rj.theshadowrising-第5部分

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　fulfilled　Prophecies　none　of　us　understands。　The　Light　send　it's　enough。〃
〃So　you　do　mean　to　control　him。　He　said　you'd　try　to　use　him；　but　this　is　the　first　I've　heard　you　admit　it。〃　Min　felt　cold　inside。　Angry；　she　added；　〃You　haven't　done　such　a　good　job　of　it　so　far；　you　and　Moiraine。〃
Siuan's　tiredness　seemed　to　slide　from　her　shoulders。　She　straightened　and　stood　looking　down　at　Min。　〃You　had　best　hope　we　can。　Did　you　think　we　could　just　let　him　run　about　loose？　Headstrong　and　stubborn；　untrained；　unprepared；　maybe　going　mad　already。　Do　you　think　we　could　trust　to　the　Pattern；　to　his　destiny；　to　keep　him　alive；　like　some　story？　This　isn't　a　story；　he　isn't　some　invincible　hero；　and　if　his　thread　is　snipped　out　of　the　Pattern；　the　Wheel　of　Time　won't　notice　his　going；　and　the　Creator　will　produce　no　miracles　to　save　us：　If　Moiraine　cannot　reef　his　sails；　he　very　well　may　get　himself　killed；　and　where　are　we　then？　Where　is　the　world？　The　Dark　One's　prison　is　failing。　He　will　touch　the　world　again；　it　is　only　a　matter　of　time。　If　Rand　al'Thor　is　not　there　to　face　him　in　the　Last　Battle；　if　the　headstrong　young　fool　gets　himself　killed　first；　the　world　is　doomed。　The　War　of　the　Power　all　over　again；　with　no　Lews　Therin　and　his　Hundred　panions；　Then　fire　and　shadow；　forever。〃　She　stopped　suddenly；　peering　at　Min's　face。　〃So　that's　the　way　the　wind　sets；　is　it？　You　and　Rand。　I　did　not　expect　this。〃
Min　shook　her　head　vigorously；　felt　her　cheeks　coloring。　〃Of　course　not！　I　was。。。　It's　the　Last　Battle。　And　the　Dark　One。。。　Light；　just　thinking　about　the　Dark　One　loose　ought　to　be　enough　to　freeze　a　Warder's　marrow。　And　the　Black　Ajah　…〃
〃Don't　try　to　dissemble；〃　the　Amyrlin　said　sharply。　〃Do　you　think　this　is　the　first　time　I　ever　saw　a　woman　afraid　for　her　man's　life？　You　might　as　well　admit　it。〃
Min　squirmed　on　her　chair。　Siuan's　eyes　dug　at　her；　knowing　and　impatient。　〃All　right；〃　she　muttered　finally；　〃I'll　tell　you　all　of　it；　and　much　good　it　does　either　of　us。　The　first　time　I　ever　saw　Rand；　I　saw　three　women's　faces；　and　one　of　them　was　mine。　I've　never　seen　anything　about　myself　before　or　since；　but　I　knew　what　it　meant。　I　was　going　to　fall　in　love　with　him。　All　three　of　us　were。〃
〃Three。　The　other　two。　Who　are　they？〃
Min　gave　her　a　bitter　smile。　〃The　faces　were　blurred；　I　don't　know　who　they　are。〃
〃Nothing　to　say　that　he　would　love　you　in　return？〃
〃Nothing！　He　has　never　looked　at　me　twice。　I　think　he　sees　me　as。。。　as　a　sister。　So　don't　think　you　can　use　me　as　leash　on　him；　because　it　will　not　work！〃
〃Yet　you　do　love　him。〃
〃I　don't　have　any　choice。〃　Min　tried　to　make　her　voice　less　sullen。　〃I　tried　treating　it　as　a　joke；　but　I　can't　laugh　anymore。　You　may　not　believe　me；　but　when　I　know　what　it　means；　it　happens。〃
