rj.thepathofdaggers-第84部分

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　　　　　　　Blinking；　she　opened　her　eyes　and　sat　up　in　the　bed。　Sunlight　streamed　in　at　the　window。　She　was　in　her　shift；　and　Nynaeve；　fully　dressed；　stood　frowning　down　at　her。　Aviendha　and　Birgitte　were　watching　from　beside　the　door。
　　　　　　　〃What　happened？〃　Elayne　demanded；　and　Nynaeve　shook　her　head　grimly。
　　　　　　　〃You　don't　want　to　know。〃　Her　lips　twitched。
　　　　　　　Aviendha's　face　gave　away　nothing。　Birgitte's　mouth　might　have　been　a　little　tight；　but　the　strongest　emotion　Elayne　felt　from　her　was　a　bination　of　relief　and　…　hilarity！　The　woman　was　doing　her　utmost　not　to　roll　on　the　floor　laughing！
　　　　　　　The　worst　of　it　was；　no　one　would　tell　what　had　happened。　What　she　had　said；　or　done；　she　was　sure　it　was　that；　by　the　quickly　hidden　grins　she　saw；　from　Kinswomen　and　Windfinders　as　well　as　sisters。　But　no　one　would　tell　her！　After　that；　she　decided　to　leave　studying　the　ter'angreal　to　somewhere　more　fortable　than　a　inn。　Somewhere　definitely　more　private！
　　　　　　　Nine　days　after　their　flight　from　Ebou　Dar；　scattered　clouds　appeared　in　the　sky　and　a　sprinkling　of　fat　raindrops　splashed　dust　in　the　road。　An　intermittent　drizzle　fell　the　next　day；　and　the　day　after；　a　deluge　kept　them　huddled　in　the　houses　and　stables　of　Forel　Market。　That　night；　the　rain　turned　to　sleet；　and　by　morning；　thick　flurries　of　snow　drifted　from　a　cloud…dark　sky。　More　than　halfway　to　Caemlyn；　Elayne　began　to　wonder　whether　they　could　make　it　in　two　weeks　from　where　they　stood。
　　　　　　　With　the　snow；　clothes　became　a　worry。　Elayne　blamed　herself　for　not　thinking　of　the　fact　that　everyone　might　need　warm　clothes　before　they　reached　their　destination。　Nynaeve　blamed　herself　for　not　thinking　of　it。　Merilille　thought　she　was　at　fault；　and　Reanne　thought　she　was。　They　actually　stood　in　the　main　street　of　Forel　Market　that　morning　with　snowflakes　drifting　down　on　their　heads；　arguing　over　who　could　claim　the　blame。　Elayne　was　not　sure　which　of　them　saw　the　absurdity　first；　who　was　the　first　to　laugh；　but　all　were　laughing　as　they　settled　around　a　table　in　The　White　Swan　to　decide　what　to　do。　A　solution　turned　out　to　be　no　laughing　matter。　Providing　one　warm　coat　or　cloak　for　everyone　would　take　a　large　bite　out　of　their　coin；　if　so　many　could　be　found。　Jewelry　could　be　sold　or　traded；　of　course；　but　no　one　in　Forel　Market　seemed　to　be　interested　in　necklaces　or　bracelets；　however　fine。
　　　　　　　Aviendha　solved　that　difficulty　by　producing　a　small　sack　that　bulged　with　clear；　perfect　gemstones；　some　quite　large。　Strangely；　the　same　folk　who　had　said　with　bare　politeness　that　they　had　no　use　for　be…gemmed　necklaces　went　round…eyed　at　the　unset　stones　rolling　about　in　Aviendha's　palm。　Reanne　said　they　saw　one　as　frippery；　the　other　as　wealth；　but　whatever　their　reasons；　in　return　for　two　rubies　of　moderate　size；　one　large　moonstone；　and　a　small　firedrop；　the　people　of　Forel　Market　were　more　than　willing　to　provide　as　many　thick　woolens　as　their　visitors　desired；　some　of　them　hardly　worn。
　　　　　　　〃Very　generous　of　them；〃　Nynaeve　muttered　sourly　as　people　began　rooting　clothes　out　of　their　chests　and　attics。　A　steady　stream　marched　into　the　inn　with　their　arms　full。　〃Those　stones　could　buy　the　whole　village！〃　Aviendha　shrugged　slightly；　she　would　have　surrendered　a　handful　of　the　gems　if　Reanne　had　not　intervened。
