rj.theshadowrising-第166部分

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ot　sound　it。　Yet　it　sounded　the　simple　truth。
　　　　　　　〃We　won't　harm　you；　Egeanin。〃　Whatever　Nynaeve　wanted；　she　would　see　to　that。　〃Go　to　sleep。〃　After　a　moment　Egeanin's　head　lowered。
　　　　　　　An　hour。　It　was　right　not　to　worry　Egwene　needlessly；　but　she　wished　that　hour　could　be　spent　on　their　problem　instead　of　wandering　uselessly　in　Tel'aran'rhiod。　If　they　could　not　find　out　whether　Amathera　was　prisoner　or　captive。。。　Set　that　aside；　I　won't　puzzle　it　out　here。　Once　they　did　find　out；　how　could　they　get　inside　the　palace　with　all　those　soldiers　about；　and　the　Civil　Watch；　not　to　mention　Liandrin　and　the　others？
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　had　started　snoring　softly；　a　habit　she　denied　even　more　heatedly　than　she　did　flinging　her　elbows　about。　Egeanin　appeared　to　be　taking　the　long；　slow　breaths　of　deep　sleep。　Yawning　into　the　back　of　her　hand；　Elayne　shifted　on　the　hard　wooden　seat　and　began　planning　how　to　sneak　into　the　Panarch's　Palace。

Chapter　52
（Dream　Ring）
Need

　　　　　　　For　a　moment　Nynaeve　stood　in　the　Heart　of　the　Stone　not　seeing　it；　not　thinking　of　Tel'aran'rhiod　at　all。　Egeanin　was　Seanchan。　One　of　those　vile　people　who　had　put　a　collar　on　Egwene's　neck　and　tried　to　put　one　on　hers。　Knowing　it　still　made　her　feel　hollow。　Seanchan；　and　she　had　snaked　her　way　into　Nynaeve's　affections。　True　friends　had　seemed　so　few　and　far　between　since　leaving　Emond's　Field。　To　find　a　new　one；　then　lose　her　in　this　way。。。
　　　　　　　〃I　hate　her　for　that　worst　of　all；〃　she　growled；　folding　her　arms　tightly。　〃She　made　me　like　her；　and　I　cannot　stop；　and　I　hate　her　for　it！〃　Said　aloud；　it　made　no　sense　at　all。　〃I　do　not　have　to　make　sense。〃　She　laughed　quietly；　with　a　rueful　shake　of　her　head。　〃I　am　supposed　to　be　Aes　Sedai。〃　But　not　to　be　wool…gathering　like　a　fool　girl。
　　　　　　　Callandor　sparkled；　the　crystal　sword　rising　out　of　the　floor…stones　beneath　the　great　dome；　and　the　massive　redstone　columns　ran　off　in　shadowed　rows　through　that　odd；　dim　light　that　came　from　everywhere。　Easy　to　remember　the　feel　of　being　watched；　to　imagine　it　again。　If　it　had　been　imagination　before。　If　it　was　now。　Anything　might　be　hiding　back　in　there。　A　good　stout　stick　appeared　in　her　hands　as　she　peered　among　the　columns。　Where　was　Egwene？　Just　like　the　girl　to　keep　her　waiting。　All　that　murkiness。　For　all　she　knew；　something　could　be　about　to　jump　out　at…〃That　is　an　odd　dress；　Nynaeve。〃
　　　　　　　Just　stifling　a　yelp；　she　spun　around　heavily；　rattling　metallically；　heart　thumping　in　her　throat。　Egwene　stood　on　the　other　side　of　Callandor　with　two　women　in　bulky　skirts　and　dark　shawls　over　white　blouses；　snowy　hair　held　by　folded　scarves　falling　to　their　waists。　Nynaeve　swallowed；　hoping　none　of　them　noticed；　tried　to　make　herself　breathe　normally　again。　Sneaking　up　on　her　that　way！
