rj.thepathofdaggers-第4部分

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　had　seen　worse　than　a　stilled　woman。　Much　worse。
　　　　　　　〃There's　no　hope；　is　there？〃　Turanna　muttered　in　a　thick　voice。　She　wept　silently；　staring　into　the　silver　cup　in　her　trembling　hands　at　something　distant　and　horrifying。　〃No　hope。〃
　　　　　　　〃There　is　always　a　way　if　you　only　look　for　it；〃　Verin　said；　absently　patting　the　woman's　shoulder。　〃You　must　always　look。〃
　　　　　　　Her　thoughts　raced；　and　none　touched　Turanna。　Irgain's　stilling　made　her　belly　feel　full　of　rancid　grease；　the　Light　knew。　But　what　was　the　woman　doing　grinding　grain？　And　dressed　like　the　Aiel　women！　Had　she　been　put　to　work　just　there　so　Verin　could　see？　Foolish　question；　even　with　a　ta'veren　as　strong　as　Rand　al'Thor　only　a　few　miles　away；　there　was　some　limit　to　the　number　of　coincidences　she　would　accept。　Had　she　miscalculated？　At　worst；　it　could　not　be　a　large　error。　Only；　small　mistakes　sometimes　proved　as　fatal　as　large。　How　long　could　she　hold　out　if　Sorilea　decided　to　break　her？　A　distressingly　short　time；　she　suspected。　In　some　ways；　Sorilea　was　as　hard　as　anyone　she　had　ever　met。　And　not　a　thing　she　could　say　that　would　stop　it。　A　worry　for　another　day。　There　was　no　point　getting　ahead　of　herself。
　　　　　　　Kneeling；　she　put　a　little　effort　into　forting　Turanna；　but　not　too　much。　Soothing　words　that　sounded　as　hollow　to　her　as　they　did　to　Turanna；　judging　by　the　bleakness　in　her　eyes。　Nothing　could　change　Turanna's　circumstances　except　Turanna；　and　that　had　to　e　from　within　herself。　The　White　sister　just　wept　harder；　making　no　sound　as　her　shoulders　shook；　tears　streaming　down　her　face。　The　entry　of　two　Wise　Ones　and　a　pair　of　young　Aielmen　who　could　not　straighten　up　inside　the　tent　was　something　of　a　relief。　For　Verin；　anyway。　She　rose　and　curtsied　smoothly；　but　none　of　them　had　any　interest　in　her。
　　　　　　　Daviena　was　a　green…eyed　woman　with　yellow…red　hair；　Losaine　gray…eyed　with　dark　hair　that　only　showed　glints　of　red　in　the　sun；　both　head…and…shoulders　taller　than　she；　both　wearing　the　expressions　of　women　given　a　grimy　task　they　wished　on　someone　else。　Neither　could　channel　strongly　enough　to　have　any　certainty　of　holding　Turanna　by　herself；　but　they　linked　as　though　they　had　been　forming　circles　all　their　lives；　the　light　of　saidar　around　one　seeming　to　blend　with　that　around　the　other　despite　the　fact　that　they　stood　apart。　Verin　forced　her　face　into　a　smile　to　keep　from　frowning。　Where　had　they　learned　that？　She　would　have　wagered　all　she　possessed　that　they　had　not　known　how　only　a　few　days　ago。
　　　　　　　Everything　went　quickly　then；　and　smoothly。　As　the　crouching　men　lifted　Turanna　to　her　feet　by　the　arms；　she　let　the　silver　cup　fall。　Empty；　luckily　for　her。　She　did　not　struggle；　which　was　just　as　well；　considering　that　either　could　have　carried　her　off　under　one　arm　like　a　sack　of　grain；　but　her　mouth　hung　open；　emitting　a　wordless　keening。　The　Aiel　paid　no　heed。　Daviena；　focusing　the　circle；　assumed　the　shield；　and　Verin　let　go　of　the　Source　pletely。　None　of　them　trusted　her　enough　to　let　her　hold　saidar　without　a　known　reason；　no　matter　what　oaths　she　had　sworn。　Neither　appeared　to　notice；　but　they　surely　would　have　had　she　held　on。　The　men　hauled　Turanna　away；　her　bare　feet　dragging　across　the　layered　carpets　that　floored　the　tent；　and　the　Wise　Ones　followed　them　out。　And　that　was　that。　What　could　be　done　with　Turanna　had　been　done。
