produced　had　settled　her　stomach　after　two　days　at　sea；　but　all　the　same　she　had　been　tight…eyed　and　tight…mouthed　until　Tanchico　came　in　sight。
　　　　　　　The　two　men　bracketed　them　immediately；　without　any　instructions；　Juilin　taking　the　lead　with　his