　　　　　　　One　of　the　Aiel　women　she　knew　from　Elayne's　description；　Amys's　face　was　much　too　young　for　such　hair；　but　apparently　it　had　been　almost　silver　even　as　a　child。　The　other；　thin　and　bony；　had　pale　blue　eyes　in　a　leathery；　wrinkled　face。　That　must　be　Bair。　The　tougher　of　the　two；　in　Nynaeve's　opinion　now　that　she　saw　them；　not　that　this　Amys　looked　very　…　Odd　dress？　I　rattled？
　　　　　　　Staring　down　at　herself；　she　gasped。　Her　dress　looked　vaguely　like　a　Two　Rivers　garment；　if　Two　Rivers　women　wore　dresses　fashioned　from　steel　mail；　with　pieces　of　plate　armor　like　those　she　had　seen　in　Shienar。　How　did　men　run　about　and　jump　into　saddles　in　these　things？　It　dragged　at　her　shoulders　as　if　it　weighed　a　hundred　pounds。　The　good　stick　was　metal　now；　and　spiked　at　the　end　like　a　shiny　steel　sandburr。　Without　touching　her　head　she　knew　she　had　on　some　sort　of　helmet。　Blushing　furiously；　she　concentrated；　changed　it　all　to　good　Two　Rivers　woolens　and　a　walking　staff。　It　felt　good　to　have　her　hair　back　in　one　proper　braid；　hanging　over　her　shoulder。
　　　　　　　〃Uncontrolled　thoughts　are　troublesome　when　you　walk　the　dream；〃　Bair　said　in　a　thin；　strong　voice。　〃You　must　learn　to　control　them　if　you　mean　to　continue。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　can　control　my　thoughts　very　well；　thank　you；〃　Nynaeve　said　crisply。　〃I　…〃　Bair's　voice　was　not　all　that　was　thin。　The　Two　Wise　Ones　seemed。。。　misty；　almost；　and　Egwene；　in　a　pale　blue　riding　dress；　was　very　nearly　transparent。　〃What's　the　matter　with　you？　Why　do　you　look　that　way？〃
　　　　　　　〃You　try　entering　Tel'aran'rhiod　while　half…asleep　in　a　saddle；〃　Egwene　said　dryly。　She　seemed　to　flicker。　〃It　is　morning　in　the　Three…fold　Land；　and　we　are　on　the　move。　I　had　to　talk　Amys　into　letting　me　e　at　all；　but　I　was　afraid　you　would　be　worried。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　a　difficult　enough　task　without　the　horse；〃　Amys　said；　〃sleeping　shallowly　when　you　wish　to　be　awake。　Egwene　has　not　learned　it　entirely　yet。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will；〃　Egwene　said　with　an　irritated　determination。　She　was　always　too　hasty　and　stubborn　in　her　desire　to　learn；　if　these　Wise　Ones　did　not　hold　on　to　the　scruff　of　her　neck　she　would　very　likely　jump　into　all　sorts　of　trouble。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　stopped　worrying　about　Egwene　and　trouble　as　the　younger　woman　began　to　speak　of　Trollocs　and　Draghkar　attacking　Cold　Rocks　Hold。　Seana；　a　Wise　One　dreamwalker；　among　the　dead。　Rand　hurrying　the　Taardad　Aiel　toward　this　Alcair　Dal；　apparently　in　violation　of　all　custom；　sending　out　runners　to　bring　more　septs。　The　boy　was　confiding　his　intentions　to　no　one；　the　Aiel　were　jumpy；　and　Moiraine　was　ready　to　bite　the　heads　off　nails。　Moiraine's　frustration　would　have　been　some　relief　…　she　had　hoped　he　could　escape　that　woman's　influence　somehow　…　if　Egwene　had　not　frowned　so　worriedly。
