rj.thegreathunt-第14部分

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　　　　　　　Moiraine　was　almost　amused　by　the　certainty　in　Liandrin's　voice。　Almost。　She　was　too　aware　of　the　realities；　too　aware　of　the　possibilities。　〃Have　a　few　months　been　enough　for　you　to　forget；　Sister？　The　last　false　Dragon　all　but　tore　Ghealdan　apart　before　his　army；　ragtag　rabble　or　not；　was　defeated。　Yes；　Logain　is　in　Tar　Valon　by　now；　gentled　and　safe；　I　suppose；　but　some　of　our　sisters　died　to　overpower　him。　Even　one　sister　dead　is　more　loss　than　we　can　bear；　but　Ghealdan's　losses　were　much　worse。　The　two　before　Logain　could　not　channel；　yet　even　so　the　people　of　Kandor　and　Arad　Doman　remember　them　well。　Villages　burned　and　men　dead　in　battle。　How　easily　can　the　world　deal　with　three　at　one　time？　How　many　will　flock　to　their　banners？　There　has　never　been　a　shortage　of　followers　for　any　man　claiming　to　be　the　Dragon　Reborn。　How　great　will　the　wars　be　this　time？〃
　　　　　　　〃It　isn't　so　grim　as　that；〃　Anaiya　said。　〃As　far　as　we　know；　only　the　one　in　Saldaea　can　channel。　He　has　not　had　time　to　attract　many　followers；　and　sisters　should　already　be　there　to　deal　with　him。　The　Tarens　are　harrying　their　false　Dragon　and　his　followers　through　Haddon　Mirk；　while　the　fellow　in　Murandy　is　already　in　chains。〃　She　gave　a　short；　wondering　laugh。　〃To　think　the　Murandians；　of　all　people；　would　deal　with　theirs　so　quickly。　Ask；　and　they　do　not　even　call　themselves　Murandians；　but　Lugarders；　or　Inishlinni；　or　this　or　that　lord's　or　lady's　man。　Yet　for　fear　one　of　their　neighbors　would　take　the　excuse　to　invade；　the　Murandians　leaped　on　their　false　Dragon　almost　as　soon　as　he　opened　his　mouth　to　proclaim　himself。〃
　　　　　　　〃Still；〃　Moiraine　said；　〃three　at　the　same　time　cannot　be　ignored。　Has　any　sister　been　able　to　do　a　Foretelling？〃　It　was　a　slight　chance　…　few　Aes　Sedai　had　manifested　any　part　of　that　Talent；　even　the　smallest　part；　in　centuries　…　so　she　was　not　surprised　when　Anaiya　shook　her　head。　Not　surprised；　but　a　little　relieved。
　　　　　　　They　reached　a　juncture　of　hallways　at　the　same　time　as　the　Lady　Amalisa。　She　dropped　a　full　curtsy；　bowing　deep　and　spreading　her　pale　green　skirts　wide。　〃Honor　to　Tar　Valon；〃　she　murmured。　〃Honor　to　Aes　Sedai。〃
　　　　　　　The　sister　of　the　Lord　of　Fal　Dara　required　more　than　a　nod　of　the　head。　Moiraine　took　Amalisa's　hands　and　drew　her　to　her　feet。　〃You　honor　us；　Amalisa。　Rise；　Sister。〃
　　　　　　　Amalisa　straightened　gracefully；　with　a　flush　on　her　face。　She　had　never　as　much　as　been　to　Tar　Valon；　and　to　be　called　Sister　by　an　Aes　Sedai　was　heady　even　for　someone　of　her　rank。　Short　and　of　middle　years；　she　had　a　dark；　mature　beauty；　and　the　color　in　her　cheeks　set　it　off。　〃You　honor　me　too　greatly；　Moiraine　Sedai。〃
　　　　　　　Moiraine　smiled。　〃How　long　have　we　known　each　other；　Amalisa？　Must　I　now　call　you　my　Lady　Amalisa；　as　if　we　had　never　sat　over　tea　together？〃
　　　　　　　〃Of　course　not。〃　Amalisa　smiled　back。　The　strength　evident　in　her　brother's　face　was　in　hers；　too；　and　no　less　for　the　softer　line　of　cheek　and　jaw。　There　were　those　who　said　that　as　hard　and　renowned　a　fighter　as　Agelmar　was；　he　was　no　better　than　an　even　match　for　his　sister。　〃But　with　the　Amyrlin　Seat　here　。。。　When　King　Easar　visits　Fal　Dara；　in　private　I　call　him　Magami；　Little　Uncle；　as　I　did　when　I　was　a　child　and　he　gave　me　rides　on　his　shoulder；　but　in　public　it　must　be　different。〃
　　　　　　　Anaiya　tsked。　〃Sometimes　formality　is　necessary；　but　men　often　make　more　of　it　than　they　must。　Please；　call　me　Anaiya；　and　I　will　call　you　Amalisa；　if　I　may。〃