The　Amyrlin　tapped　a　finger　against　her　lips　and　looked　at　Min　consideringly。
That　look　worried　Min。　She　had　not　meant　to　make　such　a　show　of　herself；　nor　to　tell　as　much　as　she　had。　She　had　not　told　everything；　but　she　knew　she　should　have　learned　by　now　not　to　give　an　Aes　Sedai　a　lever；　even　if　she　did　not　see　how　it　could　be　used。　Aes　Sedai　were　skilled　at　finding　ways。　〃Mother；　I've　delivered　Moiraine's　message；　and　I've　told　everything　I　know　of　what　my　viewings　meant。　There's　no　reason　now　I　can't　put　on　my　own　clothes　and　go。〃
〃Go　where？〃
〃Tear。〃　After　talking　with　Gawyn；　trying　to　make　sure　he　did　not　do　something　foolish。　She　wished　she　dared　ask　where　Egwene　and　the　other　two　were；　but　if　the　Amyrlin　would　not　tell　Elayne's　brother；　there　was　small　chance　she　would　tell　Min。　And　Siuan　Sanche　still　had　that　weighing　look　in　her　eyes。　〃Or　wherever　Rand　is。　I　may　be　a　fool；　but　I'm　not　the　first　woman　to　be　a　fool　over　a　man。〃
〃The　first　to　be　a　fool　over　the　Dragon　Reborn。　It　will　be　dangerous；　being　close　to　Rand　al'Thor　once　the　world　finds　out　who　he　is；　what　he　is。　And　if　he　now　wields　Callandor；　the　world　will　learn　soon　enough。　Half　will　want　to　kill　him　anyway；　as　if　by　killing　him　they　can　stop　the　Last　Battle；　stop　the　Dark　One　from　breaking　free。　A　good　many　will　die；　close　to　him。　It　might　be　better　for　you　to　stay　here。〃
The　Amyrlin　sounded　sympathetic；　but　Min　did　not　believe　it。　She　did　not　believe　Siuan　Sanche　was　capable　of　sympathy。　〃I'll　take　the　risk；　maybe　I　can　help　him。　With　what　I　see。　It　isn't　even　as　if　the　Tower　would　be　that　much　safer；　not　so　long　as　there　is　one　Red　sister　here。　They'll　see　a　man　who　can　channel　and　forget　the　Last　Battle；　and　the　Prophecies　of　the　Dragon。〃
〃So　will　many　others；〃　Siuan　broke　in　calmly。　〃Old　ways　of　thinking　are　hard　to　shed；　for　Aes　Sedai　as　for　anyone　else。〃
Min　gave　her　a　puzzled　look。　She　seemed　to　be　taking　Min's　side　of　the　thing　now。　〃It　is　no　secret　I　am　friends　with　Egwene　and　Nynaeve；　and　no　secret　they're　from　the　same　village　as　Rand。　For　the　Red　Ajah；　that　will　be　connection　enough。　When　the　Tower　finds　out　what　he　is；　I　would　probably　be　arrested　before　the　day　is　out。　So　will　Egwene　and　Nynaeve；　if　you　don't　have　them　hidden　away　somewhere。〃
〃Then　you　mustn't　be　recognized。　You　catch　no　fish　if　they　see　the　net。　I　suggest　you　forget　your　coat　and　breeches　for　a。　time。〃　The　Amyrlin　smiled　like　a　cat　smiling　at　a　mouse。
〃What　fish　do　you　expect　to　catch　with　me？〃　Min　asked　in　a　faint　voice。　She　thought　she　knew；　and　hoped　desperately　she　was　wrong。
Her　hope　did　not　stop　the　Amyrlin　from　saying；　〃The　Black　Ajah。　Thirteen　of　them　fled；　but　I　fear　some　remain。　I　cannot　be　sure　who　I　can　trust；　for　a　while　I　was　afraid　to　trust　anyone。　You　are　no　Darkfriend；　I　know；　and　your　particular　talent　may　just　be　some　help。　At　the　very　least；　you'll　be　another　trustworthy　pair　of　eyes。〃
