rj.thegreathunt-第100部分

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s。　This　land　was　ours；　and　it　will　be　ours　again。　With　the　Return；　it　will　be　ours　again。〃　Domon　did　not　know　what　to　say　…　Surely　she　can　no　mean　that　nattering　about　Artur　Hawkwing　be　true？　…　so　he　kept　his　mouth　shut。　〃You　will　sail　your　vessel　to　Falme〃　…　he　tried　to　protest；　but　her　glare　silenced　him　…　〃where　you　and　your　ship　will　be　examined。　If　you　are　no　more　than　a　peaceful　trader；　as　you　claim；　you　will　be　allowed　to　go　your　way　when　you　have　sworn　the　oaths。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oaths；　Captain？　What　oaths？〃
　　　　　　　〃To　obey；　to　await；　and　to　serve。　Your　ancestors　should　have　remembered。〃
　　　　　　　She　gathered　her　people　…　except　for　a　single　man　in　plain　armor；　which　marked　him　of　low　rank　as　much　as　the　depth　of　his　bow　to　Captain　Egeanin　…　and　their　longboat　pulled　away　toward　the　larger　ship。　The　remaining　Seanchan　gave　no　orders；　only　sat　cross…legged　on　the　deck　and　began　sharpening　his　sword　while　the　crew　put　sail　on　and　got　under　way。　He　seemed　to　have　no　fear　at　being　alone；　and　Domon　would　have　personally　thrown　overboard　any　crewman　who　raised　a　hand　to　him；　for　as　Spray　made　her　way　along　the　coast；　the　Seanchan　ship　followed；　out　in　deeper　water。　There　was　a　mile　between　the　two　vessels；　but　Domon　knew　there　was　no　hope　of　escape；　and　he　meant　to　deliver　the　man　back　to　Captain　Egeanin　as　safely　as　if　he　had　been　cradled　in　his　mother's　arms。
　　　　　　　It　was　a　long　passage　to　Falme；　and　Domon　finally　persuaded　the　Seanchan　to　talk；　a　little。　A　dark…eyed　man　in　his　middle　years；　with　an　old　scar　above　his　eyes　and　another　nicking　his　chin；　his　name　was　Caban；　and　he　had　nothing　but　contempt　for　anyone　this　side　of　the　Aryth　Ocean。　That　gave　Domon　a　moment's　pause。　Maybe　they　truly　do　be　。。。　No；　that　do　be　madness。　Caban's　speech　had　the　same　slur　as　Egeanin's；　but　where　hers　was　silk　sliding　across　iron；　his　was　leather　rasping　on　rock；　and　mostly　he　wanted　to　talk　about　battles；　drinking；　and　women　he　had　known。　Half　the　time；　Domon　was　not　certain　if　he　were　speaking　of　here　and　now；　or　of　wherever　he　had　e　from。　The　man　was　certainly　not　forthing　about　anything　Domon　wanted　to　know。
　　　　　　　Once　Domon　asked　about　the　damane。　Caban　reached　up　from　where　he　sat　in　front　of　the　helmsman　and　put　the　point　of　his　sword　to　Domon's　throat。　〃Watch　what　your　tongue　touches；　or　you　will　lose　it。　That's　the　business　of　the　Blood；　not　your　kind。　Or　mine。〃　He　grinned　while　he　said　it；　and　as　soon　as　he　was　done；　he　went　back　to　sliding　a　stone　along　his　heavy；　curved　blade。
　　　　　　　Domon　touched　the　point　of　blood　welling　above　his　collar　and　resolved　not　to　ask　that　again；　at　least。
　　　　　　　The　closer　the　two　vessels　came　to　Falme；　the　more　of　the　tall；　square…looking　Seanchan　ships　they　passed；　some　under　sail；　but　more　anchored。　Every　one　was　bluff…bowed　and　towered；　as　big　as　anything　Domon　had　ever　seen；　even　among　the　Sea　Folk。　A　few　local　craft；　he　saw；　with　their　sharp　bows　and　slanted　sails；　darted　across　the　green　swells。　The　sight　gave　him　confidence　that　Egeanin　had　spoken　the　truth　about　letting　him　go　free。
