rj.thepathofdaggers-第115部分

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udgment　when　we　stop　tonight。　I　don't　see　anyone　getting　ready！〃
　　　　　　　The　Kinswomen　broke　up　quickly　then；　heading　off　to　gather　their　things；　yet　Elayne　saw　some　of　them　talking　quietly　as　they　went。　When　they　rode　over　the　bridge　across　the　frozen　stream　that　wound　down　beside　the　village；　with　Nynaeve　incredulous　over　what　she　had　missed　and　glaring　about　for　someone　to　call　down；　Sarainya　and　Asra　carried　switches　…　as　did　Alise　…　and　Zarya　and　Kirstian　wore　hastily　found　white　dresses　beneath　their　dark　cloaks。　The　Windfinders　pointed　at　them　and　laughed　uproariously。　But　many　of　the　Kinswomen　still　talked　in　clusters；　falling　silent　whenever　a　sister　or　one　of　the　Knitting　Circle　looked　at　them。　And　there　was　a　darkness　to　their　eyes　when　they　looked　at　Aes　Sedai。
　　　　　　　Eight　more　days　of　floundering　through　the　snow　when　it　was　not　falling；　and　grinding　her　teeth　in　an　inn　when　it　was。　Eight　more　days　of　brooding　by　the　Kin；　of　staring　bleakly　at　the　sisters；　days　of　strutting　by　the　Windfinders　around　Kin　and　Aes　Sedai　alike。　On　the　morning　of　the　ninth　day；　Elayne　began　to　wish　everyone　had　simply　gone　for　everyone　else's　throat。
　　　　　　　She　was　just　wondering　whether　they　could　cover　the　last　ten　miles　to　Caemlyn　without　a　murder；　when　Kirstian　rapped　at　her　door　and　darted　in　without　waiting　for　an　answer。　The　woman's　plain　woolen　dress　was　not　the　shade　of　white　proper　for　a　novice；　and　she　had　regained　much　of　her　dignity　somehow；　as　if　knowing　her　future　had　smoothed　her　present；　but　now　she　made　a　hasty　curtsy；　almost　tripping　over　her　cloak；　and　her　nearly　black　eyes　were　anxious。　〃Nynaeve　Sedai；　Elayne　Sedai；　Lord　Lan　says　you　are　to　e　at　once；〃　she　said　breathlessly。　〃He　told　me　to　speak　to　no　one；　and　you　aren't　to；　either。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　and　Nynaeve　exchanged　looks　with　Aviendha　and　Birgitte。　Nynaeve　growled　something　under　her　breath　about　the　man　not　knowing　private　from　public；　but　it　was　clear　before　she　blushed　that　she　did　not　believe　it。　Elayne　felt　Birgitte　focus；　the　drawn　arrow　hunting　a　target。
　　　　　　　Kirstian　did　not　know　what　Lan　wanted；　only　where　she　was　to　lead　them。　The　small　hut　outside　of　Cullen's　Crossing　where　Adeleas　had　taken　Ispan　the　night　before。　Lan　stood　outside；　his　eyes　as　cold　as　the　air；　and　would　not　let　Kirstian　enter。　When　Elayne　went　inside；　she　saw　why。
　　　　　　　Adeleas　lay　on　her　side　beside　an　overturned　stool；　a　cup　on　the　rough　wooden　floor　not　far　from　one　outstretched　hand。　Her　eyes　stared；　and　a　pool　of　congealed　blood　spread　out　from　the　deep　slash　across　her　throat。　Ispan　lay　on　a　small　cot；　staring　at　the　ceiling。　Lips　drawn　back　in　a　rictus　bared　her　teeth；　and　her　bulging　eyes　seemed　full　of　horror。　As　well　they　might　have；　since　a　wrist…thick　wooden　stake　stood　out　from　between　her　breasts。　The　hammer　that　had　plainly　been　used　to　drive　it　in　lay　beside　the　cot；　on　the　edge　of　a　dark　stain　that　ran　back　under　the　cot。
　　　　　　　Elayne　forced　herself　to　stop　thinking　about　emptying　her　stomach　on　the　spot。　〃Light；〃　she　breathed。　〃Light！　Who　could　do　this？　How　could　anyone　do　this？〃　Aviendha　shook　her　head　wonderingly；　and　Lan　did　not　even　bother　with　that。　He　just　watched　nine　directions　at　once；　as　though　he　expected　whoever；　or　whatever；　had　mitted　this　murder　to　e　through　one　of　the　two　tiny　windows　if　not　through　the　walls。　Birgitte　drew　her　belt　knife；　and　by　her　face；　she　dearly　wished　she　had　her　bow。　That　drawn　arrow　was　stronger　than　ever　in　Elayne's　head。
