rj.theshadowrising-第183部分

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d　Rocks　Hold。　Seana；　a　Wise　One　dreamwalker；　among　the　dead。　Rand　hurrying　the　Taardad　Aiel　toward　this　Alcair　Dal；　apparently　in　violation　of　all　custom；　sending　out　runners　to　bring　more　septs。　The　boy　was　confiding　his　intentions　to　no　one；　the　Aiel　were　jumpy；　and　Moiraine　was　ready　to　bite　the　heads　off　nails。　Moiraine's　frustration　would　have　been　some　relief　…　she　had　hoped　he　could　escape　that　woman's　influence　somehow　…　if　Egwene　had　not　frowned　so　worriedly。
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know　whether　it　is　madness　or　design；〃　Egwene　finished。　〃I　could　almost　bear　it　either　way　if　I　knew。　Nynaeve；　I'll　admit　it　isn't　prophecy；　or　Tarmon　Gai'don；　that　makes　me　anxious　right　now。　Maybe　it　is　foolish；　but　I　promised　Elayne　to　look　after　him；　and　I　do　not　know　how。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　walked　around　the　crystal　sword　to　put　an　arm　around　her。　At　least　she　felt　solid；　even　if　she　did　look　a　reflection　in　a　foggy　mirror。　Rand's　sanity。　There　was　nothing　she　could　do　about　that；　no　fort　she　could　offer。　Egwene　was　the　one　there　to　see　him。　〃The　best　you　can　do　for　Elayne　is　to　tell　him　to　read　what　she　wrote。　She　worries　about　it　sometimes；　she　won't　talk；　but　I　think　she's　afraid　she　said　more　than　she　should　have。　If　he　believes　she　is　totally　besotted；　he's　more　likely　to　feel　the　same；　which　will　not　hurt　her　in　the　least。　At　least　we　have　some　good　news　in　Tanchico。　Some。〃　When　she　explained；　though；　it　barely　seemed　to　justify　〃some。〃
　　　　　　　〃So　you　still　don't　know　what　it　is　they're　after；〃　Egwene　said　after　she　finished；　〃but　even　if　you　did；　they　are　on　top　of　it　and　still　might　find　it　first。〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　if　I　can　help　it。〃　Nynaeve　fixed　the　two　Wise　Ones　with　a　firm；　level　look。　From　what　Elayne　said　of　Amys's　reluctance　to　give　anything　but　warnings；　she　would　need　firmness　to　deal　with　them。　The　pair　was　so　hazy　a　strong　puff　might　blow　them　away　like　fog。　〃Elayne　thinks　you　know　all　sorts　of　tricks　with　dreams。　Is　there　any　way　I　could　get　into　Amathera's　dreams　to　see　if　she　is　a　Darkfriend？〃
　　　　　　　〃Foolish　girl。〃　Bair's　long　hair　swung　as　she　shook　her　head。　〃If　Aes　Sedai；　a　foolish　girl　still。　To　step　into　another's　dream　is　very　dangerous　unless　she　knows　you　and　expects　you。　It　is　her　dream；　not　as　here。　There；　this　Amathera　will　control　all。　Even　you。〃
　　　　　　　She　had　been　sure　that　was　the　way。　It　was　irritating　to　learn　differently。　And　〃foolish　girl〃？
　　　　　　　〃I　am　not　a　girl；〃　she　snapped。　She　wanted　to　yank　her　braid；　but　clenched　a　fist　at　her　side　instead；　for　some　reason；　pulling　at　her　hair　felt　strangely　unfortable　of　late。　〃I　was　Wisdom　of　Emond's　Field　before　I。。。　became　Aes　Sedai。。。〃　She　hardly　stumbled　over　the　lie　at　all　now。　〃。。。and　I　told　women　as　old　as　you　when　to　sit　down　and　be　quiet。　If　you　know　how　to　help　me；　say　so　instead　of　giving　me　foolish　maunderings　about　what　is　dangerous。　I　know　danger　when　I　see　it。〃
　　　　　　　Abruptly　she　realized　her　single　braid　had　split　in　two；　one　over　each　ear；　red　ribbons　woven　through　to　make　tassels　on　the　ends。　Her　skirt　was　so　short　it　showed　her　knees；　she　wore　a　loose　white　blouse　like　the　Wise　Ones；　and　her　shoes　and　stockings　were　gone。　Where　had　this　e　from？　She　had　surely　never　thought　of　wearing　anything　like　it。　Egwene　put　a　hasty　hand　over　her　mouth。　Was　she　aghast？　Surely　not　smiling。
