rj.acrownofswords-第86章
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ow impatient。〃
〃Great Master。。。 〃 He worked his mouth to find moisture。 〃Great Master； there are witches。。。 Aes Sedai。。。 here。 I cannot be sure how many。 If they hear a whisper。。。 〃
Waving him to silence； Sammael paced a few quick steps； three times up and back； hands clasped behind his back。 He did not look worried； only。。。 considering。 Finally he nodded。 〃I will send you。。。 someone。。。 to deal with these Aes Sedai。〃 He barked a short laugh。 〃I almost wish I could see their faces。 Very well。 You have a little while longer。 Then perhaps someone else will have a chance。〃 He lifted a strand of Shiaine's hair with a finger； she still did not move； her eyes stared unblinking。 〃This child would certainly leap at the opportunity。〃
Carridin fought down a stab of fear。 The Chosen cast down as quickly as they raised up； and as often。 Failure never went unpunished。 〃Great Master； the favor I asked of you。 If I might know。。。 Have you。。。 will you …？〃
〃There is very little luck in you； Carridin；〃 Sammael said with another smile。 〃You had better hope you have more carrying out my orders。 It seems that someone is making sure at least some of Ishmael's mands are still carried out。〃 He was smiling； but he seemed far from amused。 Or perhaps it was just the scar。 〃You failed him； and you've lost your entire family for it。 Only my hand protects you； now。 Once； long ago； I saw three Myrddraal make a man give them his wife and his daughters one by one； then beg them to cut off his right leg； then the left； then his arms； and burn out his eyes。〃 The perfectly ordinary conversational tone made the recitation worse than any shouts or snarls ever could have。 〃It was a game with them； you understand； to see how much they could make him beg them to take。 They left his tongue for last； of course； but there wasn't a great deal of him remaining by then。 He had been quite powerful； handsome and famous。 Envied。 No one would ever envy what they finally tossed to the Trollocs。 You wouldn't believe the sounds it made。 Find what I want； Carridin。 You will not like it if I withdraw my hand。〃
Abruptly there was a vertical line of light in the air before the Chosen。 It seemed to turn in some fashion； widening as it did into a square。。。 hole。 Carridin gaped。 He was staring through a hole in the air； at somewhere full of gray columns and thick mist。 Sammael stepped through； and the opening snapped shut； a brilliant bar of light that vanished； leaving only a purple afterimage glowing in Carridin's eyes。
Unsteadily； he pushed himself to his feet。 Failure was always punished； but no one survived disobeying one of the Chosen。
Suddenly Shiaine moved； pleting her halted rise from the chair。 〃You mark me； Bors；〃 she began； then cut off； staring at the window where he had been standing。 Her eyes darted； found him； and she jumped。 He could have been one of the Chosen himself from the way those eyes bulged。
No one survived disobeying the Chosen。 He pressed his hands against his temples。 His head felt tight to bursting。 〃There is a man in the city； Mat Cauthon。 You will … 〃 She gave a small start； and he frowned。 〃You know him？〃
〃I have heard the name；〃 she said warily。 And angrily； he would have said。 〃Few linked to al'Thor remain unknown for long。〃 As he stepped closer； she crossed her arms protectively in front of herself； and held her place with an obvious effort。 〃What is a seedy farmboy doing in Ebou Dar？ How did he …？〃
〃Don't bother me with foolish questions； Shiaine。〃 His head had never hurt like this； never。 It felt as though a dagger was being driven into his skull between his eyes。 No one survived。。。 〃You will put your circle to locating Cauthon immediately。 All of them。〃 Old Cully was ing tonight； slipping in through the back of the stables； she did not need to know there would be others。 〃Nothing else is to get in the way。〃
〃But I thought … 〃
She broke off with a gasp as he seized her neck。 A slim dagger appeared in her hand； but he wrenched it away。 She twisted and jerked； but he drove her face down onto the table； her cheek smudging still…damp ink on the discarded letter to Pedron Niall。 The dagger； stabbing down just in front of her eyes； froze her。 By chance； the blade piercing the paper had caught an ant by the tip of one leg。 It struggled as vainly as she had。
〃You are an insect； Mili。〃 The pain in his head made his voice rasp。 〃It is time you understand that。 One insect is much like another； and if one won't do。。。 〃 Her eyes followed his thumb down； and when it flattened on the ant； she flinched。
〃I live to serve and obey； master；〃 she breathed。 She had said that to Old Cully every time he saw them together； but never before to him。
〃And this is how you will obey。。。〃 No one survived disobedience。 No one。
Chapter 16
（Flame of Tar Valon）
A Touch on the Cheek
The Tarasin Palace was a mass of shining marble and white plaster； with screened balconies of white…painted wrought iron and columned walks as much as four stories above the ground。 Pigeons wheeled around pointed domes and tall； balcony…wreathed spires banded in red and green tiles； glittering in the sun。 Sharp…arched gates in the palace itself led to various courtyards； and more pierced the high wall hiding the gardens； but deep； snowy white steps ten spans wide climbed on the side facing Mol Hara Square to great doors carved in coiling patterns like me balcony screens and covered with beaten gold。
The dozen or so guards lined up before those doors； sweating in the sun； wore gilded breastplates over green coats and baggy white trousers stuffed into dark green boots。 Green cords secured thick twists of white cloth around glittering golden helmets； with the long ends hanging down their backs。 Even their halberds and the scabbards of their daggers and short swords shone with gold。 Guards for being looked at； not fighting。 But then； when Mat reached the top； he could see swordsmen's calluses on their hands。 Always before he had entered through one of the stableyards； to peruse the palace horses in passing； but this time he was going in the way a lord would。
〃The Light's blessing on all here；〃 he said to their officer； a man not much older than he。 Ebou Dari were polite people。 〃I've e to leave a message for Nynaeve Sedai and Elayne Sedai。 Or to give it to them； if they've returned。〃
The officer stared at him； looked at the stairs in consternation。 Gold cord as well as green on his pointed helmet signified some rank Mat did not know； and he carried a gilded rod instead of a halberd； with a sharp end and a hook like an ox…goad。 By his expression； no one had ever e up that way before。 Studying Mat's coat； he mulled it over visibly； and at last decided he could not tell him to go away。 With a sigh； the man murmured a benison in return and asked Mat's name； pushed open a small door in one of the larger and ushered him into a grand entry hall encircled by five stone…railed balconies beneath a domed ceiling painted like the sky； plete with clouds and a sun。
The guard's snapping fingers summoned a slim young serving woman in a white dress； sewn up on the left to show green petticoats and embroidered on the left breast with a green Anchor and Sword。 She scurried across the red…and…blue marble floor looking startled； curtsying to Mat and the officer each。 Short black hair framed a sweetly pretty face； with silken olive skin； and her livery had the deep narrow neckline mon to all women except nobles in Ebou Dar。 For once； Mat did not really notice。 When she heard what he wanted； her big black eyes widened even more。 Aes Sedai were not unpopular in Ebou Dar； exactly； but most Ebou Dari would go a long distance out of their way to avoid one。
〃Yes； Sword…Lieutenant；〃 she said； bobbing again。 〃Of course； Sword…Lieutenant。 May it please you to follow me； my Lord？〃 It did。
Outside； Ebou Dar sparkled white； but inside； color ran wild。 There seemed to be miles of broad corridor in the palace； and here the high ceiling was blue and the walls yellow； there the walls pale red and the ceiling green； changing with every turn； binations to jar any eye but a Tinke
