rj.theshadowrising-第167部分

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　　　　　　　〃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　there　in　Tanchico；　you　do　not　know　the　place；　and　you　cannot　have　Nynaeve's　need。　She　is　the　hunter。〃
　　　　　　　Under　those　iron　eyes；　Egwene　subsided　sulkily；　and　the　two　Wise　Ones　looked　at　each　other。　Finally　Bair　shrugged　and　lifted　her　shawl　up　around　her　face；　clearly　she　washed　her　hands　of　the　entire　matter。
　　　　　　　〃It　is　dangerous；〃　Amys　said。　They　made　it　sound　as　if　breathing　was　dangerous　in　Tel'aran'rhiod。
　　　　　　　〃I　…！〃　Nynaeve　cut　off　as　Amys's　eyes　actually　grew　harder；　she　would　not　have　thought　it　possible。　Keeping　a　firm　image　of　her　clothes　as　they　were　…　of　course　they　had　had　nothing　to　do　with　that；　it　simply　seemed　wise　to　make　sure　her　dress　remained　as　it　was　…　she　changed　what　she　had　been　going　to　say。　〃I　will　be　careful。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　not　possible；〃　Amys　told　her　flatly；　〃but　I　do　not　know　another　way。　Need　is　the　key。　When　there　are　too　many　people　for　the　hold；　the　sept　must　divide；　and　the　need　is　for　water　at　the　new　hold。　If　no　location　with　water　is　known；　one　of　us　may　be　called　to　find　one。　The　key　then　is　the　need　for　a　proper　valley　or　canyon；　not　too　far　from　the　first；　with　water。　Concentrating　on　that　need　will　bring　you　near　to　what　you　want。　Concentrating　on　the　need　again　will　bring　you　closer。　Each　step　brings　you　nearer；　until　at　last　you　are　not　only　in　the　valley；　but　standing　beside　where　water　is　to　be　found。　It　may　be　harder　for　you；　because　you　do　not　know　exactly　what　you　are　seeking；　though　the　depth　of　need　may　make　up　for　it。　And　you　know　already　in　a　rough　fashion　where　it　lies；　in　this　palace。
　　　　　　　〃The　danger　is　this；　and　you　must　be　aware　of　it。〃　The　Wise　One　leaned　toward　her　intently；　driving　her　words　home　with　a　tone　as　sharp　as　her　gaze。　〃Each　step　is　made　blind；　with　eyes　closed。　You　cannot　know　where　you　will　be　when　you　open　your　eyes。　And　finding　the　water　does　no　good　if　you　are　standing　in　a　den　of　vipers。　The　fangs　of　a　mountain　king　kill　as　quickly　in　the　dream　as　waking。　I　think　these　women　Egwene　speaks　of　will　kill　more　quickly　than　the　snake。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　did　that；〃　Egwene　exclaimed。　Nynaeve　felt　her　jump　as　the　Aiel　women's　eyes　went　to　her。　〃Before　I　met　you；〃　she　said　hastily。　〃Before　we　went　to　Tear。〃
　　　　　　　Need。　Nynaeve　felt　warmer　toward　the　Aiel　women　now　that　one　of　them　had　given　her　something　she　could　use。　〃You　must　keep　a　close　eye　on　Egwene；〃　she　told　them；　hugging　the　younger　woman　to　show　she　meant　it　fondly。　〃You　are　right；　Bair。　She　will　try　to　do　more　than　she　knows　how。　She　has　always　been　that　way。〃　For　some　reason　Bair　arched　a　white　eyebrow　at　her。
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　find　her　so；〃　Amys　said　in　a　dry　voice。　〃She　is　a　biddable　student；　now。　Is　that　not　so；　Egwene？〃
　　　　　　　Egwene's　mouth　set　in　a　stubborn　line。　These　Wise　Ones　did　not　know　her　well　if　they　believed　a　Two　Rivers　woman　would　call　herself　biddable。　On　the　other　hand；　she　did　not　say　anything。　That　was　unexpected。　As　hard　a　lot　as　Aes　Sedai；　it　appeared；　these　Aiel　women。
　　　　　　　Her　hour　was　slipping　away；　and　impatience　bubbled　to　try　this　method　now；　if　Elayne　woke　her；　it　might　take　hours　to　get　back　to　sleep。　〃In　seven　days；〃　she　said；　〃one　of　us　will　meet　you　here　again。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　nodded。　〃In　seven　days；　Rand　will　have　shown　himself　to　the　clan　chiefs　as　He　Who　es　With　the　Dawn；　and　the　Aiel　will　all　be　behind　him。〃　The　Wise　Ones'　eyes　shifted　slightly；　and　Amys　adjusted　her　shawl；　Egwene　did　not　see　it。　〃The　Light　knows　what　he　means　to　do　then。〃
