rj.thegreathunt-第116部分

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much。
　　　　　　　〃Still；〃　the　Daughter…Heir　said　firmly；　〃I　have　never　had　any　real　excitement　before；　and　never　likely　to　as　long　as　Mother　has　any　say　in　it；　which　she　will　until　I　take　the　throne　myself。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　two　be　quiet；〃　Nynaeve　said。　They　were　alone　in　the　hall　for　a　change；　with　no　one　in　sight　in　either　direction。　She　pointed　to　a　narrow　flight　of　stairs　going　down。　〃That　should　be　what　we　want。　If　I　haven't　gotten　turned　around　pletely；　with　all　the　twists　and　turns　we've　made。〃
　　　　　　　She　took　the　stairs　as　if　she　were　certain　anyway；　and　the　others　followed。　Surely　enough；　the　small　door　at　the　bottom　let　out　into　the　dusty　yard　of　the　South　Stable；　where　novices'　horses　were　kept；　for　those　who　had　them；　until　they　had　need　of　mounts　again；　which　was　generally　not　until　they　became　Accepted　or　were　sent　home。　The　gleaming　bulk　of　the　Tower　itself　rose　behind　them；　the　Tower　grounds　spread　over　a　good　many　hides　of　land；　with　its　own　walls　higher　than　some　city　walls。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　strode　into　the　stable　as　if　she　owned　it。　It　had　a　clean　smell　of　hay　and　horse；　and　two　long　rows　of　stalls　ran　back　into　shadows　barred　with　light　from　the　vents　above。　For　a　wonder；　shaggy　Bela　and　Nynaeve's　gray　mare　stood　in　stalls　near　the　doors。　Bela　put　her　nose　over　the　stall　door　and　whickered　softly　to　Egwene。　There　was　only　one　groom　in　evidence；　a　pleasant…looking　fellow　with　gray　in　his　beard；　chewing　a　straw。
　　　　　　　〃We　will　have　our　horses　saddled；〃　Nynaeve　told　him　in　her　most　manding　tone。　〃Those　two。　Min；　find　your　horse。　and　Elayne's。〃　Min　dropped　the　saddlebags　and　drew　Elayne　deeper　into　the　stables。
　　　　　　　The　stableman　frowned　after　them　and　slowly　took　the　straw　from　his　mouth。　〃There　must　be　some　mistake；　my　Lady。　Those　animals　…〃
　　　　　　　〃…　are　ours；〃　Nynaeve　said　firmly；　folding　her　arms　so　that　the　Serpent　ring　was　obvious。　〃You　will　saddle　them　now。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　held　her　breath；　it　was　a　last…ditch　plan；　that　Nynaeve　would　try　to　pass　as　an　Aes　Sedai　if　they　had　difficulties　with　anyone　who　might　actually　accept　her　as　one。　No　Aes　Sedai　or　Accepted　would；　of　course；　and　probably　not　even　a　novice；　but　a　stableman　。。。
　　　　　　　The　man　blinked　at　Nynaeve's　ring；　then　at　her。　〃I　was　told　two；〃　he　said　at　last；　sounding　unimpressed。　〃One　of　the　Accepted　and　a　novice。　Wasn't　nothing　said　about　four　of　you。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　felt　like　laughing。　Of　course　Liandrin　would　not　have　believed　them　able　to　get　their　horses　by　themselves。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　looked　disappointed；　and　her　voice　sharpened。　〃You　trot　those　horses　out　and　saddle　them；　or　you'll　have　need　of　Liandrin's　Healing；　if　she　will　give　it　to　you。〃
　　　　　　　The　groom　mouthed　Liandrin's　name；　but　one　look　at　Nynaeve's　face　and　he　saw　to　the　horses　with　no　more　than　a　mutter　or　two；　not　loud　enough　for　any　but　himself　to　hear。　Min　and　Elayne　came　back　with　their　own　mounts　just　as　he　finished　tightening　the　second　girth。　Min's　was　a　tall　dust…colored　gelding；　Elayne's　a　bay　mare　with　an　arched　neck。
　　　　　　　When　they　were　mounted；　Nynaeve　addressed　herself　to　the　stableman　again。　〃No　doubt　you　were　told　to　keep　this　quiet；　and　that　hasn't　changed　whether　we　are　two　or　two　hundred。　If　you　think　it　has；　think　about　what　Liandrin　will　do　if　you　talk　what　you　were　told　to　keep　quiet。〃
