rj.theshadowrising-第177部分

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id　not　realize　she　had　been　holding　her　breath　until　she　exhaled　on　seeing　the　things　still　there。　The　glass…sided　table　holding　the　cuendillar　seal　lay　another　fifty　paces　on；　but　this　came　first。
　　　　　　　Climbing　over　the　wrist…thick　white　silk　rope；　she　touched　the　wide；　jointed　collar。　Suffering。　Agony。　Woe。　They　rolled　through　her；　she　wanted　to　weep。　What　kind　of　thing　could　absorb　all　that　pain？　Pulling　her　hand　back；　she　glared　at　the　black　metal。　Meant　to　control　a　man　who　could　channel。　Liandrin　and　her　Black　sisters　meant　to　use　it　to　control　Rand；　turn　him　to　the　Shadow；　force　him　to　serve　the　Dark　One。　Someone　from　her　village；　controlled　and　used　by　Aes　Sedai！　Black　Ajah；　but　Aes　Sedai　as　surely　as　Moiraine　with　her　scheming！　Egeanin；　making　me　like　a　filthy　Seanchan！
　　　　　　　The　sudden　incongruity　of　the　last　thought　hit　her；　abruptly　she　realized　she　was　deliberately　making　herself　angry；　angry　enough　to　channel。　She　embraced　the　Source；　the　Power　filled　her。　And　a　serving　woman　with　the　tree…and…leaf　on　her　shoulder　entered　the　columned　hall。
　　　　　　　Quivering　with　the　urge　to　channel；　Nynaeve　waited；　even　lifting　the　duster；　running　the　feathers　over　the　collar　and　bracelets。　The　serving　woman　started　down　the　pale　floorstones；　she　would　go　in　a　moment；　and　Nynaeve　could。。。　What？　Slip　the　things　into　her　belt　pouch　and　take　them；　but。。。
　　　　　　　The　serving　woman　would　go？　Why　did　I　think　she'll　leave　instead　of　staying　to　work？　She　glanced　sideways　up　the　room　at　the　woman　ing　toward　her。　Of　course。　No　broom　or　mop；　no　feather　duster；　not　even　a　rag。　Whatever　she's　here　for；　it　cannot　take　lo…
　　　　　　　Suddenly　she　saw　the　woman's　face　clearly。　Sturdily　handsome；　framed　by　dark　braids；　smiling　in　an　almost　friendly　fashion　but　not　really　paying　her　any　mind。　Certainly　not　threatening　in　any　way。　Not　quite　the　same　face；　but　she　knew　it。
　　　　　　　Before　thought　she　struck　out；　weaving　a　hammer…hard　flow　of　Air　to　smash　that　face。　In　an　instant　the　glow　of　saidar　surrounded　the　other　women；　her　features　changed　…　somehow　more　regal　now；　prouder；　Moghedien's　face　remembered；　and　startled　as　well；　surprised　that　she　had　not　approached　unsuspected　…　and　Nynaeve's　flow　was　sliced　razor　clean。　She　staggered　under　the　whiplash　recoil；　like　a　physical　blow；　and　the　Forsaken　struck　with　a　plex　weave　of　Spirit　streaked　by　Water　and　Air。　Nynaeve　had　no　idea　what　it　was　meant　to　do；　frantically　she　tried　to　cut　it　as　she　had　seen　the　other　woman　do；　with　a　keen…edged　weave　of　Spirit。　For　a　heartbeat　she　felt　love；　devotion；　worship　for　the　magnificent　woman　who　would　deign　to　allow　her　to。。。
　　　　　　　The　intricate　weave　parted；　and　Moghedien　missed　a　step。　A　tinge　remained　in　Nynaeve's　mind；　like　a　fresh　memory　of　wanting　to　obey；　to　grovel　and　please；　what　had　happened　at　their　first　meeting　all　over　again；　it　heated　her　rage。　The　knife…sharp　shield　that　Egwene　had　used　to　still　Amico　Nagoyin　sprang　into　being；　more　weapon　than　shield；　lashed　at　Moghedien　…　and　was　blocked；　woven　Spirit　straining　against　woven　Spirit；　just　short　of　severing　Moghedien　from　the　Source　forever。　Again　the　Forsaken's　counterblow　came；　slashing　like　an　axe；　intended　to　cut　Nynaeve　off　in　the　same　way。　Forever。　Desperately　Nynaeve　blocked　it。
　　　　　　　Suddenly　she　realized　that　under　her　anger　she　was　terrified。　Holding　off　the　other　woman's　attempt　to　still　her　while　trying　to　do　the　same　to　her　took　everything　she　had。　The　Power　boiled　in　her　till　she　thought　she　must　burst；　her　knees　quivered　with　the　effort　of　standing。　And　all　went　into　those　two　things；　she　could　not　spare　enough　to　light　a　candle。　Moghedien's　axe　of　Spirit　waxed　and　waned　in　sharpness；　but　that　would　not　matter　if　the　woman　managed　to　drive　it　home；　Nynaeve　could　not　see　any　real　difference　in　oute　between　being　stilled　by　the　woman　and　merely　…　merely！　…　being　shielded　and　at　her　mercy。　The　thing　brushed　against　the　flow　of　Power　from　the　Source　into　her；　like　a　knife　hovering　over　a　chicken's　stretched　neck。　The　image　was　all　too　apt；　she　wished　she　had　not　thought　of　it。　In　the　back　of　her　mind　a　tiny　voice　gibbered　at　her。　Oh；　Light；　don't　let　her。　Don't　let　her！　Light；　please；　not　that！
