rj.theshadowrising-第4部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


〃The　Amyrlin　Seat　must　be　wondering　why　we　haven't　e；〃　she　said。
Sahra　came　to　herself　with　a　wide…eyed　start　and　a　loud　gulp。　Seizing　Min's　sleeve　with　one　hand；　she　jumped　to　open　one　of　the　doors；　pulling　Min　behind　her。　The　moment　they　were　inside；　the　novice　curtsied　hastily　and　burst　out　in　panic；　〃I've　brought　her；　Leane　Sedai。　Mistress　Elmindreda？　The　Amyrlin　Seat　wants　to　see　her？〃
The　tall；　coppery…skinned　woman　in　the　anteroom　wore　the　hand…wide　stole　of　the　Keeper　of　the　Chronicles；　blue　to　show　she　had　been　raised　from　the　Blue　Ajah。　Fists　on　hips；　she　waited　for　the　girl　to　finish；　then　dismissed　her　with　a　clipped　〃Took　you　long　enough；　child。　Back　to　your　chores；　now。〃　Sahra　bobbed　another　curtsy　and　scurried　out　as　quickly　as　she　had　entered。
Min　stood　with　her　eyes　on　the　floor；　her　hood　still　pulled　up　around　her　face。　Blundering　in　front　of　Sahra　had　been　bad　enough…　though　at　least　the　novice　did　not　know　her　name　…　but　Leane　knew　her　better　than　anyone　in　the　Tower　except　the　Amyrlin。　Min　was　sure　it　could　make　no　difference　now；　but　after　what　had　happened　in　the　hallway；　she　meant　to　hold　to　Moiraine's　instructions　until　she　was　alone　with　the　Amyrlin。
This　time　her　precautions　did　no　good。　Leane　took　two　steps；　pushed　back　the　hood；　and　grunted　as　if　she　had　been　poked　in　the　stomach。　Min　raised　her　head　and　stared　back　defiantly；　trying　to　pretend　she　had　not　been　attempting　to　sneak　past。　Straight；　dark　hair　only　a　little　longer　than　her　own　framed　the　Keeper's　face；　the　Aes　Sedai's　expression　was　a　blend　of　surprise　and　displeasure　at　being　surprised。
〃So　you　are　Elmindreda；　are　you？〃　Leane　said　briskly。　She　was　always　brisk。　〃I　must　say　you　look　it　more　in　that　dress　than　in　your　usual。。。　garb。〃
〃Just　Min；　Leane　Sedai；　if　you　please。〃　Min　managed　to　keep　her　face　straight；　but　it　was　difficult　not　to　glare。　The　Keeper's　voice　had　held　too　much　amusement。　If　her　mother　had　had　to　name　her　after　someone　in　a　story；　why　did　it　have　to　be　a　woman　who　seemed　to　spend　most　of　her　time　sighing　at　men；　when　she　was　not　inspiring　them　to　pose　songs　about　her　eyes；　or　her　smile？
〃Very　well。　Min。　I'll　not　ask　where　you've　been；　nor　why　you've　e　back　in　a　dress；　apparently　wanting　to　ask　a　question　of　the　Amyrlin。　Not　now；　at　least。〃　Her　face　said　she　meant　to　ask　later；　though；　and　get　answers。　〃I　suppose　the　Mother　knows　who　Elmindreda　is？　Of　course。　I　should　have　known　that　when　she　said　to　send　you　straight　in；　and　alone。　The　Light　alone　knows　why　she　puts　up　with　you。〃　She　broke　off　with　a　concerned　frown。　〃What　is　the　matter；　girl？　Are　you　ill？〃
Min　carefully　blanked　her　face。　〃No。　No；　I　am　all　right。〃　For　a　moment　the　Keeper　had　been　looking　through　a　transparent　mask　of　her　own　face；　a　screaming　mask。　〃May　I　go　in　now；　Leane　Sedai？〃
Leane　studied　her　a　moment　longer；　then　jerked　her　head　toward　the　inner　chamber。　〃In　with　you。〃　Min's　leap　to　obey　would　have　satisfied　the　hardest　taskmistress。
The　Amyrlin　Seat's　study　had　been　occupied　by　many　grand　and　powerful　women　over　the　centuries；　and　reminders　of　the　fact　filled　the　room；　from　the　tall　fireplace　all　of　golden　marble　from　Kandor；　cold　now；　to　the　paneled　walls　of　pale；　oddly　striped　wood；　iron　hard　yet　carved　in　wondrous　beasts　and　wildly　feathered　birds。　Those　panels　had　been　brought　from　the　mysterious　lands　beyond　the　Aiel　Waste　well　over　a　thousand　years　ago；　and　the　fireplace　was　more　than　twice　as　old。　The　polished　red…stone　of　the　floor　had　e　from　the　Mountains　of　Mist。　 High　arched　windows　let　onto　a　balcony。　The　iridescent　stone　framing　the　windows　shone　like　pearls；　and　had　been　salvaged　from　the　remains　of　a　city　sunk　into　the　Sea　of　Storms　by　the　Breaking　of　the　World；　no　one　had　ever　seen　its　like。
