rj.theshadowrising-第152部分

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　　　　　　　〃Illian；〃　Siuan　said　without　hesitation。　〃In　the　city　itself。　They　are　studying　with　an　Aes　Sedai　named　Mara　Tomanes；　They　should　still　be　there。〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　Tear；〃　he　murmured。　For　a　moment　he　appeared　to　think　that　over。　Abruptly；　he　said；　〃They　say　you　are　a　Darkfriend。　Black　Ajah；　that　would　be；　would　it　not？〃
　　　　　　　〃If　you　really　believe　that；〃　Siuan　said　calmly；　〃then　strike　off　my　head。〃
　　　　　　　Min　almost　screamed　as　his　knuckles　whitened　on　his　sword　hilt。　Slowly　she　reached　out　and　rested　her　fingers　against　his　outstretched　wrist；　careful　not　to　make　him　think　she　meant　to　do　anything　more　than　touch。　It　was　like　resting　her　fingers　on　rock。　〃Gawyn；　you　know　me。　You　can't　think　I　would　help　the　Black　Ajah。〃　His　eyes　never　wavered　from　Siuan's　face；　never　blinked。　〃Gawyn；　Elayne　supports　her　and　everything　she's　done。　Your　own　sister；　Gawyn。〃　His　flesh　was　still　stone。　〃Egwene　believes　in　her；　too；　Gawyn。〃　His　wrist　trembled　under　her　fingers。　〃I　swear　it；　Gawyn。　Egwene　believes。〃
　　　　　　　His　eyes　flickered　to　her；　then　back　to　Siuan。　〃Why　shouldn't　I　drag　you　back　by　the　scruff　of　your　neck？　Give　me　a　reason。〃
　　　　　　　Siuan　met　his　stare　with　a　good　deal　more　calm　than　Min　felt。　〃You　could　do　it；　and　I　suppose　my　struggles　wouldn't　give　you　much　more　trouble　than　a　kitten's。　Yesterday；　I　was　one　of　the　most　powerful　women　in　the　world。　Perhaps　the　most　powerful。　Kings　and　queens　would　e　if　I　summoned　them；　even　if　they　hated　the　Tower　and　all　it　stood　for。　Today；　I'm　afraid　that　I　may　have　nothing　to　eat　tonight；　and　that　I'll　have　to　sleep　under　a　bush。　In　the　space　of　one　day　I've　been　reduced　from　the　most　powerful　woman　in　the　world　to　one　hoping　to　find　a　farm　where　I　might　earn　my　keep　in　the　fields。　Whatever　you　think　I　have　done；　isn't　that　a　fitting　punishment？〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps；〃　he　said　after　a　moment。　Min　took　a　deep　breath　of　relief　as　he　resheathed　his　sword　in　a　flowing　motion。　〃But　that　is　not　why　I　will　let　you　go。　Elaida　might　take　your　head　yet；　and　I　cannot　allow　that。　I　want　what　you　know　to　be　there；　if　I　need　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃Gawyn；〃　Min　said；　〃e　with　us。〃　A　Warder…trained　swordsman　might　be　useful　in　the　days　to　e。　〃That　way　you'd　have　her　ready　to　hand　to　answer　your　questions。〃　Siuan's　gaze　flickered　to　her；　not　really　leaving　Gawyn's　face　and　not　exactly　indignant；　she　pressed　on　anyway。　〃Gawyn；　Egwene　and　Elayne　believe　in　her。　Can't　you　believe；　too？〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　not　ask　more　than　I　can　give；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃I　will　take　you　to　the　nearest　gate。　You　would　never　get　out　without　me。　That's　all　I　can　do；　Min；　and　it　is　more　than　I　should。　Your　arrest　has　been　ordered；　did　you　know　that？〃　His　eyes　swung　back　to　Siuan。　〃If　anything　happens　to　them；〃　he　said　in　that　expressionless　voice；　〃to　Egwene　or　my　sister；　I　will　find　you；　wherever　you　hide；　and　I　will　make　sure　the　same　happens　to　you。〃　Abruptly　he　stalked　a　dozen　paces　away　and　stood　with　his　arms　folded；　head　down　as　if　he　could　not　bear　to　look　at　them　any　longer。
