rj.acrownofswords-第182章

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er　chair。　He　did　have　quick　hands。　He　could　still　hold　on　to　his　temper；　too。　No　matter　how　many　women　thought　they　could　dance　him　for　a　puppet；　he　could　…　〃You　listen　to　me；　you　bilge　stone。〃　All　right；　maybe　he　could　not　hold　it。　〃Nynaeve　and　Elayne　need　you；　or　I'd　leave　you　for　the　gholam　to　crack　your　bones　and　the　Black　Ajah　to　pick　over　what's　left。　Well；　as　far　as　you're　concerned；　I'm　the　Master　of　the　Blades；　and　my　blades　are　bare。〃　What　that　meant　exactly；　he　had　no　idea；　except　for　having　once　heard；　〃When　the　blades　are　bare；　even　the　Mistress　of　the　Ships　bows　to　the　Master　of　the　Blades。〃　〃This　is　the　bargain　between　you　and　me。　You　go　where　Nynaeve　and　Elayne　want；　and　in　return；　I　won't　tie　the　lot　of　you　across　horses　like　packsaddles　and　haul　you　there！〃
　　　That　was　no　way　to　go　on；　not　with　the　Windfinder　to　the　Mistress　of　the　Ships。　Not　with　a　bilgeboy　off　a　broken…backed　darter；　for　that　matter。　Renaile　quivered　with　the　effort　of　not　going　for　him　with　her　bare　hands；　and　never　mind　her　dagger　in　his　hand。　〃It　is　agreed；　under　the　Light！〃　she　growled。　Her　eyes　nearly　started　out　of　her　head。　Her　mouth　worked；　confusion　and　disbelief　suddenly　chasing　one　another　across　her　face。　This　time；　the　gasps　sounded　as　if　the　wind　had　ripped　the　curtains　down。
　　　〃It　is　agreed；〃　Mat　said　quickly；　and　touching　fingers　to　his　lips；　he　pressed　them　to　hers。
　　　After　a　moment；　she　did　the　same；　fingers　trembling　against　his　mouth。　He　held　out　the　dagger；　and　she　stared　dully　at　it　before　taking　it　from　him。　The　blade　went　back　into　its　jeweled　sheath。　It　was　not　polite　to　kill　someone　you　had　sealed　a　bargain　with。　At　least；　not　until　the　terms　were　fulfilled。　Murmurs　began　among　the　women　behind　her　chair；　rising；　and　Renaile　stirred　herself　to　clap　her　hands　once。　That　silenced　Windfinders　to　Wavemistresses　as　quickly　as　the　two　deckhands　in　training。
　　　〃I　think　I　have　just　made　a　bargain　with　a　ta'veren；〃　she　said　in　that　cool；　deep　voice。　The　woman　could　teach　Aes　Sedai　how　to　pull　themselves　together　quickly。　〃But　one　day；　Master　Cauthon；　if　it　pleases　the　Light；　I　think　you　will　walk　a　rope　for　me。〃
　　　He　did　not　know　what　that　meant；　except　that　she　made　it　sound　unpleasant。　He　made　his　best　leg。　〃All　things　are　possible；　if　it　pleases　the　Light；〃　he　murmured。　Courtesy　paid；　after　all。　But　her　smile　was　disturbingly　hopeful。
　　　When　he　turned　back　to　the　rest　of　the　room；　you　would　have　thought　he　had　horns　and　wings；　for　the　stares。　〃Is　there　any　further　argument？〃　he　asked　in　a　wry　tone；　and　did　not　wait　for　answers。　〃I　thought　not。　In　that　case；　I　suggest　you　pick　out　some　spot　well　away　from　here；　and　we　can　be　on　our　way　as　soon　as　you　bundle　up　your　belongings。〃
　　　They　made　a　show　of　discussion。　Elayne　mentioned　Caemlyn；　sounding　at　least　half…serious；　and　Careane　suggested　several　remote　villages　in　the　Black　Hills；　all　easily　reached　by　gateway。　Light；　anywhere　was　easily　reached　by　gateway。　Vandene　spoke　of　Arafel；　and　Aviendha　suggested　Rhuidean；　in　the　Aiel　Waste；　with　the　Sea　Folk　women　growing　glummer　the　farther　from　the　sea　were　the　places　named。　All　a　show。　To　Mat；　at　least；　that　was　clear　by　Nynaeve's　impatient　fiddling　with　her　braid　despite　the　suggestions　ing　hot　and　fast。
　　　〃If　I　may　speak；　Aes　Sedai？〃　Reanne　said　timidly　at　last。　She　even　raised　her　hand。　〃The　Kin　maintain　a　farm　on　the　other　side　of　the　river；　a　few　miles　north。　Everyone　knows　it　is　a　retreat　for　women　who　need　contemplation　and　quiet；　but　no　one　connects　it　to　us。　The　buildings　are　large　and　quite　fortable；　if　there's　any　need　to　stay　long；　and　…　〃
　　　〃Yes；〃　Nynaeve　broke　in。　〃Yes；　I　think　that　sounds　just　the　thing。　What　do　you　say；　Elayne？〃
　　　〃I　think　it　sounds　wonderful；　Nynaeve。　I　know　Renaile　will　appreciate　staying　close　to　the　sea。〃　The　other　five　sisters　practically　piled　on　top　of　her　saying　how　agreeable　it　sounded；　how　superior　to　any　other　suggestion。