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know　whether　it　is　madness　or　design；〃　Egwene　finished。　〃I　could　almost　bear　it　either　way　if　I　knew。　Nynaeve；　I'll　admit　it　isn't　prophecy；　or　Tarmon　Gai'don；　that　makes　me　anxious　right　now。　Maybe　it　is　foolish；　but　I　promised　Elayne　to　look　after　him；　and　I　do　not　know　how。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　walked　around　the　crystal　sword　to　put　an　arm　around　her。　At　least　she　felt　solid；　even　if　she　did　look　a　reflection　in　a　foggy　mirror。　Rand's　sanity。　There　was　nothing　she　could　do　about　that；　no　fort　she　could　offer。　Egwene　was　the　one　there　to　see　him。　〃The　best　you　can　do　for　Elayne　is　to　tell　him　to　read　what　she　wrote。　She　worries　about　it　sometimes；　she　won't　talk；　but　I　think　she's　afraid　she　said　more　than　she　should　have。　If　he　believes　she　is　totally　besotted；　he's　more　likely　to　feel　the　same；　which　will　not　hurt　her　in　the　least。　At　least　we　have　some　good　news　in　Tanchico。　Some。〃　When　she　explained；　though；　it　barely　seemed　to　justify　〃some。〃
　　　　　　　〃So　you　still　don't　know　what　it　is　they're　after；〃　Egwene　said　after　she　finished；　〃but　even　if　you　did；　they　are　on　top　of　it　and　still　might　find　it　first。〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　if　I　can　help　it。〃　Nynaeve　fixed　the　two　Wise　Ones　with　a　firm；　level　look。　From　what　Elayne　said　of　Amys's　reluctance　to　give　anything　but　warnings；　she　would　need　firmness　to　deal　with　them。　The　pair　was　so　hazy　a　strong　puff　might　blow　them　away　like　fog。　〃Elayne　thinks　you　know　all　sorts　of　tricks　with　dreams。　Is　there　any　way　I　could　get　into　Amathera's　dreams　to　see　if　she　is　a　Darkfriend？〃
　　　　　　　〃Foolish　girl。〃　Bair's　long　hair　swung　as　she　shook　her　head。　〃If　Aes　Sedai；　a　foolish　girl　still。　To　step　into　another's　dream　is　very　dangerous　unless　she　knows　you　and　expects　you。　It　is　her　dream；　not　as　here。　There；　this　Amathera　will　control　all。　Even　you。〃
　　　　　　　She　had　been　sure　that　was　the　way。　It　was　irritating　to　learn　differently。　And　〃foolish　girl〃？
　　　　　　　〃I　am　not　a　girl；〃　she　snapped。　She　wanted　to　yank　her　braid；　but　clenched　a　fist　at　her　side　instead；　for　some　reason；　pulling　at　her　hair　felt　strangely　unfortable　of　late。　〃I　was　Wisdom　of　Emond's　Field　before　I。。。　became　Aes　Sedai。。。〃　She　hardly　stumbled　over　the　lie　at　all　now。　〃。。。and　I　told　women　as　old　as　you　when　to　sit　down　and　be　quiet。　If　you　know　how　to　help　me；　say　so　instead　of　giving　me　foolish　maunderings　about　what　is　dangerous。　I　know　danger　when　I　see　it。〃
　　　　　　　Abruptly　she　realized　her　single　braid　had　split　in　two；　one　over　each　ear；　red　ribbons　woven　through　to　make　tassels　on　the　ends。　Her　skirt　was　so　short　it　showed　her　knees；　she　wore　a　loose　white　blouse　like　the　Wise　Ones；　and　her　shoes　and　stockings　were　gone。　Where　had　this　e　from？　She　had　surely　never　thought　of　wearing　anything　like　it。　Egwene　put　a　hasty　hand　over　her　mouth。　Was　she　aghast？　Surely　not　smiling。
