rj.thepathofdaggers-第95章
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ess was good blue wool and made for warmth； but it had far too much vivid green embroidery across her bosom； and her gloves were bright enough for a Tinker。 She looked Egwene up and down； pursing her lips； with as much incredulity on her face as she had given Siuan。 〃What you said about the novice book；〃 she said abruptly。 〃Were you meaning any woman of any age at all？ Any can bee Aes Sedai； then？〃
A question close to Egwene's heart； and an answer she dearly wanted to give … along with a box on the ear for the doubt … but just then a small gap in the flow of people showed her Talmanes near the back of the pavilion。 Talking with Pelivar！ They stood stiffly； mastiffs not quite ready to show teeth； yet they were keeping a watch to make sure no one came close enough to overhear what they had to say。 〃Any woman of any age at all； daughter；〃 she agreed absently。 Pelivar？
〃Thank you；〃 Segan said； and haltingly added； 〃Mother。〃 She sketched a curtsy； the barest hint of one； before hurrying off。 Egwene stared after her。 Well； it was a beginning。
Siuan snorted。 〃I don't mind sailing the Fingers of the Dragon in the dark if I must；〃 she muttered half under her breath。 〃We discussed that； we weighed the dangers； and anyway； there doesn't seem to be a gull's last dinner for choice。 But you have to set a fire on deck just to make things interesting。 Netting lionfish isn't enough for you。 You have to stuff a prickleback down your dress； too。 You aren't content trying to wade a school of silver…pike … 〃
Egwene broke in。 〃Siuan； I think I should tell Lord Bryne you're head over heels in love with him。 It's only fair that he know； don't you agree？〃 Siuan's blue eyes bulged； and her mouth worked； but all that came out was a sort of gobbling。 Egwene patted her shoulder。 〃You're Aes Sedai； Siuan。 Try to maintain at least a little dignity。 And try to find out about those sisters in Andor。〃 The crowd parted again。 She saw Talmanes in a different place； but still on the edge of the pavilion。 And alone； now。
Trying not to hurry； she walked in his direction； leaving Siuan still gobbling。 A pretty； black…haired serving man； whose bulky woolen breeches could not quite hide neatly turned calves； offered Siuan a steaming silver cup from a tray。 Other servants were moving about with other silver trays。 Refreshment was being offered； if a bit late。 It was much too late for the kiss of peace。 She did not hear what Siuan said as she snatched a cup； but from the way the fellow jerked and started bobbing bows； he had received sharp shards of her temper at the least。 Egwene sighed。
Talmanes stood with arms folded； observing the goings…on with an amused smile that did not reach his eyes。 He seemed poised to explode into motion； but his eyes were tired。 At her approach； he made a respectful leg； but there was a wry touch to his voice when he said； 〃You changed a border today。〃 He gathered his cloak against the icy breeze。 〃It has always been。。。 fluid。。。 between Andor and Murandy； no matter what maps say； but Andor has never e south in such numbers before。 Except for the Aiel War； and the Whitecloak War； anyway； but they were only passing through； then。 Once they have been here a month； new maps will show a new line。 Look at the Murandians scramble； fawning over Pelivar and his panions as much as they do the sisters。 They are hoping to make new friends for the new day。〃
To Egwene； trying to conceal her careful watch on those who might be watching her； it seemed that all of the nobles； Murandian and Andoran； were intent on the Sitters； crowding around them。 In any case； she had slightly more important matters in mind than borders。 To her； if not to the nobles。 Except for brief moments； none of the Sitters were visible beyond the tops of their heads。 Only Halima and Siuan seemed to notice her； and a babble like that of a flock of excited geese filled the air。 She lowered her voice； and chose her words carefully。
〃Friends are always important； Talmanes。 You've been a good friend to Mat； and I think to me。 I hope that hasn't changed。 I hope you've not told anyone what you shouldn't。〃 Light； she was anxious； or she would not have been so direct。 Next； she would e right out and ask what he and Pelivar had been talking about！
Luckily； he did not laugh at her for a blunt…tongued village woman。 Though he might have been thinking it。 He studied her seriously before speaking。 In a soft voice。 He also knew caution。 〃Not all men gossip。 Tell me； when you sent Mat south； did you know what you would do here today？〃
〃How could I know that two months ago？ No； Aes Sedai aren't omniscient； Talmanes。〃 She had hoped for something that would put her in the place she was； had planned for it； but she had not known； not back then。 She also hoped he did not gossip。 Some men did not。
Romanda started toward her with a firm stride and a frozen face； but Arathelle intercepted her； catching the Yellow Sitter's arm and refusing to be put off despite Romanda's astonishment。
〃Will you at least tell me where Mat is？〃 Talmanes asked。 〃On his way to Caemlyn with the Daughter…Heir？ Why are you surprised？ A serving woman will speak to a soldier when fetching water from the same stream。 Even when he is a horrible Dragonsworn；〃 he added dryly。
Light！ Men really were。。。 inconvenient。。。 at times。 The best of them found ways to say exactly the wrong thing at the wrong moment； to ask the wrong question。 Not to mention inveigling serving women into prattle。 So much easier if she could just lie； but he had given her plenty of room within the Oaths。 Half the truth would suffice； and keep him from haring off to Ebou Dar。 Maybe less than half。
Over in the far corner of the pavilion； Siuan stood conversing with a tall young redhead with curled mustaches who was eyeing her as dubiously as Segan had。 Nobles usually knew the look of Aes Sedai。 But he held only a part of Siuan's attention。 Her gaze constantly flickered toward Egwene。 It seemed to shout； loud as conscience。 Easier。 Expedient。 What it was to be Aes Sedai。 She had not known about today； only hoped！ Egwene expelled an irritated breath。 Burn the woman！
〃He was in Ebou Dar； the last I heard；〃 she muttered。 〃But he must be hurrying north as fast as he can by now。 He still thinks he has to save me； Talmanes； and Matrim Cauthon wouldn't miss the chance to be on the spot so he can say I told you so。〃
Talmanes did not look at all surprised。 〃I thought it might be so；〃 he sighed。 〃I have。。。 felt。。。 something； for weeks now。 Others in the Band have； too。 Not urgent； but always there。 As if he needed me。 As if I should look south； anyway。 It can be peculiar； following a ta'veren。〃
〃I suppose it can；〃 she agreed； hoping none of her incredulity showed。 It was strange enough to think of Mat the wastrel as leader of the Band of the Red Hand； much less as ta'veren； but surely a ta'veren had to be present； nearby at least； to have any effect。
〃Mat was wrong about you needing rescue。 You never had any intention of ing to me for help； did you？〃
He still spoke softly； but she looked around hurriedly anyway。 Siuan was still watching them。 And so was Halima。 Paitr stood much too close to her； puffing and preening and stroking his mustaches … from the way he stared down her dress； he had not mistaken her for a sister； that was certain！ … but she was giving him only half her mind； darting sidelong glances in Egwene's direction while she smiled up at him warmly。 Everyone else appeared occupied； and no one stood close enough to hear。
〃The Amyrlin Seat could hardly go running for sanctuary； now could she？ But there have been times it's been a fort knowing you were there；〃 she admitted。 Reluctantly。 The Amyrlin Seat was hardly supposed to need a bolt…hole； but it could do no harm so long as none of the Sitters knew。 〃You have been a friend； Talmanes。 I hope that continues。 I truly do。〃
〃You have been more。。。 open。。。 with me than I expected；〃 he said slowly； 〃so I will tell you something。〃 His face did not change … to any watcher； he must have seemed as casual as before … but his voice dropped to a whisper。 〃I have had approach
