rj.acrownofswords-第115节

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　　　Thera　froze　in　her　up…stretched　posture；　quivering；　shooting　a　look　half　panic；　half　terror　at　sharp…faced　Alwhin；　a　look　of　pure　terror　at　Suroth。　〃Thera　was　called　Amathera；　if　it　pleases　the　High　Lady；〃　she　said　breathily。　〃Thera　was　the　Panarch　of　Tarabon；　if　it　pleases　the　High　Lady。〃
　　　The　cup　dropped　from　Morgase's　hand；　smashing　to　bits　on　the　floor；　spraying　the　black　kaf。　It　had　to　be　a　lie。　She　had　never　met　Amathera；　but　she　had　heard　a　description；　once。　No。　Many　women　of　the　right　age　could　have　large　dark　eyes　and　a　petulant　mouth。　Pura　had　never　been　Aes　Sedai；　and　this　woman。。。
　　　〃Pose！〃　Alwhin　snapped；　and　Thera　flowed　on　without　so　much　as　one　more　glance　at　Suroth　or　anyone。　Whoever　she　was；　clearly　the　foremost　thought　in　her　head　now　was　an　urgent　desire　not　to　make　a　mistake。　Morgase　concentrated　on　not　vomiting。
　　　Suroth　stepped　very　close；　face　cold　as　midwinter。　〃All　confront　choices；〃　she　said　quietly。　Her　voice　could　have　marked　steel。　〃Some　of　my　prisoners　say　that　you　spent　time　in　the　White　Tower。　By　law；　no　marath'damane　may　escape　the　leash；　but　I　pledge　to　you　that　you；　who　named　me　to　my　eyes　and　called　lie　on　my　word；　you　will　not　face　that　fate。〃　The　emphasis　made　quite　clear　that　her　pledge　covered　no　other　possible　fate。　The　smile　that　never　reached　her　eyes　returned。　〃I　hope　that　you　will　choose　to　swear　the　oath；　Morgase；　and　rule　Andor　in　the　name　of　the　Empress；　may　she　live　forever。〃　For　the　first　time；　Morgase　was　absolutely　certain　the　woman　lied。　〃I　will　speak　to　you　again　tomorrow；　or　perhaps　the　next　day；　if　I　have　time。〃
　　　Turning　away；　Suroth　glided　past　the　lone　dancer　to　the　high…backed　chair。　As　she　sat；　spreading　her　robe　gracefully；　Alwhin　barked　again。　She　did　not　seem　to　have　any　other　voice。　〃All！　Poses　of　the　Swan！〃　The　young　men　and　women　kneeling　against　the　wall　leaped　forward　to　join　Thera；　joining　her　movements　exactly　in　a　line　before　Suroth's　chair。　Only　the　lopar's　gaze　still　acknowledged　Morgase's　existence。　She　did　not　believe　she　had　ever　been　dismissed　so　thoroughly　in　her　life。　Gathering　her　dignity　with　her　skirts；　she　left。
　　　She　did　not　go　far　alone　of　course。　Those　red…and…black　armored　soldiers　stood　in　the　anteroom　like　statues　with　red…and…black　tasseled　spears；　faces　impassive　in　their　lacquered　helmets；　hard　eyes　seeming　to　stare　from　behind　the　mandibles　of　monstrous　insects。　One；　not　much　taller　than　she；　fell　in　at　her　shoulder　without　a　word　and　escorted　her　back　to　her　rooms；　where　two　Taraboners　with　swords　flanked　her　door；　these　in　steel　breastplates；　but　still　painted　in　horizontal　stripes。　They　bowed　low；　hands　on　their　knees；　and　she　thought　it　was　for　her　until　her　escort　spoke　for　the　first　time。
　　　〃Honor　met；〃　he　said　in　a　harsh；　dry　voice；　and　the　Taraboners　straightened；　never　glancing　at　her　until　he　said；　〃Watch　her　well。　She　has　not　given　the　Oath。〃　Dark　eyes　flickered　toward　her　above　steel　veils；　but　their　short　bows　of　assent　were　for　the　Seanchan。
