rj.thepathofdaggers-第78部分

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　　　　　　　His　face　went　blank。　〃Elayne　Trakand　has　a　right　to　put　in　her　claim　to　the　Lion　Throne；〃　he　replied　in　a　flat　voice。
　　　　　　　Egwene's　eyes　widened；　and　he　stepped　back　again；　uncertainly。　Perhaps　he　thought　her　angry　over　the　absence　of　her　title；　but　she　barely　noticed　that。　Pelivar　had　supported　Elayne's　mother　in　her　claim　for　the　throne；　and　Elayne　had　been　sure　he　would　support　her；　too。　She　spoke　of　Pelivar　fondly；　like　a　favorite　uncle。
　　　　　　　〃Mother；〃　Siuan　murmured　at　her　elbow；　〃we　must　leave　if　you　want　to　be　sure　of　reaching　the　camp　before　sunset。〃　She　managed　to　put　considerable　urgency　into　those　quiet　words。　The　sun　had　passed　its　peak。
　　　　　　　〃This　is　no　weather　to　be　in　the　open　at　nightfall；〃　Pelivar　said　hurriedly。　〃If　you　will　excuse　me；　I　must　make　ready　to　leave。〃　Shoving　his　cup　onto　the　tray　of　a　passing　servant；　he　hesitated　before　halfway　making　a　leg；　and　stalked　off　with　the　air　of　a　man　who　had　wriggled　free　of　a　trap。
　　　　　　　Egwene　wanted　to　grind　her　teeth　with　frustration。　What　did　the　men　think　of　their　agreement？　If　it　could　be　called　that；　the　way　she　had　forced　it　on　them。　Arathelle　and　Aemlyn　had　more　power　and　influence　than　most　of　the　men；　yet　it　was　Pelivar　and　Culhan　and　the　like　who　rode　with　the　soldiers；　they　could　still　make　this　flare　up　in　her　face　like　a　barrel　of　lamp　oil。
　　　　　　　〃Find　Sheriam；〃　she　growled；　〃and　tell　her　to　get　everyone　mounted　now；　no　matter　what　it　takes！〃　She　could　not　give　the　Sitters　a　night　to　think　about　what　had　happened　today；　to　plan　and　plot。　They　had　to　be　back　in　camp　before　the　sun　went　down。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　
Chapter　19　
（Serpent　and　Wheel）　
The　Law　
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　Getting　the　Sitters　to　their　mounts　proved　no　bother；　they　were　as　eager　to　be　away　as　Egwene；　especially　Romanda　and　Lelaine；　both　cold　as　the　wind　and　with　eyes　like　thunderclouds。　The　rest　were　the　very　image　of　cool…eyed　Aes　Sedai　serenity；　giving　off　posure　like　a　heavy　scent；　yet　they　glided　to　their　horses　so　quickly　that　the　nobles　were　left　gaping　and　the　brightly　clad　servants　scrambled　in　loading　the　packhorses　to　catch　up　as　best　they　could。
　　　　　　　Egwene　had　Daishar　set　a　hard　pace　in　the　snow；　and　with　no　more　than　a　look　and　a　nod　from　her　Lord　Bryne　made　sure　the　armored　escorts　moved　as　fast。　Siuan　on　Bela　and　Sheriam　on　Wing　rushed　to　join　her。　For　long　stretches　they　churned　through　fetlock…deep　cover；　the　horses　stepping　high　at　near　to　a　trot；　the　Flame　of　Tar　Valon　rippling　in　the　icy　breeze；　and　even　when　it　was　necessary　to　slow；　when　the　horses　were　sinking　knee…deep　through　the　snow　crust；　they　kept　to　a　fast　walk。
　　　　　　　The　Sitters　had　no　choice　except　to　keep　up；　and　their　speed　cut　down　their　opportunity　to　talk　on　the　way。　At　that　tiring　pace；　a　lack　of　attention　to　your　horse　could　bring　a　broken　leg　for　the　animal　and　a　broken　neck　for　you。　Even　so；　Romanda　and　Lelaine　each　managed　to　gather　her　coterie　around　her；　and　those　two　knots　floundered　through　the　snow　surrounded　by　wards　against　eavesdropping。　The　pair　seemed　to　be　delivering　tirades。　Egwene　could　imagine　the　topic。　For　that　matter；　other　Sitters　managed　to　ride　together　for　a　time；　exchanging　a　few　words　quietly　and　casting　cool　glances　sometimes　at　her　and　sometimes　at　the　sisters　wrapped　around　by　saidar。　Only　Delana　never　joined　one　of　those　brief　conversations。　She　stayed　close　beside　Halima；　who　at　last　admitted　that　she　was　cold。　Face　tight；　the　country　woman　held　her　cloak　close　around　her；　but　she　still　tried　to　fort　Delana；　whispering　to　her　almost　constantly。　Delana　seemed　to　need　forting；　her　brows　were　drawn　down；　putting　a　crease　in　her　forehead　that　actually　made　her　seem　aged。
