rj.theshadowrising-第148部分

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emed　to　shiver；　she　was　conscious　of　nothing　but　the　woman's　voice；　roaring　in　her　ears　from　a　great　distance。　〃You　will　pick　up　your　things　from　the　table；　and　when　you　have　replaced　them　where　they　belong；　you　will　remember　nothing　of　what　happened　here　except　that　I　came　thinking　you　were　friends　I　knew　from　the　country。　I　was　mistaken；　I　had　a　cup　of　tea；　and　I　left。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　blinked　and　wondered　why　she　was　tying　her　purse　back　beside　her　belt　pouch。　Nynaeve　was　frowning　at　her　own　hands；　adjusting　her　pouch。
　　　　　　　〃A　nice　woman；〃　Elayne　said；　rubbing　her　forehead。　She　had　a　headache　ing　on。　〃Did　she　give　her　name？　I　don't　remember。〃
　　　　　　　〃Nice？〃　Nynaeve's　hand　came　up　and　gave　a　sharp　tug　to　her　braids；　she　stared　as　if　it　had　moved　of　its　own　accord。　〃I。。。　do　not　think　she　did。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　were　we　talking　of　when　she　came　in？〃　Egeanin　had　just　gone。　What　had　it　been？
　　　　　　　〃I　remember　what　I　was　about　to　say。〃　Nynaeve's　voice　firmed。　〃We　must　find　the　Black　sisters　without　them　suspecting；　or　we　will　never　have　a　chance　of　following　them　to　whatever　this　thing　is　that's　dangerous　to　Rand。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know；〃　Elayne　said　patiently。　Had　she　said　that　already？　Of　course　not。　〃We　have　discussed　it。　…　〃
　
　　　　　　　At　the　arched　gates　leading　from　the　inn's　small　courtyard；　Egeanin　paused；　studying　the　hard…faced　men　who　lounged；　barefoot　and　often　bare…chested；　among　the　idlers　on　this　side　of　the　narrow　street。　They　looked　as　if　they　could　use　the　curved　boarding　swords　hanging　at　their　belts　or　thrust　through　their　sashes；　but　none　of　those　faces　looked　familiar。　If　any　of　them　had　been　on　Bayle　Demon's　ship　when　she　took　him　and　it　to　Falme；　she　did　not　remember。　If　any　had　been；　it　was　to　be　hoped　none　connected　a　woman　in　a　riding　dress　to　the　woman　in　armor　who　had　captured　their　vessel。
　　　　　　　Suddenly　she　realized　her　palms　were　damp。　Aes　Sedai。　Women　who　could　wield　the　Power；　and　not　decently　leashed。　She　had　sat　at　the　same　table　with　them；　talked　with　them。　They　were　not　at　all　what　she　had　expected；　she　could　not　dig　that　thought　out　of　her　head。　They　could　channel；　therefore　they　were　dangerous　to　proper　order；　therefore　they　must　be　safely　leashed　…　and　yet。。。　Not　at　all　what　she　had　been　taught。　It　could　be　learned。　Learned！　As　long　as　she　could　avoid　Bayle　Domon　…　he　would　surely　recognize　her　…　she　should　be　able　to　return。　She　had　to　learn　more。　More　than　ever；　she　had　to。
　　　　　　　Wishing　she　had　a　hooded　cloak；　she　took　a　firm　grip　on　her　staff　and　started　up　the　street；　threading　her　way　into　the　passing　throng。　None　of　the　sailors　looked　at　her　twice；　and　she　watched　them　to　be　sure。
　　　　　　　She　did　not　see　the　pale…haired　man　in　filthy　Tanchican　garb　huddled　against　the　front　of　a　white…plastered　wineshop　on　the　other　side　of　the　street。　His　eyes；　blue　above　a　dingy　veil　and　a　thick　mustache　held　in　place　with　glue；　followed　her　before　sliding　back　to　the　Three　Plum　Court。　Standing；　he　crossed　the　street；　ignoring　the　disgusting　way　people　brushed　against　him。　Egeanin　had　nearly　spotted　him　when　he　had　forgotten　himself　enough　to　break　that　fool's　arm。　One　of　the　Blood；　as　such　things　were　reckoned　in　these　lands；　reduced　to　begging　and　without　enough　honor　to　open　his　veins。　Disgusting。　Perhaps　he　could　learn　more　of　what　she　was　up　to；　in　this　inn；　once　they　realized　he　had　more　coin　than　his　clothes　suggested。


Chapter　47
（Flame　of　Tar　Valon）
The　Truth　of　a　Viewing

