rj.theshadowrising-第185部分

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her　waist。
　　　　　　　〃Who　are　you？〃　Nynaeve　demanded　furiously。　She　would　give　the　woman　a　chance　to　explain　herself。　And　then　teach　her　a　lesson　she　would　not　soon　forget！　〃Are　you　the　same　fool　who　shot　at　me　in　the　Waste；　claiming　she　was　Birgitte？　I　was　about　to　teach　a　member　of　the　Black　Ajah　manners　when　you　let　her　get　away！〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　Birgitte；〃　the　woman　said；　leaning　on　her　bow。　〃At　least；　that　is　the　name　you　would　know。　And　the　lesson　might　have　been　yours；　here　as　surely　as　in　the　Three…fold　Land。　I　remember　the　lives　I　have　lived　as　if　they　were　books　well…read；　the　longer　gone　dimmer　than　the　nearer；　but　I　remember　well　when　I　fought　at　Lews　Therin's　side。　I　will　never　forget　Moghedien's　face；　any　more　than　I　will　forget　the　face　of　Asmodean；　the　man　you　almost　disturbed　at　Rhuidean。〃
　　　　　　　Asmodean？　Moghedien？　That　woman　was　one　of　the　Forsaken？　A　Forsaken　in　Tanchico。　And　one　at　Rhuidean；　in　the　Waste！　Egwene　would　certainly　have　said　something　if　she　knew。　No　way　to　warn　her；　not　for　seven　days。　Anger　…　and　saidar　…　surged　in　her。　〃What　are　you　doing　here？　I　know　that　you　all　vanished　after　the　Horn　of　Valere　called　you；　but　you　are。。。〃　She　trailed　off；　a　trifle　flustered　at　what　she　had　been　about　to　say；　but　the　other　woman　calmly　finished　for　her。
　　　　　　　〃Dead？　Those　of　us　who　are　bound　to　the　Wheel　are　not　dead　as　others　are　dead。　Where　better　for　us　to　wait　until　the　Wheel　weaves　us　out　in　new　lives　than　in　the　World　of　Dreams？〃　Birgitte　laughed　suddenly。　〃I　begin　to　talk　as　if　I　were　a　philosopher。　In　almost　every　life　I　can　remember　I　was　born　a　simple　girl　who　took　up　the　bow。　I　am　an　archer；　no　more。〃
　　　　　　　〃You're　the　heroine　of　a　hundred　tales；〃　Nynaeve　said。　〃And　I　saw　what　your　arrows　did　at　Falme。　Seanchan　channeling　did　not　touch　you。　Birgitte；　we　face　near　a　dozen　of　the　Black　Ajah。　And　one　of　the　Forsaken　as　well；　it　seems。　We　could　use　your　help。〃
　　　　　　　The　other　woman　grimaced；　embarrassed　and　regretful。　〃I　cannot；　Nynaeve。　I　cannot　touch　the　world　of　flesh　unless　the　Horn　calls　me　again。　Or　else　the　Wheel　weaves　me　out。　If　it　did　this　moment；　you　would　find　only　an　infant　mewling　at　her　mother's　breast。　As　for　Falme；　the　Horn　had　called　us；　we　were　not　there　as　you　were；　in　the　flesh。　That　is　why　the　Power　could　not　touch　us。　Here；　all　is　part　of　the　dream；　and　the　One　Power　could　destroy　me　as　easily　as　you。　More　easily。　I　told　you；　I　am　an　archer；　a　sometime　soldier；　no　more。〃　Her　plex　golden　braid　swung　as　she　shook　her　head。　〃I　do　not　know　why　I　am　explaining。　I　should　not　even　be　talking　to　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃Why　not？　You've　spoken　to　me　before。　And　Egwene　thought　she　saw　you。　That　was　you；　wasn't　it？〃　Nynaeve　frowned。　〃How　do　you　know　my　name？　Do　you　just　know　things？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know　what　I　see　and　hear。　I　have　watched　you；　and　listened；　whenever　I　could　find　you。　You　and　the　other　two　women；　and　the　young　man　with　his　wolves。　According　to　the　precepts；　we　may　speak　to　none　who　know　they　are　in　Tel'aran'rhiod。　And　yet；　evil　walks　the　dream　as　well　as　the　world　of　flesh；　you　who　fight　it　attract　me。　Even　knowing　I　can　do　almost　nothing；　I　find　myself　wanting　to　help　you。　But　I　cannot。　It　violates　the　precepts；　precepts　which　have　held　me　for　so　many　turns　of　the　Wheel　that　in　my　oldest；　faintest　memories　I　know　I　had　already　lived　a　hundred　times；　or　a　thousand。　Speaking　to　you　violates　precepts　as　strong　as　law。