rj.acrownofswords-第58部分

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　　　Myrelle　squeezed　her　eyes　shut；　and　Nisao　turned　to　look　at　the　Warders。　Her　expression　never　changed；　calm　if　a　touch　flushed；　but　Sarin　stumbled　to　his　feet　and　took　three　quick　steps　toward　her　before　she　raised　a　hand　to　stop　him。　A　Warder　could　sense　his　Aes　Sedai's　presence；　her　pain；　her　fear　and　anger；　every　bit　as　much　as　Egwene　could　feel　Moghedien's　when　she　wore　the　a'dam。　No　wonder　all　the　Gaidin　moved　on　their　toes　and　looked　ready　to　spring　at　something；　they　might　not　know　what　had　driven　their　Aes　Sedai　to　the　brink　of　despair；　but　they　knew　the　two　women　were　at　that　brink。
　　　Which　was　exactly　where　Egwene　wanted　them。　She　did　not　like　this　part　of　it。　All　the　maneuvering　was　like　a　game；　but　this。。。　I　do　what　I　must；　she　thought；　unsure　whether　that　was　an　attempt　to　stiffen　her　backbone　or　an　attempt　to　excuse　what　she　was　about　to　do。　〃Siuan；　please　send　Nicola　and　Areina　back　to　the　camp。〃　What　they　did　not　see；　they　could　not　tell。　〃We　can't　have　their　tongues　flapping；　so　make　sure　they　know　what　will　happen　to　them。　Tell　them　they　have　one　more　chance；　because　the　Amyrlin　is　feeling　merciful；　but　they'll　never　get　another。〃
　　　〃I　think　I　can　manage　that　much；〃　Siuan　replied；　and　gathering　her　skirts；　she　stalked　off。　No　one　could　stalk　like　Siuan；　yet　she　seemed　more　eager　to　be　away　from　Myrelle　and　Nisao　than　anything　else。
　　　〃Mother；〃　Nisao　said；　choosing　her　words；　〃before　you　left；　you　said　something　…　indicated　there　might　be　some　way　…　for　us　to　avoid　…　some　way　we　might　not　have　to　…　〃　She　glanced　at　Sarin　again。　Myrelle　would　have　been　a　study　in　Aes　Sedai　serenity　as　she　examined　Egwene；　except　that　her　fingers　were　laced　together　so　tightly　that　her　knuckles　strained　the　thin　leather　of　her　gloves。　Egwene　motioned　them　to　wait。
　　　Nicola　and　Areina；　turning　away　from　the　cart；　saw　Siuan　ing　and　went　stiff　as　posts。　Which　was　no　wonder；　considering　that　Siuan　advanced　as　though　she　intended　to　walk　right　over　them　and　the　cart。　Areina's　head　swiveled；　searching；　but　before　she　could　think　to　actually　run；　Siuan's　hands　darted　out　and　caught　each　of　them　by　an　ear。　What　she　said　was　too　low　to　carry；　yet　Areina　stopped　trying　to　pry　her　ear　free。　Her　hands　stayed　on　Siuan's　wrist；　but　she　almost　seemed　to　be　using　it　to　hold　herself　up。　A　look　of　such　horror　oozed　across　Nicola's　face　that　Egwene　wondered　whether　Siuan　might　be　going　too　far。　But　then；　maybe　not；　under　the　circumstances；　they　were　going　to　walk　free　of　their　crime。　A　pity　she　could　not　find　a　way　to　harness　such　a　talent　for　ferreting　out　what　was　hidden。　A　way　to　harness　it　safely。
　　　Whatever　Siuan　said；　when　she　loosed　their　ears；　the　pair　immediately　turned　toward　Egwene　and　dropped　into　curtsies。　Nicola's　was　so　low　it　nearly　put　her　face　on　the　ground；　and　Areina　came　close　to　falling　on　hers。　Siuan　clapped　hands　sharply；　and　the　two　women　bounded　to　their　feet；　scrambled　to　untie　a　pair　of　shaggy　wagon　horses　from　the　picket　line。　They　were　astride　bareback　and　galloping　out　of　the　hollow　so　quickly；　it　was　a　wonder　they　did　not　have　wings。
　　　〃They　won't　even　talk　in　their　sleep；〃　Siuan　said　sourly　when　she　returned。　〃I　can　still　handle　novices　and　scoundrels；　at　least。〃　Her　eyes　stayed　on　Egwene's　face；　avoiding　the　other　two　sisters　entirely。
