rj.acrownofswords-第112节

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　　　〃My　robe；〃　she　said；　and　for　once　Breane　was　quick　to　hand　her　one。　Master　Gill　hastily　turned　his　face　to　the　wall　while　she　climbed　from　the　bed　and　put　on　the　silk　robe。
　　　She　strode　to　the　window；　tying　the　sash。　The　long　North　Barracks　loomed　across　the　wide　courtyard；　four　hulking　floors　of　flat…roofed　dark　stone。　Not　a　light　showed；　there　or　anywhere　in　the　Fortress。　All　was　stillness　and　silence。　〃I　see　nothing；　Tallanvor。〃
　　　He　drew　her　back。　〃Just　watch；〃　he　said。
　　　Another　time　she　would　have　regretted　his　hand　leaving　her　shoulder；　and　been　irritated　at　her　own　regret　as　well　as　his　tone。　Now；　after　Valda；　she　felt　relief。　And　irritation　at　the　relief　as　well　as　his　tone。　He　was　too　disrespectful　by　miles；　far　too　stubborn；　too　young。　Not　much　older　than　Galad。
　　　Shadows　moved　as　the　moon　did；　but　nothing　else　stirred。　Off　in　the　city　of　Amador；　a　dog　bayed；　answered　by　more。　Then；　as　she　opened　her　mouth　to　dismiss　Tallanvor　and　all　of　them；　darkness　atop　the　massive　barracks　humped　up　and　hurled　itself　off　the　roof。
　　　Something；　Tallanvor　had　called　it；　and　she　had　no　better　name。　An　impression　of　a　long　body　that　seemed　thicker　than　a　man　was　tall；　great　ribbed　wings　like　a　bat's　sweeping　down　as　the　creature　fell　toward　the　courtyard；　a　figure；　a　man；　sitting　just　behind　a　sinuous　neck。　And　then　the　wings　caught　air；　and　the。。。　something。。。　soared　up；　blocking　the　moonlight　as　it　swept　over　her　head　trailing　a　long；　thin　tail。
　　　Morgase　closed　her　mouth　slowly。　The　only　thought　that　came　to　her　was　Shadowspawn。　Trollocs　and　Myrddraal　were　not　the　only　Shadowtwisted　creatures　in　the　Blight。　She　had　never　been　taught　of　anything　like　this；　but　her　tutors　in　the　Tower　said　that　things　lived　there　no　one　had　ever　seen　clearly　and　lived　to　describe。　How　could　it　be　so　far　south；　though？
　　　Abruptly　a　flash　of　light　flared　with　a　great　boom　in　the　direction　of　the　main　gates；　and　then　again；　at　two　more　places　along　the　great　outer　wall。　Those　were　gates　too；　she　believed。
　　　〃What　in　the　Pit　of　Doom　was　that？〃　Tallanvor　muttered　in　a　moment　of　silence　before　alarm　gongs　began　resounding　in　the　darkness。　Shouts　rose；　and　screams；　and　hoarse　cries　like　some　sort　of　horn。　Fire　leaped　with　a　crash　of　thunder；　then　again　elsewhere。
　　　〃The　One　Power；〃　Morgase　breathed。　She　might　not　be　able　to　channel；　or　as　well　as　not；　but　she　could　tell　that。　Notions　of　Shadowspawn　fled。　〃It。。。　it　must　be　Aes　Sedai。〃　She　heard　someone's　breath　catch　behind　her；　Lini　or　Breane。　Basel　Gill　excitedly　murmured　〃Aes　Sedai；〃　and　Lamgwin　murmured　back　too　low　for　her　to　understand。　Off　in　the　darkness；　metal　clashed　on　metal；　fire　bellowed；　and　lightning　streaked　from　the　cloudless　sky。　Faintly　through　the　din　came　alarm　bells　from　the　city　at　last；　but　strangely　few。
　　　〃Aes　Sedai。〃　Tallanvor　sounded　doubtful。　〃Why　now？　To　rescue　you；　Morgase？　I　thought　they　couldn't　use　the　Power　against　men；　only　Shadowspawn。　Besides；　if　that　winged　creature　wasn't　Shadowspawn；　I　will　never　see　one。〃
