rj.acrownofswords-第95部分

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he　flow　gripping　Nynaeve's　braid　vanished。　Elayne　tossed　her　head　angrily　as　she　was　released。
　　　Appalled　astonishment　became　fiery　outrage　as　Nynaeve　realized　that　Berowin　held　her　shield。　Most　Aes　Sedai　she　had　met　stood　above　Berowin；　nearly　all。　Gathering　herself；　she　strained　to　reach　the　Source；　expecting　the　weaves　to　shatter。　She　would　at　least　show　these　women　she　would　not　be。。。　The　weaves。。。　stretched。　The　round　Cairhienin　woman　smiled；　and　Nynaeve's　face　darkened。　The　shield　stretched　further；　further；　bulging　like　a　ball。　It　would　not　break。　That　was　impossible。　Anyone　could　block　her　from　the　Source　if　they　caught　her　by　surprise；　of　course；　and　someone　weaker　could　hold　the　shield　once　woven；　but　not　this　much　weaker。　And　a　shield　did　not　bend　that　far　without　breaking。　It　was　impossible！
　　　〃You　could　burst　a　blood　vessel　if　you　keep　at　that；〃　Berowin　said；　almost　panionably。　〃We　do　not　try　to　reach　above　our　station；　but　skills　are　honed　with　time；　and　this　was　always　nearly　a　Talent　with　me。　I　could　hold　one　of　the　Forsaken。〃
　　　Scowling；　Nynaeve　gave　over。　She　could　wait。　Since　she　had　no　choice；　she　could。
　　　Derys　came　bearing　her　tray；　distributing　cups　of　dark　tea。　To　the　three　seated　women。　She　never　so　much　as　glanced　at　Nynaeve　or　Elayne　before　making　a　perfect　curtsy　and　returning　to　her　table。
　　　〃We　could　have　been　drinking　blueberry　tea；　Nynaeve；〃　Elayne　said；　shooting　such　a　look　at　her　that　she　came　close　to　stepping　back。　Maybe　it　would　be　best　not　to　wait　too　long。
　　　〃Be　quiet；　girl。〃　Mistress　Corly's　tone　might　be　calm；　but　she　patted　her　handkerchief　to　her　face　angrily。　〃Our　report　of　you　says　you　both　are　froward　and　contentious；　that　you　chase　after　men　and　lie。　To　which　I　add　that　you　cannot　follow　simple　instructions。　All　of　which　must　change　if　you　seek　our　help。　All　of　it。　This　is　most　irregular。　Be　grateful　we're　willing　to　speak　to　you。〃
　　　〃We　do　seek　your　help；〃　Nynaeve　said。　She　wished　Elayne　would　stop　glaring　so。　It　was　worse　than　the　Corly　woman's　hard　stare。　Well；　as　bad；　anyway。　〃We　desperately　need　to　find　a　ter'angreal　…　〃
　　　Reanne　Corly　broke　in　as　if　she　had　been　standing　there　silent。　〃Usually；　we　know　the　girls　brought　to　us　beforehand；　but　we　must　make　certain　you　are　what　you　say。　How　many　doors　to　the　Tower　Library　may　a　novice　use；　and　which？〃　She　took　a　sip　of　tea；　waiting。
　　　〃Two。〃　The　word　dripped　venom　from　Elayne's　mouth。　〃The　main　door　to　the　east；　when　a　sister　sends　her；　or　the　small　door　at　the　southwest　corner；　called　the　Novice　Door；　when　she　goes　for　herself。　How　long；　Nynaeve？〃
　　　Garenia；　who　held　Elayne's　shield；　channeled　another　slender　flow　of　Air；　not　gently。　Elayne　quivered；　then　again；　and　Nynaeve　winced；　wondering　that　she　did　not　grab　at　the　back　of　her　skirt。　〃A　civil　tongue　is　another　requirement；〃　Garenia　murmured　wryly　into　her　cup。
　　　〃That　is　the　right　answer；〃　Mistress　Corly　said；　as　if　nothing　else　had　happened。　Although　she　did　eye　the　Saldaean　woman　briefly　over　her　tea。　〃Now；　how　many　bridges　in　the　Water　Garden？〃
　　　〃Three；〃　Nynaeve　snapped；　mainly　because　she　knew。　She　had　not　known　about　the　library；　having　never　been　a　novice。　〃We　need　to　know　…　〃　Berowin　could　not　spare　anything　to　channel　a　flow　of　Air；　but　Mistress　Corly　could；　and　did。　Barely　keeping　her　face　smooth；　Nynaeve　knotted　her　hands　in　her　skirts　to　hold　them　still。　Elayne　had　the　gall　to　give　her　a　small；　chilly　smile。　Chilly；　but　satisfied。
