rj.acrownofswords-第80部分

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e　sisters　who　had　appeared　in　the　city　after　al'Thor　was　taken；　the　sun　would　not　set　tonight。　Merana　moved　her　arms　to　adjust　her　shawl　and　realized　it　was　hanging　on　a　peg　in　her　room。　Ridiculous。　She　needed　no　reminders　of　who　she　was。　If　only　it　had　been　someone　other　than　Cadsuane。。。
　　　A　pair　of　Wise　Ones　standing　in　the　mouth　of　a　crossing　corridor　watched　them　pass；　cold　pale　eyes　in　stony　faces　beneath　their　dark　head　scarves。　Edarra　and　Leyn。　Both　could　channel；　and　quite　strongly；　they　might　have　risen　high　had　they　gone　to　the　Tower　as　girls。　Cadsuane　went　by　without　seeming　to　notice　the　wilders'　disapprobation。　Annoura　did；　frowning　and　muttering；　slender　braids　swaying　as　she　shook　her　head。　Merana　kept　her　own　eyes　on　the　floor　tiles。
　　　Undoubtedly　it　would　fall　to　her　now；　explaining　to　Cadsuane　the。。。　promise。。。　that　had　been　worked　out　with　the　Wise　Ones　last　night；　before　she　and　the　others　were　brought　to　the　palace。　Annoura　did　not　know　…　she　was　no　part　of　it　…　and　Merana　had　small　hope　that　Rafela　or　Verin　would　appear；　or　anyone　else　she　might　somehow　foist　the　duty　onto。　It　was　a　promise；　in　a　way；　and　perhaps　the　best　that　could　be　expected　under　the　circumstances；　yet　she　strongly　questioned　whether　Cadsuane　would　see　it　so。　She　wished　she　did　not　have　to　be　the　one　to　convince　her。　Better　to　pour　tea　for　those　cursed　men　for　a　month。　She　wished　she　had　not　been　so　free　with　her　tongue　with　young　al'Thor。　Knowing　why　he　had　made　her　serve　tea　was　no　balm　for　being　sealed　off　from　every　advantage　she　might　have　gained　from　it　She　would　rather　think　she　had　been　caught　in　some　ta'veren　swirling　of　the　Pattern　than　believe　that　a　young　man's　eyes；　like　polished　blue…gray　gems；　had　set　her　babbling　from　pure　fright；　but　either　way；　she　had　handed　all　the　advantage　to　him　on　a　tray。　She　wished。。。
　　　Wishing　was　for　children。　She　had　negotiated　countless　treaties；　many　of　which　had　actually　acplished　what　was　intended；　she　had　ended　three　wars　and　stopped　two　dozen　more　before　they　began；　faced　kings　and　queens　and　generals　and　made　them　see　reason。　Even　so。。。　She　found　herself　promising　that　she　would　not　utter　one　word　of　plaint　no　matter　how　often　that　man　made　her　play　the　maidservant　if　only　Seonid　would　pop　around　the　next　corner；　or　Masuri；　or　Faeldrin；　or　anyone　at　all。　Light！　If　only　she　could　blink　her　eyes　and　find　that　everything　since　leaving　Salidar　had　been　a　bad　dream。
　　　Surprisingly；　Cadsuane　led　them　straight　to　the　small　room　that　Bera　and　Kiruna　shared；　deep　in　the　bowels　of　the　palace。　Where　the　servants　lived。　A　tight　window；　set　high　in　the　wall　yet　level　with　the　paving　stones　of　a　courtyard　outside；　let　in　a　little　stream　of　light；　but　the　room　seemed　murky。　Cloaks　and　saddlebags　and　a　few　dresses　hung　from　pegs　in　the　cracked；　yellowing　plaster　walls。　Gouges　marred　the　bare　wooden　floor；　though　some　effort　had　been　made　to　smooth　them。　A　tiny　battered　round　table　stood　in　one　corner；　and　an　equally　beaten　washstand　in　another；　with　a　chipped　basin　and　pitcher。　Merana　eyed　the　small　bed。　It　did　not　look　that　much　narrower　than　the　one　she　was　forced　to　share　with　Seonid　and　Masuri；　two　doors　farther　down。　That　room　was　larger　by　perhaps　a　pace　each　way；　but　not　meant　for　three。　Coiren　and　the　others　still　held　in　the　Aiel　tents　probably　were　much　more　fortable　as　prisoners。
