rj.theshadowrising-第61部分

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　　　　　　　Elayne　exchanged　looks　with　Nynaeve　and　saw　her　own　questions　mirrored　in　the　other　woman's　eyes。　Why　was　it　the　Windfinder　who　decided？　Why　not　the　Sailmistress？　She　was　the　captain；　whatever　her　title。　At　least　they　were　going　to　get　passage　after　all。　For　how　much？　Elayne　wondered。　How　large　a　'gift'？　She　wished　Nynaeve　had　not　revealed　that　they　had　more　than　was　in　that　one　letter…of…rights。　And　she　accuses　me　of　tossing　gold　about。
　　　　　　　The　door　opened　and　a　heavy…shouldered　gray…haired　man　in　loose　green　silk　breeches　and　sash　came　in；　ruffling　through　a　sheaf　of　papers。　Four　gold　rings　decorated　each　ear；　and　three　heavy　gold　chains　hung　at　his　neck；　including　one　with　a　perfume　box。　A　long　puckered　scar　down　his　cheek；　and　two　curved　knives　tucked　in　his　sash；　gave　him　something　of　a　dangerous　air。　He　was　fastening　a　peculiar　wire　framework　over　his　ears　to　hold　clear　lenses　in　front　of　his　eyes。　The　Sea　Folk　made　the　best　looking　glasses　and　burning　lenses　and　the　like；　of　course；　somewhere　on　their　islands；　but　Elayne　had　never　seen　anything　like　this　device。　He　peered　through　the　lenses　at　the　papers　and　began　talking　without　looking　up。
　　　　　　　〃Coine；　this　fool　is　willing　to　trade　me　five　hundred　snowfox　pelts　from　Kandor　for　those　three　small　barrels　of　Two　Rivers　tabac　I　got　in　Ebou　Dar。　Five　hundred！　He　can　have　them　here　by　midday。〃　His　eyes　rose；　and　he　gave　a　start。　〃Forgive　me；　my　wife。　I　did　not　know　you　had　guests。　The　Light　be　with　you　all。〃
　　　　　　　〃By　midday；　my　husband；〃　Coine　said；　〃I　will　be　falling　downriver。　By　nightfall　I　will　be　at　sea。〃
　　　　　　　He　stiffened。　〃Am　I　still　Cargomaster；　wife；　or　has　my　place　been　taken　while　I　did　not　see？〃
　　　　　　　〃You　are　Cargomaster；　husband；　but　the　trading　must　stop　now　and　preparations　begin　for　getting　under　way。　We　sail　for　Tanchico。〃
　　　　　　　〃Tanchico！〃　The　papers　crumpled　in　his　fist；　and　he　brought　himself　under　control　with　an　effort。　〃Wife　…　No！　Sailmistress；　you　told　me　our　next　port　was　Mayene；　and　then　eastward　to　Shara。　I　have　traded　with　that　in　mind。　Shara；　Sailmistress；　not　Tarabon。　What　I　have　in　my　holds　will　bring　little　in　Tanchico。　Perhaps　nothing！　May　I　ask　why　my　trade　is　to　be　ruined　and　Wavedancer　impoverished？〃
　　　　　　　Coine　hesitated；　but　when　she　spoke　her　voice　was　still　formal。　〃I　am　Sailmistress；　my　husband。　Wavedancer　sails　when　and　where　I　say。　It　must　be　enough；　for　now。〃
　　　　　　　〃As　you　say；　Sailmistress；〃　he　rasped；　〃so　it　is。〃　He　touched　his　heart　…　Elayne　thought　Coine　flinched　…　and　padded　out　with　his　back　stiff　as　one　of　the　ship's　masts。
　　　　　　　〃I　must　make　this　up　to　him；〃　Coine　murmured　softly；　staring　at　the　door。　〃Of　course；　it　is　pleasant　making　up　with　him。　Usually。　He　saluted　me　like　a　deckboy；　sister。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　regret　being　a　cause　of　trouble；　Sailmistress；〃　Elayne　said　carefully。　〃And　we　regret　having　witnessed　this。　If　we　have　caused　any　embarrassment；　to　anyone；　please　accept　our　apologies。〃