　　　〃You　don't　know　what　you　are　talking　about！〃　she　said；　confronting　him　heatedly。　〃You　…！〃　A　crossbow　bolt　clashed　against　the　windowframe　in　a　spray　of　stone　chips；　air　stirred　against　her　face　as　it　ricocheted　between　them　and　planted　itself　in　one　of　the　bedposts　with　a　solid　tchunk。　A　few　inches　to　the　right；　and　all　her　troubles　would　have　been　ended。
　　　She　did　not　move；　but　Tallanvor　pulled　her　away　from　the　window　with　an　oath。　Even　by　moonlight；　she　could　see　his　frown　as　he　studied　her。　For　a　moment　she　thought　he　might　touch　her　face；　if　he　did；　she　did　not　know　whether　she　would　weep　or　scream　or　order　him　to　leave　her　forever　or。。。
　　　Instead；　he　said；　〃More　likely　it's　some　of　those　men；　those　Shamin　or　whatever　they　call　themselves。〃　He　insisted　on　accepting　the　strange；　impossible　tales　that　had　seeped　even　into　the　Fortress。　〃I　think　I　can　get　you　out；　right　now；　everything　will　be　confusion。　e　with　me。〃
　　　She　did　not　correct　him；　few　people　knew　anything　about　the　One　Power；　much　less　the　differences　between　saidar　and　saidin。　His　idea　had　its　attractions。　They　might　be　able　to　escape　in　the　bedlam　of　a　battle。
　　　〃Take　her　out　into　that！〃　Lini　screeched。　Flaring　lights　drowned　the　moon　at　the　window；　crashes　and　thunders　drowned　the　din　of　men　and　swords。　〃I　thought　you　had　more　wits；　Martyn　Tallanvor。　'Only　fools　kiss　hornets　or　bite　fire。'　You　heard　her　say　it's　Aes　Sedai。　Do　you　think　she　doesn't　know？　Do　you？〃
　　　〃My　Lord；　if　it　is　Aes　Sedai。。。　〃　Master　Gill　trailed　off。
　　　Tallanvor's　hands　fell　away　from　her；　and　he　grumbled　under　his　breath；　wishing　he　had　a　sword。　Pedron　Niall　had　allowed　him　to　keep　his　blade；　Eamon　Valda　was　not　so　trusting。
　　　For　an　instant；　disappointment　swelled　in　her　breast。　If　only　he　had　insisted；　had　dragged　her。。。　What　was　the　matter　with　her？　Had　he　tried　to　drag　her　anywhere　for　any　reason；　she　would　have　had　his　hide。　She　needed　to　take　hold　of　herself。　Valda　had　dented　her　confidence　…　no；　he　had　casually　ripped　it　to　shreds　…　but　she　must　cling　to　those　shreds　and　knit　them　up　again。　Somehow。　If　the　tatters　were　worth　knitting　up　again。
　　　〃At　least　I　can　find　out　what　is　happening；〃　Tallanvor　growled；　striding　for　the　door。　〃If　it　isn't　your　Aes　Sedai　…　〃
　　　〃No！　You　will　remain　here。　Please。〃　She　was　very　glad　of　the　pale　darkness；　hiding　her　furiously　flushing　face。　She　would　have　bitten　her　tongue　off　before　saying　that　last　word；　but　it　had　slipped　out　before　she　knew。　She　went　on　in　firmer　tones。　〃You　will　remain　here；　guarding　your　Queen　as　you　should。〃
　　　In　the　dun　light；　she　could　see　his　face；　and　his　bow　seemed　quite　proper；　but　she　would　have　wagered　her　last　copper　both　were　angry。　〃I　will　be　in　your　anteroom。〃　Well；　there　was　no　doubt　about　his　voice。　For　once；　though；　she　cared　neither　how　angry　he　was　nor　how　little　he　hid　it。　Very　possibly　she　might　kill　the　infuriating　man　with　her　own　hands；　but　he　was　not　going　to　die　tonight；　cut　down　by　soldiers　with　no　way　to　tell　which　side　he　was　on。
