rj.thepathofdaggers-第57部分

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　boy　…　〃but　it's　obvious　you　came　to　Cairhien　because　of　him；　and　until　you　tell　us　why　and　what　you　intend；　you　must　understand　that　you'll　find　no　aid　from　us。〃　Faeldrin；　another　Green；　gave　a　start　at　Bera's　bold　tone；　but　she　was　nodding　agreement　before　Bera　finished。
　　　　　　　〃You　must　understand　this；　too；〃　Merana　added；　her　serenity　regained。　〃If　we　decide　we　must　oppose　you；　we　will。〃　Beta's　face　did　not　change；　but　Faeldrin's　mouth　tightened　briefly。　Perhaps　she　disagreed；　and　perhaps　she　did　not　want　to　reveal　too　much。
　　　　　　　Cadsuane　favored　them　with　a　thin　smile。　Tell　them　why　and　what？　If　they　decided？　So　far　they　had　managed　to　stuff　themselves　into　young　al'Thor's　saddlebags　tied　hand　and　foot；　even　Bera。　Small　remendation　for　letting　them　decide　so　much　as　what　to　wear　in　the　morning！　〃I　did　not　e　to　see　you；〃　she　said。　〃Though　I　suppose　Kumira　and　Daigian　would　enjoy　a　visit；　since　you　have　a　freeday。　You　will　excuse　me。〃
　　　　　　　Motioning　Corgaide　to　lead　on；　she　followed　the　woman　across　the　entry　hall。　She　only　glanced　back　once。　Bera　and　the　others　had　already　gathered　up　Kumira　and　Daigian　and　were　hustling　them　away；　but　hardly　like　wele　guests。　More　like　herded　geese。　Cadsuane　smiled。　Most　sisters　considered　Daigian　little　better　than　a　wilder　and　treated　her　little　better　than　a　servant。　In　that　pany；　Kumira　hardly　stood　much　higher。　The　most　suspicious　could　not　think　they　were　there　to　try　to　convince　anyone　of　anything。　So　Daigian　would　pour　the　tea　and　sit　quietly　except　when　addressed　…　and　apply　her　excellent　mind　to　everything　she　heard。　Kumira　would　let　everyone　except　Daigian　speak　before　her　…　and　sort　and　file　away　every　word；　every　gesture　and　grimace。　Bera　and　the　rest　would　keep　their　oaths　to　the　boy；　of　course　…　that　went　without　saying　…　but　how　assiduously　was　another　question。　Even　Merana　might　be　unwilling　to　go　too　far　beyond　bare　obedience。　That　was　bad　enough；　yet　it　left　considerable　room　for　them　to　maneuver。　Or　be　maneuvered。
　　　　　　　Dark…liveried　servants　hurrying　at　their　tasks　along　the　broad；　tapestry…hung　hallways　darted　aside　for　Cadsuane　and　Corgaide；　and　the　two　of　them　progressed　to　a　flurry　of　deep　bows　and　curtsies　made　over　baskets　and　trays　and　armloads　of　towels。　From　the　way　eyes　watched　Corgaide；　Cadsuane　suspected　the　deference　was　as　much　for　the　Holder　of　the　Keys　as　for　an　Aes　Sedai。　There　were　a　few　Aiel　about；　too；　huge　men　like　cold…eyed　lions　and　women　like　colder…eyed　leopards。　Some　of　those　gazes　followed　her　icily　enough　to　bring　on　the　snow　threatened　by　the　rain　outside；　but　other　Aiel　nodded　to　her　gravely；　and　here　and　there　one　of　the　fierce…eyed　women　went　so　far　as　to　smile。　She　had　never　claimed　to　be　responsible　for　saving　their　Car'a'carn；　but　tales　became　twisted　in　retelling；　and　the　belief　granted　her　more　respect　than　any　other　sister；　and　certainly　more　freedom　of　movement　around　the　Palace。　She　wondered　how　they　would　feel　if　they　knew　that　had　she　had　the　boy　in　front　of　her　right　then；　she　would　have　been　hard…pressed　to　stop　herself　from　blistering　his　hide　for　him！　Barely　more　than　a　week　since　he　nearly　got　himself　killed；　and　not　only　had　he　managed　to　elude　her　pletely；　he　had　made　her　task　even　more　difficult；　if　half　what　she　heard　was　true。　A　pity　he　had　not　been　raised　in　Far　Madding。　But　then；　that　might　have　led　to　its　own　catastrophe。
