rj.acrownofswords-第44节

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Nobody　here；　anyway。　It's　the　most　bloody　useless　barrel　of　fish　guts　I　ever　…！〃
　　　〃Siuan！〃　Egwene　said　sharply；　sitting　up　straighten　Latitude　was　one　thing；　but　there　were　limits。　She　did　not　put　up　with　this　even　from　Romanda。
　　　Color　bloomed　slowly　in　Siuan's　cheeks。　Struggling　to　master　herself；　she　kneaded　her　skirts　and　avoided　Egwene's　eyes。　〃Forgive　me；　Mother；〃　she　said　finally。　She　almost　sounded　as　if　she　meant　it。
　　　〃It　has　been　a　difficult　day　for　her；　Mother；〃　Leane　put　in　with　an　impish　smile。　She　was　very　good　at　those；　though　she　generally　used　them　to　set　some　man's　heart　racing。　Not　promiscuously；　of　course；　she　possessed　discrimination　and　discretion　in　ample　supply。　〃But　then；　most　are。　If　she　could　only　learn　not　to　throw　things　at　Gareth　Bryne　every　time　she　gets　angry　…　〃
　　　〃Enough！〃　Egwene　snapped。　Leane　was　only　trying　to　take　a　little　of　the　pressure　from　Siuan；　but　she　was　in　no　mood　for　it。　〃I　want　to　know　anything　I　can　learn　about　whoever　freed　Moghedien；　even　if　it's　just　whether　he　was　short　or　tall。　Any　scrap　that　makes　him　less　a　shadow　creeping　in　the　dark。　If　that's　not　more　than　I　have　a　right　to　ask。〃　Leane　sat　quite　still；　staring　at　the　flowers　in　the　carpet　in　front　of　her　toes。
　　　The　redness　spread　to　cover　nearly　Siuan's　whole　face；　with　her　fair　skin；　it　made　her　look　like　a　sunset。　〃I。。。　humbly　beg　your　pardon；　Mother。〃　This　time；　she　did　sound　penitent。　Her　difficulty　meeting　Egwene's　gaze　was　obvious。　〃Sometimes　it's　hard　to。。。　No；　no　excuses。　I　humbly　beg　pardon。〃
　　　Egwene　fingered　her　stole；　letting　the　moment　set　itself　as　she　looked　at　Siuan　without　blinking。　That　was　something　Siuan　herself　had　taught　her；　but　after　a　bit　she　shifted　uneasily　on　the　cot。　When　you　knew　you　were　in　the　wrong；　silence　pricked；　and　the　pricks　drove　home　that　you　were　wrong。　Silence　was　a　very　useful　tool　in　a　number　of　situations。　〃Since　I　can't　recall　what　I　should　forgive；〃　she　said　at　last；　quietly；　〃there　seems　to　be　no　need。　But；　Siuan。。。　Don't　let　it　happen　again。〃
　　　〃Thank　you；　Mother。〃　A　hint　of　wry　laughter　curled　the　corners　of　Siuan's　mouth。　〃If　I　may　say　so；　I　seem　to　have　taught　you　very　well。　But　if　I　may　suggest。。。？〃　She　waited　for　Egwene's　impatient　nod。　〃One　of　us　should　carry　your　order　to　Faolain　or　Theodrin　to　ask　the　questions；　very　sulky　at　being　made　a　messenger。　They'll　occasion　a　deal　less　ment　than　Leane　or　I。　Everyone　knows　you　are　their　patron。〃
　　　Egwene　agreed　immediately。　She　still　was　not　thinking　clearly；　or　she　would　have　seen　that　for　herself。　The　headachy　feeling　was　back　again。　Chesa　claimed　it　came　from　too　little　sleep；　but　sleeping　was　difficult　when　your　head　felt　taut　as　a　drumhead。　It　would　take　a　larger　head　than　hers　not　to　feel　tight；　stuffed　with　as　many　worries　as　she　had。　Well；　at　least　now　she　could　pass　on　the　secrets　that　had　kept　Moghedien　hidden；　how　to　weave　disguises　with　the　Power　and　how　to　mask　your　ability　from　other　women　who　could　channel。　Revealing　those　had　been　too　risky　when　they　might　have　led　to　unmasking　Moghedien。
