rj.thepathofdaggers-第87部分

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　　　　　　　A　flicker　of　movement　caught　Aran'gar's　eye；　and　she　peered　through　the　trees　toward　the　army's　camp；　an　obscuring　ring　around　the　tents　of　the　Aes　Sedai。　A　line　of　wagon…sledges　was　moving　slowly　east；　escorted　by　men　on　horseback。　The　pale　sun　glinted　from　armor　and　the　points　of　lances。　She　could　not　help　sneering。　Spears　and　horses！　A　primitive　rabble　that　could　move　no　faster　than　a　man　could　walk；　led　by　a　man　who　did　not　know　what　was　happening　a　hundred　miles　away。　Aes　Sedai？　She　could　destroy　the　lot　of　them；　and　even　dying　they　would　never　suspect　who　was　killing　them。　Of　course；　she　would　not　survive　them　long。　That　thought　made　her　shiver。　The　Great　Lord　gave　very　few　a　second　chance　at　life；　and　she　was　not　about　to　throw　away　hers。
　　　　　　　Waiting　until　the　riders　moved　out　of　sight　into　the　forest；　she　started　back　toward　the　camp；　thinking　idly　of　tonight's　dreams。　Behind　her；　smooth　snow　would　hide　what　she　had　buried　until　the　spring　thaw；　more　than　long　enough。　Ahead；　some　of　the　men　in　the　camp　finally　noticed　her　and　straightened　from　their　tasks　to　watch。　In　spite　of　herself；　she　smiled　and　smoothed　her　skirt　over　her　hips。　It　was　difficult　now　to　really　remember　what　life　had　been　like　as　a　man；　had　she　been　such　an　easily　manipulated　fool；　then？　Getting　through　that　swarm　with　a　corpse　unseen　had　been　difficult；　even　for　her；　but　she　enjoyed　the　walk　back。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　The　morning　went　on　in　a　seemingly　endless　wading　through　paper；　until　what　Egwene　had　known　would　happen；　did。　Certain　daily　events　were　sure。　There　would　be　bitter　cold；　there　would　be　snow；　there　would　be　clouds；　and　gray　skies；　and　wind。　And　there　would　be　visits　from　Lelaine　and　Romanda。
　　　　　　　Weary　of　sitting；　Egwene　was　stretching　her　legs　when　Lelaine　swept　into　the　tent　with　Faolain　at　her　heels。　Frigid　air　rolled　in　with　them　before　the　tentflap　fell　shut。　Looking　around　with　a　faintly　disapproving　air；　Lelaine　plucked　off　blue　leather　gloves　while　allowing　Faolain　to　remove　the　lynx…lined　cloak　from　her　shoulders。　Slender　and　dignified　in　deep　blue　silk；　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　w