rj.theshadowrising-第22部分

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　　　　　　　Nynaeve　merely　grunted；　it　was　doubtful　she　was　mad　enough　to　sense　what　Egwene　was　doing　…　she　could　not；　without　her　temper　up　…　yet　she　could　see　Amico　stiffen　as　the　flows　of　Air　touched　her；　then　slump；　half　supported　by　the　flows；　as　if　to　show　how　little　she　was　resisting。
　　　　　　　Aviendha　shuddered；　the　way　she　had　taken　to　doing　whenever　she　knew　the　Power　was　being　channeled　near　her。
　　　　　　　Egwene　wove　blocks　for　Amico's　ears　…　questioning　them　one　at　a　time　did　little　good　if　they　could　hear　each　other's　stories　…　and　turned　to　Joiya。　She　shifted　her　fan　from　hand　to　hand　so　she　could　wipe　them　on　her　dress；　and　stopped　with　a　grimace　of　distaste。　Her　sweaty　palms　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　temperature。
　　　　　　　〃Her　face；〃　Aviendha　said　abruptly。　And　surprisingly；　she　almost　never　spoke　unless　addressed　by　Moiraine　or　one　of　the　others。　〃Amico's　face。　She　does　not　have　the　look　she　did；　as　if　the　years　had　passed　her　by。　Not　as　much　as　she　did。　Is　that　because　she　was。。。　because　she　was　stilled？〃　she　finished　in　a　breathless　rush。　She　had　picked　up　a　few　habits　being　so　much　around　them。　No　woman　of　the　Tower　could　speak　of　stilling　without　a　chill。
　　　　　　　Egwene　moved　down　the　table；　to　where　she　could　see　Amico's　face　from　the　side　and　yet　stay　out　of　Joiya's　vision。　Joiya's　eyes　always　turned　her　stomach　to　a　lump　of　ice。
　　　　　　　Aviendha　was　right；　that　was　the　difference　she　herself　had　noticed　and　not　understood。　Amico　looked　young；　perhaps　younger　than　her　years；　but　it　was　not　quite　the　agelessness　of　Aes　Sedai　who　had　worked　years　with　the　One　Power。　〃You　have　sharp　eyes；　Aviendha；　but　I　don't　know　if　this　has　anything　to　do　with　stilling。　It　must；　though；　I　suppose。　I　don't　know　what　else　could　cause　it。〃
　　　　　　　She　realized　that　did　not　sound　very　much　like　an　Aes　Sedai；　who　generally　spoke　as　if　they　knew　everything；　when　an　Aes　Sedai　said　she　did　not　know；　she　usually　managed　to　make　her　denial　appear　to　cloak　volumes　of　knowledge。　While　she　was　racking　her　brain　for　something　properly　portentous；　Nynaeve　came　to　her　rescue。
　　　　　　　〃Relatively　few　Aes　Sedai　have　ever　been　burned　out；　Aviendha；　and　far　fewer　stilled。〃
　　　　　　　〃Burned　out〃　was　what　it　was　called　when　it　happened　by　accident；　officially；　stilling　resulted　from　trial　and　sentence。　Egwene　could　not　see　the　point　of　it；　really；　it　was　like　having　two　words　for　falling　down　the　stairs；　depending　on　whether　you　tripped　or　were　pushed。　For　that；　most　Aes　Sedai　seemed　to　see　it　the　same；　except　when　teaching　novices　or　Accepted。　Three　words；　actually。　Men　were　〃gentled；〃　must　be　gentled；　before　they　went　mad。　Only　now　there　was　Rand；　and　the　Tower　did　not　dare　gentle　him。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　had　put　on　a　lecturing　tone；　no　doubt　trying　to　sound　Aes　Sedai。　She　was　doing　an　imitation　of　Sheriam　before　a　class；　Egwene　realized；　hands　clasped　at　her　waist；　smiling　slightly　as　if　it　were　all　so　simple　when　you　applied　yourself。
　　　　　　　〃Stilling　is　not　a　thing　anyone　would　choose　to　study；　you　understand；〃　Nynaeve　continued。　〃It　is　generally　accepted　to　be　irreversible。　What　makes　a　woman　able　to　channel　cannot　be　replaced　once　it　is　removed；　any　more　than　a　hand　that　has　been　cut　off　can　be　Healed　back　into　existence。〃　At　least；　no　one　had　ever　been　able　to　Heal　stilling。　There　had　been　attempts。　What　Nynaeve　said　was　generally　true；　yet　some　sisters　of　the　Brown　Ajah　would　study　almost　anything　if　given　the　chance；　and　some　Yellow　sisters；　the　best　Healers；　would　try　to　learn　to　Heal　anything。　But　even　a　hint　of　success　at　Healing　a　woman　who　had　been　stilled　was　nonexistent。　〃Aside　from　that　one　hard　fact；　little　is　known。　Women　who　are　stilled　seldom　live　more　than　a　few　years。　They　seem　to　stop　wanting　to　live；　they　give　up。　As　I　said；　it　is　an　unpleasant　subject。〃
