rj.thepathofdaggers-第73部分

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back…plates；　but　no　other　armor。　Their　cloaks　whipped　about　freely；　a　gauntleted　hand　for　the　reins　and　a　hand　for　the　short　bow　they　each　carried　left　nothing　to　grasp　at　warmth。　There　were　more　farther　on；　and　beyond　sight　to　left　and　right　and　behind；　another　thousand　altogether；　to　scout　and　screen。　Gareth　Bryne　did　not　expect　trickery　from　the　Andorans；　but　he　had　been　wrong　before；　so　he　said；　and　the　Murandians　were　another　matter。　And　then　there　was　the　possibility　of　assassins　in　Elaida's　pay；　or　even　Darkfriends。　The　Light　alone　knew　when　a　Darkfriend　might　decide　to　kill；　or　why。　For　that　matter；　though　the　Shaido　were　supposedly　far　away；　no　one　ever　seemed　to　know　they　were　there　until　the　killing　began。　Even　bandits　might　have　tried　their　hand　with　too　small　a　party。　Lord　Bryne　was　not　a　man　to　take　chances　unnecessarily；　and　Egwene　was　very　glad。　Today；　she　wanted　as　many　witnesses　as　possible。
　　　　　　　She　herself　rode　ahead　of　the　banner；　with　Sheriam　and　Siuan　and　Bryne。　The　others　appeared　caught　in　their　own　thoughts。　Lord　Bryne　sat　his　saddle　easily；　the　mist　of　his　even　breath　forming　a　light　frost　on　his　faceguard；　yet　Egwene　could　see　him　calmly　marking　terrain　in　his　mind。　In　case　he　had　to　fight　over　it。　Siuan　rode　so　stiffly　that　she　would　be　sore　long　before　reaching　their　destination；　but　she　stared　north　as　though　she　could　already　see　the　lake；　and　sometimes　she　nodded　to　herself；　or　shook　her　head。　She　would　not　have　done　that　unless　she　was　uneasy。　Sheriam　knew　no　more　of　what　was　to　e　than　the　Sitters　did；　yet　she　appeared　even　more　nervous　than　Siuan；　shifting　constantly　in　her　saddle　and　grimacing。　Anger　shone　in　her　green　eyes；　too；　for　some　reason。
　　　　　　　Close　behind　the　banner　came　the　entire　Hall　of　the　Tower　in　double　column；　wearing　embroidered　silks　and　rich　velvets　and　furs　and　cloaks　with　the　Flame　large　on　the　back。　Women　who　seldom　wore　more　ornaments　than　the　Great　Serpent　ring　were　decked　today　in　the　finest　gems　the　camp's　jewelry　caskets　could　supply。　Their　Warders　made　a　more　splendid　display　simply　by　wearing　their　color…shifting　cloaks；　parts　of　the　men　seemed　to　vanish　as　the　disquieting　cloaks　swirled　in　the　stiff　breeze。　Servants　followed；　two　or　three　for　every　sister；　on　the　best　horses　that　could　be　found　for　them。　They　might　have　passed　for　lesser　nobility　themselves　if　a　number　had　not　been　leading　pack　animals；　every　chest　in　the　camp　had　been　ransacked　to　outfit　them　in　bright　colors。
　　　　　　　Perhaps　because　she　was　one　of　the　Sitters　without　a　Warder；　Delana　had　brought　Halima　along；　on　a　spirited　white　mare。　The　two　rode　almost　knee…to…knee。　Sometimes　Delana　would　lean　toward　Halima　to　speak　privately；　though　Halima　appeared　too　excited　to　listen。　Supposedly；　Halima　was　Delana's　secretary；　but　everyone　believed　it　a　case　of　charity；　or　possibly　friendship；　however　unlikely；　between　the　dignified；　pale…haired　sister　and　the　hot…natured；　raven…haired　country　woman。　Egwene　had　seen　Halima's　hand；　and　it　had　the　unformed　look　of　a　child's　just　learning　her　letters。　Today；　she　was　in　garments　as　fine　as　any　sister's；　with　gems　that　easily　equaled　Delana's；　who　must　have　been　their　source。　Whenever　a　gust　opened　her　velvet　cloak；　she　displayed　a　shocking　amount　of　bosom；　and　she　always　laughed　and　took　her　time　about　gathering　it　around　her　again；　refusing　to　admit　that　she　felt　the　cold　any　more　than　the　sisters　did。