　　　　　　　Siuan　half…raised　a　hand　to　her　throat；　a　tiny　line　of　red　on　the　fair　skin　marked　where　his　blade　had　rested。　〃I've　been　too　long　with　the　Power；〃　she　said；　a　trifle　unsteadily。　〃I　had　forgotten　what　it　is　like　to　face　someone　who　can　pick　you　up　and　snap　you　like　a　thread。〃　She　peered　at　Leane　then；　as　if　seeing　her　for　the　first　time；　and　touched　her　own　face　as　though　unsure　what　it　looked　like。　〃From　what　I　have　read　it　is　supposed　to　take　longer　to　fade；　but　perhaps　Elaida's　rough　treatment　had　something　to　do　with　it。　A　disguise；　he　called　it；　and　it　may　serve　for　one。〃　She　clambered　awkwardly　onto　Bela's　back；　handling　the　reins　as　if　the　shaggy　mare　were　a　spirited　stallion。　〃Another　advantage；　it　seems；　to　being。。。　I　have　to　learn　to　say　it　without　flinching。　I　have　been　stilled。〃　She　said　the　words　slowly　and　deliberately；　then　nodded。　〃There。　If　Leane　is　any　guide；　I've　lost　a　good　fifteen　years；　maybe　more。　I've　known　women　who　would　pay　any　price　for　that。　A　third　advantage。〃　She　glanced　at　Gawyn。　He　still　had　his　back　turned；　but　she　lowered　her　voice　anyway。　〃Along　with　a　certain　loosening　of　the　tongue；　shall　we　say？　I　had　not　thought　of　Mara　in　years。　A　friend　of　my　girlhood。〃
　　　　　　　〃Will　you　age　like　the　rest　of　us；　now？〃　Min　asked　as　she　climbed　into　her　saddle。　Better　than　menting　on　the　lie。　Better　just　to　remember　that　she　could　lie　now。　Leane　mounted　the　third　mare　with　smooth　skill　and　walked　her　in　a　circle；　testing　her　step；　she　had　surely　been　on　a　horse　before。
　　　　　　　Siuan　shook　her　head。　〃I　really　don't　know。　No　stilled　woman　has　ever　lived　long　enough　to　find　out。　I　intend　to。〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　mean　to　go；〃　Gawyn　asked　harshly；　〃or　sit　there　talking？〃　Without　waiting　for　an　answer；　he　strode　off　through　the　trees。
　　　　　　　They　heeled　their　mares　after　him；　Siuan　pulling　her　hood　well　forward　to　hide　her　face。　Disguise　or　no；　it　seemed　she　was　taking　no　chances。　Leane　was　already　shrouded　as　deeply　in　hers　as　she　could　be。　After　a　moment；　Min　imitated　them。　Elaida　wanted　her　arrested？　That　had　to　mean　that　she　knew　〃Elmindreda〃　was　Min。　How　long　had　the　woman　known？　How　long　had　Min　been　walking　around　thinking　herself　hidden　while　Elaida　watched　and　smirked　at　her　for　a　fool？　It　was　a　shivery　thought。