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　does；〃　said　a　harsh；　male　voice。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　jumped　and　almost　lashed　out　with　the　Power。　The　man　was　dark　and　strongly　muscled；　with　the　long　hilts　of　two　swords　thrusting　above　his　shoulders　as　he　strode　the　few　paces　from　where　he　had　appeared　to　Birgitte。　With　what　she　had　heard　from　Birgitte；　the　swords　were　enough　to　name　him　as　Gaidal　Cain；　but　where　fair；　golden…haired　Birgitte　was　as　beautiful　as　in　the　stories；　he　was　definitely　not。　In　fact；　he　was　perhaps　as　ugly　a　man　as　Nynaeve　had　ever　seen；　his　face　wide　and　flat；　his　heavy　nose　too　big；　and　his　mouth　a　gash；　far　too　broad。　Birgitte　smiled　at　him；　though；　her　touch　on　his　cheek　held　more　than　fondness。　It　was　a　surprise　to　see　he　was　the　shorter。　Stocky　and　muscled　as　he　was；　powerful　in　his　movements；　he　gave　the　impression　of　being　taller　than　he　was。
　　　　　　　〃We　have　almost　always　been　linked；〃　Birgitte　told　Nynaeve　without　taking　her　eyes　from　Cain's。　〃He　is　usually　born　well　before　me　…　so　I　know　my　time　approaches　again　when　I　cannot　find　him　…　and　I　usually　hate　him　at　first　sight　in　the　flesh。　But　we　nearly　always　end　lovers　or　wed。　A　simple　story；　but　I　think　we　have　spun　it　out　in　a　thousand　variations。〃
　　　　　　　Cain　ignored　Nynaeve　as　though　she　did　not　exist。　〃The　precepts　exist　for　a　reason；　Birgitte。　Nothing　but　strife　and　trouble　has　ever　e　from　breaking　them。〃　His　voice　was　indeed　harsh；　Nynaeve　realized。　Not　at　all　like　that　of　the　man　in　the　stories。
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　I　cannot　sit　by　while　evil　fights；〃　Birgitte　said　quietly。　〃Or　perhaps　I　simply　hunger　for　the　flesh　again。　It　has　been　long　since　we　were　born　last。　The　Shadow　rises　again；　Gaidal。　It　rises　here。　We　must　fight　it。　That　is　the　reason　we　were　bound　to　the　Wheel。〃
　　　　　　　〃When　the　Horn　calls　us；　we　will　fight。　When　the　Wheel　weaves　us；　we　will　fight。　Not　until　then！〃　He　glowered　at　her。　〃Have　you　forgotten　what　Moghedien　promised　you　when　we　followed　Lews　Therin？　I　saw　her；　Birgitte。　She　will　know　you　here。〃
　　　　　　　Birgitte　turned　to　Nynaeve。　〃I　will　aid　you　as　I　can；　but　do　not　expect　too　much。　Tel'aran'rhiod　is　the　whole　of　my　world；　and　I　can　do　less　here　than　you。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　blinked；　the　dark；　heavy　man　had　not　moved　that　she　had　seen；　but　he　suddenly　stood　two　paces　away；　drawing　a　honing　stone　along　one　of　his　swords　with　a　soft；　silky　rasp。　Plainly；　as　far　as　he　was　concerned；　Birgitte　was　speaking　to　the　air。
　　　　　　　〃What　can　you　tell　of　Moghedien；　Birgitte？　I　must　know　what　I　can；　to　face　her。〃
　　　　　　　Leaning　on　her　bow；　Birgitte　frowned　thoughtfully。　〃Facing　Moghedien　is　difficult；　and　not　only　because　she　is　Forsaken。　She　hides　and　takes　no　risks。　She　attacks　only　where　she　sees　weakness；　and　moves　only　in　shadows。　If　she　fears　defeat；　she　will　run；　she　is　not　one　to　fight　to　the　last；　even　when　doing　so　has　the　chance　of　victory。　A　chance　is　not　enough　for　Moghedien。　But　do　not　take　her　lightly。　She　is　a　serpent　coiled　in　high　grass；　waiting　her　own　moment　to　strike；　with　less　passion　than　the　snake。　Especially　here　do　not　take　her　lightly。　Lanfear　always　claimed　Tel'aran'rhiod　for　her　own；　but　Moghedien　could　do　things　here　far　beyond　Lanfear；　though　she　has　not　Lanfear's　strength　in　the　world　of　flesh。　I　think　she　would　not　take　the　risk　of　confronting　Lanfear。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　shivered；　fear　warring　with　the　anger　that　let　her　contain　the　Power。　Moghedien。　Lanfear。　This　woman　spoke　so　casually　of　the　Forsaken。　〃Birgitte；　what　did　Moghedien　promise　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃She　knew　what　I　was；　even　though　I　did　not。　How；　I　do　not　know。〃　Birgitte　glanced　at　Cain；　he　appeared　absorbed　in　his　sword；　but　she　lowered　her　voice　anyway。　〃She　promised　to　make　me　weep　alone　for　as　long　as　the　Wheel　turns。　She　said　it　as　a　fact　that　simply　had　not　happened　yet。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　yet　you　are　willing　to　help。〃