The　current　occupant；　Siuan　Sanche；　had　been　born　a　fisherman's　daughter　in　Tear；　though；　and　the　furnishings　she　had　chosen　were　simple；　if　well　made　and　well　polished。　She　sat　in　a　stout　chair　behind　a　large　table　plain　enough　to　have　served　a　farmhouse。　The　only　other　chair　in　the　room；　just　as　plain　and　usually　set　off　to　one　side；　now　stood　in　front　of　the　table　atop　a　small　Tairen　rug；　simple　in　blue　and　brown　and　gold。　Half　a　dozen　books　rested　open　on　tall　reading　stands　about　the　floor。　That　was　all　of　it。　A　drawing　hung　above　the　fireplace：　tiny　fishing　boats　working　among　reeds　in　the　Fingers　of　the　Dragon；　just　as　her　father's　boat　had。
At　first　glance；　despite　her　smooth　Aes　Sedai　features；　Siuan　Sanche　herself　looked　as　simple　as　her　furnishings。　She　herself　was　sturdy；　and　handsome　rather　than　beautiful；　and　the　only　bit　of　ostentation　in　her　clothing　was　the　broad　stole　of　the　Amyrlin　Seat　she　wore；　with　one　colored　stripe　for　each　of　the　seven　Ajahs。　Her　age　was　indeterminate；　as　with　any　Aes　Sedai；　not　even　a　hint　of　gray　showed　in　her　dark　hair。　But　her　sharp　blue　eyes　brooked　no　nonsense；　and　her　firm　jaw　spoke　of　the　determination　of　the　youngest　woman　ever　to　be　chosen　Amyrlin　Seat。　For　over　ten　years　Siuan　Sanche　had　been　able　to　summon　rulers；　and　the　powerful；　and　they　had　e；　even　if　they　hated　the　White　Tower　and　feared　Aes　Sedai。
As　the　Amyrlin　strode　around　in　front　of　the　table；　Min　set　down　her　bundle　and　began　an　awkward　curtsy；　muttering　irritably　under　her　breath　at　having　to　do　so。　Not　that　she　wanted　to　be　disrespectful　…　that　did　not　even　occur　to　one　facing　a　woman　like　Siuan　Sanche　…　but　the　bow　she　usually　would　have　made　seemed　foolish　in　a　dress；　and　she　had　only　a　rough　idea　of　how　to　curtsy。
Halfway　down；　with　her　skirts　already　spread；　she　froze　like　a　crouching　toad。　Siuan　Sanche　was　standing　there　as　regal　as　any　queen；　and　for　a　moment　she　was　also　lying　on　the　floor；　naked。　Aside　from　her　being　in　only　her　skin；　there　was　something　odd　about　the　image；　but　it　vanished　before　Min　could　say　what。　It　was　as　strong　a　viewing　as　she　had　ever　seen；　and　she　had　no　idea　what　it　meant。
〃Seeing　things　again；　are　you？〃　the　Amyrlin　said。　〃Well；　I　can　certainly　make　use　of　that　ability　of　yours。　I　could　have　used　it　all　the　months　you　were　gone。　But　we'll　not　talk　of　that。　What's　done　is　done。　The　Wheel　weaves　as　the　Wheel　wills。〃　She　smiled　a　tight　smile。　〃But　if　you　do　it　again；　I'll　have　your　hide　for　gloves。　Stand　up；　girl。　Leane　forces　enough　ceremony　on　me　in　a　month　to　last　any　sensible　woman　a　year。　I　don't　have　time　for　it。　Not　these　days。　Now；　what　did　you　just　see？〃
Min　straightened　slowly。　It　was　a　relief　to　be　back　with　someone　who　knew　of　her　talent；　even　if　it　was　the　Amyrlin　Seat　herself。　She　did　not　have　to　hide　what　she　saw　from　the　Amyrlin。　Far　from　it。　〃You　were。。。　You　weren't　wearing　any　clothes。　I。。。　I　don't　know　what　it　means；　Mother。〃
Siuan　barked　a　short；　mirthless　laugh。　〃No　doubt　that　I'll　take　a　lover。　But　I　have　no　time　for　that；　either。　There's　no　time　for　winking　at　the　men　when　you're　busy　bailing　the　boat。〃
