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！
〃Light； woman； what more do you want of me？〃 Galad growled； half…raising his hands as though to grab her shoulders。 Uno's blade was between them in a flash of bright steel； but Elayne's brother actually brushed it aside like a twig； and paid it no more mind than one。 〃I mean no harm to you； now or ever； I swear it by my mother's name。 You say that you are what you are？ I know what you are。 And what you are not。 Perhaps half the reason I wear this；〃 he touched an edge of his snowy cloak； 〃is because the Tower sent you out … you and Elayne and Egwene … for the Light knows what reason； when you are what you are。 It was like sending a boy who has just learned to hold a sword into battle； and I will never forgive them。 There is still time for both of you to turn aside； you do not have to carry that sword。 The Tower is too dangerous for you or my sister； especially now。 Half the world is bee too dangerous for you！ Let me help you to safety。〃 The tightness slid from his voice； though it took on a raw edge。 〃I beg you； Nynaeve。 If anything happened to Elayne。。。 I half…wish that Egwene were with you； so I could。。。〃 Scrubbing a hand through his hair； he looked left and right； searching for how to convince her。 Uno and Ragan held their blades ready to drive through his body； but he did not appear to see them。 〃In the name of the Light； Nynaeve； please allow me to do what I can。〃
It was a simple thing that finally tipped the balance in her mind。 They were in Ghealdan。 Amadicia was the only land that actually made a crime out of a woman being able to channel； and they were on the opposite bank of the river。 That left only Galad's oaths as a Child of the Light to battle against his duty to Elayne。 She gave blood the edge in that struggle。 Besides； he really was too gorgeous for her to let Uno and Ragan kill him。 Not that that had anything to do with her decision； of course。
〃We are with Valan Luca's show；〃 she said at last。
He blinked at her； frowned。 〃Valan Luca's。。。？ You mean one of the menageries？〃 Incredulity and disgust fought in his voice。 〃What under the Light are you doing in pany like that？ Those who keep such shows are no better than。。。 No matter。 If you need coin； I can supply some。 Enough to see you in a decent inn。〃
His tone bespoke his certainty that she would do as he wanted。 Not a 〃can I help you with a few crowns？〃 or a 〃would you like me to find a room for you？〃 He thought they should be in an inn； so into an inn they would go。 The man might have observed enough to know she would duck into an alley； but he did not know her at all； it seemed。 Besides； there were reasons to stay with Luca。
〃Do you think there is a room； or a hayloft； not taken in all of Samara？〃 she asked； a touch more tartly than intended。
〃I am certain I can find …〃
She cut him off。 〃The last place anyone would look for us is among the shows。〃 The last place anyone but Moghedien would look； at least。 〃You'll agree we should keep from sight as much as possible？ If you did find a room； more than likely you'd have to have someone put out of it。 A Child of the Light securing a room so for two women？ That would set tongues wagging and draw eyes like flies to a midden。〃
He did not like it； grimacing； and glaring at Uno and； Ragan as if it were their fault； but he had enough sense to see sense。 〃It is no fit place for either of you； but it is probably safer than anywhere inside the city at that。 Since you have at least agreed to go to Caemlyn； I will say no more on it。〃
She kept her face smooth and let him think as he wished。 If he thought she had promised what she had not； that was his affair。 She had to keep him away from the show as much as possible； though。 One glimpse of his sister in those spangled white breeches； and the uproar would overshadow any riot Masema could raise。 〃You will have to stay clear of the menagerie； mind。 Until you find a ship； anyway。 Then e to the performers' wagons at nightfall and ask for Nana。〃 He liked that even less； if possible； but she forestalled him firmly。 〃I've not seen a single Child of the Light near any of the shows。 If you visit one； don't you think people will notice and ask why？〃
His smile was still gorgeous； but it showed too many teeth。 〃You have an answer for everything； it seems。 Do you have any objection to my escorting you back there； at least？〃
〃I most certainly do。 There will be rumors as it is … a hundred people must have noticed us talking here〃 … she could no longer see the street past the three men； yet she had no doubt passersby were still glancing into the alley； and Uno and Ragan had not resheathed their swords …〃but if you acpany me； we'll be seen by ten times as many。〃
His wince was half rueful； half mirthful。 〃An answer for everything；〃 he muttered。 〃But you have the right of it。〃 Clearly he wished she did not。 〃Hear me； Shienarans；〃 he said； turning his head； and suddenly his voice was steel。 〃I am Galadedrid Damodred； and this woman is under my protection。 As for her panion； I would count it small loss to die in order to save her the smallest harm。 If you allow either to e to that smallest harm； I will find you both and kill you。〃 Ignoring the sudden； dangerous blankness of their faces as pletely as he did their swords； he swung his eyes back to her。 〃I suppose you still will not tell me where Egwene is？〃
〃All you need know is that she is far from here。〃 Folding her arms beneath her breasts； she could feel her heart beating through her ribs。 Was she making a dangerous mistake because of a pretty face？ 〃And safer than any action of yours can make her。〃
He looked as if he did not believe her； but he made no more of it。 〃With luck； I will find a vessel in a day or two。 Until then； stay close to this Valan Luca's。。。 show。 Stay low and avoid notice。 As much as you can with your hair that color。 And tell Elayne not to run away from me again。 The Light shone on you to let me find you still in one piece； and it will have to shine twice as brightly to keep you from harm if you try haring off across Ghealdan。 This Prophet's blasphemous ruffians are everywhere； without respect for law or persons； and that does not count brigands taking advantage of disorder。 Samara itself is a wasp nest； but if you will sit quietly and convince my headstrong sister to do the same I will find a way to get you out of it before you are stung。〃
It was an effort to keep her mouth shut。 Taking what she told him and making it an injunction to her！ Next thing the man would want to pack her and Elayne in wool and sit them on a shelf！ Wouldn't it be best if someone did？ a tiny voice asked。 Haven't you caused enough trouble going your own way？ She told the voice to be quiet。 It did not listen； but began listing disasters and near disasters sprung from her own stubbornness。
Apparently taking her silence for acquiescence； 。he turned away from her … and stopped。 Ragan and Uno had moved to block his way to the street； glancing at her with that strange； deceptive calm men so often adopted when they were a hairsbreadth from sudden violence。 The air seemed to crackle； until she motioned hurriedly。 The Shienarans lo