rj.thegreathunt-第13部分

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！


g　off　at　nothing。
　　　　　　　With　a　shiver；　he　pried　his　fingers　off　his　sword　hilt。　〃Light！〃　he　said　hoarsely。　〃This　is　what　you　call　being　like　he　used　to　be？〃
　　　　　　　〃Sometimes　he's　better；　and　sometimes　worse。〃　Egwene's　voice　was　unsteady。　〃This　is　worse　…　much　worse　than　usual。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　is　he　seeing；　I　wonder。　He's　mad；　staring　at　a　stone　ceiling　in　the　dark。〃If　the　stone　weren't　there；　he'd　he　looking　straight　at　the　women's　apartments。　Where　Moiraine　is；　and　the　Amyrlin　Seat。　He　shivered　again。　〃He's　mad。〃
　　　　　　　〃This　was　not　a　good　idea；　Rand。〃　Looking　over　her　shoulder　at　the　cell；　she　drew　him　away　from　it　and　lowered　her　voice　as　if　afraid　Fain　might　overhear。　Fain's　chuckles　followed　them。　〃Even　if　they　don't　look　here；　I　cannot　stay　here　with　him　like　this；　and　I　do　not　think　you　should；　either。　There　is　something　about　him　today　that　。。。〃　She　drew　a　shaky　breath。　〃There　is　one　place　even　safer　from　search　than　here。　I　did　not　mention　it　before　because　it　was　easier　to　get　you　in　here；　but　they　will　never　look　in　the　women's　apartments。　Never。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　women's　。。。　！　Egwene；　Fain　may　be　mad；　but　you're　madder。　You　can't　hide　from　hornets　in　a　hornets'　nest。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　better　place？　What　is　the　one　part　of　the　keep　no　man　will　enter　without　a　woman's　invitation；　not　even　Lord　Agelmar？　What　is　the　one　place　no　one　would　ever　think　to　look　for　a　man？〃
　　　　　　　〃What　is　the　one　place　in　the　keep　sure　to　be　full　of　Aes　Sedai？　It　is　crazy；　Egwene。〃
　　　　　　　Poking　at　his　bundles；　she　spoke　as　if　it　were　all　decided。　〃You　must　wrap　your　sword　and　bow　in　your　cloak；　and　then　it　will　look　as　if　you　are　carrying　things　for　me。　It　should　not　be　too　hard　to　find　you　a　jerkin　and　a　shirt　that　isn't　so　pretty。　You　will　have　to　stoop；　though。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　told　you；　I　won't　do　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃Since　you're　acting　stubborn　as　a　mule；　you　should　take　right　to　playing　my　beast　of　burden。　Unless　you　would　really　rather　stay　down　here　with　him。〃Fain's　laughing　whisper　came　through　the　black　shadows。　〃The　battle's　never　done；　al'Thor。　Mordeth　knows。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'd　have　a　better　chance　jumping　off　the　wall；〃　Rand　muttered。　But　he　unslung　his　bundles　and　set　about　wrapping　sword　and　bow　and　quiver　as　she　had　suggested。
　　　　　　　In　the　darkness；　Fain　laughed。　〃It's　never　over；　al'Thor。　Never。〃


　
Chapter　4
（Horn）
Summoned

　　　　　　　Alone　in　her　rooms　in　the　women's　apartments；　Moiraine　adjusted　the　shawl；　embroidered　with　curling　ivy　and　grapevines；　on　her　shoulders　and　studied　the　effect　in　the　tall　frame　mirror　standing　in　a　corner。　Her　large；　dark　eyes　could　appear　as　sharp　as　a　hawk's　when　she　was　angry。　They　seemed　to　pierce　the　silvered　glass；　now。　It　was　only　happenstance　that　she　had　had　the　shawl　in　her　saddlebags　when　she　came　to　Fal　Dara。　With　the　blazing　white　Flame　of　Tar　Valon　centered　on　the　wearer's　back　and　long　fringe　colored　to　show　her　Ajah　…　Moiraine's　was　as　blue　as　a　morning　sky　…　the　shawls　were　seldom　worn　outside　Tar　Valon；　and　even　there　usually　only　inside　the　White　Tower。　Little　in　Tar　Valon　besides　a　meeting　of　the　Hall　of　the　Tower　called　for　the　formality　of　the　shawls；　and　beyond　the　Shining　Walls　a　sight　of　the　Flame　would　send　too　many　people　running；　to　hide　or　perhaps　to　fetch　the　Children　of　the　Light。　A　Whitecloak's　arrow　was　as　fatal　to　an　Aes　Sedai　as　to　anyone　else；　and　the　Children　were　too　wily　to　let　an　Aes　Sedai　see　the　bowman　before　the　arrow　struck；　while　she　still　might　do　something　about　it。　Moiraine　had　certainly　never　expected　to　wear　the　shawl　in　Fal　Dara。　But　for　an　audience　with　the　Amyrlin；　there　were　proprieties　to　observe。
