rj.theshadowrising-第59部分

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er　back　straight。　She　could　have　balanced　a　full　goblet　of　wine　on　her　head　without　spilling　a　drop。　Partly　that　was　because　she　could　not　take　a　proper　stride　in　her　dress；　all　pale　blue　silk　with　a　snug　bodice　and　sleeves　and　a　full　skirt　that　would　drag　its　embroidered　hem　on　the　ground　if　she　did　not　hold　it　up。　It　was　also　partly　because　she　was　sure　she　could　feel　Laras's　eyes　on　her。
　　　　　　　A　glance　back　proved　her　right。　The　Mistress　of　the　Kitchens；　a　wine　cask　on　legs；　was　beaming　after　her　approvingly　from　the　dining　hall　doorway。　Who　would　have　thought　the　woman　had　been　a　beauty　in　her　youth；　or　would　have　a　place　in　her　heart　for　pretty；　flirtatious　girls？　〃Lively；〃　she　called　them。　Who　would　have　suspected　she　would　decide　to　take　〃Elmindreda〃　under　her　stout　wing？　It　was　hardly　a　fortable　position。　Laras　kept　a　protective　eye　on　Min；　an　eye　that　seemed　to　find　her　anywhere　in　the　Tower　grounds。　Min　smiled　back　and　patted　her　hair；　now　a　round　black　cap　of　curls。　Burn　the　woman！　Doesn't　she　have　something　to　cook；　or　some　scullion　to　yell　at？
　　　　　　　Laras　waved　to　her；　and　she　waved　in　return。　She　could　not　afford　to　offend　someone　who　watched　her　so　closely；　not　when　she　had　no　idea　how　many　mistakes　she　might　be　making。　Laras　knew　every　trick　of　〃lively〃　women；　and　expected　to　teach　Min　any　she　did　not　already　know。
　　　　　　　One　real　mistake；　Min　reflected　as　she　took　a　seat　on　a　marble　bench　beneath　a　tall　willow；　had　been　the　embroidery。　Not　from　Laras's　point　of　view；　but　her　own。　Pulling　her　embroidery　hoop　from　the　basket；　she　ruefully　examined　yesterday's　work；　a　number　of　lopsided　yellow　oxeyes　and　something　she　had　meant　to　be　a　pale　yellow　rosebud；　though　no　one　would　know　unless　she　told　them。　With　a　sigh；　she　set　to　picking　the　stitches　out。　Leane　was　right；　she　supposed；　a　woman　could　sit　for　hours　with　an　embroidery　hoop；　watching　everyone　and　everything；　and　nobody　thought　it　strange。　It　would　have　helped；　though；　if　she　had　any　skill　at　all。
　　　　　　　At　least　it　was　a　perfect　morning　for　being　out…of…doors。　A　golden　sun　had　just　cleared　the　horizon　in　a　sky　where　the　few　fluffy　white　clouds　seemed　arrayed　to　emphasize　the　perfection。　A　light　breeze　caught　the　scent　of　roses　and　ruffled　tall　calma　bushes　with　their　big　red　or　white　blossoms。　Soon　enough　the　gravel…covered　paths　near　the　tree　would　be　full　of　people　on　one　errand　or　another；　everyone　from　Aes　Sedai　to　stablemen。　A　perfect　morning；　and　a　perfect　place　from　which　to　watch　unobserved。　Perhaps　today　she　would　have　a　useful　viewing。
　　　　　　　〃Elmindreda？〃
　　　　　　　Min　jumped；　and　stuck　her　pricked　finger　in　her　mouth。　Twisting　'round　on　the　bench；　she　prepared　to　assail　Gawyn　for　sneaking　up　on　her；　but　the　words　froze　in　her　throat。　Galad　was　with　him。　Taller　than　Gawyn；　with　long　legs；　he　moved　with　a　dancer's　grace　and　a　lean；　sinewy　strength。　His　hands　were　long；　too；　elegant　yet　strong。　And　his　face。。。　He　was；　quite　simply；　the　most　beautiful　man　she　had　ever　seen。
　　　　　　　〃Stop　sucking　your　finger；〃　Gawyn　said　with　a　grin。　〃We　know　you　are　a　pretty　little　girl；　you　do　not　need　to　prove　it　to　us。〃
　　　　　　　Blushing；　she　hastily　pulled　her　hand　down；　and　barely　restrained　herself　from　a　furious　glare　that　would　not　have　been　at　all　in　keeping　with　Elmindreda。　He　had　needed　no　threats　or　mands　from　the　Amyrlin　to　keep　her　secret；　only　her　asking；　but　he　did　take　any　opportunity　to　tease　that　presented　itself。
