rj.thepathofdaggers-第22部分

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ant　to　be　worn　together；　though　Elayne　could　not　imagine　why　any　woman　would　want　to　carry　so　many　about　her　at　one　time。　Aviendha　found　a　dagger　with　gold　wire　wrapped　around　a　hilt　of　rough　deerhorn；　the　blade　was　dull；　and　by　all　evidence；　always　had　been。　She　kept　turning　that　over　and　over　in　her　fingers　…　her　hands　actually　began　to　tremble　…　until　Elayne　took　it　away　from　her　and　put　it　with　the　others　on　the　cistern's　lid。　Even　then　Aviendha　stood　for　a　time；　looking　at　it　and　licking　her　lips　as　though　they　had　gone　dry。　There　were　finger　rings；　earrings；　necklaces；　bracelets　and　buckles；　many　of　very　peculiar　pattern　indeed。　There　were　statuettes　and　figures　of　birds　and　animals　and　people；　several　knives　that　did　have　edges；　half　a　dozen　large　medallions　in　bronze　or　steel；　most　worked　with　strange　patterns　and　not　one　carrying　an　image　Elayne　could　really　understand；　a　pair　of　peculiar　hats　seemingly　made　of　metal；　too　ornate　and　too　thin　to　be　helmets；　and　any　number　of　items　she　could　not　think　what　to　call。　A　rod；　as　thick　as　her　wrist；　bright　red　and　smooth　and　rounded；　firm　rather　than　hard　for　all　that　it　seemed　to　be　stone；　it　did　not　warm　slightly　in　her　hand；　it　almost　felt　hot！　Not　real　heat　any　more　than　the　warmth　was　real；　but　still！　What　about　a　set　of　metal　basketwork　balls；　one　inside　the　other？　Any　movement　produced　a　faint　musical　chime；　a　different　tone　every　time；　and　she　had　the　feeling　that　no　matter　how　hard　she　looked　into　it；　there　would　always　be　a　still　smaller　ball　waiting　to　be　discovered。　A　thing　that　looked　like　a　blacksmith's　puzzle　made　of　glass？　It　was　heavy　enough　that　she　dropped　it；　and　it　broke　a　chip　off　the　edge　of　the　cistern　cover。　A　collection　to　stir　amazement　in　any　Aes　Sedai。　More　important；　they　found　two　more　angreal。　Those　Elayne　set　very　carefully　aside；　within　arm's　reach。
　　　　　　　One　was　an　odd　piece　of　jewelry；　a　golden　bracelet　attached　by　four　flat　chains　to　finger　rings；　every　bit　of　it　engraved　in　an　intricate　mazelike　pattern。　That　was　the　stronger　of　the　two；　stronger　than　the　turtle　still　in　her　pouch。　It　was　made　for　a　smaller　hand　than　hers　or　Aviendha's。　Strangely；　the　bracelet　had　a　tiny　lock；　plete　with　a　minuscule；　tubular　key　dangling　from　a　fine　chain　that　was　obviously　made　to　be　removed。　Along　with　the　key！　The　other　was　a　seated　woman　in　age…darkened　ivory；　her　legs　folded　in　front　of　her；　her　exposed　knees　bare；　but　with　hair　so　long　and　luxuriant　she　could　not　have　been　more　muffled　in　the　heaviest　cloak。　It　was　not　even　as　strong　as　the　turtle；　but　she　found　it　very　appealing。　One　hand　rested　on　a　knee；　palm　up　and　fingers　arranged　so　the　thumb　touched　the　tips　of　the　middle　two　fingers；　while　the　other　hand　was　lifted；　the　first　two　fingers　raised　and　the　others　folded。　The　whole　figure　carried　an　air　of　supreme　dignity；　yet　the　delicately　worked　face　showed　amusement　and　delight。　Maybe　it　had　been　made　for　a　particular　woman？　It　seemed　personal；　somehow。　Perhaps　they　had　done　that；　in　the　Age　of　Legends。　Some　ter'angreal　were　immense；　needing　men　and　horses；　or　even　the　Power；　to　move；　but　most　angreal　were　small　enough　to　carry　about　your　person；　not　all；　but　most。