　　　There　was　no　hope　of　sleep　now　even　had　she　been　able。　Without　lighting　any　lamps；　she　washed　her　face　and　teeth。　Breane　and　Lini　helped　her　dress；　in　blue　silk　slashed　with　green；　with　spills　of　snowy　lace　at　her　wrists　and　beneath　her　chin。　It　would　do　very　well　for　receiving　Aes　Sedai。　Saidar　raged　in　the　night。　They　had　to　be　Aes　Sedai。　Who　else　could　it　be？
　　　When　she　joined　the　men　in　the　anteroom；　they　were　sitting　in　darkness　except　for　the　moonlight　through　the　windows；　and　the　occasional　flash　of　Power…wrought　fire。　Even　a　candle　might　attract　unwanted　attention。　Lamgwin　and　Master　Gill　sprang　from　their　chairs　respectfully；　Tallanvor　stood　more　slowly；　and　she　needed　no　light　to　know　he　regarded　her　with　a　sullen　frown。　Furious　that　she　had　to　ignore　him　…　she　was　his　Queen！　…　furious　and　barely　able　to　keep　it　from　her　voice；　she　ordered　Lamgwin　to　bring　more　of　the　tall　wooden　chairs　further　from　the　windows。　In　silence；　they　sat　and　waited。　At　least；　silence　on　their　part。　Outside　thunderous　crashes　and　roars　still　echoed；　horns　cried　and　men　shouted；　and　through　it　she　felt　saidar　surge　and　fall　and　surge　again。
　　　Slowly；　after　at　least　an　hour；　the　battle　dwindled　and　died。　Voices　still　shouted　inprehensible　orders；　wounded　screamed；　and　sometimes　those　strange　hoarse　horns　gave　voice；　but　no　more　did　steel　ring　on　steel。　Saidar　faded；　she　was　sure　women　still　held　it　inside　the　Fortress；　but　she　did　not　think　any　channeled　now。　All　seemed　close　to　peaceful　after　the　clamor　and　motion。
　　　Tallanvor　stirred；　but　she　waved　him　back　before　he　could　rise；　for　a　moment　she　thought　he　would　not　obey。　Night　weakened；　and　sunlight　crept　in　through　the　windows；　shining　on　Tallanvor's　glower。　She　held　her　hands　still　in　her　lap。　Patience　was　but　one　of　the　virtues　that　young　man　needed　to　learn。　Patience　stood　second　only　to　courage　as　a　noble　virtue。　The　sun　rose　higher。　Lini　and　Breane　began　whispering　together　in　increasingly　worried　tones；　shooting　glances　in　her　direction。　Tallanvor　scowled；　dark　eyes　smoldering；　sitting　rigid　in　that　dark　blue　coat　that　fit　him　so　well。　Master　Gill　fidgeted；　running　first　one　hand　then　the　other　across　his　gray…fringed　head；　mopping　his　pink　cheeks　with　a　handkerchief。　Lamgwin　slouched　in　his　chair；　the　onetime　street　tough's　heavy…lidded　eyes　making　him　seem　half　asleep；　but　whenever　he　glanced　at　Breane　a　smile　flickered　on　his　scarred；　broken…nosed　face。　Morgase　focused　on　her　breathing；　almost　like　the　exercises　she　had　done　during　her　months　in　the　Tower。　Patience。　If　someone　did　not　e　soon；　she　was　going　to　have　sharp　words　to　say；　Aes　Sedai　or　not！
　　　Despite　herself；　she　jumped　at　an　abrupt　pounding　on　the　door　to　the　hallway。　Before　she　could　tell　Breane　to　see　who　was　there；　the　door　swung　open；　banging　against　the　wall。　Morgase　stared　at　who　entered。
　　　A　tall；　dark；　hook…nosed　man　stared　back　at　her　coldly；　the　long　hilt　of　a　sword　rising　above　his　shoulder。　Strange　armor　covered　his　chest；　overlapping　plates　lacquered　glistening　gold　and　black；　and　he　held　a　helmet　on　his　hip　that　looked　like　an　insect's　head；　black　and　go