rj.theshadowrising-第2部分

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bly；　from　what　Min　knew　of　the　Accepted。　Learning　to　be　Aes　Sedai。　Most　important；　however；　was　the　lack　of　recognition　in　the　Accepted's　eyes；　the　two　of　them　had　met　when　Min　was　in　the　Tower　before；　though　only　briefly。
Just　the　same；　Min　lowered　her　face　in　assumed　diffidence。　It　was　not　unnatural；　a　good　many　country　folk　did　not　really　understand　the　great　step　up　from　Accepted　to　full　Aes　Sedai。　Shielding　her　features　behind　the　edge　of　her　cloak；　she　looked　away　from　Faolain。
〃I　have　a　question　I　must　ask　the　Amyrlin　Seat；〃　she　began；　then　cut　off　abruptly　as　three　Aes　Sedai　stopped　to　look　into　the　entry　hall；　two　from　one　archway　and　one　from　another。
Accepted　and　novices　curtsied　when　their　rounds　took　them　close　to　one　of　the　Aes　Sedai；　but　otherwise　went　on　about　their　tasks；　perhaps　a　trifle　more　briskly。　That　was　all。　Not　so　for　the　petitioners。　They　seemed　to　catch　their　breaths　all　together。　Away　from　the　White　Tower；　away　from　Tar　Valon；　they　might　simply　have　thought　the　Aes　Sedai　three　women　whose　ages　they　could　not　guess；　three　women　in　the　flush　of　their　prime；　yet　with　more　maturity　than　their　smooth　cheeks　suggested。　In　the　Tower；　though；　there　was　no　question。　A　woman　who　had　worked　very　long　with　the　One　Power　was　not　touched　by　time　in　the　same　way　as　other　women。　In　the　Tower；　no　one　needed　to　see　a　golden　Great　Serpent　ring　to　know　an　Aes　Sedai。
A　ripple　of　curtsies　spread　through　the　huddle；　and　jerky　bows　from　the　few　men。　Two　or　three　people　even　fell　to　their　knees。　The　rich　merchant　looked　frightened；　the　farm　couple　at　her　side　stared　at　legends　e　to　life。　How　to　deal　with　Aes　Sedai　was　a　matter　of　hearsay　for　most；　it　was　unlikely　that　any　here；　except　those　who　actually　lived　in　Tar　Valon；　had　seen　an　Aes　Sedai　before；　and　probably　not　even　the　Tar　Valoners　had　been　this　close。
But　it　was　not　the　Aes　Sedai　themselves　that　halted　Min's　tongue。　Sometimes；　not　often；　she　saw　things　when　she　looked　at　people；　images　and　auras　that　usually　flared　and　were　gone　in　moments。　Occasionally　she　knew　what　they　meant。　It　happened　rarely；　the　knowing　…　much　more　rarely　than　the　seeing；　even　…　but　when　she　knew；　she　was　always　right。
Unlike　most　others；　Aes　Sedai…and　their　Warders…always　had　images　and　auras；　sometimes　so　many　dancing　and　shifting　that　they　made　Min　dizzy。　The　numbers　made　no　difference　in　interpreting　them；　though；　she　knew　what　they　meant　for　Aes　Sedai　as　seldom　as　for　anyone　else。　But　this　time　she　knew　more　than　she　wanted　to；　and　it　made　her　shiver。
A　slender　woman　with　black　hair　falling　to　her　waist；　the　only　one　of　the　three　she　recognized　…　her　name　was　Ananda；　she　was　Yellow　Ajah　…　wore　a　sickly　brown　halo；　shriveled　and　split　by　rotting　fissures　that　fell　in　and　widened　as　they　decayed。　The　small；　fair…haired　Aes　Sedai　beside　Ananda　was　Green　Ajah；　by　her　green…fringed　shawl。　The　White　Flame　of　Tar　Valon　on　it　showed　for　a　moment　when　she　turned　her　back。　And　on　her　shoulder；　as　if　nestled　among　the　grape　vines　and　flowering　apple　branches　worked　on　her　shawl；　sat　a　human　skull。　A　small　woman's　skull；　picked　clean　and　sun…bleached。　The　third；　a　plumply　pretty　woman　halfway　around　the　room；　wore　no　shawl；　most　Aes　Sedai　did　not　except　for　ceremony。　The　lift　of　her　chin　and　the　set　of　her　shoulders　spoke　of　strength　and　pride。　She　seemed　to　be　casting　cool　blue　eyes　on　the　petitioners　through　a　tattered　curtain　of　blood；　crimson　streamers　running　down　her　face。
