rj.thepathofdaggers-第105部分

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。〃　She　had　been　punished　once　for　〃rising　above　herself〃　…　not　for　disobedience；　thanks　be　to　the　Great　Lord　of　the　Dark！　…　and　she　knew　that　whatever　howls　Elaida　might　be　raising　right　then；　they　could　not　be　half　so　loud　as　her　own　had　been。
　　　　　　　Mesaana　let　the　kissing　go　on　for　some　time；　and　finally　signaled　an　end　by　tipping　Alviarin's　face　up　with　the　toe　of　a　slipper　beneath　the　chin。　〃The　decree　has　gone　out。〃　It　was　not　a　question；　but　Alviarin　answered　hastily。
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　Great　Mistress。　Copies　went　to　Northharbor　and　Southharbor　even　before　I　had　Elaida　sign。　The　first　couriers　have　gone；　and　no　merchant　will　leave　the　city　without　copies　to　distribute。〃　Mesaana　knew　all　that；　of　course。　She　knew　everything。　A　cramp　tightened　the　back　of　Alviarin's　awkwardly　craned　neck；　but　she　did　not　move。　Mesaana　would　tell　her　when　to　move。　〃Great　Mistress；　Elaida　is　an　empty　husk。　With　all　humility；　would　it　not　be　better　without　the　need　to　use　her？〃　She　held　her　breath。　Questions　could　be　dangerous；　with　the　Chosen。
　　　　　　　A　shadow…nailed　silvery　finger　tapped　silver　lips　pursed　in　an　amused　smile。　〃Better　if　you　wore　the　Amyrlin's　stole；　child？〃　Mesaana　said　at　last。　〃An　ambition　small　enough　to　fit　you；　but　all　in　its　time。　For　now；　I　have　a　tiny　task　for　you。　In　spite　of　all　the　walls　that　have　gone　up　between　the　Ajahs；　the　heads　of　the　Ajahs　seem　to　encounter　one　another　with　surprising　frequency。　By　chance；　they　make　it　seem。　All　but　the　Red；　at　least；　a　pity　Galina　got　herself　killed；　or　she　could　tell　you　what　they　are　about。　Very　probably　it　is　trivial；　but　you　will　learn　why　they　bare　teeth　at　one　another　in　public；　then　whisper　together　in　private。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　hear　and　obey；　Great　Mistress；〃　Alviarin　replied　promptly；　grateful　that　Mesaana　considered　it　unimportant。　The　great　〃secret〃　of　who　headed　the　Ajahs　was　none　to　her　…　every　Black　sister　was　required　to　relay　to　the　Supreme　Council　every　whisper　inside　her　supposed　Ajah　…　but　only　Galina　among　them　had　been　Black。　That　meant　querying　the　Black　sisters　among　the　Sitters；　which　meant　going　through　all　the　layers　between　them　and　her。　That　would　take　time；　and　without　any　certainty　of　success。　Except　for　Ferane　Neheran　and　Suana　Dragand；　who　were　the　heads　of　the　their　Ajahs；　Sitters　rarely　seemed　to　know　what　their　Ajah's　head　was　thinking　until　they　were　told。　〃I　will　tell　you　as　soon　as　I　learn；　Great　Mistress。〃
　　　　　　　But　she　did　file　away　a　tidbit　for　herself。　Trivial　matter　or　not；　Mesaana　did　not　know　everything　that　happened　in　the　White　Tower。　And　Alviarin　would　keep　her　eyes　open　for　a　sister　in　bronze　skirts　bordered　on　the　hem　in　black　scrollwork。　Mesaana　was　hiding　herself　in　the　Tower；　and　knowledge　was　power。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　
Chapter　26　
（Dragon's　Fang）　
The　Extra　Bit　
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　Seaine　strode　the　hallways　of　the　Tower　with　a　growing　sense　of　being　confounded　at　every　turn。　The　White　Tower　was　quite　large；　true；　but　she　had　been　at　this　for　hours。　She　very　much　wanted　to　be　snug　in　her　own　rooms。　Despite　casements　in　place　in　every　window；　drafts　drifted　along　the　broad；　tapestry…hung　corridors　and　made　the　stand…lamps　flicker。　Cold　drafts；　and　difficult　to　ignore　when　they　slipped　under　her　skirts。　Her　rooms　were　warm　and　fortable；　and　safe。