　　　A　dozen　more　questions　hammered　at　them；　from　how　many　floors　the　novice　quarters　contained　…　twelve　…　to　under　what　circumstances　a　novice　was　allowed　into　the　Hall　of　the　Tower　…　to　carry　messages　or　to　be　expelled　from　the　Tower　for　a　crime；　no　others　…　hammered　without　Nynaeve　getting　in　more　than　two　words；　and　those　two　answered　silently　by　the　horrible　Corly　woman。　She　began　to　feel　like　a　novice　in　the　Hall；　they　were　not　allowed　to　speak　a　word　either。　That　was　one　of　the　few　answers　she　knew；　but　luckily　Elayne　responded　promptly　when　she　did　not。　Nynaeve　might　have　done　better　had　they　asked　about　Accepted；　a　little　better　at　least；　but　it　was　what　a　novice　should　know　that　interested　them。　She　was　just　glad　Elayne　was　willing　to　go　along；　though　by　her　pale　cheeks　and　raised　chin；　that　could　not　last　much　longer。
　　　〃I　suppose　Nynaeve　was　really　there；〃　Reanne　said　finally；　exchanging　glances　with　the　other　two。　〃If　Elayne　taught　her　to　pass；　I　think　she　would　have　done　a　better　job。　Some　people　live　in　perpetual　fog。〃　Garenia　sniffed；　then　nodded　slowly。　Berowin's　nod　came　entirely　too　promptly　for　Nynaeve's　liking。
　　　〃Please；〃　she　said　politely。　She　could　be　polite　when　there　was　reason；　whatever　anyone　said。　〃We　truly　need　to　find　a　ter'angreal　the　Sea　Folk　call　the　Bowl　of　the　Winds。　It's　in　a　dusty　old　storeroom　somewhere　in　the　Rahad；　and　I　think　your　guild；　your　Circle；　must　know　where。　Please　help　us。〃　Three　suddenly　stony　faces　stared　at　her。
　　　〃There　is　no　guild；〃　Mistress　Corly　said　coolly；　〃only　a　few　friends　who　found　no　place　in　the　White　Tower。。。　〃　Again；　that　reverential　tone。　〃。。。　and　who　are　foolish　enough　occasionally　to　reach　out　a　hand　where　it's　needed。　We　have　no　truck　with　ter'angreal；　or　angreal；　or　sa'angreal　either。　We　are　not　Aes　Sedai。〃　〃Aes　Sedai〃　echoed　with　veneration；　as　well。　〃In　any　case；　you　are　not　here　to　ask　questions。　We　have　more　for　you；　to　see　how　far　you've　gone；　after　which　you　will　be　taken　to　the　country　and。　given　into　the　care　of　a　friend。　She　will　keep　you　until　we　decide　what　to　do　next。　Until　we　can　be　sure　the　sisters　are　not　looking　for　you。　You　have　a　new　life　ahead　of　you；　a　new　chance；　if　you　can　only　let　yourself　see　it。　Whatever　held　you　back　in　the　Tower　does　not　apply　here；　whether　a　lack　of　dexterity　or　fear　or　anything　else。　No　one　will　push　you　to　learn　or　do　what　you　cannot。　What　you　are　is　sufficient。　Now。〃
　　　〃Enough；〃　Elayne　said　in　a　wintery　voice。　〃Long　enough；　Nynaeve。　Or　do　you　intend　to　wait　in　the　country　for　however　long？　They　do　not　have　it；　Nynaeve。〃　Removing　her　Great　Serpent　ring　from　her　belt　pouch；　she　thrust　the　circle　of　gold　onto　her　finger。　From　the　way　she　looked　at　the　seated　women；　no　one　would　believe　her　shielded。　She　was　a　queen　out　of　patience。　She　was　Aes　Sedai　to　her　hair　was　what　she　was。　〃I　am　Elayne　Trakand；　High　Seat　of　House　Trakand。　I　am　Daughter…Heir　of　Andor　and　Aes　Sedai　of　the　Green　Ajah；　and　I　demand　you　release　me　immediately。〃　Nynaeve　groaned。
　　　Garenia　grimaced　with　disgust；　and　Berowin's　eyes　widened　in…horror。　Reanne　Corly　shook　her　head　ruefully；　but　when　she　spoke；　her　voice　was　iron。　〃I　had　hoped　Setalle　had　changed　your　mind　concerning　that　particular　lie。　I　know　how　hard　it　is；　to　set　out　proudly　for　the　White　Tower　then　find　yourself　faced　with　returning　home　to　admit　failure。　But　that　is　never　said；　even　in　joke！〃
