rj.thepathofdaggers-第15部分

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might　be　read　two　days　from　now。〃
　　　　　　　Merilille　snorted；　a　very　strong　sound　to　e　from　that　slight　body。　〃That　is　a　rare　Talent；　girl。　Neither　Teslyn　nor　Joline　has　it。　Or　do　you　Aiel　wilders　all　learn　that　as　well？〃
　　　　　　　〃Few　can　do　it；〃　Aviendha　admitted　calmly。　〃But　I　can。〃　That　produced　a　different　sort　of　stare；　from　Elayne　as　well；　it　was　a　very　rare　Talent。　She　did　not　seem　to　notice。　〃Do　you　claim　that　none　of　the　Shadowsouled　can？〃　she　went　on。　The　tightness　of　her　shoulder　under　Elayne's　hand　said　she　was　not　so　cool　as　she　pretended。　〃Are　you　such　fools　that　you　leave　tracks　for　your　enemies　to　follow？　Any　who　could　read　the　residues　could　make　a　gateway　to　this　spot。〃
　　　　　　　That　would　have　taken　great　dexterity；　very　great　dexterity；　but　the　suggestion　was　enough　to　leave　Merilille　blinking。　Adeleas　opened　her　mouth；　then　closed　it　without　speaking；　and　Vandene　frowned　thoughtfully。　Sareitha　simply　looked　worried。　Who　could　say　what　Talents　the　Forsaken　had；　what　skill？
　　　　　　　Strangely；　all　the　fierceness　drained　out　of　Aviendha。　Her　eyes　fell；　her　shoulders　loosened。　〃Perhaps　I　should　not　have　taken　the　risk；〃　she　muttered。　〃With　that　man　watching　me；　I　could　not　think　clearly；　and　when　he　disappeared。。。　〃　A　little　of　her　spirit　returned；　but　not　a　great　deal。　〃I　do　not　think　a　man　could　read　my　weaves；〃　she　said　to　Elayne；　〃but　if　he　was　one　of　the　Shadowsouled；　or　even　the　gholam。。。　The　Shadowsouled　know　more　than　any　of　us。　If　I　was　wrong；　I　have　great　toh。　But　I　do　not　think　I　was。　I　do　not　think　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　man？〃　Nynaeve　demanded。　Her　hat　had　been　knocked　askew　in　pushing　among　the　horses；　and　that；　with　the　tight　frown　she　directed　at　everyone　impartially；　made　her　look　ready　for　a　fight。　Perhaps　she　was。　Careane's　gelding　accidentally　nudged　her　with　a　shoulder；　and　she　swatted　the　blue　dun's　nose。
　　　　　　　〃A　servant；〃　Merilille　said　dismissively。　〃Whatever　orders　Tylin　gave；　Altaran　servants　are　an　independent　lot。　Or　perhaps　her　son；　that　boy　is　too　curious　by　half。〃
　　　　　　　The　sisters　around　her　nodded；　and　Careane　said；　〃One　of　the　Forsaken　would　hardly　have　stood　and　watched。　You　said　so　yourself。〃　She　was　patting　her　gelding's　neck　and　frowning　accusingly　at　Nynaeve　…　Careane　was　one　of　those　who　gave　her　horse　the　sort　of　affection　most　people　reserved　for　infants　…　she　was　frowning　at　Nynaeve；　and　Nynaeve　took　the　words　for　her；　too。
　　　　　　　〃Maybe　it　was　a　servant；　and　maybe　it　was　Beslan。　Maybe。〃　Nynaeve's　sniff　said　she　did　not　believe　it。　Or　that　she　wanted　them　to　believe　she　did　not；　she　could　tell　you　to　your　face　that　you　were　a　blind　idiot；　yet　let　anyone　else　say　it；　and　she　would　defend　you　until　she　went　hoarse。　Of　course；　she　did　not　seem　ready　to　decide　whether　she　liked　Aviendha；　but　she　definitely　did　not　like　the　older　Aes　Sedai。　She　tugged　her　hat　almost　straight；　and　her　frown　swept　across　them；　then　started　over。　〃Whether　it　was　Beslan　or　the　Dark　One；　there's　no　call　to　stand　here　all　day。　We　need　to　get　ready　and　move　on　to　the　farm。　Well？　Move！〃　She　clapped　her　hands　sharply；　and　even　Vandene　gave　a　little　start。