　　　　　　　For　a　moment　she　considered　letting　go　her　own　attempt　to　cut　Moghedien　off　…　for　one　thing；　she　had　to　keep　forcing　it　back　to　a　razor　edge；　the　woven　flows　did　not　want　to　hold　the　keenness　…　letting　go　and　using　that　strength　to　force　Moghedien's　attack　further　back；　maybe　sever　it。　But　if　she　tried；　the　other　woman　would　not　need　to　defend；　she　could　add　that　strength　to　her　own　attack。　And　she　was　one　of　the　Forsaken。　Not　just　a　Black　sister。　A　woman　who　had　been　Aes　Sedai　in　the　Age　of　Legends；　when　Aes　Sedai　had　been　able　to　do　things　undreamed　of　now。　If　Moghedien　threw　her　whole　strength　at　her。。。
　　　　　　　A　man　who　came　in　then；　or　any　woman　unable　to　channel；　would　have　seen　only　two　women　facing　each　other　across　the　white　silk　rope　from　a　distance　of　less　than　ten　feet。　Two　women　staring　at　one　another　in　a　vast　hall　full　of　strange　things。　They　would　have　seen　nothing　to　say　it　was　a　duel。　No　leaping　about　and　hacking　with　swords　as　men　would　do；　nothing　smashed　or　broken。　Just　two　women　standing　there。　But　a　duel　all　the　same；　and　maybe　to　the　death。　Against　one　of　the　Forsaken。
　　　　　　　〃All　my　careful　planning　ruined；〃　Moghedien　said　abruptly　in　a　tight；　angry　voice；　white…knuckled　hands　gripping　her　skirts。　〃At　the　very　least　I　shall　have　to　go　to　untold　effort　to　put　everything　back　as　it　was。　It　may　not　be　possible。　Oh；　I　do　mean　to　make　you　pay　for　that；　Nynaeve　al'Meara。　This　has　been　such　a　cozy　hiding　place；　and　those　blind　women　have　a　number　of　very　useful　items　in　their　possession　even　if　they　do　not　…〃　She　shook　her　head；　lips　peeling　back　to　bare　her　teeth　in　a　snarl。　〃I　think　I　will　take　you　with　me　this　time。　I　know。　I　shall　keep　you　for　a　live　mounting　block。　You　will　be　brought　out　to　kneel　on　all　fours　so　I　can　step　from　your　back　to　my　saddle。　Or　perhaps　I　shall　give　you　to　Rahvin。　He　always　repays　favors。　He　does　have　a　pretty　little　queen　to　amuse　him　now；　but　pretty　women　were　always　Rahvin's　weakness。　He　likes　to　have　two　or　three　or　four　at　once　dancing　attendance　on　him。　How　will　you　like　that？　To　spend　the　rest　of　your　life　peting　for　Rahvin's　favors。　You　will　want　to；　once　he　has　his　hands　on　you；　he　has　his　little　tricks。　Yes；　I　do　believe　Rahvin　shall　have　you。〃
　　　　　　　Anger　welled　up　in　Nynaeve。　Sweat　streamed　down　her　face；　and　her　legs　shook　as　if　they　might　give　way；　but　anger　gave　her　strength。　Furious；　she　managed　to　push　her　weapon　of　Spirit　a　hair　closer　to　severing　Moghedien　from　the　Source　before　the　woman　halted　it　again。
　　　　　　　〃So　you　discovered　that　little　gem　behind　you；〃　Moghedien　said　in　a　moment　of　precarious　balance。　Surprisingly；　her　voice　was　almost　conversational。　〃I　wonder　how　you　did　that。　It　does　not　matter。　Did　you　e　to　take　it　away？　Perhaps　to　destroy　it？　You　cannot　destroy　it。　That　is　not　metal；　but　a　form　of　cuendillar。　Even　balefire　cannot　destroy　cuendillar。　And　if　you　mean　to　use　it；　it　does　have。。。　drawbacks；　shall　we　say？　Put　the　collar　on　a　man　who　channels；　and　a　woman　wearing　the　bracelets　can　make　him　do　whatever　she　wishes；　true；　but　it　will　not　stop　him　going　mad；　and　there　is　a　flow　the　other　way；　too。　Eventually　he　will　begin　to　be　able　to　control　you；　too；　so　you　end　with　a　struggle　at　every　hour。　Not　very　palatable　when　he　is　going　mad。　Of　course；　you　can　pass　the　bracelets　around；　so　no　one　has　too　much　exposure；　but　that　does　mean　trusting　someone　else　with　him。　