rj.theshadowrising-第174部分

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　〃I　will　go；〃　she　said　at　last；　〃but　I　want　a　price。　You　always　make　me　do　things　the　hard　way。　In　Saldaea；　I　would　not　have　to　be　the　one　who　asked。　My　price　is。。。　a　wedding。　I　want　to　marry　you；〃　she　finished　up　in　a　rush。
　　　　　　　〃And　I　you。〃　He　smiled。　〃We　can　say　the　betrothal　vows　in　front　of　the　Women's　Circle　tonight；　but　I'm　afraid　the　wedding　has　to　wait　a　year。　When　you　e　back　from　Caemlyn　…〃　She　very　nearly　yanked　a　handful　of　beard　out　of　his　chin。
　　　　　　　〃I　will　have　you　for　husband　tonight；〃　she　said　in　fierce；　low　tones；　〃or　I　will　not　go　until　I　do！〃
　　　　　　　〃If　there　was　any　way；　I　would；〃　he　protested。　〃Daise　Congar　would　crack　my　head　if　I　wanted　to　go　against　custom。　For　the　love　of　the　Light；　Faile；　just　carry　the　message；　and　I'll　wed　you　the　very　first　day　I　can。〃　He　would。　If　that　day　ever　came。
　　　　　　　Suddenly　she　was　very　intent　on　his　beard；　smoothing　it　and　not　meeting　his　eyes。　She　started　speaking　slowly　but　picked　up　speed　like　a　runaway　horse。　〃I。。。　just　happened　to　mention。。。　。　in　passing。。。　I　just　mentioned　to　Mistress　al'Vere　how　we　had　been　traveling　together　…　I　don't　know　how　it　came　up　…　and　she　said　…　and　Mistress　Congar　agreed　with　her　…　not　that　I　talked　to　everybody！　…　she　said　that　we　probably　…　certainly　…　could　be　considered　betrothed　already　under　your　customs；　and　the　year　is　just　to　make　sure　you　really　do　get　on　well　together　…　which　we　do；　as　anyone　can　see　…　and　here　I　am　being　as　forward　as　some　Domani　hussy　or　one　of　those　Tairen　galls　…　if　you　ever　even　think　of　Berelain　…　oh；　Light；　I'm　babbling；　and　you　won't　even　…〃
　　　　　　　He　cut　her　off　by　kissing　her　as　thoroughly　as　he　knew　how。
　　　　　　　〃Will　you　marry　me？〃　he　said　breathlessly　when　he　was　done。　〃Tonight？〃　He　must　have　done　ever　better　with　the　kiss　than　he　thought；　he　had　to　repeat　himself　six　times；　with　her　giggling　against　his　throat　and　demanding　he　say　it　again；　before　she　seemed　to　understand。
　　　　　　　Which　was　how　he　found　himself　not　half　an　hour　later　kneeling　opposite　her　in　the　mon　room；　in　front　of　Daise　Congar　and　Marin　al'Vere；　Alsbet　Luhhan　and　Neysa　Ayellin　and　all　the　Women's　Circle。　Loial　had　been　roused　to　stand　for　him　with　Aram；　and　Bain　and　Chiad　stood　for　Faile。　There　were　no　flowers　to　put　in　her　hair　or　his；　but　Bain；　guided　by　Marin；　tucked　a　long　red　wedding　ribbon　around　his　neck；　and　Loial　threaded　another　through　Faile's　dark　hair；　his　thick　fingers　surprisingly　deft　and　gentle。　Perrin's　hands　trembled　as　he　cupped　hers。
　　　　　　　〃I；　Perrin　Aybara；　do　pledge　you　my　love；　Faile　Bashere；　for　as　long　as　I　live。〃　For　as　long　as　I　live　and　after。　〃What　I　possess　in　this　world　I　give　to　you。〃　A　horse；　an　axe；　a　bow。　A　hammer。　Not　much　to　gift　a　bride。　I　give　you　life；　my　love。　It's　all　I　have。　〃I　will　keep　and　hold　you；　succor　and　tend　you；　protect　and　shelter　you；　for　all　the　days　of　my　life。〃　I　can't　keep　you；　the　only　way　I　can　protect　you　is　to　send　you　away。　〃I　am　yours；　always　and　forever。〃　By　the　time　he　finished；　his　hands　were　shaking　visibly。
　　　　　　　Faile　moved　her　hands　to　hold　his。　〃I；　Zarine　Bashere。。。〃　That　was　a　surprise；　she　hated　that　name。　〃。。。do　pledge　you　my　love；　Perrin　Aybara。。。〃　Her　hands　never　trembled　at　all。


Chapter　54
（Female　Silhouettes）
Into　the　Palace

　　　　　　　Seated　on　the　tail　end　of　the　high…wheeled　cart　trundling　up　a　twisty　Tanchican　street　behind　four　sweating　men；　Elayne　scowled　through　the　grimy　veil　that　covered　her　from　eyes　to　chin；　kicking　her　bare　feet　irritably。　Every　lurch　over　the　paving　stones　jarred　her　to　the　top　of　her　skull；　the　more　she　braced　herself　by　holding　on　to　the　rough　wooden　planks　of　the　cart　bed；　the　worse　it　was。　It　did　not　seem　to　bother　Nynaeve　much；　she　jounced　about　like　Elayne；　but；　frowning　slightly　and　eyes　looking　inward；　she　appeared　hardly　aware　of　it。　And　Egeanin；　crowded　against　Nynaeve　on　the　other　side；　veiled　and　with　her　dark　hair　in　braids　to　her　shoulders；　rode　each　jolt　easily；　arms　folded。　Finally　Elayne　emulated　the　Seanchan　woman；　she　could　not　avoid　swaying　into　Nynaeve；　but　the　ride　no　longer　felt　as　if　her　lower　teeth　were　going　to　be　driven　through　the　upper。
