rj.acrownofswords-第67节

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a。　About　what　Egwene　told　us　last　night。　You　don't　suppose　they　can　cause　her　any　trouble；　do　you？　What　is　she　to　do？〃
　　　〃Rid　herself　of　them；〃　Aviendha　said；　drawing　a　thumb　across　her　neck。　The　relief　of　speaking；　of　hearing　voices；　was　so　great　that　she　almost　gasped。　Elayne　appeared　shocked。　She　was　remarkably　softhearted　at　times。
　　　〃It　might　be　for　the　best；〃　Birgitte　said。　She　had　revealed　no　more　name　than　that。　Aviendha　thought　her　a　woman　with　secrets。　〃Areina　could　have　made　something　of　herself　with　time；　but　…　Don't　look　at　me　that　way；　Elayne；　and　stop　going　all　prim　and　indignant　in　your　head。〃　Birgitte　often　slipped　back　and　forth　between　the　Warder　who　obeyed　and　the　older　first…sister　who　instructed　whether　or　not　you　wished　to　learn。　Right　then；　waving　an　admonishing　finger；　she　was　the　first…sister。　〃You　two　wouldn't　have　been　warned　to　stay　away　if　it　was　a　difficulty　the　Amyrlin　could　solve　by　having　them　set　to　work　with　the　laundresses　or　the　like。〃
　　　Elayne　gave　a　sharp　sniff　in　the　face　of　what　she　could　not　deny；　and　adjusted　her　green　silk　skirts　where　they　were　drawn　up　in　front　to　expose　layers　of　blue　and　white　petticoats。　She　was　wearing　the　local　fashion；　plete　with　creamy　lace　at　her　wrists　and　around　her　neck；　a　gift　from　Tylin　Quintara；　as　was　the　close…fitting　necklace　of　woven　gold。　Aviendha　did　not　approve。　The　upper　half　of　the　dress；　the　bodice；　fitted　as　snugly　as　that　necklace；　and　a　missing　narrow　oval　of　cloth　revealed　the　inner　slopes　of　her　breasts。　Walking　about　where　all　could　see　was　not　the　same　as　the　sweat　tents；　people　in　the　streets　of　the　city　were　not　gai'shain。　Her　own　dress　had　a　high　neck　that　brushed　her　chin　with　lace　and　no　parts　of　it　missing。
　　　〃Beside；〃　Birgitte　went　on；　〃I　would　think　Marigan　would　worry　you　more。　She　frightens　me　spitless。〃
　　　That　name　got　through　to　Nynaeve；　as　well　it　might。　Her　groaning　ceased；　and　she　sat　up　straight。　〃If　she　es　after　us；　we　will　just　settle　for　her　again。　We'll。。。　we'll。。。　〃　Drawing　breath；　she　stared　at　them　pointedly；　as　if　they　were　arguing　with　her。　What　she　said；　in　a　faint　voice；　was　〃Do　you　think　she　will？〃
　　　〃Fretting　will　do　no　good；〃　Elayne　told　her；　much　more　calmly　than　Aviendha　could　have　managed　if　she　thought　one　of　the　Shadowsouled　had　marked　her　out。　〃We　will　just　have　to　do　as　Egwene　said　and　be　careful。〃　Nynaeve　muttered　something　inaudible；　which　was　probably　just　as　well。
　　　Silence　descended　again；　Elayne　settling　to　a　browner　study　than　before；　Birgitte　propping　her　chin　on　one　hand　as　she　frowned　at　nothing。　Nynaeve　kept　right　on　grumbling　under　her　breath；　but　she　had　both　hands　pressed　to　her　middle　now；　and　from　time　to　time　she　paused　to　swallow。　The　splashing　of　water　seemed　louder　than　ever；　and　the　cries　of　the　birds。
　　　〃I　have　been　thinking　too；　near…sister。〃　She　and　Elayne　had　not　reached　the　point　of　adopting　each　other　as　first…sisters　yet；　but　she　was　sure　they　would；　now。　Already　they　brushed　each　other's　hair；　and　every　night　in　the　dark　shared　another　secret　never　told　to　anyone　else。　This　Min　woman；　though。。。　That　was　for　later；　when　they　were　alone。
