rj.acrownofswords-第59部分

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　Unfortunately；　she　was　right。
　　　Romanda　suggested　…　〃demanded〃　was　a　better　word　…　that　the　Amyrlin　issue　an　edict　〃Sealed　to　the　Hall；〃　known　only　to　the　Sitters。　The　sisters　were　all　to　be　summoned　one　by　one；　and　any　who　refused　was　to　be　shielded　and　confined　as　a　suspected　member　of　the　Black　Ajah。　What　they　were　to　be　summoned　for　was　left　rather　vague；　but　Lelaine　had　more　than　hinted　this　morning。　Lelaine's　own　missive　bore　her　manner　all　over　it；　mother　to　child；　what　should　be　done　for　Egwene's　own　good　and　everyone's。　The　edict　she　wanted　was　only　to　be　〃Sealed　to　the　Ring〃；　any　sister　could　know；　and　in　fact；　in　this　case　they　would　have　to。　Mention　of　the　Black　Ajah　was　to　be　forbidden　as　fomenting　discord；　a　serious　charge　under　Tower　law；　with　appropriate　penalties。
　　　Egwene　dropped　onto　her　folding　chair　with　a　groan；　and　of　course　the　legs　shifted　and　nearly　deposited　her　on　the　carpet。　She　could　delay　and　sidestep；　but　they　would　keep　ing　back　with　these　idiocies。　Sooner　or　later　one　would　introduce　her　modest　proposal　to　the　Hall；　and　that　would　put　the　fox　in　the　henyard。　Were　they　blind？　Fomenting　discord？　Lelaine　would　have　every　sister　convinced　not　just　that　there　was　a　Black　Ajah；　but　that　Egwene　was　part　of　it。　The　stampede　of　Aes　Sedai　back　to　Tar　Valon　and　Elaida　could　not　be　far　behind。　Romanda　just　meant　to　set　off　a　mutiny。　There　were　six　of　those　hidden　in　the　secret　histories。　Half　a　dozen　in　more　than　three　thousand　years　might　not　be　very　many；　but　each　had　resulted　in　an　Amyrlin　resigning　and　the　entire　Hall　as　well。　Lelaine　knew　that；　and　Romanda。　Lelaine　had　been　a　Sitter　for　nearly　forty　years；　with　access　to　all　the　hidden　records。　Before　resigning　to　go　into　a　country　retreat；　as　many　sisters　did　in　age；　Romanda　had　held　a　chair　for　the　Yellow　so　long　that　some　said　she　had　had　as　much　power　as　any　Amyrlin　she　sat　under。　Being　chosen　to　sit　a　second　time　was　nearly　unheard　of；　but　Romanda　was　not　one　to　let　power　reside　anywhere　outside　her　own　hands　if　she　could　manage。
　　　No；　they　were　not　blind；　just　afraid。　Everybody　was；　including　her；　and　even　Aes　Sedai　did　not　always　think　clearly　when　they　were　afraid。　She　refolded　the　pages；　wanting　to　crumple　them　up　and　stamp　her　feet　on　them。　Her　head　was　going　to　burst。
　　　〃May　I　e　in；　Mother？〃　Halima　Saranov　swayed　into　the　tent　without　waiting　for　an　answer。　The　way　Halima　moved　always　drew　every　male　eye　from　age　twelve　to　two　days　past　the　grave；　but　then；　if　she　hid　herself　in　a　heavy　cloak　from　the　shoulders　down；　men　still　would　stare。　Long　black　hair；　glistening　as　if　she　washed　it　every　day　in　fresh　rainwater；　framed　a　face　that　made　sure　of　that。　〃Delana　Sedai　thought　you　might　want　to　see　this。　She's　putting　it　before　the　Hall　this　morning。〃
　　　The　Hall　was　sitting　without　so　much　as　informing　her？　Well；　she　had　been　away；　but　custom　if　not　law　said　the　Amyrlin　must　be　informed　before　the　Hall　could　sit。　Unless　they　were　sitting　to　depose　her；　anyway。　At　that　moment；　she　would　almost　have　taken　it　as　a　blessing。　She　eyed　the　folded　sheet　of　paper　Halima　laid　on　her　table　much　as　she　would　a　poisonous　snake。　Not　sealed；　the　newest　novice　could　read　it；　so　far　as　Delana　was　concerned。　The　declaration　that　Elaida　was　a　Darkfriend；　of　course。　Not　quite　as　bad　as　Romanda　or　Lelaine；　but　if　she　heard　the　Hall　had　broken　up　in　a　riot；　she　would　hardly　blink。