　　　　　　　〃It　is　not　right　to　mock；　Gawyn；〃　Galad　said。　〃He　did　not　mean　to　offend；　Mistress　Elmindreda。　Your　pardon；　but　can　it　be　we　have　met　before？　When　you　frowned　at　Gawyn　so　fiercely　just　then；　I　almost　thought　I　knew　you。〃
　　　　　　　Min　dropped　her　eyes　demurely。　〃Oh；　I　could　never　forget　meeting　you；　my　Lord　Galad；〃　she　said　in　her　best　foolish…girl　voice。　The　simpering　tone；　and　anger　at　her　own　slip；　sent　a　tide　of　heat　to　her　hairline；　improving　her　disguise。
　　　　　　　She　did　not　look　anything　like　herself；　and　the　dress　and　the　hair　were　only　a　part　of　it。　Leane　had　acquired　creams　and　powders　and　an　incredible　assortment　of　mysterious　scented　things　in　the　city　and　drilled　her　until　she　could　have　used　them　in　her　sleep。　She　had　cheekbones；　now；　and　more　color　in　her　lips　than　nature　had　put　there。　A　dark　cream　lining　her　eyelids　and　a　fine　powder　that　emphasized　her　lashes　made　her　eyes　seem　larger。　Not　at　all　like　herself。　Some　of　the　novices　had　told　her　admiringly　how　beautiful　she　was；　and　even　a　few　Aes　Sedai　had　called　her　〃a　very　pretty　child。〃　She　hated　it。　The　dress　was　quite　pretty；　she　admitted；　but　she　hated　the　rest　of　it。　Yet　there　was　no　point　in　donning　a　disguise　if　she　did　not　keep　it　up。
　　　　　　　〃I　am　sure　you　would　remember；〃　Gawyn　said　dryly。　〃I　did　not　mean　to　interrupt　you　at　your　embroidery　…　swallows；　are　they？　Yellow　swallows？〃　Min　thrust　the　hoop　back　into　the　basket。　〃But　I　wanted　to　ask　you　to　ment　on　this。〃　He　pushed　a　small；　leather…bound　book；　old　and　tattered；　into　her　hands；　and　suddenly　his　voice　was　serious。　〃Tell　my　brother　this　is　nonsense。　Perhaps　he　will　listen　to　you。〃
　　　　　　　She　examined　the　book。　The　Way　of　the　Light；　by　Lothair　Mantelar。　Opening　it；　she　read　at　random。　〃Therefore　abjure　all　pleasure；　for　goodness　is　a　pure　abstract；　a　perfect　crystalline　ideal　which　is　obscured　by　base　emotion。　Pamper　not　the　flesh。　Flesh　is　weak　but　spirit　is　strong；　flesh　is　useless　where　spirit　is　strong。　Right　thought　is　drowned　in　sensation；　and　right　action　hindered　by　passions。　Take　all　joy　from　tightness；　and　rightness　only。〃　It　seemed　to　be　dry　nonsense。
　　　　　　　Min　smiled　at　Gawyn；　and　even　managed　a　titter。　〃So　many　words。　I　fear　I　know　little　of　books；　my　Lord　Gawyn。　I　always　mean　to　read　one　…　I　do。〃　She　sighed。　〃But　there　is　so　little　time。　Why；　just　fixing　my　hair　properly　takes　hours。　Do　you　think　it　is　pretty？〃　The　outraged　startlement　on　his　face　nearly　made　her　laugh；　but　she　changed　it　to　a　giggle。　It　was　a　pleasure　to　turn　the　tables　on　him　for　a　change；　she　would　have　to　see　if　she　could　do　it　more　often。　There　were　possibilities　in　this　disguise　she　had　not　considered。　This　stay　in　the　Tower　had　turned　out　to　be　all　boredom　and　irritation。　She　deserved　some　amusement。
　　　　　　　〃Lothair　Mantelar；〃　Gawyn　said　in　a　tight　voice；　〃founded　the　Whitecloaks。　The　Whitecloaks！〃
　　　　　　　〃He　was　a　great　man；〃　Galad　said　firmly。　〃A　philosopher　of　noble　ideals。　If　the　Children　of　the　Light　have　sometimes　been。。。　excessive。。。　since　his　day；　it　does　not　change　that。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　my。　Whitecloaks；〃　Min　said　breathlessly；　and　added　a　little　shudder。　〃They　are　such　rough　men；　I　hear。　I　cannot　imagine　a　Whitecloak　dancing。　Do　you　think　there　is　any　chance　of　a　dance　here？　Aes　Sedai　do　not　seem　to　care　for　dancing　either；　and　I　do　so　love　to　dance。〃　The　frustration　in　Gawyn's　eyes　was　delightful。
