rj.acrownofswords-第67部分

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　she　resisted　the　urge　to　twist　around　in　her　saddle　and　look　back。　Looking　would　change　nothing。
　　　Lord　Bryne　was　as　good　as　his　word。　Perhaps　three　or　four　miles　from　the　camp　…　three　or　four　in　a　straight　line；　twice　that　over　the　country　they　had　crossed　…　they　rounded　the　shoulder　of　a　hill　spotted　with　brush　and　trees；　and　he　drew　rein。　The　sun　stood　almost　halfway　to　its　crest；　now。　Another　road　ran　below；　narrower　and　much　more　winding　than　the　one　through　the　camp。　〃They　had　the　idea　traveling　by　night　would　take　them　safe　past　the　bandits；〃　he　said。　〃Not　a　bad　notion；　as　it　turns　out；　or　else　they've　just　had　the　Dark　One's　own　luck。　They've　e　from　Caemlyn。〃
　　　A　merchant　train　of　some　fifty　large　wagons　behind　teams　of　ten　or　so　lay　stretched　out　along　the　road；　halted　under　the　eyes　of　more　of　Bryne's　soldiers。　A　few　of　the　soldiers　were　afoot；　supervising　the　transfer　of　barrels　and　bags　from　the　merchants'　wagons　to　half　a　dozen　of　their　own。　One　woman　in　a　plain　dark　dress　waved　her　arms　and　pointed　vigorously　to　this　item　or　that；　either　protesting　or　bargaining；　but　her　fellows　stood　in　a　glum　silent　knot。　A　short　way　farther　up　the　road；　grim　fruit　decorated　the　spreading　limbs　of　an　oak；　men　hanging　by　the　neck　from　every　bare　branch。　Bare　except　for　crows；　almost　enough　to　make　the　tree　seem　leafed　in　black。　They　had　larger　than　fish　to　feed　on；　these　birds。　Even　at　a　distance　it　was　not　a　sight　to　ease　Egwene's　head；　or　her　stomach。
　　　〃This　what　you　wanted　me　to　see？　The　merchants；　or　the　bandits？〃　She　could　hot　see　a　dress　on　any　of　those　dangling　corpses；　and　when　the　bandits　hanged　people；　they　included　women　and　children。　Anyone　could　have　put　the　corpses　there；　Bryne's　soldiers；　the　Band　…　that　the　Band　hanged　any　of　the　so…called　Dragonsworn　they　caught　made　little　difference　to　the　sisters　…　or　even　some　local　lord　or　lady。　Had　the　Murandian　nobles　worked　together；　all　the　brigands　might　have　hung　from　trees　by　now；　but　that　was　like　asking　cats　to　dance。　Wait。　He　had　said　Caemlyn。　〃Is　it　something　to　do　with　Rand？　Or　the　Asha'man？〃
　　　This　time　he　looked　from　her　to　Myrelle　and　back　quite　openly。　Myrelle's　hat　cast　shadows　on　her　face。　She　appeared　sunk　in　gloom；　sagging　in　her　saddle　and　not　at　all　the　confident　rider　she　had　been　earlier。　He　seemed　to　reach　a　decision。　〃I　thought　you　should　hear　before　anybody　else　did；　but　perhaps　I　misunderstood。。。　〃　He　eyed　Myrelle　again。
　　　〃Hear　what；　you　hairy…eared　lump？〃　Siuan　growled；　thumping　the　fat　mare　closer　with　her　heels。
　　　Egwene　made　a　soothing　gesture　toward　her。　〃Myrelle　can　hear　anything　I　do；　Lord　Bryne。　She　has　my　plete　trust。〃　The　Green　sister's　head　jerked　around。　From　her　stricken　look；　anyone　would　doubt　they　had　heard　Egwene　correctly；　but　after　a　moment　Bryne　nodded。
　　　〃I　see　that　matters　have。。。　changed。　Yes；　Mother。〃　Removing　his　helmet；　he　set　it　on　the　pommel　of　his　saddle。　He　still　seemed　reluctant；　picking　his　words　with　care。　〃Merchants　carry　rumors　the　way　dogs　do　fleas；　and　that　lot　down　there　has　a　fine　crop。　I　don't　say　any　of　it　is　true；　of　course；　but。。。　〃　It　was　odd；　seeing　him　so　hesitant。　〃Mother；　one　tale　that　caught　them　up　on　the　road　is　that　Rand　al'Thor　has　gone　to　the　White　Tower　and　sworn　fealty　to　Elaida。〃
　　　For　a　moment　Myrelle　and　Siuan　looked　much　alike；　blood　draining　from　their　faces　as　they　envisioned　catastrophe。　Myrelle　actually　swayed　in　her　saddle。　For　a　moment　Egwene　could　only　stare　at　him。　Then　she　startled　herself；　and　the　others；　by　bursting　out　laughing。　Daishar　danced　in　surprise；　and　settling　him　on　the　rocky　slope　settled　her　nerves　as　well。　〃Lord　Bryne；〃　she　said；　patting　the　gelding's　neck；　〃that　isn't　so；　believe　me。　I　know　it　for　a　fact；　as　of　last　night。〃
　　　Siuan　heaved　an　instant　sigh；　and　Myrelle　was　only　a　heartbeat　behind。　Egwene　felt　like　laughing　again；　at　their　expressions。　So　incredibly　relieved　they　were　wide…eyed。　Children　who　had　been　told　the　Shadowman　was　not　under　the　bed。　Aes　Sedai　calm　indeed。