　　　　　　　She　was　slender　and　not　at　all　tall；　and　smooth…cheeked　Aes　Sedai　agelessness　often　made　her　appear　younger　than　she　was；　but　Moiraine　had　a　manding　grace　and　calm　presence　that　could　dominate　any　gathering。　A　manner　ingrained　growing　up　in　the　Royal　Palace　of　Cairhien　had　been　heightened；　not　submerged；　by　still　more　years　as　an　Aes　Sedai。　She　knew　she　might　need　every　bit　of　it　today。　Yet　much　of　the　calm　was　on　the　surface；　today。　There　must　be　trouble；　or　she　would　not　have　e　herself；　she　thought　for　at　least　the　tenth　time。　But　beyond　that　lay　a　thousand　questions　more。　What　trouble；　and　who　did　she　choose　to　acpany　her？　Why　here？　Why　now？　It　cannot　be　allowed　to　go　wrong　now。
　　　　　　　The　Great　Serpent　ring　on　her　right　hand　caught　the　light　dully　as　she　touched　the　delicate　golden　chain　fastened　in　her　dark　hair；　which　hung　in　waves　to　her　shoulders。　A　small；　clear　blue　stone　dangled　from　the　chain；　in　the　middle　of　her　forehead。　Many　in　the　White　Tower　knew　of　the　tricks　she　could　do　using　that　stone　as　a　focus。　It　was　only　a　polished　bit　of　blue　crystal；　just　something　a　young　girl　had　used　in　her　first　learning；　with　no　one　to　guide　her。　That　girl　had　remembered　tales　of　angreal　and　even　more　powerful　sa'angreal　…　those　fabled　remnants　of　the　Age　of　Legends　that　allowed　Aes　Sedai　to　channel　more　of　the　One　Power　than　any　could　safely　handle　unaided　…　remembered　and　thought　some　such　focus　was　required　to　channel　at　all。　Her　sisters　in　the　White　Tower　knew　a　few　of　her　tricks；　and　suspected　others；　including　some　that　did　not　exist；　some　that　had　shocked　her　when　she　learned　of　them。　The　things　she　did　with　the　stone　were　simple　and　small；　if　occasionally　useful；　the　kind　a　child　would　imagine。　But　if　the　wrong　women　had　acpanied　the　Amyrlin；　the　crystal　might　put　them　off　balance；　because　of　the　tales。
　　　　　　　A　rapid；　insistent　knocking　came　at　the　chamber　door。　No　Shienaran　would　knock　that　way；　not　at　anyone's　door；　but　least　of　all　hers。　She　remained　looking　into　the　mirror　until　her　eyes　stared　back　serenely；　all　thought　hidden　in　their　dark　depths。　She　checked　the　soft　leather　pouch　hanging　at　her　belt。　Whatever　troubles　brought　her　out　of　Tar　Valon；　she　will　forget　them　when　I　lay　this　trouble　before　her。　A　second　thumping；　even　more　vigorous　than　the　first；　sounded　before　she　crossed　the　room　and　opened　the　door　with　a　calm　smile　for　the　two　women　who　had　e　for　her。
　　　　　　　She　recognized　them　both。　Dark…haired　Anaiya　in　her　blue…fringed　shawl；　and　fair…haired　Liandrin　in　her　red。　Liandrin；　not　only　young…seeming　but　young　and　pretty；　with　a　doll's　face　and　a　small；　petulant　mouth；　had　her　hand　raised　to　pound　again。　Her　dark　brows　and　darker　eyes　were　a　sharp　contrast　to　the　multitude　of　pale　honey　braids　brushing　her　shoulders；　but　the　bination　was　not　unmon　in　Tarabon。　Both　women　were　taller　than　Moiraine；　though　Liandrin　by　less　than　a　hand。
　　　　　　　Anaiya's　blunt　face　broke　into　a　smile　as　soon　as　Moiraine　opened　the　door。　That　smile　gave　her　the　only　beauty　she　would　ever　have；　but　it　was　enough；　almost　everyone　felt　forted；　safe　and　special；　when　Anaiya　smiled　at　them。　〃The　Light　shine　on　you；　Moiraine。　It's　good　to　see　you　again。　Are　you　well？　It　has　been　so　long。〃
