rj.acrownofswords-第134章

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h　gilt。　A　small　door　near　the　bed　led　to　a　cramped　room　for　Nerim；　which　the　fellow　seemed　to　think　was　excellent　despite　a　narrow　bed　and　no　window。　Mat's　rooms　all　had　tall　arched　windows　letting　onto　white　wrought…iron　balconies　that　overlooked　the　Mol　Hara。　The　stand…lamps　were　gilded；　and　so　were　the　mirror　frames；　there　were　two　mirrors　in　the　sulking　room；　three　in　the　sitting　room；　and　four　in　the　bedchamber。　The　clock　…　a　clock！　…　on　the　marble　mantel　above　the　fireplace　in　the　sitting　room　sparkled　with　gilt；　as　well。　The　washbasin　and　pitcher　were　red　Sea　Folk　porcelain。　He　was　almost　disappointed　to　discover　that　the　chamber　pot　under　the　bed　was　only　plain　white　pottery。　There　was　even　a　shelf　in　the　large　sitting　room　with　a　full　dozen　books。　Not　that　he　read　much。
　　　Even　given　the　jarring　colors　of　walls　and　ceilings　and　floor　tiles；　the　rooms　shouted　rich。　Any　other　time；　he　would　have　danced　a　jig。　Any　time　when　he　was　not　aware　that　a　woman　with　chambers　right　down　the　hall　wanted　to　stick　him　in　hot　water　and　put　a　bellows　to　the　fire。　If　Teslyn　or　Merilille　or　one　of　that　lot　did　not　manage　it　first　despite　his　medallion。　Why　had　the　dice　in　his　head　stopped　tumbling　as　soon　as　Elayne　mentioned　these　bloody　rooms？　Curiosity。　He　had　heard　a　saying　on　several　women's　lips　back　home；　usually　when　he　had　done　something　that　looked　fun　at　the　time。　〃Men　teach　cats　curiosity；　but　cats　keep　sense　for　themselves。〃
　　　〃I'm　no　bloody　cat；〃　he　muttered；　stalking　out　of　the　bedchamber　into　the　sitting　room。　He　just　had　to　know；　that　was　all。
　　　〃Of　course　you're　not　a　cat；〃　Tylin　said。　〃You're　a　succulent　little　duckling；　is　what　you　are。〃
　　　Mat　gave　a　start　and　stared。　Duckling？　And　a　little　duckling；　at　that！　The　woman　stood　well　short　of　his　shoulder。　Indignation　or　no　indignation；　he　managed　an　elegant　bow　anyway。　She　was　the　Queen；　he　had　to　remember　that。　〃Majesty；　thank　you　for　these　wonderful　apartments。　I'd　love　to　talk　with　you；　but　I　have　to　go　out　and　…　〃
　　　Smiling；　she　advanced　across　the　red…and…green　floor　tiles；　layered　blue　and　white　silk　petticoats　swishing；　large　dark　eyes　fixed　on　him。　He　had　no　desire　at　all　to　look　at　the　marriage　knife　nestled　in　her　generous　cleavage。　Or　the　larger；　gem…studded　dagger　thrust　behind　an　equally　gem…studded　belt。　He　backed　away。
　　　〃Majesty；　I　have　an　important　…　〃
　　　She　started　humming。　He　recognized　the　tune；　he　had　hummed　it　to　a　few　girls　lately。　He　was　wise　enough　not　to　try　actually　singing　with　his　voice；　and　besides；　the　words　they　used　in　Ebou　Dar　would　have　singed　his　ears。　Around　here；　they　called　it　〃I　Will　Steal　Your　Breath　with　Kisses。〃
　　　Laughing　nervously；　he　tried　to　put　a　lapis…inlaid　table　between　them；　but　she　somehow　got　around　it　first　without　seeming　to　increase　her　speed。　〃Majesty；　I　…　〃
　　　She　laid　a　hand　flat　on　his　chest；　back…heeled　him　into　a　high…backed　chair；　and　plumped　herself　down　on　his　lap。　Between　her　and　the　chair　arms；　he　was　trapped。　Oh；　he　could　have　picked　her　up　and　set　her　on　her　feet　quite　easily。　Except　that　she　did　have　that　bloody　big　dagger　in　her　belt；　and　he　doubted　his　manhandling　her　would　be　as　acceptable　to　her　as　her　manhandling　him　seemed　to　be。　This　was　Ebou　Dar；　after　all；　where　a　woman　killing　a　man　was　justified　until　proven　otherwise。　He　could　have　picked　her　up　easily；　except。。。
　　　He　had　seen　fishmongers　in　the　city　selling　peculiar　creatures　called　squid　and　octopus　…　Ebou　Dari　actually　ate　the　things！　…　but　they　had　nothing　on　Tylin。　The　woman　possessed　ten　hands。　He　thrashed　about；　vainly　trying　to　fend　her　off；　and　she　laughed　softly。　Between　kisses；　he　breathlessly　protested　that　someone　might　walk　in；　and　she　just　chuckled。　He　babbled　his　respect　for　her　crown；　and　she　chortled。　He　claimed　betrothal　to　a　girl　back　home　who　held　his　heart　in　her　hands。　She　really　laughed　at　that。
　　　〃What　she　does　not　know　cannot　harm　her；〃　she　murmured；　her　twenty　hands　not　slowing　for　an　instant。
　　　Someone　knocked　at　the　door。