　　　　　　　At　first；　Nynaeve　simply　stood　in　one　spot；　studying　the　hut's　interior。　There　was　little　to　see；　aside　from　the　obvious。　A　second　three…legged　stool；　a　rough　table　holding　a　flickering　lamp；　a　green　teapot　and　a　second　cup；　a　rude　stone　fireplace　with　cold　ash　on　the　hearthstone。　That　was　all。　The　hut　was　so　small　it　only　took　Nynaeve　a　step　to　reach　the　table。　Dipping　her　finger　into　the　teapot；　she　touched　it　to　the　tip　of　her　tongue；　then　spat　vigorously　and　emptied　the　whole　teapot　into　the　table　in　a　wash　of　tea　and　tea　leaves。　Elayne　blinked　wonderingly。
　　　　　　　〃What　happened？〃　Vandene　asked　coolly　from　the　door。　Lan　moved　to　bar　her　way；　but　she　stopped　him　with　a　small　gesture。　Elayne　started　to　put　an　arm　around　her；　and　received　another　raised　hand　to　keep　her　back。　Vandene's　eyes　remained　on　her　sister；　calm　in　a　face　of　Aes　Sedai　serenity。　The　dead　woman　on　the　cot　might　as　well　not　have　existed。　〃When　I　saw　all　of　you　heading　this　way；　I　thought。。。　We　knew　we　didn't　have　many　years　remaining；　but。。。　〃　Her　voice　sounded　serenity　itself；　but　small　wonder　if　that　was　a　mask。　〃What　have　you　found；　Nynaeve？〃
　　　　　　　Sympathy　looked　odd　on　Nynaeve's　face。　Clearing　her　throat；　she　pointed　to　the　tea　leaves　without　touching　them。　To　white　shavings　among　the　matted　black　leaves。　〃This　is　crimsonthorn　root；〃　she　said；　trying　to　sound　matter…of…fact　and　failing。　〃It's　sweet；　so　you　might　miss　it　in　tea　unless　you　know　what　it　is；　especially　if　you　take　a　lot　of　honey。〃
　　　　　　　Vandene　nodded；　never　taking　her　eyes　from　her　sister。　〃Adeleas　developed　a　taste　for　sweet　tea　in　Ebou　Dar。〃
　　　　　　　〃A　little　kills　pain；〃　Nynaeve　said。　〃This　much。。。　This　much　kills；　but　slowly。　Even　a　few　sips　would　be　enough。〃　Taking　a　deep　breath；　she　added；　〃They　might　have　remained　conscious　for　hours。　Not　able　to　move；　but　aware。　Either　whoever　did　this　didn't　want　to　risk　someone　ing　too　soon　with　an　antidote　…　not　that　I　know　one；　for　a　brew　this　strong　…　or　else　they　wanted　one　or　the　other　to　know　who　was　killing　them。〃　Elayne　gasped　at　the　brutality；　but　Vandene　simply　nodded。
　　　　　　　〃Ispan；　I　think；　since　they　appear　to　have　taken　the　most　time　with　her。〃　The　white…haired　Green　almost　seemed　to　be　thinking　aloud；　working　out　a　puzzle。　Cutting　a　throat　took　less　time　than　driving　a　stake　through　someone's　heart。　The　calm　of　her　made　Elayne's　skin　crawl。　〃Adeleas　would　never　have　accepted　anything　to　drink　from　someone　she　didn't　know；　not　out　here　with　Ispan。　Those　two　facts　name　her　killer；　in　a　way。　A　Darkfriend；　and　one　of　our　party。　One　of　us。〃　Elayne　felt　two　chills；　her　own；　and　Birgitte's。
　　　　　　　〃One　of　us；〃　Nynaeve　agreed　sadly。　Aviendha　began　testing　the　edge　of　her　belt　knife　on　her　thumb；　and　for　once；　Elayne　felt　no　objection。
　　　　　　　Vandene　asked　to　be　left　alone　with　her　sister　for　a　few　moments；　and　sat　on　the　floor　to　cradle　Adeleas　in　her　arms　before　they　were　out　of　the　door。　Jaem；　Vandene's　gnarled　old　Warder；　was　waiting　outside　with　a　shivering　Kirstian。