　　　　　　　There　was　little　preparation　left　to　do　when　the　sisters　moved　their　horses　away。　Lan　and　the　other　Warders　had　not　sat　on　their　heels　once　they　realized　there　was　no　danger。　Some　of　the　servants　had　gone　back　through　the　gateway　before　Aviendha　disposed　of　it；　but　the　rest　stood　with　the　three　dozen　or　so　packhorses；　occasionally　glancing　at　the　Aes　Sedai；　clearly　wondering　what　marvel　they　might　produce　next。　The　Windfinders　were　all　mounted；　if　awkwardly；　and　holding　their　reins　as　though　expecting　their　horses　to　bolt　any　moment；　or　perhaps　sprout　wings　and　take　flight。　So　were　the　Knitting　Circle；　with　a　good　deal　more　grace；　unconcerned　that　their　skirts　and　petticoats　were　pushed　up　past　their　knees；　and　with　Ispan　still　hooded　and　tied　across　a　saddle　like　a　sack。　She　could　not　possibly　have　sat　upright　on　a　horse；　yet　even　Sumeko's　eyes　popped　whenever　they　touched　her。
　　　　　　　Glaring　about　her；　Nynaeve　looked　ready　to　tongue…lash　everybody　into　doing　what　they　had　already　done；　but　only　until　Lan　handed　her　the　reins　of　her　plump　brown　mare。　She　had　adamantly　refused　the　gift　of　a　better　horse　from　Tylin。　Her　hand　trembled　a　little　when　it　touched　Lan's；　and　her　face　changed　color　as　she　swallowed　the　anger　she　had　been　about　to　unleash。　When　he　offered　a　hand　for　her　foot；　she　stared　at　him　for　a　moment　as　if　wondering　what　he　was　about；　then　colored　again　when　he　boosted　her　to　her　saddle。　Elayne　could　only　shake　her　head。　She　hoped　she　did　not　turn　into　an　idiot　when　she　married。　If　she　married。
　　　　　　　Birgitte　brought　her　silvery…gray　mare　and　the　yellow　dun　Aviendha　rode；　but　she　seemed　to　understand　that　Elayne　wanted　a　private　word　with　Aviendha。　She　nodded　almost　as　if　Elayne　had　spoken；　swung　up　onto　her　mouse…colored　gelding；　and　rode　to　where　the　other　Warders　were　waiting。　They　greeted　her　with　nods　and　began　discussing　something　in　low　voices。　By　the　glances　directed　at　the　sisters；　the　〃something〃　had　to　do　with　taking　care　of　Aes　Sedai　whether　Aes　Sedai　wanted　care　taken　or　not。　Including　herself；　Elayne　noted　grimly。　There　was　no　time　now　for　that；　though。　Aviendha　stood　fiddling　with　her　horse's　reins；　staring　at　the　animal　like　a　novice　staring　at　a　kitchen　full　of　greasy　pots。　Very　likely；　Aviendha　saw　small　difference　between　having　to　scrub　pots　and　having　to　ride。
　　　　　　　Snugging　her　green　riding　gloves；　Elayne　casually　shifted　Lioness　to　block　them　from　the　others'　view；　then　touched　Aviendha's　arm。　〃Talking　to　Adeleas　or　Vandene　might　help；〃　she　said　gently。　She　had　to　be　very　careful　here；　as　careful　as　with　any　ter'angreal。　〃They're　old　enough　to　know　more　than　you　might　suspect。　There　has　to　be　a　reason　you've　been。。。　having　trouble。。。　with　Traveling。〃　That　was　a　mild　way　of　putting　it。　Aviendha　almost　had　failed　to　make　the　weave　work　at　all；　in　the　beginning。　Careful。　Aviendha　was　far　more　important　than　any　ter'angreal　ever　could　be。　〃They　might　be　able　to　help。〃
　　　　　　　〃How　can　they？〃　Aviendha　stared　stiffly　at　the　saddle　on　her　gelding。　〃They　cannot　Travel。　How　could　any　of　them　know　how　to　help？〃　Abruptly　her　shoulders　slumped；　and　she　turned　her　head　to　Elayne。　Shockingly；　unshed　tears　glistened　in　her　green　eyes。　〃That　isn't　the　truth；　Elayne。　Not　the　whole　truth。　They　cannot　help；　but。。。　You　are　my　near…sister；　you　have　the　right　to　know。　They　think　I　panicked　at　a　servant。　If　I　ask　for　help；　it　must　all　e　out。　That　I　Traveled　once　to　run　from　a　man；　a　man　I　hoped　in　my　soul　would　catch　me。　To　run　like　a　rabbit。　To　run；　wanting　to　be　caught。　How　could　I　let　them　know　such　shame？　Even　if　they　really　could　help；　how　could　I？〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　wished　she　did　not　know。　About　the　catching　part；　at　least。　