rj.thepathofdaggers-第28部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　Knitting　Circle　…　and　of　Alise；　who　carefully　noted　the　last　ten　to　arrive；　all　but　two　in　fine　embroidered　silks；　not　much　different　from　Elayne's。　Definitely　not　Kinswomen。　Elayne　felt　sure　they　really　would　do　the　washing…up　anyway；　Alise　would　not　let　a　little　thing　like　noble　birth　stand　in　her　way。　The　Windfinders　lined　up　with　their　horses；　surprisingly　silent　except　for　Renaile；　who　muttered　imprecations　whenever　she　saw　Alise。　Careane　was　summoned　back　from　the　hilltop。　The　Warders　brought　the　sisters　their　mounts。　Almost　everyone　kept　an　eye　on　the　sky；　and　saidar　made　halos　around　all　of　the　older　Aes　Sedai　and　most　of　the　Windfinders。　Around　a　few　of　the　Kin；　as　well。
　　　　　　　Leading　her　mare　to　the　head　of　the　line；　at　the　cistern；　Nynaeve　fingered　the　angreal　still　on　her　hand　as　if　she　were　going　to　be　the　one　to　make　the　gateway；　ridiculous　as　the　very　idea　might　be。　For　one　thing；　though　she　had　washed　her　face　…　and　donned　her　hat；　strangely；　all　things　considered　…　she　still　tottered　whenever　her　self…control　slipped。　Lan　stayed　practically　at　her　shoulder；　stone…faced　as　always；　but　if　ever　there　was　a　man　ready　to　catch　a　woman　when　she　fell；　it　was　he。　Even　with　the　bracelet…and…rings；　Nynaeve　might　not　be　able　to　manage　enough　to　weave　a　gateway。　More　important；　she　had　been　dashing　about　the　farm　ever　since　they　first　arrived；　Elayne　had　spent　a　considerable　time　holding　saidar　right　where　they　now　stood。　She　knew　that　spot。　Nynaeve　scowled　sulkily　when　Elayne　embraced　the　Source；　but　at　least　she　had　sense　enough　to　say　nothing。
　　　　　　　Right　from　the　first　Elayne　wished　that　she　had　asked　Aviendha　for　the　woman…cloaked…in…her…own…hair；　she　was　weary；　too；　and　all　the　saidar　she　could　draw　was　barely　enough　to　form　the　weave　so　it　would　work。　The　flows　wavered　in　her　grasp　almost　as　if　trying　to　twist　free；　then　snapped　into　place　so　suddenly　that　she　jumped；　channeling　when　you　were　tired　was　not　at　all　like　other　times；　but　this　was　the　worst　ever。　At　least　the　familiar　vertical　slash　of　silver　appeared　as　it　should；　and　widened　into　an　opening　right　alongside　the　cistern。　An　opening　no　bigger　than　the　one　Aviendha　had　made；　and　at　that；　Elayne　was　grateful　it　was　large　enough　to　fit　a　horse　through。　At　the　last；　she　had　not　been　certain　it　would　be。　Gasps　rose　from　the　Kinswomen；　seeing　a　view　of　an　upland　meadow　suddenly　standing　between　them　and　the　familiar　gray　bulk　of　the　cistern。
　　　　　　　〃You　should　have　let　me　try；〃　Nynaeve　said　softly。　Softly；　but　with　a　sharp　point　even　so。　〃You　nearly　fubbed　it　altogether。〃
　　　　　　　Aviendha　gave　Nynaeve　a　flat　look　that　almost　made　Elayne　grab　her　arm。　The　longer　they　remained　near…sisters；　the　more　she　seemed　to　think　she　had　to　defend　Elayne's　honor；　if　they　did　bee　first…sisters；　Elayne　could　see　having　to　keep　her　away　from　Nynaeve；　and　Birgitte；　pletely！
　　　　　　　〃It's　done；　Nynaeve；〃　she　said　quickly。　〃That's　all　that　counts。〃　Nynaeve　directed　a　flat　look　at　her　and　muttered　something　about　the　day　being　prickly；　as　if　Elayne　were　the　one　showing　her　snappish　side。
