rj.thepathofdaggers-第24部分

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　slope　of　the　highest　hill；　a　flat…topped　thing　with　one　side　that　fell　away　in　steep　cliffs　beyond　the　barns。　A　few　tall　trees　that　had　not　lost　all　of　their　leaves　provided　a　modicum　of　shade　in　the　farmyard。　To　the　north　and　east；　olive　groves　marched　away　and　even　up　the　sides　of　the　hills。　A　sort　of　slow　bustle　enveloped　the　farm；　with　easily　over　a　hundred　people　in　evidence　despite　the　afternoon　heat；　carrying　on　all　the　everyday　tasks　but　none　quickly。
　　　　　　　It　might　almost　have　passed　for　a　small　village　instead　of　a　farm；　except　that　there　was　not　a　man　or　a　child　to　be　seen。　Elayne　did　not　expect　any。　This　was　a　waypoint　for　Kinswomen　passing　through　Ebou　Dar　to　elsewhere；　so　there　would　not　be　too　many　in　the　city　itself　at　one　time；　but　that　was　a　secret　matter；　as　secret　as　the　Kin　themselves。　Publicly　this　farm　was　known　for　two　hundred　miles　or　more　as　a　retreat　for　women；　a　place　for　contemplation　and　escape　from　the　cares　of　the　world　for　a　time；　a　few　days；　a　week；　sometimes　longer。　Elayne　could　almost　feel　serenity　in　the　air。　She　might　have　regretted　bringing　the　world　into　this　quiet　place；　except　that　she　also　brought　new　hope。
　　　　　　　The　first　appearance　of　the　horses　ing　around　the　leaning　hill　produced　far　less　stir　than　she　expected。　A　number　of　the　women　stopped　to　watch；　but　no　more　than　that。　Their　clothing　varied　widely　…　Elayne　even　saw　a　sheen　of　silk　here　and　there　…　but　some　carried　baskets　and　others　buckets；　or　great　white　bundles　of　what　had　to　be　wash。　One　held　a　pair　of　bound　ducks　by　the　feet　in　either　hand。　Noblewoman　and　craftswoman；　farmer　and　beggar；　all　were　equally　wele　here；　but　everyone　did　a　share　of　the　work　during　her　stay。　Aviendha　touched　Elayne's　arm；　then　pointed　to　the　top　of　one　of　the　hills；　a　thing　like　an　inverted　funnel　skewed　to　one　side。　Elayne　added　a　hand　to　the　shade　of　her　hat　and　after　a　moment　saw　movement。　Small　wonder　no　one　was　surprised。　Lookouts　up　there　could　see　anyone　ing　from　a　long　way。
　　　　　　　A　middling　woman　walked　out　to　meet　them　short　of　the　farm　buildings。　Her　dress　was　in　the　Ebou　Dari　style；　with　a　deep　narrow　neckline；　but　her　dark　skirts　and　brightly　colored　petticoats　were　short　enough　that　she　did　not　need　to　hold　them　up　out　of　the　dust。　She　did　not　wear　a　marriage　knife；　the　Kin's　rules　prohibited　marriage。　The　Kin　had　too　many　secrets　to　keep。
　　　　　　　〃That's　Alise；〃　Reanne　murmured；　reining　in　between　Nynaeve　and　Elayne。　〃She　runs　the　farm　this　turn。　She's　very　intelligent。〃　Almost　like　an　afterthought；　she　added；　even　more　quietly；　〃Alise　does　not　suffer　fools　gladly。〃　As　Alise　approached；　Reanne　drew　herself　up　in　her　saddle；　squaring　her　shoulders　as　though　for　an　ordeal。
　　　　　　　Middling　was　exactly　how　Elayne　thought　of　Alise；　not　someone　to　give　Reanne　pause；　certainly；　even　had　she　not　been　the　Eldest　of　the　Knitting　Circle。　Straight…backed；　Alise　appeared　to　be　somewhere　in　her　middle　years；　neither　slender　nor　stout；　tall　nor　short；　a　little　gray　flecking　dark　brown　hair　that　was　tied　back　with　a　piece　of　ribbon；　but　in　a　very　practical　manner。　Her　face　was　unremarkable；　though　pleasant　enough；　a　mild　face；　perhaps　a　little　long　in　the　jaw。　When　she　saw　Reanne；　she　gave　a　fleeting　look　of　surprise；　then　smiled。　That　smile　transformed　everything。　It　did　not　make　her　beautiful　or　even　pretty；　but　Elayne　felt　warmed　by　it；　forted。
　　　　　　　〃I　hardly　expected　to　see　you。。。　Reanne；〃　Alise　said；　barely　hesitating　over　the　name。　Obviously　she　was　unsure　whether　to　use　Reanne's　rightful　title　in　front　of　Nynaeve　and　Elayne　and　Aviendha。　She　studied　them　with　quick　glances　as　she　spoke。　There　seemed　to　be　a　bit　of　Tarabon　in　her　voice。　〃Berowin　brought　word　of　trouble　in　the　city；　of　course；　but　I　didn't　think　it　was　so　bad　you　would　have　to　leave。　Who　are　all　these。。。　〃　Her　words　trailed　off；　and　her　eyes　widened；　staring　beyond　them。