　　　　　　　She　was　not　the　only　one　worried。　The　others　masked　the　feeling　rigidly；　radiating　absolute　poise；　but　the　Warders　rode　like　men　expecting　the　worst　to　leap　out　of　the　snow　at　the　next　step；　eyes　shifting　in　an　unceasing　watch；　disquieting　cloaks　streaming　in　the　wind　to　leave　hands　free。　When　an　Aes　Sedai　worried；　her　Warder　worried；　and　the　Sitters　were　too　absorbed　to　think　of　calming　the　men。　Egwene　was　just　as　glad　to　see　it。　If　the　Sitters　were　troubled；　they　had　not　yet　made　up　their　minds。
　　　　　　　When　Bryne　rode　out　to　confer　with　Uno；　she　took　the　opportunity　to　ask　what　the　two　women　had　learned　about　Aes　Sedai　and　Tower　Guards　in　Andor。
　　　　　　　〃Not　much；〃　Siuan　replied　in　a　tight　voice。　Shaggy　Bela　did　not　seem　to　be　having　any　difficulty　with　the　pace；　but　Siuan　did；　gripping　her　reins　tightly　in　one　hand　and　the　pommel　of　her　saddle　with　the　other。　〃As　near　as　I　can　make　out；　there　are　fifty　rumors　and　no　facts。　It's　a　likely　sort　of　tale　to　spring　up；　but　it　might　still　be　true。〃　Bela　lurched；　her　front　hooves　sinking　deep；　and　Siuan　gasped。　〃The　Light　burn　all　horses！〃
　　　　　　　Sheriam　had　learned　no　more。　She　shook　her　head；　and　sighed　irritably。　〃It　sounds　all　feathers　and　nonsense　to　me；　Mother。　There　are　always　rumors　of　sisters　sneaking　about。　Didn't　you　ever　learn　to　ride；　Siuan？'　she　added；　her　voice　suddenly　dripping　derision。　〃By　tonight；　you'll　be　too　sore　to　walk！〃　Sheriam's　nerves　must　have　been　ragged　for　her　to　burst　out　so　openly。　From　the　way　she　kept　shifting　in　her　saddle；　she　had　already　achieved　her　prediction　for　Siuan。
　　　　　　　Siuan's　eyes　hardened；　and　she　opened　her　mouth　already　half　snarling；　never　mind　who　was　watching　from　behind　the　banner。
　　　　　　　〃Be　still；　both　of　you！〃　Egwene　snapped。　She　took　a　deep；　calming　breath。　She　was　a　bit　ragged　herself。　Whatever　Arathelle　believed；　any　force　Elaida　sent　to　interfere　with　them　would　be　too　large　for　sneaking。　That　left　the　Black　Tower；　a　disaster　in　the　making。　You　got　further　plucking　the　chicken　in　front　of　you　than　trying　to　start　on　one　up　a　tree。　Especially　when　the　tree　was　in　another　country　and　there　might　not　even　be　another　chicken。
　　　　　　　Still；　she　bit　off　her　words　in　giving　Sheriam　instructions　for　once　they　reached　the　camp。　She　was　the　Amyrlin　Seat；　and　that　meant　all　Aes　Sedai　were　her　responsibility；　even　those　following　Elaida。　Her　voice　was　rock　steady；　though。　It　was　too　late　to　be　frightened　once　you　grabbed　the　wolf　by　the　ears。
　　　　　　　Sheriam's　tilted　eyes　went　wide　at　the　orders。　〃Mother；　if　I　may　ask；　why。。。？〃　She　trailed　off　under　Egwene's　level　gaze；　and　swallowed。　〃It　will　be　as　you　say；　Mother；〃　she　said　slowly。　〃Strange。　I　remember　the　day　you　and　Nynaeve　came　to　the　Tower；　two　girls　who　couldn't　decide　whether　to　be　excited　or　frightened。　So　much　has　changed　since　then。　Everything。〃
　　　　　　　〃Nothing　stays　the　same　forever；〃　Egwene　told　her。　She　gave　Siuan　a　significant　look；　but　Siuan　refused　to　see。　She　appeared　to　be　sulking。　Sheriam　looked　sick。
　　　　　　　Lord　Bryne　returned　then；　and　he　must　have　sensed　the　mood　among　them。　Aside　from　saying　that　they　were　making　good　time；　he　kept　his　mouth　shut。　A　wise　man。