　　　Mat　rolled　his　eyes　to　the　heavens。　Tylin　was　a　study　in　not　seeing　what　lay　under　her　nose；　but　Renaile　snapped　at　it　like　a　trout　taking　a　lacewing。　Which　was　the　point；　of　course。　For　some　reason　she　was　not　to　know　that　Nynaeve　and　Elayne　had　had　everything　arranged　beforehand。　She　led　the　rest　of　the　Sea　Folk　women　out　to　gather　whatever　belongings　they　had　brought　before　Nynaeve　and　Elayne　could　change　their　minds。
　　　Those　two　would　have　followed　Merilille　and　the　other　Aes　Sedai；　but　he　crooked　a　finger　at　them。　They　exchanged　glances　…　he　would　have　had　to　talk　an　hour　to　say　as　much　as　passed　in　those　looks　…　then；　somewhat　to　his　surprise；　came　to　him。　Aviendha　and　Birgitte　watched　from　the　door；　Tylin　from　her　chair。
　　　〃I　am　very　sorry　to　have　used　you；〃　Elayne　said　before　he　could　get　a　word　out。　Her　smile　flashed　that　dimple　at　him。　〃We　did　have　reasons；　Mat；　you　must　believe　that。〃
　　　〃Which　you　do　not　need　to　know；〃　Nynaeve　put　in　firmly；　flipping　her　braid　back　over　her　shoulder　with　a　practiced　toss　of　her　head　that　made　the　gold　ring　bounce　on　her　bosom。　Lan　must　be　insane。　〃I　must　say；　I　never　expected　you　to　do　what　you　did。　Whatever　in　the　world　made　you　think　of　trying　to　bully　them？　You　could　have　ruined　everything。〃
　　　〃What's　life　if　you　don't　take　a　chance　now　and　then？〃　he　said　blithely。　As　well　by　him　if　they　thought　it　was　planned　instead　of　temper。　But　they　had　used　him　again　without　telling　him；　and　he　wanted　a　bit　back　for　that。　〃Next　time　you　have　to　make　a　bargain　with　the　Sea　Folk；　let　me　make　it　for　you。　Maybe　that　way；　it　won't　turn　out　as　badly　as　the　last　one。〃　Spots　of　color　blooming　in　Nynaeve's　cheeks　told　him　he　had　hit　the　mark　squarely。　Not　bad　shooting　blindfolded。
　　　Elayne；　though；　just　murmured　〃A　most　observant　subject〃　in　tones　of　rueful　amusement。　Being　in　her　good　books　might　turn　out　less　fortable　than　being　in　her　bad。
　　　They　swept　toward　the　door　without　letting　him　say　more。　Well；　he　had　not　really　thought　they　would　explain　anything。　Both　were　Aes　Sedai　to　the　bone。　A　man　learned　to　live　with　what　he　had　to。
　　　Tylin　had　all　but　slipped　from　his　mind；　but　he　had　not　from　hers。　She　caught　him　up　before　he　took　two　steps。　Nynaeve　and　Elayne　paused　at　the　door　with　Aviendha　and　Birgitte；　watching。　So　they　saw　when　Tylin　pinched　his　bottom。　Some　things；　nobody　could　learn　to　live　with。　Elayne　put　on　a　face　of　miseration；　Nynaeve　of　glowering　disapproval。　Aviendha　fought　laughter　none　too　successfully；　while　Birgitte　wore　her　grin　openly。　They　all　bloody　knew。
　　　〃Nynaeve　thinks　you　are　a　little　boy　needing　protection；〃　Tylin　breathed　up　at　him。　〃I　know　you　are　a　grown　man。〃　Her　smoky　chuckle　made　that　the　dirtiest　ment　he　had　ever　heard。　The　four　women　by　the　door　got　to　watch　his　face　turn　beet　red。　〃I　will　miss　you；　pigeon。　What　you　did　with　Renaile　was　magnificent。　I　do　so　admire　masterful　men。〃
　　　〃I'll　miss　you；　too；〃　he　muttered。　To　his　shock；　that　was　simple　truth。　He　was　leaving　Ebou　Dar　just　in　time。　〃But　if　we　meet　again；　I'll　do　the　chasing。〃
　　　She　chortled　at　him；　and　those　dark　eagle's　eyes　almost　glowed。　〃I　admire　masterful　men；　duckling。　But　not　when　they　try　being　masterful　with　me。〃　Seizing　his　ears；　she　pulled　his　head　down　where　she　could　kiss　him。
　　　He　never　saw　Nynaeve　and　the　others　go；　and　he　walked　out　on　unsteady　legs；　tucking　his　shirt　back　in。　He　had　to　return　to　fetch　his　spear　from　the　corner；　and　his　hat。　The　woman　had　no　shame。　Not　a　scrap　of　it。
　　　He　found　Thom　and　Juilin；　ing　out　of　Tylin's　apartments；　followed　by　Nerim　and　Lopin；　Nalesean's　stout　man；　who　each　lugged　a　large　wicker　pannier　made　for　a　packsaddle。　Loaded　with　his　belongings；　he　realized。　Juilin　carried　Mat's　unstrung　bow　and　had　his　quiver　slung　on　one　shoulder。　Well；　she　had　said　she　was　moving　him。
　　　〃I　found　this　on　your　pillow；〃　Thom　said；　tossing　him　the　ring　he　had　bought　what　seemed　a　year　ago。　〃A　parting　gift；　it　seems；　there　were　loversknots　and　some　other　flowers　strewn　over　both　pillows。〃
　　　Mat　jammed　the　ring　onto　his　finger。　〃It's　mine；　burn　you。　I　paid　for　it　myself。〃
　　　The　old　gleeman　knuckled　his　mustaches　and　coughed　in　a　failed　effort　to　stifle　a　sudden　wide　grin。　Juilin　snatched