　　　　　　　They　were　tossing　back　the　canvas　covers　on　another　set　of　wicker　panniers　when　Nynaeve　came　striding　up。　The　Atha'an　Miere　began　filing　out　of　one　of　the　farm　buildings；　no　longer　limping。　Merilille　was　talking　with　Renaile；　or　rather；　the　Windfinder　was　talking　and　Merilille　listening。　Elayne　wondered　what　had　happened　in　there。　The　slim　Gray　did　not　look　so　satisfied　anymore。　The　huddle　of　Kinswomen　had　grown　larger；　but　even　as　Elayne　looked　up；　three　more　came　hesitantly　into　the　farmyard；　and　another　two　stood　at　the　edge　of　the　olive　trees；　peering　about　indecisively。　She　could　sense　Birgitte；　somewhere　out　among　the　groves　and　only　a　little　less　irritated　than　earlier。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　glanced　at　the　display　of　ter'angreal　and　gave　her　braid　a　tug。　Her　hat　had　gone　missing　somewhere。　〃That　can　wait；〃　she　said；　sounding　disgusted。　〃It's　time。〃
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　
Chapter　5　
（Lion　Rampant）　
The　Breaking　Storm　
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　The　sun　stood　little　more　than　halfway　down　toward　the　horizon　by　the　time　they　clambered　up　the　well…worn；　snaking　path　to　the　top　of　the　steep…sided　hill　above　the　barns。　That　was　the　spot　Renaile　had　chosen。　It　did　make　sense　from　what　Elayne　knew　of　working　weather；　all　learned　from　a　Sea　Folk　Windfinder；　to　be　sure。　Changing　anything　beyond　your　immediate　vicinity　required　working　over　long　distances；　which　meant　being　able　to　see　a　long　distance；　much　easier　on　the　ocean　than　on　land。　Except　from　a　mountain　or　hilltop。　It　also　needed　a　deft　hand　to　avoid　causing　torrential　rains　or　whirlwinds　or　the　Light　alone　knew　what　elsewhere。　Whatever　you　did；　the　effects　spread　like　ripples　from　a　stone　tossed　into　a　pond。　She　had　no　desire　whatsoever　to　lead　the　circle　that　would　use　the　Bowl。
　　　　　　　The　top　of　the　hill　was　clear　of　brush　and　flat；　if　far　from　level；　a　rough　stone　table；　fifty　paces　long　and　broad；　with　plenty　of　room　for　everybody　who　needed　to　be　there；　and　some　who　did　not；　strictly　speaking。　From　at　least　fifty　paces　above　the　farm；　the　spectacular　view　stretched　for　miles　over　a　patchwork　quilt　of　forms　and　pastures；　forests　and　olive　groves。　Far　too　many　browns　and　sere　yellows　were　mixed　in　with　a　hundred　shades　of　green；　crying　the　need　for　what　they　were　to　do；　yet　even　so；　the　beauty　of　it　struck　Elayne。　Despite　dust　in　the　air　like　a　faint　mist；　she　could　see　so　far！　The　land　really　was　quite　flat　here　except　for　those　few　hills。　Ebou　Dar　lay　just　out　of　sight　to　the　south　even　if　she　embraced　the　Power；　yet　it　seemed　she　should　be　able　to　see　it；　by　straining　just　a　little。　Surely　with　a　little　effort　she　could　see　the　River　Eldar。　A　marvelous　view。　Not　everyone　was　interested。
　　　　　　　〃An　hour　wasted；〃　Nynaeve　grumbled；　glaring　sideways　at　Reanne。　And　at　just　about　everyone　else。　With　Lan　not　there；　it　seemed　she　might　take　the　opportunity　to　unleash　her　temper。　〃Almost　an　hour。　Maybe　more。　pletely　wasted。　Alise　is　capable　enough；　I　suppose；　but　you'd　think　Reanne　would　know　who　was　there！　Light！　If　that　fool　woman　faints　on　me　again。。。！〃　Elayne　hoped　she　held　on　a　little　longer。　It　looked　to　be　quite　a　storm　once　she　let　it　break。
　　　　　　　Reanne　tried　to　keep　a　cheerful；　eager　face；　yet　her　hands　were　never　still　on　her　skirts；　constantly　plucking　and　smoothing。　Kirstian　simply　clutched　hers　and　sweated；　appearing　ready　to　empty　her　stomach　any　minute；　when　anyone　looked　at　her；　anyone　at　all；　she　shivered。　The　third　Kinswoman；　Garenia；　was　a　Saldaean　merchant　with　a　strong　nose　and　a　wide　mouth；　a　short　slim…hipped　woman；　stronger　than　the　other　two；　who　looked　not　that　much　older　than　Nynaeve。　A　greasy　dampness　glistened　on　her　pale　face；　and　her　dark　eyes　grew　wider　whenever　they　fell　on　an　Aes　Sedai。　Elayne　thought　she　might　soon　discover　whether　someone's　eyes　actually　could　pop　out　of　her　head。　At　least　Garenia　had　stopped　moaning；　which　she　had　done　all　the　way　up　the　hill。