　　　　　　　Merilille　shook　her　head。　〃We　have　what　they　want；　but　they　have　what　we　need。　I'm　afraid　that　means　they　set　the　price。〃　Which　was　entirely　too　much　like　the　situation　with　the　Sea　Folk。　Nynaeve　looked　positively　ill。
　　　　　　　When　they　were　alone；　in　a　hallway　of　the　inn；　Elayne　asked　Aviendha　where　she　had　gotten　such　a　fortune　in　jewels；　and　one　she　seemed　eager　to　be　rid　of。　She　expected　her　near…sister　to　say　they　were　her　takings　from　the　Stone　of　Tear；　or　perhaps　Cairhien。
　　　　　　　〃Rand　al'Thor　tricked　me；〃　Aviendha　muttered　sullenly。　〃I　tried　to　buy　my　toh　from　him。　I　know　that　is　the　least　honorable　way；〃　she　protested；　〃but　I　could　see　no　other。　And　he　stood　me　on　my　head！　Why　is　it；　when　you　reason　things　out　logically；　a　man　always　does　something　pletely　illogical　and　gains　the　upper　hand？〃
　　　　　　　〃Their　pretty　heads　are　so　fuzzy；　a　woman　can't　expect　to　follow　how　they　skitter；〃　Elayne　told　her。　She　did　not　inquire　what　toh　Aviendha　had　tried　to　buy；　or　how　the　attempt　had　ended　with　her　near…sister　possessing　a　sack　full　of　rich　gems。　Talking　about　Rand　was　hard　enough　without　where　that　might　lead。
　　　　　　　Snow　brought　more　than　a　need　for　warm　clothing。　At　midday；　with　the　snow　flurries　falling　thicker　by　the　minute；　Renaile　strode　down　the　stairs　into　the　mon　room；　proclaimed　that　her　part　of　the　bargain　had　been　met；　and　demanded　not　only　the　Bowl　of　the　Winds；　but　Merilille。　The　Gray　sister　stared　in　consternation；　and　so　did　a　great　many　others。　The　benches　were　filled　with　Kinswomen　taking　their　turn　at　the　midday　meal；　and　serving　men　and　women　ran　to　serve　this　third　lot　of　meals。　Renaile　did　not　keep　her　voice　down；　and　every　head　in　the　mon　room　swiveled　toward　her。
　　　　　　　〃You　can　begin　your　teaching；　now；〃　Renaile　told　the　wide…eyed　Aes　Sedai。　〃Up　the　ladder　with　you　to　my　quarters。〃　Merilille　started　to　protest；　but　face　suddenly　cold；　the　Windfinder　to　the　Mistress　of　the　Ships　planted　fists　on　her　hips。　〃When　I　give　a　mand；　Merilille　Ceandevin；〃　she　said　icily；　〃I　expect　every　hand　on　deck　to　jump。　Now　jump！〃
　　　　　　　Merilille　did　not　precisely　jump；　but　she　did　gather　herself　and　go；　with　Renaile　practically　chivvying　her　up　the　stairs　from　behind。　Given　her　promise；　she　had　no　other　choice。　Reanne's　face　was　aghast。　Alise　and　stout　Sumeko；　still　wearing　her　red　belt；　watched　thoughtfully。
　　　　　　　In　the　days　that　followed；　whether　laboring　along　a　snow…covered　road　on　their　horses；　walking　the　streets　of　a　village；　or　trying　to　find　room　for　everyone　at　a　farm；　Renaile　kept　Merilille　at　her　heels　except　when　she　told　her　off　to　follow　another　Windfinder。　The　glow　of　saidar　surrounded　the　Gray　sister　and　her　escort　almost　constantly；　and　Merilille　demonstrated　weaves　unceasingly。　The　pale　Cairhienin　was　markedly　shorter　than　any　of　the　dark　Sea　Folk　women；　but　at　first　Merilille　managed　to　stand　taller　by　the　sheer　force　of　Aes　Sedai　dignity。　Soon；　though；　she　began　to　wear　a　permanently　startled　expression。　Elayne　learned　that　when　they　all　had　beds　to　sleep　in；　which　they　did　not　always；　Merilille　was　sharing　with　Pol；　her　maid；　and　the　two　apprentice　Windfinders；　Talaan　and　Metarra。　What　that　said　of　Merilille's　status；　Elayne　was　not　sure。　Clearly；　the　Windfinders　did　not　put　her　on　a　level　with　the　apprentices。　They　just　expected　her　to　do　as　she　was　told；　when　she　was　told；　with　no　delays　or　equivocations。
