rj.theshadowrising-第145部分

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esses　fit；　anyway　…　but　it　surely　seemed　they　were。
　　　　　　　Their　shifts　would　have　been　almost　as　decent。　Cheeks　heating；　she　tried　to　stop　thinking　of　how　the　silk　molded　itself　to　her。　Stop　that！　It　is　perfectly　decent。　It　is！
　　　　　　　〃Didn't　this　Amys　tell　you　anything　that　might　help　us？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　told　you　what　she　said。〃　Elayne　sighed。　Nynaeve　had　kept　her　up　until　the　small　hours　talking　about　the　Aiel　Wise　One　who　had　been　with　Egwene　in　Tel'aran'rhiod　last　night；　and　then　started　in　again　before　they　sat　down　to　breakfast。　Egwene；　with　her　hair　in　two　braids　for　some　reason　and　shooting　sullen　frowns　at　the　Wise　One；　had　said　almost　nothing　beyond　that　Rand　was　well　and　Aviendha　was　looking　after　him。　White…haired　Amys　had　done　all　the　talking；　a　stern　lecture　on　the　dangers　of　the　World　of　Dreams　that　had　nearly　made　Elayne　feel　as　if　she　were　ten　again；　and　Lini；　her　old　nurse；　had　caught　her　sneaking　out　of　bed　to　steal　candies；　followed　by　cautions　about　concentration　and　controlling　what　she　thought　if　she　must　enter　Tel'aran'rhiod。　How　could　you　control　what　you　thought？　〃I　truly　did　think　Perrin　was　with　Rand　and　Mat。〃　That　had　been　the　biggest　surprise；　after　Amys's　appearance。　Egwene　apparently　had　thought　he　was　with　Nynaeve　and　her。
　　　　　　　〃He　and　that　girl　have　probably　gone　somewhere　he　can　be　a　blacksmith　in　peace；〃　Nynaeve　said；　but　Elayne　shook　her　head。
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　think　so。〃　She　had　strong　suspicions　about　Faile；　and　if　they　were　even　half　right；　Faile　would　not　settle　for　being　a　blacksmith's　wife。　She　spat　out　the　veil　once　more。　Idiotic　thing。
　　　　　　　〃Well；　wherever　he　is；〃　Nynaeve　said；　fumbling　with　her　braids　again；　〃I　hope　he　is　safe　and　well；　but　he　is　not　here；　and　he　cannot　help　us。　Did　you　even　ask　Amys　if　she　knew　any　way　to　use　Tel'aran'rhiod　to…？〃
　　　　　　　A　bulky；　balding　man　in　a　worn　brown　coat　shoved　through　the　crowd　and　tried　to　throw　thick　arms　around　her。　She　whipped　the　barrel　stave　from　her　shoulder　and　gave　him　a　crack　across　his　broad　face　that　sent　him　staggering　back；　clutching　a　nose　that　had　surely　been　broken　for　at　least　the　second　time。
　　　　　　　Elayne　was　still　gathering　breath　for　a　startled　scream　when　a　second　man；　just　as　big　and　with　a　thick　mustache；　pushed　her　aside　to　reach　for　Nynaeve。　She　forgot　about　being　afraid。　Her　jaw　tightened　furiously；　and　just　as　his　hands　touched　the　other　woman；　she　brought　her　own　stave　down　on　。top　of　his　head　with　every　bit　of　strength　she　could　muster。　The　fellow's　legs　folded；　and　he　toppled　on　his　face　in　a　most　satisfactory　fashion。
　　　　　　　The　crowd　scattered　back；　no　one　wanting　to　be　caught　up　in　someone　else's　trouble。　Certainly　no　one　offered　to　help。　And　they　needed　it；　Elayne　realized。　The　man　Nynaeve　had　hit　was　still　on　his　feet；　mouth　twisted　in　a　snarl；　licking　away　the　blood　that　ran　down　from　his　nose；　flexing　thick　hands　as　if　he　wanted　to　squeeze　a　throat。　Worse；　he　was　not　alone。　Seven　more　men　were　fanning　out　with　him　to　cut　off　any　escape；　all　but　one　as　large　as　he；　with　scarred　faces　and　hands　that　looked　as　if　they　had　been　hammered　on　stone　for　years。　A　scrawny；　narrow…cheeked　fellow；　grinning　like　a　nervous　fox；　kept　panting；　〃Don't　let　her　get　away。　She's　gold；　I　tell　you。　Gold！〃
　　　　　　　They　knew　who　she　was。　This　was　no　try　for　a　purse；　they　meant　to　dispose　of　Nynaeve　and　abduct　the　Daughter…Heir　of　Andor。　She　felt　Nynaeve　embracing　saidar　…　if　this　had　not　made　her　angry　enough　to　channel；　nothing　ever　would　…　and　opened　herself　to　the　True　Source　as　well。　The　One　Power　rushed　into　her；　a　sweet　flood　filling　her　from　toes　to　hair。　A　few　woven　flows　of　Air　from　either　of　them　could　deal　with　these　ruffians。