　　　　　　　As　they　caught　up　to　Gawyn　at　a　graveled　path；　twenty　or　more　young　men　appeared；　striding　toward　them；　some　perhaps　a　few　years　older　than　he；　others　little　more　than　boys。　Min　suspected　some　of　those　last　did　not　have　to　shave　yet；　at　least　not　regularly。　All　carried　swords　at　their　belts　or　on　their　backs；　though；　and　three　or　four　had　breastplates。　More　than　one　sported　a　bloody　bandage；　and　most　wore　clothes　spotted　with　blood。　Each　had　the　same　unblinking　stare　as　Gawyn。　At　the　sight　of　him　they　stopped；　clapping　right　fists　to　chests。　Without　slowing；　Gawyn　acknowledged　the　salute　with　a　nod；　and　the　young　men　fell　in　behind　the　women's　horses。
　　　　　　　〃The　students？〃　Siuan　murmured。　〃They　also　took　part　in　the　fighting？〃
　　　　　　　Min　nodded；　keeping　her　face　expressionless。　〃They　call　themselves　the　Younglings。〃
　　　　　　　〃A　fitting　name。〃　Siuan　sighed。
　　　　　　　〃Some　are　no　more　than　children；〃　Leane　muttered。
　　　　　　　Min　was　not　about　to　tell　them　that　Warders　from　the　Blue　and　Green　Ajahs　had　planned　to　free　them　before　they　were　stilled；　and　might　have　succeeded　if　Gawyn　had　not　roused　the　students；　〃children〃　too；　and　led　them　into　the　Tower　to　stop　it。　The　fighting　had　been　among　the　deadliest；　student　against　teacher　and　no　mercy；　no　quarter。
　　　　　　　The　tall；　bronze…studded　Alindrelle　Gates　stood　open；　but　guarded　heavily。　Some　guards　wore　the　Flame　of　Tar　Valon　on　their　chests；　others　had　workmen's　coats；　and　mismatched　breastplates　and　helmets。　Guardsmen　and　fellows　who　had　e　disguised　as　masons。　Both　sorts　looked　hard　and　resourceful；　used　to　their　weapons；　but　they　kept　apart；　eyeing　each　other　distrustfully。　A　grizzled　officer　stood　out　from　the　Tower　guardsmen　with　his　arms　folded　and　watched　Gawyn　and　the　others　approach。
　　　　　　　〃Writing　materials！〃　Gawyn　snapped。　〃Quickly！〃
　　　　　　　〃Well；　you　must　be　these　Younglings　I've　heard　of；〃　the　grizzled　man　said。　〃A　fine　bunch　of　bloody　young　cockerels；　but　I've　had　orders　to　let　no　one　leave　the　Tower　grounds。　Signed　by　the　Amyrlin　Seat　herself。　Who　do　you　think　you　are　to　countermand　that？〃
　　　　　　　Gawyn　raised　his　head　slowly。　〃I　am　Gawyn　Trakand　of　Andor；〃　he　said　softly。　〃And　I　mean　to　see　these　women　leave；　or　you　dead。〃　The　other　Younglings　moved　up　behind　him；　spreading　out　to　face　the　guards　with　hands　on　swords；　unblinking；　perhaps　not　caring　that　they　were　outnumbered。
　　　　　　　The　grizzled　man　shifted　uneasily；　and　one　of　the　others　muttered；　〃He's　the　one　they　say　killed　Hammar　and　Coulin。〃
　　　　　　　After　a　moment；　the　officer　jerked　his　head　toward　the　guardhouse；　and　one　of　the　guardsmen　ran　inside；　returning　with　a　lapdesk；　a　small　red　stick　of　sealing　wax　burning　in　a　brass　holder　at　one　corner。　Gawyn　let　the　man　hold　the　desk　while　he　scribbled　furiously。
　　　　　　　〃This　will　let　you　past　the　bridge　guards；〃　he　said；　letting　a　pool　of　red　wax　drip　beneath　his　signature。　He　pressed　his　signet　ring　into　it　firmly。
　　　　　　　〃You　killed　Coulin？〃　Siuan　said　in　a　cold　tone　fitting　her　former　office。　〃And　Hammar？〃
　　　　　　　Min's　heart　sank。　Be　quiet；　Siuan！　Remember　who　you　are　now；　and　be　quiet！