　　　　　　　〃In　seven　days；〃　Nynaeve　said；　〃Elayne　and　I　will　have　taken　whatever　Liandrin　is　hunting　away　from　the　lot　of　them。〃　Or　else；　very　likely；　the　Black　Ajah　would　have　it。　So　the　Wise　Ones　were　not　more　certain　the　Aiel　would　follow　Rand　than　Egwene　was　of　his　plans。　No　certainty　anywhere。　But　no　point　in　burdening　Egwene　with　more　doubts；　either。　〃When　one　of　us　sees　you　next；　we'll　have　laid　them　by　the　heels　and　stuffed　them　all　in　sacks　to　cart　to　the　Tower　for　trial。〃
　　　　　　　〃Try　to　be　careful；　Nynaeve。　I　know　you　don't　know　how　to；　but　try　anyway。　Tell　Elayne　I　said　so；　too。　She　isn't　as。。。　bold。。。　as　you　are；　but　she　can　e　close。〃　Amys　and　Bair　each　laid　a　hand　on　Egwene's　shoulder；　and　they　were　gone。　Try　to　be　careful？　Fool　girl。　She　was　always　careful。　What　had　Egwene　been　about　to　say　rather　than　bold？　Nynaeve　folded　her　arms　tightly　in　lieu　of　pulling　her　braid。　Maybe　better　she　did　not　know。
　　　　　　　She　realized　she　had　not　told　Egwene　about　Egeanin。　Perhaps　best　not　to　stir　up　Egwene's　memories　of　her　captivity。　Nynaeve　could　remember　all　too　well　the　other　woman's　nightmares　for　weeks　after　she　was　freed；　waking　up　screaming　that　she　would　not　be　chained。　Much　the　best　to　let　it　lie。　It　was　not　as　if　Egwene　need　ever　meet　the　Seanchan　woman。　Burn　that　woman！　Burn　Egeanin　to　ash！　Burn　her！
　　　　　　　〃This　is　not　using　my　time　wisely；〃　she　said　aloud。　The　words　echoed　through　the　tall　columns。　With　the　other　women　gone；　they　looked　even　more　foreboding　than　before；　more　a　hiding　place　for　unseen　watchers　and　things　that　jumped　out　at　you。　Time　to　be　away。
　　　　　　　First；　though；　she　changed　her　hair　to　a　tassel　of　long　narrow　braids；　her　dress　to　clinging　folds　of　dark　green　silk。　A　transparent　veil　covered　her　mouth　and　nose；　fluttering　slightly　when　she　breathed。　With　a　grimace　she　added　beads　of　green　jade　woven　into　the　thin　plaits。　Should　any　of　the　Black　sisters　be　using　their　stolen　ter'angreal　to　enter　the　World　of　Dreams　and　see　her　in　the　Panarch's　Palace；　they　would　think　her　only　a　Taraboner　woman　who　had　dreamed　herself　there　in　more　ordinary　fashion。　Some　knew　her　by　sight；　though。　Lifting　a　handful　of　bead…strung　braids；　she　smiled。　Pale　honey。　She　had　not　realized　that　was　possible。　I　wonder　what　I　look　like。　Could　they　still　know　me？
　　　　　　　Suddenly　a　tall　stand…mirror　stood　beside　Callandor；　In　the　glass；　her　big　brown　eyes　widened　in　shock；　her　rosebud　of　a　mouth　fell　open。　She　had　Rendra's　face！　Her　features　flickered　back　and　forth；　eyes　and　hair　flashing　darker　then　lighter；　straining；　she　settled　them　as　the　innkeeper's。　No　one　would　know　her　now。　And　Egwene　thought　she　did　not　know　how　to　be　careful。
　　　　　　　Closing　her　eyes；　she　concentrated　on　Tanchico；　on　the　Panarch's　Palace；　on　need。　Something　dangerous　to　Rand；　to　the　Dragon　Reborn；　need。。。　Around　her；　Tel'aran'rhiod　shifted；　she　felt　it；　a　sliding　lurch；　and　opened　her　eyes　eagerly　to　see　what　she　had　found。
　　　　　　　It　was　a　bedchamber；　as　big　as　any　six　at　the　Three　Plum　Court；　the　white　plaster　walls　worked　in　painted　friezes；　golden　lamps　hanging　from　the　ceiling　by　gilded　chains。　The　tall　posts　of　the　bed　spread　carved　limbs　and　leaves　in　a　canopy　above　the　mattresses。　A　woman　well　short　of　her　middle　years　stood　stiffly　with　her　back　to　one　of　the　posts　at　the　foot　of　the　bed；　she　was　really　quite　lovely；　in　that　pouty…mouthed　way　that　Nynaeve　herself　had　adopted。　Atop　her　dark　braids　sat　a　crown　of　golden　trefoil　leaves　among　rubies　and　pearls　with　a　moonstone　larger　than　a　goose　egg；　and　around　her　neck　hung　a　broad　stole；　dangling　to　her　knees　and　embroidered　along　its　length　with　trees。　Aside　from　crown　and　stole　she　wore　only　a　glistening　coat　of　sweat。
