rj.theshadowrising-第65部分

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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　　　　　　So　that　was　it。　She　wanted　to　separate　him　from　Rand；　leave　the　boy　naked　to　her　manipulations。　〃As　you　say；　Tanchico　is　dangerous　now；　but　then　it　always　was。　I　wish　the　young　women　well；　yet　I've　no　wish　to　stick　my　head　into　a　vipers'　nest。　I　am　too　old　for　that　sort　of　thing。　I　have　been　thinking　of　taking　up　farming。　A　quiet　life。　Safe。〃
　　　　　　　〃A　quiet　life　would　kill　you；　I　think。〃　Sounding　distinctly　amused；　she　busied　herself　rearranging　the　folds　of　her　skirt　with　small；　slender　hands。　He　had　the　impression　she　was　hiding　a　smile。　〃Tanchico　will　not；　however。　I　guarantee　that；　and　by　the　First　Oath；　you　know　it　for　truth。〃
　　　　　　　He　frowned　at　her　despite　his　best　efforts　to　keep　his　face　straight。　She　had　said　it；　and　she　could　not　lie；　yet　how　could　she　know？　He　was　sure　she　could　not　Foretell；　he　was　certain　he　had　heard　her　disavow　the　Talent。　But　she　had　said　it。　Burn　the　woman！　〃Why　should　I　go　to　Tanchico？〃　She　could　do　without　titles。
　　　　　　　〃To　protect　Elayne？　Morgase's　daughter？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　not　seen　Morgase　in　fifteen　years；　Elayne　was　an　infant　when　I　left　Caemlyn。〃
　　　　　　　She　hesitated；　but　when　she　spoke　her　voice　was　unrelentingly　firm。　〃And　your　reason　for　leaving　Andor？　A　nephew　named　Owyn；　I　believe。　One　of　those　poor　fools　you　spoke　of　who　can　channel。　The　Red　sisters　were　supposed　to　bring　him　to　Tar　Valon；　as　any　such　man　is；　but　instead　they　gentled　him　on　the　spot　and　abandoned　him　to　the。。。　mercies　of　his　neighbors。〃
　　　　　　　Thom　knocked　his　chair　over　standing　up；　then　had　to　hold　on　to　the　table　because　his　knees　were　shaking。　Owyn　had　not　lived　long　after　being　gentled；　driven　from　his　home　by　supposed　friends　who　could　not　bear　to　let　even　a　man　who　could　no　longer　channel　live　among　them。　Nothing　Thom　did　could　stop　Owyn　not　wanting　to　live；　or　stop　his　young　wife　from　following　him　to　the　grave　inside　the　month。
　　　　　　　〃Why。。。　？〃　He　cleared　his　throat　roughly；　tried　to　make　his　voice　less　husky。　〃Why　are　you　telling　me　this？〃
　　　　　　　There　was　sympathy　on　Moiraine's　face。　And　could　it　be　regret？　Surely　not。　Not　from　an　Aes　Sedai。　The　sympathy　had　to　be　false　as　well。　〃I　would　not　have　done；　had　you　been　willing　to　go　simply　to　help　Elayne　and　Nynaeve。〃
　　　　　　　〃Why；　burn　you！　Why？〃
　　　　　　　〃If　you　go　with　Elayne　and　Nynaeve；　I　will　tell　you　the　names　of　those　Red　sisters　when　I　see　you　next；　as　well　as　the　name　of　the　one　who　gave　them　their　orders。　They　did　not　act　on　their　own。　And　I　will　see　you　again。　You　will　survive　Tarabon。〃
　　　　　　　He　drew　an　uneven　breath。　〃What　good　will　their　names　do　me？〃　he　asked　in　a　flat　voice。　〃Aes　Sedai　names；　wrapped　in　all　the　power　of　the　White　Tower。〃
　　　　　　　〃A　skilled　and　dangerous　player　of　the　Game　of　Houses　might　find　a　use　for　them；〃　she　replied　quietly。　〃They　should　not　have　done　what　they　did。　They　should　not　have　been　excused　for　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃Will　you　leave　me；　please？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　teach　you　that　not　all　Aes　Sedai　are　like　those　Reds；　Thom。　You　must　learn　that。〃
