rj.thepathofdaggers-第86节

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ming　her　fingers　on　her　cup。　Well；　most　darted　away。　The　Sitters'　faces　were　all　ageless　Aes　Sedai　serenity；　but　Lelaine　might　have　been　a　brown…eyed　crow　watching　a　fish　struggle　in　the　shallows；　while　Romanda's　slightly　darker　eyes　could　have　drilled　holes　through　iron。
　　　　　　　Trying　to　keep　a　watch　on　the　sun　outside；　she　made　a　slow　circuit　through　the　pavilion。　The　nobles　were　still　importuning　Sitters；　but　they　moved　from　one　to　another　as　if　seeking　better　answers；　and　she　began　to　notice　small　things。　Donel　paused　on　his　way　from　Janya　to　Moria；　bowing　low　to　Aemlyn；　who　acknowledged　him　with　a　gracious　nod。　Cian；　turning　away　from　Takima；　curtsied　deeply　to　Pelivar　and　received　a　slight　bow　in　return。　There　were　others；　always　a　Murandian　deferring　to　an　Andoran　who　responded　just　as　formally。　The　Andorans　tried　to　ignore　Bryne　except　for　the　odd　scowl；　but　any　number　of　Murandians　sought　him　out；　one　by　one　and　well　away　from　everyone　else；　and　from　the　directions　their　eyes　went；　it　was　plain　they　were　discussing　Pelivar；　or　Arathelle；　or　Aemlyn。　Perhaps　Talmanes　had　been　right。
　　　　　　　She　received　bows　and　curtsies；　too；　though　none　so　deep　as　those　given　Arathelle　and　Pelivar　and　Aemlyn；　much　less　the　Sitters。　Half　a　dozen　women　told　her　how　thankful　they　were　that　matters　had　been　resolved　peacefully；　though　in　truth；　almost　as　many　made　nonmittal　noises　or　shrugged　uneasily　when　she　expressed　the　same　sentiment；　as　though　they　were　uncertain　it　all　would　end　peacefully。　Her　assurances　that　it　would　were　met　with　a　fervent　〃The　Light　send　it　so！〃　or　a　resigned　〃If　the　Light　wills。〃　Four　called　her　Mother；　one　without　hesitating　first。　Three　others　said　that　she　was　quite　lovely；　that　she　had　beautiful　eyes；　and　that　she　had　a　graceful　carriage；　in　that　order；　suitable　pliments　perhaps　for　Egwene's　age　but　not　her　station。
　　　　　　　At　least　she　found　one　unalloyed　pleasure。　Segan　was　not　alone　in　being　intrigued　by　her　announcement　concerning　the　novice　book。　Plainly　that　was　why　most　of　the　women　spoke　to　her　in　the　first　place。　After　all；　the　other　sisters　might　be　in　rebellion　against　the　Tower；　but　she　claimed　to　be　the　Amyrlin　Seat。　Their　interest　had　to　be　strong　to　overe　that；　though　no　one　wanted　to　let　it　show。　Arathelle　made　the　inquiry　with　a　frown　that　put　more　creases　in　her　cheeks。　Aemlyn　shook　her　graying　head　at　the　answer。　Blocky　Cian　asked；　followed　by　a　sharp…faced　Andoran　lady　named　Negara；　then　a　pretty；　big…eyed　Murandian　called　Jennet；　and　others。　None　wanted　to　know　for　herself　…　several　made　that　clear　quickly；　especially　the　younger　women　…　but　before　long；　every　single　noblewoman　there　had　asked；　and　several　servants　as　well；　under　cover　of　offering　more　spiced　wine。　One；　a　wiry　woman　named　Nildra；　had　e　from　the　Aes　Sedai　camp。