　　　　　　　Letting　out　a　long　breath；　Verin　sagged　onto　one　of　the　bright；　tasseled　cushions。　A　fine　golden　ropework　tray　sat　on　the　carpets　next　to　her。　Filling　one　of　the　mismatched　silver　cups　from　a　pewter　pitcher；　she　drank　deeply。　This　was　thirsty　work；　and　tiring。　Hours　of　daylight　remained；　yet　she　felt　as　if　she　had　carried　a　heavy　chest　twenty　miles。　Over　hills。　The　cup　went　back　onto　the　tray；　and　she　pulled　the　small；　leather…bound　notebook　from　behind　her　belt。　It　always　took　a　little　time　for　them　to　fetch　those　she　asked　for。　A　few　moments　to　peruse　her　notes　…　and　make　some　…　would　not　be　amiss。
　　　　　　　There　was　no　need　for　notes　about　the　captives；　but　the　sudden　appearance　of　Cadsuane　Melaidhrin；　three　days　ago　now；　gave　cause　for　concern。　What　was　Cadsuane　after？　The　woman's　panions　could　be　dismissed；　but　Cadsuane　herself　was　a　legend；　and　even　the　believable　parts　of　the　legend　made　her　very　dangerous　indeed。　Dangerous　and　unpredictable。　She　took　a　pen　from　the　small　wooden　writing　case　she　always　carried；　reached　toward　the　stoppered　inkbottle　in　its　scabbard。　And　another　Wise　One　entered　the　tent。
　　　　　　　Verin　scrambled　to　her　feet　so　quickly　that　she　dropped　her　notebook。　Aeron　could　not　channel　at　all；　yet　Verin　made　a　much　deeper　curtsy　for　the　graying　woman　than　she　had　for　Daviena　and　Losaine。　At　the　bottom　of　her　dip；　she　let　go　of　her　skirts　to　reach　for　her　book；　but　Aeron's　fingers　reached　it　first。　Verin　straightened；　calmly　watching　the　taller　woman　thumb　through　the　pages。
　　　　　　　Sky　blue　eyes　met　hers。　A　winter　sky。　〃Some　pretty　drawings　and　a　great　deal　about　plants　and　flowers；〃　Aeron　said　coldly。　〃I　see　nothing　concerning　the　questions　you　were　sent　to　ask。〃　She　thrust　the　book　at　Verin　more　than　handed　it　to　her。
　　　　　　　〃Thank　you；　Wise　One；〃　Verin　said　meekly；　tucking　the　book　back　safely　behind　her　belt。　She　even　added　another　curtsy　for　good　measure；　just　as　deep　as　the　first。　〃I　have　the　habit　of　noting　down　what　I　see。〃　One　day　she　would　have　to　write　out　the　cipher　she　used　in　her　notebooks　…　a　lifetime's　worth　of　them　filled　cupboards　and　chests　in　her　rooms　above　the　White　Tower　library　…　one　day；　but　she　hoped　not　soon。　〃As　for　the。。。　um。。。　prisoners；　so　far　they　all　say　variations　of　the　same　thing。　The　Car'a'carn　was　to　be　housed　in　the　Tower　until　the　Last　Battle。　His。。。　um。。。　mistreatment。。。　began　because　of　an　escape　attempt。　But　you　know　that　already；　of　course。　Never　fear；　though；　I'm　sure　I　will　learn　more。〃　All　true；　if　not　all　of　the　truth；　she　had　seen　too　many　sisters　die　to　risk　sending　others　to　the　grave　without　a　very　good　reason。　The　trouble　was　deciding　what　might　cause　that　risk。　The　manner　of　young　al'Thor's　kidnapping；　by　an　embassy　supposedly　treating　with　him；　enraged　the　Aiel　to　the　point　of　murder；　yet　what　she　called　his　〃mistreatment〃　barely　angered　them　at　all　as　far　as　she　could　tell。
　　　　　　　Gold　and　ivory　bracelets　clattered　softly　as　Aeron　adjusted　her　dark　shawl。　She　peered　down　as　though　trying　to　read　Verin's　thoughts。　Aeron　seemed　to　stand　high　among　the　Wise　Ones；　and　while　Verin　occasionally　had　seen　a　smile　crease　those　dark…tanned　cheeks；　a　warm　and　easy　smile；　it　was　never　directed　at　an　Aes　Sedai。　We　never　suspected　that　you　would　be　the　ones　to　fail；　she　had　told　Verin　somewhat　murkily。　There　had　been　nothing　unclear　in　the　rest　of　it；　however。　Aes　Sedai　have　no　honor。　Give　me　one　hair　of　suspicion；　and　I　will　strap　you　till　you　cannot　stand；　with　my　own　hands。　