rj.acrownofswords-第121部分

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　　　Elaida　gasped。　The　woman　had　just　called　her　by　name！　And　before　she　could　begin　to　splutter　with　outrage；　worse　came。
　　　〃I　think　you　are　in　great　trouble；　Elaida。〃　Cold　eyes　stared　into　Elaida's　and　cold　words　slid　smoothly　from　Alviarin's　smiling　lips。　〃Sooner　or　later；　the　Hall　will　learn　of　the　disaster　with　al'Thor。　Galina　might　have　satisfied　the　Hall；　possibly；　but　I　doubt　Covarla　will；　they　will　want　someone。。。　higher。。。　to　pay。　And　sooner　or　later；　we　will　all　learn　Toveine's　fate。　It　will　be　difficult　to　keep　this　on　your　shoulders　then。〃　Casually；　she　adjusted　the　Amyrlin's　stole　around　Elaida's　neck。　〃In　fact；　it　will　be　impossible　if　they　learn　any　time　soon。　You　will　be　stilled；　made　an　example；　the　way　you　wanted　to　make　Siuan　Sanche。　But　there　might　be　time　to　recover；　if　you　listen　to　your　Keeper。　You　must　take　good　advice。〃
　　　Elaida's　tongue　felt　frozen。　The　threat　could　not　have　been　clearer。　〃What　you　have　heard　tonight　is　Sealed　to　the　Flame；〃　she　said　thickly；　but　she　knew　that　the　words　were　useless　before　they　were　out　of　her　mouth。
　　　〃If　you　mean　to　reject　my　advice。。。　〃　Alviarin　paused；　then　began　to　turn　away。
　　　〃Wait！〃　Elaida　pulled　down　the　hand　she　had　stretched　out　unaware。　Stripped　of　the　stole。　Stilled。　Even　after　that；　they　would　make　her　howl。　〃What　…？〃　She　had　to　stop　and　swallow。　〃What　advice　does　my　Keeper　offer？〃　There　had　to　be　some　way　to　stop　this。
　　　Sighing；　Alviarin　came　close　again。　Closer；　in　fact；　much　too　near　for　anyone　to　stand　to　the　Amyrlin；　their　skirts　almost　touching。　〃First；　I　fear　you　must　abandon　Toveine　to　whatever　es；　for　the　moment　at　least。　And　also　Galina　and　whoever　else　was　taken　prisoner；　whether　by　the　Aiel　or　the　Asha'man。　Any　attempted　rescue　now　must　mean　discovery。〃
　　　Elaida　nodded　slowly。　〃Yes。　I　can　see　that。〃　She　could　not　take　her　horrified　eyes　away　from　the　other　woman's　demanding　gaze。　There　had　to　be　a　way！　This　could　not　be　happening！
　　　〃And　I　think　it　is　time　to　reconsider　your　decision　about　the　Tower　Guard。　Don't　you　really　think　the　Guard　should　be　increased　after　all？〃
　　　〃I　…　can　see　my　way　clear　to　do　that。〃　Light；　she　had　to　think！
　　　〃So　good；〃　Alviarin　murmured；　and　Elaida　flushed　with　helpless　rage。　〃Tomorrow；　you　will　personally　search　Josaine's　rooms；　and　Adelorna's。〃
　　　〃Why　under　the　Light　would　I　…？〃
　　　The　woman　tugged　her　striped　stole　again；　roughly　this　time；　almost　as　if　to　yank　it　off　or　saw　through　her　neck　with　it。　〃It　seems　that　Josaine　found　an　angreal　some　years　ago　and　never　turned　it　in。　Adelorna　did　worse；　I　fear。　She　removed　an　angreal　from　one　of　the　storerooms　without　permission。　When　you　have　found　them；　you　will　announce　their　punishment　immediately。　Something　quite　stiff。　And　at　the　same　time　you　will　hold　up　Doraise；　Kiyoshi　and　Farellien　as　models　of　preserving　the　law。　You　will　give　each　a　present；　a　fine　new　horse　will　do。〃
　　　Elaida　wondered　whether　her　eyes　were　going　to　pop　right　out　of　her　face。　〃Why？〃　From　time　to　time　a　sister　kept　an　angreal　to　herself　in　defiance　of　the　law；　but　the　penance　was　seldom　more　than　a　stern　slap　on　the　knuckles。　Every　sister　knew　the　temptation。　And　the　rest！　The　effect　was　obvious。　Everyone　would　believe　Doraise　and　Kiyoshi　and　Farellien　had　exposed　the　other　two。　Josaine　and　Adelorna　were　Green；　the　others　Brown；　Gray　and　Yellow　respectively。　The　Green　Ajah　would　be　furious。　They　might　even　try　to　get　back　at　the　others；　which　would　incite　those　Ajahs；　and。。。　〃Why　do　you　want　to　do　this；　Alviarin？〃
