rj.acrownofswords-第134节

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　　　〃I　can　only　pass　on　to　you　what　the　Ajahs　pass　to　me；　Mother。〃　Alviarin　adjusted　her　stole　calmly；　not　a　whit　ruffled。　〃Do　you　really　mean　to　court　a　third　debacle　by　attempting　to　rescue　the　captives？〃
　　　Elaida　sniffed　dismissively。　〃Do　you　really　believe　wilders　can　stand　before　Aes　Sedai？　Galina　let　herself　be　surprised；　she　must　have。〃　She　frowned。　〃What　do　you　mean；　a　third　debacle？〃
　　　〃You　didn't　listen；　Mother。〃　Shockingly；　Alviarin　sat　without　being　given　permission；　crossing　her　knees　and　serenely　arranging　her　skirts。　〃Covarla　thought　they　might　have　held　out　against　the　wilders　…　though　I　believe　she　is　nowhere　near　as　certain　as　she　tried　to　pretend　…　but　the　men　were　another　matter。　Several　hundred　of　them　in　black　coats；　all　channeling。　She　was　very　certain　of　that；　and　so　are　the　others；　apparently。　Living　weapons；　she　called　them。　I　think　she　nearly　soiled　herself　just　remembering。〃
　　　Elaida　stood　as　if　poleaxed。　Several　hundred？　〃Impossible。　There　can't　be　more　than　…　〃　She　walked　to　a　table　that　seemed　all　ivory　and　gilt；　and　poured　herself　a　goblet　of　wine　punch。　The　lip　of　the　crystal　pitcher　rattled　against　the　crystal　goblet；　and　almost　as　much　punch　went　onto　the　golden　tray。
　　　〃Since　al'Thor　can　Travel；〃　Alviarin　said　suddenly；　〃it　seems　logical　at　least　that　some　of　these　men　can；　too。　Covarla　is　quite　sure　that　was　how　they　arrived。　I　suppose　he　is　rather　upset　at　his　treatment。　Covarla　seemed　somewhat　uneasy　about　it；　she　implied　that　a　number　of　the　sisters　were。　He　might　feel　he　owes　you　something。　It　would　not　be　pleasant　to　have　those　men　suddenly　stepping　out　of　thin　air　right　here　in　the　Tower；　would　it？〃
　　　Elaida　practically　tossed　the　punch　down　her　throat。　Galina　had　been　instructed　to　begin　making　al'Thor　supple。　If　he　came　for　revenge。。。　If　there　really　were　hundreds　of　men　who　could　channel；　or　even　one　hundred。。。　She　had　to　think！
　　　〃Of　course；　if　they　were　ing；　I　believe　they　would　have　by　now。　They　would　not　have　wasted　surprise。　Perhaps　even　al'Thor　doesn't　wish　to　confront　the　full　Tower。　I　suppose　they　have　all　returned　to　Caemlyn；　to　their　Black　Tower。　Which　means；　I　fear；　that　Toveine　has　a　most　unpleasant　shock　awaiting　her。〃
　　　〃Pen　an　order　for　her　to　return　immediately；〃　Elaida　said　hoarsely。　The　punch　did　not　seem　to　help。　She　turned；　and　gave　a。　start　to　find　Alviarin　right　in　front　of　her。　Maybe　there　were　not　even　one　hundred　…　not　even　one　hundred？　…　at　sunset；　ten　would　have　seemed　madness　…　but　she　could　not　take　the　chance。　〃Write　it　out　yourself；　Alviarin。　Now；　right　now。〃
　　　〃And　how　is　it　to　be　gotten　to　her？〃　Alviarin　tilted　her　head；　icily　curious。　For　some　reason；　she　wore　a　faint　smile。　〃None　of　us　can　Travel。　The　ships　will　put　Toveine　and　her　party　ashore　in　Andor　any　day　now；　if　they　have　not　already。　You　told　her　to　divide　into　small　groups　and　avoid　villages；　so　as　to　give　no　warning。　No；　Elaida；　I　am　afraid　Toveine　will　regather　her　forces　near　Caemlyn　and　attack　the　Black　Tower　without　any　word　from　us　reaching　her。〃
