rj.acrownofswords-第97部分

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　She　had　admitted　she　was　wrong；　if　only　to　herself。　Elayne　had　no　right　to　make　her　suffer　this　way。　She　began　wearing　such　a　face　that　even　people　who　did　not　notice　their　rings　gave　them　a　clear　path。　People　who　did　notice　usually　seemed　to　find　an　urgent　need　to　be　a　street　away。　Even　some　sedan…chair　bearers　skirted　around　her。
　　　〃How　old　did　Reanne　look　to　you？〃　Elayne　asked　suddenly。　Nynaeve　nearly　jumped。　They　were　almost　back　to　Mol　Hara。
　　　〃Fifty　years。　Maybe　sixty。　I　don't　see　it　matters。〃　She　ran　her　eyes　over　the　crowd　to　see　if　anyone　was　close　enough　to　hear。　A　passing　hawker；　her　tray　displaying　a　bitter　little　yellow　fruit　called　a　lemon；　tried　to　swallow　her　cry　in　mid…shout　when　Nynaeve's　gaze　rested　on　her　for　a　moment；　with　the　result　that　she　doubled　over　her　tray　coughing　and　choking。　Nynaeve　sniffed。　The　woman　probably　had　been　eavesdropping；　if　not　planning　to　cut　a　purse。　〃They　are　a　guild；　Elayne；　and　they　do　know　where　the　Bowl　is。　I　just　know　they　do。〃　That　was　not　what　she　had　intended　to　say　at　all。　If　she　apologized　for　dragging　Elayne　into　this　now；　maybe　it　would　not　be　so　bad。
　　　〃I　suppose　they　are；〃　Elayne　said　absently。　〃I　suppose　they　might。　How　is　it　that　she　can　have　aged　so？〃
　　　Nynaeve　stopped　dead　in　the　middle　street。　After　all　that　arguing；　after　getting　them　thrown　out；　she　supposed？　〃Well；　I　suppose　she　aged　the　same　way　as　the　rest　of　us；　a　day　at　a　time。　Elayne；　if　you　believed；　why　did　you　announce　who　you　were　like　Rhiannon　at　the　Tower？〃　She　rather　liked　that；　according　to　the　story；　what　Queen　Rhiannon　got　was　far　from　what　she　had　wanted。
　　　The　question　did　not　seem　to　register　with　Elayne；　for　all　her　education。　She　pulled　Nynaeve　to　one　side　as　a　curtained　green　carriage　rumbled　past　…　the　street　was　not　very　wide　there　…　over　to　the　front　of　a　seamstress's　shop　with　a　wide　doorway　showing　several　dressmaker's　forms　clothed　in　half…done　dresses。
　　　〃They　were　not　going　to　tell　us　anything；　Nynaeve；　not　if　you　got　down　on　your　knees　and　begged。〃　Nynaeve　opened　her　mouth　indignantly；　then　snapped　it　shut。　She　had　never　said　anything　about　begging。　Anyway；　why　should　she　have　been　the　only　one？　Better　any　woman　at　all　than　Mat　Cauthon。　Elayne　had　a　fly　up　her　nose；　though；　and　was　not　to　be　distracted。　〃Nynaeve；　she　must　have　slowed　like　everyone　else。　How　old　is　she；　to　look　fifty　or　sixty？〃
　　　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃　Without　thinking　Nynaeve　noted　the　location　in　a　corner　of　her　mind；　the　seamstress's　work　looked　quite　good；　worth　closer　examination。　〃She　probably　doesn't　channel　any　more　than　she　can　help；　afraid　as　she　is　of　being　mistaken　for　a　sister。　She　wouldn't　have　wanted　her　face　too　smooth；　after　all。〃
　　　〃You　never　listened　in　class；　did　you？〃　Elayne　murmured。　She　saw　the　plump　seamstress　beaming　in　the　doorway；　and　drew　Nynaeve　toward　the　corner　of　the　building。　Considering　the　amount　of　lace　the　seamstress　wore　on　her　own　dress；　the　bodice　buried　in　it　and　paces　of　it　drooping　over　her　exposed　petticoats；　she　would　bear　close　watching　if　Nynaeve　did　order　anything。　〃Forget　clothes　for　one　moment；　Nynaeve。　Who　is　the　oldest　Accepted　you　remember？〃