　　　　　　　Birgitte　was　the　first　through；　grinning　impudently　at　Lan；　leading　her　horse　with　her　bow　already　in　her　other　hand。　Elayne　could　sense　eagerness　in　her；　a　touch　of　satisfaction；　perhaps　that　this　time　she　had　the　lead　instead　of　Lan　…　there　was　always　a　bit　of　rivalry　between　Warders　…　and　a　small　measure　of　wariness。　Very　small。　Elayne　knew　that　meadow　well；　Gareth　Bryne　had　taught　her　to　ride　not　far　from　there。　About　five　miles　over　those　first　sparsely　treed　hills　lay　the　manor　house　of　one　of　her　mother's　estates。　One　of　her　estates；　she　had　to　get　used　to　that。　The　seven　families　who　tended　the　house　and　its　grounds　would　be　the　only　people　for　half　a　day's　journey　in　any　direction。
　　　　　　　Elayne　had　chosen　that　destination　because　they　could　reach　Caemlyn　in　two　weeks　from　there。　And　because　the　estate　was　so　isolated；　she　might　be　entering　Caemlyn　before　anyone　knew　she　was　in　Andor。　That　could　be　a　very　necessary　precaution；　at　various　times　in　Andor's　history；　rivals　for　the　Rose　Crown　had　been　kept　as　〃guests〃　until　they　relinquished　their　claims。　Her　mother　had　kept　two；　until　she　took　the　throne。　With　luck；　she　could　have　a　solid　base　established　by　the　time　Egwene　and　the　others　arrived。
　　　　　　　Lan　took　Mandarb　right　behind　Birgitte's　brown　gelding；　and　Nynaeve　lurched　as　if　to　rush　after　the　black　warhorse；　then　pulled　herself　up　short　with　a　level　stare　that　dared　Elayne　to　say　a　word。　Fiddling　furiously　with　her　reins；　she　made　a　visible　effort　to　look　anywhere　except　through　the　gateway　after　Lan。　Her　lips　moved。　After　a　moment；　Elayne　realized　that　she　was　counting。
　　　　　　　〃Nynaeve；〃　she　said　quietly；　〃we　really　don't　have　time　for　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃Move　along；〃　Alise　called　from　the　rear；　the　sound　of　her　hands　clapping　a　sharp　punctuating　crack。　〃No　pushing　or　shoving；　now；　but　I'll　have　no　laggards　either！　Move　along。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve's　head　swung　wildly；　pained　indecision　painting　her　face。　For　some　reason　she　touched　her　wide　hat；　a　few　of　its　blue　plumes　broken　and　drooping；　before　pulling　her　hand　away。　〃Oh；　that　goat…kissing　old。。。！〃　she　growled；　the　rest　lost　as　she　dragged　her　mare　through　the　gateway。　Elayne　sniffed。　And　Nynaeve　had　the　nerve　to　speak　to　anybody　about　their　language！　She　wished　she　could　have　heard　the　rest；　though；　she　already　knew　the　first　bit。
　　　　　　　Alise　continued　her　urging；　but　there　really　did　not　seem　to　be　much　need　after　the　first。　Even　the　Windfinders　hurried；　glancing　worriedly　over　their　shoulders　at　the　sky。　Even　Renaile；　who　mumbled　something　about　Alise　that　Elayne　noted　in　the　back　of　her　head。　Though　calling　someone　〃a　fish…loving　scavenger〃　did　seem　rather　mild。　She　would　have　expected　the　Sea　Folk　to　eat　fish　all　the　time。
　　　　　　　Alise　herself　brought　up　the　very　rear；　except　for　the　remaining　Warders；　as　if　to　herd　even　the　packhorses　along。　She　paused　long　enough　to　hand　Elayne　her　green…plumed　hat。　〃You'll　want　to　keep　the　sun　off　that　sweet　face　of　yours；〃　she　said　with　a　smile。　〃Such　a　pretty　girl。　No　need　to　turn　to　leather　before　your　time。〃
　　　　　　　Aviendha；　sitting　on　the　ground　nearby；　fell　over　backward　and　kicked　her　heels　laughing。
　　　　　　　〃I　think　I'll　ask　her　to　find　you　a　hat。　With　lots　of　plumes；　and　big　bows；〃　Elayne　said　in　dulcet　tones　before　quickly　following　the　Kinswoman。　That　certainly　cut　off　Aviendha's　laughter。
　　　　　　　The　gently　rolling　meadow　was　broad　and　nearly　a　mile　long；　surrounded　by　hills　taller　than　those　she　had　left　behind；　and　by　trees　she　knew；　oak　and　pine　and　blackwood；　sourgum　and　leatherleaf　and　fir；　thick　forest　with　good；　tall　timber　to　south　and　west　and　east；　though　there　might　not　be　any　cutting　this　year。　Most　of　the　more　scattered　trees　to　the　north；　toward　the　manor；　were　better　suited　for　firewood。　Small　gray　boulders　dotted　the　thick　brown　grass　here　and　there；　and　not　even　a　withered　stalk　marked　the　death　of　a　wildflower。　That　was　not　so　different　from　the　south。