　　　　　　　But　she　did　not　channel；　and　neither　did　Nynaeve。　Together　they　could　drub　these　fellows　as　their　mothers　should　have。　Yet　they　did　not　dare；　unless　there　was　no　other　choice。
　　　　　　　If　one　of　the　Black　Ajah　was　close　enough　to　see；　they　had　already　betrayed　themselves　with　the　glow　of　saidar。　Channeling　enough　for　those　few　flows　of　Air　could　betray　them　to　a　Black　sister　on　another　street　a　hundred　paces　or　more　away；　depending　on　her　strength　and　sensitivity。　That　was　most　of　what　they　themselves　had　been　doing　the　last　five　days；　walking　through　the　city　trying　to　sense　a　woman　channeling；　hoping　the　feeling　would　draw　them　to　Liandrin　and　the　others。
　　　　　　　The　crowd　itself　had　to　be　considered；　too。　A　few　people　still　went　by　to　either　side；　brushing　tight　against　the　walls。　The　rest　milled　about；　beginning　to　find　other　ways　to　go。　Only　a　handful　acknowledged　the　two　women　in　danger　with　as　much　as　shamefully　averted　eyes。　But　if　they　saw　big　men　flung　about　by　nothing　visible。。。？
　　　　　　　Aes　Sedai　and　the　One　Power　itself　were　not　in　particularly　good　odor　in　Tanchico　at　the　moment；　not　with　old　rumors　from　Falme　still　floating　about　and　newer　tales　claiming　that　the　White　Tower　supported　the　Dragonsworn　in　the　countryside。　Those　people　might　run　if　they　saw　the　Power　wielded。　Or　they　might　turn　into　a　mob。　Even　if　she　and　Nynaeve　managed　to　avoid　being　torn　limb　from　limb　where　they　stood　…　which　she　was　not　certain　they　could　…　there　was　no　way　to　cover　it　up　after。　The　Black　Ajah　would　hear　of　Aes　Sedai　in　Tanchico　before　the　sun　set。
　　　　　　　Setting　herself　back…to…back　with　Nynaeve；　Elayne　gripped　her　stave　tightly。　She　felt　like　laughing　hysterically。　If　Nynaeve　even　mentioned　going　out　alone　again　…　walking　…　she　would　see　who　liked　having　her　head　dunked　in　a　bucket　of　water。　At　least　none　of　these　louts　looked　eager　to　be　the　first　to　have　his　head　cracked　like　the　fellow　lying　still　on　the　paving　stones。
　　　　　　　〃Go　on；〃　the　narrow…faced　man　urged；　waving　his　hands　forward。　〃Go　on！　It's　only　two　women！〃　He　made　no　move　to　rush　in　himself；　though。　〃Go　on；　I　say。　We　just　need　the　one。　She's　gold；　I　tell　you。〃
　　　　　　　Suddenly　there　was　a　loud　thunk；　and　one　of　the　ruffians　staggered　to　his　knees；　clutching　groggily　at　a　split　scalp；　and　a　dark…haired；　stern…faced　woman　in　a　blue　riding　dress　flung　herself　past　him；　twisted　sharply　to　backhand　another　fellow　in　the　mouth　with　her　fist；　knocked　his　legs　out　from　under　him　with　a　staff；　then　kicked　him　in　the　head　as　he　fell。
　　　　　　　That　there　was　help　at　all　was　startling；　much　less　the　source；　but　Elayne　was　of　no　mind　to　pick　and　choose。　Nynaeve　left　her　back　with　a　wordless　roar；　and　she　dashed　out　shouting；　〃Forward　the　White　Lion！〃　to　belabor　the　nearest　lout　as　hard　and　fast　as　she　could。　Flinging　his　arms　up　to　defend　himself；　he　looked　shocked　out　of　his　wits。　〃Forward　the　White　Lion！〃　she　shouted　again；　the　battle　cry　of　Andor；　and　he　turned　tail　and　ran。
　　　　　　　Laughing　in　spite　of　herself；　she　whirled　about　seeking　another　to　drub。　Only　two　had　not　yet　fled　or　fallen。　That　first　broken…nosed　fellow　turned　to　run；　and　Nynaeve　gave　him　a　final　full…armed　thwack　across　the　backside。　The　stern…faced　woman　somehow　tangled　the　other's　arm　and　shoulder　with　her　staff；　pulling　him　close　and　up　on　his　toes　at　the　same　time；　he　would　have　overtopped　her　by　a　head　flat…footed　and　he　weighed　twice　what　she　did；　but　she　coolly　slammed　the　heel　of　her　free　hand　up　into　his　chin　three　times　in　rapid　succession。　His　eyes　rolled　up　in　his　head；　but　as　he　sagged；　Elayne　saw　the　narrow…faced　man　picking　himself　up　off　the　street；　his　nose　dripped　blood　and　his　eyes　looked　half…glazed；　yet　he　pulled　a　knife　from　his　belt　and　lunged　at　the　woman's　back。
