rj.theshadowrising-第122部分

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eing　through　ancestors'　eyes　…　the　strange　creature　from　the　Dragon　banner　marked　on　Rand's　forearms；　Bair's　revelation　that　he　was　the　Aiel's　doom；　the　summons　of　the　clan　chiefs　to　Alcair　Dal。　Amys　and　the　other　Wise　Ones　should　be　doing　that　even　now；　she　fervently　hoped　they　were。　She　even　told　the　strange　story　of　Rand's　true　parents；　in　a　shorter　form。　〃I　don't　know；　though。　He　has　been　acting　stranger　than　ever；　since；　and　Mat　hardly　less。　I　don't　mean　that　he's　mad；　but。。。　He　is　as　hard　as　Rhuarc　or　Lan；　in　some　ways　at　least；　maybe　harder。　He's　planning　something；　I　think　…　something　he　doesn't　mean　anybody　to　know　…　and　he　is　in　a　rush　to　get　to　it。　It　is　worrying。　Sometimes　I　have　the　feeling　he　doesn't　see　people　anymore；　only　pieces　on　a　stones　board。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　did　not　look　worried；　or　not　about　that；　at　any　rate。　〃He　is　what　he　is；　Egwene。　A　king；　or　a　general；　cannot　always　afford　to　see　people。　When　a　ruler　has　to　do　what　is　right　for　a　nation；　there　are　times　when　some　will　be　hurt　by　what　is　best　for　the　whole。　Rand　is　a　king；　Egwene；　even　if　without　a　nation　unless　you　count　Tear；　and　if　he　won't　do　anything　that　will　hurt　anyone；　he　will　end　by　hurting　everyone。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　sniffed。　It　might　make　sense；　but　she　did　not　have　to　like　it。　People　were　people；　and　they　had　to　be　seen　as　people。　〃There　is　more。　Some　of　the　Wise　Ones　can　channel。　I　don't　know　how　many；　but　I　suspect　more　than　a　few；　to　some　degree。　From　what　Amys　tells　me；　they　find　every　last　woman　who　has　the　spark　born　in　her。〃　No　Aiel　women　died　trying　to　teach　themselves　to　channel　while　not　even　knowing　what　they　were　trying　to　do；　there　was　no　such　thing　as　a　wilder　among　the　Aiel。　Men　who　learned　they　could　channel　faced　a　grimmer　fate；　they　went　north；　to　the　Great　Blight　and　maybe　beyond；　to　the　Blasted　Lands　and　Shayol　Ghul。　〃Going　to　kill　the　Dark　One；〃　they　called　it。　None　survived　long　enough　to　face　madness。　〃Aviendha　is　one　with　the　spark；　it　turns　out。　She'll　be　very　strong；　I　think。　Amys　thinks　so；　too。〃
　　　　　　　〃Aviendha；〃　Elayne　said　wonderingly。　〃Of　course。　I　should　have　known。　I　felt　the　same　kinship　for　Jorin　on　first　sight　that　I　did　for　her。　And　for　you；　for　that　matter。〃
　　　　　　　〃Jorin？〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　grimaced。　〃I　promised　I　would　keep　her　secret；　and　the　first　chance　I　get；　I　let　my　tongue　run　wild。　Well；　I　don't　suppose　you　will　harm　her　or　her　sisters。　Jorin　is　Windfinder　on　Wavedancer；　Egwene。　She　can　channel；　and　so　can　some　of　the　other　Windfinders。〃　She　glanced　at　the　columns　around　them；　and　her　neckline　was　suddenly　back　up　under　her　chin。　She　adjusted　a　dark　lace　shawl　that　had　not　been　there　a　moment　before；　covering　her　hair　and　shadowing　her　face。　〃Egwene；　you　mustn't　tell　anyone。　Jorin　is　afraid　the　Tower　will　try　to　force　them　to　bee　Aes　Sedai；　or　try　to　control　them　in　some　fashion。　I　promised　I　would　do　what　I　can　not　to　let　that　happen。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　won't　tell；〃　Egwene　said　slowly。　Wise　Ones　and　Windfinders。　Women　able　to　channel　among　both；　and　none　who　had　taken　the　Three　Oaths；　bound　by　the　Oath　Rod。　The　Oaths　were　supposed　to　make　people　trust　Aes　Sedai；　or　at　least　not　fear　their　power；　but　Aes　Sedai　still　had　to　move　in　secret　as　often　as　not。　Wise　Ones　…　and　Windfinders；　she　was　willing　to　wager　…　had　honored　places　in　their　societies。　Without　being　bound　to　supposedly　make　them　safe。　It　was　something　to　think　on。