　　　　　　　Making　good　time　or　not；　the　sun　was　sitting　almost　on　the　treetops　when　they　finally　rode　through　the　army's　sprawling　camp。　Wagons　and　tents　cast　long　shadows　across　the　snow；　and　a　number　of　men　were　hard　at　work　building　yet　more　low　shelters　out　of　brush。　There　were　not　nearly　enough　tents；　even　for　all　the　soldiers；　and　the　camp　held　almost　as　many　harness…makers　and　laundresses　and　fletchers　and　the　like；　all　those　who　inevitably　followed　any　army。　The　ringing　of　anvils　spoke　of　farriers　and　armorers　and　blacksmiths　still　at　their　labors。　Cook　fires　were　burning　everywhere；　and　the　cavalry　peeled　away；　eager　for　warmth　and　hot　food　as　soon　as　their　wearily　plodding　animals　were　cared　for。　Surprisingly；　Bryne　rode　on　at　Egwene's　side　after　she　dismissed　him。
　　　　　　　〃If　you　will　allow；　Mother；〃　he　said；　〃I　thought　I　might　acpany　you　a　while　longer。〃　Sheriam　actually　twisted　in　her　saddle　to　stare　in　astonishment。　Siuan　stared；　too；　straight　ahead；　as　if　not　daring　to　turn　her　suddenly　wide　eyes　toward　him。
　　　　　　　What　did　he　think　he　could　do？　Act　as　her　bodyguard？　Against　sisters？　That　fellow　with　the　drippy　nose　would　do　as　well。　Reveal　just　how　pletely　he　was　on　her　side？　Tomorrow　was　time　enough　for　that；　if　all　went　well　tonight；　that　revelation　now　might　easily　stampede　the　Hall　in　directions　she　hardly　dared　contemplate。
　　　　　　　〃Tonight　is　for　Aes　Sedai　business；〃　she　told　him　firmly。　But；　silly　as　the　suggestion　was；　he　had　offered　to　put　himself　at　risk　for　her。　There　was　no　telling　his　reasons　…　who　knew　why　a　man　did　anything？　…　yet　she　owed　him　for　that。　Among　other　things。　〃Unless　I　send　Siuan　to　you　tonight；　Lord　Bryne；　you　should　leave　before　morning。　If　blame　for　today　attaches　itself　to　me；　it　might　reflect　on　you；　too。　Staying　could　prove　dangerous。　Even　fatal。　I　don't　think　they　would　need　much　excuse。〃　No　need　to　name　who　〃they〃　were。
　　　　　　　〃I　gave　my　word；〃　he　replied　quietly；　patting　Traveler's　neck。　〃To　Tar　Valon。〃　Pausing；　he　glanced　toward　Siuan。　It　was　less　a　hesitation　than　a　consideration。　〃Whatever　tonight's　business　is；〃　he　said　finally；　〃remember　that　you　have　thirty　thousand　men　and　Gareth　Bryne　behind　you。　That　should　count　for　something；　even　among　Aes　Sedai。　Until　tomorrow；　Mother。〃　Reining　his　big…nosed　bay　around；　he　called　over　his　shoulder；　〃I　expect　to　see　you　tomorrow；　too；　Siuan。　Nothing　changes　that。〃　Siuan　stared　at　his　back　as　he　rode　away。　There　was　anguish　in　her　eyes。
　　　　　　　Egwene　could　not　help　staring；　too。　He　had　never　been　so　open　before；　not　nearly。　Why　now；　of　all　times？
　　　　　　　Crossing　the　forty　or　fifty　paces　that　separated　the　army's　camp　from　the　Aes　Sedai's；　she　nodded　to　Sheriam；　who　drew　rein　at　the　first　tents。　She　and　Siuan　rode　on。　Behind　them；　Sheriam's　voice　rose；　surprisingly　clear　and　steady。　〃The　Amyrlin　Seat　calls　the　Hall　to　sit　this　day　in　formal　session。　Let　preparations　be　made　with　all　speed。〃　Egwene　did　not　look　back。
　　　　　　　At　her　tent；　a　bony　groom　kicking　her　layered　woolen　skirts　came　running　to　take　Daishar　and　Bela。　Her　face　was　pinched；　and　she　barely　ducked　her　head　before　hurrying　away　with　the　horses　as　quickly　as　she　had　e。　The　warmth　of　the　glowing　braziers　inside　was　like　a　fist　closing　down。　Egwene　had　not　realized　how　cold　it　was　outside　until　then。　Or　how　cold　she　was。
　　　　　　　Chesa　took　her　cloak；　and　exclaimed　when　she　felt　her　hands。　〃Why；　you'r