　　　　　　　〃Embarrassment？〃　Coine　sounded　startled。　〃Aes　Sedai；　I　am　Sailmistress。　I　doubt　your　presence　embarrassed　Toram；　and　I　would　not　apologize　to　him　for　that　if　it　did。　Trade　is　his；　but　I　am　Sailmistress。　I　must　make　up　to　him　…　and　it　will　not　be　easy；　since　I　must　keep　the　reason　secret　still　…　because　he　is　right；　and　I　could　not　think　quickly　enough　to　give　him　a　reason　beyond　what　I　would　give　a　raw　hand。　That　scar　on　his　face　he　earned　clearing　the　Seanchan　from　Wavedancer's　decks。　He　has　older　scars　earned　defending　my　ship；　and　I　have　only　to　put　out　my　hand　to　have　gold　placed　in　it　because　of　his　trading。　It　is　the　things　I　cannot　tell　him　I　must　make　up　to　him；　because　he　deserves　to　know。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　understand；〃　Nynaeve　said。　〃We　would　ask　you　to　keep　the　Black　Ajah　secret。。。〃　…　she　shot　a　hard　look　at　Elayne；　one　that　promised　hard　words　once　they　were　alone；　Elayne　intended　a　few　words　of　her　own；　about　the　meaning　of　tact　…〃。。。but　surely　three　thousand　crowns　is　reason　enough　to　take　us　to　Tanchico。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　must　keep　you　secret；　Aes　Sedai。　What　you　are；　and　why　you　travel。　Many　among　my　crew　consider　Aes　Sedai　bad　luck。　If　they　knew　they　not　only　carried　Aes　Sedai；　but　toward　a　port　where　other　Aes　Sedai　may　serve　the　Father　of　Storms。。。　The　grace　of　the　Light　shone　on　us　that　none　was　close　enough　to　hear　me　call　you　so　above。　Will　it　offend　if　I　ask　you　to　keep　below　as　much　as　possible；　and　not　to　wear　your　rings　when　on　deck？〃
　　　　　　　For　answer；　Nynaeve　plucked　her　Great　Serpent　ring　off　and　dropped　it　into　her　pouch。　Elayne　did　the　same；　a　bit　more　reluctantly；　she　rather　enjoyed　having　people　see　her　ring。　Not　quite　trusting　Nynaeve's　remaining　store　of　diplomacy　at　this　point；　she　spoke　up　before　the　other　woman　could。　〃Sailmistress；　we　have　offered　you　a　gift　of　passage；　if　it　pleases　you。　If　it　does　not；　may　I　ask　what　would？〃
　　　　　　　Coine　came　back　to　the　table　to　look　at　the　letter…of…rights　again；　then　pushed　it　back　to　Nynaeve。　〃I　do　this　for　the　Coramoor。　I　will　see　you　safe　ashore　where　you　wish；　if　it　pleases　the　Light。　It　shall　be　done。〃　She　touched　the　fingers　of　her　right　hand　to　her　lips。　〃It　is　agreed；　under　the　Light。〃
　　　　　　　Jorin　made　a　strangled　sound。　〃My　sister；　has　a　Cargomaster　ever　mutinied　against　his　Sailmistress？〃
　　　　　　　Coine　gave　her　a　flat…eyed　stare。　〃I　will　put　in　the　gift　of　passage　from　my　own　chest。　And　if　Toram　ever　hears　of　it；　my　sister；　I　will　put　you　in　the　bilges　with　Dorele。　For　ballast；　perhaps。〃
　　　　　　　That　the　two　Sea　Folk　women　had　dropped　formality　was　confirmed　when　the　Windfinder　laughed　aloud。　〃And　then　your　next　port　would　be　in　Chachin；　my　sister；　or　Caemlyn；　for　you　could　not　find　the　water　without　me。〃
