rj.acrownofswords-第113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！


　　　He　did　not　realize　he　was　on　his　feet　until　Beslan　spoke。　〃I　just。。。　need　to　clear　my　head。〃
　　　〃But　you're　drinking　tea；　Mat。〃
　　　Dodging　around　a　green　sedan　chair；　he　half　saw　the　door　of　the　house　open　and　a　woman　with　a　blue…feathered　cloak　over　her　dress　slip　out。　Unthinkingly　…　his　head　was　spinning　too　much　to　think　clearly　…　he　fell　in　behind　her。　Beslan　knew！　He　approved。　His　own　mother；　and　he。。。
　　　〃Mat？〃　Nalesean　shouted　behind　him。　〃Where　are　you　going？〃
　　　〃If　I'm　not　back　by　tomorrow；〃　Mat　shouted　back　absently　over　his　shoulder；　〃tell　them　they'll　have　to　find　it　for　themselves！〃　He　walked　on　after　the　woman　in　a　daze；　not　hearing　if　Nalesean　or　Beslan　shouted　again。　The　man　knew！　He　remembered　once　thinking　that　Beslan　and　his　mother　were　both　mad。　They　were　worse！　All　of　Ebou　Dar　was　mad！　He　was　hardly　aware　of　the　dice　still　spinning　inside　his　skull。
　　　
　　　From　a　window　of　the　meeting　room；　Reanne　watched　Solain　disappear　down　the　street　toward　the　river。　Some　fellow　in　a　bronze　coat　followed　in　her　wake；　but　if　he　tried　to　impede　her；　he　would　find　out　soon　enough　that　Solain　had　no　time　for　men；　and　no　patience　with　them。
　　　Reanne　was　not　sure　why　the　urge　had　grown　so　strong　today。　For　days　it　had　e　on　almost　with　the　morning　and　faded　with　the　sun；　and　for　days　she　had　fought　…　by　the　strict　rules　they　did　not　quite　dare　call　laws；　that　order　was　given　at　the　half　moon；　still　six　nights　off　…　but　today。。。　She　had　spoken　the　order　before　she　thought　and　been　unable　to　make　herself　retract　until　the　proper　time。　It　would　be　well。　No　one　had　seen　any　sign　of　those　two　young　fools　calling　themselves　Elayne　and　Nynaeve　anywhere　in　the　city；　thank　the　Light；　there　had　been　no　need　to　take　dangerous　chances。
　　　Sighing；　she　turned　to　the　others；　who　waited　until　she　took　her　chair　before　seating　themselves。　It　would　be　well；　as　it　always　had　been。　Secrets　would　be　kept；　as　they　always　had　been。　But；　still。。。　She　had　no　touch　of　Foretelling　or　anything　of　that　sort；　yet　perhaps　that　overwhelming　urge　had　been　telling　her　something。　Twelve　women　watched　her　expectantly。　〃I　think　we　should　consider　moving　everyone　who　does　not　wear　the　belt　to　the　farm　for　a　little　while。〃　There　was　little　discussion；　they　were　the　Elders；　but　she　was　the　Eldest。　In　that；　at　least；　there　was　no　harm　in　behaving　as　Aes　Sedai　did。
　　　
　　　
Chapter　30　
（Snakey　Square）　
The　First　Cup　
　　　
　　　〃I　do　not　understand　this；〃　Elayne　protested。　She　had　not　been　offered　a　chair；　in　fact；　when　she　started　to　sit；　she　had　been　told　curtly　to　remain　standing。　Five　sets　of　eyes　were　focused　on　her；　five　women　with　set；　grim　faces。　〃You　are　behaving　as　if　we've　done　something　terrible　when　what　we　have　done　is　find　the　Bowl　of　the　Winds！〃　At　least　they　were　on　the　brink　of　it；　she　hoped；　the　message　Nalesean　had　e　running　back　with　was　none　too　clear。　Mat　had　gone　off　shouting　that　he　had　found　it。　Or　something　very　like；　Nalesean　allowed；　the　longer　he　talked；　the　more　he　bounced　between　absolute　certainty　and　doubt。　Birgitte　had　remained　watching　Reanne's　house；　she　seemed　to　be　sweaty　and　bored。　In　any　case；　matters　were　in　motion。　Elayne　wondered　how　Nynaeve　was　getting　on。　Better　than　herself；　she　hoped。　She　had　certainly　never　expected　this　when　she　revealed　their　success。