　　　She　gave　Elayne　a　very　level　look。　The　woman　made　it　sound　as　if　she　never　thought　of　anything　else！　And　she　had　too　listened。　Sometimes。　〃Elin　Warrel；　I　think。　She's　about　my　age；　I　think。〃　Of　course；　the　seamstress's　own　dress　would　look　fine　with　a　more　modest　neckline　and　much　less　lace。　In　green　silk；　Lan　liked　green；　though　she　certainly　was　not　going　to　choose　her　dresses　for　him。　He　liked　blue；　as　well。
　　　Elayne　barked　such　a　laugh　that　Nynaeve　wondered　whether　she　had　spoken　aloud。　Coloring　fiercely；　she　tried　to　explain　…　she　was　sure　she　could；　by　Bel　Tine　…　but　the　other　woman　gave　her　no　opportunity　for　a　word。　〃Elin's　sister　came　to　visit　her　just　before　you　first　arrived　at　the　Tower；　Nynaeve。　Her　younger　sister。　The　woman　had　gray　hair。　Well；　some　of　it　was。　She　must　have　been　over　forty；　Nynaeve。〃
　　　Elin　Warrel　was　past　forty？　But。。。！　〃What　are　you　saying；　Elayne？〃
　　　No　one　was　close　enough　to　listen；　and　no　one　seemed　to　be　giving　them　a　second　glance　except　the　still　hopeful　seamstress；　but　Elayne　lowered　her　voice　to　a　whisper。　〃We　slow；　Nynaeve。　Somewhere　between　twenty　and　twenty…five；　we　begin　aging　more　slowly。　How　much　depends　on　how　strong　we　are；　but　when　doesn't。　Any　woman　who　can　channel　does　it。　Takima　said　she　thought　it　was　the　beginning　of　achieving　the　ageless　look；　though　I　don't　think　anyone　has　ever　reached　that　until　they've　worn　the　shawl　at　least　a　year　or　two；　sometimes　five　or　more。　Think。　You　know　any　sister　with　gray　hair　is　old；　even　if　you　aren't　supposed　to　mention　it。　So　if　Reanne　slowed；　and　she　must　have；　how　old　is　she？〃
　　　Nynaeve　did　not　care　how　old　Reanne　was。　She　wanted　to　cry。　No　wonder　everyone　refused　to　believe　her　age。　It　explained　why　the　Women's　Circle　back　home　had　looked　over　her　shoulder　as　if　unsure　she　was　old　enough　to　be　trusted　fully。　Achieving　a　sister's　ageless　face　was　all　very　well；　but　how　long　before　she　had　her　gray　hairs？
　　　Blinking；　she　turned　away　angrily。　And　something　struck　her　a　glancing　blow　on　the　back　of　the　head。　Staggering；　she　rounded　on　Elayne　in　astonishment。　Why　had　the　woman　hit　her？　Only；　Elayne　lay　in　a　heap；　eyes　closed　and　a　nasty　purple　lump　rising　on　her　temple。　Groggily；　Nynaeve　fell　to　her　knees　and　gathered　her　friend　into　her　arms。
　　　〃Your　friend　must　be　taken　ill；〃　a　long　nosed　woman　said；　kneeling　beside　them；　careless　of　a　yellow　dress　that　showed　far　too　much　bosom　even　by　Ebou　Dari　standards。　〃Let　me　help。〃
　　　A　tall　fellow；　handsome　in　his　embroidered　silk　vest　except　for　a　rather　oily　grin；　bent　to　take　Nynaeve's　shoulders。　〃Here；　I　have　a　carriage。　We'll　take　you　somewhere　more　fortable　than　a　paving　stone。〃
　　　〃Go　away；〃　Nynaeve　told　them　politely。　〃We　don't　need　your　help。〃
　　　The　man　kept　trying　to　raise　her　to　her　feet；　though；　to　guide　her　toward　a　red　carriage；　where　a　startled…appearing　woman　in　blue　beckoned　vigorously。　The　long…nosed　woman　actually　tried　to　lift　Elayne；　thanking　the　man　for　his　help　and　chattering　how　his　carriage　sounded　a　fine　idea。　A　crowd　of　onlookers　seemed　to　have　gathered　out　of　air　in　a　semicircle；　women　murmuring　sympathy　about　fainting　from　the　heat；　men　offering　to　help　carry　the　ladies。　A　scrawny　fellow；　bold　as　you　please；　reached　for　Nynaeve's　purse　almost　right　under　her　nose。