　　　〃Elaida；　it　should　be　enough　for　you　that　it　is　my　advice。〃　Mocking；　honeyed　ice　suddenly　turned　to　cold　iron。　〃I　want　to　hear　you　say　that　you　will　do　as　you　are　told。　There's　no　point　in　me　working　to　keep　the　stole　on　your　neck；　otherwise。　Say　it！〃
　　　〃I　…　〃　Elaida　tried　to　look　away。　Oh；　Light；　she　had　to　think！　Her　belly　was　clenched　in　a　knot。　〃I　will　…　do　…　as　I　…　am　told。〃
　　　Alviarin　smiled　that　chilly　smile。　〃You　see；　that　did　not　hurt　very　much。〃　Suddenly　she　stepped　back；　spreading　her　skirts　in　a　moderate　curtsy。　〃With　your　permission；　I　will　withdraw　and　let　you　find　some　sleep　in　what　remains　of　the　night。　You　have　an　early　morning　ahead；　with　orders　to　issue　for　High　Captain　Chubain　and　apartments　to　search。　We　have　to　decide　when　to　let　the　Tower　know　about　the　Asha'man；　too。〃　Her　tone　made　it　clear　that　she　would　decide。　〃And　perhaps　we　should　begin　planning　our　next　move　against　al'Thor。　It　is　about　time　the　Tower　stood　openly　and　called　him　to　heel；　don't　you　think？　Think　well。　I　give　you　good　night；　Elaida。〃
　　　Dazed；　wanting　to　sick　up；　Elaida　watched　her　go。　Stand　openly？　That　would　invite　attack　by　these　…　what　had　the　woman　called　them？　…　these　Asha'man。　This　could　not　be　happening　to　her。　Not　to　her！　Before　she　realized　what　she　was　doing；　she　hurled　the　goblet　across　the　room　to　shatter　against　a　tapestry　of　flowers。　Seizing　the　pitcher　with　both　hands；　she　raised　it　overhead　with　a　shriek　of　fury　and　flung　that　too；　in　a　spray　of　punch。　The　Foretelling　had　been　so　certain！　She　would。。。！
　　　Abruptly　she　stopped；　frowning　at　the　tiny　shards　of　crystals　clinging　to　the　tapestry；　the　larger　pieces　scattered　across　the　floor。　The　Foretelling。　Surely　that　had　spoken　of　her　triumph。　Her　triumph！　Alviarin　might　have　her　minor　victory；　but　the　future　belonged　to　Elaida。　As　long　as　Alviarin　could　be　gotten　rid　of。　But　it　had　to　be　done　quietly；　in　some　way　so　that　even　the　Hall　would　want　silence。　A　way　that　would　not　point　to　Elaida　until　it　was　too　late；　should　Alviarin's　sails　gain　wind。　And　suddenly　the　why　came　to　her。　Alviarin　would　not　believe　if　she　was　told。　No　one　would。
　　　Could　Alviarin　have　seen　her　smile　then；　the　woman's　knees　would　have　turned　to　jelly。　Before　she　was　done；　Alviarin　would　envy　Galina；　alive　or　dead。
　　　
　　　Pausing　in　the　hallway　outside　Elaida's　apartments；　Alviarin　studied　her　hands　by　the　light　of　the　stand…lamps。　They　did　not　shake；　which　surprised　her。　She　had　expected　the　woman　to　fight　harder；　to　resist　longer。　But　it　was　begun；　and　she　had　nothing　to　fear。　Unless　Elaida　learned　that　no　fewer　than　five　Ajahs　had　passed　mention　of　al'Thor　to　her　in　the　last　few　days；　the　deposing　of　Colavaere　had　sent　every　Ajah's　agent　in　Cairhien　flying　for　a　pen。　No；　if　Elaida　did　learn；　she　was　safe　enough；　with　the　hold　she　had　on　the　woman　now。　And　with　Mesaana　as　patron。　Elaida；　though；　was　finished　whether　she　realized　or　not。　Even　if　the　Asha'man　failed　to　trumpet　their　crushing　of　Toveine's　expedition　…　and　she　was　sure　they　would　crush　it；　after　what　Mesaana　had　told　her　of　events　of　Dumai's　Wells　…　all　the　eyes…and…ears　in　Caemlyn　truly　would　gain　wings　once　they　learned。　Lacking　a　miracle；　such　as　the　rebels　appearing　at　the　gates；　Elaida　would　suffer　Siuan　Sanche's　fate　in　a　matter　of　weeks。　In　any　case；　it　had　begun；　and　if　she　wished　she　knew　what　〃it〃　was；　all　she　really　had　to　do　was　obey。　And　watch。　And　learn。　Perhaps　she　would　wear　the　seven…striped　stole　herself　when　all　was　done。