　　　　　　　Aviendha　shifted　unfortably。　〃I　only　thought　that　might　be　it；〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice。
　　　　　　　Egwene　thought　it　might　be；　too。　She　resolved　to　ask　Moiraine。　If　she　ever　saw　her　without　Aviendha　there　as　well。　It　seemed　to　her　that　their　deceit　got　in　the　way　almost　as　much　as　it　helped。
　　　　　　　〃Let　us　see　if　Joiya　still　tells　the　same　tale；　too。〃　Even　so；　she　had　to　take　herself　in　hand　before　she　could　unravel　the　flows　of　Air　woven　around　the　Darkfriend。
　　　　　　　Joiya　must　have　been　stiff　from　standing　so　still　for　so　long；　but　she　turned　smoothly　to　face　them。　The　sweat　beading　her　forehead　could　not　diminish　her　dignity　and　presence；　any　more　than　her　drab；　rough　dress　lessened　the　sense　of　her　being　there　by　choice。　She　was　a　handsome　woman　with　something　motherly　about　her　face　despite　its　ageless　smoothness；　something　forting。　But　the　dark　eyes　set　in　that　face　made　a　hawk's　look　kind。　She　smiled　at　them；　a　smile　that　never　reached　those　eyes。　〃The　Light　illumine　you。　May　the　hand　of　the　Creator　shelter　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　not　hear　that　out　of　you。〃　Nynaeve's　voice　was　quiet　and　calm；　but　she　tossed　her　braid　over　her　shoulder　and　gripped　the　end　in　her　fist；　the　way　she　did　when　angry　or　uneasy。　Egwene　did　not　think　she　was　uneasy；　Joiya　did　not　seem　to　make　Nynaeve's　skin　crawl　as　she　did　Egwene's。
　　　　　　　〃I　have　repented　my　sins；〃　Joiya　said　smoothly。　〃The　Dragon　is　Reborn；　and　he　holds　Callandor。　The　Prophecies　are　fulfilled。　The　Dark　One　must　fail。　I　can　see　that；　now。　My　repentance　is　real。　No　one　can　walk　so　long　in　the　Shadow　that　she　cannot　e　again　to　the　Light。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve's　face　had　grown　darker　by　the　word。　Egwene　was　sure　she　was　furious　enough　to　channel　now；　but　if　she　did　it　would　probably　be　to　strangle　Joiya。　Egwene　did　not　believe　Joiya's　repentance　any　more　than　Nynaeve；　of　course；　but　the　woman's　information　might　be　real。　Joiya　was　quite　capable　of　a　cold　decision　to　go　over　to　what　she　believed　would　be　the　winning　side。　Or　she　might　only　be　buying　time；　lying　in　hope　of　rescue。
　　　　　　　Lies　should　not　have　been　possible　for　an　Aes　Sedai；　even　one　who　had　lost　all　right　to　the　name；　not　outright　lies。　The　very　first　of　the　Three　Oaths；　taken　with　the　Oath　Rod　in　hand；　should　have　seen　to　that。　But　whatever　oaths　to　the　Dark　One　were　sworn　on　joining　the　Black　Ajah；　they　seemed　to　sever　all　Three　Oaths。
　　　　　　　Well。　The　Amyrlin　had　sent　them　out　to　hunt　the　Black　Ajah；　to　hunt　Liandrin　and　the　other　twelve　who　had　done　murder　and　fled　the　Tower。　And　all　they　had　to　go　on　now　was　what　these　two　could；　or　would；　tell　them。
　　　　　　　〃Give　us　your　tale　again；〃　Egwene　manded。　〃Use　different　words；　this　time。　I　am　tired　of　listening　to　memorized　stories。〃　If　she　was　lying；　there　was　more　chance　she　would　trip　herself　up　telling　it　differently。　〃We　will　hear　you　out。〃　That　was　for　Nynaeve's　benefit；　she　gave　a　loud　sniff；　then　a　curt　nod。
　　　　　　　Joiya　shrugged。　〃As　you　wish。　Let　me　see。　Different　words。　The　false　Dragon；　Mazrim　Taim；　who　was　captured　in　Saldaea；　can　channel　with　incredible　strength。　Perhaps　as　much　as　Rand　al'Thor；　or　nearly　so；　if　the　reports　can　be　believed。　Before　he　can　be　brought　to　Tar　Valon　and　gentled；　Liandrin　means　to　break　him　free。　He　will　be　proclaimed　as　the　Dragon　Reborn；　his　name　given　as　Rand　al'Thor；　and　then　he　will　be　set　to　destruction　on　such　a　scale　as　the　world　has　not　seen　since　the　War　of　the　Hundred　Years。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　is　impossible；〃　Nynaeve　broke　in。　〃The　Pattern　will　not　accept　a　false　Dragon；　not　now　that　Rand　has　proclaimed　himself。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　sighed。　They　had　had　this　out　before；　but　Nynaeve　always　argued　the　point。　She　was　not　sure　Nynaeve　really　believed　that　Rand　was　the　Dragon　Reborn；　no　matter　what　she　said；　no　matter　the　Prophecies　and　Callandor　and　the　fall　of　the　Stone。　Nynaeve　was　just　enough　older　than　he　to　have　looked　after　him　when　he　was　a　child；　just　as　she　had　after　Egwene。　He　was　an　Emond's　Fielder；　and　Nynaeve　still　saw　her　first　duty　as　protecting　the　people　of　Emond's　Field。