　　　〃You　have　endangered　a　secret　kept　close　by　every　woman　to　wear　the　shawl　for　over　two　thousand　years。〃　Merilille　sat　stiff…backed；　serenity　almost　abandoned　on　the　tight…lipped　brink　of　apoplexy。　〃You　must　have　been　insane！　Only　madness　could　excuse　this！〃
　　　〃What　secret？〃　Elayne　demanded。
　　　Vandene；　flanking　Merilille　with　her　sister；　adjusted　pale　green　silk　skirts　irritably　and　said；　〃Time　enough　for　that　when　you've　been　properly　raised；　child。　I　thought　you　had　some　sense。〃　Adeleas；　in　a　dark　gray　wool　with　deep　brown　trim；　nodded；　mirroring　Vandene's　disapproval。
　　　〃The　child　cannot　be　faulted　for　revealing　a　secret　she　did　not　know；〃　Careane　Fransi　said　from　Elayne's　left；　shifting　her　bulk　in　her　green…and…gilt　armchair。　She　was　not　stout；　but　almost；　with　shoulders　as　wide　and　arms　as　thick　as　most　men。
　　　〃Tower　law　does　not　allow　for　excuses；〃　Sareitha　put　in　quickly；　in　somewhat　self…important　tones；　her　normally　inquisitive　brown　eyes　stern。　〃Once　mere　excuses　are　allowed；　inevitably　lesser　and　lesser　excuses　will　bee　acceptable；　until　law　itself　is　gone。〃　Her　high…backed　chair　stood　to　the　right。　Only　she　wore　her　shawl；　but　Merilille's　sitting　room　had　been　arranged　as　a　court；　though　no　one　called　it　that。　So　far；　no　one　had。　Merilille；　Adeleas　and　Vandene　confronted　Elayne　like　judges；　Sareitha's　chair　was　placed　where　the　Seat　of　Rebuke　would　be；　and　Careane's　the　Seat　of　Pardon；　but　the　Domani　Green　who　would　have　been　her　defender　nodded　thoughtfully　as　the　Tairen　Brown　who　would　have　been　her　prosecutor　continued。　〃She　has　admitted　guilt　from　her　own　mouth。　I　remend　that　the　child　be　confined　to　the　palace　until　we　leave；　with　some　good　hard　work　to　occupy　her　mind　and　her　hands。　I　also　remend　a　firm　dose　of　the　slipper　at　regular　intervals　to　remind　her　not　to　go　behind　sisters'　backs。　And　the　same　for　Nynaeve；　as　soon　as　she　can　be　found。〃
　　　Elayne　swallowed。　Confined？　Perhaps　they　did　not　need　to　name　this　a　trial　for　it　to　be　one。　Sareitha　might　not　yet　have　achieved　the　ageless　face；　but　the　weight　of　the　other　women's　years　pressed　at　Elayne。　Adeleas　and　Vandene　with　their　hair　nearly　all　white；　even　their　ageless　faces　echoing　years。　Merilille's　hair　was　glossy　black；　yet　Elayne　would　not　have　been　surprised　to　learn　she　had　worn　the　shawl　as　long　or　longer　than　most　women　not　Aes　Sedai　lived。　For　that　matter；　Careane　might　have；　as　well。　Not　one　of　them　approached　her　own　strength　in　the　Power；　but。。。　All　that　experience　as　Aes　Sedai；　all　that　knowledge。　All　that。。。　authority。　A　heavy　reminder　that　she　was　only　eighteen　and　had　been　in　novice　white　a　year　ago。
　　　Careane　made　no　move　to　rebut　Sareitha's　suggestions。　Perhaps　she　best　go　on　defending　herself。　〃Plainly　this　secret　you　speak　of　has　something　to　do　with　the　Circle；　but　…　〃
　　　〃The　Kin　are　no　concern　of　yours；　child；〃　Merilille　broke　in　sharply。　Drawing　a　deep　breath；　she　smoothed　gold…slashed　skirts　of　silvery　gray。　〃I　propose　to　pass　sentence；〃　she　said　in　a　cold　voice。
　　　〃I　concur；　and　defer　to　your　decision；〃　Adeleas　said。　She　gave　Elayne　a　disappointed　frown　and　shook　her　head。
　　　Vandene　waved　her　hand　dismissively。　〃I　concur　and　defer。　But　I　agree　with　the　Seat　of　Rebuke。〃　Careane's　look　might　have　contained　a　sliver　of　sympathy。　Maybe　a　sliver。
　　　Merilille　opened　her　mouth。
　　　The　timid　knock　at　the　door　sounded　quite　loud　in　the　momentary；　thunderous　silence。