　　　　　　　As　they　were　riding　out；　Elayne　tossed　him　a　coin　and　murmured；　〃For　your　trouble；　goodman。　You　have　done　well。〃　Outside；　she　caught　Egwene's　eye　and　smiled。　〃Mother　says　a　stick　and　honey　always　work　better　than　a　stick　alone。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　hope　we　don't　need　either　with　the　guards；〃　Egwene　said。　〃I　hope　Liandrin　spoke　to　them；　too。〃
　　　　　　　At　Tarlomen's　Gate；　though；　piercing　the　tall　south　wall　of　the　Tower　grounds；　there　was　no　telling　if　anyone　had　spoken　to　the　guards　or　not。　They　waved　the　four　women　through　with　no　more　than　a　glance　and　a　cursory　bow。　Guards　were　meant　to　keep　out　those　who　were　dangerous；　apparently　these　had　no　orders　about　keeping　anyone　in。
　　　　　　　A　cool　river　breeze　gave　them　an　excuse　to　pull　up　the　hoods　of　their　cloaks　as　they　rode　slowly　through　the　streets　of　the　city。　The　ring　of　their　horses'　hooves　on　the　paving　stones　was　lost　in　the　murmur　of　the　crowds　filling　the　streets　and　the　music　that　came　from　some　of　the　buildings　they　passed。　People　dressed　in　garments　from　every　land；　from　the　dark　and　somber　mode　of　Cairhien　to　the　bright；　brilliant　colors　of　the　Traveling　People；　and　every　style　in　between；　split　around　the　horsewomen　like　a　river　around　a　rock；　but　they　still　could　not　move　at　more　than　a　slow　walk。
　　　　　　　Egwene　gave　no　attention　to　the　fabulous　towers　with　their　sky…borne　bridges　or　the　buildings　that　looked　more　like　breaking　waves；　or　windsculpted　cliffs；　or　fanciful　shells；　than　anything　made　from　stone。　Aes　Sedai　often　went　into　the　city；　and　in　that　crowd　they　could　e　face…to…face　with　one　before　they　knew　it。　After　a　time　she　realized　the　other　women　were　keeping　as　close　a　watch　as　she；　but　she　still　felt　more　than　a　glimmer　of　relief　when　the　Ogier　grove　came　into　view。
　　　　　　　The　Great　Trees　were　now　visible　beyond　the　rooftops；　their　spreading　tops　a　hundred　spans　and　more　in　the　air。　Towering　oaks　and　elms；　leatherleafs　and　firs；　were　dwarfed　beneath　them。　A　wall　of　sorts　enpassed　the　grove；　which　was　a　good　two　miles　across；　but　it　was　only　an　endless　series　of　spiraling　stone　arches；　each　five　spans　high　and　twice　as　wide。　By　the　outer　side　of　the　wall；　carriages；　carts；　and　people　bustled　along　a　street；　while　inside　lay　a　wilderness　of　sorts。　The　grove　had　neither　the　tame　look　of　a　park　nor　the　plete　haphazardness　of　the　forest　depths。　Rather；　it　seemed　to　be　the　ideal　of　nature；　as　if　this　were　the　perfect　woods；　the　most　beautiful　forest　that　could　be。　Some　of　the　leaves　had　already　begun　to　turn；　and　even　the　small　swathes　of　orange　and　yellow　and　red　among　the　green　seemed　to　Egwene　to　be　exactly　the　way　autumn　foliage　should　look。
　　　　　　　A　few　people　strolled　just　inside　the　open　arches；　and　no　one　looked　twice　when　the　four　women　rode　in　under　the　trees。　The　city　was　quickly　lost　to　view；　even　the　sounds　of　it　softened；　then　blocked；　by　the　grove。　In　the　space　of　ten　strides　they　seemed　to　be　miles　from　the　nearest　town。
　　　　　　　〃The　north　edge　of　the　grove；　she　said；〃　Nynaeve　muttered；　peering　around。　〃There　isn't　any　point　of　it　further　north　than　…〃　She　cut　off　as　two　horses　burst　from　a　copse　of　black　elder；　a　dark；　glossy　mare　with　a　rider　and　a　lightly　laden　packhorse。
　　　　　　　The　dark　mare　reared；　pawing　the　air；　as　Liandrin　reined　her　harshly。　The　Aes　Sedai's　face　wore　fury　like　a　mask。　〃I　told　you　not　to　tell　anyone　of　this！　Not　anyone！〃　Egwene　noticed　pole…lanterns　on　the　packhorse；　and　thought　it　odd。
