rj.theshadowrising-第4部分

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e　tall　fireplace　all　of　golden　marble　from　Kandor；　cold　now；　to　the　paneled　walls　of　pale；　oddly　striped　wood；　iron　hard　yet　carved　in　wondrous　beasts　and　wildly　feathered　birds。　Those　panels　had　been　brought　from　the　mysterious　lands　beyond　the　Aiel　Waste　well　over　a　thousand　years　ago；　and　the　fireplace　was　more　than　twice　as　old。　The　polished　red…stone　of　the　floor　had　e　from　the　Mountains　of　Mist。　 High　arched　windows　let　onto　a　balcony。　The　iridescent　stone　framing　the　windows　shone　like　pearls；　and　had　been　salvaged　from　the　remains　of　a　city　sunk　into　the　Sea　of　Storms　by　the　Breaking　of　the　World；　no　one　had　ever　seen　its　like。
The　current　occupant；　Siuan　Sanche；　had　been　born　a　fisherman's　daughter　in　Tear；　though；　and　the　furnishings　she　had　chosen　were　simple；　if　well　made　and　well　polished。　She　sat　in　a　stout　chair　behind　a　large　table　plain　enough　to　have　served　a　farmhouse。　The　only　other　chair　in　the　room；　just　as　plain　and　usually　set　off　to　one　side；　now　stood　in　front　of　the　table　atop　a　small　Tairen　rug；　simple　in　blue　and　brown　and　gold。　Half　a　dozen　books　rested　open　on　tall　reading　stands　about　the　floor。　That　was　all　of　it。　A　drawing　hung　above　the　fireplace：　tiny　fishing　boats　working　among　reeds　in　the　Fingers　of　the　Dragon；　just　as　her　father's　boat　had。
At　first　glance；　despite　her　smooth　Aes　Sedai　features；　Siuan　Sanche　herself　looked　as　simple　as　her　furnishings。　She　herself　was　sturdy；　and　handsome　rather　than　beautiful；　and　the　only　bit　of　ostentation　in　her　clothing　was　the　broad　stole　of　the　Amyrlin　Seat　she　wore；　with　one　colored　stripe　for　each　of　the　seven　Ajahs。　Her　age　was　indeterminate；　as　with　any　Aes　Sedai；　not　even　a　hint　of　gray　showed　in　her　dark　hair。　But　her　sharp　blue　eyes　brooked　no　nonsense；　and　her　firm　jaw　spoke　of　the　determination　of　the　youngest　woman　ever　to　be　chosen　Amyrlin　Seat。　For　over　ten　years　Siuan　Sanche　had　been　able　to　summon　rulers；　and　the　powerful；　and　they　had　e；　even　if　they　hated　the　White　Tower　and　feared　Aes　Sedai。
As　the　Amyrlin　strode　around　in　front　of　the　table；　Min　set　down　her　bundle　and　began　an　awkward　curtsy；　muttering　irritably　under　her　breath　at　having　to　do　so。　Not　that　she　wanted　to　be　disrespectful　…　that　did　not　even　occur　to　one　facing　a　woman　like　Siuan　Sanche　…　but　the　bow　she　usually　would　have　made　seemed　foolish　in　a　dress；　and　she　had　only　a　rough　idea　of　how　to　curtsy。
Halfway　down；　with　her　skirts　already　spread；　she　froze　like　a　crouching　toad。　Siuan　Sanche　was　standing　there　as　regal　as　any　queen；　and　for　a　moment　she　was　also　lying　on　the　floor；　naked。　Aside　from　her　being　in　only　her　skin；　there　was　something　odd　about　the　image；　but　it　vanished　before　Min　could　say　what。　It　was　as　strong　a　viewing　as　she　had　ever　seen；　and　she　had　no　idea　what　it　meant。
