rj.acrownofswords-第87章
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walls pale red and the ceiling green； changing with every turn； binations to jar any eye but a Tinker's。 Mat's boots sounded loud on floor tiles that made patterns of two or three or sometimes four colors in diamonds or stars or triangles。 Wherever hallways crossed the floor was a mosaic of tiny tiles； intricate swirls and scrolls and loops。 A few silk tapestries displayed scenes of the sea； and arched niches held carved crystal bowls and small statues and yellow Sea Folk porcelain that would fetch a fine penny anywhere。 Occasionally a liveried servant hurried along silently； often as not carrying a silver tray； or a golden。
Normally； displays of wealth made Mat feel fortable。 For one thing； where there was money； some might stick to his fingers。 This time he felt impatient； more so by the step。 And anxious。 The last time he had felt the dice rolling so hard in his head was just before he found himself with three hundred of the Band； a thousand of Gaebril's White Lions on a ridge to his front and another thousand ing hard up the road behind him； when all he had been trying to do was ride away from the entire mess。 That time he had avoided the chop by the grace of other men's memories and more luck than he had a right to。 The dice almost always meant danger； and something else he had not figured out yet。 The prospect of having his skull cracked was not enough； and once or twice there had been no possibility of such； yet the uping likelihood of Mat Cauthon dead in some spectacular fashion seemed the most usual cause。 Unlikely； maybe； in the Tarasin Palace； but unlikely did not make the dice go away。 He was going to leave his message； grab Nynaeve and Elayne by the scruff of the neck if he had an opportunity； give them a talking…to that made their ears glow； and then get out。
The young woman glided ahead of him until they reached a short； bullish man a little older than she； another servant； in tight white breeches； a white shirt with wide sleeves； and a long green vest with the Anchor and Sword of House Mitsobar in a white disc。 〃Master Jen；〃 she said； curtsying once more； 〃this is Lord Mat Cauthon； who wishes to leave a message for the honored Elayne Aes Sedai and the honored Nynaeve Aes Sedai。〃
〃Very good； Haesel。 You may go。〃 He bowed to Mat 〃May it please you to follow me； my Lord？〃
Jen led him as far as a dark； grim…faced woman short of her middle years； and bowed。 〃Mistress Carin； this is Lord Mat Cauthon； who wishes to leave a message for the honored Elayne Aes Sedai and the honored Nynaeve Aes Sedai。〃
〃Very good； Jen。 You may go。 May it please you to follow me； my Lord？〃
Carin took him up a sweeping flight of marble stairs； the risers painted yellow and red； to a skinny woman named Matilde； who handed him over to a stout fellow named Bren； who led him to a balding man named Madic； each a little older than the one before。 Where five corridors met like the spokes of a wheel； Madic left him with a round woman called Laren； who had a touch of gray at her temples and a stately carriage。 Like Carin and Matilde； she wore what the Ebou Dari called a marriage knife； hanging hilt down from a close…fitting silver necklace between more than plump breasts。 Five white stones in the hilt； two set in red； and four red stones； one surrounded by black； said three of her nine children were dead； two sons in duels。 Rising out of her curtsy to Mat； Laren began to float up one of the hallways； but he hurried to catch her arm。
Dark eyebrows rose slightly as she glanced at his hand。 She had no dagger except the marriage knife； but he released her immediately。 Custom said she could only use that on her husband； yet there was no point in pushing。 He did not soften his voice； though。 〃How far do I have to go to leave a note？ Show me to their rooms。 A pair of Aes Sedai shouldn't be that hard to find。 This isn't the bloody White Tower。〃
〃Aes Sedai？〃 a woman said behind him in a heavy Illianer accent。 〃If you do seek two Aes Sedai； you have found two。〃
Laren's face did not change； or almost not。 Her nearly black eyes darted past him； and he was sure they tightened with worry。
Doffing his hat； Mat turned wearing an easy smile。 With that silver foxhead around his neck； Aes Sedai did not put him off at all。 Well； not very much。 It had those flaws。 Maybe the smile was not that easy。
The two women confronting him could not have been more different。 One was slender； with a fetching smile； in a green…and…gold dress that showed a hint of what he judged to be a fine bosom。 Except for that ageless face； he might have thought to strike up a conversation。 It was a pretty face； with eyes large enough for a man to sink into。 A pity。 The other had the agelessness too； but seeing it took him a moment。 He thought she was scowling until he realized that must be her normal expression。 Her dark； almost black； dress covered her to the wrists and chin； for which he was grateful。 She looked scrawny as an old bramble。 She looked as if she ate brambles for breakfast。
〃I'm trying to leave a message for Nynaeve and Elayne；〃 he told them。 〃This woman … 〃 He blinked； looking down each of the corridors。 Servants hurried by； but Laren was nowhere in sight。 He would not have thought she could move so fast。 〃Anyway； I want to leave a note。〃 Suddenly cautious； he added； 〃Are you friends of theirs？〃
〃Not exactly；〃 the pretty one said。 〃I am Joline； and this is Teslyn。 And you are Mat Cauthon。〃 Mat's stomach tightened。 Nine Aes Sedai in the palace； and he had to walk into the two who followed Elaida。 And one of them Red。 Not that he had anything to fear。 He lowered his hand to his side before it could touch the foxhead under his clothes。
The one who ate brambles … Teslyn … stepped closer。 She was a Sitter； according to Thom； though what a Sitter was doing here even Thom did not understand。 〃We would be their friends if we could。 They do need friends； Master Cauthon； as do you。〃 Her eyes tried to dig holes in his head。
Joline moved to flank him； laying a hand on his lapel。 He would have considered that smile inviting from another woman。 She was Green Ajah。 〃They are on dangerous ground and blind to what lies beneath their feet。 I know you are their friend。 You might show it by telling them to abandon this nonsense before it is too late。 Foolish children who go too far can find themselves punished quite severely。〃
Mat wanted to back away； even Teslyn stood close enough to be almost touching him。 Instead he put on his most insolent grin。 It had always landed him in trouble back home； but it seemed appropriate。 Those dice in his head could have nothing to do with this pair； or they would have stopped spinning。 And he did have the medallion。 〃They see pretty well； I'd say。〃 Nynaeve badly needed to be snatched down a peg or six； and Elayne even more； but he was not about to stand by and listen to this woman talk Nynaeve down。 If that meant defending Elayne too； so be it 〃Maybe you should abandon your nonsense。〃 Joline's smile vanished； but Teslyn replaced it with one of her own； a razored smile。
〃We do know about you； Master Cauthon。〃 She looked a woman who wanted to skin something； and whoever was handy would do。 〃Ta'veren； it do be said。 With dangerous associations of your own。 That do be more than hearsay。〃
Joline's face was ice。 〃A young man in your position who wished to be assured of his future could do much worse than seek the protection of the Tower。 You should never have left it。〃
His stomach clenched tighter。 What else did they know？ Surely not about the medallion。 Nynaeve and Elayne knew； and Adeleas and Vandene； and the Light only knew who they had told； but surely not this pair。 There was worse than ta'veren or the foxhead； though； or even Rand； as far as he was concerned。 If they knew about the bloody Horn。。。
Abruptly he was yanked away from them so hard that he stumbled and nearly dropped his hat。 A slender woman with a smooth face and nearly white hair gathered at the back of her neck had him by sleeve and lapel。 Reflexively Teslyn seized him the same way on the other side。 He recognized the straight…backed newer in her plain gray dress； in a way