　　　　　　　When　Spray　came　up　on　the　headland　where　Falme　stood；　Domon　gaped　at　the　numbers　of　the　Seanchan　ships　anchored　off　the　harbor。　He　tried　counting　them　and　gave　up　at　a　hundred；　less　than　halfway　done。　He　had　seen　as　many　ships　in　one　place　before　…　in　Illian；　and　Tear；　and　even　Tanchico　…　but　those　vessels　had　included　many　smaller　craft。　Muttering　glumly　to　himself；　he　took　Spray　into　the　harbor；　shepherded　by　her　great　Seanchan　watchdog。
　　　　　　　Falme　stood　on　a　spit　of　land　at　the　very　tip　of　Toman　Head；　with　nothing　further　west　of　it　except　the　Aryth　Ocean。　High　cliffs　ran　to　the　harbor　mouth　on　both　sides；　and　atop　one　of　those；　where　every　ship　running　into　the　harbor　had　to　pass　under　them；　stood　the　towers　of　the　Watchers　Over　the　Waves。　A　cage　hung　over　the　side　of　one　of　the　towers；　with　a　man　sitting　in　it　despondently；　legs　dangling　through　the　bars。
　　　　　　　〃Who　is　that？〃　Domon　asked。
　　　　　　　Caban　had　finally　given　over　sharpening　his　sword；　after　Domon　had　begun　to　wonder　if　he　meant　to　shave　with　it。　The　Seanchan　glanced　up　to　where　Domon　pointed。　〃Oh。　That　is　the　First　Watcher。　Not　the　one　who　sat　in　the　chair　when　we　first　came；　of　course。　Every　time　he　dies；　they　choose　another；　and　we　put　him　in　the　cage。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　why？〃　Domon　demanded。
　　　　　　　Caban's　grin　showed　too　many　teeth。　〃They　watched　for　the　wrong　thing；　and　forgot　when　they　should　have　been　remembering。〃
　　　　　　　Domon　tore　his　eyes　away　from　the　Seanchan。　Spray　slid　down　the　last　real　sea　swell　and　into　the　quieter　waters　of　the　harbor。　I　do　be　a　trader；　and　it　is　none　of　my　business。
　　　　　　　Falme　rose　from　stone　docks　up　the　slopes　of　the　hollow　that　made　the　harbor。　Domon　could　not　decide　whether　the　dark　stone　houses　made　up　a　goodly　sized　town　or　a　small　city。　Certainly　he　saw　no　building　in　it　to　rival　the　smallest　palace　in　Illian。
　　　　　　　He　guided　Spray　to　a　place　at　one　of　the　docks；　and　wondered；　while　the　crew　tied　the　ship　fast；　if　the　Seanchan　might　buy　some　of　the　fireworks　in　his　hold。　None　of　my　business。
　　　　　　　To　his　surprise；　Egeanin　had　herself　rowed　to　the　dock　with　her　damane。　There　was　another　woman　wearing　the　bracelet　this　time；　with　the　red　panels　and　forked　lightning　on　her　dress；　but　the　damane　was　the　same　sad…faced　woman　who　never　looked　up　unless　the　other　spoke　to　her。　Egeanin　had　Domon　and　his　crew　herded　off　the　ship　to　sit　on　the　dock　under　the　eyes　of　a　pair　of　her　soldiers　…　she　seemed　to　think　no　more　were　needed；　and　Domon　was　not　about　to　argue　with　her　…　while　others　searched　Spray　under　her　direction。　The　damane　was　part　of　the　search。
　　　　　　　Down　the　dock；　a　thing　appeared。　Domon　could　think　of　no　other　way　to　describe　it。　A　hulking　creature　with　a　leathery；　gray…green　hide　and　a　beak　of　a　mouth　in　a　wedge…shaped　head。　And　three　eyes。　It　lumbered　along　beside　a　man　whose　armor　bore　three　painted　eyes；　just　like　those　of　the　creature。　The　local　people；　dockmen　and　sailors　in　roughly　embroidered　shirts　and　long　vests　to　their　knees；　shied　away　as　the　pair　passed；　but　no　Seanchan　gave　them　a　second　glance。　The　man　with　the　beast　seemed　to　be　directing　it　with　hand　signals。