　　　　　　　Egwene　felt　quite　pleased　with　the　seed　she　had　planted　there。　She　was　not　so　pleased　with　the　men。　A　few　spoke　to　her；　but　only　when　they　came　face…to…face　and　seemed　to　have　no　other　choice。　A　murmured　word　about　the　weather；　either　praising　the　end　of　the　drought　or　deploring　the　sudden　snows；　a　muttered　hope　that　the　bandit　problem　would　end　soon；　perhaps　with　a　significant　look　toward　Talmanes；　and　they　slipped　away　like　greased　pigs。　A　bear　of　an　Andoran　by　the　name　of　Macharan　tripped　over　his　own　boots　to　avoid　her。　In　a　way；　it　was　hardly　surprising。　The　women　had　the　justification；　if　only　to　themselves；　of　the　novice　book；　but　the　men　had　only　the　thought　that　being　seen　conversing　with　her　might　tar　them　with　the　same　brush。
　　　　　　　It　was　really　quite　discouraging。　She　did　not　care　what　the　men　thought　about　novices；　but　she　very　much　wanted　to　know　if　they　were　as　fearful　as　the　women　that　this　would　e　to　blows　in　the　end。　Fears　like　that　could　fulfill　themselves　very　easily。　At　last；　she　decided　there　was　only　one　way　to　find　out。
　　　　　　　Pelivar　turned　from　taking　a　fresh　cup　of　wine　from　a　tray　and　started　back；　with　a　muffled　oath；　to　keep　from　bumping　into　her；　had　she　stood　any　closer；　she　would　have　had　to　stand　on　his　boots。　Hot　wine　splashed　over　his　gloved　hand　and　ran　down　under　his　coatsleeve；　producing　a　curse　not　so　muted。　Tall　enough　to　loom　over　her；　he　made　a　good　job　of　it。　His　scowl　belonged　on　a　man　wanting　to　send　an　annoying　young　woman　briskly　out　of　his　way。　Or　on　a　man　who　had　nearly　stepped　on　a　red　adder。　She　held　herself　erect　and　focused　on　an　image　of　him　as　a　small　boy　up　to　no　good；　that　always　helped；　most　men　seemed　to　feel　it。　He　muttered　something　…　it　might　have　been　a　polite　greeting；　or　another　oath　…　and　dipped　his　head　slightly；　then　tried　to　step　around　her。　She　side…stepped　to　stay　in　front　of　him。　He　moved　back；　and　she　followed。　He　began　to　look　hunted。　She　decided　to　try　putting　him　at　ease　before　pressing　the　important　question。　She　wanted　answers；　not　more　mumbling。
　　　　　　　〃You　must　be　pleased　to　hear　that　the　Daughter…Heir　is　on　her　way　to　Caemlyn；　Lord　Pelivar。〃　She　had　heard　several　of　the　Sitters　mention　that。
　　　　　　　His　face　went　blank。　〃Elayne　Trakand　has　a　right　to　put　in　her　claim　to　the　Lion　Throne；〃　he　replied　in　a　flat　voice。
　　　　　　　Egwene's　eyes　widened；　and　he　stepped　back　again；　uncertainly。　Perhaps　he　thought　her　angry　over　the　absence　of　her　title；　but　she　barely　noticed　that。　Pelivar　had　supported　Elayne's　mother　in　her　claim　for　the　throne；　and　Elayne　had　been　sure　he　would　support　her；　too。　She　spoke　of　Pelivar　fondly；　like　a　favorite　uncle。
　　　　　　　〃Mother；〃　Siuan　murmured　at　her　elbow；　〃we　must　leave　if　you　want　to　be　sure　of　reaching　the　camp　before　sunset。〃　She　managed　to　put　considerable　urgency　into　those　quiet　words。　The　sun　had　passed　its　peak。
　　　　　　　〃This　is　no　weather　to　be　in　the　open　at　nightfall；〃　Pelivar　said　hurriedly。　〃If　you　will　excuse　me；　I　must　make　ready　to　leave。〃　Shoving　his　cup　onto　the　tray　of　a　passing　servant；　he　hesitated　before　halfway　making　a　leg；　and　stalked　off　with　the　air　of　a　man　who　had　wriggled　free　of　a　trap。
　　　　　　　Egwene　wanted　to　grind　her　teeth　with　frustration。　What　did　the　men　think　of　their　agreement？　If　it　could　be　called　that；　the　way　she　had　forced　it　on　them。　Arathelle　and　Aemlyn　had　more　power　and　influence　than　most　of　the　men；　yet　it　was　Pelivar　and　Culhan　and　the　like　who　rode　with　the　soldiers；　they　could　still　make　this　flare　up　in　her　face　like　a　barrel　of　lamp　oil。
