按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
f stones fell around them； sometimes banging off a helmet； but silently in the uproar。 A lone Whitecloak's horse suddenly screamed and reared； and toppled over backward； it scrambled to its feet quickly； minus its rider。 Other riderless animals dotted the mass of men。 Was this what they had set off just to cover themselves？ She tried reminding herself why … put her hand on her pouch to feel the cuendillar seal； the collar and bracelets … but it was hard。 Men were dying out there； surely。
〃Will you women move？〃 Thom called； waving for them to e out。 He had a bleeding gash over one bushy eyebrow； perhaps from a stone； and his brown cloak would not even do for the ragbag now。 〃If the Panarch's Legion ever stops running； this could grow messy。〃
Amathera made a startled sound； just before Elayne pushed her firmly out。 Nynaeve and Egeanin followed； and as soon as all four women were out； the sailors folded in around them in a tight ring that began straggling away from the palace。 It was all Nynaeve could do to keep her feet； jostled by the men who were trying to protect her。 Once Egeanin slipped and nearly fell。 Nynaeve caught her arm； helped her back up； and got a grateful grin。 We are not so different； she thought。 Not the same； but not all that different。 She did not have to make herself smile encouragingly at the Seanchan woman。
The milling mass lasted several streets away from the palace； but once they broke clear the narrow twisting ways were almost empty。 Those who were not actually involved in the riot seemed wise enough to stay clear of it。 The sailors spread out a little； giving the women more room。 Any straggler who looked in their direction got hard stares； though。 The streets of Tanchico were still the streets of Tanchico。 Somehow that surprised Nynaeve。 It seemed that she had been weeks inside the palace。 Surely the city should be different。
When the babble began to fade behind them； Thom managed a quite elegant bow to Amathera as he limped along。 〃An honor； Panarch；〃 he said。 〃If I may be of any service； you have only to speak。〃
Shockingly； Amathera glanced at Elayne； grimaced slightly； and said； 〃You mistake me； good sir。 I am only a poor refugee from the countryside； rescued by these good women。〃
Thom exchanged startled looks with Juilin and Domon； but when he opened his mouth； Elayne said； 〃Could we get on to the inn； Thom？ This is hardly the place for conversation。〃
When they reached the Three Plum Court； it was scarcely less surprising to hear Elayne introduce the Panarch to Rendra as Thera； a refugee with no money who needed a pallet； and maybe some work to earn her meals。 The innkeeper shrugged resignedly； but as she led 〃Thera〃 away to the kitchens she was already telling the woman what lovely hair she had and how pretty she would look in the right dress。
Nynaeve waited until the rest of them were in the Chamber of Falling Blossoms with the door closed before saying； 〃Thera？ And she went along！ Elayne； Rendra will have the woman serving at table in the mon room！〃
Elayne did not seem surprised。 〃Yes； very likely。〃 Sinking into a chair with a sigh； she kicked off her slippers and began massaging her feet vigorously。 〃It was not difficult to convince Amathera she should stay in hiding for a few days。 It really isn't that far from 'The Panarch is dead' to 'Death to the Panarch。' I think seeing the riot helped； too。 She doesn't want to depend on Andric to put her back on her throne； she wants her own soldiers to do it； even if it means hiding until she can get in touch with the Lord Captain of the Legion。 I believe Andric is in for a surprise with her。 It is too bad he doesn't surprise her。 She deserves it。〃 Domon and Juilin exchanged glances； shook； their heads unprehendingly。 Egeanin nodded to herself as if she； at least； understood； and approved。
〃But why？〃 Nynaeve demanded。 〃You may have been upset because she sneaked off on her own； but this？ How did she manage that anyway； with two of you watching her？〃 Egeanin's eyes flickered toward Elayne； so quickly Nynaeve was not sure she had really seen it。
Elayne bent to rub the sole of one foot。 It must have hurt； there was red in her cheeks。 〃Nynaeve； the woman has no idea what the lives of the mon people are like。〃 As if she did！ 〃She does seem to have a true concern for justice … I think she does … yet it did not bother her at all that there was enough food in the palace for a year。 I mentioned the soup kitchens； and she did not know what I was talking about！ A few days working for her supper will do her good。〃 Stretching her legs under the table； she worked her bare toes。 〃Oh； that does feel good。 Not that she'll have many； I suppose。 Not if she is to rally the Panarch's Legion to pry Liandrin and the others out of the palace。 A pity； but there it is。〃