　　　Neither　Bera　nor　Kiruna　was　present；　but　Daigian　was；　a　plump；　pale　woman　who　wore　a　thin　silver　chain　in　her　long　black　hair；　with　a　round　moonstone　dangling　in　the　middle　of　her　forehead。　Her　dark　Cairhienin　dress　bore　four　thin　stripes　of　color　across　the　bodice；　and　she　had　added　slashes　in　the　skirts；　white　for　her　Ajah。　A　younger　daughter　of　one　of　the　lesser　Houses；　she　had　always　minded　Merana　of　a　pouter　pigeon。　When　Cadsuane　entered；　Daigian　rose　on　her　toes　expectantly。
　　　There　was　only　one　chair　in　the　room；　little　more　than　a　stool　with　an　excuse　of　a　back。　Cadsuane　took　that　and　sighed。　〃Tea；　please。　Two　sips　of　what　that　boy　poured；　and　I　could　have　used　my　tongue　to　sole　a　shoe。〃
　　　The　glow　of　saidar　immediately　surrounded　Daigian；　though　faintly；　and　a　dented　tin　teapot　rose　from　the　table；　flows　of　Fire　heating　the　water　as　she　opened　a　small　brass…bound　tea　chest。
　　　With　no　other　choice　for　place　to　sit；　Merana　settled　onto　the　bed；　adjusting　her　skirts　and　shifting　on　the　lumpy　mattress　while　she　tried　to　order　her　thoughts。　This　might　well　be　as　important　a　negotiation　as　she　had　ever　undertaken。　After　a　moment；　Annoura　joined　her；　perching　on　the　lip　of　the　mattress。
　　　〃I　take　it　by　your　presence；　Merana；〃　Cadsuane　said　abruptly；　〃that　tales　of　the　boy　submitting　to　Elaida　are　false。　Don't　look　so　surprised；　child。　Did　you　think　I　didn't　know　your。。。　associations？〃　She　gave　that　word　such　a　twist；　it　sounded　as　filthy　as　any　soldier's　expletive。　〃And　you；　Annoura？〃
　　　〃I　am　here　only　to　advise　Berelain；　though　the　truth　of　it　is；　she　ignored　my　advice　by　ing　in　the　first　place。〃　The　Taraboner　woman　held　her　head　up；　voice　confident。　She　was　rubbing　her　thumbs　for　all　she　was　worth；　though。　She　could　not　do　well　at　the　negotiating　table　if　she　was　that　transparent。　〃For　the　rest；〃　she　said　carefully；　〃I　have　reached　no　decision　as　yet。〃
　　　〃A　wise　decision；　that；〃　Cadsuane　murmured；　with　a　pointed　look　at　Merana。　〃It　seems　that　in　the　last　few　years　far　too　many　sisters　have　forgotten　they　possess　brains；　or　discretion。　There　was　a　time　when　Aes　Sedai　reached　their　decisions　after　calm　deliberation；　with　the　good　of　the　Tower　always　in　the　front　of　their　thoughts。　Just　remember　what　the　Sanche　girl　got　from　meddling　with　al'Thor；　Annoura。　Walk　too　near　a　forge…fire；　and　you　can　be　burned　badly。〃
　　　Merana　lifted　her　chin；　working　her　neck　to　ease　its　tightness。　Realizing　what　she　was　doing；　she　made　herself　stop。　The　woman　did　not　stand　that　far　above　her。　Not　really。　Just　higher　than　any　other　sister。　〃If　I　may　ask。。。　〃　Too　diffident；　but　worse　to　stop　and　start　over。　〃。。。　what　are　your　intentions；　Cadsuane？〃　She　struggled　to　maintain　dignity。　〃Obviously；　you　have　been。。。　holding　yourself　aside。。。　until　now。　Why　have　you　decided　to。。。　approach。。。　al'Thor　at　this　particular　time？　You　were。。。　rather　undiplomatic。。。　with　him。〃
　　　〃You　might　as　well　have　slapped　his　face；〃　Annoura　put　in；　and　Merana　colored。　Of　the　two　of　them；　Annoura　should　have　been　having　the　harder　time　with　Cadsuane　by　far；　but　she　was　not　the　one　stumbling　over　her　words。
　　　Cadsuane　shook　her　head　in　pitying　style。　〃If　you　want　to　see　what　a　man　is　made　of；　push　him　from　a　direction　he　doesn't　expect。　There's　good　metal　in　that　boy；　I　think；　but　he's　going　to　be　difficult。〃　Steepling　her　fingers；　she　peered　across　them　at　the　wall；　musing　to　herself。　〃He　has　a　rage　in　him　fit　to　burn　the　world；　and　he　holds　it　by　a　hair。　Push　him　too　far　off　balance。。。　Phaw！　Al'Thor's　not　so　hard　yet　as　Logain　Ablar　or　Mazrim　Taim；　but　a　hundred　times　as　difficult；　I　fear。〃　Hearing　those　three　names　together　clove　Merana's　tongue　to　the　roof　of　her　mouth。
