rj.thepathofdaggers-第98部分

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　　　　　　　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're　ice　to　the　bone；　Mother。〃　Chattering　away；　she　bustled　around　folding　Egwene's　cloak　and　Siuan's；　smoothing　the　neatly　turned…down　blankets　on　Egwene's　cot；　touching　a　tray　set　on　one　of　the　chests　that　had　been　pulled　down　from　the　stack。　〃I'd　jump　right　into　bed；　with　hot　bricks　all　around；　if　I　was　that　chilled。　As　soon　as　I'd　eaten；　anyway。　Warm　outside　does　only　so　much　good　without　warm　inside。　I'll　fetch　a　few　extra　bricks　to　tuck　under　your　feet　while　you　sup。　And　for　Siuan　Sedai；　of　course。　Oh；　if　I　was　as　hungry　as　you　must　be；　I　know　I'd　be　tempted　to　gulp　my　food；　but　that　always　gives　me　pains　in　the　stomach。〃　Pausing　by　the　tray；　she　eyed　Egwene；　and　nodded　with　satisfaction　when　she　said　that　she　would　not　eat　too　fast。
　　　　　　　Making　a　sober　answer　was　not　easy。　Chesa　was　always　refreshing；　but　after　today；　Egwene　almost　laughed　with　pleasure。　There　were　no　plications　to　Chesa。　Two　white　bowls　of　lentil　stew　stood　on　the　tray；　along　with　a　tall　pitcher　of　spiced　wine；　two　silver　cups；　and　two　large　rolls。　Somehow；　the　woman　had　known　Siuan　would　be　eating　with　her。　Steam　rose　from　the　bowls　and　pitcher。　How　often　had　Chesa　had　to　change　that　tray　to　make　sure　warm　food　greeted　Egwene　straight　away？　Simple　and　unplicated。　And　as　caring　as　a　mother。　Or　a　friend。
　　　　　　　〃I　must　forgo　bed　for　now；　Chesa。　I've　work　yet　tonight。　Would　you　leave　us？〃
　　　　　　　Siuan　shook　her　head　as　the　tentflap　fell　behind　the　plump　woman。　〃Are　you　sure　she　hasn't　been　in　your　service　since　you　were　a　babe？〃　she　muttered。
　　　　　　　Taking　one　of　the　bowls；　a　roll；　and　a　spoon；　Egwene　settled　into　her　chair　with　a　sigh。　She　also　embraced　the　Source　and　warded　the　tent　against　listeners。　Unfortunately；　saidar　made　her　all　that　much　more　aware　of　half…frozen　hands　and　feet。　The　bits　in　between　were　not　much　warmer。　The　bowl　seemed　almost　too　warm　to　handle；　and　the　roll；　as　well。　Oh；　how　she　would　have　loved　to　have　those　hot　bricks。
　　　　　　　〃Is　there　anything　more　we　can　do？〃　she　asked；　and　promptly　gulped　down　a　spoonful　of　stew。　She　was　ravenous；　and　no　wonder；　with　nothing　since　breakfast　and　that　early。　Lentils　and　woody　carrots　tasted　like　her　mother's　finest　cooking。　〃I　can't　think　of　anything；　but　can　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃What　can　be　done；　has　been。　There　isn't　anything　else；　short　of　the　Creator　putting　a　hand　in。〃　Siuan　took　the　other　bowl　and　dropped　onto　the　low　stool；　but　then　she　sat　staring　into　her　stew　and　stirring　it　with　her　spoon。　〃You　wouldn't　really　tell　him；　would　you？〃　she　said　finally。　〃I　couldn't　bear　if　he　knew。〃
　　　　　　　〃Why　on　earth　not？〃
　　　　　　　〃He'd　take　advantage；〃　Siuan　said　darkly。　〃Oh；　not　that。　I　don't　think　that。〃　She　was　quite　prudish　in　some　areas。　〃But　the　man　would　make　my　life　the　Pit　of　Doom！〃　And　washing　his　smallclothes　and　polishing　his　boots　and　his　saddle　every　day　was　not？
　　　　　　　Egwene　sighed。　How　could　such　a　sensible；　intelligent；　capable　woman　turn　into　a　scatterbrain　over　this　one　subject？　Like　a　hissing　viper；　an　image　rose　in　her　head。　Herself；　sitting　on　Gawyn's　knee　playing　kissing　games。　In　a　tavern！　She　shoved　it　away；　hard。　〃Siuan；　I　need　your　experience。　I　need　your　brain。　I　can't　afford　to　have　you　half…witted　because　of　Lord　Bryne。　If　you　can't　pull　yourself　together；　I'll　pay　him　what　you　owe；　and　forbid　you　to　see　him。　I　will。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　said　I'd　work　off　the　debt；〃　Siuan　said　stubbornly。　〃I　have　as　much　honor　as　Lord　Gareth　bloody　Bryne！　As　much　and　more！　He　keeps　his　word；　and　I　keep　mine！　Besides；　Min　told　me　I　have　to　stay　close　to　him　or　we'll　both　die。　Or　something　like　that。〃　A　pinkness　in　her　cheeks　gave　her　away；　though。　Her　honor　and　Min's　viewing　notwithstanding；　she　was　simply　willing　to　put　up　with　anything　to　be　near　the　man！
　　　　　　　〃Very　well。　You're　besotted；　and　if　I　tell　you　to　stay　away　from　him；　you'll　either　disobey　or　mope　and　wrap　the　rest　of　your　brains　in　a　cloud。　What　are　you　going　to　do　about　him？〃
　　　　　　　Scowling　indignantly；　Siuan　went　on　for　some　little　time；　growling　what　she　would　like　to　do　about　Gareth　bloody　Bryne。　He　would　have　enjoyed　none　of　it。　Some；　he　might　not　have　survived。
　　　　　　　〃Siuan；〃　E