　　　〃Halima；　I　could　wish　you'd　gone　home　when　Cabriana　died。〃　Or　at　least　that　Delana　had　had　the　sense　to　seal　the　woman's　information　to　the　Hall。　Or　even　to　the　Flame。　Instead　of　telling　every　sister　she　could　collar。
　　　〃I　could　hardly　do　that；　Mother。〃　Halima's　green　eyes　flashed　with　what　seemed　challenge　or　defiance；　but　she　only　had　two　ways　to　look　at　anyone；　a　wide；　direct　stare　that　dared　and　a　lidded　gaze　that　smoldered。　Her　eyes　caused　a　lot　of　misunderstanding。　〃After　Cabriana　Sedai　told　me　what　she'd　learned　about　Elaida？　And　her　plans？　Cabriana　was　my　friend；　and　friend　to　you；　to　all　of　you　opposing　Elaida；　so　I　had　no　choice。　I　only　thank　the　Light　she　mentioned　Salidar；　so　I　knew　where　to　e。〃　She　put　her　hands　on　a　waist　as　small　as　Egwene's　had　been　in　Tel'aran'rhiod　and　tilted　her　head　to　one　side；　studying　Egwene　intently。　〃Your　brain　is　hurting　again；　isn't　it？　Cabriana　used　to　have　such　pains；　so　bad　they　made　her　toes　cramp。　She　had　to　soak　in　hot　water　till　she　could　bear　to　put　on　clothes。　It　took　days；　sometimes。　If　I　hadn't　e；　yours　could　have　gotten　that　bad　eventually。〃　Moving　around　behind　the　chair；　she　began　kneading　Egwene's　scalp。　Halima's　fingers　possessed　a　skill　that　melted　pain　away。　〃You　could　hardly　ask　another　sister　for　Healing　as　often　as　you　have　these　aches。　It's　just　tightness；　anyway。　I　can　feel　it。〃
　　　〃I　suppose　I　couldn't；〃　Egwene　murmured。　She　rather　liked　the　woman；　whatever　anyone　said；　and　not　just　for　her　talent　in　smoothing　away　headaches。　Halima　was　earthy　and　open；　a　country　woman　however　much　time　she　had　spent　gaining　a　skim　of　city　sophistication；　balancing　respect　for　the　Amyrlin　with　a　sort　of　neighborliness　in　a　way　Egwene　found　refreshing。　Startling；　sometimes；　but　enlivening。　Even　Chesa　did　not　do　better；　but　Chesa　was　always　the　servant；　even　if　friendly；　while　Halima　never　showed　the　slightest　obsequiousness。　Yet　Egwene　really　did　wish　she　had　gone　back　to　her　home　when　Cabriana　fell　from　that　horse　and　broke　her　neck。
　　　It　might　have　been　useful　had　the　sisters　accepted　Cabriana's　belief　that　Elaida　intended　to　still　half　of　them　and　break　the　rest；　but　everyone　was　sure　Halima　had　garbled　that　somehow。　It　was　the　Black　Ajah　they　latched　on　to。　Women　unused　to　being　afraid　of　anything　had　taken　what　they　had　always　denied　and　terrified　themselves　half…witless　with　it　How　was　she　to　root　the　Darkfriends　out　without　scattering　the　other　sisters　like　a　frightened　covey　of　quail？　How　to　stop　them　scattering　sooner　or　later　anyway？　Light；　how？
　　　〃Think　on　looseness；〃　Halima　said　softly。　〃Your　face　is　loose。　Your　neck　is　loose。　Your　shoulders。。。　〃　Her　voice　was　almost　hypnotic；　a　drone　that　seemed　to　caress　each　part　of　Egwene's　body　she　wanted　to　relax。
　　　Some　women　disliked　her　just　for　the　way　she　looked；　of　course；　as　though　a　particularly　lascivious　man　had　dreamed　her；　and　a　good　many　claimed　she　flirted　with　anything　in　breeches；　which　Egwene　could　not　have　approved　of；　but　Halima　admitted　she　liked　looking　at　men。　Her　worst　critics　never　claimed　she　had　done　more　than　flirt；　and　she　herself　became　indignant　at　the　suggestion。　She　was　no　fool　…　Egwene　had　known　that　at　their　first　conversation；　the　day　after　Logain　escaped；　when　the　headaches　had　begun　…　not　at　all　the　brainless　flipskirt。　Egwene　suspected　it　was　much　as　with　Meri。　Halima　could　not　help　her　face　or　her　manner。　Her　smile　seemed　inviting　or　teasing　because　of　the　shape　of　her　mouth；　she　smiled　the　same　at　man　or　woman　or　child。　It　was　hardly　her　fault　that　people　thought　she　was　flirting　when　she　was　only　looking。　Besides；　she　had　never　mentioned　the　headaches　to　anyone。　If　she　had；　every　Yellow　sister　in　the　camp　would　be　laying　siege。　That　indicated　friendship；　if　not　loyalty。