　　　Suppressing　a　sigh；　Egwene　turned　to　Myrelle　and　Nisao。　She　had　to　do　something　about　Siuan；　but　first　things　first。　The　Green　sister　and　the　Yellow　eyed　her　warily。　〃It　is　very　simple；〃　she　said　in　a　firm　voice。　〃Without　my　protection；　you　will　very　likely　lose　your　Warders；　and　almost　certainly　wish　you'd　been　skinned　alive　by　the　time　the　Hall　finishes　with　you。　Your　own　Ajahs　may　have　a　few　choice　words　for　you；　as　well。　It　may　be　years　before　you　can　hold　your　heads　up　again；　years　before　you　don't　have　sisters　looking　over　your　shoulder　every　minute。　But　why　should　I　protect　you　from　justice？　It　puts　me　under　an　obligation；　you　might　do　the　same　again；　or　worse。〃　The　Wise　Ones　had　their　part　in　this；　though　it　was　not　exactly　ji'e'toh。　〃If　I'm　to　take　on　that　responsibility；　then　you　must　have　an　obligation　too。　I　must　be　able　to　trust　you　utterly；　and　I　can　only　see　one　way　to　do　that。〃　The　Wise　Ones；　and　then　Faolain　and　Theodrin。　〃You　must　swear　fealty。〃
　　　They　had　been　frowning；　wondering　where　she　was　headed；　but　wherever　they　thought；　it　was　not　where　she　ended。　Their　faces　were　a　study。　Nisao's　jaw　dropped；　and　Myrelle　looked　as　though　she　had　been　hit　between　the　eyes　with　a　hammer。　Even　Siuan　gaped　in　disbelief。
　　　〃Im…p…possible；〃　Myrelle　spluttered。　〃No　sister　has　ever　…！　No　Amyrlin　has　required　…！　You　can't　really　think　…！〃
　　　〃Oh；　do　be　quiet；　Myrelle；〃　Nisao　snapped。　〃This　is　all　your　fault！　I　should　never　have　listened　…！　Well。　Done　is　done。　And　what　is；　is。〃　Peering　at　Egwene　from　beneath　lowered　brows；　she　muttered；　〃You　are　a　dangerous　young　woman；　Mother。　A　very　dangerous　woman。　You　may　break　the　Tower　more　than　it　already　is；　before　you're　done。　If　I　was　sure　of　that；　if　I　had　the　courage　to　do　my　duty　and　face　whatever　es　…　〃　Yet　she　knelt　smoothly；　pressing　her　lips　to　the　Great　Serpent　ring　on　Egwene's　finger。　〃Beneath　the　Light　and　by　my　hope　of　rebirth　and　salvation。。。　〃　Not　the　same　wording　as　Faolain　and　Theodrin；　but　every　scrap　as　strong。　More。　By　the　Three　Oaths；　no　Aes　Sedai　could　speak　a　vow　she　did　not　mean。　Except　the　Black　Ajah；　of　course；　it　seemed　obvious　they　must　have　found　a　way　to　lie。　Whether　either　of　these　women　was　Black　was　a　problem　for　another　time；　though。　Siuan；　eyes　popping　and　mouth　working　without　sound；　looked　like　a　fish　stranded　on　a　mudbank。
　　　Myrelle　tried　another　protest；　but　Egwene　just　thrust　out　her　right　hand　with　the　ring；　and　Myrelle's　knees　folded　in　jerks。　She　gave　the　oath　in　bitter　tones；　then　looked　up。　〃You've　done　what　has　never　been　done　before；　Mother。　That　is　always　dangerous。〃
　　　〃It　won't　be　the　last　time；〃　Egwene　told　her。　〃In　fact。。。　My　first　order　to　you　is　that　you　will　tell　no　one　that　Siuan　is　anything　but　what　everybody　thinks。　My　second　is；　you　will　obey　any　order　she　gives　as　if　it　came　from　me。〃
　　　Their　heads　turned　toward　Siuan；　faces　unruffled。　〃As　you　mand；　Mother；〃　they　murmured　together。　It　was　Siuan　who　looked　ready　to　faint。
　　　She　was　still　staring　at　nothing　when　they　reached　the　road　and　turned　their　horses　east　toward　the　Aes　Sedai　camp　and　the　army。　The　sun　still　climbed　toward　its　zenith；　still　well　short。　It　had　been　a　morning　eventful　as　most　days。　Most　weeks；　for　that　matter。　Egwene　let　Daishar　amble。