　　　〃That's　good　to　hear；〃　Bryne　said　flatly；　〃but　even　if　I　sent　away　every　man　down　there；　the　tale　will　still　reach　my　ranks。　It　will　go　through　the　army　like　wildfire　crossing　these　hills。〃　That　cut　her　mirth　short。　That　could　be　disaster；　left　alone。
　　　〃I　will　have　sisters　announce　the　truth　to　your　soldiers　tomorrow。　Will　six　Aes　Sedai　who　know　of　themselves　be　enough？　Myrelle；　here；　and　Sheriam。　Carlinya　and　Beonin；　Anaiya　and　Morvrin。〃　Those　sisters　would　not　like　having　to　meet　with　the　Wise　Ones；　but　they　would　not　be　able　to　refuse　her；　either。　Would　not　want　to；　really；　to　stop　this　tale　spreading。　Should　not　want　to；　at　least。　Myrelle's　tiny　wince　was　followed　by　a　resigned　twist　of　her　mouth。
　　　Leaning　an　elbow　on　his　helmet；　Bryne　studied　Egwene　and　Myrelle。　He　never　so　much　as　peeked　at　Siuan。　His　bay　stamped　a　hoof　on　the　rocks；　and　a　covey　of　some　sort　of　dove　with　bright　blue　wings　whirred　into　the　air　from　beneath　bushes　a　few　paces　away；　making　Daishar　and　Myrelle's　roan　start　skittishly。　Bryne's　mount　did　not　stir。　He　had　heard　of　the　gateways；　without　doubt；　though　he　surely　knew　nothing　of　what　they　were　…　Aes　Sedai　did　keep　secrets　by　habit；　and　had　some　hope　of　keeping　that　one　from　Elaida　…　and　he　certainly　knew　nothing　at　all　about　Tel'aran'rhiod　…　that　vital　secret　was　easier　to　guard　with　no　manifestations　anyone　could　see　…　yet　he　did　not　ask　how。　Perhaps　he　was　accustomed　to　Aes　Sedai　and　secrets　by　now。
　　　〃So　long　as　they　say　the　words　straight；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃If　they　hedge　even　a　hair。。。　〃　His　stare　was　not　an　attempt　to　intimidate；　just　to　drive　the　point　home。　He　seemed　satisfied　by　what　he　saw　in　her　face。　〃You　do　very　well；　it　appears；　Mother。　I　wish　you　continued　success。　Set　your　time　for　this　afternoon；　and　I　will　e。　We　should　confer　regularly。　I　will　e　whenever　you　send　for　me。　We　should　begin　making　firm　plans　how　to　put　you　on　the　Amyrlin　Seat　once　we　reach　Tar　Valon。〃
　　　His　tone　was　guarded　…　very　likely　he　still　was　not　entirely　sure　what　was　going　on；　or　how　far　he　could　trust　Myrelle　…　and　it　took　her　a　moment　to　realize　what　he　had　done。　It　made　her　breath　catch。　Maybe　she　was　just　being　too　used　to　the　way　Aes　Sedai　shaded　words；　but。。。　Bryne　had　just　said　the　army　was　hers。　She　was　sure　of　it。　Not　the　Hall's；　and　not　Sheriam's；　hers。
　　　〃Thank　you；　Lord　Bryne。〃　That　seemed　little　enough；　especially　when　his　careful　nod；　his　eyes　steady　on　hers；　seemed　to　confirm　her　belief。　Suddenly　she　had　a　thousand　more　questions。　Most　of　which　she　could　not　ask　even　were　they　alone。　A　pity　she　could　not　take　him　into　her　confidence　pletely。　Caution　until　you're　sure；　and　then　a　little　more　caution。　An　old　saying　that　applied　very　well　to　any　dealings　that　brushed　against　Aes　Sedai。　And　even　the　best　men　would　talk　things　over　with　their　friends；　perhaps　especially　when　things　were　supposed　to　be　secret。　〃I'm　sure　you　have　a　thousand　details　to　see　to；　what's　left　of　the　morning；〃　she　said；　gathering　her　reins。　〃You　go　on　back。　We　will　ride　a　little　more。〃
　　　Bryne　protested；　of　course。　He　almost　sounded　like　a　Warder；　talking　of　the　impossibility　of　watching　every　way　at　once　and　how　an　arrow　in　the　back　could　kill　an　Aes　Sedai　as　quickly　as　it　could　anyone　else。　The　next　man　who　told　her　that；　she　decided；　was　going　to　pay　for　it。　Three　Aes　Sedai　were　surely　the　equal　of　three　hundred　men。　In　the　end；　for　all　his　grumbles　and　grimaces；　he　had　no　choice　but　to　obey。　Donning　his　helmet；　he　started　his　horse　down　the　uneven　slope　toward　the　merchant　train；　instead　of　back　the　way　they　had　e；　but　that　was　even　better　from　her　point　of　view。
　　　〃Will　you　lead　the　way；　Siuan；〃　she　said　when　he　was　a　dozen　strides　below。
　　　Siuan　glared　after　him　as　though　he　had　been　badgering　her　the　whole　time。　With　a　snort；　she　tugged　her　straw　hat　straight；　wheeled　her　mare　around　…　well；　dragged　her　around　…　and　heeled　the　stout　animal　to　a　walk。　Egwene　motioned　Myrelle　to　follow。　Like　Bryne；　the　woman　had　no　choice。
　　　At　first　Myrelle　directed　sidelong　glances　at　her；　plainly　expecting　her　to　bring　up　the　sisters　sent　to　the　White　Tower；　plainly　gathering　excuses　for　why　they　had