　　　　　　　The　room　Corgaide　took　her　to　was　fortably　warm；　with　fires　blazing　in　marble　fireplaces　at　either　end　of　the　chamber　and　lamps　lit；　mirrored　flames　in　glass　towers　that　chased　the　day's　gloom。　Plainly　Corgaide　had　sent　orders　ahead　to　prepare　while　she　was　waiting　in　the　entry　hall。　A　serving　woman　appeared　almost　as　soon　as　they；　with　both　hot　tea　and　spiced　wine　on　a　tray；　and　small　cakes　glazed　with　honey。
　　　　　　　〃Will　there　be　anything　else；　Aes　Sedai？〃　Corgaide　asked　as　Cadsuane　set　her　sewing　basket　beside　the　tray　on　a　table　with　edge　and　legs　thickly　gilded。　Rigidly　carved；　too；　as　was　the　wide　cornice；　also　covered　with　gilt。　Cadsuane　always　felt　she　was　in　a　golden　fish　weir　when　she　visited　Cairhien。　Despite　the　light　and　warmth　inside；　rain　dripping　outside　the　tall　narrow　windows　and　the　gray　sky　outside　heightened　the　sensation。
　　　　　　　〃The　tea　will　do　nicely；〃　she　said。　〃If　you　will；　tell　Alanna　Mosvani　that　I　want　to　see　her。　Tell　her；　without　delay。〃
　　　　　　　Corgaide's　keys　jingled　as　she　curtsied；　murmuring　respectfully　that　she　would　find　〃Alanna　Aes　Sedai〃　herself。　Her　grave　expression　never　altered　as　she　left。　Very　likely　she　was　examining　the　request　for　subtleties。　Cadsuane　preferred　to　be　direct；　when　possible。　She　had　tripped　up　any　number　of　clever　people　who　had　not　believed　she　meant　exactly　what　she　said。
　　　　　　　Opening　the　lid　of　her　sewing　basket；　she　took　out　her　embroidery　hoop　with　a　less　than　half…done　piece　of　work　wrapped　around　it。　The　basket　had　pockets　woven　inside　to　hold　items　that　had　nothing　to　do　with　sewing。　Her　ivory　hand　mirror　and　hairbrush　and　b；　a　pen　case　and　tightly　stoppered　ink　bottle；　a　number　of　things　that　she　had　found　useful　to　have　at　hand　over　the　years；　including　some　that　would　have　surprised　anyone　with　nerve　enough　to　search　the　basket。　Not　that　she　often　left　it　out　of　her　sight。　Setting　the　polished　silver　thread　box　carefully　on　the　table；　she　selected　the　skeins　she　needed　and　sat　with　her　back　to　the　door。　The　major　image　on　her　piece　of　embroidery　was　finished；　a　man's　hand　clutching　the　ancient　symbol　of　the　Aes　Sedai。　Cracks　ran　across　the　black…and…white　disc；　and　there　was　no　telling　whether　the　hand　was　trying　to　hold　it　together　or　crush　it。　She　knew　what　she　intended；　but　time　would　tell　what　was　truth。
　　　　　　　Threading　a　needle；　she　set　to　work　on　one　of　the　surrounding　images；　a　bright　red　rose。　Roses　and　starblaze　and　sunburst　alternated　with　daisies　and　heartsblush　and　snowcap；　all　separated　by　bands　of　stark　nettles　and　long…thorned　briars。　It　would　be　a　disturbing　piece；　when　pleted。
　　　　　　　Before　she　had　finished　half　a　petal　on　the　rose；　a　flash　of　motion　reflected　on　the　flat　lid　of　the　thread　box　caught　her　eye。　It　had　been　carefully　placed　to　reflect　the　doorway。　She　did　not　raise　her　head　from　the　hoop。　Alanna　stood　there　glaring　at　her　back。　Cadsuane　continued　the　slow　work　of　her　needle；　but　she　watched　that　reflection　from　the　corner　of　her　eye。　Twice　Alanna　half　turned　as　if　to　go；　then　finally　drew　herself　up；　visibly　steeling　herself。
　　　　　　　〃e　in；　Alanna。〃　Still　not　raising　her　head；　Cadsuane　pointed　to　a　spot　in　front　of　her。　〃Stand　there。〃　She　smiled　wryly　as　Alanna　jumped。　There　were　advantages　to　being　a　legend；　people　seldom　noticed　the　obvious　when　dealing　with　a　legend。