　　　　　　　Suddenly　a　wail　burst　out　inside　the　hut；　the　full…throated　cry　of　a　woman　mourning　the　loss　of　everything。　Nynaeve；　of　all　people；　turned　to　go　back；　but　Lan　laid　a　hand　on　her　arm；　and　Jaem　planted　himself　before　the　door　with　eyes　not　much　warmer　than　Lan's。　There　was　nothing　to　do　but　leave　them；　Vandene　to　shriek　her　pain；　and　Jaem　to　guard　her　in　it。　And　share　it；　Elayne　realized；　feeling　that　knot　of　emotions　in　her　head　that　was　Birgitte。　She　shivered；　and　Birgitte　put　an　arm　around　her　shoulders。　Aviendha　did　the　same　from　the　other　side；　and　motioned　for　Nynaeve　to　join　them；　which　she　did；　after　a　moment。　The　murder　Elayne　had　thought　of　so　lightly　had　e；　one　of　their　panions　was　a　Darkfriend；　and　the　day　suddenly　felt　cold　enough　to　shatter　bones；　but　there　was　a　warmth　in　the　closeness　of　her　friends。
　　　　　　　The　last　ten　funereal　miles　to　Caemlyn　took　two　days　in　the　snow；　with　even　the　Windfinders　decently　subdued。　Not　that　they　pushed　Merilille　any　less　hard。　Not　that　Kin　stopped　talking；　and　falling　silent　whenever　a　sister　or　one　of　the　Knitting　Circle　came　near。　Vandene；　with　her　sister's　silver…mounted　saddle　on　her　horse；　appeared　as　serene　as　she　had　at　Adeleas'　graveside；　but　Jaem's　eyes　carried　a　silent　promise　of　death　that　surely　rode　in　Vandene's　heart；　too。　Elayne　could　not　have　been　happier　to　see　the　walls　and　towers　of　Caemlyn　if　the　very　sight　had　given　her　the　Rose　Crown　and　brought　back　Adeleas。
　　　　　　　Even　Caemlyn；　one　of　the　great　cities　of　the　world；　had　never　seen　the　likes　of　their　party　before；　and　once　inside　the　fifty…foot　walls　of　gray　stone　they　attracted　notice　as　they　crossed　the　New　City　along　wide；　slush…filled　streets　bustling　with　people　and　carts　and　wagons。　Shopkeepers　stood　in　their　doorways　and　gaped。　Wagon　drivers　reined　in　their　teams　to　stare。　Towering　Aielmen　and　tall　Maidens　eyed　them　from　every　corner；　it　seemed。　The　people　seemed　to　take　no　notice　of　the　Aiel；　but　Elayne　did。　She　loved　Aviendha　as　she　did　herself；　more；　but　she　could　not　love　an　army　of　armed　Aiel　walking　Caemlyn's　streets。
　　　　　　　The　Inner　City；　ringed　by　towered　walls　of　silver…streaked　white；　was　a　remembered　delight；　and　Elayne　finally　began　to　feel　that　she　was　ing　home。　The　streets　followed　the　curves　of　the　hills；　and　every　rise　presented　a　new　vista　of　snow…covered　parks　and　monuments　laid　out　to　be　seen　from　above　as　well　as　up　close；　of　brightly　tiled　towers　shining　with　a　hundred　colors　in　the　afternoon　sun。　And　then　the　Royal　Palace　itself　was　before　them；　a　confection　of　pale　spires　and　golden　domes　and　intricate　stonework　traceries。　The　banner　of　Andor　waved　from　nearly　every　prominence；　the　White　Lion　on　red。　And　from　the　others；　the　Dragon　Banner　or　the　Banner　of　Light。
　　　　　　　At　the　tall　gilded　gates　of　the　Palace；　Elayne　rode　forward　alone　in　her　travel…stained　gray　riding　dress。　Tradition　and　legend　said　women　who　first　approached　the　Palace　in　splendor　always　failed。　She　had　made　clear　that　she　had　to　do　it　alone；　yet　she　almost　wished　Aviendha　and　Birgitte　had　succeeded　in　overruling　her。　Half　the　two　dozen　guards　in　front　of　the　gates　were　Aiel　Maidens；　the　others　men　in　blue　helmets　and　blue　coats　with　a　red…and…gold　Dragon　marching　across　the　chest。
　　　　　　　〃I　am　Elayne　Trakand；〃　she　announced　loudly；　surprised　at　how　calm　she　sounded。　Her　voice　carried；　and　across　the　great　plaza　people　turned　from　staring　at　her　panions　to　stare　at　her。　The　ancient　formula　rolled　from　her　tongue。　〃In　the　name　of　House　Trakand；　by　right　of　descent　from　Ishara；　I　have　e　to　claim　the　Lion　Throne　of　Andor；　if　the　Light　wills　it　so。〃
　　　　　　　The　gates　opened　wide。
　　　　　　　It　would　not　be　that　easy；　of　course。　Even　possession　of　the　Palace　was　not　enough　to　hold　the　throne　of　Andor　by　itself。　Pass