rj.thegreathunt-第15部分

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　　　　　　　〃It　would　have　to　be　Tarabon　and　Arad　Doman；〃　Moiraine　said；　and　shook　her　head。　〃They　have　squabbled　over　Almoth　Plain　for　nearly　three　hundred　years；　but　it　has　never　e　to　open　blows。〃　She　looked　at　Liandrin；　Aes　Sedai　were　supposed　to　throw　off　all　their　old　loyalties　to　lands　and　rulers；　but　few　did　so　pletely。　It　was　hard　not　to　care　for　the　land　of　your　birth。　〃Why　would　they　now　…　？〃
　　　　　　　〃Enough　of　idle　talk；〃　the　honey…haired　woman　broke　in　angrily。　〃For　you；　Moiraine；　the　Amyrlin　waits。〃　She　took　three　quick　strides　ahead　of　the　others　and　threw　open　one　of　a　pair　of　tall　doors。　〃For　you；　the　Amyrlin　will　have　no　idle　talk。〃
　　　　　　　Unconsciously　touching　the　pouch　at　her　waist；　Moiraine　went　past　Liandrin　through　the　doorway；　with　a　nod　as　if　the　other　woman　were　holding　the　door　for　her。　She　did　not　even　smile　at　the　white　flash　of　anger　on　Liandrin's　face。　What　is　the　wretched　girl　up　to？
　　　　　　　Brightly　colored　carpets　covered　the　anteroom　floor　in　layers；　and　the　room　was　pleasantly　furnished　with　chairs　and　cushioned　benches　and　small　tables；　the　wood　simply　worked　or　just　polished。　Brocaded　curtains　sided　the　tall　arrowslits　to　make　them　seem　more　like　windows。　No　fires　burned　in　the　fireplaces；　the　day　was　warm；　and　the　Shienaran　chill　would　not　e　until　nightfall。
　　　　　　　Fewer　than　half　a　dozen　of　the　Aes　Sedai　who　had　acpanied　the　Amyrlin　were　there。　Verin　Mathwin　and　Serafelle；　of　the　Brown　Ajah；　did　not　look　up　at　Moiraine's　entrance。　Serafelle　was　intently　reading　an　old　book　with　a　worn；　faded　leather　cover；　handling　its　tattered　pages　carefully；　while　plump　Verin；　sitting　cross…legged　beneath　an　arrowslit；　held　a　small　blossom　up　to　the　light　and　made　notes　and　sketches　in　a　precise　hand　in　a　book　balanced　on　her　knee。　She　had　an　open　inkpot　on　the　floor　beside　her；　and　a　small　pile　of　flowers　on　her　lap。　The　Brown　sisters　concerned　themselves　with　little　beside　seeking　knowledge。　Moiraine　sometimes　wondered　if　they　were　really　aware　of　what　was　going　on　in　the　world；　or　even　immediately　around　them。
　　　　　　　The　three　other　women　already　in　the　room　turned；　but　they　made　no　effort　to　approach　Moiraine；　only　looked　at　her。　One；　a　slender　woman　of　the　Yellow　Ajah；　she　did　not　know；　she　spent　too　little　time　in　Tar　Valon　to　know　all　the　Aes　Sedai；　although　their　numbers　were　no　longer　very　great。　She　was　acquainted　with　the　two　remaining；　however。　Carlinya　was　as　pale　of　skin　and　cold　of　manner　as　the　white　fringe　on　her　shawl；　the　exact　opposite　in　every　way　of　dark；　fiery　Alanna　Mosvani；　of　the　Green；　but　they　both　stood　and　stared　at　her　without　speaking；　without　expression。　Alanna　sharply　snugged　her　shawl　around　her；　but　Carlinya　made　no　move　at　all。　The　slender　Yellow　sister　turned　away　with　an　air　of　regret。
　　　　　　　〃The　Light　illumine　you　all；　Sisters；〃　Moiraine　said。　No　one　answered。　She　was　not　sure　Serafelle　or　Verin　had　even　heard。　Where　are　the　others？　There　was　no　need　for　them　all　to　be　there　…　most　would　be　resting　in　their　rooms；　freshing　from　the　journey　…　but　she　was　on　edge　now；　all　the　questions　she　could　not　ask　running　through　her　head。　None　of　it　showed　on　her　face。
　　　　　　　The　inner　door　opened；　and　Leane　appeared；　without　her　gilt…flamed　staff。　The　Keeper　of　the　Chronicles　was　as　tall　as　most　men；　willowy　and　graceful；　still　beautiful；　with　coppery　skin　and　short；　dark　hair。　She　wore　a　blue　stole；　a　hand　wide；　instead　of　a　shawl；　for　she　sat　in　the　Hall　of　the　Tower；　though　as　Keeper；　not　to　represent　her　Ajah。
