rj.acrownofswords-第120节

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m　and　Juilin　knew　less　about　this　Bowl　of　the　Winds　than　he　did。
　　　After　they　left　to　ready　themselves　for　a　trip　to　the　Rahad；　he　had　time　to　set　his　clothes　to　rights　before　Nynaeve　and　Elayne　came　back。　He　had　time　to　check　on　Olver；　in　his　room　one　floor　down。　The　boy's　skinny　frame　had　fleshed　out　somewhat；　with　Enid　and　the　rest　of　the　cooks　at　The　Wandering　Woman　stuffing　him；　but　he　would　always　be　short　even　for　a　Cairhienin；　and　if　his　ears　shrank　to　half　their　size　and　his　mouth　to　half　its　width；　his　nose　would　still　stop　him　well　short　of　handsome。　No　fewer　than　three　serving　women　fussed　over　him　while　he　sat　cross…legged　on　his　bed。
　　　〃Mat；　doesn't　Haesel　have　the　most　beautiful　eyes？〃　Olver　said；　beaming　at　the　big…eyed　young　woman　Mat　had　met　the　last　time　he　came　to　the　palace。　She　beamed　back　and　ruffled　the　boy's　hair。　〃Oh；　but　Alis　and　Loya　are　so　sweet；　I　could　never　choose。〃　A　plump　woman　just　short　of　her　middle　years　looked　up　from　unpacking　Olver's　saddlebags　to　give　him　a　broad　grin；　and　a　slender　girl　with　bee…stung　lips　patted　the　towel　she　had　just　put　on　his　washstand；　then　flung　herself　onto　the　bed　to　tickle　Olver's　ribs　till　he　fell　over　laughing　helplessly。
　　　Mat　snorted。　Harnan　and　that　lot　were　bad　enough；　but　now　these　women　were　encouraging　the　boy！　How　was　he　ever　going　to　learn　to　behave　if　women　did　that？　Olver　ought　to　be　playing　in　the　streets　like　any　other　ten…year…old。　He　had　had　no　serving　women　falling　over　him　in　his　rooms。　Tylin　had　seen　to　that；　he　was　sure。
　　　He　had　time　to　check　on　Olver；　and　to　look　in　on　Harnan　and　the　rest　of　the　Redarms；　sharing　a　long　room　lined　with　beds　not　far　from　the　stables；　and　to　saunter　down　to　the　kitchens　for　some　bread　and　beef　…　he　had　not　been　able　to　face　that　porridge　back　at　the　inn。　Still　Nynaeve　and　Elayne　had　not　returned。　He　finally　looked　over　the　books　in　his　sitting　room　and　began　reading　The　Travels　of　Jain　Farstrider；　though　he　barely　made　out　a　word　for　worrying。　Thom　and　Juilin　came　in　just　as　the　women　finally　bustled　in　exclaiming　over　finding　him　there；　as　if　they　thought　he　would　not　keep　his　word。
　　　He　closed　the　book　gently；　set　it　gently　on　the　table　beside　his　chair。　〃Where　have　you　been？〃
　　　〃Why；　we　went　for　a　walk；〃　Elayne　said　brightly；　blue　eyes　wider　than　he　remembered　seeing　before。　Thom　frowned　and　produced　a　knife　from　his　sleeve；　rolling　it　back　and　forth　through　his　fingers。　He　very　markedly　did　not　so　much　as　glance　at　Elayne。
　　　〃We　had　tea　with　some　women　your　innkeeper　knows；〃　Nynaeve　said。　〃I　won't　bore　you　with　talk　about　needlework。〃　Juilin　started　to　shake　his　head；　then　stopped　before　she　noticed。
　　　〃Please；　don't　bore　me；〃　Mat　said　dryly。　He　supposed　she　knew　one　end　of　a　needle　from　the　other；　but　he　suspected　she　would　as　soon　stick　one　through　her　tongue　as　talk　about　needlework。　Neither　woman　cracked　her　teeth　about　civility；　confirming　his　worst　suspicions。　〃I've　told　off　two　fellows　to　walk　out　with　each　of　you　this　afternoon；　and　there　will　be　two　more　tomorrow　and　every　day。　If　you're　not　inside　the　palace　or　under　my　nose；　you'll　have　bodyguards。　They　know　their　turns　already。　They'll　stay　with　you　at　all　times　…　all　times　…　and　you　will　let　me　know　where　you're　headed。　No　more　making　me　worry　till　my　hair　falls　out。〃