　　　　　　　The　papers　scattered　on　Siuan　Sanche's　desk　held　little　real　interest　for　her；　but　she　persevered。　Others　handled　the　day…to…day　routine　of　the　White　Tower；　of　course；　to　leave　the　Amyrlin　Seat　free　for　important　decisions；　but　her　habit　had　always　been　to　check　one　or　two　things　at　random　each　day；　with　no　notice　beforehand；　and　she　would　not　break　it　now。　She　would　not　let　herself　be　distracted　by　worries。　Everything　was　sailing　along　according　to　plan。　Shifting　her　striped　stole；　she　dipped　her　pen　carefully　in　the　ink　and　ticked　off　another　corrected　total。
　　　　　　　Today　she　was　examining　lists　of　kitchen　purchases；　and　the　mason's　report　on　an　addition　to　the　library。　The　sheer　number　of　petty　peculations　people　thought　they　could　slip　by　always　amazed　her。　So　did　the　number　that　escaped　notice　by　the　women　who　oversaw　these　matters。　For　instance；　Laras　seemed　to　think　watching　accounts　was　beneath　her　since　her　title　had　been　changed　officially　from　simple　chief　cook　to　Mistress　of　the　Kitchens。　Danelle；　on　the　other　hand；　the　young　Brown　sister　who　was　supposed　to　be　watching　Master　Jovarin；　the　mason；　was　most　likely　letting　herself　be　distracted　by　the　books　the　fellow　kept　finding　for　her。　That　was　the　only　way　to　explain　her　failure　to　question　the　number　of　workmen　Jovarin　claimed　to　have　hired；　with　the　first　shipments　of　stone　from　Kandor　just　arriving　at　North　harbor。　He　could　rebuild　the　entire　library　with　that　many　men。　Danelle　was　simply　too　dreamy；　even　for　a　Brown。　Perhaps　a　little　time　on　a　farm　working　penance　would　wake　her。　Laras　would　be　more　difficult　to　discipline；　she　was　not　Aes　Sedai；　so　her　authority　with　undercooks　and　scullions　and　potboys　could　be　swamped　all　too　easily。　But　perhaps　she；　too；　could　be　sent　for　a　〃rest〃　in　the　country。　That　would。。。
　　　　　　　With　a　snort　of　disgust　Siuan　threw　her　pen　down；　grimacing　at　the　blot　it　made　on　a　page　of　neatly　totaled　columns。　〃Wasting　my　time　deciding　whether　to　send　Laras　out　to　pull　weeds；〃　she　muttered。　〃The　woman　is　too　fat　to　bend　over　far　enough！〃
　　　　　　　It　was　not　Laras's　weight　that　had　her　temper　jumping；　and　she　knew　it；　the　woman　was　no　heavier　now　than　she　had　always　been；　or　so　it　seemed；　and　it　never　interfered　with　her　running　the　kitchens。　There　was　no　news。　That　was　what　had　her　flapping　like　a　fisher…bird　whose　catch　had　been　stolen。　One　message　from　Moiraine　that　the　al'Thor　boy　had　Callandor；　then　nothing　in　the　weeks　since；　although　rumors　in　the　streets　were　already　beginning　to　get　his　name　right。　Still　nothing。
　　　　　　　Lifting　the　hinged　lid　of　the　ornately　carved　blackwood　box　where　she　kept　her　most　secret　papers；　she　rummaged　inside。　A　small　warding　woven　around　the　box　ensured　no　hand　but　hers　could　safely　open　it。
　　　　　　　The　first　paper　she　pulled　out　was　a　report　that　the　novice　who　had　seen　Min's　arrival　had　vanished　from　the　farm　she　had　been　sent　to；　and　the　woman　who　owned　the　farm；　too。　Hardly　unheard　of　for　a　novice　to　ran　away；　but　the　farmer　leaving　too　was　troublesome。　Sahra　would　have　to　be　found；　certainly　…　she　had　not　progressed　far　enough　in　her　training　to　be　let　loose　…　but　there　was　no　real　reason　to　keep　the　report　in　the　box。　It　mentioned　neither　Min's　name　nor　the　reason　the　girl　had　been　sent　to　hoe　cabbages；　but　she　put　it　back　anyway。　These　were　days　to　take　care　that　might　seem　unreasonable　at　another　time。
　　　　　　　A　description　of　a　gathering　in　Ghealdan　to　listen　to　this　man　who　called　himself　the　Prophet　of　the　Lord　Dragon。　Masema；　it　seemed　his　name　was。　Odd。　That　was　a　Shienaran　name。　Nearly　ten　thousand　people　had　e　to　listen　to　him　speak　from　a　hillside；　proclaiming　the　return　of　the　Dragon；　a　speech　followed　by　a　battle　with　soldiers　trying　to　disperse　them。　Aside　from　the　fact　that　the　soldiers　apparently　got　the　worst　of　it；　the　interesting　thing　was　that　this　Masema　knew　Rand　al'Thor's　name。　That　definitely　went　back　into　the　box。