〃You've　been　planning　this　since　I　walked　in；　haven't　you？　That's　why　you　want　to　keep　Gawyn　and　Sahra　quiet。〃　Anger　built　up　inside　Min　like　steam　in　a　kettle。　The　woman　said　frog　and　expected　people　to　jump。　That　they　usually　did　just　made　it　worse。　She　was　no　frog；　no　dancing　puppet。　〃Is　this　what　you　did　to　Egwene　and　Elayne　and　Nynaeve？　Send　them　off　after　the　Black　Ajah？　I　wouldn't　put　it　past　you！〃
〃You　tend　your　own　nets；　child；　and　let　those　girls　tend　theirs。　As　far　as　you　are　concerned；　they　are　working　penance　on　a　farm。　Do　I　make　myself　plain？〃
That　unwavering　stare　made　Min　shift　on　her　chair。　It　was　easy　to　defy　the　Amyrlin　…　until　she　started　staring　at　you　with　those　sharp；　cold　blue　eyes。　〃Yes；　Mother。〃　The　meekness　of　her　reply　rankled；　but　a　glance　at　the　Amyrlin　convinced　her　to　let　it　lie。　She　plucked　at　the　fine　wool　of　her　dress。　〃I　suppose　it　won't　kill　me　to　wear　this　a　little　longer。〃　Suddenly　Siuan　looked　amused；　Min　felt　her　hackles　rising。
〃I　fear　that　won't　be　enough。　Min　in　a　dress　is　still　Min　in　a　dress　to　anyone　who　looks　close。　You　cannot　always　wear　a　cloak　with　the　hood　up。　No；　you　must　change　everything　that　can　be　changed。　For　one　thing；　you　will　continue　to　go　by　Elmindreda。　It　is　your　name；　after　all。〃　Min　winced。　〃Your　hair　is　almost　as　long　as　Leane's；　long　enough　to　put　in　curls。　For　the　rest。。。。　I　never　had　any　use　for　rouge　and　powder　and　paints；　but　Leane　remembers　the　use　of　them。〃
Min's　eyes　had　grown　wider　by　the　word　since　the　mention　of　curls。　〃Oh；　no；〃　she　gasped。
〃No　one　will　take　you　for　Min　who　wears　breeches　once　Leane　makes　you　into　a　perfect　Elmindreda。〃
〃Oh；　NO！〃
〃As　to　why　you　are　staying　in　the　Tower…a　reason　suitable　for　a　fluttery　young　woman　who　looks　and　acts　nothing　at　all　like　Min。〃　The　Amyrlin　frowned　thoughtfully；　ignoring　Min's　efforts　to　break　in。　〃Yes。　I　will　let　it　be　put　about　that　Mistress　Elmindreda　managed　to　encourage　two　suitors　to　the　point　that　she　has　to　take　shelter　from　them　in　the　tower　until　she　can　decide　between　them；　A　few　women　still　claim　sanctuary　each　year；　and　sometimes　for　reasons　as　silly。〃　Her　face　hardened；　and　her　eyes　sharpened。　〃If　you're　still　thinking　of　Tear；　think　again。　Consider　whether　you　can　be　of　more　help　to　Rand　there；　or　here。　If　the　Black　Ajah　brings　the　Tower　down；　or　worse；　gains　control；　he　loses　even　the　little　help　I　can　give。　So。　Are　you　a　woman；　or　a　lovesick　girl？〃
Trapped。　Min　could　see　it　as　plainly　as　a　shackle　on　her　leg。　〃Do　you　always　get　your　way　with　people；　Mother？〃
The　Amyrlin's　smile　was　even　colder　this　time。　〃Usually；　child。　Usually。〃
　