　　　　　　　〃Is　that　what　Moiraine　told　you？〃　Joiya　asked　with　a　touch　of　contempt。　〃Moiraine　has　spent　little　time　in　the　Tower　since　she　was　raised；　and　not　much　more　with　her　sisters　anywhere。　I　suppose　she　knows　the　workings　of　village　life；　perhaps　even　something　of　the　politics　between　nations；　but　she　does　claim　certainty　about　matters　learned　only　through　study　and　discussion　with　those　who　know。　Still；　she　might　be　correct。　Mazrim　Taim　might　well　find　it　impossible　to　proclaim　himself。　But　if　others　do　it　for　him；　is　there　a　difference　that　matters？〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　wished　Moiraine　would　e　back。　The　woman　would　not　speak　so　confidently　if　Moiraine　were　there。　Joiya　knew　very　well　that　she　and　Nynaeve　were　only　Accepted。　It　made　a　difference。
　　　　　　　〃Go　on；〃　Egwene　said；　almost　as　harshly　as　Nynaeve。　〃And　remember；　different　words。〃
　　　　　　　〃Of　course；〃　Joiya　replied；　as　though　responding　to　a　gracious　invitation；　but　her　eyes　glittered　like　chips　of　black　glass。　〃You　can　see　the　obvious　result。　Rand　al'Thor　will　be　blamed　for　the　depredations　of。　。　。　Rand　al'Thor。　Even　proof　that　they　are　not　the　same　man　may　well　be　dismissed。　After　all；　who　can　say　what　tricks　the　Dragon　Reborn　can　play？　Perhaps　put　himself　in　two　places　at　once。　Even　the　sort　who　have　always　rallied　to　a　false　Dragon　will　hesitate　in　the　face　of　the　indiscriminate　slaughter　and　worse　laid　at　his　feet。　Those　who　do　not　shrink　at　such　butchery　will　seek　out　the　Rand　al'Thor　who　seems　to　revel　in　blood。　The　nations　will　unite　as　they　did　in　the　Aiel　War。。。〃　She　gave　Aviendha　an　apologetic　smile；　incongruous　beneath　those　merciless　eyes。　〃。。。but　no　doubt　much　more　quickly。　Even　the　Dragon　Reborn　cannot　stand　against　that；　not　forever。　He　will　be　crushed　before　the　Last　Battle　even　begins；　by　the　very　ones　he　was　meant　to　save。　The　Dark　One　will　break　free；　the　day　of　Tarmon　Gai'don　will　e；　and　the　Shadow　will　cover　the　earth　and　remake　the　Pattern　for　all　time。　That　is　Liandrin's　plan。〃　There　was　not　a　hint　of　satisfaction　in　her　voice；　but　no　horror；　either。
　　　　　　　It　was　a　plausible　story；　more　plausible　than　Amico's　tale　of　a　few　eavesdropped　sentences；　but　Egwene　believed　Amico　and　not　Joiya。　Perhaps　because　she　wanted　to。　A　vague　threat　in　Tanchico　was　easier　to　face　than　this　fully　fleshed　plan　to　turn　every　hand　against　Rand。　No；　she　thought。　Joiya　is　lying。　I　am　sure　she　is。　Yet　they　could　not　afford　to　ignore　either　story。　But　they　could　not　chase　after　both；　not　with　any　hope　of　success。
　　　　　　　The　door　banged　open；　and　Moiraine　strode　in；　with　Elayne　following。　The　Daughter…Heir　was　frowning　at　the　floor　in　front　of　her　toes；　lost　in　dark　thoughts；　but　Moiraine。。。。　For　once　the　Aes　Sedai's　serenity　had　vanished；　fury　painted　her　face。

　
Chapter　6
（Lion　Rampant）
Doorways

　　　　　　　〃Rand　al'Thor；〃　Moiraine　told　the　air　in　a　low；　tight　voice；　〃is　a　mule…headed；　stone…willed　fool　of　a。。。a。。。　a　man！〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　lifted　her　chin　angrily。　Her　childhood　nurse；　Lini；　used　to　say　you　could　weave　silk　from　pig　bristles　before　you　could　make　a　man　anything　but　a　man。　But　that　was　no　excuse　for　Rand。
　　　　　　　〃We　breed　them　that　way　in　the　Two　Rivers。〃　Nynaeve　was　suddenly　all　half…suppressed　smiles　and　satisfaction。　She　seldom　hid　her　dislike　of　the　Aes　Sedai　half　as　well　as　she　thought　she　did。　〃Two　Rivers　women　never　have　any　trouble　with　them。〃　From　the　startled　look　Egwene　gave　her；　that　was　a　lie　big　enough　to　warrant　having