　　　　　　　Man　and　creature　turned　in　among　the　buildings；　leaving　Domon　staring　and　his　crew　muttering　to　themselves。　The　two　Seanchan　guards　sneered　at　them　silently。　No　my　business；　Domon　reminded　himself。　His　business　was　his　ship。
　　　　　　　The　air　had　a　familiar　smell　of　salt　water　and　pitch。　He　shifted　uneasily　on　the　stone；　hot　from　the　sun；　and　wondered　what　the　Seanchan　were　searching　for。　What　the　damane　was　searching　for。　Wondered　what　that　thing　had　been。　Gulls　cried；　wheeling　above　the　harbor。　He　thought　of　the　sounds　a　caged　man　might　make。　It　is　no　my　business。
　　　　　　　Eventually　Egeanin　led　the　others　back　onto　the　dock。　The　Seanchan　captain　had　something　wrapped　in　a　piece　of　yellow　silk；　Domon　noted　warily。　Something　small　enough　to　carry　in　one　hand；　but　which　she　held　carefully　in　both。
　　　　　　　He　got　to　his　feet　…　slowly；　for　the　soldiers'　sake；　though　their　eyes　held　the　same　contempt　Caban's　did。　〃You　see；　Captain？　I　do　be　only　a　peaceful　trader。　Perhaps　your　people　would　care　to　buy　some　fireworks？〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps；　trader。〃　There　was　an　air　of　suppressed　excitement　about　her　that　made　him　uneasy；　and　her　next　words　increased　the　feeling。　〃You　will　e　with　me。〃
　　　　　　　She　told　two　soldiers　to　e　along；　and　one　of　them　gave　Domon　a　push　to　get　him　started。　It　was　not　a　rough　shove；　Domon　had　seen　farmers　push　a　cow　in　the　same　way　to　make　it　move。　Setting　his　teeth；　he　followed　Egeanin。
　　　　　　　The　cobblestone　street　climbed　the　slope；　leaving　the　smell　of　the　harbor　behind。　The　slate…roofed　houses　grew　larger　and　taller　as　the　street　climbed。　Surprisingly　for　a　town　held　by　invaders；　the　streets　held　more　local　people　than　Seanchan　soldiers；　and　now　and　again　a　curtained　palanquin　was　borne　past　by　bare…chested　men。　The　Falmen　seemed　to　be　going　about　their　business　as　if　the　Seanchan　were　not　there。　Or　almost　not　there。　When　palanquin　or　soldier　passed；　both　poor　folk；　with　only　a　curling　line　or　two　worked　on　their　dirty　clothes；　and　the　richer；　with　shirts；　vests；　and　dresses　covered　from　shoulder　to　waist　in　intricately　embroidered　patterns；　bowed　and　remained　bent　until　the　Seanchan　were　gone。　They　did　the　same　for　Domon　and　his　guard。　Neither　Egeanin　nor　her　soldiers　so　much　as　glanced　at　them。
　　　　　　　Domon　realized　with　a　sudden　shock　that　some　of　the　local　people　they　passed　wore　daggers　at　their　belts；　and　in　a　few　cases　swords。　He　was　so　surprised　that　he　spoke　without　thinking。　〃Some　of　them　be　on　your　side？〃
　　　　　　　Egeanin　frowned　over　her　shoulder　at　him；　obviously　puzzled。　Without　slowing；　she　looked　at　the　people　and　nodded　to　herself。　〃You　mean　the　swords。　They　are　our　people；　now；　trader；　they　have　sworn　the　oaths。〃　She　stopped　abruptly；　pointing　at　a　tall；　heavy…shouldered　man　with　a　heavily　embroidered　vest　and　a　sword　swinging　on　a　plain　leather　baldric。　〃You。〃
　　　　　　　The　man　halted　in　mid…step；　one　foot　in　the　air　and　a　frightened　look　suddenly　on　his　face。　It　was　a　hard　face；　but　he　looked　as　if　he　wanted　to　run。　Instead；　he　turned　to　her　and　bowed；　hands　on　knees；　eyes　f