　　　He　expected　indignation　and　argument。　He　expected　weaseling　over　what　they　had　or　had　not　promised。　He　expected　that　demanding　this　whole　loaf　might　get　him　a　slice　at　the　end；　a　butt　slice；　if　his　luck　was　in。　Nynaeve　looked　at　Elayne；　Elayne　looked　at　Nynaeve。
　　　〃Why；　bodyguards　are　a　wonderful　idea；　Mat；〃　Elayne　exclaimed；　her　cheek　dimpling　in　a　smile。　〃I　suppose　you　were　right　about　that。　It's　very　smart　of　you　to　have　your　men　already　to　a　schedule。〃
　　　〃It　is　a　wonderful　notion；〃　Nynaeve　said；　nodding　enthusiastically；　〃Very　smart　of　you；　Mat。〃
　　　Thom　dropped　the　knife　with　a　muffled　curse　and　sat　sucking　on　a　nicked　finger；　staring　at　the　women。
　　　Mat　sighed。　Trouble；　he　had　known　it。　And　that　was　before　they　told　him　to　forget　the　Rahad　for　the　time　being。
　　　Which　was　how　he　found　himself　on　a　bench　in　front　of　a　cheap　tavern　not　far　from　the　riverfront　called　The　Rose　of　the　Elbar；　drinking　from　one　of　the　dented　tin　cups　chained　to　the　bench。　At　least　they　washed　the　cups　out　for　each　new　patron。　The　stink　from　a　dyer's　shop　across　the　way　only　raised　the　style　of　the　Rose。　Not　that　it　was　a　shabby　neighborhood　really；　though　the　street　was　too　narrow　for　carriages。　A　fair　number　of　brightly　lacquered　sedan　chairs　swayed　through　the　crowd。　If　far　more　passersby　wore　wool　and　perhaps　a　guild　vest　than　silk；　the　wool　was　as　often　well　cut　as　frayed。　The　houses　and　shops　were　the　usual　array　of　white　plaster；　and　if　most　were　small　and　even　run…down；　the　tall　house　of　a　wealthy　merchant　stood　on　a　corner　to　his　right　and　on　the　left　a　diminutive　palace　…　smaller　than　the　merchant's　house；　at　least　…　with　a　single　green…banded　dome　and　no　spire。　A　pair　of　taverns　and　an　inn　in　plain　sight　looked　cool　and　inviting。　Unfortunately；　the　Rose　was　the　only　one　where　a　man　could　sit　outside；　the　only　one　in　just　the　right　spot。　Unfortunately。
　　　〃I　doubt　I've　ever　seen　such　splendid　flies；〃　Nalesean　grumbled；　waving　away　several　choice　specimens　from　his　cup。　〃What　is　it　we're　doing　again？〃
　　　〃You　are　swilling　that　foul　excuse　for　wine　and　sweating　like　a　goat；〃　Mat　muttered；　tugging　his　hat　to　shade　his　eyes　better。　〃I'm　being　ta'veren。〃　He　glared　at　the　dilapidated　house；　between　the　dyer's　and　a　noisy　weaver's　establishment；　that　he　had　been　told　to　watch。　Not　asked　…　told　…　that　was　what　it　came　to；　however　they　phrased　it；　squirming　around　their　pledges。　Oh；　they　made　it　sound　like　asking；　made　it　sound　like　pleading　at　the　end；　which　he　would　believe　when　dogs　danced；　but　he　knew　when　he　had　been　bullied。　〃Just　be　ta'veren；　Mat；〃　he　mimicked。　〃I　know　you'll　just　know　what　to　do。　Bah！〃　Maybe　Elayne　bloody　Daughter…Heir　and　her　bloody　dimple　knew；　or　Nynaeve　with　her　bloody　hands　twitching　to　yank　her　bloody　braid；　but　he　would　be　burned　if　he　did。　〃If　the　pig…kissing　Bowl　is　in　the　Rahad；　how　am　I　supposed　to　find　it　on　this　flaming　side　of　the　river？〃