　　　A　bit　more　acclaim；　she　thought　wryly。　There　had　been　great　petting　and　exclaiming　when　she　announced　the　once…lost　secret　of　Traveling；　which　at　least　had　been　her　own；　and　more　praise　since　for　every　one　of　the　secrets　she　had　wrenched　out　of　Moghedien；　like　pulling　a　back　tooth　each　time。　None　of　the　acclaim　made　an　ounce　of　difference　in　her　position；　though。　You　could　pat　a　talented　child　on　the　head　without　forgetting　she　was　a　child。
　　　Leane　departed　with　a　curtsy　and　a　dry　ment　that　she　was　not　sorry　somebody　else　would　have　less　than　a　full　night's　rest　for　once。　Siuan　waited；　no　one　could　be　allowed　to　see　her　and　Leane　leaving　together。　For　a　time　Egwene　merely　studied　the　other　woman。　Neither　spoke；　Siuan　seemed　lost　in　thought。　Finally　she　gave　a　start　and　stood；　straightening　her　dress；　plainly　preparing　to　go。
　　　〃Siuan；〃　Egwene　began　slowly；　and　found　herself　uncertain　how　to　continue。
　　　Siuan　thought　she　understood。　〃You　were　not　only　right；　Mother；〃　she　said；　looking　Egwene　straight　in　the　eye；　〃you　were　lenient。　Too　lenient；　though　I　say　it　who　shouldn't。　You　are　the　Amyrlin　Seat；　and　no　one　may　be　insolent　or　impertinent　to　you。　If　you'd　given　me　a　penance　that　made　even　Romanda　feel　sorry　for　me；　it　would　have　been　no　more　than　I　deserved。〃
　　　〃I　will　remember　that　next　time；〃　Egwene　said；　and　Siuan　bowed　her　head　as　if　in　acceptance。　Maybe　it　was。　Unless　the　changes　in　her　ran　deeper　than　seemed　possible；　there　almost　certainly　would　be　a　next　time；　and　more　after　that。　〃But　what　I　want　to　ask　about　is　Lord　Bryne。〃　All　expression　vanished　from　Siuan's　face。　〃Are　you　sure　you　wouldn't　like　me　to。。。　intervene？〃
　　　〃Why　would　I　want　that；　Mother？〃　Siuan's　voice　was　blander　than　cold　water　soup。　〃The　only　duties　I　have　are　teaching　you　the　etiquette　of　your　office　and　handing　Sheriam　reports　from　my　eyes…and…ears。〃　She　still　retained　some　of　her　former　network；　though　it　was　doubtful　any　knew　who　their　reports　went　to　now。　〃Gareth　Bryne　hardly　requires　enough　of　my　time　to　interfere　with　that。〃　She　almost　always　referred　to　him　that　way；　and　even　when　she　used　his　title；　she　put　a　bite　into　it。
　　　〃Siuan；　a　burned　barn　and　a　few　cows　couldn't　cost　that　much。〃　Not　pared　with　paying　and　feeding　all　those　soldiers；　certainly。　But　she　had　offered　before；　and　the　stiff　reply　was　the　same。
　　　〃I　thank　you；　Mother；　but　no。　I　won't　have　him　saying　I　break　my　word；　and　I　swore　to　work　the　debt　off。〃　Abruptly；　Siuan's　stiffness　dissolved　in　laughter；　rare　when　she　spoke　about　Lord　Bryne。　Scowls　were　much　more　mon。　〃If　you　need　to　worry　about　somebody；　worry　about　him；　not　me。　I　need　no　help　handling　Gareth　Bryne。〃
