rj.thepathofdaggers-第25节

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apable　enough；　I　suppose；　but　you'd　think　Reanne　would　know　who　was　there！　Light！　If　that　fool　woman　faints　on　me　again。。。！〃　Elayne　hoped　she　held　on　a　little　longer。　It　looked　to　be　quite　a　storm　once　she　let　it　break。
　　　　　　　Reanne　tried　to　keep　a　cheerful；　eager　face；　yet　her　hands　were　never　still　on　her　skirts；　constantly　plucking　and　smoothing。　Kirstian　simply　clutched　hers　and　sweated；　appearing　ready　to　empty　her　stomach　any　minute；　when　anyone　looked　at　her；　anyone　at　all；　she　shivered。　The　third　Kinswoman；　Garenia；　was　a　Saldaean　merchant　with　a　strong　nose　and　a　wide　mouth；　a　short　slim…hipped　woman；　stronger　than　the　other　two；　who　looked　not　that　much　older　than　Nynaeve。　A　greasy　dampness　glistened　on　her　pale　face；　and　her　dark　eyes　grew　wider　whenever　they　fell　on　an　Aes　Sedai。　Elayne　thought　she　might　soon　discover　whether　someone's　eyes　actually　could　pop　out　of　her　head。　At　least　Garenia　had　stopped　moaning；　which　she　had　done　all　the　way　up　the　hill。
　　　　　　　There　really　had　been　another　pair　who　might　have　been　strong　enough　…　possibly；　the　Kin　did　not　pay　much　attention　to　that　…　but　the　last　had　gone　on　her　way　three　days　past。　No　one　else　at　the　farm　even　came　close。　Which　was　why　Nynaeve　was　still　disgusted。　One　reason。　The　other　was　that　Garenia　had　been　one　of　the　very　first　found；　passed　out　in　the　farmyard。　For　that　matter；　she　fainted　again　the　first　two　times　she　was　roused；　as　soon　as　her　eyes　fell　on　one　of　the　sisters。　Of　course；　Nynaeve　being　Nynaeve；　she　was　not　about　to　admit　that　she　should　have　done　anything　so　simple　as　ask　Alise　who　was　still　at　the　farm。　Or　even　tell　Alise　what　she　was　looking　for　before　the　woman　inquired。　Nynaeve　never　expected　anyone　to　have　sense　to　know　up　from　down。　Except　herself。
　　　　　　　〃We　could　be　done　by　now！〃　Nynaeve　growled。　〃We　could　be　shut　of　…！〃　She　almost　quivered　with　the　effort　of　not　scowling　at　the　Sea　Folk　as　they　gathered　near　the　east　end　of　the　stone　table。　Renaile；　gesturing　emphatically；　appeared　to　be　giving　instructions。　Elayne　would　have　given　a　pretty　to　hear　those。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve's　glares　certainly　took　in　Merilille　and　Careane　and　Sareitha；　who　still　clutched　the　silk…wrapped　Bowl　tightly。　Adeleas　and　Vandene　had　remained　below；　sequestered　with　Ispan。　The　three　sisters　stood　chatting　together；　not　paying　any　mind　to　Nynaeve　unless　she　spoke　to　them　directly；　but　Merilille's　gaze　sometimes　slipped　to　the　Windfinders；　then　jerked　away；　her　mask　of　serenity　faltered　slightly；　and　she　licked　her　lips　with　the　tip　of　her　tongue。
　　　　　　　Had　she　made　some　mistake　down　below　while　Healing　them？　Merilille　had　negotiated　treaties　and　mediated　disputes　between　nations；　few　in　the　White　Tower　were　better　than　she。　But　Elayne　remembered　hearing　a　story　once；　a　joke　of　sorts；　about　a　Domani　merchant；　a　Sea　Folk　Cargomaster　and　an　Aes　Sedai。　Not　many　people　told　jokes　involving　Aes　Sedai；　telling　one　might　not　be　entirely　safe。　The　merchant　and　the　Cargomaster　found　an　ordinary　rock　on　the　shore　and　proceeded　to　sell　it　back　and　forth　between　them；　somehow　making　a　profit　each　time。　Then　an　Aes　Sedai　came　along。　The　Domani　convinced　the　Aes　Sedai　to　buy　the　simple　stone　for　twice　what　she　herself　had　last　paid。　After　which　the　Atha'an　Miere　convinced　the　Aes　Sedai　to　buy　the　same　rock　from　him　for　twice　that　again。　Only　a　joke；　but　it　showed　what　people　believed。　Maybe　the　older　sisters　would　not　have　done　any　better　bargaining　with　the　Sea　Folk。