　　　　　　　〃Nynaeve　and　I　are　ahead　of　schedule；　too；　Egwene。　Jorin　has　been　teaching　me　to　work　the　weather　…　you　would　not　believe　the　size　of　the　flows　of　Air　she　can　weave！　…　and　between　us；　we've　had　Wavedancer　moving　as　fast　as　he　ever　has；　and　that　is　fast。　We　should　be　in　Tanchico　in　another　three　days；　maybe　two；　according　to　Coine。　She's　the　Sailmistress；　the　captain。　Ten　days　from　Tear　to　Tanchico；　perhaps。　That　is　with　stopping　to　talk　with　every　Atha'an　Miere　ship　we　see。　Egwene；　the　Sea　Folk　think　Rand　is　their　Coramoor。〃
　　　　　　　〃They　do？〃
　　　　　　　〃Coine　has　some　of　what　happened　in　Tear　wrong　…　she　assumes　the　Aes　Sedai　serve　Rand　now；　for　one　thing；　Nynaeve　and　I　thought　it　best　not　to　put　her　straight　about　that　…　but　as　soon　as　she　tells　another　Sailmistress；　they're　all　ready　to　spread　the　word　and　serve　Rand。　I　believe　they　will　do　anything　he　asks　of　them。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　wish　the　Aiel　were　so　accepting；〃　Egwene　sighed。　〃Rhuarc　thinks　some　of　them　might　refuse　to　acknowledge　him；　Rhuidean　Dragons　or　no。　One　fellow；　a　man　called　Couladin；　I'm　sure　would　kill　him　in　a　minute　given　half　a　chance。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　took　a　step　forward。　〃You　will　see　that　doesn't　happen。〃　It　was　not　a　question　or　a　request。　There　was　a　sharp　light　in　her　blue　eyes；　and　a　bared　dagger　in　her　hand。
　　　　　　　〃I　will　do　the　best　I　can。　Rhuarc　is　giving　him　bodyguards。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　seemed　to　see　the　dagger　for　the　first　time；　and　gave　a　start。　The　blade　vanished。　〃You　must　teach　me　whatever　Amys　is　teaching　you；　Egwene。　It　is　disconcerting　to　have　things　appear　and　disappear；　or　suddenly　realize　I'm　wearing　different　clothes。　It　just　happens。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will。　When　I　have　time。〃　She　had　been　in　Tel'aran'rhiod　too　long　already。　〃Elayne；　if　I　am　not　here　when　we　are　supposed　to　meet　next；　don't　worry。　I　will　try；　but　I　may　not　be　able　to　e。　Be　sure　to　tell　Nynaeve。　If　I　do　not　e；　check　every　night　thereafter。　I　won't　be　more　than　one　or　two　late；　I'm　sure。〃
　　　　　　　〃If　you　say　so；〃　Elayne　said　doubtfully。　〃It　will　surely　take　weeks　to　find　out　if　Liandrin　and　the　others　are　in　Tanchico　or　not。　Thom　seems　to　think　the　city　will　be　very　confused。〃　Her　eyes　went　to　Callandor；　driven　half　its　length　into　the　floor。　〃Why　did　he　do　that；　do　you　think？〃
　　　　　　　〃He　said　it　will　hold　the　Tairens　to　him。　As　long　as　they　know　it's　there；　they　have　to　know　he　is　ing　back。　Maybe　he　knows　what　he　is　talking　about。　I　hope　so。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh。　I　thought。。。　perhaps　he。。。　was　angry　about。。。　something。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　frowned　at　her。　This　sudden　diffidence　was　not　like　Elayne　at　all。　〃Angry　about　what？〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　nothing。　It　was　just　a　thought。　Egwene；　I　gave　him　two　letters　before　leaving　Tear。　Do　you　know　how　he　took　them？〃
　　　　　　　〃No；　I　don't。　Did　you　say　something　you　think　might　have　angered　him？〃
　　　　　　　〃Of　course　not。〃　Elayne　laughed　gaily；　it　sounded　forced。　Her　dress　was　suddenly　dark　wool；　stout　enough　for　a　hard　winter。　〃I　would　have　to　be　a　fool　to　write　things　to　make　him　angry。〃　Her　hair　sprang　up　in　all　directions；　like　a　crazed　crown。　She　was　not　aware　of　it。　〃I　am　trying　to　make　him　love　me；　after　all。　Just　trying　to　make　him　love　me。　Oh；　why　can't　men　be　simple？　Why　do　they　have　to　cause　such　difficulties？　At　least　he's　away　from　Berelain。〃　The　wool　became　silk　again；　cut　even　lower　than　before；　her　hair　made　shimmers　on　her　shoulders　to　shame　the　gown's　sheen。　She　hesitated；　nibbling　her　lower　lip。　〃Egwene？　If　you　find　the　chance；　would　you　tell　him　I　meant　what　I　said　in　…　Egwene？　Egwene！〃