〃Seeing　things　again；　are　you？〃　the　Amyrlin　said。　〃Well；　I　can　certainly　make　use　of　that　ability　of　yours。　I　could　have　used　it　all　the　months　you　were　gone。　But　we'll　not　talk　of　that。　What's　done　is　done。　The　Wheel　weaves　as　the　Wheel　wills。〃　She　smiled　a　tight　smile。　〃But　if　you　do　it　again；　I'll　have　your　hide　for　gloves。　Stand　up；　girl。　Leane　forces　enough　ceremony　on　me　in　a　month　to　last　any　sensible　woman　a　year。　I　don't　have　time　for　it。　Not　these　days。　Now；　what　did　you　just　see？〃
Min　straightened　slowly。　It　was　a　relief　to　be　back　with　someone　who　knew　of　her　talent；　even　if　it　was　the　Amyrlin　Seat　herself。　She　did　not　have　to　hide　what　she　saw　from　the　Amyrlin。　Far　from　it。　〃You　were。。。　You　weren't　wearing　any　clothes。　I。。。　I　don't　know　what　it　means；　Mother。〃
Siuan　barked　a　short；　mirthless　laugh。　〃No　doubt　that　I'll　take　a　lover。　But　I　have　no　time　for　that；　either。　There's　no　time　for　winking　at　the　men　when　you're　busy　bailing　the　boat。〃
〃Maybe；〃　Min　said　slowly。　It　could　have　meant　that；　though　she　doubted　it。　〃I　just　do　not　know。　But；　Mother；　I've　been　seeing　things　ever　since　I　walked　into　the　Tower。　Something　bad　is　going　to　happen；　something　terrible。〃
She　started　with　the　Aes　Sedai　in　the　entry　hall　and　told　everything　she　had　seen；　as　well　as　what　everything　meant；　when　she　was　sure。　She　held　back　what　Gawyn　had　said；　though；　or　most　of　it；　it　was　no　use　telling　him　not　to　anger　the　Amyrlin　if　she　did　it　for　him。　The　rest　she　laid　out　as　starkly　as　she　had　seen　it。　Some　of　her　fear　came　out　as　she　dredged　it　all　up；　seeing　it　all　again；　her　voice　shook　before　she　was　done。
The　Amyrlin's　expression　never　changed。　〃So　you　spoke　with　young　Gawyn；〃　she　said　when　Min　finished。　〃Well；　I　think　I　can　convince　him　to　keep　quiet。　And　if　I　remember　Sahra　correctly；　the　girl　could　do　with　some　time　working　in　the　country。　She'll　spread　no　gossip　hoeing　a　vegetable　patch。〃
〃I　don't　understand；〃　Min　said。　〃Why　should　Gawyn　keep　quiet？　About　what？　I　told　him　nothing。　And　Sahra。。。　？　Mother；　perhaps　I　didn't　make　myself　clear。　Aes　Sedai　and　Warders　are　going　to　die。　It　has　to　mean　a　battle。　And　unless　you　send　a　lot　of　Aes　Sedai　and　Warders　off　somewhere　…　and　servants；　too；　I　saw　servants　dead　and　injured；　too　…　unless　you　do　that；　that　battle　will　be　here！　In　Tar　Valon！〃
〃Did　you　see　that？〃　The　Amyrlin　demanded。　〃A　battle？　Do　you　know；　with　your。。。　your　talent；　or　are　you　guessing？〃
〃What　else　could　it　be？　At　least　four　Aes　Sedai　are　as　good　as　dead。　Mother；　I've　only　laid　eyes　on　nine　of　you　since　ing　back；　and　four　are　going　to　die！　And　the　Warders。。。。　What　else　could　it　be？〃
〃More　things　than　I　like　to　think　of；〃　Siuan　said　grimly。　〃When？　How　long　before　this。。。　thing。。。　occurs？〃
Min　shook　her　head。　〃I　do　not　know。　Most　of　it　will　happen　in　the　space　of　a　day；；　maybe　two；　but　that　could　be　tomorrow　or　a　year　from　now。　Or　ten。〃