　　　　　　　She　would　have　walked　gladly；　even　barefoot；　but　Bayle　Domon　had　said　it　would　not　look　right；　people　might　wonder　why　women　were　not　riding　when　there　was　plenty　of　room；　and　the　last　thing　they　wanted　was　anyone　thinking　about　them　twice。　Of　course　he　was　not　being　bounced　about　like　a　sack　of　turnips；　he　was　walking；　at　the　head　of　the　cart　with　ten　of　the　twenty　sailors　he　had　brought　along　for　escort。　More　would　seem　suspicious；　he　claimed。　She　suspected　he　would　not　have　had　so　many　if　not　for　her　and　the　other　two　women。
　　　　　　　The　cloudless　sky　still　stretched　gray　overhead；　though　first　light　had　crept　on　before　they　set　out；　the　streets　were　still　largely　empty；　and　silent　except　for　the　rumble　of　the　cart　and　the　creak　of　its　axle。　When　the　sun　topped　the　horizon　people　would　begin　to　venture　out；　but　now　the　few　she　saw　were　knots　of　men　in　baggy　trousers　and　dark　cylindrical　caps；　scuttling　along　with　the　furtive　air　of　having　been　up　to　no　good　while　dark　had　held。　The　old　piece　of　canvas　tossed　over　the　cart's　load　was　carefully　arranged　so　anyone　could　see　it　covered　only　three　large　baskets；　yet　even　so　one　or　another　of　those　small　clusters　would　pause　like　a　pack　of　dogs；　veiled　faces　all　ing　up　together；　eyes　swiveling　to　follow　the　cart。　Apparently　twenty　men　with　boarding　swords　and　cudgels　were　too　many　to　face；　because　all　eventually　hurried　on。
　　　　　　　The　wheels　dropped　into　a　large　hole　where　paving　stones　had　been　pried　up　in　one　of　the　riots；　the　cart　fell　away　beneath　her。　She　almost　bit　her　tongue　as　she　and　the　cart　bed　met　again　with　a　hard　smack。　Egeanin　and　her　casual　arm…folding！　Grabbing　the　edge　of　the　cart　bed；　she　frowned　at　the　Seanchan　woman。　And　found　her　tight…lipped　and　holding　on　with　both　hands　also。
　　　　　　　〃Not　quite　the　same　as　standing　on　deck　after　all；〃　Egeanin　said　with　a　shrug。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　grimaced　slightly　and　tried　to　edge　away　from　the　Seanchan　woman；　though　how　she　might　manage　it　without　climbing　into　Elayne's　lap　was　difficult　to　see。　〃I　am　going　to　speak　to　Master　Bayle　Domon；〃　she　muttered　meaningfully；　just　as　if　the　cart　had　not　been　her　suggestion　in　the　first　place。　Another　lurch　clicked　her　teeth　shut。
　　　　　　　They　all　three　wore　drab　brown　wool；　thin…woven　but　coarse　and　not　very　clean；　poor　farm　women's　dresses　like　shapeless　sacks　pared　with　the　clinging　silks　of　Rendra's　taste。　Refugees　from　the　countryside　earning　a　meal　as　they　could；　that　was　what　they　were　supposed　to　be。　Egeanin's　relief　at　her　first　sight　of　the　dresses　had　been　quite　evident；　and　almost　as　strange　as　her　presence　on　the　cart。　Elayne　would　not　have　thought　the　latter　conceivable。
　　　　　　　There　had　been　quite　a　lot　of　discussion　…　that　was　what　the　men　called　it　…　in　the　Chamber　of　Falling　Blossoms；　but　she　and　Nynaeve　had　countered　most　of　their　fool　objections　and　ignored　the　rest。　The　two　of　them　had　to　enter　the　Panarch's　Palace；　and　as　soon　as　possible。　That　was　when　Domon　had　raised　another　objection；　one　not　as　silly　as　the　rest。