　　　Egwene's　eyes　fell　on　the　papers　on　the　writing　table；　and　her　thoughts　drifted　under　Halima's　stroking　fingers。　Torches　ready　to　be　tossed　into　the　haystack。　Ten　days　to　the　border　of　Andor；　unless　Lord　Bryne　was　willing　to　push　without　knowing　why；　and　no　opposition　before。　Could　she　hold　those　torches　back　ten　days？　Southharbor。　Northharbor。　The　keys　to　Tar　Valon。　How　could　she　be　sure　of　Nicola　and　Areina；　short　of　Siuan's　suggestion？　She　needed　to　arrange　for　every　sister　to　be　tested　before　they　reached　Andor。　She　had　the　Talent　for　working　with　metals　and　ores；　but　it　was　rare　among　Aes　Sedai。　Nicola。　Areina。　The　Black　Ajah。
　　　〃You're　tensing　again。　Stop　worrying　over　the　Hall。〃　Those　soothing　fingers　paused；　then　began　once　more。　〃This　would　do　better　tonight；　after　you've　had　a　hot　bath。　I　could　work　your　shoulders　and　back；　everywhere。　We　haven't　tried　that；　yet　You're　stiff　as　a　stake；　you　should　be　supple　enough　to　bend　backwards　and　put　your　head　between　your　ankles。　Mind　and　body。　One　can't　be　limber　without　the　other。　Just　put　yourself　in　my　hands。〃
　　　Egwene　teetered　on　the　brink　of　sleep。　Not　a　dreamwalker's　sleep；　just　sleep。　How　long　since　she　had　done　that？　The　camp　would　be　in　an　uproar　once　Delana's　proposal　got　out；　which　it　would　soon　enough；　and　that　was　before　she　had　to　tell　Romanda　and　Lelaine　she　had　no　intention　of　issuing　their　edicts。　But　there　was　one　thing　yet　today　to　look　forward　to；　a　reason　to　remain　awake。　〃That　will　be　nice；〃　she　murmured；　meaning　more　than　the　promised　massage。　Long　ago　she　had　pledged　that　one　day　she　would　bring　Sheriam　to　heel；　and　today　was　the　day。　At　last　she　was　beginning　to　be　the　Amyrlin；　in　control。　〃Very　nice。〃
　　　
　　　
Chapter　13　
（Star　and　Birds）　
The　Bowl　of　the　Winds　
　　　
　　　Aviendha　would　have　sat　on　the　floor；　but　three　other　women　occupying　the　boat's　small　room　left　not　quite　enough　space；　so　she　had　to　be　content　with　folding　her　legs　atop　one　of　the　carved　wooden　benches　built　against　the　walls。　That　way；　it　was　not　so　much　like　sitting　in　a　chair。　At　least　the　door　was　shut；　and　there　were　no　windows；　only　fanciful　carved　scrollwork　piercing　the　walls　near　the　ceiling。　She　could　not　see　the　water　outside；　but　the　piercings　let　in　the　smell　of　salt　and　the　slap　of　waves　against　the　hull　and　the　splash　of　the　oars。　Even　the　shrill　hollow　cries　of　some　sort　of　birds　shouted　of　vast　expanses　of　water。　She　had　seen　men　die　for　a　pool　they　might　have　stepped　across；　but　this　water　was　bitter　beyond　belief。　Reading　of　it　was　not　at　all　the　same　as　tasting　it　And　the　river　had　been　at　least　half　a　mile　wide　where　they　boarded　this　boat　with　its　two　oddly　leering　oarsmen。　Half　a　mile　of　water；　and　not　a　drop　fit　for　drinking。　Who　could　imagine　useless　water？
　　　The　motion　of　the　boat　had　changed；　to　a　rocking　back　and　forth。　Were　they　out　of　the　river；　yet？　Into　what　was　called　〃the　bay〃？　That　was　wider　still；　far　wider；　so　Elayne　said。　Aviendha　locked　her　hands　on　her　knees　and　tried　desperately　to　think　of　anything　else。　If　the　ot