　　　　　　　Something　snatched　Egwene。　The　Heart　of　the　Stone　dwindled　into　blackness　as　if　she　were　being　hauled　away　by　the　scruff　of　her　neck。
　
　　　　　　　With　a　gasp；　Egwene　started　awake；　heart　pounding；　staring　up　the　low　roof　of　the　night…darkened　tent　over　her　head。　Only　a　little　moonlight　crept　in　at　the　open　sides。　She　lay　under　her　blankets　…　the　Waste　was　as　cold　at　night　as　it　was　hot　during　the　day；　and　the　brazier　that　exuded　the　sweetish　smell　of　dried　dung　burning　gave　little　warmth　…　beneath　her　blankets　right　where　she　had　lain　down　to　sleep。　But　…　what　had　pulled　her　back？
　　　　　　　Abruptly　she　became　aware　of　Amys；　sitting　cross…legged　beside　her；　cloaked　in　shadows。　The　Wise　One's　murk…shrouded　face　seemed　as　dark　and　foreboding　as　the　night。
　　　　　　　〃Did　you　do　that；　Amys？〃　she　said　angrily。　〃You　have　no　right　to　just　haul　me　about。　I　am　Aes　Sedai　of　the　Green　Ajah。。。　〃　The　lie　came　easily　to　her　lips　now　〃。　。　。　and　you　have　no　right　…〃
　　　　　　　Amys　cut　her　off　With　a　grim　voice。　〃Beyond　the　Dragonwall；　in　the　White　Tower；　you　are　Aes　Sedai。　Here；　you　are　an　ignorant　pupil；　a　fool　child　crawling　through　a　den　of　vipers。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know　I　said　I　would　not　go　to　Tel'aran'rhiod　without　you；〃　Egwene　said；　trying　to　sound　reasonable；　〃but　…〃
　　　　　　　Something　seized　her　ankles；　hauled　her　feet　into　the　air；　blankets　tumbled　away；　her　shift　dropped　to　bunch　in　her　armpits。　Upside　down；　she　hung　with　her　face　level　with　that　of　Amys。　Furious；　she　opened　herself　to　saidar　…　and　found　herself　blocked。
　　　　　　　〃You　wanted　to　go　off　alone；〃　Amys　hissed　softly。　〃You　were　warned；　but　you　had　to　go。〃　Her　eyes　seemed　to　glow　in　the　dark；　brighter　and　brighter。　〃Never　a　care　for　what　might　be　waiting。　There　are　things　in　dreams　to　shatter　the　bravest　heart。〃　Around　eyes　like　blue　coals；　her　face　melted；　stretched。　Scales　sprouted　where　skin　had　been；　her　jaws　thrust　out；　lined　with　sharp　teeth。　〃Things　to　eat　the　bravest　heart；〃　she　growled。
　　　　　　　Screaming；　Egwene　battered　vainly　at　the　shield　holding　her　from　the　True　Source。　She　tried　to　beat　at　that　horrible　face；　at　the　thing　that　could　not　be　Amys；　but　something　gripped　her　wrists；　stretched　her　taut　and　quivering　in　midair。　All　she　could　do　was　shriek　as　those　jaws　closed　around　her　face。
　　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　Screaming；　Egwene　sat　up；　clutching　at　her　blankets。　With　an　effort　she　managed　to　snap　her　mouth　shut；　but　she　could　do　nothing　about　the　shudders　that　racked　her。　She　was　in　the　tent　…　or　was　she？　There　was　Amys；　cross…legged　in　the　shadows；　glowing　with　saidar　…　or　was　it　she？　Desperately；　she　opened　herself　to　the　Source；　and　nearly　howled　when　she　found　the　barrier　again。　Tossing　the　blankets　aside；　she　scrambled　across　the　layered　rugs　on　bands　and　knees；　scattered　her　neatly　folded　clothes　with　both　hands。　She　had　a　belt　knife。　Where　was　it？　Where？　There！
　　　　　　　〃Sit　down；〃　Amys　said　acerbically；　〃before　I　dose　you　for　vapors　and　fidgets。　You　will　not　like　the　taste。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　twisted　around　on　her　knees；　the　short　knife　held　in　both　hands；　they　would　have　trembled　if　not　clutched　together　around　the　hilt。　〃Is　it　really　you　this　time？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　myself；　now　and　also　then。　Sharp　lessons　are　the　best　lessons。　Do　you　mean　to　stab　me？〃
　　　　　　　Hesitating；　Egwene　sheathed　the　knife。　〃You　have　no　right　to　…〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　every　right！　You　ga