　　　　　　　〃There　you　are；〃　she　said　briskly　to　Moiraine；　and　gestured　to　the　door　behind　her。　〃e；　Sister。　The　Amyrlin　Seat　is　waiting。〃　She　spoke　naturally　in　a　clipped；　quick　way　that　never　changed；　whether　she　was　angry　or　joyful　or　excited。　As　Moiraine　followed　Leane　in；　she　wondered　what　emotion　the　Keeper　was　feeling　now。　Leane　pulled　the　door　to　behind　them；　it　banged　shut　with　something　of　the　sound　of　a　cell　door　closing。
　　　　　　　The　Amyrlin　Seat　herself　sat　behind　a　broad　table　in　the　middle　of　the　carpet；　and　on　the　table　rested　a　flattened　cube　of　gold；　the　size　of　a　travel　chest　and　ornately　worked　with　silver。　The　table　was　heavily　built；　its　legs　stout；　but　it　seemed　to　squat　under　a　weight　two　strong　men　would　have　had　trouble　lifting。
　　　　　　　At　the　sight　of　the　golden　cube　Moiraine　had　difficulty　keeping　her　face　unruffled。　The　last　she　had　seen　of　it；　it　had　been　safely　locked　in　Agelmar's　strongroom。　On　learning　of　the　Amyrlin　Seat's　arrival　she　had　meant　to　tell　her　of　it　herself。　That　it　was　already　in　the　Amyrlin's　possession　was　a　trifle；　but　a　worrisome　trifle。　Events　could　be　outpacing　her。
　　　　　　　She　swept　a　deep　curtsy　and　said　formally；　〃As　you　called　me；　Mother；　so　have　I　e。〃　The　Amyrlin　extended　her　hand；　and　Moiraine　kissed　her　Great　Serpent　ring；　no　different　from　that　of　any　other　Aes　Sedai。　Rising；　she　made　her　tone　more　conversational；　but　not　too　much　so。　She　was　aware　of　the　Keeper　standing　behind　her；　beside　the　door。　〃I　hope　you　had　a　pleasant　journey；　Mother。〃
　　　　　　　The　Amyrlin　had　been　born　in　Tear；　of　a　simple　fisherman's　family；　not　a　noble　House；　and　her　name　was　Siuan　Sanche；　though　very　few　had　used　that　name；　or　even　thought　of　it；　in　the　ten　years　since　she　had　been　raised　from　the　Hall　of　the　Tower。　She　was　the　Amyrlin　Seat；　that　was　the　whole　of　it。　The　broad　stole　on　her　shoulders　was　striped　in　the　colors　of　the　seven　Ajahs；　the　Amyrlin　was　of　all　Ajahs　and　of　none。　She　was　only　of　medium　height；　and　handsome　rather　than　beautiful；　but　her　face　held　a　strength　that　had　been　there　before　her　elevation；　the　strength　of　the　girl　who　had　survived　the　streets　of　the　Maule；　Tear's　port　district；　and　her　clear　blue　gaze　had　made　kings　and　queens；　and　even　the　Captain　mander　of　the　Children　of　the　Light；　drop　their　eyes。　Her　own　eyes　were　strained；　now；　and　there　was　a　new　tightness　to　her　mouth。
　　　　　　　〃We　called　the　winds　to　speed　our　vessels　up　the　Erinin；　Daughter；　and　even　turned　the　currents　to　our　aid。〃　The　Amyrlin's　voice　was　deep；　and　sad。　〃I　have　seen　the　flooding　we　caused　in　villages　along　the　river；　and　the　Light　only　knows　what　we　have　done　to　the　weather。　We　will　not　have　endeared　ourselves　by　the　damage　we've　done　and　the　crops　we　may　have　ruined。　All　to　reach　here　as　quickly　as　possible。〃　Her　eyes　strayed　to　the　ornate　golden　cube；　and　she　half　lifted　a　hand　as　if　to　touch　it；　but　when　she　spoke　it　was　to　say；　〃Elaida　is　in　Tar　Valon；　Daughter。　She　came　with　Elayne　and　Gawyn。〃
　　　　　　　Moiraine　was　conscious　of　Leane　standing　to　one　side；　quiet　as　always　in　the　presence　of　the　Amyrlin。　But　watching；　and　listening。　〃I　am　surprised；　Mother；〃　she　said　carefully。　〃This　is　no　time　for　Morgase　to　be　without　Aes　Sedai　counsel。〃　Morgase　was　one　of　the　few　rulers　to　openly　admit　to　an　Aes　Sedai　councilor；　almost　all　had　one；　but　few　admitted　it。