Shifting　her　red…fringed　shawl；　Elaida　stared　thoughtfully　at　the　door　to　the　Amyrlin's　study；　through　which　the　two　young　women　had　just　vanished。　The　novice　came　back　out　almost　immediately；　took　one　look　at　Elaida's　face；　and　bleated　like　a　frightened　sheep。　Elaida　thought　she　recognized　her；　though　she　could　not　bring　the　girl's　name　to　mind。　She　had　more　important　uses　for　her　time　than　teaching　wretched　children。
〃Your　name？〃
〃Sahra；　Elaida　Sedai。〃　The　girl's　reply　was　a　breathless　squeak。　Elaida　might　have　no　interest　in　novices；　but　the　novices　knew　her；　and　her　reputation。
She　remembered　the　girl　now。　A　daydreamer　with　moderate　ability　who　would　never　be　of　any　real　power。　It　was　doubtful　she　knew　anything　more　than　Elaida　had　already　seen　and　heard　…　or　remembered　much　more　than　Gawyn's　smile；　for　that　matter。　A　fool。　Elaida　flicked　a　dismissive　hand。
The　girl　dropped　a　curtsy　so　deep　her　face　almost　touched　the　floor　tiles；　then　fled　at　a　dead　run。
Elaida　did　not　see　her　go。　The　Red　sister　had　turned　away；　already　forgetting　the　novice。　As　she　swept　down　the　corridor；　not　a　line　marred　her　smooth　features；　but　her　thoughts　boiled　furiously。　She　did　not　even　notice　the　servants；　the　novices　and　Accepted；　who　scrambled　out　of　her　way；　curtsying　as　she　passed。　Once　she　almost　walked　over　a　Brown　sister　with　her　nose　in　a　sheaf　of　notes。　The　plump　Brown　jumped　back　witha　startled　squawk　that　Elaida　did　not　hear。
Dress　or　no　dress；　she　knew　the　young　woman　who　had　gone　in　to　see　the　Amyrlin。　Min；　who　had　spent　so　much　time　with　the　Amyrlin　on　her　first　visit　to　the　Tower；　though　for　no　reason　anyone　knew。　Min；　who　was　such　close　friends　with　Elayne；　Egwene；　and　Nynaeve。　The　Amyrlin　was　hiding　the　whereabouts　of　those　three。　Elaida　was　sure　of　it。　All　reports　that　they　were　serving　penance　on　a　farm　had　e　at　third　or　fourth　hand　from　Siuan　Sanche；　more　than　enough　distance　to　hide　any　twisting　of　words　to　avoid　an　outright　lie。　Not　to　mention　the　fact　that　all　Elaida's　considerable　efforts　to　find　this　farm　had　yielded　nothing。
〃The　Light　burn　her！〃　For　a　moment　open　anger　painted　her　face。　She　was　not　sure　whether　she　meant　Siuan　Sanche　or　the　Daughter…Heir。　Either　would　serve。　A　slender　Accepted　heard　her；　glanced　at　her　face；　and　went　as　white　as　her　own　dress；　Elaida　strode　by　without　seeing　her。
Apart　from　everything　else；　it　infuriated　her　that　she　could　not　find　Elayne。　Elaida　had　the　Foretelling　sometimes；　the　ability　to　foresee　future　events。　If　it　came　seldom　and　faintly；　that　was　still　more　than　any　Aes　Sedai　had　had　since　Gitara　Moroso；　dead　now　twenty　years。　The　very　first　thing　Elaida　had　ever　Foretold；　while　still　an　Accepted　…　and　had　known　enough　even　then　to　keep　to　herself　…　was　that　the　Royal　line　of　Andor　would　be　the　key　to　defeating　the　Dark　One　in　the　Last　Battle。　She　had　attached　herself　to　Morgase　as　soon　as　it　was　clear　Morgase　would　succeed　to　the　throne；　had　built　her　influence　year　by　patient　year