　　　　　　　Elayne　glanced　back；　nearly　loosing　a　few　of　the　choice　phrases　she　had　picked　up　in　various　places；　most　recently　from　Mat　Cauthon。　She　did　not　understand　all　of　them；　not　most　of　them　really　…　nobody　ever　wanted　to　explain　what　they　meant　exactly　…　but　they　did　have　a　way　of　relieving　emotion。　The　Warders　had　doffed　their　color…shifting　cloaks；　and　the　sisters　had　drawn　up　the　hoods　of　their　dust…cloaks　as　instructed；　even　Sareitha；　who　had　no　need　to　hide　her　youthful　face；　but　Careane　had　not　pulled　hers　forward　far　enough。　It　simply　framed　her　ageless　features。　Not　everyone　would　know　what　they　were　seeing；　yet　anyone　who　had　been　in　the　Tower　surely　would。　Careane　jerked　the　hood　forward　at　Elayne's　glare；　but　the　damage　was　done。
　　　　　　　Others　at　the　farm　beside　Alise　possessed　sharp　eyes。　〃Aes　Sedai！〃　a　woman　howled　in　tones　suitable　for　announcing　the　end　of　the　world。　Perhaps　she　was；　for　her　world。　Shrieks　spread　like　dust　blown　on　the　wind；　and　that　quickly；　the　farm　became　a　kicked　anthill。　Here　and　there　a　woman　simply　fainted　dead　away；　but　most　ran　wildly；　screaming；　dropping　what　they　carried；　bumping　into　one　another；　falling　down　and　scrambling　up　to　run　on。　Flapping　ducks　and　chickens　and　short…horned　black　goats　darted　wildly　to　avoid　being　trampled。　In　the　midst　of　it　all；　some　women　stood　gaping；　plainly　those　who　had　e　to　the　retreat　with　no　knowledge　of　the　Kin；　though　a　few　of　them　began　to　move　hurriedly；　too；　caught　up　in　the　frenzy。
　　　　　　　Light！〃　Nynaeve　barked；　yanking　her　braid。　〃Some　of　them　are　running　into　the　olive　groves！　Stop　them！　The　last　thing　we　want　is　a　panic！　Send　the　Warders！　Quick；　quick！〃　Lan　raised　a　questioning　eyebrow；　but　she　waved　a　peremptory　hand　at　him。　〃Quick！　Before　they　all　run　away！〃　With　a　nod　that　seemed　to　begin　as　a　shake　of　his　head；　he　sent　Mandarb　galloping　after　the　other　men；　curving　to　avoid　the　spreading　pandemonium　among　the　buildings。
　　　　　　　Elayne　shrugged　at　Birgitte；　then　motioned　her　to　follow。　She　agreed　with　Lan。　It　seemed　a　bit　late　to　try　stopping　a　panic；　and　Warders　on　horseback　attempting　to　herd　frightened　women　probably　was　not　the　best　way。　But　she　could　not　see　how　to　change　matters　now；　and　there　was　no　point　letting　them　run　off　into　the　countryside。　They　would　all　want　to　hear　the　news　she　and　Nynaeve　brought。
　　　　　　　Alise　gave　no　sign　of　running；　or　even　fidgeting。　Her　face　paled　slightly；　but　she　stared　up　at　Reanne　with　a　steady　gaze。　A　firm　gaze。　〃Why？〃　she　breathed。　〃Why；　Reanne？　I　could　not　have　imagined　you　doing　this！　Did　they　give　you　bribes？　Offer　immunity？　Will　they　let　you　walk　free　while　we　pay　the　price？　They　probably　won't　allow　it；　but　I　vow　I'll　ask　them　to　let　me　call　you　down。　Yes；　you！　The　rules　apply　even　to　you；　Eldest！　If　I　can　find　a　way　to　manage　it；　I　vow　you　won't　walk　away　from　this　smiling！〃　A　very　firm　gaze。　Steely；　in　fact。
　　　　　　　〃It　isn't　what　you　think；〃　Reanne　said　hurriedly；　dismounting　and　dropping　her　reins。　She　caught　both　of　Alise's　hands　in　hers　despite　the　other　woman's　efforts　to　free　them。　〃Oh；　I　did　not　want　it　to　be　like　this。　They　know；　Alise。　About　the　Kin。　The　Tower　has　always　known。　Everything。　Almost　everything。　But　that　isn't　what　is　important。〃　Alise's　eyebrows　tried　to　climb　onto　her　scalp　at　that；　but　Reanne　rushed　on；　beaming　eagerly　from　under　her　large　straw　hat。　〃We　can　go　back；　Alise。　We　can　try　again。　They　said　we　can。〃　The　farm　buildings　seemed　to　be　emptying　as　well；　women　rushing　out　to　learn　what　the　motion　was；　then　joining　the　flight　without　a　pause　for　more　than　hiking　skirts。　Shouts　from　the　olive　groves　said　the　Warders　were　at　work；　but　not　how　much　they　were　achieving。　Perhaps　not　a　great　deal。　Elayne　sensed　growing　frustration　from　Birgitte；　and　irritation。　Reanne　eyed　the　turmoil　and　sighed。　〃We　must　gather　them　in；　Alise。　We　can　go　back。〃
　　　　　　　〃That's　all　very　well　for　you　and　some　of　the　others；〃　Alise　said　doubtfully。　〃If　it's　true。　What　about　the　rest　of　us？　The　Tower　would　not　have　let　me　stay　as　long　as　I　did　had　I　been　quicker　to　learn。〃　She　darted　a　frown　at　the　now　well…hooded　sisters；　and　the　stare　she　returned　to　Reanne　held　no　little　anger。　〃What　would　we　go　back　for？　To　be　told　again　we　aren't　strong　enough　and　be　sent　on　our　way？　Or　will　they　just　keep　us　as　novices　the　rest　of　our　lives？　Some　might　accept　that；　bu