rj.acrownofswords-第110章
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e difference。 Maybe we are too alike。〃 Her grin was skewed slightly。 There had not been near enough water in that pitcher。 〃That might be embarrassing； I suppose。〃
〃If we could stay with what is important？〃 Nynaeve said tightly。 〃Such as Mat？〃 Elayne had her mourn open for a retort to Birgitte； but she closed it quickly； the red spots in her cheeks most definitely chagrin this time。 〃Now；〃 Nynaeve went on。 〃Will Mat be here in the morning； or is he in the same revolting state as you？〃
〃He might e；〃 Birgitte said； taking a cup of mint tea from Aviendha； who of course sat down on the floor。 Elayne frowned at her a moment； then； of all things； folded up her legs and sat beside her！
〃What do you mean； he might？〃 Nynaeve demanded。 She channeled； and the chair she had been sitting in floated over to her； and if it banged to the floor； she meant it to。 Drinking too much； sitting on the floor。 What was next？ 〃If he expects us to e to him on hands and knees。。。！〃
Birgitte took a sip of the tea with a grateful murmur； and oddly； when she looked at Nynaeve again； she did not seem so intoxicated。 〃I talked him out of that。 I don't think he was really serious。 All he wants now is an apology and thanks。〃
Nynaeve's eyes popped。 She had talked him out of that？ Apologize？ To Matrim Cauthon？ 〃Never；〃 she growled。
〃For what？〃 Elayne wanted to know； as if that mattered。 She pretended not to see Nynaeve's glare。
〃The Stone of Tear；〃 Birgitte said； and Nynaeve's head whipped around。 The woman no longer sounded intoxicated at all。 〃He says he went into the Stone； him and Juilin； to free the pair of you from a dungeon you couldn't escape on your own。〃 She shook her head slowly； in wonder。 〃I don't know that I would have done that for anyone short of Gaidal。 Not the Stone。 He says you gave him a backhanded thanks and made him feel he ought to be grateful you didn't kick him。〃
It was true； in a way； but all distorted。 There Mat had been with that mocking grin of his； saying he was there to pull their chestnuts off the fire or some such。 Even then he had thought he could tell them what to do。 〃Only one of the Black sisters was on guard in the dungeon；〃 Nynaeve muttered； 〃and we had taken care of her。〃 True； they hadn't yet been able to figure out how to open the door； shielded。 〃Be'lal wasn't really interested in us； anyway … it was just to lure Rand。 Moiraine may already have killed him； by then； for all we know。〃
〃The Black Ajah。〃 Birgitte's voice was flatter than the floor tiles。 〃And one of the Forsaken。 Mat never mentioned them。 You owe him thanks on your knees； Elayne。 Both of you do。 The man deserves it。 And Juilin； as well。〃
Blood rushed to Nynaeve's face。 He had never mentioned。。。？ That despicable； despicable man！ 〃I will not apologize to Matrim Cauthon； not on my deathbed。〃
Aviendha leaned toward Elayne； touching her knee。 〃Near…sister； I will say this delicately。〃 She looked and sounded about as delicate as a stone post。 〃If this is true； you have toh toward Mat Cauthon； you and Nynaeve。 And you have made it worse since； just by the actions I have seen。〃
〃Toh！〃 Nynaeve exclaimed。 Those two were always talking about this toh foolery。 〃We aren't Aiel； Aviendha。 And Mat Cauthon is a thorn in the foot to everybody he meets。〃
But Elayne was nodding。 〃I see。 You are right； Aviendha。 But what must we do？ You will have to help me； near…sister。 I don't intend to try to bee Aiel； but I。。。 I want you to be proud of me。〃
〃We will not apologize！〃 Nynaeve snapped。
〃I have pride in knowing you；〃 Aviendha said； touching Elayne's cheek lightly。 〃An apology is a beginning； yet not enough to meet toh； now。〃
〃Are you listening to me？〃 Nynaeve demanded。 〃I said； I will … not … apologize！〃
They went right on talking。 Only Birgitte looked at her； and the woman wore a smile not far from outright laughter。 Nynaeve throttled her braid with both hands。 She had known that they should have sent Thom and Juilin。
Chapter 22
（Flame of Tar Valon）
Small Sacrifices