　　　　　　　There　really　had　been　another　pair　who　might　have　been　strong　enough　…　possibly；　the　Kin　did　not　pay　much　attention　to　that　…　but　the　last　had　gone　on　her　way　three　days　past。　No　one　else　at　the　farm　even　came　close。　Which　was　why　Nynaeve　was　still　disgusted。　One　reason。　The　other　was　that　Garenia　had　been　one　of　the　very　first　found；　passed　out　in　the　farmyard。　For　that　matter；　she　fainted　again　the　first　two　times　she　was　roused；　as　soon　as　her　eyes　fell　on　one　of　the　sisters。　Of　course；　Nynaeve　being　Nynaeve；　she　was　not　about　to　admit　that　she　should　have　done　anything　so　simple　as　ask　Alise　who　was　still　at　the　farm。　Or　even　tell　Alise　what　she　was　looking　for　before　the　woman　inquired。　Nynaeve　never　expected　anyone　to　have　sense　to　know　up　from　down。　Except　herself。
　　　　　　　〃We　could　be　done　by　now！〃　Nynaeve　growled。　〃We　could　be　shut　of　…！〃　She　almost　quivered　with　the　effort　of　not　scowling　at　the　Sea　Folk　as　they　gathered　near　the　east　end　of　the　stone　table。　Renaile；　gesturing　emphatically；　appeared　to　be　giving　instructions。　Elayne　would　have　given　a　pretty　to　hear　those。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve's　glares　certainly　took　in　Merilille　and　Careane　and　Sareitha；　who　still　clutched　the　silk…wrapped　Bowl　tightly。　Adeleas　and　Vandene　had　remained　below；　sequestered　with　Ispan。　The　three　sisters　stood　chatting　together；　not　paying　any　mind　to　Nynaeve　unless　she　spoke　to　them　directly；　but　Merilille's　gaze　sometimes　slipped　to　the　Windfinders；　then　jerked　away；　her　mask　of　serenity　faltered　slightly；　and　she　licked　her　lips　with　the　tip　of　her　tongue。
　　　　　　　Had　she　made　some　mistake　down　below　while　Healing　them？　Merilille　had　negotiated　treaties　and　mediated　disputes　between　nations；　few　in　the　White　Tower　were　better　than　she。　But　Elayne　remembered　hearing　a　story　once；　a　joke　of　sorts；　about　a　Domani　merchant；　a　Sea　Folk　Cargomaster　and　an　Aes　Sedai。　Not　many　people　told　jokes　involving　Aes　Sedai；　telling　one　might　not　be　entirely　safe。　The　merchant　and　the　Cargomaster　found　an　ordinary　rock　on　the　shore　and　proceeded　to　sell　it　back　and　forth　between　them；　somehow　making　a　profit　each　time。　Then　an　Aes　Sedai　came　along。　The　Domani　convinced　the　Aes　Sedai　to　buy　the　simple　stone　for　twice　what　she　herself　had　last　paid。　After　which　the　Atha'an　Miere　convinced　the　Aes　Sedai　to　buy　the　same　rock　from　him　for　twice　that　again。　Only　a　joke；　but　it　showed　what　people　believed。　Maybe　the　older　sisters　would　not　have　done　any　better　bargaining　with　the　Sea　Folk。
　　　　　　　Aviendha　strode　straight　to　the　edge　of　the　cliffs　as　soon　as　she　reached　the　hilltop；　and　stood　staring　north；　motionless　as　a　statue。　After　a　moment；　Elayne　realized　that　she　was　not　admiring　the　view；　Aviendha　was　simply　staring。　Gathering　her　skirts　a　bit　awkwardly　with　the　three　angreal　in　hand；　she　joined　her　friend。
　　　　　　　The　cliff　fell　in　fifty…foot　steps　to　olive　groves；　steep　swathes　or　ridged　gray　stone；　bare　except　for　a　few　small；　dying　bushes。　The　drop　was　not　really　bothersome；　but　it　was　hardly　the　same　as　looking　at　the　ground　from　the　top　of　a　tree；　either。　Strangely；　looking　down　made　Elayne　feel　a　trifle　dizzy。　Aviendha　did　not　seem　to　notice　that　the　edge　was　right