rj.thepathofdaggers-第70部分

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lk；　with　penetrating　eyes；　she　might　have　been　in　her　own　tent。　At　a　casual　gesture；　Faolain　retreated　deferentially　to　a　corner　with　the　garment；　merely　shrugging　her　own　cloak　back。　Plainly；　she　was　ready　to　go　on　the　instant　at　another　wave　of　the　Sitter's　hand。　Her　dark　features　wore　a　cast　of　resigned　meekness；　not　very　much　like　her。
　　　　　　　Lelaine's　reserve　cracked　for　a　moment；　in　a　surprisingly　warm　smile　for　Siuan。　They　had　been　friends；　once；　years　ago；　and　she　had　even　offered　something　like　the　patronage　that　Faolain　had　accepted；　a　Sitter's　protection　and　sheltering　arm　against　the　sneers　and　accusations　of　other　sisters。　Touching　Siuan's　cheek；　Lelaine　softly　murmured　something　that　sounded　sympathetic。　Siuan　blushed；　a　startling　uncertainty　flashing　across　her　face。　It　was　not　pretense；　Egwene　was　sure。　Siuan　found　it　difficult　to　deal　with　what　really　had　changed　in　her；　and　more；　with　how　easily　she　was　adapting。
　　　　　　　Lelaine　eyed　the　stool　in　front　of　the　writing　table　and；　as　usual；　visibly　rejected　such　an　unsteady　seat。　Only　then　did　she　acknowledge　Egwene's　presence；　with　the　barest　dip　of　her　head。　〃We　need　to　speak　of　the　Sea　Folk；　Mother；〃　she　said　in　a　tone　a　bit　firm　to　be　directed　at　the　Amyrlin　Seat。
　　　　　　　Not　until　Egwene's　heart　sank　down　from　her　throat　did　she　realize　she　had　been　afraid　that　Lelaine　already　knew　what　Lord　Bryne　had　told　her。　Or　even　the　meeting　he　was　arranging。　The　next　instant；　her　heart　leaped　back　again。　The　Sea　Folk？　Surely　the　Hall　could　not　have　learned　of　the　insane　bargain　Nynaeve　and　Elayne　had　made。　She　could　not　imagine　what　had　led　them　into　such　a　disaster；　or　how　she　was　to　deal　with　it。
　　　　　　　Her　stomach　roiling；　she　took　her　place　behind　the　table　without　revealing　anything　of　what　she　felt。　And　that　fool　chair　leg　folded；　nearly　dropping　her　onto　the　carpets　before　she　could　jerk　it　straight　again。　She　hoped　her　cheeks　were　not　coloring。　〃The　Sea　Folk　in　Caemlyn；　or　in　Cairhien？〃　Yes；　that　sounded　suitably　calm　and　collected。
　　　　　　　〃Cairhien。〃　Romanda's　high　voice　rang　like　sudden　chimes。　〃Definitely　Cairhien。〃　Her　entry　made　Lelaine's　seem　almost　diffident；　the　force　of　her　personality　abruptly　filling　the　tent。　There　were　no　warm　smiles　in　Romanda；　handsome　as　her　face　was；　it　did　not　seem　made　for　them。
　　　　　　　Theodrin　followed　her　in；　and　Romanda　swung　her　cloak　off　with　a　flourish　and　tossed　it　to　the　slim；　apple…cheeked　sister　with　a　peremptory　gesture　that　sent　Theodrin　hurrying　to　a　corner　opposite　Faolain。　Faolain　was　distinctly　subdued；　but　Theodrin's　tilted　eyes　were　very　wide；　as　though　she　was　permanently　startled；　and　her　lips　seemed　ready　to　gasp。　Like　Faolain；　her　proper　place　in　the　hierarchy　of　Aes　Sedai　demanded　better　employment；　but　neither　was　likely　to　receive　it　soon。
　　　　　　　Romanda's　pelling　gaze　rested　a　moment　on　Siuan；　as　if　considering　whether　to　send　her　to　a　corner　as　well；　then　brushed　past　Lelaine　almost　dismissively　before　settling　on　Egwene。　〃It　seems　that　young　man　has　been　talking　with　the　Sea　Folk；　Mother。　The　Yellow　eyes…and…ears　in　Cairhien　are　most　excited　about　it。　Do　you　have　any　idea　what　might　interest　him　in　the　Atha'an　Miere？〃
　　　　　　　Despite　the　title；　Romanda　hardly　sounded　as　if　she　were　addressing　the　Amyrlin　Seat；　but　then；　she　never　did。　There　was　no　doubt　who　〃that　young　man〃　was。　Every　sister　in　the　camp　accepted　that　Rand　was　the　Dragon　Reborn；　but　anyone　who　heard　them　talk　would　have　believed　they　were　speaking　of　an　unruly　young　lout　who　might　e　to　dinner　drunk　and　throw　up　on　the　table。
