rj.theshadowrising-第42部分

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　　　　　　　Abruptly　Egwene　stopped　flying。　Her　feet　thumped　hard　on　the　pavement；　and　she　staggered。　It　was　the　Aiel　woman's　voice；　but　this　was　an　older　woman。　Not　as　old　as　Egwene　had　thought　at　first　…　in　fact；　she　looked　much　younger　than　her　white　hair　suggested　…　but　with　the　voice；　and　those　sharp　blue　eyes；　she　was　sure　it　was　the　same　woman。　〃You're。。。　different；〃　she　said。
　　　　　　　〃You　can　be　what　you　wish　to　be；　here。〃　The　woman　sounded　embarrassed；　but　only　a　little。　〃At　times　I　like　to　remember。。。　That　is　not　important。　You　are　from　the　White　Tower？　It　has　been　long　since　they　had　a　dreamwalker。　Very　long。　I　am　Amys；　of　the　Nine　Valleys　sept　of　the　Taardad　Aiel。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　are　a　Wise　One？　You　are！　And　you　know　dreams；　you　know　Tel'aran'rhiod！　You　can。。。　My　name　is　Egwene。　Egwene　al'Vere。　I。。。〃　She　took　a　deep　breath；　Amys　did　not　look　a　woman　to　lie　to。　〃I　am　Aes　Sedai。　Of　the　Green　Ajah。〃
　　　　　　　Amys's　expression　did　not　change；　really。　A　slight　crinkling　of　her　eyes；　perhaps　in　skepticism。　Egwene　hardly　looked　old　enough　to　be　full　Aes　Sedai。　What　she　said；　though；　was　〃I　meant　to　leave　you　standing　in　your　skin　until　you　asked　for　some　proper　clothes。　Putting　on　cadin'sor　that　way；　as　though　you　were。。。　You　surprised　me；　pulling　free　as　you　did；　turning　my　own　spear　on　me。　But　you　are　still　untaught；　are　you　not；　however　strong。　Else　you　would　not　have　popped　into　the　middle　of　my　hunt　that　way；　where　you　obviously　did　not　wish　to　be。　And　this　flying　about？　Did　you　e　to　Tel'aran'rhiod　…　Tel'aran'rhiod！　…　to　stare　at　this　city；　wherever　it　is？〃
　　　　　　　〃It's　Tanchico；〃　Egwene　said　faintly。　She　didn't　know。　But　then　how　had　Amys　followed　her；　or　found　her？　It　was　obvious　she　knew　more　of　the　World　of　Dreams　than　Egwene　did；　by　far。　〃You　can　help　me。　I　am　trying　to　find　women　of　the　Black　Ajah；　Darkfriends。　I　think　they　are　here；　and　I　have　to　find　them　if　they　are。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　truly　exists；　then。〃　Amys　almost　whispered　it。　〃An　Ajah　of　Shadowrunners　in　the　White　Tower。〃　She　shook　her　head；　〃You　are　like　a　girl　just　wedded　to　the　spear　who　thinks　now　she　can　wrestle　men　and　leap　mountains。　For　her　it　means　a　few　bruises　and　a　valuable　lesson　in　humility。　For　you；　here；　it　could　mean　death。〃　Amys　eyed　the　white　buildings　around　them　and　grimaced。　〃Tanchico？　In。。。　Tarabon？　This　city　is　dying；　eating　itself。　There　is　a　darkness　here；　an　evil。　Worse　than　men　can　make。　Or　women。〃　She　looked　at　Egwene　pointedly。　〃You　cannot　see　it；　or　feel　it；　can　you？　And　you　want　to　hunt　Shadowrunners　in　Tel'aran'rhiod。〃
　　　　　　　〃Evil？〃　Egwene　said　quickly。　〃That　could　be　them。　Are　you　sure？　If　I　told　you　what　they　look　like；　could　you　be　certain　it　was　them？　I　can　describe　them。　I　can　describe　one　to　her　last　braid。〃
