rj.acrownofswords-第167节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


s　lay　ahead。
　　　〃I　did　not　think　she　would　condemn　herself　out　of　her　own　mouth；〃　Rhiale　said　at　Sevanna's　shoulder。　〃Efalin　and　the　others　are　all　but　sure　she　openly　admitted　killing　Desaine。〃
　　　〃She　is　mine；　Sevanna。〃　Therava's　jaw　tightened。　She　might　have　taken　the　woman；　but　da'tsang　belonged　to　no　one。　〃I　intended　to　dress　her　in　gai'shain　robes　of　silk；〃　she　muttered。　〃What　is　the　purpose　of　this；　Sevanna？　I　expected　to　have　to　argue　against　cutting　her　throat；　not　this。〃
　　　Rhiale　tossed　her　head；　casting　a　sidelong　glance　at　Sevanna。　〃Sevanna　intends　to　break　her。　We　have　had　long　talks　of　what　to　do　should　we　capture　any　Aes　Sedai。　Sevanna　wants　a　tame　Aes　Sedai　to　wear　white　and　serve　her。　An　Aes　Sedai　in　black　will　do　well　enough；　though。〃
　　　Sevanna　shifted　her　shawl；　irritated　by　the　woman's　tone。　Not　quite　mocking；　but　all　too　aware　that　she　wanted　somehow　to　use　the　Aes　Sedai's　channeling　as　though　it　were　Sevanna's　own。　It　would　be　possible。　Two　gai'shain　passed　the　three　Wise　Ones；　carrying　a　large　brass…strapped　chest　between　them。　Short　and　pale…faced；　husband　and　wife；　they　had　been　Lord　and　Lady　in　the　treekillers'　lands。　The　pair　bowed　their　heads　more　meekly　than　any　Aiel　in　white　ever　could　have　managed；　their　dark　eyes　were　tight　with　fear　of　a　harsh　word；　much　less　a　switch。　Wetlanders　could　be　tamed　like　horses。
　　　〃The　woman　is　tamed　already；〃　Therava　grumbled。　〃I　have　looked　into　her　eyes。　She　is　a　bird　fluttering　in　the　hand　and　afraid　to　fly。〃
　　　〃In　nine　days？〃　Rhiale　said　incredulously；　and　Sevanna　shook　her　head　vigorously。
　　　〃She　is　Aes　Sedai；　Therava。　You　saw　her　face　go　pale　with　fury　when　I　accused　her。　You　heard　her　laugh　as　she　spoke　of　killing　Wise　Ones。〃　She　made　a　vexed；　angry　sound。　〃And　you　heard　her　threaten　us。〃　The　woman　had　been　as　slippery　as　the　treekillers；　speaking　of　rewards　and　letting　the　threat　if　no　rewards　came　shout　silently。　But　what　else　could　be　expected　of　Aes　Sedai？　〃It　will　take　long　to　break　her；　but　this　Aes　Sedai　will　beg　to　obey　if　it　takes　a　year。〃　Once　she　did　that。。。　Aes　Sedai　could　not　lie；　of　course；　she　had　expected　Galina　to　deny　her　accusation。　Once　she　swore　to　obey。。。
　　　〃If　you　want　to　make　an　Aes　Sedai　obey　you；〃　a　man's　voice　said　behind　her；　〃this　might　help。〃
　　　Incredulous；　Sevanna　spun　about　to　find　Caddar　standing　there；　and　beside　him　the　woman　…　the　Aes　Sedai　…　Maisia；　both　dressed　in　dark　silk　and　fine　lace　as　they　had　been　six　days　ago；　each　with　a　bulging　sack　hanging　incongruously　from　one　shoulder　by　a　strap。　Caddar　held　out　a　smooth　white　rod　about　a　foot　long　in　one　dark　hand。
　　　〃How　did　you　e　here？〃　she　demanded；　then　pressed　her　lips　in　anger。　Plainly　he　had　e　as　he　had　before；　she　was　just　surprised　at　him　appearing　here；　in　the　middle　of　the　camp。　She　snatched　the　white　rod　he　offered；　and　as　always　he　stepped　back　beyond　arm's　reach。　〃Why　have　you　e？〃　she　amended。　〃What　is　this？〃　A　little　slimmer　than　her　wrist；　the　rod　was　smooth　except　for　a　few　odd；　flowing　symbols　incised　on　one　flat　end。　It　felt　not　quite　like　ivory；　not　quite　like　glass。　Very　cool　to　the　touch。