　　　　　　　Without　thinking；　Elayne　channeled。　A　fist　of　Air　hurled　the　man　and　his　knife　into　a　backflip。　The　stern…faced　woman　spun；　but　he　was　already　scrambling　away　on　all　fours　until　he　could　get　his　feet　under　him　and　burrow　into　the　crowd　farther　up　the　street。　People　had　stopped　to　watch　the　odd　battle；　though　none　had　raised　a　hand　to　help　except　the　dark…haired　woman。　She　herself　was　staring　from　Elayne　to　Nynaeve　uncertainly。　Elayne　wondered　whether　she　had　noticed　the　scrawny　fellow　being　knocked　down　apparently　by　nothing。
　　　　　　　〃I　give　you　my　thanks；〃　Nynaeve　said　a　touch　breathlessly　as　she　approached　the　woman；　straightening　her　veil。　〃I　think　we　should　leave　here。　I　know　the　Civil　Watch　doesn't　e　out　in　the　streets　much；　but　I'd　not　like　to　explain　this　if　they　do　happen　by。　Our　inn　is　not　far。　Will　you　join　us？　A　cup　of　tea　is　the　least　we　can　offer　someone　who　actually　lifts　a　hand　to　help　someone　in　this　Light…forsaken　city。　My　name　is　Nynaeve　al'Meara　and　this　is　Elayne　Trakand。〃
　　　　　　　The　woman　hesitated　visibly。　She　had　noticed。　〃I。。。　I　would。。。　like　that。　Yes。　I　would。〃　She　had　a　slurred　way　of　speaking；　difficult　to　understand；　but　somehow　vaguely　familiar。　She　was　quite　a　lovely　woman；　really；　seeming　even　fairer　than　she　was　because　of　her　dark　hair；　worn　almost　to　the　shoulder。　A　bit　too　hard　to　be　called　a　beauty。　Her　blue　eyes　had　a　strong　look；　as　if　she　were　used　to　giving　orders。　A　merchant；　perhaps；　in　that　dress。　〃I　am　called　Egeanin。〃
　　　　　　　Egeanin　showed　no　hesitation　in　leaving　with　them　down　the　nearest　side　street。　The　crowds　were　already　gathering　around　the　fallen　men。　Elayne　expected　those　fellows　would　wake　to　find　themselves　stripped　of　anything　of　value；　even　clothes　and　boots。　She　wished　she　knew　how　they　had　discovered　her　identity；　but　there　was　no　way　to　bring　one　along　to　find　out。　They　were　definitely　going　to　have　bodyguards　from　now　on；　no　matter　what　Nynaeve　said。
　　　　　　　Egeanin　might　not　have　been　hesitant；　but　she　was　uneasy。　Elayne　could　see　it　in　her　eyes　as　they　wove　through　the　crowd。　〃You　saw；　didn't　you？〃　she　asked。　The　woman　missed　a　step；　all　the　confirmation　Elayne　needed；　and　she　added　hurriedly；　〃We　won't　harm　you。　Certainly　not　after　you　came　to　our　rescue。〃　Again　she　had　to　spit　out　her　veil。　Nynaeve　did　not　seem　to　have　that　problem。　〃You　needn't　frown　at　me；　Nynaeve。　She　saw　what　I　did。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know　that；〃　Nynaeve　said　dryly。　〃And　it　was　the　right　thing　to　do。　But　we　are　not　snug　in　your　mother's　palace　tucked　away　from　prying　ears。〃　Her　gesture　took　in　the　people　around　them。　Between　Egeanin's　staff　and　their　staves；　most　were　giving　them　a　wide　berth。　To　Egeanin　she　said；　〃The　larger　part　of　any　rumors　you　may　have　heard　are　not　true。　Few　of　them　are。　You　need　not　be　afraid　of　us；　but　you　can　understand　there　are　matters　we　do　not　care　to　speak　of　here。〃
　　　　　　　〃Afraid　of　you？〃　Egeanin　looked　startled。　〃I　had　not　thought　I　should　be。　I　will　keep　silent　until　you　wish　to　speak。〃　She　was　as　good　as　her　word；　they　walked　on　in　silence　through　the　murmurs　of　the　crowd　all　the　way　back　down　the　peninsula　to　the　Three　Plum　Court。　All　this　walking　was　making　Elayne's　feet　ache。
　　　　　　　A　handful　of　men　and　women　sat　in　the　mon　room　despite　the　early　hour；　nursing　their　wine　or　ale。　The　woman　with　her　hammered　dulcimer　was　being　acpanied　by　a　thin　man　playing　a　flute　that　sounded　as　reedy　as　he　was。　Juilin　sat　at　a　table　near　the　door；　smoking　a　short…stemmed　pipe。　He　had　not　returned　from　his　nightly　foray　when　they　left。　Elayne　was　glad　to　see　that　for　once　he　did　not　have　a　new　bruise　or　cut；　what　he　called　the　underside　of　Tanchico　seemed　even　rougher　than　the　face　the　city　presented　to　the　world。　His　one　concession　to　Tanchican　dress　had　been　to　replace　his　flat　straw　hat　with　one　of　those　dark　conical　felt　ca