　　　　　　　〃Elaida　insisted；　Daughter；　and　queen　or　not；　I　doubt　Morgase　is　a　match　for　Elaida　in　a　contest　of　wills。　In　any　case；　perhaps　this　time　she　did　not　wish　to　be。　Elayne　has　potential。　More　than　I　have　ever　seen　before。　Already　she　shows　progress。　The　Red　sisters　are　swollen　up　like　puff…fish　with　it。　I　don't　think　the　girl　leans　to　their　way　of　thinking；　but　she　is；　young；　and　there　is　no　telling。　Even　if　they　don't　manage　to　bend　her；　it　will　make　little　difference。　Elayne　could　well　be　the　most　powerful　Aes　Sedai　in　a　thousand　years；　and　it　is　the　Red　Ajah　who　found　her。　They　have　gained　much　status　in　the　Hall　from　the　girl。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　two　young　women　with　me　in　Fal　Dara；　Mother；〃　Moiraine　said。　〃Both　from　the　Two　Rivers；　where　the　blood　of　Manetheren　still　runs　strong；　though　they　do　not　even　remember　there　was　once　a　land　called　Manetheren。　The　old　blood　sings；　Mother；　and　it　sings　loudly　in　the　Two　Rivers。　Egwene；　a　village　girl；　is　at　least　as　strong　as　Elayne。　I　have　seen　the　Daughter…Heir；　and　I　know。　As　for　the　other；　Nynaeve　was　the　Wisdom　in　their　village；　yet　she　is　little　more　than　a　girl　herself。　It　says　something　of　her　that　the　women　of　her　village　chose　her　Wisdom　at　her　age。　Once　she　gains　conscious　control　of　what　she　now　does　without　knowing；　she　will　be　as　strong　as　any　in　Tar　Valon。　With　training；　she　will　shine　like　a　bonfire　beside　the　candles　of　Elayne　and　Egwene。　And　there　is　no　chance　these　two　will　choose　the　Red。　They　are　amused　by　men；　exasperated　by　them；　but　they　do　like　them。　They　will　easily　counter　whatever　influence　the　Red　Ajah　gains　in　the　White　Tower　from　finding　Elayne。〃
　　　　　　　The　Amyrlin　nodded　as　if　it　were　all　of　no　consequence。　Moiraine's　eyebrows　lifted　in　surprise　before　she　caught　herself　and　smoothed　her　features。　Those　were　the　two　main　concerns　in　the　Hall　of　the　Tower；　that　fewer　girls　who　could　be　trained　to　channel　the　One　Power　were　found　every　year；　or　so　it　seemed；　and　that　fewer　of　real　power　were　found。　Worse　than　the　fear　in　those　who　blamed　Aes　Sedai　for　the　Breaking　of　the　World；　worse　than　the　hatred　from　the　Children　of　the　Light；　worse　even　than　the　workings　of　Darkfriends；　were　the　sheer　dwindling　of　numbers　and　the　lessening　of　abilities。　The　corridors　of　the　White　Tower　were　sparsely　populated　where　once　they　had　been　crowded；　and　what　could　once　be　done　easily　with　the　One　Power　could　now　be　done　only　with　difficulty；　or　not　at　all。
　　　　　　　〃Elaida　had　another　reason　for　ing　to　Tar　Valon；　Daughter。　She　sent　the　same　message　by　six　different　pigeons　to　make　sure　I　received　it　…　and　to　whom　else　in　Tar　Valon　she　sent　pigeons；　I　can　only　guess　…　then　came　herself。　She　told　the　Hall　of　the　Tower　that　you　are　meddling　with　a　young　man　who　is　ta'veren；　and　dangerous。　He　was　in　Caemlyn；　she　said；　but　when　she　found　the　inn　where　he　had　been　staying；　she　discovered　you　had　spirited　him　away。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　people　at　that　inn　served　us　well　and　faithfully；　Mother。　If　she　harmed　any　of　them　。。。〃　Moiraine　could　not　keep　the　sharpness　out　of　her　voice；　and　she　heard　Leane　shift。　One　did　not　speak　to　the　Amyrlin　Seat　in　that　tone；　not　even　a　king　on　his　throne　did。
　　　　　　　〃You　should　know；　Daughter；〃　the　Amyrlin　said　dryly；　〃that　Elaida　harms　no　one　except　those　she　considers　dangerous。　Darkfriends；　or　those　poor　fool　men　who　try　to　channel　the　One　Power。　Or　one　who　threatens　Tar　Valon。　Everyone　else　who　isn't　Aes