　　　　　　　Gawyn　spun　to　face　the　three　women；　his　eyes　like　blue　fire。　〃Yes；〃　he　grated。　〃They　were　my　friends；　and　I　respected　them；　but　they　sided　with。。。　with　Siuan　Sanche；　and　I　had　to　…〃　Abruptly　he　shoved　the　paper　he　had　sealed　into　Min's　hand。　〃Go！　Go；　before　I　change　my　mind！〃　He　slapped　her　mare；　then　darted　to　slap　the　other　two　as　Min's　horse　leaped　through　the　open　gates。　〃Go！〃
　　　　　　　Min　let　her　horse　cross　the　great　plaza　surrounding　the　Tower　grounds　at　a　quick　trot；　Siuan　and　Leane　right　behind　her。　The　plaza　was　empty；　and　so　were　the　streets　beyond。　The　ring　of　their　horses'　hooves　on　the　paving　stones　echoed　hollowly。　Whoever　had　not　already　fled　the　city　was　hiding。
　　　　　　　She　studied　Gawyn's　paper　as　they　rode。　The　blob　of　red　wax　bore　the　imprint　of　a　charging　boar。　〃This　just　says　we　have　permission　to　leave。　We　could　use　it　to　board　a　ship　as　well　as　at　the　bridges。〃　It　seemed　smart　to　be　going　a　way　no　one　knew；　not　even　Gawyn。　She　did　not　really　think　he　would　change　his　mind；　but　he　was　brittle；　ready　to　shatter　at　the　wrong　blow。
　　　　　　　〃That　might　be　a　good　idea；〃　Leane　said。　〃I　always　thought　Galad　was　the　more　dangerous　of　those　two；　but　I　am　no　longer　sure。　Hammar；　and　Coulin。。。〃　She　shivered。　〃A　ship　would　take　us　farther；　faster　than　these　horses　can。〃
　　　　　　　Siuan　shook　her　head。　〃Most　of　the　Aes　Sedai　who　fled　will　have　crossed　the　bridges；　for　sure。　That　is　the　quickest　way　out　of　the　city　if　someone　might　be　chasing　you；　quicker　than　waiting　while　a　ship's　crew　casts　off。　I　must　stay　close　to　Tar　Valon　if　I'm　to　gather　them　in。〃
　　　　　　　〃They　won't　follow　you；〃　Leane　said　in　a　monotone　freighted　with　meaning。　〃You　have　no　right　to　the　stole　any　longer。　Not　even　to　the　shawl　or　the　ring。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　may　no　longer　wear　the　stole；〃　Siuan　replied　just　as　flatly；　〃but　I　still　know　how　to　ready　a　crew　for　a　storm。　And　since　I　cannot　wear　the　stole；　I　must　see　they　choose　the　right　woman　in　my　place。　I'll　not　let　Elaida　get　away　with　calling　herself　the　Amyrlin。　It　has　to　be　someone　strong　in　the　Power；　someone　who　sees　things　the　right　way。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　you　mean　to　go　on　aiding　this。。。　this　Dragon！〃　Leane　snapped。
　　　　　　　〃What　else　would　you　have　me　do？　Curl　up　and　die？〃
　　　　　　　Leane　shuddered　as　if　she　had　been　struck　in　the　face；　and　they　rode　in　silence　for　a　time。　All　of　those　fabulous　buildings　around　them；　like　wind…sculpted　cliffs　and　waves　and　great　flights　of　birds；　loomed　frighteningly　with　no　people　in　the　streets　save　themselves；　and　one　lone　fellow　who　came　darting　around　a　corner　up　ahead；　scuttling　from　doorway　to　doorway　as　if　scouting　their　way　for　them。　He　did　not　lessen　the　emptiness；　only　emphasized　it。
　　　　　　　〃What　else　can　we　do？〃　Leane　said　eventually。　She　rode　slumped　in　her　saddle　now　like　a　sack　of　grain。　〃I　feel　so　…　empty。　Empty。〃
　　　　　　　〃Find　something　to　fill　it　up；〃　Siuan　told　her　firmly。　〃Anything。　Cook　fo