　　　　　　　〃A　child；〃　Amys　muttered；　〃demanding　a　silver　bracelet　from　her　father　this　minute　when　she　knows　nothing　of　trading　or　the　making　of　bracelets。　You　have　much　to　learn。　Far　more　than　I　can　begin　to　teach　you；　now。　e　to　the　Three…fold　Land。　I　will　have　the　word　spread　through　the　clans　that　an　Aes　Sedai　called　Egwene　al'Vere　is　to　be　brought　to　me　at　Cold　Rocks　Hold。　Give　your　name　and　show　your　Great　Serpent　ring；　and　you　will　have　safe　running。　I　am　not　there　now；　but　I　will　return　from　Rhuidean　before　you　can　arrive。〃
　　　　　　　〃Please；　you　must　help　me。　I　need　to　know　if　they　are　here。　I　have　to　know。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　I　cannot　tell　you。　I　do　not　know　them；　or　this　place；　this　Tanchico。　You　must　e　to　me。　What　you　do　is　dangerous；　far　more　dangerous　than　you　know。　You　must　…　Where　are　you　going？　Stay！〃
　　　　　　　Something　seemed　to　snatch　at　Egwene；　pulling　her　into　darkness。
　　　　　　　Amys's　voice　followed　her；　hollow　and　dwindling。　〃You　must　e　to　me　and　learn。　You　must。。。〃
　
Chapter　12
（Flame　of　Tar　Valon）
Tanchico　or　the　Tower

　　　　　　　Elayne　drew　a　ragged；　relieved　breath　as　Egwene　finally　stirred　and　opened　her　eyes。　At　the　foot　of　the　bed；　Aviendha's　features　lost　their　tinge　of　frustration　and　anxiety；　and　she　flashed　a　quick　smile　that　Egwene　returned。　The　candle　had　burned　past　the　mark　minutes　ago；　it　seemed　an　hour。
　　　　　　　〃You　would　not　wake　up；　〃Elayne　said　unsteadily。　〃I　shook　you　and　shook　you；　but　you　would　not　wake。〃　She　gave　a　small　laugh。　〃Oh；　Egwene；　you　even　frightened　Aviendha。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　put　a　hand　on　her　arm　and　squeezed　reassuringly。　〃I　am　back；　now。〃　She　sounded　tired；　and　she　had　sweated　her　shift　through。　〃I　suppose　I　had　reason　to　stay　a　little　longer　than　we　planned。　I　will　be　more　careful　next　time。　I　promise。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　returned　the　pitcher　of　water　to　the　washstand　vigorously；　sloshing　some　out。　She　had　been　on　the　point　of　throwing　it　in　Egwene's　sleeping　face。　Her　features　were　posed；　but　the　pitcher　rattled　the　washbowl；　and　she　let　the　spilled　water　drip　to　the　carpet。　〃Was　it　something　you　found？　Or　was　it。。。　？　Egwene；　if　the　World　of　Dreams　can　hold　on　to　you　in　some　way；　maybe　it　is　too　dangerous　until　you　learn　more。　Maybe　the　more　often　you　go；　the　harder　it　is　to　e　back。　Maybe。。。　I　don't　know。　But　I　do　know　we　cannot　risk　letting　you　bee　lost。〃　She　crossed　her　arms　under　her　breasts；　ready　for　an　argument。
　　　　　　　〃I　know；〃　Egwene　said；　very　close　to　meekly。　Elayne's　eyebrows　shot　up；　Egwene　was　never　meek　with　Nynaeve。　Anything　but。
　　　　　　　Egwene　struggled　off　the　bed；　refusing　Elayne's　help；　and　made　her　way　to　the　washstand　to　bathe　her　face　and　arms　in　the　relatively　cool　water。　Elayne　found　a　dry　shift　in　the　wardrobe　while　Egwene　pulled　off　her　sodden　one。
　　　　　　　〃I　met　a　Wise　One；　a　woman　named　Amys。〃　Egwene's　voice　was　muffled　until　her　head　popped　out　of　the　top　of　the　new　shift。　〃She　said　I　should　e　to　her；　to　learn　about　Tel'aran'rhiod。　At　some　place　in　the　Waste　called　Cold　Rocks　Hold。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　had　caught　a　flicker　of　Aviendha's　eye　at　the　mention　of　the　Wise　One's　name。　〃Do　you　know　her？　Amys？〃