　　　　　　　Aviendha　strode　straight　to　the　edge　of　the　cliffs　as　soon　as　she　reached　the　hilltop；　and　stood　staring　north；　motionless　as　a　statue。　After　a　moment；　Elayne　realized　that　she　was　not　admiring　the　view；　Aviendha　was　simply　staring。　Gathering　her　skirts　a　bit　awkwardly　with　the　three　angreal　in　hand；　she　joined　her　friend。
　　　　　　　The　cliff　fell　in　fifty…foot　steps　to　olive　groves；　steep　swathes　or　ridged　gray　stone；　bare　except　for　a　few　small；　dying　bushes。　The　drop　was　not　really　bothersome；　but　it　was　hardly　the　same　as　looking　at　the　ground　from　the　top　of　a　tree；　either。　Strangely；　looking　down　made　Elayne　feel　a　trifle　dizzy。　Aviendha　did　not　seem　to　notice　that　the　edge　was　right　at　her　toes。
　　　　　　　〃Is　something　troubling　you？〃　Elayne　asked　quietly。
　　　　　　　Aviendha　kept　her　gaze　on　the　distance。　〃I　have　failed　you；〃　she　said　finally。　Her　voice　was　flat；　empty。　〃I　cannot　form　the　gateway　properly；　and　all　saw　me　shame　you。　I　thought　a　servant　was　one　of　the　Shadowwrought；　and　behaved　worse　than　foolishly。　The　Atha'an　Miere　ignore　me　and　glare　at　the　Aes　Sedai；　as　if　I　am　an　Aes　Sedai　dog　yapping　at　their　mand。　I　pretended　I　could　make　the　Shadowrunner　talk　for　you；　but　no　Far　Dareis　Mai　is　allowed　to　question　prisoners　until　she　has　been　wed　to　the　spear　for　twenty　years；　or　even　to　watch　until　she　has　carried　it　ten。　I　am　weak　and　soft；　Elayne。　I　cannot　bear　to　shame　you　further。　If　I　fail　you　again；　I　will　die。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne's　mouth　went　dry。　That　sounded　too　close　to　a　promise。　Gripping　Aviendha's　arm　firmly；　she　drew　her　back　from　the　edge。　Aiel　could　be　almost　as　peculiar　as　the　Sea　Folk　thought　they　were。　She　did　not　really　think　Aviendha　would　jump　off　…　not　really　…　but　she　was　not　about　to　take　any　chances。　At　least　the　other　woman　did　not　try　to　resist。
　　　　　　　Everyone　else　seemed　to　be　engrossed　in　themselves；　or　in　each　other。　Nynaeve　had　begun　speaking　to　the　Atha'an　Miere；　both　hands　tight　on　her　braid　and　her　face　almost　as　dark　as　theirs　from　the　strain　of　not　shouting；　while　they　listened　with　contemptuous　arrogance。　Merilille　and　Sareitha　still　guarded　the　Bowl；　but　Careane　was　attempting　to　talk　with　the　Kinswomen；　without　much　success。　Reanne　answered；　if　blinking　uneasily　and　licking　her　lips；　but　Kirstian　stood　trembling　and　silent；　while　Garenia's　eyes　were　squeezed　shut。　Elayne　kept　her　voice　low　anyway；　this　was　none　of　their　business。