　　　　　　　For　once；　Egwene　was　glad　of　all　the　gifts　of　clothing　she　had　been　given；　allowing　her　to　surpass　the　Sitters。　Her　green…and…blue　silk　was　slashed　with　white　and　worked　with　seed　pearls。　Pearls　even　decorated　the　backs　of　her　gloves。　At　the　last　minute　a　cloak　lined　with　ermine　had　been　provided　by　Romanda；　and　a　necklace　and　earrings　of　emeralds　and　white　opals　by　Lelaine。　The　moonstones　in　her　hair　came　from　Janya。　The　Amyrlin　had　to　be　resplendent　today。　Even　Siuan　appeared　ready　for　a　ball；　in　blue　velvets　and　cream　lace；　with　a　wide　band　of　pearls　at　her　throat　and　more　laced　through　her　hair。
　　　　　　　Romanda　and　Lelaine　led　the　Sitters；　riding　so　closely　behind　the　soldier　bearing　the　banner　that　he　glanced　over　his　shoulder　nervously　and　sometimes　edged　his　horse　nearer　the　riders　ahead　of　him。　Egwene　managed　not　to　look　back　more　than　once　or　twice；　yet　she　could　feel　their　eyes　pressing　between　her　shoulder　blades。　Each　thought　her　tied　in　a　neat　bundle；　but　each　had　to　be　wondering　whose　cords　had　done　the　binding。　Oh；　Light；　this　could　not　go　wrong。　Not　now。
　　　　　　　Other　than　the　column；　little　moved　in　all　that　snow…covered　landscape。　A　broad…winged　hawk　wheeled　overhead　against　the　cold　blue　sky　for　a　time　before　winging　eastward。　Twice　Egwene　saw　black…tailed　foxes　trotting　in　the　distance；　still　in　their　summer　fur；　and　once；　a　large　deer　with　tall　forked　antlers　ghosted　away　and　vanished　amid　the　trees。　A　hare；　starting　up　right　under　Bela's　hooves　and　bounding　off；　made　the　shaggy　mare　toss　her　head；　and　Siuan　yelped　and　grabbed　at　the　reins　as　if　she　expected　Bela　to　bolt。　Of　course；　Bela　only　gave　a　reproachful　snort　and　plodded　onward。　Egwene's　tall　roan　gelding　shied　more；　and　the　hare　had　not　gone　near　him。
　　　　　　　Siuan　began　grumbling　under　her　breath　after　the　hare　scampered　away；　and　it　took　quite　some　time　before　she　eased　Bela's　reins。　Being　on　a　horse　always　made　her　grumpy　…　she　traveled　in　one　of　the　wagons　whenever　possible　…　but　she　was　seldom　this　bad。　There　was　no　need　to　look　further　than　Lord　Bryne；　or　her　fierce　glances　at　him；　to　know　why。
　　　　　　　If　he　noticed　Siuan's　looks；　he　gave　no　sign。　The　only　one　not　in　fine　array；　he　looked　as　he　always　did；　plain　and　slightly　battered。　A　rock　that　had　weathered　storms　and　would　outlast　more　to　e。　For　some　reason；　Egwene　was　glad　he　had　resisted　their　efforts　to　dress　him　in　finer　garb。　They　truly　did　need　to　make　an　impression；　yet　she　thought　he　made　an　excellent　one　as　he　was。
　　　　　　　〃It's　a　fine　morning　to　be　in　the　saddle；〃　Sheriam　said　after　a　time。　〃Nothing　like　a　good　ride　in　the　snow　to　clear　the　head。〃　Her　voice　was　not　low；　and　she　cut　her　eyes　at　the　still…muttering　Siuan　with　a　tiny　smile。
　　　　　　　Siuan　did　not　say　anything　…　she　hardly　could　do　that　in　front　of　so　many　eyes　…　but　she　did　give　Sheriam　a　hard　look　that　promised　sharp　words　for　later。　The　fire…haired　woman　twisted　away　abruptly　with　very　close　to　a　wince。　Wing；　her　dappled　gray　mare；　pranced　a　few　steps；　and　Sheriam　settled　her　down　with　almost　too　firm　a　hand。　She　had　shown　little　gratitude　to　the　woman　who　had　named　her　Mistress　of　Novices；　and　like　most　in　that　position；　she　found　reasons　to　blame　Siuan。　It　was　the　only　flaw　Egwene　had　found　in　her　since　the　swearing。　Well；　she　had　protested　that；　as　Keeper；　she　should　not　have　to　take　orders　from　Siuan　the　way　the　others　who　had　sworn　did；　but　Egwene　had　seen　right　away　where　that　would　lead。　This　was　not　the　first　time　Sheriam　had　tried　to　plant　a　barb。　Siuan　insisted　on　handling　Sheriam　herself；　and　her　pride　was　too　fragile　for　Egwene　to　deny　the　request　unless　matters　got　out　of　hand。