Men　are　always　so　good　at　violence；　they　make　wonderful　weapons。　Or　two　women　can　each　wear　one　bracelet；　if　you　have　someone　you　trust　enough；　that　slows　the　seepage　considerably；　I　understand；　but　it　also　lessens　your　control；　even　if　you　work　in　perfect　unison。　Eventually；　you　will　find　yourselves　in　a　struggle　for　control　with　him；　each　of　you　needing　him　to　remove　your　bracelet　as　surely　as　he　needs　you　to　remove　the　collar。〃　She　tilted　her　head；　lifted　a　quizzical　eyebrow。　〃You　are　following　this；　I　trust？　Controlling　Lews　Therin　…　Rand　al'Thor　as　he　is　called　now　…　would　be　most　useful；　but　is　it　worth　the　price？　You　can　see　why　I　have　left　the　collar　and　bracelets　where　they　are。〃
　　　　　　　Trembling　to　contain　the　Power；　to　hold　her　woven　flows；　Nynaeve　frowned。　Why　was　the　woman　telling　her　all　of　this？　Did　she　think　it　did　not　matter　because　she　was　going　to　win？　Why　her　sudden　change　from　rage　to　talk？　There　was　sweat　on　Moghedien's　face；　too。　Quite　a　lot　of　sweat；　beading　on　her　broad　forehead；　running　down　her　cheeks。
　　　　　　　Suddenly　everything　changed　in　Nynaeve's　mind。　Moghedien's　was　not　a　voice　tight　with　anger；　it　was　a　voice　tight　with　strain。　Moghedien　was　not　suddenly　going　to　hurl　all　of　her　strength　at　her；　she　already　was。　The　woman　was　putting　out　as　much　effort　as　she。　She　was　facing　one　of　the　Forsaken；　and　far　from　being　plucked　like　a　goose　for　supper；　she　had　not　lost　a　feather。　She　was　meeting　one　of　the　Forsaken；　strength　for　strength！　Moghedien　was　trying　to　distract　her；　to　gain　an　opening　before　her　own　strength　gave　out！　If　only　she　could　do　the　same。　Before　her　strength　went。
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　wonder　how　I　know　all　this？　The　collar　and　bracelets　were　made　after　I　was。。。　Well；　we　will　not　talk　of　that。　Once　I　was　free；　the　first　thing　I　did　was　seek　information　about　those　last　days。　Last　years；　really。　There　are　a　good　many　fragments　here　and　there　that　make　no　sense　to　anyone　who　does　not　have　some　idea　to　begin　with。　The　Age　of　Legends。　Such　a　quaint　name　you　have　given　my　time。　Yet　even　your　wildest　tales　no　more　than　hint　at　the　half。　I　had　lived　over　two　hundred　years　when　the　Bore　was　opened；　and　I　was　still　young；　for　an　Aes　Sedai。　Your　'legends'　are　but　pale　imitations　of　what　we　could　do。　Why。。。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　stopped　listening。　A　way　to　distract　the　woman。　Even　if　she　could　think　of　something　to　say；　Moghedien　would　be　on　her　guard　against　the　method　she　herself　was　using。　She　could　not　spare　effort　for　as　much　as　a　thread…thin　weave；　any　more　than。。。　any　more　than　Moghedien　could。　A　woman　from　the　Age　of　Legends；　a　woman　long　used　to　wielding　the　One　Power。　Perhaps　used　to　doing　almost　everything　with　the　Power　before　she　was　imprisoned。　In　hiding　since　being　freed；　how　used　to　doing　things　without　the　Power　had　she　bee？
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　let　her　legs　sag。　Dropping　the　feather　duster；　she　caught　hold　of　the　pedestal　to　support　herself。　There　was　very　little　fakery　needed。
　　　　　　　Moghedien　smiled　and　took　a　step　nearer。　〃。。。travel　to　other　worlds；　even　worlds　in　the　sky。　Do　you　know　that　the　stars　are。。。〃　So　sure；　that　smile。　So　triumphant。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　seized　the　collar；　ignoring　the　joltingly　pained　emotions　that　spilled　into　her；　and　hurled　it；　all　in　one　motion。
　　　　　　　The　Forsaken　had　only　begun　to　gape　when　the　wide　black　circlet　struck　her　between　the　eyes。　Not　a　hard　blow；　certainly　not　enough　to　stun；　but　not　expected；　either。　Moghedien's　control　over　her　woven　flows　faltered；　just　slightly；　only　for　an　instant。　Yet　for　that　instant　the　balance　between　them　shifted。　The　shield　of　Spirit　slid　between　Moghedien　and　the　Source；　the　halo　surrounding　her　winked　out。
　　　　　　　The　woman's　eyes　bulged。