rj.thepathofdaggers-第26部分

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　Storms　himself　will　be　able　to　stand　in　his　way。　I　have　done　it；　Aes　Sedai；　and　the　Bowl　of　the　Winds　is　ours！〃
　　　　　　　Renaile　moved　into　the　circle；　kneeling　beside　the　Bowl。　Carefully　she　began　folding　the　white　silk　around　it。　〃I　will　take　this　to　the　Mistress　of　the　Ships；〃　she　said　to　Nynaeve。　〃We　have　fulfilled　our　part　of　the　bargain。　Now；　you　Aes　Sedai　must　fulfill　the　rest　of　yours。〃　Merilille　made　a　sound　in　her　throat；　but　when　Elayne　glanced　at　her；　the　Gray　appeared　a　study　in　posure。
　　　　　　　〃Maybe　you've　done　your　part；〃　Nynaeve　said；　rising　unsteadily。　〃Maybe。　We'll　see　when　this。。。　this　skimmer　of　yours　turns。　If　it　turns！〃　Renaile　stared　hard　at　her　across　the　Bowl；　but　Nynaeve　ignored　her。　〃Strange；〃　she　muttered；　rubbing　her　temple。　The　bracelet…and…rings　caught　in　her　hair；　and　she　grimaced。　〃I　can　almost　feel　an　echo　of　saidar。　It　must　be　this　thing！〃
　　　　　　　〃No；〃　Elayne　said　slowly。　〃I　can　feel　it；　too。〃　Not　just　the　dimly　perceived　crackling　in　the　air；　and　not　an　echo；　exactly。　More　the　shadow　of　an　echo；　so　faint　that　it　was　as　if　she　were　feeling　someone　use　saidar　at　a。。。　She　turned。　On　the　horizon　to　the　south；　lightning　flashed；　dozens　of　bolts　vivid　silver…blue　against　the　afternoon　sky。　Very　near　to　Ebou　Dar。
　　　　　　　〃A　rainstorm？〃　Sareitha　said　eagerly。　〃The　weather　must　be　righting　itself　already。〃　But　there　were　no　clouds　in　the　sky　even　where　the　lightning　forked　and　fell。　Sareitha　was　not　strong　enough　to　sense　saidar　being　wielded　at　that　distance。
　　　　　　　Elayne　shivered。　She　was　not　strong　enough。　Unless　someone　was　using　as　much　as　they　had　on　this　hilltop。　Fifty　or　even　a　hundred　Aes　Sedai；　all　channeling　at　once。　Or。。。　〃Not　one　of　the　Forsaken；〃　she　murmured。　Someone　behind　her　moaned。
　　　　　　　〃One　couldn't　do　that；〃　Nynaeve　agreed　quietly。　〃Maybe　they　didn't　feel　us　the　way　we　do　them；　maybe；　but　they'll　have　seen；　unless　they're　all　blind。　The　Light　burn　our　luck！〃　Quiet　or　not；　she　was　agitated；　she　often　called　Elayne　down　for　using　language　like　that。　〃Take　everyone　who　will　go　to　Andor　with　you；　Elayne。　I'll。。。　I'll　meet　you　there。　Mat's　in　the　city。　I　have　to　go　back　for　him。　Burn　the　boy；　he　came　for　me；　and　I　have　to。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　wrapped　her　arms　around　herself　and　drew　a　deep　breath。　Queen　Tylin　she　left　to　the　mercies　of　the　Light；　Tylin　would　survive　if　it　was　possible。　But　Mat　Cauthon；　her　very　strange；　very　instructive　subject；　her　most　unlikely　rescuer。　He　had　e　for　her；　too；　and　offered　more。　And　Thom　Merrilin；　dear　Thom；　who　she　sometimes　still　wished　would　turn　out　to　be　her　real　father；　and　the　Light　burn　what　that　would　make　of　her　mother。　And　the　boy；　Olver；　and　Chel　Vanin；　and。。。　She　had　to　think　like　a　queen。　The　Rose　Crown　is　heavier　than　a　mountain；　her　mother　had　told　her；　and　duty　will　make　you　weep；　but　you　must　bear　and　do　what　must　be　done。
　　　　　　　〃No；〃　she　said；　then　more　firmly；　〃No。　Look　at　you；　Nynaeve；　you　can　hardly　stand。　Even　if　we　all　went；　what　could　we　do？　How　many　of　the　Forsaken　are　there？　We'd　die；　or　worse；　for　no　gain。　The　Forsaken　have　no　reason　to　look　for　Mat　or　the　others。　It's　us　they　will　be　after。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　gaped　at　her；　stubborn　Nynaeve　with　sweat　running　down　her　face　and　her　legs　unsteady。　Wonderful；　gallant；　foolish　Nynaeve。　〃You're　saying　leave　him；　Elayne？　Aviendha；　talk　to　her。　Tell　her　about　that　honor　you're　always　going　on　about！〃