　　　　　　　Reanne　remained　appalled　at　the　turn　of　events；　but　Alise　and　Sumeko　were　not　the　only　ones　among　the　Kin　to　watch　closely；　not　the　only　ones　to　nod　thoughtfully。　And　suddenly；　another　problem　came　to　Elayne's　notice。　The　Kinswomen　saw　Ispan　made　more　and　more　malleable　in　her　captivity；　but　she　was　the　prisoner　of　other　Aes　Sedai。　The　Sea　Folk　were　not　Aes　Sedai；　and　Merilille　not　a　prisoner；　yet　she　was　starting　to　jump　when　Renaile　issued　a　mand；　or；　for　that　matter；　when　Dorile；　or　Caire；　or　Caire's　blood…sister　Tebreille　did。　Each　of　those　was　Windfinder　to　a　clan　Wavemistress；　and　none　of　the　others　made　her　hop　with　such　alacrity；　but　that　was　enough。　More　and　more　of　the　Kin　slid　from　horrified　gaping　to　thoughtful　observation。　Perhaps　Aes　Sedai　were　not　a　different　flesh　after　all。　If　Aes　Sedai　were　just　women　like　themselves；　why　should　they　subject　themselves　once　more　to　the　rigors　of　the　Tower；　to　Aes　Sedai　authority　and　Aes　Sedai　discipline？　Had　they　not　survived　very　well　on　their　own；　some　for　more　years　than　any　of　the　older　sisters　were　quite　ready　to　believe？　Elayne　could　practically　see　the　idea　forming　in　their　heads。
　　　　　　　When　she　mentioned　it　to　Nynaeve；　though；　Nynaeve　just　muttered；　〃About　time　some　of　the　sisters　learned　what　it's　like　trying　to　teach　a　woman　who　thinks　she　knows　more　than　her　teacher。　Those　who　have　a　chance　at　a　shawl　will　still　want　it；　and　for　the　rest；　I　don't　see　why　they　shouldn't　grow　some　backbone。〃　Elayne　refrained　from　mentioning　Nynaeve's　plaints　about　Sumeko；　who　had　certainly　grown　backbone；　Sumeko　had　criticized　several　of　Nynaeve's　Healing　weaves　as　〃clumsy；〃　and　Elayne　had　thought　Nynaeve　was　going　to　have　apoplexy　on　the　spot。　〃In　any　case；　there's　no　need　to　tell　Egwene　about　this。　If　she's　there。　Any　of　it。　She　has　enough　on　her　plate。〃　Without　doubt；　〃any　of　it〃　referred　to　Merilille　and　the　Windfinders。
　　　　　　　They　were　in　their　shifts；　seated　on　their　bed　on　the　second　floor　of　The　New　Plow；　with　the　twisted…ring　dream　ter'angreal　hanging　about　their　necks；　Elayne's　on　a　simple　leather　cord；　Nynaeve's　alongside　Lan's　heavy　signet　ring　on　a　narrow　golden　chain。　Aviendha　and　Birgitte；　still　fully　dressed；　sat　on　two　of　their　clothing　chests。　Standing　guard；　they　called　it；　until　she　and　Nynaeve　returned　from　the　World　of　Dreams。　Both　wore　their　cloaks　until　they　could　climb　under　the　blankets。　The　New　Plow　was　definitely　not　new；　cracks　spidered　across　the　plastered　walls；　and　unfortunate　drafts　crept　in　everywhere。
　　　　　　　The　room　itself　was　small；　and　the　chests　and　stacked　bundles　left　room　for　little　beyond　the　bed　and　washstand。　Elayne　knew　she　had　to　present　herself　properly　in　Caemlyn；　but　sometimes　she　felt　guilty；　with　her　belongings　on　pack　animals　when　most　others　had　to　make　do　with　what　they　could　carry　on　their　backs。　Nynaeve　certainly　never　showed　any　regrets　over　her　chests。　They　had　been　sixteen　days　on　the　road；　the　full　moon　outside　the　narrow　window　shone　on　a　white　blanket　of　snow　that　would　make　traveling　tomorrow　slow　even　if　the　sky　remained　clear；　and　Elayne　thought　another　week　to　Caemlyn　was　an　optimistic　estimate。
　　　　　　　〃I　have　enough　sense　not　to　remind　her；〃　she　told　Nynaeve。　〃I　don't　want　my　nose　snapped　off　again。〃
　　　　　　　That　was　a　mild　way　of　putting　it。　They　had　not　been　in　Tel'aran'rhiod　since　informing　Egwene；　the　night　after　leaving　the　estate；　that　the　Bowl　had　been　used。　Reluctantly；　they　also　had　told　her　of　the　bargain　they　had　been　forced　into　with　the　Sea　Folk；　and　found　themselves　facing　the　Amy