Give　me　two　hairs；　and　I　will　stake　you　out　for　the　vultures　and　the　ants。　Verin　blinked　up　at　her；　trying　to　appear　open。　And　meek；　she　must　not　forget　meek。　Docile；　and　pliant。　She　did　not　feel　fear。　In　her　time　she　had　faced　harder　stares；　from　women　…　and　men　…　without　so　much　as　Aeron's　slim　punction　about　ending　her　life。　But　a　good　deal　of　effort　had　gone　into　being　sent　to　ask　those　questions。　She　could　not　afford　to　waste　it　now。　If　only　these　Aiel　let　more　show　on　their　faces。
　　　　　　　Abruptly　she　became　aware　that　they　were　no　longer　alone　in　the　tent。　Two　flaxen…haired　Maidens　had　entered　with　a　black…robed　woman　a　hand　shorter　than　either。　They　were　half…holding　her　upright。　At　one　side　stood　Tialin；　a　lanky　redhead　wearing　a　grim　expression　behind　the　light　of　saidar；　shielding　the　black…robed　prisoner。　The　sister's　hair　hung　in　sweat…soaked　ringlets　to　her　shoulders　and　strands　that　clung　to　her　face；　which　bore　so　much　dirt　that　Verin　did　not　recognize　her　at　first。　High　cheekbones；　but　not　very　high；　a　nose　with　just　the　hint　of　a　hook　to　it；　and　the　slightest　tilt　to　the　brown　eyes。。。　Beldeine。　Beldeine　Nyram。　She　had　instructed　the　girl　in　a　few　novice　classes。
　　　　　　　〃If　I　may　ask；〃　she　said　carefully；　〃why　was　she　brought？　I　asked　for　another。〃　Beldeine　had　no　Warder　despite　being　Green　…　she　had　been　raised　to　the　shawl　barely　three　years　ago；　and　Greens　were　often　especially　choosy　about　their　first　…　but　if　they　started　bringing　whoever　they　selected；　the　next　might　have　two　or　three　Warders。　She　thought　she　could　deal　with　two　more　today；　but　not　if　either　had　even　one　Warder。　And　she　doubted　they　would　give　her　a　second　chance　at　any　of　them。
　　　　　　　〃Katerine　Alruddin　escaped　last　night；〃　Tialin　nearly　spat；　and　Verin　gasped。
　　　　　　　〃You　let　her　escape？〃　she　burst　out　without　thinking。　Tiredness　gave　no　excuse；　but　the　words　spilled　from　her　tongue　before　she　could　stop　them。　〃How　could　you　be　so　foolish？　She's　Red！　And　neither　a　coward　nor　weak　in　the　Power！　The　Car'a'carn　could　be　in　danger！　Why　were　we　not　told　of　this　when　it　happened？〃
　　　　　　　〃It　was　not　discovered　until　this　morning；〃　one　of　the　Maidens　growled。　Her　eyes　could　have　been　polished　sapphires。　〃A　Wise　One　and　two　Cor　Darei　were　poisoned；　and　the　gai'shain　who　brought　them　drink　was　found　with　his　throat　cut。〃
　　　　　　　Aeron　arched　an　eyebrow　at　the　Maiden　coldly。　〃Did　she　speak　to　you；　Carahuin？〃　Both　Maidens　suddenly　became　engrossed　in　the　task　of　keeping　Beldeine　on　her　feet。　Aeron　merely　glanced　at　Tialin；　but　the　red…haired　Wise　One　lowered　her　gaze。　Verin　was　the　next　recipient　of　those　attentions。　〃Your　concern　for　Rand　al'Thor　does　you。。。　honor；〃　Aeron　said　grudgingly。　〃He　will　be　guarded。　You　have　no　need　to　know　more。　Or　so　much。〃　Abruptly　her　tone　hardened。　〃But　apprentices　do　not　use　that　tone　with　Wise　Ones；　Verin　Mathwin　Aes　Sedai。〃　The　last　words　were　a　sneer。
　　　　　　　Smothering　a　sigh；　Verin　all　but　fell　into　another　deep　curtsy；　a　part　of　her　wishing　she　were　even　as　slim　as　she　had　been　on　arriving　in　the　White　Tower。　She　was　not　really　constructed　for　all　this　bending　and　bobbing。　〃Forgive　me；　Wise　One；〃　she　said　humbly。　Escaped！　The　circumstances　made　everything　plain；　to　her　if　not　to　the　Aiel。　〃Apprehension　must　have　loosened　my　wits。〃　A　pity　she　had　no　way　to　make　sure　Katerine　met　with　a　fatal　accident。　〃I　will　do　my　best　to　remember　in　the　future