　　　　　　　From　the　corner　of　her　eye；　Moiraine　saw　Egwene；　far　down　the　side　hall；　disappearing　hurriedly　around　a　corner。　A　stooped　shape　in　a　leather　jerkin；　head　down　and　arms　loaded　with　bundles；　shambled　at　her　heels。　Moiraine　permitted　herself　a　small　smile；　quickly　masked。　If　the　girl　shows　as　much　initiative　in　Tar　Valon；　she　thought　wryly；　she　will　sit　in　the　Amyrlin　Seat　one　day。　If　she　can　learn　to　control　that　initiative。　If　there　is　an　Amyrlin　Seat　left　on　which　to　sit。
　　　　　　　When　she　turned　her　attention　back　to　the　others；　Liandrin　was　speaking。
　　　　　　　〃。。。　and　I　would　wele　the　chance　to　learn　more　of　your　land。〃　She　wore　a　smile；　open　and　almost　girlish；　and　her　voice　was　friendly。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　schooled　her　face　to　stillness　as　Amalisa　extended　an　invitation　to　join　her　and　her　ladies　in　her　private　garden；　and　Liandrin　accepted　warmly。　Liandrin　made　few　friends；　and　none　outside　the　Red　Ajah。　Certainly　never　outside　the　Aes　Sedai。　She　would　sooner　make　friends　with　a　man；　or　a　Trolloc。　Moiraine　was　not　sure　Liandrin　saw　much　difference　between　men　and　Trollocs。　She　was　not　sure　any　of　the　Red　Ajah　did。
　　　　　　　Anaiya　explained　that　just　now　they　must　attend　the　Amyrlin　Seat。　〃Of　course；〃　Amalisa　said。　〃The　Light　illumine　her；　and　the　Creator　shelter　her。　But　later；　then。〃　She　stood　straight　and　bowed　her　head　as　they　left　her。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　studied　Liandrin　as　they　walked；　never　looking　at　her　directly。　The　honey…haired　Aes　Sedai　was　staring　straight　ahead；　rosebud　lips　pursed　thoughtfully。　She　appeared　to　have　forgotten　Moiraine　and　Anaiya　both。　What　is　she　up　to？
　　　　　　　Anaiya　seemed　not　to　have　noticed　anything　out　of　the　ordinary；　but　then　she　always　managed　to　accept　people　both　as　they　were　and　as　they　wanted　to　be。　It　constantly　amazed　Moiraine　that　Anaiya　dealt　as　well　as　she　did　in　the　White　Tower；　but　those　who　were　devious　always　seemed　to　take　her　openness　and　honesty；　her　acceptance　of　everyone；　as　cunning　devices。　They　were　always　caught　pletely　off　balance　when　she　turned　out　to　mean　what　she　said　and　say　what　she　meant。　Too；　she　had　a　way　of　seeing　to　the　heart　of　things。　And　of　accepting　what　she　saw。　Now　she　blithely　resumed　speaking　of　the　news。
　　　　　　　〃The　word　from　Andor　is　both　good　and　bad。　The　street　riots　in　Caemlyn　died　down　with　the　ing　of　spring；　but　there　is　still　talk；　too　much　talk；　blaming　the　Queen；　and　Tar　Valon　as　well；　for　the　long　winter。　Morgase　holds　her　throne　less　securely　than　she　did　last　year；　but　she　holds　it　still；　and　will　so　long　as　Gareth　Bryne　is　Captain…General　of　the　Queen's　Guards。　And　the　Lady　Elayne；　the　Daughter…Heir；　and　her　brother；　the　Lord　Gawyn；　have　e　safely　to　Tar　Valon　for　their　training。　There　was　some　fear　in　the　White　Tower　that　the　custom　would　be　broken。〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　while　Morgase　has　breath　in　her　body；〃　Moiraine　said。
　　　　　　　Liandrin　gave　a　little　start；　as　if　she　had　just　awakened。　〃Pray　that　she　continues　to　have　breath。　The　Daughter…Heir's　party　was　followed　to　the　River　Erinin　by　the　Children　of　the　Light。　To　the　very　bridges　to　Tar　Valon。　More　still　camp　outside　Caemlyn；　for　the　chance　of　mischief；　and　inside　Caemlyn　still　are　those　who　listen。〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　it　is　time　Morgase　learned　a　little　caution；〃　Anaiya　sighed。　〃The　world　is　being　more　dangerous　every　day；　even　for　a　queen。　Perhaps　especially　for　a　queen。　She　was　ever　headstrong。　I　remember　when　she　came　to　Tar　Valon　as　a　girl。　She　did　not　have　the　ability　to　bee　a　full　sister；　and　it　rankled　in　her。　Sometimes　I　think　she　pushes　her　daughter　because　of　that；　whatever　the　girl　chooses。〃