　　　〃About　what？〃　Elayne　asked　absently。
　　　〃Our　search。　We　prepare　for　success；　but　we　are　as　far　away　as　when　we　began。　Does　it　make　sense　not　to　use　every　weapon　at　hand？　Mat　Cauthon　is　ta'veren；　yet　we　work　to　avoid　him。　Why　not　take　him　with　us？　With　him；　we　might　find　the　bowl　at　last。〃
　　　〃Mat？〃　Nynaeve　exclaimed　incredulously。　〃As　well　stuff　your　shift　full　of　nettles！　I　would　not　endure　the　man　if　he　had　the　bowl　in　his　coat　pocket。〃
　　　〃Oh；　do　be　quiet；　Nynaeve；〃　Elayne　murmured；　without　any　heat。　She　shook　her　head　wonderingly；　taking　no　notice　of　the　other's　sudden　glower。　〃Prickly〃　only　began　to　describe　Nynaeve；　but　they　were　all　used　to　her　ways。　〃Why　didn't　I　think　of　that？　It　is　so　obvious！〃
　　　〃Maybe；〃　Birgitte　murmured　dryly；　〃you　had　Mat　the　scoundrel　set　so　hard　in　your　mind；　you　couldn't　see　he　had　any　use。〃　Elayne　gave　her　a　cool　stare；　chin　raised；　then　abruptly　grimaced；　and　nodded　reluctantly。　She　did　not　accept　criticism　easily。
　　　〃No；〃　Nynaeve　said　in　a　voice　that　somehow　managed　to　be　sharp　and　weak　at　the　same　time。　The　sickly　cast　of　her　face　had　deepened；　but　it　no　longer　seemed　caused　by　the　boat's　heaving。　〃You　cannot　possibly　mean　it！　Elayne；　you　know　what　a　torment　he　can　be；　how　stubborn　he　is。　He'll　insist　on　bringing　those　soldiers　of　his　like　a　feastday　parade。　Try　finding　anything　in　the　Rahad　with　soldiers　at　your　shoulder。　Just　try！　Inside　two　steps；　he'll　try　to　take　charge；　flaunting　that　ter'angreal　at　us。　He's　a　thousand　times　worse　than　Vandene　or　Adeleas；　or　even　Merilille。　The　way　he　behaves；　you　would　think　we'd　walk　into　a　bear's　den　just　to　see　the　bear！〃
　　　Birgitte　made　a　noise　in　her　throat　that　might　have　been　amusement；　and　received　a　darted　glare。　She　returned　such　a　look　of　bland　innocence　that　Nynaeve　began　to　sound　as　if　she　were　choking。
　　　Elayne　was　more　soothing；　she　probably　would　try　to　make　peace　in　a　water…feud。　〃He　is　ta'veren；　Nynaeve。　He　alters　the　Pattern；　alters　chance；　just　being　there。　I'm　ready　to　admit　we　need　luck；　and　a　ta'veren　is　more　than　luck。　Besides；　we　can　snare　two　birds　at　once。　We　should　not　have　been　letting　him　run　loose　all　this　time；　no　matter　how　busy　we　were。　That's　done　no　one　any　good；　him　least　of　all。　He　needs　to　be　made　fit　for　decent　pany。　We　will　put　him　on　a　short　rein　from　the　start；〃
　　　Nynaeve　smoothed　her　skirts　with　considerable　vigor。　She　claimed　to　have　no　more　interest　in　dresses　than　Aviendha　…　in　what　they　looked　like；　anyway；　she　was　always　muttering　about　good　plain　wool　being　fine　enough　for　anybody　…　yet　her　own　blue　dress　was　slashed　with　yellow　on　the　skirts　and　sleeves；　and　she　herself　had　chosen　its　design。　Every　stitch　she　owned　was　silk　or　embroidered　or　both；　all　cut　with　what　Aviendha　had　learned　to　recognize　as　fine　care。
　　　For　once　Nynaeve　appeared　to　understand　she　would　not　get　her　way。　Sometimes　she　threw　amazing　tantrums　until　she　did；　not　that　she　would　admit　that　was　what　they　were。　The　glower　faded　to　a　grumpy　sulk。　〃Who　will　ask　him？　Whoever　does；　he　will　make　her　beg。　You　know　he　will。　I'd　sooner　marry　him！〃