　　　　　　　The　Aiel　woman's　nod　could　only　be　described　as　reluctant。　〃A　Wise　One。　A　dreamwalker：　Amys　was　Far　Dareis　Mai　until　she　gave　up　the　spear　to　go　to　Rhuidean。〃
　　　　　　　〃A　Maiden！〃　Egwene　exclaimed。　〃So　that's　why　she。。。　No　matter。　She　said　she　is　at　Rhuidean；　now。　Do　you　know　where　this　Cold　Rocks　Hold　is；　Aviendha？〃
　　　　　　　〃Of　course。　Cold　Rocks　is　Rhuarc's　hold。　Rhuarc　is　Amys's　husband。　I　visit　there；　sometimes。　I　used　to。　My　sister…mother；　Lian；　is　sister…wife　to　Amys。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　exchanged　confused　glances　with　Egwene　and　Nynaeve。　Once　Elayne　had　thought　she　knew　a　good　bit　about　Aiel；　all　learned　from　her　teachers　in　Caemlyn；　but　she　had　discovered　since　meeting　Aviendha　how　little　she　did　know。　Customs　and　relationships　all　were　a　maze。　First…sisters　meant　having　the　same　mother；　except　that　it　was　possible　for　friends　to　bee　first…sisters　by　making　a　pledge　before　Wise　Ones。　Second…sisters　meant　your　mothers　were　sisters；　if　your　fathers　were　brothers；　you　were　father…sisters；　and　not　considered　as　closely　related　as　second…sisters。　After　that；　it　truly　grew　bewildering。
　　　　　　　〃What　does　'sister…wife'　mean？〃　she　asked　hesitantly。
　　　　　　　〃That　you　have　the　same　husband。〃　Aviendha　frowned　at　the　way　Egwene　gasped　and　Nynaeve's　eyes　opened　as　wide　as　they　would　go。　Elayne　had　been　half…expecting　the　answer；　but　she　still　found　herself　fussing　with　skirts　that　were　perfectly　straight。　〃This　is　not　your　custom？〃　the　Aiel　woman　asked。
　　　　　　　〃No；〃　Egwene　said　faintly。　〃No；　it　is　not。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　you　and　Elayne　care　for　one　another　as　first…sisters。　What　would　you　have　done　had　one　of　you　been　unwilling　to　step　aside　for　Rand　al'Thor？　Fight　over　him？　Let　a　man　damage　the　ties　between　you？　Would　it　not　have　been　better　if　you　both　had　married　him；　then？〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　looked　at　Egwene。　The　thought　of。。。　Could　she　have　done　such　a　thing？　Even　with　Egwene？　She　knew　her　cheeks　were　red。　Egwene　merely　looked　startled。
　　　　　　　〃But　I　wanted　to　step　aside；〃　Egwene　said。
　　　　　　　Elayne　knew　the　remark　was　as　much　for　her　as　for　Aviendha；　but　the　thought　would　not　go　away。　Had　Min　had　a　viewing？　What　would　she　do　if　Min　had？　If　it's　Berelain；　I　will　strangle　her；　and　him　too！　If　it　has　to　be　someone；　why　couldn't　it　be　Egwene？　Light；　what　am　I　thinking？　She　knew　she　was　being　flustered；　and　to　cover　it；　she　made　her　voice　light。　〃You　sound　as　if　the　man　has　no　choice　in　the　matter。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　can　say　no；〃　Aviendha　said　as　if　it　were　obvious；　〃but　if　he　wishes　to　marry　one；　he　must　marry　both　when　they　ask。　Please　take　no　offense；　but　I　was　shocked　when　I　learned　that　in　your　lands　a　man　can　ask　a　woman　to　marry　him。　A　man　should　make　his　interest　known；　then　wait　for　the　woman　to　speak。　Of　course；　some　women　lead　a　man　to　see　where　his　interest　lies；　but　the　right　of　the　question　is　hers。　I　do　not　really　know　very　much　of　these　things。　I　have　wanted　to　be　Far　Dareis　Mai　since　I　was　a　child。　All　I　want　in　life　is　the　spear　and　my　spear…sisters；〃　she　finished　quite　fiercely。