　　　　　　　〃Uncontrolled　thoughts；〃　Amys　said；　〃can　be　very　troublesome　indeed；　Nynaeve　Sedai；　until　you　learn。〃　Despite　her　bland　tone；　her　lips　quirked　in　barely　masked　amusement。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　kept　her　face　smooth　with　an　effort。　They　could　not　have　had　anything　to　do　with　it。　They　can't　have！　She　struggled　to　change　back；　and　it　was　a　struggle；　as　though　something　held　her　as　she　was。　Her　cheeks　grew　hotter　and　hotter。　Suddenly；　just　at　the　point　when　she　was　ready　to　break　down　and　ask　advice；　or　even　help；　her　clothes　and　hair　were　as　they　had　been。　She　wriggled　her　toes　gratefully　in　good　stout　shoes。　It　had　just　been　some　odd；　stray　thought。　In　any　case；　she　was　not　about　to　voice　any　suspicions；　they　looked　far　too　amused　as　it　was；　even　Egwene。　I　am　not　here　for　some　fool　contest。　I　just　won't　dignify　them。
　　　　　　　〃If　I　cannot　enter　her　dream；　can　I　bring　her　into　the　World　of　Dreams？　I　need　some　way　to　talk　to　her。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　would　not　teach　you　that　if　we　knew　how；〃　Amys　said；　hitching　her　shawl　angrily。　〃It　is　an　evil　thing　you　ask；　Nynaeve　Sedai。〃
　　　　　　　〃She　would　be　as　helpless　here　as　you　in　her　dream。〃　Bair's　thin　voice　sounded　like　an　iron　rod。　〃It　has　been　handed　down　among　dreamwalkers　since　the　first　that　no　one　must　ever　be　brought　into　the　dream。　It　is　said　that　that　was　the　way　of　the　Shadow　in　the　last　days　of　the　Age　of　Legends。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　shifted　her　feet　under　those　hard　stares；　realizing　she　had　an　arm　around　Egwene；　she　held　still。　She　was　not　about　to　let　Egwene　think　they　had　made　her　uneasy。　Not　that　they　had。　If　she　thought　of　being　hauled　before　the　Women's　Circle　before　she　was　chosen　Wisdom；　it　was　nothing　at　all　to　do　with　the　Wise　Ones。　Firmness　was　what　was。。。　They　stared　at　her。　Hazy　or　not；　these　women　could　duel　Siuan　Sanche　stare　for　stare。　Especially　Bair。　Not　that　they　intimidated　her；　but　she　could　see　the　point　of　being　reasonable。　〃Elayne　and　I　need　help。　The　Black　Ajah　is　sitting　on　top　of　something　that　can　harm　Rand。　If　they　find　it　before　we　do；　they　may　be　able　to　control　him。　We　need　to　find　it　first。　If　there　is　anything　you　can　do　to　help；　anything　you　can　tell　me。。。　Anything　at　all。〃
　　　　　　　〃Aes　Sedai；〃　Amys　said；　〃you　can　make　a　request　for　help　sound　a　demand。〃　Nynaeve's　mouth　tightened　…　demand？　She　had　all　but　begged。　Demand；　indeed！　…　but　the　Aiel　woman　did　not　seem　to　notice。　Or　chose　to　ignore　it。　〃Yet　a　danger　to　Rand　al'Thor。。。　We　cannot　allow　the　Shadow　to　have　that。　There　is　a　way。〃
　　　　　　　〃Dangerous。〃　Bair　shook　her　head　vigorously。　〃This　young　woman　knows　less　than　Egwene　did　when　she　came　to　us。　It　is　too　dangerous　for　her。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　maybe　I　could　…〃　Egwene　began；　and　the　two　cut　her　off　as　one。
　　　　　　　〃You　are　going　to　plete　your　training；　you　are　too　eager　to　go　beyond　what　you　know；〃　Bair　said　sharply　at　the　same　time　Amys　said；　not　the　slightest　bit　softer；　〃You　are　not　there　in　Tanchico；　you　do　not　know　the　place；　and　you　cannot　have　Nynaeve's　need。　She　is　the　hunter。〃
　　　　　　　Under　those　iron　eyes；　Egwene　subsided　sulkily；　and　the　two　Wise　Ones　looked　at　each　other。　Finally　Bair　shrugged　and　lifted　her　shawl　up　around　her　face；　clearly　she　washed　her　hands　of　the　entire　matter。
　　　　　　　〃It　is　dangerous；〃　Amys　said。　They　made　it　sound　as　if　breathing　was　dangerous　in　Tel'aran'rhiod。