Squinting up at the sign above the inn's arched door； a crudely drawn woman with a walking staff peering hopefully into the distance； Elayne wished she were back in her bed instead of up with the sun。 Not that she could have slept。 Mol Hara Square stood empty behind her except for a few creaking ox… and donkey…carts on their way to the markets； a scattering of women balancing huge baskets on their heads。 A one…legged beggar sat with his bowl at a corner of the inn； the first of many who would dot the square later； she had already given him a silver mark； enough to feed him for a week even now； but he tucked it under his ragged coat with a toothless grin and waited on。 The sky was still gray； yet the day already promised to scorch。 Keeping concentration well enough to ignore the heat was a problem this morning。
The last remnants of Birgitte's morning…after head remained in the back of her own； dwindling but not yet gone。 If only her small ability with Healing had not proved too small。 She hoped Aviendha and Birgitte would manage to learn something useful about Carridin this morning； in their Illusion disguises。 Not that Carridin would know any of them from a shoemaker； of course； but it was best to be careful。 She felt pride that Aviendha had not asked to e along here； had in fact been surprised at the suggestion。 Aviendha did not believe she needed anyone to watch her； to make sure she did what was needful。
With a sigh； she straightened her dress； though there was no need。 Blue and cream； with a bit of cream…colored Vandalra lace； the garment did make her feel just a touch。。。 exposed。 The only time she had balked at donning a local fashion was while she and Nynaeve traveled to Tanchico with the Sea Folk； but in its own way； Ebou Dari fashion was almost。。。 She sighed again。 She was just trying to delay。 Aviendha should have e to lead her by the hand。
〃I will not apologize；〃 Nynaeve said suddenly at her shoulder。 She clutched her own gray skirts with both hands； staring at The Wandering Woman as though Moghedien herself waited inside。 〃I won't！〃
〃You should have worn white after all；〃 Elayne murmured； earning a suspicious sideways glance。 After a moment； she added； 〃You did say it was the color for funerals。〃 Which produced a satisfied nod； though it was not what she had meant at all。 This would be disaster if they could not keep peace among themselves。 Birgitte had had to settle for an infusion of herbs this morning； and a particularly bitter mix at that； because Nynaeve claimed she was not angry enough to channel。 She had gone on in the most dramatic manner about funeral white being the only suitable color； insisted she was not ing； until Elayne dragged her out of their apartments； and announced at least twenty times since that she would not apologize。 Peace had to be kept； but。。。 〃You agreed to this； Nynaeve。 No； I don't want to hear any more about the rest of us bullying you。 You agreed。 So stop sulking。〃
Nynaeve spluttered； eyes going wide with outrage。 She was not to be diverted； though； despite one fiercely incredulous 〃Sulking？〃 under her breath。 〃We need to discuss this further； Elayne。 There is no need to be so hasty。 There must be a thousand reasons why this won't work； ta'veren or no ta'veren； and Mat Cauthon is nine hundred of them。〃
Elayne gave her a level look。 〃Did you deliberately choose the bitterest herbs that would work this morning？〃 Wide…eyed outrage turned to wide…eyed innocence； but red stained Nynaeve's cheeks。 Elayne pushed open the door。 Nynaeve followed； muttering。 Elayne would not have been surprised if she stuck out her tongue； too。 Sulky was not even in it； this morning。
The smell of breads baking wafted from the kitchens； and all the shutters were open to air out the mon room。 A plump…cheeked serving woman standing atop a tall stool stretched on tiptoes to take down bedraggled evergreen branches from above the windows； while others replaced tables and benches and chairs that must have been taken away for the dancing。 This early； no one else was about； except for a skinny girl in a white apron；