　　　　　　　Moiraine　sniffed　disdainfully。　〃Elayne　was　born　with　the　spark　in　her；　it　was　not　a　matter　of　choosing。　Morgase　would　not　risk　letting　the　girl　die　from　lack　of　training　if　all　the　Whitecloaks　in　Amadicia　were　camped　outside　Caemlyn。　She　would　mand　Gareth　Byrne　and　the　Queen's　Guards　to　cut　a　path　through　them　to　Tar　Valon；　and　Gareth　Byrne　would　do　it　if　he　had　to　do　it　alone。〃　But　she　still　must　keep　the　full　extent　of　the　girl's　potential　secret。　Would　the　people　of　Andor　knowingly　accept　Elayne　on　the　Lion　Throne　after　Morgase　if　they　knew？　Not　just　a　queen　trained　in　Tar　Valon　according　to　custom；　but　a　full　Aes　Sedai？　In　all　of　recorded　history　there　had　been　only　a　handful　of　queens　with　the　right　to　be　called　Aes　Sedai；　and　the　few　who　let　it　be　known　had　all　lived　to　regret　it。　She　felt　a　touch　of　sadness。　But　too　much　was　afoot　to　spare　aid；　or　even　worry；　for　one　land　and　one　throne。　〃What　else；　Anaiya？〃
　　　　　　　〃You　must　know　that　the　Great　Hunt　of　the　Horn　has　been　called　in　Illian；　the　first　time　in　four　hundred　years。　The　Illianers　say　the　Last　Battle　is　ing〃　…　Anaiya　gave　a　little　shiver；　as　well　she　might；　but　went　on　without　a　pause　…　〃and　the　Horn　of　Valere　must　be　found　before　the　final　battle　against　the　Shadow。　Men　from　every　land　are　already　gathering；　all　eager　to　be　part　of　the　legend；　eager　to　find　the　Horn。　Murandy　and　Altara　are　on　their　toes；　of　course；　thinking　it's　all　a　mask　for　a　move　against　one　of　them。　That　is　probably　why　the　Murandians　caught　their　false　Dragon　so　quickly。　In　any　case；　there　will　be　a　new　lot　of　stories　for　the　bards　and　gleemen　to　add　to　the　cycle。　The　Light　send　it　is　only　new　stories。〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　not　the　stories　they　expect；〃　Moiraine　said。　Liandrin　looked　at　her　sharply；　and　she　kept　her　face　still。
　　　　　　　〃I　suppose　not；〃　Anaiya　said　placidly。　〃The　stories　they　least　expect　will　be　exactly　the　ones　they　will　add　to　the　cycle。　Beyond　that；　I　have　only　rumor　to　offer。　The　Sea　Folk　are　agitated；　their　ships　flying　from　port　to　port　with　barely　a　pause。　Sisters　from　the　islands　say　the　Coramoor；　their　Chosen　One；　is　ing；　but　they　won't　say　more。　You　know　how　closemouthed　the　Atha'an　Miere　are　with　outsiders　about　the　Coramoor；　and　in　this　our　sisters　seem　to　think　more　as　Sea　Folk　than　Aes　Sedai。　The　Aiel　appear　to　be　stirring；　too；　but　no　one　knows　why。　No　one　ever　knows　with　the　Aiel。　At　least　there　is　no　evidence　they　mean　to　cross　the　Spine　of　the　World　again；　thank　the　Light。〃　She　sighed　and　shook　her　head。　〃What　I　would　not　give　for　even　one　sister　from　among　the　Aiel。　Just　one。　We　know　too　little　of　them。〃
　　　　　　　Moiraine　laughed。　〃Sometimes　I　think　you　belong　in　the　Brown　Ajah；　Anaiya。〃
　　　　　　　〃Almoth　Plain；〃　Liandrin　said；　and　looked　surprised　that　she　had　spoken。
　　　　　　　〃Now　that　truly　is　a　rumor；　Sister；〃　Anaiya　said。　〃A　few　whispers　heard　as　we　were　leaving　Tar　Valon。　There　may　be　fighting　on　Almoth　Plain；　and　perhaps　Toman　Head；　as　well。　I　say；　may　be。　The　whispers　were　faint。　Rumors　of　rumors。　We　left　before　we　could　hear　more。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　would　have　to　be　Tarabon　and　Arad　Doman；〃　Moiraine　said；　and　shook　her　head。　〃They　have　squabbled　over　Almoth　Plain　for　nearly　thre