　　　　　　　Egwene　wished　there　were　some　way　to　make　more　speed。　Siuan　went　back　to　her　grumbling；　and　Sheriam　was　obviously　thinking　of　something　else　to　say　that　would　not　quite　bring　a　rebuke。　All　that　muttering　and　cutting　of　eyes　began　to　find　their　way　under　Egwene's　skin。　After　a　while；　even　Bryne's　levelheaded　poise　began　to　wear。　She　found　herself　thinking　of　things　she　might　say　that　would　shake　his　aplomb。　Unfortunately　…　or　perhaps　fortunately　…　she　did　not　believe　anything　could。　But　if　she　had　to　wait　much　longer；　she　thought　she　might　burst　from　sheer　impatience。
　　　　　　　The　sun　climbed　toward　midday；　the　painfully　slow　miles　passed　behind；　and　at　last　one　of　the　riders　ahead　turned　and　raised　his　hand。　With　a　hasty　apology　to　Egwene；　Bryne　galloped　forward。　It　was　really　more　of　a　lumber　through　the　snow　for　his　sturdy　bay　gelding；　Traveler；　but　he　caught　up　to　the　outriders；　exchanged　a　few　words；　then　sent　them　on　through　the　trees　and　waited　for　Egwene　and　the　others　to　reach　him。
　　　　　　　As　he　fell　in　beside　her　once　more；　Romanda　and　Lelaine　joined　them。　The　two　Sitters　barely　acknowledged　Egwene's　presence；　fixing　Bryne　with　the　cool　serenity　that　had　shaken　so　many　men　facing　Aes　Sedai。　Except　that　now　and　then；　each　glanced　sideways　at　the　other　in　a　considering　way。　They　hardly　seemed　to　realize　what　they　were　doing。　Egwene　hoped　they　were　half　as　nervous　as　she；　she　would　be　satisfied　with　that。
　　　　　　　Coolly　serene　stares　washed　over　Bryne　like　rain　over　that　rock。　He　made　slight　bows　to　the　Sitters；　but　he　spoke　to　Egwene。　〃They've　already　arrived；　Mother。〃　That　had　been　expected。　〃They　brought　almost　as　many　men　as　we　did；　but　they're　all　on　the　north　side　of　the　lake。　I've　put　scouts　out　to　make　sure　nobody　tries　circling　around；　but　in　truth；　I　don't　expect　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃Let　us　hope　you're　right；〃　Romanda　told　him　sharply；　and　Lelaine　added　in　a　much　colder　tone；　〃Your　judgment　has　not　been　all　it　should　be；　of　late；　Lord　Bryne。〃　A　frigid；　cutting　tone。
　　　　　　　〃As　you　say；　Aes　Sedai。〃　He　made　another　slight　bow　without　really　turning　from　Egwene。　Like　Siuan；　he　was　tied　to　her　openly　now；　at　least　so　far　as　the　Hall　was　concerned。　If　only　they　did　not　know　how　tightly。　If　only　she　could　be　sure　how　tightly。　〃One　thing　more；　Mother；〃　he　went　on。　〃Talmanes　is　there　at　the　lake；　too。　There　are　about　a　hundred　of　the　Band　on　the　east　side。　Not　enough　to　cause　trouble　even　if　he　wanted　to；　and　small　chance　he　would；　I　think。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　merely　nodded。　Not　enough　to　cause　trouble？　Talmanes　alone　might　be　enough！　She　tasted　bile。　It　…　could　…　not　…　go　…　wrong　…　now！
　　　　　　　〃Talmanes！〃　Lelaine　exclaimed；　serenity　shattering。　She　must　have　been　as　much　on　edge　as　Egwene。　〃How　did　he　find　out？　If　you've　included　Dragonsworn　in　your　scheming；　Lord　Bryne；　you　truly　will　learn　what　going　too　far　means！〃
　　　　　　　Right　on　top　of　her；　Romanda　growled；　〃This　is　disgraceful！　You　say　you've　only　learned　of　his　presence　now？　If　that's　so；　your　reputation　is　puffed　up　like　a　boil！〃　Aes　Sedai　calm　was　a　thin　layer　for　some　today；　it　seemed。
　　　　　　　They　continued　in　that　vein；　but　Bryne　rode　on；　only　murmuring　the　occasional　〃As　you　say；　Aes　Sedai；