　　　She　tried　not　to　hurry　inside；　but　once　the　door　was　closed　behind　her；　she　leaned　against　it　attempting　to　settle　her　whirling　thoughts。　Seanchan　and　damane；　Empresses　and　oaths　and　people　owned。　Lini　and　Breane　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　room　looking　at　her。
　　　〃What　did　you　learn？〃　Lini　asked　patiently；　in　much　the　tone　in　which　she　had　questioned　the　child　Morgase　about　a　book　read。
　　　〃Nightmares　and　madness；〃　Morgase　sighed。　Suddenly　she　stood　up　straight；　looking　around　the　room　anxiously。　〃Whereas　…？　Where　are　the　men？〃
　　　Breane　answered　the　unasked　question　in　a　dryly　mocking　tone。　〃Tallanvor　went　to　see　what　he　could　find　out。〃　Her　fists　planted　themselves　on　her　hips；　and　her　face　became　deadly　serious。　〃Lamgwin　went　with　him；　and　Master　Gill。　What　did　you　find　out？　Who　are　these。。。　Seanchan？〃　She　said　the　name　awkwardly；　frowning　around　it。　〃We　heard　that　much　for　ourselves。〃　She　affected　not　to　notice　Lini's　biting　stare。　〃What　are　we　to　do　now；　Morgase？〃
　　　Morgase　brushed　between　the　women；　crossing　to　the　nearest　window。　Not　as　narrow　as　those　in　the　audience　chamber；　it　looked　down　twenty　feet　or　more　to　the　stone　paving　of　the　courtyard。　A　dispirited　column　of　bareheaded；　disheveled　men；　some　with　blood…stained　bandages；　shambled　across　the　courtyard　under　the　watchful　gaze　of　Taraboners　carrying　spears。　Several　Seanchan　stood　atop　a　nearby　tower；　peering　into　the　distance　between　the　crenellations。　One　wore　a　helmet　decorated　with　three　slender　plumes。　A　woman　appeared　in　a　window　across　the　court；　the　lightning…embroidered　red　panel　plain　on　her　breast；　frowning　down　at　the　Whitecloak　prisoners。　Those　stumbling　men　looked　stunned；　unable　to　believe　what　had　happened。
　　　What　were　they　to　do？　A　decision　Morgase　dreaded。　It　seemed　that　she　had　not　made　so　much　as　a　decision　on　fruit　for　breakfast　in　months　without　it　leading　to　disaster。　A　choice；　Suroth　had　said。　Aid　these　Seanchan　in　taking　Andor；　or。。。　One　last　service　she　could　do　for　Andor。　The　tail　end　of　the　column　appeared；　followed　by　more　Taraboners；　who　were　joined　by　their　countrymen　they　passed。　A　twenty…foot　fall；　and　Suroth　lost　her　lever。　Maybe　it　was　the　coward's　way　out；　but　she　had　already　proved　herself　that。　Still；　the　Queen　of　Andor　should　not　die　so。
　　　Under　her　breath；　she　spoke　the　irrevocable　words　that　had　been　used　only　twice　before　in　the　thousand…year　history　of　Andor。　〃Under　the　Light；　I　relinquish　the　High　Seat　of　House　Trakand　to　Elayne　Trakand。　Under　the　Light；　I　renounce　the　Rose　Crown　and　abdicate　the　Lion　Throne　to　Elayne；　High　Seat　of　House　Trakand。　Under　the　Light；　I　submit　myself　to　the　will　of　Elayne　of　Andor；　her　obedient　subject。〃　None　of　that　made　Elayne　Queen；　true；　but　it　cleared　the　way。
　　　〃What　are　you　smiling　at？〃　Lini　asked。
　　　Morgase　turned　slowly。　〃I　was　thinking　of　Elayne。〃　She　did　not　think　her　old　nurse　had　been　close　enough　to　hear　what　no　one　really　needed　to。
　　　Lini's　eyes　widened；　though；　and　her　breath　caught。　〃You　e　away　from　there　now！〃　she　snapped；　and　suiting　actions　to　words；　seized　her　arm　and　physically　pulled　her　from　the　window。