　　　　　　　〃No　one　is　going　to　try　to　make　you　marry；〃　Egwene　said　soothingly。　Aviendha　gave　her　a　startled　look。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　cleared　her　throat　loudly。　Elayne　wondered　if　she　had　been　thinking　about　Lan；　there　were　certainly　hard　spots　of　color　in　her　cheeks。　〃I　suppose；　Egwene；〃　Nynaeve　said　in　a　slightly　too　energetic　voice；　〃that　you　did　not　find　what　you　were　looking　for；　or　you　would　have　said　something　by　now。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　found　nothing；〃　Egwene　replied　regretfully。　〃But　Amys　said。。。　Aviendha；　what　sort　of　woman　is　Amys？〃
　　　　　　　The　Aiel　woman　had　taken　up　a　study　of　the　carpet。　〃Amys　is　hard　as　the　mountains　and　pitiless　as　the　sun；〃　she　said　without　looking　up。　〃She　is　a　dreamwalker。　She　can　teach　you。　Once　she　lays　her　hands　on　you；　she　will　drag　you　by　the　hair　toward　what　she　wants。　Rhuarc　is　the　only　one　who　can　stand　up　to　her。　Even　the　other　Wise　Ones　step　carefully　when　Amys　speaks。　But　she　can　teach　you。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　shook　her　head。　〃I　meant　would　being　in　a　strange　place　unsettle　her；　make　her　nervous？　Being　in　a　city？　Would　she　see　things　that　weren't　there？〃
　　　　　　　Aviendha's　laugh　was　a　short；　sharp　sound。　〃Nervous？　Waking　to　find　a　lion　in　her　bed　would　not　make　Amys　nervous。　She　was　a　Maiden；　Egwene；　and　she　has　grown　no　softer；　you　can　be　sure　of　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　did　this　woman　see？〃　Nynaeve　asked。
　　　　　　　〃It　wasn't　something　she　saw；　exactly；〃　Egwene　said　slowly。　〃I　think　not　seeing。　She　said　Tanchico　had　an　evil　in　it。　Worse　than　men　could　make；　she　said。　That　could　be　the　Black　Ajah。　Don't　argue　with　me；　Nynaeve；〃　she　added　in　a　firmer　voice。　〃Dreams　have　to　be　interpreted。　It　very　well　could　be。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　had　begun　frowning　as　soon　as　Egwene　mentioned　evil　in　Tanchico；　and　her　frown　turned　to　a　heated　glare　when　Egwene　told　her　not　to　argue。　Sometimes　Elayne　wanted　to　shake　both　women。　She　stepped　in　quickly；　before　the　older　woman　could　erupt；　〃It　very　well　could　be；　Egwene。　You　did　find　something。　More　than　Nynaeve　or　I　thought　you　could。　Didn't　she；　Nynaeve？　Don't　you　think　so？〃
　　　　　　　〃It　could　be；〃　Nynaeve　said　grudgingly。
　　　　　　　〃It　could　be。〃　Egwene　did　not　sound　happy　about　it。　She　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Nynaeve　is　right。　I　have　to　learn　what　I'm　doing。　If　I　knew　what　I　should；　I　would　not　have　had　to　be　told　about　the　evil。　If　I　knew　what　I　should；　I　could　have　found　the　very　room　Liandrin　is　staying　in；　wherever　she　is。　Amys　can　teach　m