　　　Elayne　hesitated；　then　said　firmly；　〃Birgitte　will。　And　she　won't　beg；　she　will　tell　him。　Most　men　will　do　as　you　say　if　you　use　a　firm；　confident　voice。〃　Nynaeve　looked　doubtful；　and　Birgitte　jerked　erect　on　her　bench；　startled　for　the　first　time　Aviendha　had　ever　seen。　With　anyone　else；　Aviendha　might　have　said　she　looked　a　little　afraid；　too。　Birgitte　would　have　done　very　well　as　Far　Dareis　Mai；　for　a　wetlander。　She　had　remarkable　skill　with　a　bow。
　　　〃You　are　the　clear　choice；　Birgitte；〃　Elayne　went　on　quickly。　〃Nynaeve　and　I　are　Aes　Sedai；　and　Aviendha　might　as　well　be。　We　cannot　possibly　do　it。　Not　and　maintain　proper　dignity。　Not　with　him。　You　know　what　he　is　like。〃　What　had　happened　to　all　that　talk　of　a　firm；　confident　voice？　Not　that　Aviendha　had　ever　noticed　that　working　for　anyone　except　Sorilea。　It　surely　had　not　so　far　on　Mat　Cauthon　that　she　had　seen。　〃Birgitte；　he　can't　have　recognized　you。　If　he　had；　he　would　have　said　something　by　now。〃
　　　Whatever　that　meant；　Birgitte　leaned　back　against　the　wall　and　laced　her　fingers　over　her　stomach。　〃I　should　have　known　you'd　get　back　at　me　ever　since　I　said　it　was　a　good　thing　your　bottom　wasn't　any　…　〃　She　stopped；　and　a　faint　satisfied　smile　appeared　on　her　lips。　Nothing　changed　in　Elayne's　expression；　but　plainly　Birgitte　thought　she　had　gained　a　measure　of　revenge。　It　must　have　been　something　felt　through　the　Warder　bond。　How　Elayne's　bottom　entered　into　anything；　though；　Aviendha　could　not　puzzle　out。　Wetlanders　were　so。。。　odd。。。　at　times。　Birgitte　continued；　still　wearing　that　smile。　〃What　I　don't　understand　is　why　he　starts　chafing　as　soon　as　he　sees　you　two。　It　can't　be　that　you　snagged　him　off　here。　Egwene　was　as　deep　in　that　as　you；　but　I　saw　him　treat　her　with　more　respect　than　most　of　the　sisters　do。　Besides；　the　times　I've　glimpsed　him　ing　out　of　The　Wandering　Woman；　he　looked　to　be　enjoying　himself。〃　Her　smile　became　a　grin　that　made　Elayne　sniff　disapprovingly。
　　　〃That　is　one　thing　we　need　to　change。　A　decent　woman　cannot　be　in　the　room　with　him。　Oh；　do　wipe　that　smirk　off　your　face；　Birgitte。　I　vow；　you　are　as　bad　as　he；　sometimes。〃
　　　〃The　man　was　born　just　to　be　a　trial；〃　Nynaeve　muttered　sourly。
　　　Suddenly　Aviendha　was　forcibly　reminded　that　she　was　on　a　boat　as　everything　lurched；　swaying　and　swinging　around　to　a　halt。　Rising　and　straightening　dresses；　they　gathered　the　light　cloaks　they　had　brought。　She　did　not　don　hers；　the　sunlight　here　was　not　so　bright　that　she　needed　the　hood　to　keep　it　from　her　eyes。　Birgitte　only　draped　hers　over　one　shoulder　and　pushed　open　the　door；　following　up　the　three　steps　after　Nynaeve　had　rushed　past　her　with　a　hand　clapped　over　her　mouth。
　　　Elayne　paused　to　tie　her　cloak　ribbons　and　arrange　the　hood　around　her　face；　red…gold　curls　peeking　out　all　around。　〃You　did　not　say　much；　near…sister。〃
　　　〃I　said　what　I　had　to　say。　The　decision　was　yours。〃
　　　〃The　key　thought　was　yours；　thou