About　the　fact　that　Rand　had　caught　her。　Snatching　the　flecks　of　jealousy　that　suddenly　were　floating　through　her；　she　pushed　them　into　a　sack　and　stuffed　it　into　the　back　of　her　head。　Then　she　jumped　up　and　down　on　it　for　good　measure。　When　a　woman　plays　the　fool；　look　for　the　man。　That　was　one　of　Lini's　favorites。　Another　was；　Kittens　tangle　your　yarn；　men　tangle　your　wits；　and　it's　simple　as　breathing　for　both。　She　drew　a　deep　breath。　〃No　one　will　know　from　me；　Aviendha。　I'll　help　you　as　much　as　I　can。　If　I　can　figure　out　how。〃　Not　that　there　was　much　she　could　think　to　do。　Aviendha　was　remarkably　quick　at　seeing　how　weaves　were　formed；　much　quicker　than　she　herself。
　　　　　　　Aviendha　merely　nodded　and　scrambled　clumsily　into　her　saddle；　showing　a　bit　more　grace　than　the　Sea　Folk。　〃There　was　a　man　watching；　Elayne；　and　he　was　no　servant。〃　Looking　Elayne　right　in　the　eye；　she　added；　〃He　frightened　me。〃　An　admission　she　likely　would　have　made　to　no　one　else　in　the　world。
　　　　　　　〃We're　safe　from　him　now；　whoever　he　was；〃　Elayne　said；　turning　Lioness　to　follow　Nynaeve　and　Lan　from　the　clearing。　In　truth；　it　very　likely　had　been　a　servant；　but　she　would　never　tell　that　to　anyone；　Aviendha　least　of　all。　〃We're　safe；　and　in　a　few　more　hours；　we　will　reach　the　Kin's　farm；　we'll　use　the　Bowl；　and　the　world　will　be　right　again。〃　Well；　somewhat。　The　sun　seemed　lower　than　it　had　in　the　stableyard；　but　she　knew　that　was　only　imagination。　For　once；　they　had　gained　a　clear　jump　on　the　Shadow。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　From　behind　a　screen　of　white　wrought　iron；　Moridin　watched　the　last　of　the　horses　vanish　through　the　gateway；　and　then　the　tall　young　woman　and　the　four　Warders。　It　was　possible　they　were　carrying　away　some　item　he　could　use　…　an　angreal　attuned　to　men；　perhaps　…　but　the　chances　were　small。　For　the　rest；　the　ter'angreal；　the　greatest　likelihood　was　that　they　would　kill　themselves　trying　to　puzzle　out　how　to　use　them。　Sammael　was　a　fool　to　have　risked　so　much　to　seize　a　collection　of　no　one　knew　what。　But　then；　Sammael　had　never　been　half　as　clever　as　he　thought。　He　himself　would　not　disrupt　his　own　plans　merely　on　the　off　chance；　to　see　what　scraps　of　civilization　he　could　find。　Only　idle　curiosity　had　brought　him　here。　He　liked　to　know　what　others　thought　important。　But　it　was　dross。
　　　　　　　He　was　about　to　turn　away　when　the　outlines　of　the　gateway　suddenly　began　to　flex　and　tremble。　Transfixed；　he　watched　until　the　opening　simply　…　melted。　He　had　never　been　a　man　to　give　way　to　obscenities；　but　several　rose　in　his　mind。　What　had　the　woman　done？　These　barbarous　rustics　offered　too　many　surprises。　A　way　to　Heal　being　severed；　however　imperfectly。　That　was　impossible！　Except　that　they　had　done　it。　Involuntary　rings。　Those　Warders　and　the　bond　they　shared　with　their　Aes　Sedai。　He　had　known　of　that　for　a　long；　long　time；　but　whenever　he　thought　he　had　the　measure　of　them；　these　primitives　revealed　some　new　skill；　did　something　that　no　one　in　his　own　Age　had　dreamed　of。　Something　the　pinnacle　of　civilization　had　not　known！　What　had　the　girl　done？
　　　　　　　〃Great　Master？〃
　　　　　　　Moridin　barely　turned　his　head　from　the　window。　〃Yes；　Madic？〃　Her　soul　be　damned；　what　had　the　girl　done？
　　　　　　　The　balding　man　in　green…and…white　who　had　slipped　into　the　small　room　bowed　deeply　before　falling　to　his　knees。　One　of　the　upper　servants　in　the　palace；　Madic；　with　his　long　face；　possessed　a　pompous　dignity　that　he　tried　to　maintain　eve