〃Let　us　pray　for　ten。　If　it　es　tomorrow；　there　isn't　much　I　can　do　to　stop　it。〃
Min　grimaced。　Only　two　Aes　Sedai　besides　Siuan　Sanche　knew　of　what　she　could　do：　Moiraine；　and　Verin　Mathwin；　who　had　tried　to　study　her　talent。　None　of　them　knew　how　it　worked　any　more　than　she　did；　except　that　it　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　Power。　Perhaps　that　was　why　only　Moiraine　seemed　able　to　accept　the　fact　that　when　she　knew　what　a　viewing　meant；　it　happened。
〃Maybe　it's　the　Whitecloaks；　Mother。　They　were　everywhere　in　Alindaer　when　I　crossed　the　bridge。〃　She　did　not　believe　the　Children　of　the　Light　had　anything　to　do　with　what　was　ing；　but　she　was　reluctant　to　say　what　she　believed。　
Believed；　not　knew；　yet　that　was　bad　enough。
But　the　Amyrlin　had　begun　shaking　her　head　before　she　finished。　〃They　would　try　something　if　they　could；　I've　no　doubt　…　they　would　love　to　strike　at　the　Tower　…　but　Eamon　Valda　won't　move　openly　without　orders　from　the　Lord　Captain　mander；　and　Pedron　Niall　will　not　strike　unless　he　thinks　we're　injured。　He　knows　our　strength　too　well　to　be　foolish。　For　a　thousand　years　the　Whitecloaks　have　been　like　that。　Silverpike　in　the　reeds；　waiting　for　a　hint　of　Aes　Sedai　blood　in　the　water。　But　we've　showed　them　none　yet；　nor　will　we；　if　I　can　help　it。〃
〃Yet　if　Valda　did　try　something　on　his　own　…　〃
Siuan　cut　her　off。　〃He　has　no　more　than　five　hundred　men　close　to　Tar　Valon；　girl。　He　sent　the　rest　away　weeks　ago；　to　cause　trouble　elsewhere。　The　Shining　Walls　held　off　the　Aiel。　And　Artur　Hawkwing；　too。　Valda　will　never　break　into　Tar　Valon　unless　the　city　is　already　falling　apart　from　the　inside。〃　Her　voice　did　not　change　as　she　went　on。　〃You　very　much　want　me　to　believe　the　trouble　will　e　from　the　Whitecloaks。　Why？〃　There　was　no　gentleness　in　her　eyes。
〃Because　I　want　to　believe　it；〃　Min　muttered。　She　licked　her　lips　and　spoke　the　words　she　did　not　want　to　say。　〃The　silver　collar　I　saw　on　that　one　Aes　Sedai。　Mother；　it　looked。。。。　It　looked　like　one　of　the　collars　the。。。　the　Seanchan　use　to。。。　to　control　women　who　can　channel。〃　Her　voice　dwindled　as　Siuan's　mouth　twisted　with　distaste。
〃Filthy　things；〃　the　Amyrlin　growled。　〃As　well　most　people　don't　believe　a　quarter　of　what　they　hear　about　the　Seanchan。　But　there's　more　chance　of　it　being　the　Whitecloaks。　If　the　Seanchan　land　again；　anywhere；　I　will　know　it　in　days　by　pigeon；　and　it　is　a　long　way　from　the　sea　to　Tar　Valon。　If　they　do　reappear；　I　will　have　plenty　of　warning。　No；　I　fear　what　you　see　is　something　far　worse　than　the　Seanchan。　I　fear　it　can　only　be　the　Black　Ajah；　Only　a　handful　of　us　know　about　them；　and　I　don't　relish　what　will　happen　when　the　knowledge　bees　mon；　but　they　are　the　greatest　immediate　threat　to　the　Tower。〃