　　　　　　　〃As　I　can；　Nynaeve。　Remember　that　I　told　you　not　to　expect　too　much。〃　Once　more　she　looked　at　the　man　sharpening　his　sword。　〃We　will　meet　again；　Nynaeve。　If　you　are　careful；　and　survive。〃　Hefting　her　silver　bow；　she　went　to　put　an　arm　around　Cain's　shoulders　and　murmur　in　his　ear。　Whatever　she　said；　Cain　was　laughing　as　they　vanished。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　shook　her　head。　Careful。　Everybody　was　telling　her　to　be　careful。　A　legendary　hero　who　said　she　would　help；　only　there　was　not　much　she　could　do。　And　one　of　the　Forsaken　in　Tanchico。
　　　　　　　The　thought　of　Moghedien；　of　what　the　woman　had　done　to　her；　strengthened　her　anger　until　the　One　Power　pulsed　in　her　like　the　sun。　Abruptly　she　was　back　in　the　great　hall　where　she　had　been　standing　before；　almost　hoping　the　woman　had　returned。　But　the　hall　was　empty　of　life　except　for　herself。　Fury　and　the　Power　roared　through　her　till　she　thought　her　skin　would　crisp　and　blacken。　Moghedien；　or　any　of　the　Black　sisters；　could　sense　her　far　more　easily　holding　the　Power　than　without；　but　she　held　it　anyway。　She　almost　wanted　them　to　find　her；　so　she　could　strike　at　them。　Temaile　was　very　likely　still　in　Tel'aran'rhiod。　If　she　went　back　up　to　that　bedchamber；　she　could　settle　Temaile　once　and　for　all。　She　could　settle　Temaile　…　and　warn　the　rest。　It　was　enough　to　make　her　growl。
　　　　　　　What　had　Moghedien　been　smiling　at？　Striding　out　to　the　case；　a　wide　glass　box　atop　a　carved　table；　she　peered　in。　Six　mismatched　figurines　stood　in　a　circle　beneath　the　glass。　A　foot…tall　nude　woman　balanced　on　the　toes　of　one　foot；　dancing；　all　flowing　lines；　and　a　shepherd　less　than　half　as　large；　playing　the　pipes　with　his　crook　on　his　shoulder　and　a　sheep　at　his　feet；　were　as　similar　as　any　two。　She　had　no　doubt　what　had　attracted　the　Forsaken's　smile；　though。
　　　　　　　In　the　center　of　the　circle　a　red…lacquered　wooden　stand　held　a　disc　as　big　as　a　man's　hand；　divided　into　halves　by　a　sinuous　line；　one　side　gleaming　whiter　than　snow；　the　other　blacker　than　pitch。　It　was　made　of　cuendillar；　she　knew；　she　had　seen　its　like；　and　only　seven　had　ever　been　made。　One　of　the　seals　on　the　Dark　One's　prison；　a　focus　for　one　of　the　locks　that　held　him　away　from　the　world　in　Shayol　Ghul。　This　was　perhaps　as　important　a　discovery　as　whatever　it　was　that　threatened　Rand。　This　had　to　be　gotten　away　from　the　Black　Ajah。
　　　　　　　Suddenly　she　became　aware　of　her　reflection。　The　top　of　the　case　was　the　finest　glass；　without　bubbles；　and　gave　an　image　as　clear　as　a　mirror；　if　fainter。　Dark　green　folds　of　silk　draped　her　body　so　they　showed　every　curve　of　breast　and　hip　and　thigh。　Long　honey　braids　full　of　jade　beads　framed　a　face　with　big　brown　eyes　and　a　pouting　mouth。　The　glow　of　saidar　did　not　show；　of　course。　Disguised　so　she　did　not　even　know　herself；　she　walked　about　carrying　a　painted　sign　that　screamed　Aes　Sedai。
　　　　　　　〃I　can　be　careful；〃　she　muttered。　Yet　she　held　on　a　moment　longer。　The　Power　filling　her　was　like　life　bubbling　along　her　limbs；　all　the　pleasures　she　had　ever　known　seeping　through　her