　　　Her　head　still　swam　enough　to　make　embracing　saidar　difficult；　but　if　all　those　nattering　folk　had　not　fueled　her　temper；　what　she　saw　lying　in　the　street　would　have。　An　arrow　with　a　blunt　stone　head。　The　one　that　had　grazed　her　or　the　one　that　had　struck　Elayne。　She　channeled；　and　the　scrawny　cutpurse　doubled　over；　clutching　himself　and　squealing　like　a　pig　in　briars。　Another　flow；　and　the　long…nosed　woman　fell　over　backward　with　a　shriek　twice　as　high。　The　man　in　the　silk　vest　apparently　decided　they　did　not　need　his　help　after　all；　because　he　turned　and　ran　for　the　carriage；　but　she　gave　him　a　dose　anyway。　He　out…bellowed　any　outraged　bull　as　the　woman　in　the　carriage　hauled　him　in　by　his　vest。
　　　〃Thank　you；　but　we　don't　need　any　help；〃　Nynaeve　shouted。　Politely。
　　　Few　remained　to　hear。　Once　it　became　clear　that　the　One　Power　was　being　used　…　and　folk　suddenly　leaping　about　and　yelling　for　no　visible　cause　made　it　clear　enough　to　most　…　they　hurried　elsewhere。　The　long…nosed　woman　gathered　herself　up　and　actually　jumped　onto　the　back　of　the　red　carriage；　clinging　precariously　as　the　dark…vested　driver　whipped　the　horses　away　through　the　crowd；　people　leaping　aside。　Even　the　cutpurse　hobbled　off　as　fast　as　he　could。
　　　Nynaeve　could　not　have　cared　less　had　the　earth　opened　and　swallowed　the　whole　lot。　Chest　aching；　she　ran　fine　flows　of　Wind　and　Water；　Earth；　Fire　and　Spirit　mixed　and　blended；　through　Elayne。　It　was　a　simple　weave；　no　bother　despite　her　faint　dizziness；　and　the　result　let　her　breathe　again。　The　bruise　was　not　serious；　the　bones　of　Elayne's　skull　were　unbroken。　Normally；　she　would　have　redirected　those　same　flows　into　much　more　plex　weaves；　the　Healing　she　had　discovered　herself。　At　the　moment；　simpler　weaves　were　all　she　could　manage；　though。　With　just　Spirit；　Wind　and　Water；　she　wove　the　Healing　that　Yellows　had　used　since　time　immemorial。
　　　Elayne's　eyes　shot　open　wide；　and　with　a　gasp　that　seemed　to　take　all　the　air　in　her；　she　convulsed　like　a　netted　trout；　slippered　heels　drumming　on　the　pavement。　That　only　lasted　a　moment；　of　course；　but　in　that　moment　the　bruise　shrank　and　vanished。
　　　Nynaeve　helped　her　to　her　feet　…　and　a　woman's　hand　appeared；　holding　a　pewter　cup　full　of　water。　〃Even　an　Aes　Sedai　might　be　thirsty　after　that；〃　the　seamstress　said。
　　　Elayne　reached　for　it；　but　Nynaeve　laid　fingers　on　her　wrist。　〃No；　thank　you。〃　The　woman　shrugged；　and　as　she　turned　away；　Nynaeve　added　in　a　different　tone；　〃Thank　you。〃　It　seemed　to　e　easier　the　more　you　said　it；　she　was　not　sure　she　liked　that。
　　　That　ocean　of　lace　heaved　as　the　seamstress　shrugged　again。　〃I　make　dresses　for　anyone。　I　can　do　better　for　your　coloring　than　that。〃　She　vanished　back　into　her　shop。　Nynaeve　frowned　after　her。
　　　〃What　happened？〃　Elayne　demanded。　〃Why　wouldn't　you　let　me　take　a　drink？　I'm　thirsty　and　hungry。〃
　　　With　a　last　frown　for　the　seamstress；　Nynaeve　bent　to　pick　up　the　arrow。
　　　The　other　woman　needed　no　explanations。　Saidar　shone　around　her　in　a　flash。　〃Teslyn　and　Joline？〃
　　　Nynaeve　shook　her　head；　the　slight　wooziness　seemed　to　be　fading。　She　did　not　think　those　two　would　stoop　to　this。　She　did　not　think　so。　〃What　about　Reanne？〃　she　said　quietly。　The　seamstress　was　back　in　the　doorway；　still　hopeful。　〃She　might　want　to　make　sure　we　leave。　Or　worse；　maybe　Garenia。〃　That　was　almost　as　chilling　as　Teslyn　and　Joline。　And　twice　as　infuriating。
　　　Somehow　Elayne　managed　to　look　pretty　while　scowling。　〃Whoever　it　was；　we　will　settle　them。　You'll　see。〃　The　scowl　faded。　〃Nynaeve；　if　the　Circle　does　know　where　the　Bowl　is；　we　can　find　it；　but。。。　〃　She　bit　her　lip；　hesitating。　〃I　only　know　one　way　to　be　sure。〃
　　　Nynaeve　nodded　slowly；　though　she　would　rat