　　　Elaida　gasped。　The　woman　had　just　called　her　by　name！　And　before　she　could　begin　to　splutter　with　outrage；　worse　came。
　　　〃I　think　you　are　in　great　trouble；　Elaida。〃　Cold　eyes　stared　into　Elaida's　and　cold　words　slid　smoothly　from　Alviarin's　smiling　lips。　〃Sooner　or　later；　the　Hall　will　learn　of　the　disaster　with　al'Thor。　Galina　might　have　satisfied　the　Hall；　possibly；　but　I　doubt　Covarla　will；　they　will　want　someone。。。　higher。。。　to　pay。　And　sooner　or　later；　we　will　all　learn　Toveine's　fate。　It　will　be　difficult　to　keep　this　on　your　shoulders　then。〃　Casually；　she　adjusted　the　Amyrlin's　stole　around　Elaida's　neck。　〃In　fact；　it　will　be　impossible　if　they　learn　any　time　soon。　You　will　be　stilled；　made　an　example；　the　way　you　wanted　to　make　Siuan　Sanche。　But　there　might　be　time　to　recover；　if　you　listen　to　your　Keeper。　You　must　take　good　advice。〃
　　　Elaida's　tongue　felt　frozen。　The　threat　could　not　have　been　clearer。　〃What　you　have　heard　tonight　is　Sealed　to　the　Flame；〃　she　said　thickly；　but　she　knew　that　the　words　were　useless　before　they　were　out　of　her　mouth。
　　　〃If　you　mean　to　reject　my　advice。。。　〃　Alviarin　paused；　then　began　to　turn　away。
　　　〃Wait！〃　Elaida　pulled　down　the　hand　she　had　stretched　out　unaware。　Stripped　of　the　stole。　Stilled。　Even　after　that；　they　would　make　her　howl。　〃What　…？〃　She　had　to　stop　and　swallow。　〃What　advice　does　my　Keeper　offer？〃　There　had　to　be　some　way　to　stop　this。
　　　Sighing；　Alviarin　came　close　again。　Closer；　in　fact；　much　too　near　for　anyone　to　stand　to　the　Amyrlin；　their　skirts　almost　touching。　〃First；　I　fear　you　must　abandon　Toveine　to　whatever　es；　for　the　moment　at　least。　And　also　Galina　and　whoever　else　was　taken　prisoner；　whether　by　the　Aiel　or　the　Asha'man。　Any　attempted　rescue　now　must　mean　discovery。〃
　　　Elaida　nodded　slowly。　〃Yes。　I　can　see　that。〃　She　could　not　take　her　horrified　eyes　away　from　the　other　woman's　demanding　gaze。　There　had　to　be　a　way！　This　could　not　be　happening！
　　　〃And　I　think　it　is　time　to　reconsider　your　decision　about　the　Tower　Guard。　Don't　you　really　think　the　Guard　should　be　increased　after　all？〃
　　　〃I　…　can　see　my　way　clear　to　do　that。〃　Light；　she　had　to　think！
　　　〃So　good；〃　Alviarin　murmured；　and　Elaida　flushed　with　helpless　rage。　〃Tomorrow；　you　will　personally　search　Josaine's　rooms；　and　Adelorna's。〃
　　　〃Why　under　the　Light　would　I　…？〃
　　　The　woman　tugged　her　striped　stole　again；　roughly　this　time；　almost　as　if　to　yank　it　off　or　saw　through　her　neck　with　it。　〃It　seems　that　Josaine　found　an　angreal　some　years　ago　and　never　turned　it　in。　Adelorna　did　worse；　I　fear。　She　removed　an　angreal　from　one　of　the　storerooms　without　permission。　When　you　have　found　them；　you　will　announce　their　punishment　immediately。　Something　quite　stiff。　And　at　the　same　time　you　will　hold　up　Doraise；　Kiyoshi　and　Farellien　as　models　of　preserving　the　law。　You　will　give　each　a　present；　a　fine　new　horse　will　do。〃