　　　〃Myrelle　was　right；〃　Siuan　mumbled　finally。　With　her　rider's　mind　elsewhere；　the　mare　moved　with　something　close　to　a　smooth　gait；　she　actually　made　Siuan　appear　a　petent　rider。　〃Fealty。　No　one　has　ever　done　that。　No　one。　There　isn't　so　much　as　a　hint　in　the　secret　histories。　And　them；　obeying　me。　You　aren't　just　changing　a　few　things；　you're　rebuilding　the　boat　while　sailing　a　storm！　Everything　is　changing。　And　Nicola！　In　my　day；　a　novice　would　have　wet　herself　if　she　even　thought　of　blackmailing　a　sister！〃
　　　〃Not　their　first　attempt；〃　Egwene　told　her；　relating　the　facts　in　as　few　words　as　possible。
　　　She　expected　Siuan　to　explode　in　a　fury　at　the　pair；　but　instead　the　woman　said；　quite　calmly；　〃I　fear　our　two　adventurous　lasses　are　about　to　meet　with　accidents。〃
　　　〃No！〃　Egwene　reined　in　so　suddenly　that　Siuan's　mare　ambled　another　half…dozen　paces　before　she　could　bring　the　animal　under　control　and　turn　her；　all　the　while　muttering　imprecations　under　her　breath。　She　sat　there　giving　Egwene　a　patient　look　that　outdid　Lelaine　at　her　worst。
　　　〃Mother；　they　have　a　club　over　your　head；　if　they're　ever　smart　enough　to　think　it　out。　Even　if　the　Hall　doesn't　force　you　into　a　penance；　you　can　watch　any　hope　you　have　with　them　sail　right　over　the　horizon。〃　She　shook　her　head　disgustedly。　〃I　knew　you　would　do　it　when　I　sent　you　out　…　I　knew　you'd　have　to　…　but　I　never　thought　Elayne　and　Nynaeve　were　witless　enough　to　bring　back　anyone　who　knew。　Those　two　girls　deserve　all　they'll　catch　if　this　gets　out。　But　you　can't　afford　to　let　it　out。〃
　　　〃Nothing　is　to　happen　to　Nicola　or　Areina；　Siuan！　If　I　approve　killing　them　for　what　they　know；　who's　next？　Romanda　and　Lelaine；　for　not　agreeing　with　me？　Where　does　it　stop？〃　In　a　way；　she　felt　disgusted　with　herself。　Once；　she　would　not　have　understood　what　Siuan　meant。　It　was　always　better　to　know　than　to　be　ignorant；　but　sometimes　ignorance　was　much　more　fortable。　Heeling　Daishar　on；　she　said；　〃I　won't　have　a　day　of　victory　spoiled　with　talk　of　murder。　Myrelle　wasn't　even　the　beginning；　Siuan。　This　morning；　Faolain　and　Theodrin　were　waiting。。。　〃　Siuan　brought　the　plump　mare　in　closer　to　listen　as　they　rode。
　　　The　news　did　not　relieve　Siuan's　concern　over　Nicola　and　Areina；　but　Egwene's　plans　certainly　put　a　sparkle　in　her　eye　and　a　smile　of　anticipation　on　her　lips。　By　the　time　they　reached　the　Aes　Sedai　camp；　she　was　eager　to　take　on　her　next　task。　Which　was　to　tell　Sheriam　and　the　rest　of　Myrelle's　friends　that　they　were　expected　in　the　Amyrlin's　study　at　midday。　She　could　even　say　quite　truthfully　that　nothing　would　be　required　of　them　that　other　sisters　had　not　done　before。
　　　For　all　her　talk　of　victory；　Egwene　did　not　feel　so　zestful。　She　barely　heard　blessings　and　calls　for　blessings；　acknowledging　them　with　only　a　wave　of　her　hand；　and　was　sure　she　missed　more　than　she　did　hear。　She　could　not　countenance　murder；　but　Nicola　and　Areina　would　bear　watching。　Will　I　ever　reach　a　place　where　the　difficulties　don't　keep　piling　up？　she　wondered。　Somewhere　a　victory　did　not　seem　to　have　to　be　matched　by　a　new　danger。
　　　When　she　walked　into　her　tent；　her　mood　sank　right　to　her　feet。　Her　head　throbbed。　She　was　beginning　to　think　she　should　just　stay　away　from　the　tent　altogether。
　　　Two　carefully　folded　sheets　of　parchment　sat　neatly　atop　the　writing　table；　each　sealed　with　wax　and　each　bearing　the　words　〃Sealed　to　the　Flame。〃　For　anyone　other　than　the　Amyrlin；　breaking　that　seal　was　accounted　as　serious　as　assaulting　the　Amyrlin's　person。　She　wished　she　did　not　have　to　break　them。　There　was　no　doubt　in　her　mind　who　had　written　those　words。　Un