　　　〃I　made　no　joke；〃　Elayne　said　lightly。　Snow　was　light。
　　　Garenia　leaned　forward　with　a　scowl；　a　flow　of　Air　already　forming　until　Mistress　Corly　raised　her　hand。　〃And　you；　Nynaeve？　Do　you　persist　in　this。。。　madness；　too？〃
　　　Nynaeve　filled　her　lungs。　These　women　had　to　know　where　the　Bowl　was；　they　just　had　to！
　　　〃Nynaeve！〃　Elayne　said　peevishly。　She　was　not　going　to　let　her　forget　this　even　if　they　did　have　to　effect　an　escape。　She　had　a　way　of　harping　on　every　little　misstep　in　a　manner　that　cut　the　ground　right　from　under　your　feet。
　　　〃I　am　an　Aes　Sedai　of　the　Yellow　Ajah；〃　Nynaeve　said　wearily。　〃The　true　Amyrlin　Seat；　Egwene　al'Vere；　raised　us　to　the　shawl　in　Salidar。　She's　no　older　than　Elayne；　you　must　have　heard。〃　Not　a　glimmer　of　change　in　those　three　hard　faces。　〃She　sent　us　to　find　the　Bowl　of　the　Winds。　With　it；　we　can　mend　the　weather。〃　Not　a　flicker　of　change。　She　tried　to　hold　her　anger　down；　she　truly　did。　It　just　oozed　up　despite　her。　〃You　must　want　that！　Look　around　you！　The　Dark　One　is　strangling　the　world！　If　you　have　even　a　hint　of　where　the　Bowl　might　be；　tell　us！〃
　　　Mistress　Corly　motioned　for　Derys；　who　came　and　took　the　cups；　casting　fearful；　wide…eyed　looks　at　Nynaeve　and　Elayne。　When　she　scurried　away；　out　of　the　room　in　fact；　the　three　women　stood　slowly；　standing　like　grim　magistrates　pronouncing　sentence。
　　　〃I　regret　that　you　will　not　accept　our　help；〃　Mistress　Corly　said　coldly。　〃I　regret　this　whole　affair。〃　Reaching　into　her　pouch；　she　pressed　three　silver　marks　into　Nynaeve's　hand　and　another　three　into　Elayne's。　〃These　will　take　you　a　little　way。　You　can　also　get　something　for　those　dresses；　I　should　think；　if　not　what　you　paid。　Those　are　hardly　suitable　garments　for　a　journey。　By　tomorrow　sunrise；　you　will　be　gone　from　Ebou　Dar。〃
　　　〃We　aren't　going　anywhere；〃　Nynaeve　told　her。　〃Please；　if　you　know　…　〃　She　might　as　well　have　kept　silent。　The　measured　flow　of　words　did　not　slow。
　　　〃At　that　time　we　will　begin　circulating　your　descriptions；　and　we　will　make　certain　they　reach　the　sisters　in　the　Tarasin　Palace。　If　you　are　seen　after　sunrise；　we　will　see　that　the　sisters　know　where　you　are；　and　the　Whitecloaks　as　well。　Your　choice　then　will　be　to　run；　surrender　to　the　sisters；　or　die。　Go；　do　not　return；　and　you　should　live　long　if　you　give　over　this　repulsive　and　dangerous　ruse。　We　are　done　with　you。　Berowin；　see　to　them；　please。〃　Brushing　between　them；　she　went　from　the　room　without　looking　back。
　　　Sullenly；　Nynaeve　let　herself　be　herded　down　to　the　front　door。　A　struggle　would　not　achieve　anything　except　maybe　being　thrown　out　bodily；　but　she　did　not　like　giving　up。　Light；　she　did　not！　Elayne　marched；　frozen　determination　to　leave　and　be　done　shining　in　every　line　of　her。
　　　In　the　small　entry　hall；　Nynaeve　decided　to　try　once　more。　〃Please；　Garenia；　Berowin；　if　you　have　any　hint；　tell　us。　Any　clue　at　all。　You　must　see　how　important　this　is。　You　must！〃
　　　〃'The　blindest　are　those　who　keep　their　eyes　shut；'〃　Elayne　quoted；　not　quite　under　her　breath。
　　　Berowin　hesitated；　but　not　Garenia。　She　put　her　face　right　in　Nynaeve's。　〃Do　you　think　we're　fools；　girl？　I'll　tell　you　this。　If　I　had　my　way；　we　would　bundle　you　out　to　the　farm　no　matter　what　you　say。　A　few　months　of　Alise's　attentions；　and　you'd　learn　to　guard　your　tongue　and　be　gra