　　　Elaida　wondered　whether　her　eyes　were　going　to　pop　right　out　of　her　face。　〃Why？〃　From　time　to　time　a　sister　kept　an　angreal　to　herself　in　defiance　of　the　law；　but　the　penance　was　seldom　more　than　a　stern　slap　on　the　knuckles。　Every　sister　knew　the　temptation。　And　the　rest！　The　effect　was　obvious。　Everyone　would　believe　Doraise　and　Kiyoshi　and　Farellien　had　exposed　the　other　two。　Josaine　and　Adelorna　were　Green；　the　others　Brown；　Gray　and　Yellow　respectively。　The　Green　Ajah　would　be　furious。　They　might　even　try　to　get　back　at　the　others；　which　would　incite　those　Ajahs；　and。。。　〃Why　do　you　want　to　do　this；　Alviarin？〃
　　　〃Elaida；　it　should　be　enough　for　you　that　it　is　my　advice。〃　Mocking；　honeyed　ice　suddenly　turned　to　cold　iron。　〃I　want　to　hear　you　say　that　you　will　do　as　you　are　told。　There's　no　point　in　me　working　to　keep　the　stole　on　your　neck；　otherwise。　Say　it！〃
　　　〃I　…　〃　Elaida　tried　to　look　away。　Oh；　Light；　she　had　to　think！　Her　belly　was　clenched　in　a　knot。　〃I　will　…　do　…　as　I　…　am　told。〃
　　　Alviarin　smiled　that　chilly　smile。　〃You　see；　that　did　not　hurt　very　much。〃　Suddenly　she　stepped　back；　spreading　her　skirts　in　a　moderate　curtsy。　〃With　your　permission；　I　will　withdraw　and　let　you　find　some　sleep　in　what　remains　of　the　night。　You　have　an　early　morning　ahead；　with　orders　to　issue　for　High　Captain　Chubain　and　apartments　to　search。　We　have　to　decide　when　to　let　the　Tower　know　about　the　Asha'man；　too。〃　Her　tone　made　it　clear　that　she　would　decide。　〃And　perhaps　we　should　begin　planning　our　next　move　against　al'Thor。　It　is　about　time　the　Tower　stood　openly　and　called　him　to　heel；　don't　you　think？　Think　well。　I　give　you　good　night；　Elaida。〃
　　　Dazed；　wanting　to　sick　up；　Elaida　watched　her　go。　Stand　openly？　That　would　invite　attack　by　these　…　what　had　the　woman　called　them？　…　these　Asha'man。　This　could　not　be　happening　to　her。　Not　to　her！　Before　she　realized　what　she　was　doing；　she　hurled　the　goblet　across　the　room　to　shatter　against　a　tapestry　of　flowers。　Seizing　the　pitcher　with　both　hands；　she　raised　it　overhead　with　a　shriek　of　fury　and　flung　that　too；　in　a　spray　of　punch。　The　Foretelling　had　been　so　certain！　She　would。。。！
　　　Abruptly　she　stopped；　frowning　at　the　tiny　shards　of　crystals　clinging　to　the　tapestry；　the　larger　pieces　scattered　across　the　floor。　The　Foretelling。　Surely　that　had　spoken　of　her　triumph。　Her　triumph！　Alviarin　might　have　her　minor　victory；　but　the　future　belonged　to　Elaida。　As　long　as　Alviarin　could　be　gotten　rid　of。　But　it　had　to　be　done　quietly；　in　some　way　so　that　even　the　Hall　would　want　silence。　A　way　that　would　not　point　to　Elaida　until　it　was　too　late；　should　Alviarin's　sails　gain　wind。　And　suddenly　the　why　came　to　her。　Alviarin　would　not　believe　if　she　was　told。　No　one　would。
　　　Could　Alviarin　have　seen　her　smile　then；　the　woman's　knees　would　have　turned　to　jelly。　Before　she　was　done；　Alviarin　would　envy　Galina；　alive　or　dead。
　　　
　　　Pausing　in　the　hallway　outside　Elaida's　apartments；　Alviarin　studied　her　hands　by　the　light　of　the　stand…lamps。　They　did　not　shake；　which　surprised　her。　She　had　expected　the　woman　to　fight　harder；　to　resist　longer。　But　it　was　begun；　and　she　had　nothing　to　fear。　Unless　Elaida　learned　that　no　fewer　than　five　Ajahs　h