Min　realized　she　was　clutching　her　skirt　so　hard　that　her　hands　hurt；　her　mouth　was　dry　as　dust。　The　White　Tower　had　always　coldly　denied　the　existence　of　a　hidden　Ajah；　dedicated　to　the　Dark　One。　The　surest　way　to　anger　an　Aes　Sedai　was　merely　to　mention　such　a　thing。　For　the　Amyrlin　Seat　herself　to　give　the　Black　Ajah　reality　so　casually　made　Min's　spine　turn　to　ice。
As　if　she　had　said　nothing　out　of　the　ordinary；　the　Amyrlin　went　on。　〃But　you　didn't　e　all　this　way　just　to　do　your　viewings。　What　word　from　Moiraine？　I　know　everything　from　Arad　Doman　to　Tarabon　is　in　chaos；　to　say　the　least。〃　That　was　saying　the　least；　indeed；　men　supporting　the　Dragon　Reborn　were　fighting　those　opposing　him；　and　had　turned　both　countries　to　civil　war　while　they　still　fought　each　other　for　control　of　Almoth　Plain。　Siuan's　tone　dismissed　all　that　as　a　detail。　〃But　I've　heard　nothing　of　Rand　al'Thor　for　months。　He　is　the　focus　of　everything。　Where　is　he？　What　does　Moiraine　have　him　doing？　Sit；　girl。　Sit。〃　She　gestured　to　the　chair　in　front　of　the　table。
Min　approached　the　chair　on　wobbly　legs　and　half　fell　into　it。　The　Black　Ajah！　Oh；　Light！　Aes　Sedai　were　supposed　to　stand　for　the　Light。　Even　if　she　did　not　really　trust　them；　there　was　always　that。　Aes　Sedai；　and　all　the　power　of　the　Aes　Sedai；　stood　for　the　Light　and　against　the　Shadow。　Only　now　it　was　not　true　any　longer。　She　hardly　heard　herself　say；　〃He's　on　his　way　to　Tear。〃
〃Tear！　It's　Callandor；　then。　Moiraine　means　him　to　take　the　Sword　That　Cannot　Be　Touched　out　of　the　Stone　of　Tear。　I　swear　I'll　hang　her　in　the　sun　to　dry！　I　will　make　her　wish　she　were　a　novice　again！　He　cannot　be　ready　for　that　yet！〃
〃It　was　not。。。。〃　Min　stopped　to　clear　her　throat。　〃It　was　not　Moiraine's　doing。　Rand　left　in　the　middle　of　the　night；　by　himself。　The　others　followed；　and　Moiraine　sent　me　to　tell　you。　They　could　be　in　Tear　by　now。　For　all　I　know；　he　could　have　Callandor　by　now。〃
〃Burn　him！〃　Siuan　barked。　〃By　now；　he　could　be　dead！　I　wish　he　had　never　heard　a　word　of　the　Prophecies　of　the　Dragon。　If　I　could　keep　him　from　hearing　another；　I　would。〃
〃But　doesn't　he　have　to　fulfill　the　Prophecies？　I　don't　understand〃
The　Amyrlin　leaned　back　against　her　table　wearily。　〃As　though　anyone　even　understands　most　of　them！　The　Prophecies　aren't　what　makes　him　the　Dragon　Reborn；　all　that　takes　is　for　him　to　admit　it；　and　he　must　have　if　he　is　going　for　Callandor。　The　Prophecies　are　meant　to　announce　to　the　world　who　he　is；　to　prepare　him　for　what　is　ing；　to　prepare　the　world　for　it。　If　Moiraine　can　keep　some　control　over　him；　she　will　guide　him　to　the　Prophecies　we　can　be　sure　of　…　when　he　is　ready　to　face　them！　…　And　for　the　rest；　we　trust　that　what　he　does　is　enough。　We　hope。　For　all　I　know；　he　has　already　fulfilled　Prophecies　none　of　us　understands。　The　Light　send　it's　enough。〃
〃So　you　do　mean　to　cont