〃Maybe；〃　Min　said　slowly。　It　could　have　meant　that；　though　she　doubted　it。　〃I　just　do　not　know。　But；　Mother；　I've　been　seeing　things　ever　since　I　walked　into　the　Tower。　Something　bad　is　going　to　happen；　something　terrible。〃
She　started　with　the　Aes　Sedai　in　the　entry　hall　and　told　everything　she　had　seen；　as　well　as　what　everything　meant；　when　she　was　sure。　She　held　back　what　Gawyn　had　said；　though；　or　most　of　it；　it　was　no　use　telling　him　not　to　anger　the　Amyrlin　if　she　did　it　for　him。　The　rest　she　laid　out　as　starkly　as　she　had　seen　it。　Some　of　her　fear　came　out　as　she　dredged　it　all　up；　seeing　it　all　again；　her　voice　shook　before　she　was　done。
The　Amyrlin's　expression　never　changed。　〃So　you　spoke　with　young　Gawyn；〃　she　said　when　Min　finished。　〃Well；　I　think　I　can　convince　him　to　keep　quiet。　And　if　I　remember　Sahra　correctly；　the　girl　could　do　with　some　time　working　in　the　country。　She'll　spread　no　gossip　hoeing　a　vegetable　patch。〃
〃I　don't　understand；〃　Min　said。　〃Why　should　Gawyn　keep　quiet？　About　what？　I　told　him　nothing。　And　Sahra。。。　？　Mother；　perhaps　I　didn't　make　myself　clear。　Aes　Sedai　and　Warders　are　going　to　die。　It　has　to　mean　a　battle。　And　unless　you　send　a　lot　of　Aes　Sedai　and　Warders　off　somewhere　…　and　servants；　too；　I　saw　servants　dead　and　injured；　too　…　unless　you　do　that；　that　battle　will　be　here！　In　Tar　Valon！〃
〃Did　you　see　that？〃　The　Amyrlin　demanded。　〃A　battle？　Do　you　know；　with　your。。。　your　talent；　or　are　you　guessing？〃
〃What　else　could　it　be？　At　least　four　Aes　Sedai　are　as　good　as　dead。　Mother；　I've　only　laid　eyes　on　nine　of　you　since　ing　back；　and　four　are　going　to　die！　And　the　Warders。。。。　What　else　could　it　be？〃
〃More　things　than　I　like　to　think　of；〃　Siuan　said　grimly。　〃When？　How　long　before　this。。。　thing。。。　occurs？〃
Min　shook　her　head。　〃I　do　not　know。　Most　of　it　will　happen　in　the　space　of　a　day；；　maybe　two；　but　that　could　be　tomorrow　or　a　year　from　now。　Or　ten。〃
〃Let　us　pray　for　ten。　If　it　es　tomorrow；　there　isn't　much　I　can　do　to　stop　it。〃
Min　grimaced。　Only　two　Aes　Sedai　besides　Siuan　Sanche　knew　of　what　she　could　do：　Moiraine；　and　Verin　Mathwin；　who　had　tried　to　study　her　talent。　None　of　them　knew　how　it　worked　any　more　than　she　did；　except　that　it　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　Power。　Perhaps　that　was　why　only　Moiraine　seemed　able　to　accept　the　fact　that　when　she　knew　what　a　viewing　meant；　it　happened。
〃Maybe　it's　the　Whitecloaks；　Mother。　They　were　everywhere　in　Alindaer　when　I　crossed　the　bridge。〃　She　did　not　believe　the　Children　of　the　Light　had　anything　to　do　with　what　was　ing；　but　she　was　reluctant　to　say　what　she　believed。　
Believed；　not　knew；　yet　that　was　bad　enough。
But　the　Amyrlin　had　begun　shaking　her　head　before　she　finished。　〃They　would　try　something　if　they　could；　I've　no　doubt　…　they　would　love　to　strike　at　the　Tower　…　but　Eamon　Valda　won't　move　openly　without　orders　from　the　Lord　Captain　mander；　and　Pedron　Niall　will　not　strike　unless　he　thinks　we're　injured。　He　knows　our　strength　too　well　to　be　foolish。　For　a　thousand　years　the　Whitecloaks　have　been　like　that。　Silverpike　in　the　reeds；　waiting　for　a　hint　of　Aes　Sedai　blood　in　the　water。　But　we've　showed　them　none　yet；　nor　will　we；　if　I　can　help　it。〃
〃Yet　if　Valda　did　try　something　on　his　own　…　〃
Siuan　cut　her　off。　〃He　has　no　more　than　five　hundred　men　close　to　Tar　Valon；　girl。　He　sent　the　rest　away　weeks　ago；　to　cause　trouble　elsew