rj.theshadowrising-第170章
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l to cooperate with a Seeker was a crime。 She had never in her life considered any criminal act； no more than she had considered treason against the Crystal Throne。 But if he asked the wrong questions； demanded the wrong answers。。。 The crossbow was still close to her hand； and Cantorin was far away。 Wild thoughts。 Dangerous thoughts。
〃I serve the High Lady Suroth and the Corenne； for the Empress；〃 he said。 〃I am checking on the progress of the agents the High Lady has placed in these lands。〃
Checking？ What had to be checked； and by a Seeker？ 〃I have heard nothing of this from the courier boats。〃 His smile deepened； and she flushed。 Of course the crews would not speak of a Seeker。 Yet he answered while lacing up his shirt。
〃The courier boats are not to be risked with my trips。 I have taken passage on the vessels of a local smuggler； a man called Bayle Domon。 His craft stop everywhere in Tarabon and Arad Doman and between。〃
〃I have heard of him；〃 she said calmly。 〃All goes well？〃
〃It does now。 I am glad that you； at least； understood your instructions properly。 Among the others； only the Seekers did。 It is regrettable that there are not more Seekers with the Hailene。〃 Settling his coat on his shoulders； he plucked the Seeker's plaque from her hand。 〃There has been some embarrassment over the return of sul'dam deserters。 Such desertions must not bee mon knowledge。 Much better that they simply vanish。〃
Only because she had a little time to think was she able to keep her face smooth。 Sul'dam had been left behind in the debacle at Falme； she had been told。 Possibly some had deserted。 Her instruction； delivered by the High Lady Suroth herself； had been to return any who could be found； whether they wanted to return or not； and if that was not possible； dispose of them。 The last had seemed only a final alternative。 Until now。
〃I regret that these lands do not know kaf；〃 he said； taking a seat at the table。 〃Even in Cantorin； only the Blood still have kaf。 Or it was so when I left。 Perhaps supply ships have arrived from Seanchan since。 Tea must do。 Fix me tea。〃
She very nearly knocked him out of his chair。 The man was property。 And a Seeker。 She brewed tea。 And served it to him； standing beside his chair with the pot to keep his cup full。 She was surprised he did not ask her to don a veil and dance on the table。
She was permitted to sit at last； after fetching pen and ink and paper； but only to sketch maps of Tanchico and its defenses； to draw every other city and town she knew the least thing about。 She listed the various forces in the field； as much as she knew of their strength and loyalties； what she had deduced of their dispositions。
When she was done； he stuffed it all in his pocket； told her to send the contents of the jute sack by the next courier boat； and left with one of those amused smiles； saying he might check on her progress again in a few weeks。
She sat there for a long time after he was gone。 Every map she had drawn； every list she had made； duplicated papers sent out by courier boats long since。 Having her do it all again while he watched might have been a punishment for forcing him to show his tattoos。 Deathwatch Guards flaunted their ravens； Seekers rarely did。 It might have been that。 At least he had not gone down to the basement before she arrived。 Or had he？ Had he just been waiting for her to speak？
The stout iron lock hung seemingly undisturbed on the door in the hall just beyond the kitchen； but it was said Seekers knew how to open locks without keys。 Taking the key from her belt pouch； she unfastened the lock and went down the narrow steps。
One lamp on a shelf lit the dirt…floored basement。 Just four brick walls； cleared of everything that might help an escape。 A faint smell of the slop pail hung in the air。 On the side opposite the lamp； a woman in a dirty dress sat despondently on a few rough woolen blankets。 Her head lifted at the sound of Egeanin's steps； dark eyes fearful and pleading。 She had been the first sul'dam Egeanin had found。 The first； the only。 Egeanin had all but stopped looking； after she found Bethamin。 And Bethamin had been in this basement since； while courier boats came and went。
〃Did anyone e down here？〃 Egeanin said。
〃No。 I heard footsteps overhead； but。。。 No。〃 Bethamin stretched out her hands。 〃Please； Egeanin。 This is all a mistake。 You have known me for ten years。 Take this thing off of me。〃
A silver collar encircled her neck； attached by a thick silver leash to a bracelet of the same metal that hung on a peg a few feet above her head。 It had been almost an accident； putting it on her； simply a means of securing her for a few moments。 And then she had managed to knock Egeanin down； trying a dashing for freedom。
〃If you bring it to me； I will；〃 Egeanin said angrily。 She was angry with many things； not with Bethamin。 〃Bring the a'dam over here； and I will remove it。〃
Bethamin shivered； let her hands fall。 〃It is a mistake；〃 she whispered。 〃A horrible mistake。〃 But she made no move toward the bracelet。 Her first attempted flight had left her writhing on the floor upstairs； wracked by nausea； and had left Egeanin stunned。
Sul'dam controlled damane； women who could channel； by means of a'dam。 It was damane who could channel； not sul'dam。 But an a'dam could only control a woman who could channel。 No other woman； and not a man … young men with that ability were executed； of course … only a woman who could channel。 A woman who had that ability and was collared could not move more than a few steps without her bracelet on the wrist of a sul'dam to plete the link。
Egeanin felt very tired climbing the stairs and locking the door again。 She wanted some tea herself； but the little the Seeker had left was cold； and she did not feel like brewing more。 Instead she sat down and pulled the a'dam out of the jute bag。 To her it was only finely jointed silver； she could not use it； and it could not harm her unless somebody hit her with it。
Even linking herself with an a'dam that far； denying its ability to control her； was enough to send a shiver down her spine。 Women who could channel were dangerous animals rather than people。 It had been they who Broke the World。 They must be controlled； or they would turn everyone into their property。 That was what she had been taught； what had been taught in Seanchan for a thousand years。 Strange that that seemed not to have happened here。 No。 That was a dangerous； foolish line of thought。
Tucking the a'dam back into the bag； she cleaned the tea things to settle her mind。 She liked tidiness； and there was a small satisfaction in making the kitchen so。 Before she realized it she was brewing a pot of tea for herself。 She did not want to think about Bethamin； and that was dangerously foolish too。 Settling herself back at the table； she stirred honey into a cup of tea as black as she could make it。 Not kaf； but it would do。
Despite her denials； despite her pleas； Bethamin could channel。 Could other sul'dam？ Was that why the High Lady Suroth wanted those left behind at Falme killed？ It was unthinkable。 It was impossible。 The yearly testings all across Seanchan found every girl who had the spark of channeling in her： each was struck from the rolls of citizens； struck from family records； taken away to bee collared damane。 The same testings found the girls who could learn to wear the bracelet of the sul'dam。 No woman escaped being tested each year until she was old enough that she would have begun channeling if the spark was there。 How could even one girl be taken for sul'dam when she was damane？ Yet there Bethamin was in the basement； held by an a'dam as by an anchor。
One thing was certain。 The possibilities here were potentially deadly。 This involved the Blood； and Seekers。 Maybe even the Crystal Throne。 Would the High Lady Suroth dare keep knowledge of this sort from the Empress？ A mere ship captain could die screaming for a misplaced frown in that pany； or find herself property for a whim。 She had to know more if she hoped to avoid the Death of Ten Thousand Tears。 To begin with； that meant