　　　　　　　〃My　heart　is　lighter　for　your　presence；　Anaiya。〃　That　was　certainly　true；　it　was　good　to　know　she　had　at　least　one　friend　among　the　Aes　Sedai　who　had　e　to　Fal　Dara。　〃The　Light　illumine　you。〃
　　　　　　　Liandrin's　mouth　tightened；　and　she　gave　her　shawl　a　twitch。　〃The　Amyrlin　Seat；　she　requires　your　presence；　Sister。〃　Her　voice　was　petulant；　too；　and　cold…edged。　Not　for　Moiraine's　sake；　or　not　solely；　Liandrin　always　sounded　dissatisfied　with　something。　Frowning；　she　tried　to　look　over　Moiraine's　shoulder　into　the　room。　〃This　chamber；　it　is　warded。　We　cannot　enter。　Why　do　you　ward　against　your　sisters？〃
　　　　　　　〃Against　all；〃　Moiraine　replied　smoothly。　〃Many　of　the　serving　women　are　curious　about　Aes　Sedai；　and　I　do　not　want　them　pawing　through　my　rooms　when　I　am　not　here。　There　was　no　need　to　make　a　distinction　until　now。〃　She　pulled　the　door　shut　behind　her；　leaving　all　three　of　them　in　the　corridor。　〃Shall　we　go？　We　must　not　keep　the　Amyrlin　waiting。〃
　　　　　　　She　started　down　the　hallway　with　Anaiya　chatting　at　her　side。　Liandrin　stood　for　a　moment　staring　at　the　door　as　if　wondering　what　Moiraine　was　hiding；　then　hurried　to　join　the　others。　She　bracketed　Moiraine；　walking　as　stiffly　as　a　guard。　Anaiya　merely　walked；　keeping　pany。　Their　slippered　footsteps　fell　softly　on　thick…woven　carpets　with　simple　patterns。
　　　　　　　Liveried　women　curtsied　deeply　as　they　passed；　many　more　deeply　than　they　would　have　for　the　Lord　of　Fal　Dara　himself。　Aes　Sedai；　three　together；　and　the　Amyrlin　Seat　herself　in　the　keep；　it　was　more　honor　than　any　woman　of　the　keep　had　ever　expected　in　her　lifetime。　A　few　women　of　noble　Houses　were　out　in　the　halls；　and　they　curtsied；　too；　which　they　most　certainly　would　not　have　done　for　Lord　Agelmar。　Moiraine　and　Anaiya　smiled　and　bowed　their　heads　to　acknowledge　each　reverence；　from　servant　or　noble　equally。　Liandrin　ignored　them　all。
　　　　　　　There　were　only　women　here；　of　course；　no　men。　No　Shienaran　male　above　the　age　of　ten　would　enter　the　women's　rooms　without　permission　or　invitation；　although　a　few　small　boys　ran　and　played　in　the　halls　here。　They　knelt　on　one　knee；　awkwardly；　when　their　sisters　dropped　deep　curtsies。　Now　and　then　Anaiya　smiled　and　ruffled　a　small　head　as　she　passed。
　　　　　　　〃This　time；　Moiraine；〃　Anaiya　said；　〃you　have　been　gone　from　Tar　Valon　too　long。　Much　too　long。　Tar　Valon　misses　you。　Your　sisters　miss　you。　And　you　are　needed　in　the　White　Tower。〃
　　　　　　　〃Some　of　us　must　work　in　the　world；〃　Moiraine　said　gently。　〃I　will　leave　the　Hall　of　the　Tower　to　you；　Anaiya。　Yet　in　Tar　Valon；　you　hear　more　of　what　occurs　in　the　world　than　I。　Too　often　I　outrun　what　happens　where　I　was　yesterday。　What　news　have　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃Three　more　false　Dragons。〃　Liandrin　bit　the　words　off。　〃In　Saldaea；　Murandy；　and　Tear　false　Dragons　ravage　the　land。　The　while；　you　Blues　smile　and　talk　of　nothing；　and　try　to　hold　on　to　the　past。〃　Anaiya　raised　an　eyebrow；　and　Liandrin　snapped　her　mouth　shut　with　a　sharp　sniff。
　　　　　　　〃Three；〃　Moiraine　mused　softly。　For　an　instant　her　eyes　gleamed；　but　she　masked　it　quickly。　〃Three　in　the　last　two　years；　and　now　three　more　at　once。〃
　　　　　　　〃As　the　others　were；　these　will　be　dealt　with　also。　This　male　vermin　and　any　ragtag　rabble　who　follow　their　banners。〃
　　　　　　　Moiraine　was　almost　amused　by　the　certainty　in　Liandrin's　voice。　Almost。　She　was　too　aware　of　the　realities；　too　aware　of　the　possibilities。　〃Hav