　　　　　　　〃She　can　hardly　know　what's　in　the　boy's　head；〃　Lelaine　said　before　Egwene　could　open　her　mouth。　Her　smile　was　not　at　all　warm　this　time。　〃If　an　answer　is　to　be　found；　Romanda；　it　will　be　in　Caemlyn。　The　Atha'an　Miere　there　are　not　sequestered　on　a　ship；　and　I　seriously　doubt　that　high　ranking　Sea　Folk　came　so　far　from　the　sea　on　different　errands。　I've　never　heard　of　them　doing　so　for　any　reason。　It　may　be　they　have　an　interest　in　him。　They　must　know　who　he　is　by　now。〃
　　　　　　　Romanda　smiled　back；　and　frost　should　have　appeared　on　the　tent　walls。　〃There's　hardly　need　to　state　the　obvious；　Lelaine。　The　first　question　is　how　to　find　out。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　was　about　to　resolve　that　when　you　barged　in；　Romanda。　The　next　time　the　Mother　encounters　Elayne　or　Nynaeve　in　Tel'aran'rhiod；　she　can　pass　on　instructions。　Merilille　can　discover　what　the　Atha'an　Miere　want；　or　maybe　what　the　boy　does；　when　she　reaches　Caemlyn。　A　pity　the　girls　didn't　think　to　set　a　regular　schedule；　but　we　must　work　around　that。　Merilille　can　meet　with　a　Sitter　in　Tel'aran'rhiod　when　she　knows。〃　Lelaine　made　a　small　gesture；　plainly；　she　herself　was　the　intended　Sitter。　〃I　thought　Salidar　might　be　a　suitable　place。〃
　　　　　　　Romanda　snorted　with　amusement。　Even　in　that；　there　was　no　warmth。　〃Easier　to　instruct　Merilille　than　to　see　she　obeys；　Lelaine。　I　expect　she　knows　she　faces　sharp　questions。　This　Bowl　of　the　Winds　should　have　been　brought　to　us　for　study　first。　None　of　the　sisters　in　Ebou　Dar　had　much　ability　in　Cloud　Dancing；　I　believe；　and　you　can　see　the　result；　all　this　hurly…burly　and　suddenness。　I　have　a　thought　to　call　a　question　before　the　Hall　concerning　everyone　involved。〃　Abruptly　the　gray…haired　woman's　voice　became　smooth　as　butter。　〃As　I　recall；　you　supported　the　choice　of　Merilille。〃
　　　　　　　With　a　jerk；　Lelaine　drew　herself　up。　Her　eyes　flashed。　〃I　supported　who　the　Gray　put　forward；　Romanda；　and　no　more；〃　she　said　indignantly。　〃How　could　I　have　imagined　she　would　decide　to　use　the　Bowl　there？　And　to　include　Sea　Folk　wilders　in　the　circle！　How　could　she　believe　they　know　as　much　of　working　weather　as　Aes　Sedai？〃　Abruptly　her　ire　slipped。　She　was　defending　herself　to　her　fiercest　adversary　in　the　Hall；　her　only　real　adversary。　And；　no　doubt　worse　in　her　view；　she　was　agreeing　with　her　about　the　Sea　Folk。　There　was　no　question　that　she　did　agree；　but　giving　the　fact　voice　was　another　matter。
　　　　　　　Romanda　let　her　cold　smile　deepen　as　Lelaine's　face　paled　with　fury。　She　straightened　her　bronze…colored　skirts　with　meticulous　care　as　Lelaine　searched　for　a　way　to　turn　matters　about。　〃We　will　see　how　the　Hall　stands；　Lelaine；〃　she　said　finally。　〃Until　the　question　is　called；　I　think　it　best　if　Merilille　does　not　meet　with　any　of　the　Sitters　involved　in　her　selection。　Even　a　suggestion　of　collusion　would　be　looked　at　askance。　I'm　sure　you　will　agree　I　should　be　the　one　to　speak　with　her。〃
　　　　　　　Lelaine's　face　paled　differently。　She　was　not　afraid；　not　visibly；　yet　Egwene　could　almost　see　her　counting　who　might　stand　for　her；　or　against。　Collusion　was　almost　as　serious　as　a　charge　of　treason；　and　required　only　the　lesser　consensus。　Likely；　she　could　avoid　that；　but　the　arguments　would　be　deep　and　acrimonious；　Romanda's　faction　might　even　increase。　That　would　cause　untold　problems　whether　or　not　Egwene's　own　plans　bore　fruit。　And　there　was　nothing　she　could　do　to　stop　it；　short　of　revealing　what　really　had　happened　in　Ebou　Dar。　As　well　ask　them　to　let　her　accept　the　same　offer　Faolain　and　Theodrin　had。