　　　〃You　might　call　it　an　Oath　Rod；〃　Caddar　said；　showing　teeth　in　what　was　doubtless　meant　for　a　smile。　〃It　only　came　into　my　hands　yesterday；　and　I　immediately　thought　of　you。〃
　　　Sevanna　clamped　her　hands　tight　around　the　rod　to　keep　from　hurling　it　away。　Everyone　knew　what　the　Aes　Sedai's　Oath　Rod　did。　Trying　not　even　to　think；　much　less　speak；　she　thrust　it　behind　her　belt　and　took　her　hands　away。
　　　Rhiale　frowned　at　the　rod　at　Sevanna's　waist；　and　her　eyes　rose　slowly；　coldly；　to　Sevanna's　face。　Therava　adjusted　her　shawl　in　a　clatter　of　bracelets；　and　gave　a　hard；　thin　smile。　There　would　never　be　any　chance　of　one　of　them　touching　the　rod　and　maybe　no　chance　of　any　other　Wise　One　doing　so　either。　But　there　was　still　Galina　Casban。　One　day　she　would　break。
　　　Raven…eyed　Maisia；　a　little　behind　Caddar；　smiled　almost　as　faintly　as　Therava。　She　had　seen；　and　understood。　She　was　observant；　for　a　wetlander。
　　　〃e；〃　Sevanna　told　Caddar。　〃We　will　drink　tea　in　my　tent。〃　She　certainly　would　not　share　water　with　him。　Lifting　her　skirts；　she　started　up　the　slope。
　　　To　her　surprise；　Caddar　was　also　observant。　〃All　you　need　do　is　have　your　Aes　Sedai〃　…　walking　easily　beside　her　on　his　long　legs；　he　grinned　suddenly；　toothily；　at　Rhiale　and　Therava　…　〃or　any　woman　who　can　channel　hold　the　rod　and　speak　whatever　promises　you　wish　while　someone　channels　a　little　Spirit　into　the　number。　The　marks　on　the　end　of　the　rod？〃　he　added；　raising　his　eyebrows　insultingly。　〃You　can　use　it　to　release　her；　too　but　that　is　more　painful。　Or　so　I　understand。〃
　　　Sevanna's　fingers　touched　the　rod　lightly。　More　glass　than　ivory；　and　very　cool。　〃It　only　works　on　women？〃　She　ducked　into　the　tent　ahead　of　him。　The　Wise　Ones　and　the　leaders　of　the　warrior　societies　were　gone；　but　the　dozen　treekiller　gai'shain　remained；　kneeling　patiently　to　one　side。　No　one　person　had　ever　kept　a　dozen　gai'shain　before；　and　she　possessed　more。　There　would　have　to　be　a　new　name　for　them；　though；　since　they　would　never　put　off　the　white。
　　　〃Women　who　can　channel；　Sevanna；〃　Caddar　said；　following　her　in。　The　man's　tone　was　incredibly　insolent。　His　dark　eyes　shone　with　open　amusement。　〃You　will　have　to　wait　until　you　have　al'Thor　before　I　give　you　what　will　control　him。〃
　　　Removing　the　sack　from　his　shoulder；　he　sat。　Not　on　a　cushion　near　hers；　of　course。　Maisia　was　not　afraid　of　a　blade　in　her　ribs；　she　lounged　on　an　elbow　almost　at　Sevanna's　side。　Sevanna　eyed　her　sideways；　then　casually　undid　another　lace　of　her　own　blouse。　She　did　not　recall　the　woman's　bosom　being　as　round　as　that。　For　that　matter；　her　face　seemed　even　more　beautiful；　as　well。　Sevanna　tried　not　to　grind　her　teeth。
　　　〃Of　course；〃　Caddar　went　on；　〃if　you　mean　some　other　man　…　There　is　a　thing　called　a　binding　chair。　Binding　people　who　cannot　channel　is　more　difficult　than　binding　those　who　can。　Perhaps　a　binding　chair　survived　the　Breaking；　but　you　will　have　to　wait　while　I　find　it。〃