〃Well； she has to；〃 Nynaeve told her firmly。 It was good to sit down； though she could not understand the girl's concern with her feet。 They had hardly walked at all today。 〃And the sooner the better。 We need the Panarch； and not in Rendra's kitchen。〃 She did not think there was any need to worry about Moghedien。 That woman had had every opportunity to e into the open； after she had freed herself。 That still puzzled her； she must have been careless in tying off the shield。 But if Moghedien had been unwilling to face her then； when she must have known Nynaeve was nearly exhausted； she could not think the woman would e after them。 Not for something she seemed to think was not worth very much。 The same did not apply to Liandrin； however。 If Liandrin figured out half of what had happened； she would be hunting them。
〃The justice of the Daughter…Heir；〃 Thom murmured； 〃may yet supersede the justice of the Panarch。 There were men streaming in through that door as we left； and I think some had already got in the front。 I saw smoke ing out of several windows。 By tonight； little more than a fire…gutted ruin will remain。 No need for soldiers to chase the Black Ajah； and thus 'Thera' can have her few days to learn the lesson you want to teach。 You will make a fine queen one day； Elayne of Andor。〃
Elayne's pleased smile faded as she looked at him。 Rising to pad around the table； she rummaged in his coat pockets for a kerchief and began dabbing blood from his forehead despite his protests。 〃Hold still；〃 she told him； sounding for all the world like a mother tending an unruly child。
〃Could we at least see what we risked our necks for？〃 he said when it became clear Elayne was going to do exactly as she wished。
Opening her belt pouch； Nynaeve laid the contents out on the table； the black…and…white disc that helped hold the Dark One's prison shut； the collar and bracelets that sent ripples of sorrow through her before she could lay them down。 Everyone gathered close to stare。
Domon fingered the seal。 〃I did own a thing like this once。〃
Nynaeve doubted it。 Only seven had been made。 Three were broken now； cuendillar or no。 Another was in Moiraine's hands。 Four surviving。 How well could four keep that prison at Shayol Ghul locked？ A shivery thought。
Egeanin touched the collar； pushed the bracelets away from the collar。 If she felt the emotions trapped in them； she did not show it。 Perhaps that sensitivity came only with the ability to channel。 〃It is not an a'dam；〃 the Seanchan woman said。 〃That is made of a silvery metal； and all of one piece。〃
Nynaeve wished she had not mentioned a'dam。But she never wore the bracelet of one。 And she did let that poor woman she told us about go。 Poor woman。 She … this Bethamin … was the one who controlled women with an a'dam。 Egeanin had showed more mercy than Nynaeve would have。 〃It is as least as much like an a'dam as you and I are alike； Egeanin。〃 The woman looked startled； but after a moment she nodded。 Not so different。 Two women； each doing the best she could。
〃Do you mean to keep on pursuing Liandrin？〃 Juilin seated himself； arms folded on the table； studying the things there。 〃Whether or not she is chased out of Tanchico； she is still out there。 And the others。 But these seem too important to leave lying about。 I am only a thief…catcher； but I would say these must be taken to the White Tower for safekeeping。〃
〃No！〃 Nynaeve was startled at her own vehemence。 So were the others； by the way they stared at her。 Slowly she picked up the seal and replaced it in her pouch。 〃This goes to the Tower。 But that。。。〃 She did not want to touch the black things again。 If those were in the Tower； Aes Sedai might decide to use them just as the Black Ajah had intended to。 To control Rand。 Would Moiraine？ Siuan Sanche？ She would not take the chance。 〃That is too dangerous to risk it ever falling back into the hands of Darkfriends。 Elayne； can you destroy them？ Melt them。 I don't care if they burn through the table。 Just destroy them！〃
〃I see what you mean；〃 Elayne said with a grimace。 Nynaeve doubted she did … Elayne believed in the Tower wholeheartedly … but she believed in Rand； too。
Nynaeve could not see the glow of saidar； of course； but the intent way the girl stared at the vile objects told her she was channeling。 The bracelets and