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　think　so；〃　Galad　said；　taking　the　book　from　her。　〃Aes　Sedai　are　too　busy　with。。。　with　their　own　affairs。　If　I　hear　of　a　suitable　dance　in　the　city；　I　will　escort　you；　if　you　wish　it。　You　need　have　no　fear　of　being　annoyed　by　those　two　louts。〃　He　smiled　at　her；　unconscious　of　what　he　was　doing；　and　she　suddenly　found　herself　breathless　in　truth。　Men　should　not　be　allowed　smiles　like　that。
　　　　　　　It　actually　took　her　a　moment　to　remember　what　two　louts　he　was　talking　about。　The　two　men　who　had　supposedly　asked　for　Elmindreda's　hand　in　marriage；　nearly　fighting　each　other　because　she　could　not　make　up　her　mind；　pressing　her　to　the　point　of　seeking　sanctuary　in　the　Tower　because　she　could　not　stop　encouraging　them　both。　Just　the　entire　excuse　for　her　being　there。　It's　this　dress；　she　told　herself。　I　could　think　straight　if　I　had　on　my　proper　clothes。
　　　　　　　〃I've　noticed　the　Amyrlin　speaks　to　you　every　day；〃　Gawyn　said　suddenly。　〃Has　she　mentioned　our　sister　Elayne？　Or　Egwene　al'Vere？　Has　she　said　anything　of　where　they　are？〃
　　　　　　　Min　wished　she　could　black　his　eye。　He　did　not　know　why　she　was　pretending　to　be　someone　else；　of　course；　but　he　had　agreed　to　help　her　be　accepted　as　Elmindreda；　and　now　he　was　linking　her　to　women　too　many　in　the　Tower　knew　were　friends　of　Min。　〃Oh；　the　Amyrlin　Seat　is　such　a　wonderful　woman；〃　she　said　sweetly；　baring　her　teeth　in　a　smile。　〃She　always　asks　how　I　am　passing　the　time；　and　pliments　my　dress。　I　suppose　she　hopes　I'll　make　a　decision　soon　between　Darvan　and　Goemal；　but　I　just　cannot。〃　She　widened　her　eyes；　hoping　it　made　her　look　helpless　and　confused。　〃They　are　both　so　sweet。　Who　did　you　say？　Your　sister；　my　Lord　Gawyn？　The　Daughter…Heir　herself？　I　do　not　think　I've　ever　heard　the　Amyrlin　Seat　mention　her。　What　was　the　other　name？〃　She　could　hear　Gawyn　grinding　his　teeth。
　　　　　　　〃We　should　not　bother　Mistress　Elmindreda　with　that；〃　Galad　said。　〃It　is　our　problem；　Gawyn。　It　is　up　to　us　to　find　the　lie　and　deal　with　it。〃
　　　　　　　She　barely　heard　him；　because　suddenly　she　was　staring　at　a　big　man　with　long　dark　hair　curling　around　slumped　shoulders；　wandering　aimlessly　down　one　of　the　graveled　paths　through　the　trees；　under　the　watchful　eyes　of　an　Accepted。　She　had　seen　Logain　before；　a　sad…faced；　once…hearty　man；　always　with　an　Accepted　for　panion。　The　woman　was　meant　to　keep　him　from　killing　himself　as　much　as　to　prevent　his　escape；　despite　his　size；　he　truly　did　not　seem　up　to　anything　of　the　latter　sort。　But　she　had　never　before　seen　a　flaring　halo　around　his　head；　radiant　in　gold　and　blue。　It　was　only　there　for　a　moment；　but　that　was　enough。
　　　　　　　Logain　had　proclaimed　himself　the　Dragon　Reborn；　had　been　captured　and　gentled。　Whatever　glory　he　might　have　had　as　a　false　Dragon　was　far　behind　him　now。　All　that　remained　for　him　was　the　despair　of　the　gentled；　like　a　man　who　had　been　robbed　of　sight　and　hearing　and　taste；　wanting　to　die；　waiting　for　the　death　that　inevitably　came　to　such　men　in　a　few　years。　He　glanced　at　her；　perhaps　not　seeing　her；　his　eyes　looked　hopelessly　inward。　So　why　had　he　worn　a　halo　that　shouted　of　glory　and　power　to　e？　This　was　something　she　had　to　tell　the　Amyrlin。
　　　　　　　〃Poor　fellow；〃　Gawyn　muttered。　〃I　cannot　help　pitying　him。　Light；　it　would　be　a　mercy　to　let　him　end　it。　Why　do　they　make　him　keep　on　living？〃
　　　　　　　〃He　deserves　no　pity；〃　Galad　pronounced。　〃Have　you　forgotten　what　he　was；　what　he　did？　How　many　thousands　d