　　　　　　　Maids　bobbed　curtsies　and　manservants　bowed　in　her　wake；　half…seen　and　pletely　ignored。　Most　sisters　were　in　their　own　Ajahs'　quarters；　and　those　few　out　and　about　moved　with　wary　pride；　often　in　pairs；　always　of　the　same　Ajah；　shawls　spread　along　their　arms　and　displayed　like　banners。　She　smiled　and　nodded　pleasantly　to　Talene；　but　the　statuesque；　golden…haired　Sitter　returned　a　hard　stare；　beauty　carved　from　ice；　then　stalked　away　twitching　her　green…fringed　shawl。
　　　　　　　Too　late　now　to　approach　Talene　about　being　part　of　the　search；　even　had　Pevara　been　agreeable。　Pevara　counseled　caution；　then　more　caution；　and　truth　to　tell；　Seaine　was　more　than　willing　to　listen　under　the　circumstances。　It　was　just　that　Talene　was　a　friend。　Had　been　a　friend。
　　　　　　　Talene　was　not　the　worst。　Several　ordinary　sisters　sniffed　at　her　openly。　At　a　Sitter！　None　White；　of　course；　but　that　should　have　made　no　difference。　No　matter　what　was　going　on　in　the　Tower；　proprieties　should　be　observed。　Juilaine　Madome；　a　tall；　attractive　woman　with　short…cut　black　hair　who　had　held　a　chair　for　the　Brown　less　than　a　year；　brushed　past　her　without　so　much　as　a　murmur　of　apology　and　went　off　with　those　mannish　strides　of　hers。　Saerin　Asnobar；　another　Brown　Sitter；　gave　Seaine　a　fierce　scowl　and　fingered　that　curved　knife　she　always　carried　behind　her　belt　before　disappearing　down　a　side　corridor。　Saerin　was　Altaran；　slight　touches　of　white　at　her　dark　temples　emphasizing　a　thin　age…faded　white　scar　across　one　olive　cheek；　and　only　a　Warder　could　match　her　for　scowling。
　　　　　　　Perhaps　these　things　were　all　to　be　expected。　There　had　been　several　unfortunate　incidents　recently；　and　no　sister　would　forget　being　bundled　unceremoniously　from　the　hallways　around　another　Ajah's　quarters；　much　less　what　had　sometimes　gone　with　it。　Rumor　said　a　Sitter　…　a　Sitter！　…　had　had　more　than　her　dignity　ruffled　by　the　Reds；　though　not　who。　A　great　pity　the　Hall　could　not　obstruct　Elaida's　mad　decree；　but　first　one　Ajah；　then　another；　had　leaped　on　the　new　prerogatives；　few　Sitters　were　willing　to　think　of　giving　them　up　now　they　were　in　place；　and　the　result　was　a　Tower　divided　very　nearly　into　armed　camps。　Once　Seaine　had　thought　the　air　in　the　Tower　felt　like　a　quivering　hot　jelly　of　suspicion　and　backbiting；　now　it　was　quivering　hot　jelly　with　an　acid　bite。
　　　　　　　Clicking　her　tongue　in　vexation；　she　adjusted　her　own　white…fringed　shawl　as　Saerin　vanished。　It　was　illogical　to　flinch　because　an　Altaran　scowled　…　even　Saerin　would　go　no　further；　surely　not　…　and　more　than　illogical　to　worry　over　what　she　could　not　change　when　she　had　a　task。
　　　　　　　And　then；　after　all　of　her　search　that　morning；　she　took　a　single　step　and　saw　her　long…sought　quarry　walking　toward　her。　Zerah　Dacan　was　a　slim；　black…haired　girl　with　a　prideful　air；　properly　self…possessed；　and　by　all　outward　evidence　untouched　by　the　heated　currents　flowing　through　the　Tower　these　days。　Well；　not　a　girl　precisely；　but　Seaine　was　sure　she　had　not　worn　that　white…fringed　shawl　fifty　years　yet。　She　was　inexperienced。　Relatively　inexperienced。　That　might　help。
　　　　　　　Zerah　made　no　move　to　avoid　a　Sitter　of　her　own　Ajah；　bowing　her　head　in　respect　as　Seaine　fell　in　beside　her。　Quite　a　lot　of　intricate　golden　embroidery　climbed　the　sleeves　of　her　snowy　dress　and　made　a　wide　band　at　the　bottom　of　her　skirt。　It　was　an　unusual　degree　of　show　for　the　White　Ajah。　〃Sitter；〃　she　murmured。　Did　her　blue　eyes　hold　a　touch　of　worry？