　　　　　　　A　report　that　nothing　had　yet　been　found　of　Mazrim　Taim。　No　reason　for　that　to　be　in　there。　Another　on　worsening　conditions　in　Arad　Doman　and　Tarabon。　Ships　vanishing　along　the　Aryth　Ocean　coast。　Rumors　of　Tairen　incursions　into　Cairhien。　She　was　getting　into　the　habit　of　putting　everything　in　this　box；　none　of　that　needed　to　be　kept　secret。　Two　sisters　had　vanished　from　Illian；　and　another　in　Caemlyn。　She　shivered；　wondering　where　the　Forsaken　were。　Too　many　of　her　agents　had　gone　silent。　There　were　lionfish　out　there；　and　she　was　swimming　in　darkness。　There　it　was。　The　silk…thin　slip　of　paper　crackled　as　she　unrolled　it。
　　　　　　　The　sling　has　been　used。　The　shepherd　holds　the　sword。
　　　　　　　The　Hall　of　the　Tower　had　voted　as　she　had　expected；　unanimously　and　with　no　need　for　arm…twisting；　much　less　invoking　her　authority。　If　a　man　had　drawn　Callandor；　he　must　be　the　Dragon　Reborn；　and　that　man　had　to　be　guided　by　the　White　Tower。　Three　Sitters　for　three　different　Ajahs　had　proposed　holding　all　plans　close　in　the　Hall　before　she　even　suggested　it；　the　surprise　had　been　that　one　was　Elaida；　but　then　the　Reds　would　surely　want　the　tightest　hawsers　possible　kept　on　a　man　who　could　channel。　The　sole　problem　had　been　to　stop　a　delegation　from　being　sent　to　Tear　to　take　him　in　hand；　and　that　had　not　really　been　difficult；　not　when　she　was　able　to　say　that　her　news　came　from　an　Aes　Sedai　who　had　already　managed　to　put　herself　close　to　the　man。
　　　　　　　But　what　was　he　doing　now？　Why　had　Moiraine　not　sent　further　word？　Impatience　hung　so　thick　in　the　Hall　now　that　she　almost　expected　the　air　to　sparkle。　She　kept　a　tight　hold　oh　her　anger。　Burn　the　woman！　Why　hasn't　she　sent　word？
　　　　　　　The　door　crashed　open；　and　she　straightened　furiously　as　more　than　a　dozen　women　strode　into　her　study；　led　by　Elaida。　All　wore　their　shawls；　most　red…fringed；　but　cool…faced　Alviarin；　a　White；　was　at　Elaida's　side；　and　Joline　Maza；　a　slender　Green；　and　plump　Shemerin　of　the　Yellow　came　close　behind　with　Danelle；　her　big　blue　eyes　not　dreamy　at　all。　In　fact；　at　least　one　woman　from　every　Ajah　except　the　Blue。　Some　looked　nervous；　but　most　wore　grim　determination；　and　Elaida's　dark　eyes　held　stern　confidence；　even　triumph。
　　　　　　　〃What　is　the　meaning　of　this？〃　Siuan　snapped；　slapping　the　blackwood　box　shut　with　a　sharp　crack。　She　bounced　to　her　feet　and　strode　around　the　desk。　First　Moiraine　and　now　this！　〃If　this　is　about　Tairen　matters；　Elaida；　you　know　better　than　to　bring　others　into　it。　And　you　know　better　than　to　walk　in　here　as　if　this　were　your　mother's　kitchen！　Make　your　apologies　and　leave　before　I　make　you　wish　you　were　an　ignorant　novice　again！〃
　　　　　　　Her　cold　rage　should　have　sent　them　scurrying；　but　though　a　few　shifted　uneasily；　none　made　a　move　toward　the　door。　Little　Danelle　actually　smirked　at　her。　And　Elaida　calmly　reached　out　and　pulled　the　striped　stole　from　Siuan's　shoulders。　〃You　will　not　need　this　any　longer；〃　she　said。　〃You　were　never　fit　for　it；　Siuan。〃
　　　　　　　Shock　turned　Siuan's　tongue　to　stone。　This　was　madness。　This　was　impossible。　In　a　rage　she　reached　for　saidar　…　and　suffered　her　second　shock。　A　barrier　lay　between　her　and　the　True　Source；　like　a　wall　of　thick　glass。　She　stared　at　Elaida　in　disbelief。
　　　　　　　As　if　to　mock　her；　the　radiance　of　saidar　sprang　up　around　Elaida。　She　stood　helpless　as　the　Red　sister　wove　flows　of　Air　around　her　from　shoulders　to　waist；　crushing　her　arms　to　her　side。　She　could　barely　breathe。　〃You　must　be　mad！〃　she　rasped。　〃All　of　you！　I'll　have　your　hides　for　this！　Release　me！〃　No　one　answered；　they　almost　seemed　to　ignore　her。
　　　　　　　Alviarin　ruffled　through　the　papers　on　the　table；　quickly　yet　unhurriedly。　Joline　and　Danelle　and　others　began　tilting　up　the　books　on　the　reading　stands；　shaking　them　to　see　if　anything　fell　out　from　between　the　pages。　The　White　sister　gave　a　small　hiss　of　vexation　at　not　fi