Blood　and　skull　and　halo　faded　away　in　the　dance　of　images　around　the　three；　came　and　faded　again。　The　petitioners　stared　in　awe；　seeing　only　three　women　who　could　touch　the　True　Source　and　channel　the　One　Power。　No　one　but　Min　saw　the　rest。　No　one　but　Min　knew　those　three　women　were　going　to　die。　All　on　the　same　day。
〃The　Amyrlin　cannot　see　everyone；〃　Faolain　said　with　poorly　hidden　impatience。　〃Her　next　public　audience　is　not　for　ten　days。　Tell　me　what　you　want；　and　I　will　arrange　for　you　to　see　the　sister　who　can　best　help　you。〃
Min's　eye　flew　to　the　bundle　in　her　arms　and　stayed　there；　partly　so　she　would　not　have　to　see　again　what　she　had　already　seen。　All　three　of　them！　Light！　What　chance　was　there　that　three　Aes　Sedai　would　die　on　the　same　day？　But　she　knew。　She　knew。
〃I　have　the　right　to　speak　to　the　Amyrlin　Seat。　In　person。〃　It　was　a　right　seldom　demanded　…　who　would　dare？　…　but　it　existed。　〃Any　woman　has　that　right；　and　I　ask　it。〃
〃Do　you　think　the　Amyrlin　Seat　herself　can　see　everyone　who　es　to　the　White　Tower？　Surely　another　Aes　Sedai　can　help　you。〃　Faolain　gave　heavy　weight　to　the　titles　as　if　to　overpower　Min。　〃Now　tell　me　what　your　question　is　about。　And　give　me　your　name；　so　the　novice　will　know　who　to　e　for。〃
〃My　name　is。。。　Elmindreda。〃　Min　winced　in　spite　of　herself。　She　had　always　hated　the　name；　but　the　Amyrlin　was　one　of　the　few　people　living　who　had　ever　heard　it。　If　only　she　remembered。　〃I　have　the　right　to　speak　to　the　Amyrlin。　And　my　question　is　for　her　alone。　I　have　the　right。〃
The　Accepted　arched　an　eyebrow。　〃Elmindreda？〃　Her　mouth　twitched　toward　an　amused　smile。　〃And　you　claim　your　rights。　Very　well。　I　will　send　word　to　the　Keeper　of　the　Chronicles　that　you　wish　to　see　the　Amyrlin　Seat　personally；　Elmindreda。〃
Min　wanted　to　slap　the　woman　for　the　way　she　emphasized　〃Elmindreda；〃　but　instead　she　forced　out　a　murmured　〃Thank　you。〃
〃Do　not　thank　me　yet。　No　doubt　it　will　be　hours　before　the　Keeper　finds　time　to　reply；　and　it　will　certainly　be　that　you　can　ask　your　question　at　the　Mother's　next　public　audience。　Wait　with　patience。　Elmindreda。〃　She　gave　Min　a　tight　smile；　almost　a　smirk；　as　she　turned　away。
Grinding　her　teeth；　Min　took　her　bundle　to　stand　against　the　wall　between　two　of　the　archways；　where　she　tried　to　blend　into　the　pale　stonework。　Trust　no　one；　and　avoid　notice　until　you　reach　the　Amyrlin；　Moiraine　had　told　her。　Moiraine　was　one　Aes　Sedai　she　did　trust。　Most　of　the　time。　It　was　good　advice　in　any　case。　All　she　had　to　do　was　reach　the　Amyrlin；　and　it　would　be　over。　She　could　don　her　own　clothes　again；　see　her　friends；　and　leave。　No　more　need　for　hiding。
She　was　relieved　to　see　that　the　Aes　Sedai　had　gone。　Three　Aes　Sedai　dying　on　one　day。　It　was　impossible；　that　was　the　only　word。　Yet　it　was　going　to　happen。　Nothing　she　said　or　did　could　change　it　…　when　she　knew　what　an　image　meant；　it　happened　…　but　she　had　to　tell　the　Amyrlin　about　this。　It　might　even　be　as　important　as　the　news　she　brought　from　Moiraine；　though　that　was　hard　to　believe。
Another　Accepted　came　to　replace　one　already　there；　and　to　Min's　eyes　bars　floated　in　front　of　her　apple…cheeked　face；　like　a　cage。　Sheriam；　the　Mistress　of　Novices；　looked　into　the　hall　…　after　one　glance；　Min　kept　her　gaze　on　the　stone　under　her　feet；　Sheriam　knew　her　all　too　well　…　and　the　red…haired　Aes　Sedai's　face　seemed　battered　and　bruised。　It　was　only　the　viewing；　of　course；　but　Min　still　had　to　bite　her　lip　to　stifle　a　gasp。　Sheriam；　with　her　calm　authority　and　sureness；　was　as　indestructible　as　the　Tower。　Surely　nothing　could　harm　Sheriam。　But　something　was　going　to。