　　　　　　　〃These　are　friends；〃　Nynaeve　began；　her　back　stiffening；　but　Elayne　broke　in　on　her。
　　　　　　　〃Forgive　us；　Liandrin　Sedai。　They　did　not　tell　us；　we　overheard。　We　did　not　mean　to　listen　to　anything　we　should　not　have；　but　we　did　overhear。　And　we　want　to　help　Rand　al'Thor；　too。　And　the　other　boys；　of　course；〃　she　added　quickly。
　　　　　　　Liandrin　peered　at　Elayne　and　Min。　The　late　afternoon　sunlight；　slanting　through　the　branches；　shadowed　their　faces　beneath　the　hoods　of　their　cloaks。　〃So；〃　she　said　finally；　still　watching　those　two。　〃I　had　made　arrangements　for　you　to　be　taken　care　of；　but　as　you　are　here；　you　are　here。　Four　can　make　this　journey　as　well　as　two。〃
　　　　　　　〃Taken　care　of；　Liandrin　Sedai？〃　Elayne　said。　〃I　do　not　understand。〃
　　　　　　　〃Child；　you　and　that　other　are　known　as　friends　of　these　two。　Do　you　not　think　there　are　those　who　would　question　you　when　they　are　found　to　be　gone？　Do　you　believe　the　Black　Ajah　would　be　gentle　with　you　just　because　you　are　heir　to　a　throne？　Had　you　remained　in　the　White　Tower；　you　might　not　have　lived　the　night。〃　That　silenced　them　all　for　a　moment；　but　Liandrin　wheeled　her　horse　and　called；　〃Follow　me！〃
　　　　　　　The　Aes　Sedai　led　them　deeper　into　the　grove；　until　they　came　to　a　tall　fence　of　stout　ironwork　topped　with　a　hedge　of　razor…sharp　spikes。　Curving　slightly；　as　if　it　enclosed　a　large　area；　the　fence　ran　out　of　sight　among　the　trees　to　left　and　right。　There　was　a　gate　in　the　fence；　secured　with　a　big　lock。　Liandrin　unfastened　this　with　a　large　key　she　produced　from　her　cloak；　motioned　them　through；　then　relocked　it　behind　them　and　rode　on　ahead　immediately。　A　squirrel　chittered　at　them　from　a　branch　overhead；　and　from　somewhere　came　the　sharp　drumming　of　a　woodpecker。
　　　　　　　〃Where　are　we　going？〃　Nynaeve　demanded。　Liandrin　did　not　answer；　and　Nynaeve　looked　angrily　at　the　others。　〃Why　are　we　just　riding　deeper　into　these　woods？　We　have　to　cross　a　bridge；　or　else　take　ship；　if　we're　going　to　leave　Tar　Valon；　and　there　isn't　any　bridge　or　ship　in…〃
　　　　　　　〃There　is　this；〃　Liandrin　announced。　〃The　fence；　it　keeps　away　those　who　might　harm　themselves；　but　we　have　a　need　this　day。〃　What　she　gestured　to　was　a　tall；　thick　slab　of　what　seemed　to　be　stone；　standing　on　edge；　one　side　carved　intricately　in　vines　and　leaves。
　　　　　　　Egwene's　throat　tightened；　suddenly　she　knew　why　Liandrin　had　brought　lanterns；　and　she　did　not　like　what　she　knew。　She　heard　Nynaeve　whisper；　〃A　Waygate。〃　They　both　remembered　the　Ways　all　too　well。
　　　　　　　〃We　did　it　once；〃　she　told　herself　as　much　as　Nynaeve。　〃We　can　do　it　again。〃　If　Rand　and　the　others　need　us；　we　have　to　help　them。　That's　all　there　is　to　it。
　　　　　　　〃Is　that　really　。。。？〃　Min　began　in　a　choked　voice　and　could　not　finish。
　　　　　　　〃A　Waygate；〃　Elayne　breathed。　〃I　did　not　think　the　Ways　could　be　used　any　longer。　At　least；　I　did　not　think　their　use　was　allowed。〃
　　　　　　　Liandrin　had　already　dismounted　and　plucked　the　trefoil　Avendesora　leaf　out　of　the　carving；　like　two　huge　doors　woven　of　living　vines；　the　gates　were　swinging　open；　revealing　what　appeared　to　be　a　dull；　silvery　mirror　that　gave　their　reflections　back　dimly。
　　　　　　　〃You　do　not　have　to　e；〃　Liandrin　said。　〃You　can　wait　here　for　me；　safely　enclosed　by　the　fence　until　I　e　for　you。　Or　perhaps　the　Black　Ajah　will　find　you　before　anyone　else。〃　Her　smile　was　not　pleasant。　Behind　her；　the　Waygate　came　open　to　its　fullest　and　stopped。
　　　　　　　〃I　did　not　say　I　wouldn't　e；〃　Elayne　said；　but　she　gave　the　shadowed　woods　a　lingering　look。
　　　　　　　〃