　　　　　　　The　Sailmistress　addressed　Elayne　and　Nynaeve　regretfully。　〃Properly；　Aes　Sedai；　since　you　serve　the　Coramoor；　I　should　honor　you　as　I　would　Sailmistress　and　Windfinder　of　another　ship。　We　should　bathe　together　and　drink　honeyed　wine　and　tell　each　other　stories　to　make　ourselves　laugh　and　weep。　But　I　must　make　ready　to　sail；　and　…〃
　　　　　　　Wavedancer　rose　like　his　name；　leaping；　pounding　against　the　dock。　Elayne　whipped　back　and　forth　in　her　chair；　wondering　as　it　continued　whether　this　was　really　better　than　being　thrown　to　the　deck。
　　　　　　　Then；　finally；　it　was　over；　the　leaps　slowing；　growing　smaller。　Coine　scrambled　to　her　feet　and　raced　for　the　ladder；　Jorin　at　her　heels；　already　shouting　orders　to　look　for　damage　to　the　hull。


Chapter　20
（Waves）
Winds　Rising

　　　　　　　Elayne　struggled　to　open　the　latch　on　an　arm　of　her　chair　and　darted　after　them；　almost　colliding　with　Nynaeve　at　the　ladder。　The　ship　still　rocked；　if　not　as　violently　as　before。　Uncertain　whether　they　were　sinking；　she　pushed　Nynaeve　ahead　of　her；　prodding　her　to　climb　faster。
　　　　　　　On　the　deck　the　crew　dashed　about；　checking　the　rigging　or　peering　over　the　side　to　inspect　the　hull；　shouting　about　earthquakes。　The　same　shouts　were　rising　from　the　dockmen；　too；　but　Elayne　knew　better；　despite　the　tumbled　things　on　the　piers　and　the　ships　yet　pitching　at　their　moorings。
　　　　　　　She　stared　toward　the　Stone。　The　huge　fortress　was　still；　except　for　masses　of　startled　birds　swirling　about　and　that　pale　banner　waving；　almost　lazily；　in　an　isolated　breeze。　No　sign　that　anything　had　ever　touched　the　mountainous　mass。　That　had　been　Rand；　though。　She　was　sure　of　it。
　　　　　　　She　turned　to　find　Nynaeve　looking　at　her；　and　for　a　long　moment　their　eyes　met。　〃A　fine　pickling；　if　he's　damaged　the　ship；〃　Elayne　said　finally。　〃How　are　we　supposed　to　get　to　Tanchico　if　he　goes　tossing　all　the　ships　about？〃　Light；　he　has　to　be　all　right。　I　can　do　nothing　if　he　isn't。　He　is　all　right。　He　is。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　touched　her　arm　reassuringly。　〃No　doubt　that　second　letter　of　yours　touched　a　nerve。　Men　always　overreact　when　they　let　their　emotions　go；　it's　the　price　for　holding　them　in　the　way　they　do。　He　may　be　the　Dragon　Reborn；　but　he　must　learn；　man　to　woman；　that　…　What　are　they　doing　here？〃
　　　　　　　〃They〃　were　two　men　standing　amid　the　bustling　Sea　Folk　on　the　deck。　One　was　Thom　Merrilin；　in　his　gleeman's　cloak；　with　leather…cased　harp　and　flute　on　his　back　and　a　bundle　lying　at　his　feet　beside　a　battered　wooden　box　with　a　lock。　The　other　was　a　lean　handsome　Tairen　in　his　middle　years；　a　hard　dark　man　wearing　a　flat　conical　straw　hat　and　one　of　those　moner's　coats　that　fit　snugly　to　the　waist；　then　flared　like　a　short　skirt。　A　notched　sword…breaker　hung　at　a　belt　worn　over　his　coat；　and　he　leaned　on　a　pale　staff　of　nobbly；　jointed　wood　exactly　his　own　height　and　no　thicker　than　his　thumb。　A　square　tied　parcel　dangled　by　a　loop　from　his　shoulder。　Elayne　knew　him：　his　name　was　Juilin　Sandar。