　　　Prying　his　mouth　free；　he　shouted；　〃Who　is　it？〃　Well；　it　was　a　shout。　A　high…pitched　shout。　He　was　out　of　breath；　after　all。
　　　Tylin　was　off　his　lap　and　three　paces　away　so　fast　it　seemed　she　was　just　here　then　there。　The　woman　had　the　nerve　to　give　him　a　reproachful　look！　And　then　she　made　a　kiss　at　him。
　　　That　barely　left　her　lips　before　the　door　opened；　and　Thom　stuck　his　head　in。　〃Mat？　I　wasn't　sure　that　was　you。　Oh！　Majesty。〃　For　a　scrawny　old　gleeman　with　pretensions；　Thom　could　flourish　a　bow　with　the　best　in　spite　of　his　limp。　Juilin　could　not；　but　he　snatched　off　his　ridiculous　red　hat　and　did　what　he　could。　〃Forgive　us。　We　won't　disturb　…　〃　Thom　began；　but　Mat　broke　in　hurriedly。
　　　〃e　in；　Thom！〃　Snatching　his　coat　back　all　the　way　on；　he　started　to　stand；　then　realized　that　somehow　the　bloody　woman　had　untied　the　waist　of　his　breeches　without　him　noticing。　These　two　might　miss　that　his　shirt　was　undone　to　his　belly；　but　they　would　not　miss　his　breeches　falling　off。　Tylin's　blue　dress　was　not　mussed　at　all！　〃Juilin；　e　in！〃
　　　〃I　am　glad　you　find　the　rooms　acceptable；　Master　Cauthon；〃　Tylin　said；　dignity　incarnate。　Except　for　her　eyes；　anyway；　when　she　stood　so　Thom　and　Juilin　could　not　see　them。　Her　eyes　laced　innocuous　words　with　added　meaning。　〃I　look　forward　to　having　your　pany　with　pleasure；　I　shall　find　it　interesting；　having　a　ta'veren　where　I　can　reach　out　and　touch　him　at　will。　But　I　must　leave　you　to　your　friends；　now。　No；　do　not　stand；　please。〃　That　with　just　the　hint　of　a　mocking　smile。
　　　〃Well；　boy；〃　Thom　said；　knuckling　his　mustaches　when　she　was　gone；　〃there's　luck　for　you；　being　weled　with　open　arms　by　the　Queen　herself。〃　Juilin　became　very　interested　in　his　cap。
　　　Mat　eyed　them　warily；　mentally　daring　them　to　say　a　word　more　…　just　one　word！　…　but　once　he　asked　after　Nynaeve　and　Elayne；　he　quit　worrying　what　they　suspected。　The　women　were　not　back。　He　almost　leaped　up；　breeches　or　no。　They　were　trying　to　wiggle　out　of　their　agreement　already；　he　had　to　explain　what　he　meant　in　between　their　outbursts　of　incredulity；　in　between　expressing　his　opinions　of　Nynaeve　bloody　al'Meara　and　Elayne　bloody　Daughter…Heir。　Not　much　chance　they　would　have　gone　off　to　the　Rahad　without　him；　but　he　would　not　put　it　past　them　to　try　their　hand　spying　on　Carridin。　Elayne　would　demand　a　confession　and　expect　the　man　to　break　down；　Nynaeve　would　try　to　beat　one　out　of　him。
　　　〃I　doubt　they　are　bothering　Carridin；〃　Juilin　said；　scratching　behind　his　ear。　〃I　believe　Aviendha　and　Birgitte　are　taking　a　look　at　him；　from　what　I　heard。　We　didn't　see　them　go。　I　do　not　think　you　need　to　worry　about　him　knowing　what　he's　seeing　even　if　he　walks　right　by　them。〃　Thom；　pouring　himself　a　golden　goblet　of　the　wine　punch　that　Mat　had　found　waiting；　took　up　the　explanation。
　　　Mat　put　a　hand　over　his　eyes。　Disguises　made　with　the　Power；　no　wonder　they　had　slipped　away　like　snakes　whenever　they　wanted。　Those　women　were　going　to　make　trouble。　That　was　what　women　did　best。　It　hardly　surprised　him　to　learn　that　Thom　and　Juilin　knew　less　about　this　Bowl　of　the　Winds　than　he　did。
　　　After　they　left　to　ready　themselves　for　a　trip　to　the　Rahad；　he　had　time　to　set　his　clothes　to　rights　before　Nynaeve　and　Elayne　came　back。　He　had　time　to　check　on　Olver；　in　his　room　one　floor　down。　The　boy's　skinny　frame　had　fleshed　out　somewhat；　with　Enid　and　the　rest　of　the　cooks　at　The　Wandering　Woman　stuffing　him；　but　he　would　always　be　short　even　for　a　Cairhienin；　and　if　his　ears　shrank　to　half　their　size　and　his　mouth　to　half　its　width；　his　nose　would　still　stop　him　well　short　of　handsome。　No　fewer　than　three　serving　women　fussed　over　him　while　he　sat　cross…legged　on　his　bed。
　　　〃Mat；　doesn't　Haesel　have　the　most　beautiful　eyes？〃　Olver　said；　beaming　at　the　big…eyed　young　woman　Mat　had　met　the　last　time　he　came　to　the　palace。　She　beamed　back　and　ruffled　the　boy's　hair。　〃Oh；　but　Alis　and　Loya　are　so　sweet；　I　could　never　choose。〃　A　plump　woman　just　short　of　her　middle　years　looked　up　from　unpacking　Olver's　saddlebags　to　give　him　a　broad　grin；　and　a　slender　girl　with　bee…stung　lips　patted　the　towel　she　had　just　put　on　his　washstan