　　　　　　　〃Please？〃
　　　　　　　He　stood　leaning　on　the　table　until　she　was　gone；　unwilling　to　let　her　see　him　sink　awkwardly　to　his　knees；　see　the　tears　trickling　down　his　weathered　face。　Oh；　Light；　Owyn。　He　had　buried　it　all　as　deeply　as　he　could。　I　couldn't　get　there　in　time。　I　was　too　busy。　Too　busy　with　the　bloody　Game　of　Houses。　He　scrubbed　at　his　face　testily。　Moiraine　could　play　the　Game　with　the　best。　Wrenching　him　around　this　way；　tugging　every　string　he　had　thought　perfectly　hidden。　Owyn；　Elayne。　Morgase's　daughter。　Only　fondness　remained　for　Morgase；　perhaps　a　little　more　than　that；　but　it　was　hard　to　walk　away　from　a　child　you　had　bounced　on　your　knee。　That　girl　in　Tanchico？　That　city　would　eat　her　alive　even　without　a　war。　It　must　be　a　pit　of　rabid　wolves；　now。　And　Moiraine　will　give　me　the　names。　All　he　had　to　do　was　leave　Rand　in　Aes　Sedai　hands。　Just　as　he　had　left　Owyn。　She　had　him　like　a　snake　in　a　cleft　stick；　damned　however　he　writhed。　Burn　the　woman！
　
　　　　　　　Looping　the　embroidery　basket's　handle　over　her　arm；　Min　gathered　her　skirts　with　her　other　hand　and　strolled　out　of　the　dining　hall　after　breakfast　in　a　gliding　pace；　her　back　straight。　She　could　have　balanced　a　full　goblet　of　wine　on　her　head　without　spilling　a　drop。　Partly　that　was　because　she　could　not　take　a　proper　stride　in　her　dress；　all　pale　blue　silk　with　a　snug　bodice　and　sleeves　and　a　full　skirt　that　would　drag　its　embroidered　hem　on　the　ground　if　she　did　not　hold　it　up。　It　was　also　partly　because　she　was　sure　she　could　feel　Laras's　eyes　on　her。
　　　　　　　A　glance　back　proved　her　right。　The　Mistress　of　the　Kitchens；　a　wine　cask　on　legs；　was　beaming　after　her　approvingly　from　the　dining　hall　doorway。　Who　would　have　thought　the　woman　had　been　a　beauty　in　her　youth；　or　would　have　a　place　in　her　heart　for　pretty；　flirtatious　girls？　〃Lively；〃　she　called　them。　Who　would　have　suspected　she　would　decide　to　take　〃Elmindreda〃　under　her　stout　wing？　It　was　hardly　a　fortable　position。　Laras　kept　a　protective　eye　on　Min；　an　eye　that　seemed　to　find　her　anywhere　in　the　Tower　grounds。　Min　smiled　back　and　patted　her　hair；　now　a　round　black　cap　of　curls。　Burn　the　woman！　Doesn't　she　have　something　to　cook；　or　some　scullion　to　yell　at？
　　　　　　　Laras　waved　to　her；　and　she　waved　in　return。　She　could　not　afford　to　offend　someone　who　watched　her　so　closely；　not　when　she　had　no　idea　how　many　mistakes　she　might　be　making。　Laras　knew　every　trick　of　〃lively〃　women；　and　expected　to　teach　Min　any　she　did　not　already　know。
　　　　　　　One　real　mistake；　Min　reflected　as　she　took　a　seat　on　a　marble　bench　beneath　a　tall　willow；　had　been　the　embroidery。　Not　from　Laras's　point　of　view；　but　her　own。　Pulling　her　embroidery　hoop　from　the　basket；　she　ruefully　examined　yesterday's　work；　a　number　of　lopsided　yellow　oxeyes　and　something　she　had　meant　to　be　a　pale　yellow　rosebud；　though　no　one　would　know　unless　she　told　them。　With　a　sigh；　she　set　to　picking　the　stitches　out。　Leane　was　right；　she　supposed；　a　woman　could　sit　for　hours　with　an　embroidery　hoop；　watching　everyone　and　everything；　and　nobody　thought　it　strange。　It　would　have　helped；　though；　if　she　had　any　skill　at　all。