　　　　　　　〃I　…！〃　Nynaeve　cut　off　as　Amys's　eyes　actually　grew　harder；　she　would　not　have　thought　it　possible。　Keeping　a　firm　image　of　her　clothes　as　they　were　…　of　course　they　had　had　nothing　to　do　with　that；　it　simply　seemed　wise　to　make　sure　her　dress　remained　as　it　was　…　she　changed　what　she　had　been　going　to　say。　〃I　will　be　careful。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　not　possible；〃　Amys　told　her　flatly；　〃but　I　do　not　know　another　way。　Need　is　the　key。　When　there　are　too　many　people　for　the　hold；　the　sept　must　divide；　and　the　need　is　for　water　at　the　new　hold。　If　no　location　with　water　is　known；　one　of　us　may　be　called　to　find　one。　The　key　then　is　the　need　for　a　proper　valley　or　canyon；　not　too　far　from　the　first；　with　water。　Concentrating　on　that　need　will　bring　you　near　to　what　you　want。　Concentrating　on　the　need　again　will　bring　you　closer。　Each　step　brings　you　nearer；　until　at　last　you　are　not　only　in　the　valley；　but　standing　beside　where　water　is　to　be　found。　It　may　be　harder　for　you；　because　you　do　not　know　exactly　what　you　are　seeking；　though　the　depth　of　need　may　make　up　for　it。　And　you　know　already　in　a　rough　fashion　where　it　lies；　in　this　palace。
　　　　　　　〃The　danger　is　this；　and　you　must　be　aware　of　it。〃　The　Wise　One　leaned　toward　her　intently；　driving　her　words　home　with　a　tone　as　sharp　as　her　gaze。　〃Each　step　is　made　blind；　with　eyes　closed。　You　cannot　know　where　you　will　be　when　you　open　your　eyes。　And　finding　the　water　does　no　good　if　you　are　standing　in　a　den　of　vipers。　The　fangs　of　a　mountain　king　kill　as　quickly　in　the　dream　as　waking。　I　think　these　women　Egwene　speaks　of　will　kill　more　quickly　than　the　snake。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　did　that；〃　Egwene　exclaimed。　Nynaeve　felt　her　jump　as　the　Aiel　women's　eyes　went　to　her。　〃Before　I　met　you；〃　she　said　hastily。　〃Before　we　went　to　Tear。〃
　　　　　　　Need。　Nynaeve　felt　warmer　toward　the　Aiel　women　now　that　one　of　them　had　given　her　something　she　could　use。　〃You　must　keep　a　close　eye　on　Egwene；〃　she　told　them；　hugging　the　younger　woman　to　show　she　meant　it　fondly。　〃You　are　right；　Bair。　She　will　try　to　do　more　than　she　knows　how。　She　has　always　been　that　way。〃　For　some　reason　Bair　arched　a　white　eyebrow　at　her。
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　find　her　so；〃　Amys　said　in　a　dry　voice。　〃She　is　a　biddable　student；　now。　Is　that　not　so；　Egwene？〃
　　　　　　　Egwene's　mouth　set　in　a　stubborn　line。　These　Wise　Ones　did　not　know　her　well　if　they　believed　a　Two　Rivers　woman　would　call　herself　biddable。　On　the　other　hand；　she　did　not　say　anything。　That　was　unexpected。　As　hard　a　lot　as　Aes　Sedai；　it　appeared；　these　Aiel　women。
　　　　　　　Her　hour　was　slipping　away；　and　impatience　bubbled　to　try　this　method　now；　if　Elayne　woke　her；　it　might　take　hours　to　get　back　to　sleep。　〃In　seven　days；〃　she　said；　〃one　of　us　will　meet　you　here　again。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　nodded。　〃In　seven　days；　Rand　will　have　shown　himself　to　the　clan　chiefs　as　He　Who　es　With　the　Dawn；　and　the　Aiel　will　all　be　behind　him。〃　The　Wise　Ones'　eyes　shifted　slightly；　and　Amys　adjusted　her　shawl；　Egwene　did　not　see　it。　〃The　Light　knows　what　he　means　to　do　then。〃
　　　　　　　〃In　seven　days；〃　Nynaeve　said；　〃Elayne　and　I　will　have　taken　whatever　Liandrin　is　hunting　away　from　the　lot　of　them。〃　Or　else；　very　likely；　the　Black　Ajah　would　have　it。　So　the　Wise　Ones　were　not　more　certain　the　Aiel　would　follow　Rand　than　Egwene　was　of　his　plans。　No　certainty　anywhere。　But　no　point　in　burdening　Egwene　with　more　doubts；　either。　〃When　one　of　us　sees　you　next；　we'll　have　laid　them　by　the　heels　and　stuffed　them　all　in　sacks　to　cart　to　the　Tower　for　trial。〃
　　　　　　　〃Try　to　be　careful；　Nynaeve。　I　know　you　don't　know　how　to；　but　try　anyway。　Tell　Elayne　I　said　so；　too。　She　isn't　as。。。　bol