　　　〃Lini；　you　forget　yourself！　You　stopped　being　my　nurse　a　long　…！〃　Morgase　drew　a　deep　breath　and　softened　her　tone。　Meeting　those　frightened　eyes　was　not　easy；　nothing　frightened　Lini。　〃What　I　do　is　for　the　best；　believe　me；〃　she　told　her　gently。　〃There's　no　other　way　…　〃
　　　〃No　other　way？〃　Breane　broke　in　angrily；　gripping　her　skirts　till　her　hands　shook。　Clearly　she　would　rather　have　had　them　wrapped　around　Morgase's　throat。　〃What　fool　nonsense　are　you　spouting　now？　What　if　these　Seanchan　think　we　killed　you？〃　Morgase　pressed　her　lips；　had　she　bee　so　transparent？
　　　〃Shut　up；　woman！〃　Lini　never　got　angry；　either；　or　raised　her　voice；　but　she　did　both　now；　her　withered　cheeks　red。　She　raised　a　bony　hand。　〃You　hold　your　mouth；　or　I'll　slap　you　sillier　than　you　are！〃
　　　〃Slap　her　if　you　want　to　slap　someone！〃　Breane　shouted　back　so　fiercely　that　spittle　flew。　〃Queen　Morgase！　She　will　send　you　and　me　and　my　Lamgwin　to　the　gallows；　and　her　precious　Tallanvor　too；　because　she　lacks　the　belly　of　a　mouse！〃
　　　The　door　opened　to　admit　Tallanvor　and　put　an　abrupt　end　to　it。　No　one　was　about　to　shout　in　front　of　him。　Lini　pretended　to　examine　Morgase's　sleeve　as　though　it　might　need　mending　as　Master　Gill　and　Lamgwin　followed　Tallanvor　in。　Breane　put　on　a　bright　smile　and　smoothed　her　skirts。　The　men　noticed　nothing；　of　course。
　　　Morgase　noticed　a　great　deal。　For　one　thing；　Tallanvor　had　a　sword　belted　on；　and　so　did　Master　Gill；　and　even　Lamgwin；　though　his　was　a　short…sword。　She　had　always　had　the　feeling　he　was　more　fortable　with　his　fists　than　any　other　weapons。　Before　she　could　ask　how；　the　skinny　little　man　who　brought　up　the　rear　closed　the　door　carefully　behind　him。
　　　〃Majesty；〃　Sebban　Balwer　said；　〃forgive　the　intrusion。〃　Even　his　bow　and　his　smile　seemed　dry　and　precise；　but　as　his　eyes　flicked　from　her　to　the　other　women；　Morgase　decided　that　whether　the　other　men　noticed　the　atmosphere　in　the　room　or　not；　Pedron　Niall's　onetime　secretary　did。
　　　〃I　am　surprised　to　see　you；　Master　Balwer；〃　she　said。　〃I　heard　there　was　some　unpleasantness　with　Eamon　Valda。〃　What　she　had　heard　was　that　Valda　had　said　if　he　laid　eyes　on　Balwer；　he　would　kick　him　over　one　of　the　Fortress　walls。　Balwer's　smile　tightened；　he　knew　what　Valda　had　said。
　　　〃He　has　a　plan　to　take　us　all　out　of　here；〃　Tallanvor　broke　in。　〃Today。　Now。〃　He　gave　her　a　look　not　that　of　subject　to　queen。　〃We　are　accepting　his　offer。〃
　　　〃How？〃　she　said　slowly；　forcing　her　legs　to　remain　straight。　What　help　could　this　prissy　little　stick　of　a　man　offer？　Escape。　She　wanted　very　much　to　sit　down；　but　she　was　not　going　to；　not　with　Tallanvor　looking　at　her　in　that　fashion。　Of　course；　she　was　not　his　Queen；　now；　but　he　did　not　know　that。　Another　question　occurred。　〃Why？　Master　Balwer；　I'll　not　shun　any　true　offer　of　help；　but　why　would　you　risk　yourself？　These　Seanchan　will　make　you　regret　it；　should　they　find　out。〃
　　　〃I　laid　my　plans　before　they　came；〃　he　said　carefully。　〃It　seemed。。。　imprudent。。。　to　leave　the　Queen　of　Andor　in　Valda's　hands。　Consider