　　　And　that　was　the　strange　part。　Weak　she　might　be　in　the　One　Power；　now；　but　not　so　weak　that　Siuan　had　to　keep　on　as　his　servant；　spending　hours　up　to　her　elbows　in　hot　soapy　water　with　his　shirts　and　smallclothes。　Perhaps　she　did　so　in　order　to　have　someone　at　hand　on　whom　she　could　loose　the　temper　she　was　otherwise　forced　to　keep　in　a　sack。　Whatever　the　reason；　it　occasioned　no　little　talk；　and　confirmed　her　oddness　in　many　eyes；　she　was　Aes　Sedai；　after　all；　if　rather　far　down。　His　methods　of　dealing　with　her　temper　…　once　she　threw　plates　and　boots；　anyway　…　outraged　her　and　provoked　threats　of　dire　consequences；　yet　though　she　could　have　wrapped　him　up　unable　to　stir　a　finger；　Siuan　never　touched　saidar　around　him；　not　to　do　his　chores　and　not　even　when　it　meant　being　turned　over　his　knee。　That　fact　she　had　kept　hidden　from　most　so　far；　but　some　things　slipped　out　when　she　was　in　a　rage；　or　when　Leane　was　in　a　humor。　There　seemed　to　be　no　explanation。　Siuan　was　not　weak…spirited　or　a　fool；　she　was　neither　meek　nor　afraid；　she　was　not。。。
　　　〃You　might　as　well　be　on　your　way；　Siuan。〃　Clearly；　some　secrets　were　not　going　to　be　revealed　tonight。　〃It's　late；　and　I　know　you　want　your　bed。〃
　　　〃Yes；　Mother。　And；　thank　you；〃　she　added；　though　Egwene　could　not　have　said　for　what。
　　　After　Siuan　left；　Egwene　rubbed　her　temples　once　more。　She　wanted　to　pace。　The　tent　would　not　do；　it　might　be　the　largest　in　the　camp　occupied　by　just　one　person；　but　that　meant　less　than　two　spans　by　two；　and　it　was　crowded　with　cot　and　chair　and　stool；　washstand　and　stand…mirror　and　no　fewer　than　three　chests　full　of　clothes。　Chesa　had　seen　to　those　last；　and　Sheriam；　and　Romanda　and　Lelaine　and　a　dozen　more　Sitters。　They　kept　seeing　to　them；　a　few　more　gifts　of　silk　shifts　or　stockings；　one　more　dress　grand　enough　to　receive　a　king；　and　there　would　be　need　for　a　fourth　chest。　Maybe　Sheriam　and　the　Sitters　hoped　all　the　fine　dresses　would　blind　her　to　anything　else；　but　Chesa　just　thought　the　Amyrlin　Seat　had　to　be　clothed　suitably　for　her　station。　Servants；　it　seemed；　believed　in　following　the　correct　rituals　as　much　as　the　Hall　ever　did。　Shortly　Selame　would　be　there；　it　was　her　turn　to　undress　Egwene　for　bed；　another　ritual。　Only；　between　her　head　and　her　restless　feet；　she　was　not　ready　for　bed　yet。
　　　Leaving　the　lamps　burning；　she　hurried　out　before　Selame　could　arrive。　Walking　would　clear　her　head；　and　maybe　tire　her　enough　that　she　could　sleep　soundly。　Putting　herself　to　sleep　would　be　no　problem　…　the　Wise　One　dreamwalkers　had　taught　her　that　skill　early　on　…　yet　finding　any　rest　in　it　was　another　matter。　Especially　when　her　mind　boiled　with　a　list　of　worries　that　began　with　Romanda　and　Lelaine　and　Sheriam；　then　ran　through　Rand；　Elaida；　Moghedien；　the　weather　and　on　out　of　sight。
　　　She　avoided　the　area　near　Moghedien's　tent。　If　she　asked　questions　herself；　too　much　importance　would　be　given　to　a　servant　running　away。　Discretion　had　bee　part　of　her。　The　game　she　played　allowed　few　slips；　and　being　careless　where　you　knew　it　did　not　matter　could　lead　to　being　careless　where　it　did。　Worse；　you　could　discover　you　had　been　wrong　about　where　it　mattered。　The　weak　must　be　bold　cautiously。　That　was　Siuan　again；　she　truly　did　her　best　to　teach；　and　she　knew　this　particular　game　very　well。
　　　There　were　no　more　people　out　and　about　in　the　moon…shadowed　camp　than　had　been　there　before；　handfuls　slouched　wearily　around　low　fires