　　　　　　　Egwene　drew　breath。　At　least　she　might　be　able　to　prevent　the　use　of　Salidar　as　a　meeting　place　in　Tel'aran'rhiod。　That　was　where　she　met　Elayne　and　Nynaeve；　now。　When　she　did；　anyway；　she　had　not　in　days。　With　Sitters　popping　in　and　out　of　the　World　of　Dreams；　finding　anywhere　you　could　be　sure　they　would　not　appear　was　difficult。　〃The　next　time　I　encounter　Elayne　or　Nynaeve；　I　will　pass　on　your　instructions　regarding　Merilille。　I　can　let　you　know　when　she's　ready　to　meet　you。〃　Which　would　be　never；　once　she　was　done　with　those　instructions。
　　　　　　　The　Sitters'　heads　whipped　around；　and　two　sets　of　eyes　stared　at　her。　They　had　forgotten　she　was　there！　Struggling　to　keep　her　face　smooth；　she　realized　her　foot　was　tapping　irritably；　and　stopped　it。　She　had　to　go　along　with　what　they　thought　of　her　a　while　longer；　yet。　A　little　while　longer。　At　least　she　no　longer　felt　nauseated。　Just　angry。
　　　　　　　Into　that　moment　of　silence；　Chesa　came　bustling　with　Egwene's　midday　meal　on　a　cloth…covered　tray。　Dark…haired；　plump　and　pretty　in　her　middle　years；　Chesa　managed　to　convey　a　proper　respect　without　cringing。　Her　curtsy　was　as　simple　as　her　dark　gray　dress；　with　just　a　touch　of　plain　lace　at　the　throat。　〃Forgive　me　for　intruding；　Mother；　Aes　Sedai。　I　am　sorry　this　is　late；　Mother；　but　Meri　seems　to　have　wandered　off。〃　She　clicked　her　tongue　in　exasperation　as　she　set　the　tray　in　front　of　Egwene。　Wandering　seemed　very　unlike　the　misnamed　Meri。　That　dour　woman　was　as　disapproving　of　faults　in　herself　as　she　was　of　those　in　others。
　　　　　　　Romanda　frowned；　but　she　said　nothing。　After　all；　she　could　hardly　show　too　much　interest　in　one　of　Egwene's　maids。　Especially　when　the　woman　was　her　spy。　Just　as　Selame　was　Lelaine's。　Egwene　avoided　looking　at　Theodrin　or　Faolain；　both　still　standing　dutifully　in　their　corners　like　Accepted；　rather　than　Aes　Sedai　themselves。
　　　　　　　Chesa　half…opened　her　mouth；　but　closed　it　again；　perhaps　intimidated　by　the　Sitters。　Egwene　was　relieved　when　she　dipped　another　curtsy　and　left　with　a　murmured　〃By　your　leave；　Mother。〃　Chesa's　advice　was　always　indirect　enough　for　any　sister　when　anyone　else　was　present；　but　right　then；　the　last　thing　Egwene　wanted　was　even　a　circumspect　reminder　to　eat　while　her　food　was　hot。
　　　　　　　Lelaine　took　up　as　if　there　had　been　no　interruption。　〃The　important　thing；〃　she　said　firmly；　〃is　to　learn　what　the　Atha'an　Miere　want。　Or　what　the　boy　does。　Maybe　he　wants　to　be　their　king；　too。〃　Holding　out　her　arms；　she　allowed　Faolain　to　restore　her　cloak；　which　the　dark　young　woman　did　with　care。　〃You　will　remember　to　let　me　know　if　you　have　any　thoughts　on　it；　Mother？〃　That　was　just　barely　a　request。
　　　　　　　〃I　will　think　hard；〃　Egwene　told　her。　Which　was　not　to　say　she　would　share　her　thoughts。　She　wished　she　had　a　glimmer　of　the　answer。　That　the　Atha'an　Miere　believed　Rand　was　their　prophesied　Coramoor；　she　knew；　though　the　Hall　did　not；　but　what　he　wanted　from　them；　or　them　from　him；　she　could　not　begin　to　imagine。　According　to　Elayne；　the　Sea　Folk　with　them　had　no　clue。　Or　said　not。　Egwene　almost　wished　one　of　the　handful　of　sisters　who　had　e　from　the　Atha'an　Miere　was　in　the　cam