rj.acrownofswords-第114节
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〃You admire my lopar？〃 Suroth swept away a good deal quicker than she had e。 The enormous shape raised a great round head for her to stroke it under the chin with a knuckle。 The creature put Morgase in mind of a bear； though it was easily half again as big as the largest bear she had ever heard tell of； and hairless to boot； with no muzzle to speak of and heavy ridges surrounding its eyes。 〃Almandaragal was given to me as a pup； for my first true…name day； he foiled the first attempt to kill me that same year； when he was only a quarter grown。〃 There was real affection in the woman's voice。 The。。。 lopar's。。。 lips peeled back to reveal thick pointed teeth as she stroked； its forepaws flexed； claws sheathing and unsheathing from six long toes on each。 And it began to purr； a bass rumble fit for a hundred cats。
〃Remarkable；〃 Morgase said faintly。 True…name day？ How many attempts had there been to kill this woman that she could speak of 〃the first〃 so casually？
The lopar whined briefly when Suroth left it； but quickly settled with its head on its paws。 Disconcertingly； its eyes did not follow her； but settled mainly on Morgase； now and then flicking toward the door or the narrow； arrow…slit windows。
〃Of course； however loyal a lopar； it cannot match damane。〃 No affection touched Suroth's voice now。 〃Pura and Jinjin could slay a hundred assassins before Almandaragal blinked his eye。〃 At the mention of each name； one of the blue…clad women twitched her silvery leash； and the woman at the other end doubled herself as the one in the corridor had。 〃We have many more damane since returning than before。 This is a rich hunting ground for marath'damane。 Pura；〃 she added casually； 〃was once a。。。 woman of the White Tower。〃
Morgase's knees wobbled。 Aes Sedai？ She studied the bent back of the woman called Pura； refusing to believe。 No Aes Sedai could be made to cringe like that。 But any woman who could channel； not just an Aes Sedai； should be able to take that leash and strangle her tormentor。 Anyone at all should be able to。 No； this Pura could not be。 Morgase wondered if she dared ask for a chair。 〃That is very。。。 interesting。〃 At least her voice was steady。 〃But I do not think you asked me here to speak of Aes Sedai。〃 Of course； she had not been asked。 Suroth stared at her； not a muscle moving except that the long…nailed fingers of her left hand twitched。
〃Thera！〃 the sharp…faced woman with half her head shaved barked suddenly。 〃Kaf for the High Lady and her guest！〃
One of the women in diaphanous robes； the eldest but still young； leaped gracefully to her feet。 Her rosebud mouth had a petulant look to it； but she darted behind the tall screen painted with the eagle； and in moments reappeared bearing a silver tray with two small white cups。 Kneeling sinuously before Suroth； she bowed her dark head as she raised the tray； so her offering stood higher than she。 Morgase shook her head； any servant in Andor asked to do that … or wear that robe！ … would have stormed off in a dudgeon。
〃Who are you？ Where do you e from？〃
Suroth raised one of the cups on her fingertips； inhaling the steam rising from it。 Her nod was entirely too much permission for Morgase's liking； but she took a cup anyway。 One sip； and she stared into her drink in amazement。 Blacker than any tea； the liquid was also more bitter。 No amount of honey would make it drinkable。 Suroth put her own cup to her lips and sighed with enjoyment。
〃There are many things we must speak of； Morgase； yet I will be brief at this first talk。 We Seanchan return to reclaim what was stolen from the heirs of the High King； Artur Paendrag Tanreall。〃 Pleasure over the kaf became a different pleasure in her voice； both expectation and certainty； and she watched Morgase's face closely。 Morgase could not take her eyes away。 〃What was ours； will be ours again。 In truth； it always has been； a thief gains no ownership。 I have begun the recovery in Tarabon。 Many nobles of that land have already sworn to obey； await and serve； it will not be long before all have。 Their king … I cannot recall his name … died opposing me。 Had he lived； in rebellion against the Crystal Throne and not even of the Blood； he would have been impaled。 His family could not be found to be made property； but there is a new King and a new Panarch who have sworn their fealty to the Empress； may she live forever； and the Crystal Throne。 The bandits will be eradicated； no longer will there be strife or hunger in Tarabon； but the people will shelter beneath the wings of the Empress。 Now I begin in this Amadicia。 Soon all will kneel to the Empress； may she live forever； the direct descendant of the great Artur Hawkwing。〃