An　Aes　Sedai　unknown　to　Min；　wearing　the　shawl　of　the　Brown　Ajah；　acpanied　a　stout　woman　in　finely　woven　red　wool　to　the　doors。　The　stout　woman　walked　as　lightly　as　a　girl；　face　shining；　almost　laughing　with　pleasure。　The　Brown　sister　was　smiling；　too；　but　her　aura　faded　like　a　guttering　candle　flame。
Death。　Wounds；　captivity；　and　death。　To　Min　it　might　as　well　have　been　printed　on　a　page。
She　set　her　eyes　on　her　feet。　She　did　not　want　to　see　any　more。　Let　her　remember；　she　thought。　She　had　not　felt　desperation　at　any　tune　on　her　long　ride　from　the　Mountains　of　Mist；　not　even　on　the　two　occasions　when　someone　tried　to　steal　her　horse；　but　she　felt　it　now。　Light；　let　her　remember　that　bloody　name。
〃Mistress　Elmindreda？〃
Min　gave　a　start。　The　black…haired　novice　who　stood　before　her　was　barely　old　enough　to　be　away　from　home；　perhaps　fifteen　or　sixteen；　though　she　made　a　great　effort　at　dignity。　〃Yes？　I　am。。。。　That　is　my　name。〃
〃I　am　Sahra。　If　you　will　e　with　me　…　〃　Sahra's　piping　voice　took　on　a　note　of　wonder　…　〃the　Amyrlin　Seat　will　see　you　in　her　study　now。〃
Min　gave　a　sigh　of　relief　and　followed　eagerly。
Her　cloak's　deep　hood　still　hid　her　face；　but　it　did　not　stop　her　seeing；　and　the　more　she　saw；　the　more　she　grew　eager　to　reach　the　Amyrlin。　Few　people　walked　the　broad　corridors　that　spiraled　upward　with　their　brightly　colored　floor　tiles；　and　their　wall　hangings　and　golden　lamp　stands　…　the　Tower　had　been　built　to　hold　far　greater　numbers　than　it　did　now　…　but　nearly　everyone　she　saw　as　she　climbed　higher　wore　an　image　or　aura　that　spoke　to　her　of　violence　and　danger。
Warders　hurried　by　with　barely　a　glance　for　the　two　women；　men　who　moved　like　hunting　wolves；　their　swords　only　an　afterthought　to　their　deadliness；　but　they　seemed　to　have　bloody　faces；　or　gaping　wounds。　Swords　and　spears　danced　about　their　heads；　threatening。　Their　auras　flashed　wildly；　flickered　on　the　knife　edge　of　death。　She　saw　dead　men　walking；　knew　they　would　die　on　the　same　day　as　the　Aes　Sedai　in　the　entry　hall；　or　at　most　a　day　later。　Even　some　of　the　servants；　men　and　women　with　the　Flame　of　Tar　Valon　on　their　breasts；　hurrying　about　their　work；　bore　signs　of　violence。　An　Aes　Sedai　glimpsed　down　a　side　hallway　appeared　to　have　chains　in　the　air　around　her；　and　another；　crossing　the　corridor　ahead　of　Min　and　her　guide；　seemed　for　most　of　those　few　strides　to　wear　a　silver　collar　around　her　neck。　Min's　breath　caught　at　that；　she　wanted　to　scream。
〃It　can　all　be　overwhelming　to　someone　who's　never　seen　it　before；〃　Sahra　said；　trying　and　failing　to　sound　as　if　the　Tower　were　as　ordinary　to　her　now　as　her　home　village。　〃But　you　are　safe　here。　The　Amyrlin　Seat　will　make　things　right。〃　Her　voice　squeaked　when　she　mentioned　the　Amyrlin。
〃Light；　let　her　do　just　that；〃　Min　muttered。　The　novice　gave　her　a　smile　that　was　meant　to　be　soothing。
By　the　time　they　reached　the　hall　outside　the　Amyrlin's　study；　Min's　stomach　was　churning　and　she　was　treading　almost　on　Sahra's　heels。　Only　the　need　to　pretend　that　she　was　a　stranger　had　kept　her　from　running　ahead　long　since。
One　of　the　doors　to　the　Amyrlin's　chambers　opened；　and　a　young　man　with　red…gold　hair　cam