　　　〃I　do　not　remember　them　saying；〃　Juilin　said　wryly；　and　took　a　long　swallow　of　some　drink　made　from　a　yellow　fruit　grown　in　the　countryside。　〃You've　asked　that　fifty　times；　at　least。〃　He　claimed　the　pale　drink　was　refreshing　in　the　heat；　but　Mat　had　taken　a　bite　of　one　of　those　lemons；　and　he　was　not　about　to　swallow　anything　made　from　them。　With　his　head　still　throbbing　faintly；　he　himself　drank　tea。　It　tasted　as　if　the　tavern…keeper；　a　scrawny　fellow　with　beady　suspicious　eyes；　had　been　dumping　new　leaves　and　water　in　yesterday's　leavings　since　the　founding　of　the　city。　The　taste　suited　his　mood。
　　　〃What　interests　me；〃　Thom　murmured　over　steepled　fingers；　〃is　why　they　asked　so　many　questions　about　your　innkeeper。〃　He　did　not　seem　very　upset　at　the　women　still　keeping　secrets；　sometimes；　he　was　decidedly　odd。　〃What　do　Setalle　Anan　and　these　women　have　to　do　with　the　Bowl？〃
　　　Women　did　pass　in　and　out　of　the　dilapidated　house。　A　steady　stream　of　women；　just　about；　some　well　dressed　if　none　in　silks；　and　not　one　man。　Three　or　four　wore　the　red　belt　of　a　Wise　Woman。　Mat　had　considered　following　some　of　them　when　they　left；　but　it　felt　too　planned。　He　did　not　know　how　ta'veren　worked　…　he　had　never　really　seen　any　sign　of　it　in　himself　…　but　his　luck　was　always　best　when　everything　was　random。　Like　with　dice。　Most　of　those　little　iron　tavern　puzzles　eluded　him；　however　lucky　he　felt。
　　　He　ignored　Thom's　question；　Thom　had　asked　it　at　least　as　often　as　Mat　had　asked　how　he　was　to　find　the　Bowl　here。　Nynaeve　had　told　him　to　his　face　she　had　not　promised　to　tell　him　every　last　thing　she　knew；　she　said　she　would　tell　him　whatever　he　needed　to　know；　she　said。。。　Watching　her　nearly　choke　from　not　calling　him　names　was　not　nearly　enough　vengeance。
　　　〃I　suppose　I　should　take　a　walk　down　the　alley；〃　Nalesean　sighed。　〃In　case　one　of　those　women　decides　to　climb　over　the　garden　wall。〃　The　narrow　gap　between　the　house　and　the　dyer　lay　in　full　view　for　its　whole　length；　but　another　alleyway　ran　along　behind　the　shops　and　houses。　〃Mat；　tell　me　again　why　we're　doing　this　instead　of　playing　cards。〃
　　　〃I'll　do　it；〃　Mat　said。　Maybe　he　would　find　out　how　ta'veren　worked　behind　the　garden　wall。　He　went；　and　found　out　nothing。
　　　By　the　time　twilight　began　creeping　over　the　street　and　Harnan　came　with　a　bald…headed；　narrow…eyed　Andoran　named　Wat；　the　only　possible　effect　of　being　ta'veren　he　had　seen　was　that　the　tavern…keeper　brewed　a　fresh　pot　of　tea。　It　tasted　almost　as　bad　as　the　old。
　　　Back　in　his　rooms　in　the　palace；　he　found　a　note；　an　invitation　of　sorts；　elegantly　lettered　on　thick　white　paper　that　smelled　like　a　garden　of　flowers。
　　　
　　　My　little　rabbit；　I　expect　to　have　you　for　dinner　tonight　in　my　apartments。
　　　
　　　No　signature；　but　he　hardly　needed　one。　Light！　The　woman　had　no　shame　at　all！　There　was　a　red…painted　iron　lock　on　the　door　to　the　corridor；　he　found　the　key　and　locked　it。　Then；　for　good　measure；　h