　　　　　　　It　was　obvious　the　two　men　were　strangers　despite　standing　almost　side　by　side；　they　held　themselves　with　stiff　reticence。　Their　attentions　were　directed　the　same　way；　though；　split　between　following　the　Sailmistress's　progress　toward　the　stern　deck　and　peering　at　Elayne　and　Nynaeve；　plainly　uncertain　and　masking　it　behind　a　brisk　show　of　confidence。　Thom　grinned　and　stroked　his　long　white　mustaches　and　nodded　every　time　he　looked　up　at　the　two　of　them；　Sandar　made　solemn；　self…assured　bows。
　　　　　　　〃He　is　not　damaged；〃　Coine　said；　climbing　the　ladder。　〃I　can　sail　within　the　hour；　if　it　pleases　you。　Well　within；　if　a　Tairen　pilot　can　be　found。　I　will　sail　without　him；　if　not；　though　it　means　never　returning　to　Tear。〃　She　followed　their　gaze　to　the　two　men。　〃They　ask　passage；　the　gleeman　to　Tanchico；　and　the　thief　catcher　to　wherever　you　travel。　I　cannot　refuse　them；　and　yet。。。。〃　Her　dark　eyes　came　back　to　Elayne　and　Nynaeve。　〃I　will　do　so；　if　you　ask　it。〃　Reluctance　to　break　custom　battled　in　her　voice　with。。。。　Desire　to　help　them？　To　serve　the　Coramoor？　〃The　thief　catcher　is　a　good　man；　even　considering　that　he　is　shorebound。　No　offense　to　you；　under　the　Light。　The　gleeman　I　do　not　know；　yet　a　gleeman　can　enliven　a　voyage　and　lighten　tired　hours。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　know　Master　Sandar？〃　Nynaeve　said。
　　　　　　　〃Twice　he　has　found　those　who　pilfered　from　us；　and　found　them　quickly。　Another　shoreman　would　have　taken　longer　so　he　might　ask　more　for　the　work。　It　is　obvious　that　you　know　him；　as　well。　Do　you　wish　me　to　refuse　passage？〃　Her　reluctance　was　still　there。
　　　　　　　〃Let　us　see　why　they　are　here　first；〃　Nynaeve　said　in　a　flat　voice　that　did　not　bode　well　for　either　man。
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　I　should　do　the　talking；〃　Elayne　suggested；　gently　but　firmly。　〃That　way；　you　can　watch　to　see　if　they　are　hiding　anything。〃　She　did　not　say　that　that　way　Nynaeve's　temper　would　not　get　the　better　of　her；　but　the　wry　smile　the　other　woman　gave　her　said　she　had　heard　it　anyway。
　　　　　　　〃Very　well；　Elayne。　I　will　watch　them。　Perhaps　you　might　study　how　I　keep　calm。　You　know　how　you　are　when　you　bee　overwrought。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　had　to　laugh。
　　　　　　　The　two　men　straightened　as　she　and　Nynaeve　approached。　Around　them　the　crew　bustled；　swarming　into　the　rigging；　hauling　ropes；　lashing　some　things　down　and　unlashing　others；　to　orders　relayed　from　the　Sailmistress。　They　moved　around　the　four　shorepeople　with　barely　a　glance。
　　　　　　　Elayne　frowned　at　Thom　Merrilin　thoughtfully。　She　was　sure　she　had　never　seen　the　gleeman　before　his　appearance　in　the　Stone；　yet　even　then　she　had　been　struck　by　something