　　　　　　　Alanna　stalked　into　the　room　in　a　swish　of　silk　skirts　and　took　the　place　Cadsuane　had　indicated；　but　there　was　a　sulky　twist　to　her　mouth。　〃Why　do　you　persist　in　badgering　me？〃　she　demanded。　〃I　cannot　tell　you　any　more　than　I　have。　And　if　I　could；　I　don't　know　that　I　would！　He　belongs　to　…！〃　She　cut　off　abruptly；　biting　her　lower　lip；　but　she　might　as　well　have　finished。　The　al'Thor　boy　belonged　to　her；　her　Warder。　She　had　the　gall　to　think　that！
　　　　　　　〃I　have　kept　your　crime　to　myself；〃　Cadsuane　said　quietly；　〃but　only　because　I　saw　no　reason　to　plicate　matters。〃　Lifting　her　eyes　to　the　other　woman；　she　kept　her　voice　soft。　〃If　you　think　that　means　I　won't　core　you　like　a　cabbage；　think　again。〃
　　　　　　　Alanna　stiffened。　The　light　of　saidar　suddenly　shone　around　her。
　　　　　　　〃If　you　wish　to　be　truly　foolish。〃　Cadsuane　smiled；　a　cold　smile。　She　made　no　move　to　embrace　the　Source　herself。　One　of　her　dangling　hair　ornaments；　intertwined　golden　crescents；　was　cool　on　her　temple。　〃You　keep　a　whole　hide　at　present；　but　my　sufferance　is　not　infinite。　In　fact；　it　dangles　by　a　thread。〃
　　　　　　　Alanna　struggled　with　herself；　unconsciously　smoothing　blue　silk。　Abruptly　the　glow　of　the　Power　winked　out；　and　she　turned　her　head　away　from　Cadsuane　so　swiftly　that　her　long　black　hair　swung。　〃I　don't　know　any　more　to　tell。〃　The　sullen　words　rushed　out　of　her　breathily。　〃He　was　injured；　and　then　not；　but　I　don't　think　a　sister　Healed　him。　The　wounds　no　one　could　Heal　are　still　there。　He　leaps　about；　Traveling；　but　he's　still　in　the　south。　Somewhere　in　Illian；　I　think；　but　at　this　distance；　he　could　be　in　Tear　for　all　I　know。　He's　full　of　rage；　and　pain；　and　suspicion。　There　isn't　any　more；　Cadsuane。　There　isn't！〃
　　　　　　　Careful　of　the　silver　pitcher's　heat；　Cadsuane　poured　a　cup　of　tea；　testing　the　thin　green　porcelain　cup　for　warmth。　As　might　have　been　expected　in　silver；　the　tea　had　cooled　quickly。　Channeling　briefly；　she　heated　it　again。　The　dark　tea　tasted　too　much　of　mint；　Cairhienin　used　mint　entirely　too　freely　in　her　opinion。　She　did　not　offer　a　cup　to　Alanna。　Traveling。　How　could　the　boy　have　rediscovered　what　had　been　lost　to　the　White　Tower　since　the　Breaking？　〃You　will　keep　me　fully　informed；　however；　won't　you；　Alanna。〃　That　was　not　a　question。　〃Look　at　me；　woman！　If　you　dream　of　him；　I　want　every　detail！〃
　　　　　　　Unshed　tears　glistened　in　Alanna's　eyes。　〃In　my　place；　you　would　have　done　the　same！〃
　　　　　　　Cadsuane　scowled　over　the　cup　at　her。　She　might　have。　There　was　no　difference　between　what　Alanna　had　done　and　a　man　forcing　himself　on　a　woman；　but；　the　Light　help　her；　she　might　have；　had　she　believed　it　would　help　her　reach　her　goal。　Now；　she　no　longer　considered　even　making　Alanna　pass　the　bond　to　her。　Alanna　had　proved　how　useless　that　was　in　controlling　him。
　　　　　　　〃Do　not　keep　me　waiting；　Alanna；〃　she　said　in　an　icy　tone。　She　had　no　sympathy　for　the　other　woman。　Alanna　was　another　in　a　line　of　sisters；　from　Moiraine　to　Elaida；　who　had　bungled　and　worsened　what　they　should　have　been　mending。　While　she　herself　had　been　off　chasing　first　Logain　Ablar　and　then　Mazrim　Taim。　Which　did　not　soothe　her　mood。
　　　　　　　〃I　will　keep　you　fully　informed；〃　Alanna　sighed；　pouting　like　a　girl。　Cadsuane　itched　to　slap　her。　Alanna　had　worn　the　shawl　almost　forty　years；　she　should　have　grown　up　more　than　this。　Of　course；　she　was　Arafellin。　In　Far　Madding；　few　girls　of　twenty　sulked　and　pouted　as　much　as　an　Arafellin　could　on　her　aged　deathbed。
　　　　　　　Abruptly；　Alanna's　eyes　widened　in　alarm；　and　Cadsuane　saw　another　face