　　　　　　　〃Uncontrolled　thoughts；〃　Amys　said；　〃can　be　very　troublesome　indeed；　Nynaeve　Sedai；　until　you　learn。〃　Despite　her　bland　tone；　her　lips　quirked　in　barely　masked　amusement。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　kept　her　face　smooth　with　an　effort。　They　could　not　have　had　anything　to　do　with　it。　They　can't　have！　She　struggled　to　change　back；　and　it　was　a　struggle；　as　though　something　held　her　as　she　was。　Her　cheeks　grew　hotter　and　hotter。　Suddenly；　just　at　the　point　when　she　was　ready　to　break　down　and　ask　advice；　or　even　help；　her　clothes　and　hair　were　as　they　had　been。　She　wriggled　her　toes　gratefully　in　good　stout　shoes。　It　had　just　been　some　odd；　stray　thought。　In　any　case；　she　was　not　about　to　voice　any　suspicions；　they　looked　far　too　amused　as　it　was；　even　Egwene。　I　am　not　here　for　some　fool　contest。　I　just　won't　dignify　them。
　　　　　　　〃If　I　cannot　enter　her　dream；　can　I　bring　her　into　the　World　of　Dreams？　I　need　some　way　to　talk　to　her。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　would　not　teach　you　that　if　we　knew　how；〃　Amys　said；　hitching　her　shawl　angrily。　〃It　is　an　evil　thing　you　ask；　Nynaeve　Sedai。〃
　　　　　　　〃She　would　be　as　helpless　here　as　you　in　her　dream。〃　Bair's　thin　voice　sounded　like　an　iron　rod。　〃It　has　been　handed　down　among　dreamwalkers　since　the　first　that　no　one　must　ever　be　brought　into　the　dream。　It　is　said　that　that　was　the　way　of　the　Shadow　in　the　last　days　of　the　Age　of　Legends。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　shifted　her　feet　under　those　hard　stares；　realizing　she　had　an　arm　around　Egwene；　she　held　still。　She　was　not　about　to　let　Egwene　think　they　had　made　her　uneasy。　Not　that　they　had。　If　she　thought　of　being　hauled　before　the　Women's　Circle　before　she　was　chosen　Wisdom；　it　was　nothing　at　all　to　do　with　the　Wise　Ones。　Firmness　was　what　was。。。　They　stared　at　her。　Hazy　or　not；　these　women　could　duel　Siuan　Sanche　stare　for　stare。　Especially　Bair。　Not　that　they　intimidated　her；　but　she　could　see　the　point　of　being　reasonable。　〃Elayne　and　I　need　help。　The　Black　Ajah　is　sitting　on　top　of　something　that　can　harm　Rand。　If　they　find　it　before　we　do；　they　may　be　able　to　control　him。　We　need　to　find　it　first。　If　there　is　anything　you　can　do　to　help；　anything　you　can　tell　me。。。　Anything　at　all。〃
　　　　　　　〃Aes　Sedai；〃　Amys　said；　〃you　can　make　a　request　for　help　sound　a　demand。〃　Nynaeve's　mouth　tightened　…　demand？　She　had　all　but　begged。　Demand；　indeed！　…　but　the　Aiel　woman　did　not　seem　to　notice。　Or　chose　to　ignore　it。　〃Yet　a　danger　to　Rand　al'Thor。。。　We　cannot　allow　the　Shadow　to　have　that。　There　is　a　way。〃
　　　　　　　〃Dangerous。〃　Bair　shook　her　head　vigorously。　〃This　young　woman　knows　less　than　Egwene　did　when　she　came　to　us。　It　is　too　dangerous　for　her。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　maybe　I　could　…〃　Egwene　began；　and　the　two　cut　her　off　as　one。
　　　　　　　〃You　are　going　to　plete　your　training；　you　are　too　eager　to　go　beyond　what　you　know；〃　Bair　said　sharply　at　the　same　time　Amys　said；　not　the　slightest　bit　softer；　〃You　are　not　ther