If the serving woman had not gone with the tray； Morgase would have put her cup back。 No tremor disturbed the dark surface of the kaf； but much of what the woman spouted was meaningless to her。 Empress？ Seanchan？ There had been wild rumors a year or more ago about Artur Hawkwing's armies e back from across the Aryth Ocean； but only the most credulous could have believed； and she doubted that the worst gossipmonger in the markets still told the tale。 Could it have been truth？ In any case； what she did understand was more than enough。
〃All honor the name of Artur Hawkwing； Suroth。。。 〃 The sharp…faced woman opened her mouth angrily； subsiding at the move of a blue…nailed finger by the High Lady。 〃。。。 but his time is long past。 Every nation here has an ancient lineage。 No land will surrender to you or your Empress。 If you have taken some part of Tarabon。。。 〃 Suroth's indrawn breath hissed； and her eyes glittered。 〃。。。 remember that it is a troubled land； divided against itself。 Amadicia will not fall easily； and many nations will ride to her aid when they learn of you。〃 Could it be true？ 〃However many you are； you will find no easy game for your spit。 We have faced great threats before； and overe them。 I advise you to make peace before you are crushed。〃 Morgase remembered saidar raging in the night； and avoided looking at the … damane； had she called them？ By strong effort； she managed not to wet her lips。
Suroth smiled that mask's smile again； eyes shining like polished stones。 〃All must make choices。 Some will choose to obey； await and serve； and will rule their lands in the name of the Empress； may she live forever。〃
She took a hand from her cup to gesture； a slight movement of long fingernails； and the sharp…faced woman barked； 〃Thera！ Poses of the Swan！〃
For some reason； Suroth's mouth tightened。 〃Not the Swan； Alwhin； you blind fool！〃 she hissed； half under her breath； though her accent made understanding difficult。 The frozen smile returned in an instant。
The serving woman rose from her place at the wall again； running out to the middle of the floor in an odd way； on tiptoe； with her arms swept back。 Slowly； atop the flaring golden sun； symbol of the Children of the Light； she began a sort of stylized dance。 Her arms unfolded to the sides like wings； then folded back。 Twisting； she slid her left foot out； lowering herself over the bending knee； both arms outstretched as if appealing； until arms and body and right leg made a straight； slanted line。 Her sheer white robe made the whole thing scandalous。 Morgase felt her cheeks growing hot as the dance； if it could be called that； continued。
〃Thera is new and not well trained yet；〃 Suroth murmured。 〃The Poses are most often done with ten or twenty da'covale together； men and women chosen for the clean beauty of their lines； but sometimes it is pleasant to view only one。 It is very pleasant to own beautiful things； is it not？〃
Morgase frowned。 How could anyone own a person？ Suroth had spoken earlier about 〃making someone property。〃 She knew the Old Tongue； and the word da'covale was not familiar to her； but thinking it out she came up with 〃Person Who Is Owned。〃 It was disgusting。 Horrendous！ 〃Incredible；〃 she said dryly。 〃Perhaps I should leave you to enjoy the。。。 dance。〃
〃In one moment；〃 Suroth said； smiling at the posturing Thera。 Morgase avoided looking。 〃All have choices to make； as I said。 The old King of Tarabon chose to rebel； and died。 The old Panarch was captured； yet refused the Oath。 Each of us has a place where we belong； unless raised by the Empress； but those who reject their proper place can also be cast down； even to the depths。 Thera has a certain grace。 Strangely； Alwhin shows great promise in teaching； so I expect that before many years； Thera will learn the skill in the Poses to go with her grace。〃 That smile swiveled toward Morgase； that glittering gaze。
A very significant gaze； but why？ Something to do with the dancer？ Her name； mentioned so often； as if to highlight it。 But what。。。？ Morgase's head whipped around； and she stared at the woman； up on her toes and slowly pivoting in one spot with her hands flat together and arms stretched up as high as they would go。 〃I don't believe it；〃 she gasped。 〃I won't！〃
〃Thera；〃 Suroth said； 〃what was your name before you became my property？ What title did you hold？〃
Thera froze in her up…stretched posture； quivering； shooting a look half panic； half terror at sharp…faced Alwhin； a