　　　　　　　For　once　Nynaeve　was　not　peering　at　the　surrounding　countryside　trying　to　find　Lan。　He　and　Birgitte　would　not　be　gone　long　anyway；　not　here。　Instead　she　strode　briskly　among　the　horses；　ordering　people　to　mount　in　a　loud；　manding　voice；　chivvying　the　servants　with　the　pack　animals；　curtly　telling　some　of　the　Kinswomen　who　had　no　horses　that　any　child　could　walk　five　miles；　shouting　at　a　slender　Altaran　noblewoman　with　a　scar　on　her　cheek　and　carrying　a　bundle　nearly　as　big　as　herself　that　if　she　had　been　fool　enough　to　bring　all　of　her　dresses　then　she　could　carry　them。　Alise　had　gathered　the　Atha'an　Miere　around　her　and　was　instructing　them　on　how　to　mount　a　horse。　For　a　wonder；　they　actually　appeared　to　be　paying　attention。　Nynaeve　glanced　her　way　and　seemed　pleased　to　see　Alise　standing　in　one　spot。　Until　Alise　smiled　encouragingly　and　motioned　her　to　go　on　with　what　she　was　doing。
　　　　　　　For　an　instant　Nynaeve　stood　stock…still；　staring　at　the　woman。　Then　she　came　striding　through　the　grass　to　Elayne。　Reaching　up　to　her　hat　with　both　hands；　she　hesitated；　glowering　up　at　it　her　through　her　lashes　before　giving　it　a　twitch　straight。　〃I'll　just　let　her　take　care　of　everything　this　time；〃　she　said　in　a　suspiciously　reasonable　tone。　〃We'll　just　see　how　well　she　does　with　those。。。　Sea　Folk。　Yes；　we　will。〃　Too　reasonable　a　tone　by　half。　Abruptly　she　frowned　at　the　still…open　gateway。　〃Why　are　you　holding　it？　Let　go。〃　Aviendha　was　frowning；　too。
　　　　　　　Elayne　drew　a　deep　breath。　She　had　thought　about　this；　and　there　was　no　other　way；　but　Nynaeve　would　try　to　argue　her　out　of　it；　and　there　no　time　for　arguing。　Through　the　gateway；　the　farmyard　stood　empty；　even　the　chickens　finally　frightened　away　by　the　hubbub；　yet　how　long　before　it　filled　up　again？　She　studied　her　weave；　melded　together　so　snugly　that　only　a　few　threads　remained　distinct。　She　could　see　every　flow；　of　course；　but　except　for　those　few；　they　appeared　inseparably　bined。　〃Take　everyone　to　the　manor　house；　Nynaeve；〃　she　said。　The　sun　did　not　have　very　much　farther　to　fall；　perhaps　two　hours　of　light　remained。　〃Master　Hornwell　will　be　surprised　at　so　many　visitors　arriving　at　dark；　but　tell　him　you're　guests　of　the　girl　who　cried　over　the　redbird　with　the　broken　wing；　he'll　remember　that。　I　will　be　along　as　soon　as　I　can。〃
　　　　　　　〃Elayne；〃　Aviendha　began　in　a　surprisingly　anxious　voice；　and　at　the　same　time；　Nynaeve　said　sharply；　〃Just　what　do　you　think　you're　…　〃
　　　　　　　There　was　only　one　way　to　stop　it。　Elayne　plucked　one　of　the　discernible　threads　free　of　the　weave；　it　wavered　and　flailed　like　a　living　tentacle；　it　fuzzed　and　spluttered；　tiny　fluffs　of　saidar　breaking　off　and　fading　away。　She　had　not　noticed　that　when　Aviendha　unmade　her　weave；　but　she　had　only　seen　the　tail　of　that；　really。　〃Go　on；〃　she　told　Nynaeve。　〃I'll　wait　for　the　rest　until　you　are　all　out　of　sight。〃　Nynaeve　stared　out；　her　jaw　hanging。　〃It　has　to　be　done；〃　Elayne　sighed。　〃The　Seanchan　will　be　at　the　farm　in　hours；　for　sure。　Even　if　they　wait　until　tomorrow；　what　if　one　of　the　damane　has　the　Talent　to　read　residues？　Nynaeve；　I　won't　give　Traveling　to　the　Seanchan。　I　won't！〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　growled　something　under　her　breath　about　the　Seanchan　that　must　have　been　par