　　　　　　　〃You　can　no　go　into　the　palace　alone；〃　the　bearded　smuggler　muttered；　staring　at　his　fists　on　the　table。　〃You　say　you　will　no　channel　unless　you　must；　no　to　warn　these　Black　Aes　Sedai。〃　Neither　of　them　had　seen　any　need　to　mention　one　of　the　Forsaken。　〃Then　you　must　have　muscle　to　swing　a　club　if　the　need　do　arise；　and　eyes　to　watch　your　backs　will　no　be　amiss　either。　I　am　known　there；　to　the　servants。　I　did　take　gifts　to　the　old　Panarch　too。　I　will　go　with　you。〃　Shaking　his　head；　he　growled；　〃You　do　make　me　stretch　my　neck　on　the　headsman's　block　because　I　did　leave　you　at　Falme。　Fortune　prick　me　if　you　do　no！　Well；　it　do　be　done　now；　you　can　no　object　to　this！　I　will　go　in　with　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　are　a　fool；　Illianer；〃　Juilin　said　contemptuously　before　she　or　Nynaeve　could　open　their　mouths。　〃You　think　the　Taraboners　will　allow　you　to　wander　about　the　palace　as　you　wish？　A　scruffy　smuggler　from　Illian？　I　know　the　ways　of　servants；　how　to　duck　my　head　and　make　some　empty…headed　noble　think。。。〃　He　cleared　his　throat　hastily；　and　hurried　on　without　looking　at　Nynaeve　…　or　at　her！　〃I　should　be　the　one　to　go　with　them。〃
　　　　　　　Thom　laughed　at　the　other　two　men。　〃Do　you　think　either　of　you　could　pass　for　a　Taraboner？　I　can；　these　will　do　in　a　pinch。〃　He　knuckled　his　long　mustaches。　〃Besides；　you　cannot　run　around　the　Panarch's　Palace　carrying　cudgel　or　staff。　A　more。。。　subtle。。。　method　of　protection　is　needed。〃　He　flourished　a　hand；　and　a　knife　suddenly　appeared；　spinning　through　his　fingers　to　vanish　just　as　quickly；　up　his　sleeve；　Elayne　believed。
　　　　　　　〃You　all　know　what　you　have　to　do；〃　Nynaeve　snapped；　〃and　you　cannot　do　it　trying　to　watch　over　us　like　a　pair　of　geese　for　market！〃　Taking　a　deep　breath；　she　went　on；　in　a　milder　tone。　〃If　there　was　a　way　one　of　you　could　e　along；　I'd　appreciate　the　extra　eyes　if　nothing　else；　but　it　cannot　be。　We　have　to　go　alone；　it　seems；　and　that　is　all　there　is　to　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　can　acpany　you；〃　Egeanin　announced　suddenly　from　where　Nynaeve　had　made　her　stand　in　the　corner　of　the　room。　Everybody　turned　to　look　at　her；　she　frowned　back　as　though　not　quite　certain　herself。　〃These　women　are　Darkfriends。　They　should　be　brought　to　justice。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　was　simply　startled　at　the　offer；　but　Nynaeve；　the　corners　of　her　mouth　going　white；　looked　ready　to　drub　the　woman　for　it。　〃You　think　we　would　trust　you；　Seanchan？〃　she　said　coldly。　〃Before　we　leave；　you'll　be　locked　securely　in　a　storeroom　however　much　talk　it　…〃
　　　　　　　〃I　give　oath　by　my　hope　of　a　higher　name；〃　Egeanin　broke　in；　putting　her　hands　over　her　heart；　one　atop　the　other；　〃that　I　will　not　betray　you　in　any　way；　that　I　will　obey　you　and　guard　your　backs　until　you　are　safely　out　of　the　Panarch's　Palace。〃　Then　she　bowed　three　times；　deeply　and　formally。　Elayne　had　no　idea　what　〃hope　of　a　higher　name〃　meant；　but　the　Seanchan　woman　certainly　made　it　sound　binding。
　　　　　　　〃She　can　do　it；〃　Domon　said　with　slow　reluctance。　He　eyed　Egeanin　and　shook　his　head。　〃Fortune　prick　me　if　there　be　more　than　two　or　three　of　my　men　I　would　wager　on；　coin　for　coin；　against　her。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　frowned　at　her　hand　gripping　half　a　dozen　of　her　long　braids；　then　quite　deliberately　gave　them　a　yank。
　　　　　　　〃Nynaeve；〃　Elayne　told　her　firmly；　〃you　yourself　said　you　would　like　another　pair　of　eyes；　and　I　definitely　would。　Besides　which；　if　we　are　to　do　this　without　channeling；　I　would　not　mind　having　someone　along　who　can　handle　a　nosy　guard　if　need　be。　I　am　not　up　to　thumping　men　with　my　fists；　and　neither　are　you。　You　remember　how　she　can　fight。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　glared　at　Egeanin；　frowned　at　Elayne；　and　then　stared　at　the　men　as　if　they　had　plotted　this　behind　her　back。　At　last；　though；　she　nodded。
　　　　　　　〃Good；〃　Elayne　said。　〃Master　Domon；　that　means　three　sets　of　dresses；　not　two。　Now；　the　three　of　you　had　best　be　off。　We　want　to　be　on　our　way　by　daybreak。〃
　　　　　　　The　cart　jerking　to　a　halt　brought　Elayne　out　of　her　reverie。
　　　　　　　Dismounted　Whiteeloaks　were　questioning　Domon。　Here　the　street　ran　into　a　square　behind　the　Panarch's　Palace；　a　much　smaller　square　than　the　one　in　f