　　　　　　　〃You　haven't　failed　anyone；　least　of　all　me；　Aviendha。　Nothing　you've　done　has　ever　shamed　me；　and　nothing　you　do　ever　could。〃　Aviendha　blinked　at　her　doubtfully。　〃And　you're　about　as　weak　and　soft　as　a　stone。〃　That　had　to　be　the　oddest　pliment　she　had　ever　paid　anyone；　yet　Aviendha　actually　looked　gratified。　〃I'll　bet　the　Sea　Folk　are　scared　silly　of　you；　too。〃　Another　strange　one；　it　made　Aviendha　smile；　if　only　faintly。　Elayne　drew　a　breath。　〃As　for　Ispan。。。　〃　She　did　not　like　even　thinking　about　this。　〃I　thought　I　could　do　what　was　necessary；　too；　but　just　letting　my　mind　dwell　on　it　makes　my　hands　sweat　and　my　stomach　roil。　I'd　throw　up　if　I　even　tried。　So　we　share　that。〃
　　　　　　　Aviendha　made　the　Maiden　handtalk　sign　for　〃You　startle　me〃；　she　had　started　teaching　some　of　them　to　Elayne；　though　she　said　it　was　forbidden。　Apparently；　being　near…sisters　who　were　learning　to　be　more　changed　that。　Except　that　it　did　not；　really。　Aviendha　seemed　to　think　her　explanation　had　been　perfectly　clear。　〃I　did　not　mean　I　could　not；〃　she　said　aloud；　〃only　that　I　do　not　know　how。　Likely　I　would　have　killed　her；　trying。〃　Suddenly　she　smiled；　much　wider　and　warmer　than　before；　and　lightly　touched　Elayne's　cheek。　〃We　both　have　weakness　in　us；〃　she　whispered；　〃but　it　brings　no　shame　so　long　as　only　we　two　know。〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；〃　Elayne　said　weakly。　She　just　did　not　know　how！　〃Of　course　it　doesn't。〃　This　woman　contained　more　surprises　than　any　gleeman。　〃Here；〃　she　said；　pressing　the　woman…wrapped…in…her…hair　into　Aviendha's　hand。　〃Use　this　in　the　circle。〃　Letting　the　angreal　go　was　not　easy。　She　had　intended　to　use　it　herself；　but　smiles　or　no　smiles；　her　friend's　spirits　…　her　near…sister's　spirits　…　needed　raising。　Aviendha　turned　the　small　ivory　figure　over　in　her　hands；　Elayne　could　almost　see　her　trying　to　decide　how　to　give　it　back。　〃Aviendha；　you　know　how　it　feels　when　you　hold　as　much　of　saidar　as　you　can？　Think　of　holding　almost　twice　as　much。　Really　think　of　it。　I　want　you　to　use　it。　Please？〃
　　　　　　　Perhaps　Aiel　did　not　show　a　great　deal　on　their　faces；　but　Aviendha's　green　eyes　widened。　They　had　discussed　angreal；　considering　their　search；　but　she　probably　never　had　thought　what　it　would　be　like　to　use　one　before　this。　〃Twice　as　much；〃　she　murmured。　〃To　hold　all　that。　I　can　barely　make　myself　imagine。　This　is　a　very　great　gift；　Elayne。〃　She　touched　Elayne's　cheek　again；　pressing　her　fingertips；　that　was　the　Aiel　equivalent　of　a　kiss　and　a　hug。
　　　　　　　Whatever　Nynaeve　had　to　say　to　the　Sea　Folk；　it　did　not　take　long。　She　stalked　away　from　them　twitching　at　her　skirts　furiously。　Approaching　Elayne；　she　frowned　equally　at　Aviendha　and　at　the　edge　of　the　cliff。　Usually　she　denied　her　poor　head　for　heights；　but　she　kept　them　between　herself　and　the　drop。　〃I　have　to　talk　to　you；〃　she　muttered；　guiding　Elayne　a　little　distance　along　the　hilltop。　And　farther　from　the　edge。　A　little　way；　but　far　enough　from　anyone　to　avoid　being　overheard。　She　drew　several　deep　breaths　before　beginning；　in　a　low　voice；　and　she　did　not　look　at　Elayne。
　　　　　　　〃I。。。　I've　been　behaving　like　a　fool。　It's　that　bloody　man's　fault！　When　he's　not　right　in　front　of　me；　I　can　hardly　think　of　anything　else；　and　when　he　is；　I　can　hardly　think　at　all！　You。。。　you　have　to　tell　me　when　I。。。　when　I'm　acting　the　fool。　I　depend　on　you；　Elayne。〃　Her　voice　stayed　low；　but　her　tone