　　　〃You　have　seen　Logain　and　Taim　both？〃　a　staring　Annoura　said。　〃Taim；　he　is　following　al'Thor；　so　I　hear。〃　Merana　managed　to　swallow　a　relieved　sigh。　Tales　of　Dumai's　Wells　had　not　had　time　to　spread　yet。　They　would；　though。
　　　〃I　do　have　ears　to　catch　rumors；　too；　Annoura；〃　Cadsuane　said　acerbically。　〃Though　I　could　wish　I　didn't；　for　what　I　hear　of　that　pair。　All　my　work　thrown　away　to　be　done　over。　Others'　as　well；　but　I　did　my　share。　And　then　there　are　these　blackcoats；　these　Asha'man。〃　Taking　a　cup　from　Daigian；　she　smiled　warmly　and　murmured　thanks。　The　round…cheeked　White　seemed　ready　to　curtsy；　though　all　she　did　was　retreat　to　a　corner　and　fold　her　hands。　She　had　been　longer　a　novice；　and　Accepted；　than　anyone　in　living　memory；　barely　allowed　to　remain　in　the　Tower；　gaining　the　ring　by　a　fingernail　and　the　shawl　by　an　eyelash。　Daigian　was　always　self…effacing　around　other　sisters。
　　　Breathing　the　steam　from　her　teacup；　Cadsuane　went　on；　suddenly　chatting　pleasantly。　〃It　was　Logain；　practically　on　my　doorstep；　that　lured　me　away　from　my　roses。　Phaw！　A　scuffle　at　a　sheep　fair　could　have　lured　me　from　those　Light…cursed　plants。　What's　the　point　if　you　use　the　Power；　but　do　it　without；　and　you　grow　ten　thousand　thorns　for　every　…　Phaw！　I　actually　considered　taking　the　oath　as　a　Hunter；　if　the　Council　of　Nine　would　allow　it。　Well。　It　was　a　nice　few　months；　chasing　down　Logain；　but　once　he　was　taken；　escorting　him　to　Tar　Valon　appealed　as　much　as　the　roses。　I　wandered　a　bit；　to　see　what　I　could　find；　perhaps　a　new　Warder；　though　it's　a　bit　late　for　that　in　any　fairness　to　the　man；　I　suppose。　Then　I　heard　of　Taim；　and　I　was　off　to　Saldaea　as　fast　I　could　ride。　There's　nothing　for　a　bit　of　excitement　like　a　man　who　can　channel。〃　Abruptly　her　voice　hardened；　and　her　gaze。　〃Were　either　of　you　involved　in　that。。。　vileness。。。　right　after　the　Aiel　War？〃
　　　Despite　herself；　Merana　gave　a　confused　start。　The　other　woman's　eyes　spoke　of　the　block　and　the　headsman's　axe。　〃What　vileness？　I　don't　know　what　you　are　talking　about。〃
　　　That　accusing　glare　hit　Annoura　so　hard；　she　almost　fell　off　the　bed。　〃The　Aiel　War？〃　she　gasped；　steadying　herself。　〃The　years　after；　I　spent　trying　to　make　the　so…called　Grand　Coalition　more　than　a　name。〃
　　　Merana　looked　at　Annoura　with　interest。　A　good　many　of　the　Gray　Ajah　had　scurried　from　capital　to　capital　after；　the　war；　in　a　futile　effort　to　hold　together　the　alliance　that　had　formed　against　the　Aiel；　but　she　had　never　known　Annoura　was　one　of　them。　She　could　not　be　that　bad　a　negotiator　if　she　was。　〃So　did　I；〃　she　said。　Dignity。　Since　setting　out　after　al'Thor　from　Caemlyn；　she　had　not　retained　much　of　that。　The　few　scraps　remaining　were　too　precious　to　lose。　She　made　her　voice　calm；　and　firm。　〃What　vileness　do　you　mean；　Cadsuane？〃
　　　The　gray…haired　woman　simply　waved　the　question　away；　as　though　she　had　never　spoken　the　word。
　　　For　a　moment；　Merana　wondered　whether　Cadsuane's　wits　might　be　wandering。　She　had　never　heard　of　it　happening　to　a　sister；　but　most　Aes　Sedai　did　go　into　retreat　at　the　close　of　their　lives；　far　from　the　stratagems　and　turbulence　that　none　but　si