　　　Sevanna　touched　the　rod　again；　then　impatiently　ordered　one　of　the　gai'shain　to　bring　tea。　She　could　wait。　Caddar　was　a　fool。　Sooner　or　later　he　would　give　her　everything　she　wanted　of　him。　And　now　the　rod　could　break　Maisia　free　of　him。　Surely　then　the　woman　would　not　protect　him。　For　his　insults；　he　would　wear　black。　Sevanna　took　a　small　green　porcelain　cup　from　the　tray　the　gai'shain　held　and　gave　it　to　the　Aes　Sedai　with　her　own　hands。　〃It　is　flavored　with　mint；　Maisia。　You　will　find　it　refreshing。〃
　　　The　woman　smiled；　but　those　black　eyes。。。　Well；　what　could　be　done　to　one　Aes　Sedai　could　be　done　to　two。　Or　more。
　　　〃What　of　the　traveling　boxes？〃　Sevanna　demanded　curtly。
　　　Caddar　waved　the　gai'shain　away　and　patted　the　sack　beside　him。　〃I　brought　as　many　nar'baha　…　that　is　what　they　were　called　…　as　many　as　I　could　find。　Enough　to　transport　all　of　you　by　nightfall；　if　you　hurry。　And　I　would；　if　I　were　you。　Al'Thor　means　to　finish　you；　it　seems。　Two　clans　are　ing　up　from　the　south；　and　two　more　are　moving　to　e　down　from　the　north。　With　their　Wise　Ones；　all　ready　to　channel。　Their　orders　are　to　stay　until　every　last　one　of　you　is　dead　or　a　prisoner。〃
　　　Therava　sniffed。　〃A　reason　to　move；　certainly；　wetlander；　but　not　to　run。　Even　four　clans　cannot　sweep　Kinslayer's　Dagger　in　a　day。〃
　　　〃Didn't　I　say？〃　Caddar's　smile　was　not　at　all　pleasant。　〃It　seems　al'Thor　has　bound　some　Aes　Sedai　to　him；　too；　and　they　have　taught　the　Wise　Ones　how　to　Travel　without　a　nar'baha；　over　short　distances；　at　least。　Twenty　or　thirty　miles。　A　recent　rediscovery；　it　seems。　They　could　be　here　…　well；　today。　All　four　clans。〃
　　　Maybe　he　lied；　yet　the　risk。。。　Sevanna　could　imagine　all　too　well　being　in　Sorilea's　grip。　Not　allowing　herself　to　shiver；　she　sent　Rhiale　to　inform　the　other　Wise　Ones。　Her　voice　betrayed　nothing。
　　　Reaching　into　his　bag；　Caddar　drew　out　a　gray　stone　cube；　smaller　than　the　callbox　she　had　used　to　summon　him；　and　much　plainer；　with　no　marking　but　a　bright　red　disc　set　in　one　face。　〃This　is　a　nar'baha；〃　he　said。　〃It　uses　saidin；　so　none　of　you　will　see　anything；　and　it　has　limits。　If　a　woman　touches　it；　it　won't　work　for　days　afterward；　so　I　will　have　to　hand　them　out　myself；　and　it　has　other　limits。　Once　opened；　the　gateway　will　remain　for　a。　fixed　time；　sufficient　for　a　few　thousand　to　go　through　if　they　don't　waste　time；　and　the　nar'baha　needs　three　days　to　recover　afterward。　I　have　enough　extra　to　carry　us　where　we　need　to　go　today；　but。。。　〃
　　　Therava　leaned　forward　so　intently　she　looked　about　to　fall　over；　but　Sevanna　hardly　listened。　She　did　not　doubt　Caddar；　exactly；　he　would　not　dare　betray　them；　not　while　he　hungered　for　the　gold　the　Shaido　would　give　him。　There　were　small　things；　though。　Maisia　seemed　to　study　him　over　her　tea。　Why？　And　if　there　was　such　need　for　speed；　why　was　there　no　urgency　in　his　voice？　He　would　not　betray；　but　she　would　take　precautions　anyway。
　　　
　　　Maeric　frowned　at　the　stone　cube　the　wetlander　had　given　him；　then　at　the。。。　hole。。。　that　had　appeared　when　he　pressed　the　red　spot。　A　hole；　five　paces　wide