　　　　　　　Aviendha　hesitated；　then　shook　her　head。　She　was　almost　as　sweaty　as　Nynaeve；　and　from　the　way　she　moved；　just　as　tired。　〃There　are　times　to　fight　without　hope；　Nynaeve；　but　Elayne　is　right。　The　Shadowsouled　will　not　be　looking　for　Mat　Cauthon；　they　will　be　after　us；　and　the　Bowl。　He　may　have　left　the　city　already。　If　we　go；　we　risk　giving　them　what　can　undo　what　we　have　done。　Wherever　we　send　the　Bowl；　they　will　be　able　to　make　us　tell　them　who　we　sent　it　with　and　where。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve's　face　crumpled　in　pain。　Elayne　reached　to　put　her　arms　around　her。
　　　　　　　〃Shadowspawn！〃　someone　screamed；　and　suddenly　women　were　embracing　saidar　all　over　the　hilltop。　Balls　of　fire　shot　up　from　Merilille's　hands；　from　Careane's　and　Sareitha's；　as　fast　as　they　could　throw。　A　huge　winged　shape　enveloped　in　flame　tumbled　out　of　the　sky　trailing　oily　black　smoke；　falling　just　beyond　the　cliff。
　　　　　　　〃There's　another　one！〃　Kirstian　shouted；　pointing。　A　second　winged　creature　dove　away　from　the　hill；　body　as　big　as　a　horse；　ribbed　wings　spanning　thirty　paces　or　more；　long　neck　stretched　out　before　and　longer　tail　streaming　behind。　Two　figures　crouched　low　on　its　back。　A　storm　of　fire　rained　after　it；　quickest　of　all　from　Aviendha　and　the　Sea　Folk；　who　made　no　throwing　gesture　as　part　of　their　weaving。　A　hail　of　fire　so　thick　it　seemed　that　Fire　must　be　forming　itself　out　of　the　air；　and　the　thing　dodged　behind　the　hill　on　the　other　side　of　the　farm　and　appeared　to　vanish。
　　　　　　　〃Did　we　kill　it？〃　Sareitha　asked。　Her　eyes　shone　bright；　and　she　breathed　hard　in　agitation。
　　　　　　　〃Did　we　even　hit　it？〃　one　of　the　Atha'an　Miere　growled　disgustedly。
　　　　　　　〃Shadowspawn；〃　Merilille　murmured　in　amazement。　〃Here！　At　least　that　proves　it's　the　Forsaken　in　Ebou　Dar。〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　Shadowspawn；〃　Elayne　said　hollowly。　Nynaeve's　face　was　a　picture　of　anguish；　she　knew；　too。　〃They　call　it　a　raken。　It's　the　Seanchan。　We　must　go；　Nynaeve；　and　take　every　woman　at　the　farm　with　us。　Whether　we　killed　that　thing　or　not；　more　will　e。　Anyone　we　leave　behind　will　be　wearing　a　damane　leash　by　tomorrow　morning。〃　Nynaeve　nodded；　slowly；　painfully；　Elayne　thought　she　murmured；　〃Oh；　Mat。〃
　　　　　　　Renaile　strode　up　with　the　Bowl　in　her　arms；　once　more　swathed　in　its　white　covering。　〃Some　of　our　ships　have　encountered　these　Seanchan。　If　they　are　in　Ebou　Dar；　then　the　ships　beat　to　sea。　My　ship　fights　for　his　life；　and　I　am　not　on　his　deck！　We　go　now！〃　And　she　formed　the　weave　for　a　gateway；　right　there。
　　　　　　　It　tangled　uselessly；　of　course；　flared　bright　for　an　instant　then　collapsed　into　nothing；　but　Elayne　squeaked　in　spite　of　herself。　Right　there　in　the　middle　of　them！　〃You　aren't　going　anywhere　from　here　unless　you　mean　to　stay　long　enough　to　learn　this　hilltop！〃　she　snapped。　She　hoped　none　of　the　women　who　had　been　in　the　circle　tried　the　weave；　holding　saidar　was　the　fastest　way　to　learn　a　place。　She　could　have　made　it　work　here；　and　very　likely　so　could　they。　〃You　aren't　going　to　a　moving　ship　from　anywhere；　I　don't　think　it's　even　possible！〃　Merilille　nodded；　though　that　meant　little；　Aes　Sedai　believed　a　great　many　things　to　be　true；　and　some　of　them　actually　were。　As　well　if　the　Sea　Folk　believed　it　proven；　in　any　case。　Nynaeve；　haggard　and　staring；　was　in　no　condition　to　do　any　leading　at　the　moment；　so　Elayne　went　on。　She　hoped　she　managed　to　do　her　mother's　memory　proud。　