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！
t would be。 〃Nynaeve； I can't。〃
〃What do you mean； you cannot？ Are you a fly on the wall； or a man？ A chance to do a favor for the Daughter…Heir of Andor； to see Caemlyn； to meet Queen Morgase herself in all probability； and you cannot？ I really do not know what more you could possibly want。 Don't you skitter away like grease on a griddle this time； Matrim Cauthon！ Or has your heart changed so you like seeing these all around you？〃 She waved her left hand in his face； practically hitting him in the nose with her ring。
〃Please； Mat？〃 Elayne said； and Egwene was staring at him as if he had grown horns like a Trolloc。
He squirmed on his chair。 〃It is not that I don't want to。 I cannot！ The Amyrlin's made it so I can't get off the bloo … ； the island。 Change that； and I will carry your letter in my teeth； Elayne。〃
Looks passed between them。 He sometimes wondered if women could read each other's minds。 They certainly seemed to read his when he least wanted it。 But this time； whatever they had decided silently among themselves； they had not read his thoughts。
〃Explain；〃 Nynaeve said curtly。 〃Why would the Amyrlin want to keep you here？〃
He shrugged； and looked her straight in the eye； and gave her his best rueful grin。 〃It's because I was sick。 Because it went on so long。 She said she would not let me go until she was sure I wouldn't go off somewhere and die。 Not that I'm going to； of course。 Die； I mean。〃
Nynaeve frowned； and jerked her braid； and suddenly took his head between her hands； a chill ran through him。 Light； the Power！ Before the thought was done； she had released him。
〃What。。。？ What did you do to me； Nynaeve？〃
〃Not a tenth part of what you deserve； in all likelihood；〃 she said。 〃You are as healthy as a bull。 Weaker than you look； but healthy。〃
〃I told you I was；〃 he said uneasily。 He tried to get his grin back。 〃Nynaeve； she looked like you。 The Amyrlin； I mean。 Managing to loom even if she is a foot too short for it； and bullying。。。〃 The way her eyebrows climbed； he decided that was not a road to go down any further。 As long as he kept them away from the Horn。 He wondered if they knew。 〃Well。 Anyway； I think they want to keep me here because of that dagger。 I mean； until they figure out exactly how it did what it did。 You know how Aes Sedai are。〃 He gave a small laugh。 They all just looked at him。 Maybe I shouldn't have said that。 Burn me！ They want to be bloody Aes Sedai。 Burn me； I'm going on too long。 I wish Nynaeve would stop staring at me like that。 Keep it short。 〃The Amyrlin made it so I cannot cross a bridge or board a ship without an order from her。 You see？ It's not that I do not want to help。 I just can't。〃
〃But you will if we can get you out of Tar Valon？〃 Nynaeve said intently。
〃You get me out of Tar Valon； and I'll carry Elayne to her mother on my back。〃
Elayne's eyebrows went up； this time； and Egwene shook her head； mouthing his name with a sharp look in her eyes。 Women had no sense of humor； sometimes。
Nynaeve motioned the two of them to follow her to the windows； where they turned their backs to him and talked so softly he could catch only a murmur。 He thought he heard Egwene say something about only needing one if they stayed together。 Watching； he wondered if they really thought they could get around the Amyrlin's order。 If they can do that； I will carry their bloody letter。 I really will carry it in my teeth。
Without thinking； he picked up an apple core and bit off the end。 One chew； and he hastily spit the mouthful of bitter seeds back onto the plate。
When they came back to the table； Egwene handed him a thick； folded paper。 He eyed them suspiciously before opening it out。 As he read； he began humming to himself without knowing it。
What the bearer does is done at my order and by my authority。 Obey； and keep silent； at my mand。
Siuan Sanche
Watcher of the Seals
Flame of Tar Valon
The Amyrlin Seat
And sealed at the bottom with the Flame of Tar Valon in a circle of white wax as hard as stone。
He realized he was humming 〃A Pocket Full of Gold〃 and stopped。 〃Is this real？ You didn't。。。？ How did you get this？〃
〃She did not forge it； if that is what you mean；〃 Elayne said。
〃Never you mind how we got it；〃 Nynaeve said。 〃It is real。 That is all that need concern you。 I would not show it around； were I you； or the Amyrlin will take it back； but it will get you past the guards and onto a ship。 You said you'd take the letter； if we did that。〃
〃You can consider it in Morgase's hands right now。〃 He did not want to stop reading the paper； but he folded it back up anyway； and laid it on top of Elayne's letter。 〃You wouldn't happen to have a little coin to go with this； would you？ Some silver？ A gold mark or two？ I have almost enough for my passage； but I hear things are growing expensive downriver。〃
Nynaeve shook her head。 〃Don't you have money？ You gambled with Hurin almost every night until you grew too sick to hold the dice。 Why should things be more expensive downriver？〃
〃We gambled for coppers； Nynaeve； and he would not even do that after a while。 It doesn't matter。 I will manage。 Don't you listen to what people say？ There's civil war in Cairhien； and I hear it is bad in Tear； too。 I've heard a room at an inn in Aringill costs more than a good horse back home。〃
〃We have been busy；〃 she said sharply； and exchanged worried looks with Egwene and Elayne that set him wondering again。
〃It doesn't matter。 I can make out。〃 There had to be gaming in the inns near the docks。 A night with the dice would put him aboard a ship in the morning with a full purse。
〃Just you deliver that letter to Queen Morgase； Mat；〃 Nynaeve said。 〃And do not let anyone know you have it。〃
〃I'll take it to her。 I said I would； didn't I？ You would think I didn't keep my promises。〃 The looks he got from Nynaeve and Egwene reminded him of a few he had not kept。 〃I will do it。 Blood and … I will do it！〃
They stayed awhile longer； talking of home for the most part。 Egwene and Elayne sat on the bed； and Nynaeve took the armchair； while he kept his stool。 Talk of Emond's Field made him homesick； and it seemed to make Nynaeve and Egwene sad； as if they were speaking of something they would never see again。 He was sure their eyes moistened； but when he tried to change the subject； they brought it back again； to people they knew； to the festivals of Bel Tine and Sunday； to harvest dances and picnic gatherings for the shearing。
Elayne talked to him of Caemlyn； of what to expect at the Royal Palace and who to speak to； and a little of the city。 Sometimes she held herself in a way that made him all but see a crown on her head。 A man would have to be a fool to let himself get involved with a woman like her。 When they rose to leave； he was sorry to see them go。
He stood； suddenly feeling awkward。 〃Look； you have done me a favor here。〃 He touched the Amyrlin's paper； on the table。 〃A big favor。 I know you're all going to be Aes Sedai〃 … he stumbled a little on that … 〃