rj.acrownofswords-第84章
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nt inside curtsied； apparently saying something； and immediately turned to lead her deeper。 She was known。 He would have wagered everything on it
For a while after the doors closed； he stood there studying the palace。 Not the richest in the city by far； but only a noble would dare build its like。 〃But who in the Pit of Doom lives there？〃 he muttered finally； plucking off his hat to fan himself。 Not her； not when she had to walk。 A few questions in the taverns along the street would tell him。 And word of his queries would seep to the palace； sure as dirt soiled your hands。
Someone said； 〃Carridin。〃 It was a scrawny； white…haired fellow lounging nearby in the shade。 Mat looked at him questioningly； and he grinned； showing gaps in his teeth。 His stooped shoulders and sad weathered face did not fit his fine gray coat。 Despite a bit of lace at his neck； he was the very picture of hard times。 〃You asked who lived there。 The Chelsaine Palace is let to Jaichim Carridin。〃
Mat's hat paused。 〃You mean the Whitecloak ambassador？〃
〃Aye。 And Inquisitor of the Hand of the Light。〃 The old man tapped a gnarled finger against the side of his beak of a nose。 Both looked to have been broken several times。 〃Not a man to bother unless you must； and then I'd think three times。〃
Unconsciously Mat hummed a bit of 〃Storm from the Mountains。〃 Not a man to bother indeed。 Questioners were the nastiest of the Whitecloaks。 A Whitecloak Inquisitor who had a Darkfriend e to call。
〃Thank you … 〃 Mat gave a start。 The fellow was gone； swallowed up in the crowd。 Strange； but he had looked familiar。 Maybe another long…dead acquaintance drifting out of those old memories。 Maybe。。。 It hit him like an Illuminator's nightflower exploding inside his head。 A white…haired man with a hooked nose。 That old man had been at the Silver Circuit； standing not far from the woman who had just gone into Carridin's rented palace。 Turning his hat in his hands； he frowned uneasily at the palace。 The Mire never held a bog like this one。 He could feel the dice tumbling in his head suddenly； and that was always a bad sign。
Chapter 15
（Snakey Square）
Insects
Carridin did not look up immediately from the letter he was writing when the Lady Shiaine； as she called herself； was shown in。 Three ants struggled futilely in the wet ink； trapped。 Everything else might be dying； but ants and cockroaches and every sort of vermin seemed to thrive。 Carefully he pressed the blotter down。 He was not about to begin again for a few ants。 A failure to send this report； or a report of failure； might doom him as surely as those mired insects； yet it was fear of a different failure that tightened his guts。
He had no worry of Shiaine reading what he wrote。 It was in a cipher known to only two men beside himself。 So many bands of 〃Dragonsworn〃 at work； each stiffened by a core of his most trusted men； so many more who might be bandits or even truly sworn to that filth； al'Thor。 Pedron Niall might not like that last； but his mand had been to plunge Altara and Murandy into blood and chaos from which only Niall and the Children of the Light could rescue them； a madness clearly to be laid at the feet of this so…called Dragon Reborn； and that he had done。 Fear held both countries by the throat。 Tales that the witches marched across the same country were an added reward。 Tar Valon witches and Dragonsworn； Aes Sedai carrying off young women and setting up false Dragons； villages in flames and men nailed to the doors of their barns … it was all one in half the street rumors； now。 Niall would be pleased。 And send more orders。 How he expected Carridin to snatch Elayne Trakand out of the Tarasin Palace was beyond reason。
Another ant skittered across the ivory…inlaid table onto the page； and his thumb stabbed down； destroying it。 And smearing a word to illegibility。 The entire report would need to be redone。 He wanted a drink very badly。 There was brandy in a crystal flask on the table by the door； but he did not want the woman to see him drinking。 Suppressing a sigh； he shoved the letter aside and pulled a kerchief from his sleeve to wipe his hand。 〃So； Shiaine； do you finally have progress to report？ Or have you just e for more money？〃
She smiled at him lazily from a tall carved armchair。 〃There are expenses associated with a search；〃 she said in almost the accents of an Andoran noble。 〃Especially when we want no questions asked。〃
Most people would have been unsettled by the sight of Jaichim Carridin； even cleaning a pen nib； with his steely face and deep…set eyes； the white tabard over his coat bearing the golden sunburst of the Children of the Light impressed upon the crimson shepherd's crook of the Hand。 Not Mili Skane。 That was her real name； though she did not know he knew。 A saddler's daughter from a village near Whitebridge； she had gone to the White Tower at fifteen； another thing she thought secret。 It was hardly the best start； being a Friend of the Dark because the witches told her she could not learn to channel； but before that year was out she had not only found a circle in Caemlyn but made her first kill。 In the seven years since； she had added nineteen more。 She was one of the best assassins available； and a hunter who could find anyone or anything。 That much he had been told when she was sent to him。 A circle reported to her now。 Several of them actually were nobles and almost all were older； but neither thing mattered among those who served the Great Lord。 Another circle working for Carridin was led by a gnarled beggar with one eye； no teeth and a habit of bathing only once in the year。 Had circumstances been different； Carridin himself would have knelt to Old Cully； the only name the stinking villain admitted to。 Mili Skane surely groveled for Old Cully； and so did every last panion of her circle； noble or not。 It irritated Carridin that 〃Lady Shiaine〃 would be on her knees in a flash if the straggly…haired old beggar entered the room； but for him sat with her legs crossed； smiling and twitching her slippered foot as if impatient to be done。 She had been ordered to obey him absolutely； by one even Old Cully would grovel for； and besides； he had a desperate need of success。 Niall's schemes could go to dust； but not this。
〃Many things can be excused；〃 he said； laying the pen on its ivory stand and shoving back his chair； 〃for those who acplish the tasks they are given。〃 He was a tall man； and he loomed threateningly。 He was well aware that the gilt…framed mirrors on the wall showed a figure of strength； a dangerous man。 〃Even dresses and baubles and gambling； paid for with coin that was to go for information。〃 That twitching foot froze for instant； then began again； but her smile was forced； her face pale。 Her circle obeyed her instantly； but they would string her up by the heels and skin her alive if he spoke the word。 〃You have not acplished very much； have you？ In fact； you do not seem to have acplished anything。〃
〃There are difficulties； as you well know；〃 she said breathily。 She managed to meet his eyes squarely； though。
〃Excuses。 Tell me of difficulties surmounted； not those you stumble over and fall。 You can fall a long way if you fail in this。〃 Turning his back； he strode to the nearest window。 He could fall a long way； too； and he did not want to risk her seeing anything in his eyes。 Sunlight slanted through the ornate stone screen。 The high…ceilinged room； with its green…and…white…tiled floor and bright blue walls； stayed paratively cool behind the thick walls of the palace； but the heat outside seeped in near the windows。 He could almost feel the brandy across the room。 He could not wait for her to be gone。
〃My Lord Carridin； how can I have anyone ask too openly about objects of the Power？ That will cause questions； and there are Aes Sedai in the city； you will recall。〃
Peering down at the street through the scroll…carvings； he wrinkled his nose at the smell。 Every sort was jammed together down there。 An Arafellin with his hair in two long braids and a curved sword on his back tossed a coin to a one…armed beggar； who scowled at the gift before tucking it under