　　　　　　　〃I　need　you　for　something；〃　Seaine　said　more　calmly　than　she　felt。　Very　likely　she　was　transplanting　her　own　feelings　into　Zerah's　big　eyes。　〃e　with　me。〃　There　was　nothing　to　fear；　not　in　the　heart　of　the　White　Tower；　but　keeping　her　hands　folded　at　her　waist；　unclenched；　required　surprising　effort。
　　　　　　　As　expected　…　as　hoped　…　Zerah　went　along　with　only　another　murmur；　this　of　acquiescence。　She　glided　at　Seaine's　side　quite　gracefully　as　they　descended　broad　marble　staircases　and　wide　curving　ramps；　and　gave　only　the　slightest　frown　when　Seaine　opened　a　door　on　the　ground　floor；　onto　narrow　stairs　that　spiraled　down　into　darkness。
　　　　　　　〃After　you；　sister；〃　Seaine　said；　channeling　a　small　ball　of　light。　By　protocol；　she　should　have　preceded　the　other　woman；　but　she　could　not　bring　herself　to　do　that。
　　　　　　　Zerah　did　not　hesitate　in　going　down。　Logically；　she　had　nothing　to　fear　from　a　Sitter；　a　White　Sitter。　Logically；　Seaine　would　tell　her　what　she　wanted　when　the　time　was　ripe；　and　it　would　be　nothing　she　could　not　do。　Illogically；　Seaine's　stomach　fluttered　like　a　huge　moth。　Light；　she　held　saidar　and　the　other　woman　did　not。　Zerah　was　weaker　in　any　case。　There　was　nothing　to　fear。　Which　did　nothing　to　quiet　those　fluttering　wings　in　her　middle。
　　　　　　　Down　they　climbed　and　down；　past　doors　letting　onto　basements　and　sub…basements；　until　they　reached　the　very　lowest　level；　below　even　where　the　Accepted　were　tested。　The　dark　hallway　was　lit　only　by　Seaine's　small　light。　They　held　their　skirts　high；　but　their　slippers　kicked　up　small　clouds　of　dust　however　carefully　they　stepped。　Plain　wooden　doors　lined　the　smooth　stone　walls；　many　with　great　lumps　of　rust　for　hinges　and　locks。
　　　　　　　〃Sitter；〃　Zerah　asked；　finally　showing　doubt；　〃whatever　can　we　be　after　down　here？　I　don't　believe　anyone　has　been　this　deep　for　years。〃
　　　　　　　Seaine　was　sure　her　own　visit；　a　few　days　earlier；　had　been　the　first　to　this　level　in　at　least　a　century。　That　was　one　of　the　reasons　she　and　Pevara　had　chosen　it。　〃Just　in　here；〃　she　said；　swinging　open　a　door　that　moved　with　only　a　little　squealing。　No　amount　of　oil　could　loosen　all　the　rust；　and　efforts　to　use　the　Power　had　been　useless。　Her　abilities　with　Earth　were　better　than　Pevara's；　but　that　was　not　saying　very　much。
　　　　　　　Zerah　stepped　in；　and　blinked　in　surprise。　In　an　otherwise　empty　room；　Pevara　sat　behind　a　sturdy　if　rather　worn　table　with　three　small　benches　around　it。　Getting　those　few　pieces　down　unseen　had　been　difficult　…　especially　when　servants　could　not　be　trusted。　Clearing　out　the　dust　had　been　much　simpler　if　no　more　pleasant；　and　smoothing　the　dust　in　the　hall　outside；　necessary　after　every　visit；　had　been　simply　onerous。
　　　　　　　〃I　was　about　to　give　up　sitting　here　in　the　dark；〃　Pevara　growled。　The　glow　of　saidar　surrounded　her　as　she　lifted　a　lantern　from　beneath　the　table　and　channeled　it　alight；　casting　as　much　illumination　as　the　rough…walled　former　storeroom　deserved。　Somewhat　plump　and　normally　pretty；　the　Red　Sitter　looked　a　bear　with　two　sore　teeth。　〃We　want　to　ask　you　a　few　questions；　Zerah。〃　And　she　shielded　the　woman　as　Seaine　shut　the　door。
　　　　　　　Zerah's　shadowed　face　remained　utterly　calm；　but　she　swallowed　audibly。　〃About　what；　Sitters？〃　There　was　the　faintest　tremor　in　the　younger　woman's　voice；　as　well。　It　could　be　simply　the　mood　of　the　Tower；　though。
　　　　　　　〃The　Black　Ajah；〃　Pevara　replied　curtly。　〃We　want　to　know　whether　you're　a　Darkfriend。〃
　　　　　　　Amazement　and　o