　　　　　　　〃Find　Sheriam；〃　she　growled；　〃and　tell　her　to　get　everyone　mounted　now；　no　matter　what　it　takes！〃　She　could　not　give　the　Sitters　a　night　to　think　about　what　had　happened　today；　to　plan　and　plot。　They　had　to　be　back　in　camp　before　the　sun　went　down。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　
Chapter　19　
（Serpent　and　Wheel）　
The　Law　
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　Getting　the　Sitters　to　their　mounts　proved　no　bother；　they　were　as　eager　to　be　away　as　Egwene；　especially　Romanda　and　Lelaine；　both　cold　as　the　wind　and　with　eyes　like　thunderclouds。　The　rest　were　the　very　image　of　cool…eyed　Aes　Sedai　serenity；　giving　off　posure　like　a　heavy　scent；　yet　they　glided　to　their　horses　so　quickly　that　the　nobles　were　left　gaping　and　the　brightly　clad　servants　scrambled　in　loading　the　packhorses　to　catch　up　as　best　they　could。
　　　　　　　Egwene　had　Daishar　set　a　hard　pace　in　the　snow；　and　with　no　more　than　a　look　and　a　nod　from　her　Lord　Bryne　made　sure　the　armored　escorts　moved　as　fast。　Siuan　on　Bela　and　Sheriam　on　Wing　rushed　to　join　her。　For　long　stretches　they　churned　through　fetlock…deep　cover；　the　horses　stepping　high　at　near　to　a　trot；　the　Flame　of　Tar　Valon　rippling　in　the　icy　breeze；　and　even　when　it　was　necessary　to　slow；　when　the　horses　were　sinking　knee…deep　through　the　snow　crust；　they　kept　to　a　fast　walk。
　　　　　　　The　Sitters　had　no　choice　except　to　keep　up；　and　their　speed　cut　down　their　opportunity　to　talk　on　the　way。　At　that　tiring　pace；　a　lack　of　attention　to　your　horse　could　bring　a　broken　leg　for　the　animal　and　a　broken　neck　for　you。　Even　so；　Romanda　and　Lelaine　each　managed　to　gather　her　coterie　around　her；　and　those　two　knots　floundered　through　the　snow　surrounded　by　wards　against　eavesdropping。　The　pair　seemed　to　be　delivering　tirades。　Egwene　could　imagine　the　topic。　For　that　matter；　other　Sitters　managed　to　ride　together　for　a　time；　exchanging　a　few　words　quietly　and　casting　cool　glances　sometimes　at　her　and　sometimes　at　the　sisters　wrapped　around　by　saidar。　Only　Delana　never　joined　one　of　those　brief　conversations。　She　stayed　close　beside　Halima；　who　at　last　admitted　that　she　was　cold。　Face　tight；　the　country　woman　held　her　cloak　close　around　her；　but　she　still　tried　to　fort　Delana；　whispering　to　her　almost　constantly。　Delana　seemed　to　need　forting；　her　brows　were　drawn　down；　putting　a　crease　in　her　forehead　that　actually　made　her　seem　aged。
　　　　　　　She　was　not　the　only　one　worried。　The　others　masked　the　feeling　rigidly；　radiating　absolute　poise；　but　the　Warders　rode　like　men　expecting　the　worst　to　leap　out　of　the　snow　at　the　next　step；　eyes　shifting　in　an　unceasing　watch；　disquieting　cloaks　streaming　in　the　wind　to　leave　hands　free。　When　an　Aes　Sedai　worried；　her　Warder　worried；　and　the　Sitters　were　too　absorbed　to　think　of　calming　the　men。　Egwene　was　just　as　glad　to　see　it。　If　the　Sitters　were　troubled；　they　had　not　yet　made　up　their　minds。
　　　　　　　When　Bryne　rode　out　to　confer　with　U