　　　　　　　At　least　it　was　a　perfect　morning　for　being　out…of…doors。　A　golden　sun　had　just　cleared　the　horizon　in　a　sky　where　the　few　fluffy　white　clouds　seemed　arrayed　to　emphasize　the　perfection。　A　light　breeze　caught　the　scent　of　roses　and　ruffled　tall　calma　bushes　with　their　big　red　or　white　blossoms。　Soon　enough　the　gravel…covered　paths　near　the　tree　would　be　full　of　people　on　one　errand　or　another；　everyone　from　Aes　Sedai　to　stablemen。　A　perfect　morning；　and　a　perfect　place　from　which　to　watch　unobserved。　Perhaps　today　she　would　have　a　useful　viewing。
　　　　　　　〃Elmindreda？〃
　　　　　　　Min　jumped；　and　stuck　her　pricked　finger　in　her　mouth。　Twisting　'round　on　the　bench；　she　prepared　to　assail　Gawyn　for　sneaking　up　on　her；　but　the　words　froze　in　her　throat。　Galad　was　with　him。　Taller　than　Gawyn；　with　long　legs；　he　moved　with　a　dancer's　grace　and　a　lean；　sinewy　strength。　His　hands　were　long；　too；　elegant　yet　strong。　And　his　face。。。　He　was；　quite　simply；　the　most　beautiful　man　she　had　ever　seen。
　　　　　　　〃Stop　sucking　your　finger；〃　Gawyn　said　with　a　grin。　〃We　know　you　are　a　pretty　little　girl；　you　do　not　need　to　prove　it　to　us。〃
　　　　　　　Blushing；　she　hastily　pulled　her　hand　down；　and　barely　restrained　herself　from　a　furious　glare　that　would　not　have　been　at　all　in　keeping　with　Elmindreda。　He　had　needed　no　threats　or　mands　from　the　Amyrlin　to　keep　her　secret；　only　her　asking；　but　he　did　take　any　opportunity　to　tease　that　presented　itself。
　　　　　　　〃It　is　not　right　to　mock；　Gawyn；〃　Galad　said。　〃He　did　not　mean　to　offend；　Mistress　Elmindreda。　Your　pardon；　but　can　it　be　we　have　met　before？　When　you　frowned　at　Gawyn　so　fiercely　just　then；　I　almost　thought　I　knew　you。〃
　　　　　　　Min　dropped　her　eyes　demurely。　〃Oh；　I　could　never　forget　meeting　you；　my　Lord　Galad；〃　she　said　in　her　best　foolish…girl　voice。　The　simpering　tone；　and　anger　at　her　own　slip；　sent　a　tide　of　heat　to　her　hairline；　improving　her　disguise。
　　　　　　　She　did　not　look　anything　like　herself；　and　the　dress　and　the　hair　were　only　a　part　of　it。　Leane　had　acquired　creams　and　powders　and　an　incredible　assortment　of　mysterious　scented　things　in　the　city　and　drilled　her　until　she　could　have　used　them　in　her　sleep。　She　had　cheekbones；　now；　and　more　color　in　her　lips　than　nature　had　put　there。　A　dark　cream　lining　her　eyelids　and　a　fine　powder　that　emphasized　her　lashes　made　her　eyes　seem　larger。　Not　at　all　like　herself。　Some　of　the　novices　had　told　her　admiringly　how　beautiful　she　was；　and　even　a　few　Aes　Sedai　had　called　her　〃a　very　pretty　child。〃　She　hated　it。　The　dress　was　quite　pretty；　she　admitted；　but　she　hated　the　rest　of　it。　Yet　there　was　no　point　in　donning　a　disguise　if　she　did　not　keep　it　up。
　　　　　　　〃I　am　sure　you　would　remember；〃　Gawyn　said　dryly。　〃I　did　not　mean　to　interrupt　you　at　your　embroidery　…　swallows；　are　they？　Yellow　swallows？〃　Min　thrust　the　hoop　back　into　the　basket。　〃But　I　wanted　to　ask　you　to　ment　on　this。〃　He　pushed　a　small；　leather…bound　book；　old　and　tattered；　into　her　hands；　and　suddenly　his　voice　was　serious。　〃Tell　my　brother　this　is　nonsense。　Perhaps　he　will　listen　to　you。〃
　　　　　　　She　examined