　　　〃What　under　the　Light？〃　Merilille　muttered　angrily。　〃I　told　Pol　not　to　let　anyone　disturb　us。　Careane？〃
　　　Not　the　youngest；　but　the　lowest　in　strength；　Careane　stood　and　glided　to　the　door。　Despite　her　heft；　she　always　moved　like　a　swan。
　　　It　was　Pol　herself；　Merilille's　maid；　who　popped　in　curtsying　left　and　right。　A　slender；　gray…haired　woman　usually　possessed　of　a　dignity　to　rival　that　of　her　mistress；　she　wore　an　anxious　frown　now；　as　well　she　might；　barging　in　after　Merilille's　instructions。　Elayne　had　not　been　so　glad　to　see　anyone　since。。。　since　Mat　Cauthon　appeared　in　the　Stone　of　Tear。　A　horrendous　thought。　If　Aviendha　did　not　say　she　had　met　toh　sufficiently　soon；　she　might　just　see　if　asking　the　man　to　beat　her　after　all　could　end　the　agony。
　　　〃The　Queen　brought　this　herself；〃　Pol　announced　breathily；　proffering　a　letter　sealed　with　a　large　red　lump　of　wax。　〃She　said　if　I　didn't　give　it　to　Elayne　right　away；　she'd　bring　it　in　herself。　She　said　it's　about　the　child's　mother。〃　Elayne　almost　ground　her　teeth。　The　sisters'　serving　women　had　all　picked　up　their　mistresses'　way　of　talking　about　Nynaeve　and　her；　if　seldom　where　they　could　hear。
　　　Furious；　she　snatched　the　letter　without　waiting　for　Merilille　to　say　she　could　…　if　that　was　what　she　would　have　said　…　and　broke　the　seal　with　her　thumb。
　　　
　　　My　Lady　Elayne；
　　　I　greet　the　Daughter…Heir　of　Andor　with　joyous　news。　I　have　but　just　learned　that　your　mother；　Queen　Morgase；　lives　and　is　at　present　the　guest　of　Pedron　Niall　in　Amador；　and　wishes　above　all　to　be　reunited　with　you　so　that　you　may　return　to　Andor　together　in　triumph。　I　offer　escort　through　the　bandits　now　infesting　Altara；　so　that　you　may　reach　your　mother's　side　in　safety　and　all　speed。　Forgive　these　few　poor　words；　scribbled　in　haste；　but　I　know　you　would　wish　to　learn　the　wondrous　news　as　soon　as　possible。　Until　I　can　leave　you　at　your　mother's　side。
　　　Sealed　in　the　Light；
Jaichim　Carridin
　　　
　　　The　paper　crumpled　in　her　fist。　How　dare　he？　The　pain　of　her　mother's　death；　without　even　a　body　to　be　buried；　was　only　beginning　to　fade；　and　Carridin　dared　mock　her　this　way？　Embracing　the　True　Source；　she　hurled　the　foul　lies　away　from　her　and　channeled；　fire　flared　in　midair；　so　hot　that　only　a　dust　of　ash　fell　to　the　blue…and…gold　floor　tiles。　That　for　Jaichim　Carridin。　And　as　for　these。。。　women！　The　pride　of　a　thousand　years　of　Andoran　queens　put　steel　into　her　backbone。
　　　Merilille　surged　to　her　feet。　〃You　were　not　given　permission　to　channel！　You　will　release　the　…！〃
　　　〃Leave　us；　Pol；〃　Elayne　said。　〃Now。〃　The　serving　woman　stared；　but　Elayne's　mother　had　taught　her　well　the　voice　of　mand；　the　voice　of　a　Queen　from　her　throne。　Pol　bobbed　a　curtsy　and　was　moving　before　she　realized。　Once　under　way；　she　hesitated　only　an　instant　before　hurrying　out　and　closing　the　door　behind　her。　Whatever　was　about　to　happen　plainly　was　for　Aes　Sedai　alone。
　　　〃What　has　gotten　into　you；　child？〃　Pure　fury　submerged　the　remnants　of　Merilille's　regathered　calm。　〃Release　the　Source　immediately；　or　I　vow；　I'll　fetch　a　slipper　myself　this　minute！〃
　　　〃I　am　Aes　Sedai。〃　The　words　came　out　like　winter　stone；　and　Elayne　meant　them　to。　Carridin's　lies　and　these　women。　Merilille　threatened　to　slipper　her？　They　would　acknowledge　her　rightful　place　as　a　sister。　She　and　Nynaeve　had　found　the　Bowl！　As　good　as；　anyway；　and　the　arrangements　for　its　use　were　u