〃But　most　of　all；　you　aren't　going　anywhere　except　with　us；　because　our　bargain　isn't　plete；　the　Bowl　of　the　Winds　is　not　yours　until　the　weather　is　right。〃　Not　precisely　true　unless　you　twisted　the　words　of　the　bargain　a　little；　and　Renaile　opened　her　mouth；　but　Elayne　plowed　on。　〃And　because　you　made　a　bargain　with　Matrim　Cauthon；　my　subject。　You　go　voluntarily　where　I　want　you　to；　or　you　go　tied　to　a　packsaddle。　Those　were　the　choices　you　accepted。　So；　get　down　this　hill　now；　Renaile　din　Calon　Blue　Star；　before　the　Seanchan　sweep　down　on　us　with　an　army　and　a　few　hundred　women　who　can　channel　and　would　like　nothing　better　than　to　see　us　collared　alongside　them。　Now！　Run！〃
　　　　　　　To　her　astonishment；　they　ran。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　
Chapter　6　
（Insect…Like；　Horned　Helmet）　
Threads　
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　Elayne　ran；　too；　of　course；　holding　her　skirts　up；　and　quickly　took　the　lead　on　the　well…worn　dirt　path。　Only　Aviendha　stayed　close；　though　she　seemed　to　have　no　idea　how　to　run　in　a　dress；　divided　or　not；　tired　as　she　was；　she　certainly　would　have　passed　Elayne　otherwise。　Everyone　else　strung　out　behind　them　along　the　narrow；　winding　track。　None　of　the　Atha'an　Miere　would　push　by　Renaile；　and　despite　her　silk　trousers　she　could　not　move　very　fast　carrying　the　Bowl　hugged　to　her　chest。　Nynaeve　had　no　such　punctions；　elbowing　past　and　running　hard；　shouting　for　people　to　get　out　of　her　way　when　she　stumbled　into　them　whether　they　were　Windfinders；　Kinswomen；　or　Aes　Sedai。
　　　　　　　Bounding　down　the　hillside；　tripping　and　catching　herself；　Elayne　wanted　to　laugh　despite　the　urgency。　Despite　the　danger。　Lini　and　her　mother　had　been　death　on　running　and　climbing　trees　from　the　time　she　was　twelve；　but　it　was　not　just　the　sheer　pleasure　of　running　again　that　made　delight　bubble　up　in　her　middle。　She　had　behaved　as　a　queen　was　supposed　to　behave；　and　it　had　worked　exactly　as　it　was　supposed　to！　She　had　taken　charge；　to　lead　people　out　of　danger；　and　they　followed！　Her　whole　life　had　been　training　for　this。　It　was　satisfaction　that　made　her　laugh；　and　the　hot　glow　of　pride　seemed　about　to　burst　through　her　skin　like　the　radiance　of　saidar。
　　　　　　　Rounding　the　last　curve；　she　pounded　down　the　final　straight　beside　one　of　the　tall　white…plastered　barns。　And　her　toe　caught　an　almost　buried　stone。　She　pitched　forward　heavily；　windmilling　her　arms；　and　suddenly　she　was　somersaulting　head…over…heels　through　the　air。　No　time　even　to　yell。　With　a　thump　that　jarred　her　teeth　and　took　all　the　wind　out　of　her；　she　landed　hard　at　the　foot　at　the　path；　sitting　right　in　front　of　Birgitte。　For　an　instant　she　could　not　even　think；　and　when　she　could；　little　satisfaction　remained。　So　much　for　queenly　dignity。　Brushing　her　hair　out　of　her　face；　she　tried　to　catch　her　breath　as　she　waited　for　Birgitte's　cutting　ment。　This　was　a　chance　for　the　other　woman　to　play　the　older　and　wiser　sister　with　a　vengeance；　and　she　seldom　let　an　opportunity　pass。
　　　　　　　To　Elayne's　surprise；　Birgitte　heaved　her　to　her　feet　even　before　Aviendha　could　reach　her；　and　without　so　much　as　the　faint　grin　on　Aviendha's　face。　All　Elayne　could　feel　from　her　Warder　was　a　sense　of。。。　focus；　she　thought　an　arrow　nocked　on　a　drawn　bowstring　might　feel　that　way。　〃Do　we　run　or　fight？〃　Birgitte　asked。　〃I　recognized　those　Seanchan　fliers　from　Falme；　and　truth　for　true；　I　suggest　running。　My　bow　is　the　ordinary　sort；　today。〃　Aviendha　gave　her　a　slight　frown；　and　Elayne　sighed；　Birgitte　had　to　learn　to　guard　her　tong