rj.acrownofswords-第77节

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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　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