　　　　　　　Her　tremulous　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　woman　lying　at　her　ease　on　a　low　couch。　The　second　woman's　back　was　to　Nynaeve；　as　misty　as　Egwene　had　been　earlier。　She　was　short　and　slight；　dark　hair　flowing　loose　to　her　shoulders；　wide…skirted　gown　of　pale　yellow　silk　definitely　not　Taraboner。　Nynaeve　did　not　have　to　see　her　face　to　know　it　had　large　blue　eyes　and　a　foxlike　shape；　or　see　the　bonds　of　Air　holding　the　woman　against　the　bedpost　to　know　she　was　looking　at　Temaile　Kinderode。
　　　　　　　〃。。。learn　so　much　when　you　use　your　dreams　instead　of　wasting　sleep；〃　Temaile　was　saying　with　a　Cairhienin　accent；　laughing。　〃Are　you　not　enjoying　yourself？　What　shall　I　teach　you　next？　I　know。　'I　Have　Loved　a　Thousand　Sailor　Men。'　〃　She　waggled　an　admonishing　finger。　〃Be　sure　you　learn　all　the　words　properly；　Amathera。　You　know　I　would　not　want　to　…　What　are　you　gaping　at？〃
　　　　　　　Abruptly　Nynaeve　realized　the　woman　against　the　bedpost　…　Amathera？　The　Panarch？　…　was　staring　straight　at　her。　Temaile　shifted　lazily　as　though　to　turn　her　head。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　clamped　her　eyes　shut。　Need。
　　　　　　　Shift。
　　　　　　　Letting　herself　sag　against　the　narrow　column；　Nynaeve　gulped　air　as　if　she　had　run　twenty　miles；　not　even　wondering　where　she　was。　Her　heart　pounded　like　a　wild　drum。　Speak　of　landing　in　a　vipers'　den。　Temaile　Kinderode。　The　Black　sister　Amico　had　said　enjoyed　causing　pain；　enjoyed　it　enough　to　have　made　one　of　the　Black　Ajah　ment。　And　her　not　able　to　channel　a　spark。　She　could　have　ended　up　decorating　a　bedpost　beside　Amathera。　Light！　She　shivered；　seeing　it。　Calm　yourself；　woman！　You　are　out　of　there；　and　even　if　Temaile　saw　you；　she　saw　a　honey…haired　woman　who　vanished；　just　a　Taraboner　who　dreamed　herself　into　Tel'aran'rhiod　for　a　moment。　Surely　Temaile　could　not　have　been　aware　of　her　long　enough　to　sense　she　could　channel；　even　when　she　could　not　do　it；　the　ability　was　there　to　be　felt　by　one　who　shared　it。　Only　a　moment。　Not　long　enough；　with　luck。
　　　　　　　At　least　she　knew　Amathera's　situation　now。　The　woman　was　certainly　no　ally　of　Temaile。　This　method　of　searching　had　already　repaid　use。　But　not　enough；　not　yet。　Controlling　her　breathing　as　best　she　could；　she　looked　around。
　　　　　　　Rows　of　the　thin　white　columns　ran　the　length　and　breadth　of　a　huge　chamber　nearly　as　wide　as　it　was　long；　with　smooth　polished　white　floorstones　below　and　gilded　bosses　on　the　ceiling　high　above。　A　thick　rope　of　white　silk　ran　all　the　way　around　the　room　on　waist…high　posts　of　dark　polished　wood；　except　where　it　would　have　blocked　the　doorways　with　double…pointed　arches。　Stands　and　open　cabinets　lined　the　walls；　and　the　bones　of　peculiar　beasts；　with　more　display　cases　out　in　the　floor；　also　roped　off。　The　main　exhibition　hall　of　the　palace；　from　Egwene's　description。　What　she　sought　must　be　in　this　very　chamber。　Her　next　step　would　not　be　as　blind　as　the　first；　there　were　certainly　no　vipers；　no　Temaile；　here。
　　　　　　　A　handsome　woman　suddenly　appeared　beside　a　glass　case　with　four　carved　legs　out　in　the　middle　of　the　floor。　She　was　no　Taraboner；　with　her　dark　hair　falling　in　waves　to　her　shoulders；　yet　that　was　not　what　made　Nynaeve　gape。　The　woman's　dress　seemed　to　be　mist；　sometimes　silvery　and　opaque；　sometimes　gray　and　so　thin　as　to　show　her　limbs　and　body　clearly。　From　wherever　she　had　dreamed　herself　here；　she　assuredly　had　a　vivid　imagination　to　conceive　that！　Even　the　scandalous　Domani　dresses　she　had　heard　of　surely　could　not　equal　this。
　　　　　　　The　woman　smiled　at　the　glass　case；　then　continued　on　up　the　hall；　stopping　on　the　far　side　to　study　something　Nynaeve　could　not　make　out；　something　dark　atop　a　white　stone　stand。
　　　　　　　Frowning；　Nynaeve　released　her　grip　on　a　fistful　of　honey…colored　braids。　The　woman　would　disappear　at　any　moment；　few　dreamed　themselves　into　Tel'aran'rhiod　for　long。　Of　course；　it　did　not　matter　if　the　woman　saw　her；　she　was　certainly　no　one　on　their　list　of　Black　siste