　　　
　　　In　the　early　morning　sunlight　streaming　through　her　windows；　Seaine　dipped　the　pen；　but　before　she　could　write　the　next　word；　the　door　to　the　hall　opened　and　the　Amyrlin　swept　in。　Seaine's　thick　black　eyebrows　rose；　she　would　have　expected　anyone　else　at　all　before　Elaida；　perhaps　not　excluding　Rand　al'Thor　himself。　Still；　she　set　the　pen　down　and　rose　smoothly；　pulling　down　the　silver…white　sleeves　she　had　pushed　up　to　keep　clear　of　the　ink。　She　made　the　degree　of　curtsy　proper　to　the　Amyrlin　Seat　from　a　Sitter　in　her　own　apartments。
　　　〃I　do　hope　you　haven't　found　any　White　sisters　hiding　away　angreal；　Mother。〃　She　did　hope　it；　quite　fervently。　Elaida's　descent　on　the　Greens　a　few　hours　ago；　while　most　of　them　slept；　was　probably　still　producing　wails　and　gnashing　of　teeth。　In　living　memory　no　one　had　been　ordered　birched　for　keeping　back　an　angreal；　and　now　there　were　to　be　two。　The　Amyrlin　must　have　been　in　one　of　her　infamous　cold　furies。
　　　But　if　she　had　been　then；　no　sign　of　it　remained　now。　For　a　moment　she　regarded　Seaine　silently；　cool　as　a　winter　pond　in　her　red…slashed　silks；　then　glided　to　the　carved　sideboard　where　painted　ivory　miniatures　of　Seaine's　family　stood。　All　years　dead；　but　she　still　loved　every　one。
　　　〃You　did　not　stand　to　raise　me　Amyrlin；〃　Elaida　said；　picking　up　the　picture　of　Seaine's　father。　She　set　it　down　hastily　and　took　up　her　mother　instead。
　　　Seaine's　eyebrows　almost　rose　again；　but　she　tried　to　make　it　a　rule　not　to　let　herself　be　surprised　more　than　once　in　a　day。　〃I　was　not　informed　that　the　Hall　was　sitting　until　afterward；　Mother。〃　After　all　these　years；　a　touch　of　Lugard　still　clung　to　her　voice。
　　　〃Yes；　yes。〃　Abandoning　the　paintings；　Elaida　glided　to　the　fireplace。　Seaine　had　always　had　a　fondness　for　cats；　and　carved　wooden　cats　of　every　sort　crowded　the　mantelpiece；　some　in　amusing　poses。　The　Amyrlin　frowned　at　the　display；　then　squeezed　her　eyes　shut　and　gave　her　head　a　tiny　shake。　〃But　you　remained；〃　she　said；　turning　quickly。　〃Every　Sitter　who　was　not　informed　fled　the　Tower　and　joined　the　rebels。　Except　you。　Why？〃
　　　Seaine　spread　her　hands。　〃What　else　could　I　do　but　stay；　Mother？　The　Tower　must　be　whole。〃　Whoever　the　Amyrlin；　she　added　to　herself。　And　what's　wrong　with　my　cats；　if　I　may　ask？　Not　that　she　ever　would　aloud；　of　course。　Sereille　Bagand　had　been　a　fierce　Mistress　of　Novices　before　being　raised　Amyrlin　Seat；　the　very　year　she　herself　earned　the　shawl；　and　a　fiercer　Amyrlin　than　Elaida　could　be　with　a　sore　tooth。　Seaine　had　had　the　proprieties　driven　into　her　too　hard　and　deep　for　mere　years　to　shift；　or　any　dislike　for　the　woman　who　wore　the　stole。　One　did　not　have　to　like　an　Amyrlin。
　　　〃The　Tower　must　be　whole；〃　Elaida　agreed；　rubbing　her　hands　together。　〃It　must　be　whole。〃　Now；　why　was　she　nervous？　She　had　ninety…nine　kinds　of　temper；　all　hard　as　a　knife　and　twice　as　sharp；　but　nervous　the　woman　was　not。　〃What　I　say　to　you　now　is　Sealed　to　the　Flame；　Seaine。〃　Her　mouth　twisted　wryly；　and　she　shrugged；　giving　her　stole　an　irritable　twitch。　〃If　I　knew　how　to　make　the　seal　stronger；　I　would；〃　she　said；　dry　as　yesterday's　dust。
　　　〃I　will　hold　your　w