rj.acrownofswords-第55节

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ak　sticks　were　better　than　none；　when　you　were　fending　off　a　bear。
　　　Faolain's　eyes　widened；　and　Egwene　sighed　as　she　motioned　the　woman　to　rise。　Had　their　positions　been　reversed；　Faolain　would　have　put　her　nose　firmly　in　the　dust。
　　　〃I'm　setting　you　two　tasks　to　begin；　daughters；〃　she　went　on。
　　　They　listened　carefully；　Faolain　not　even　blinking；　Theodrin　with　a　thoughtful　finger　to　her　lips；　and　this　time　when　she　dismissed　them；　they　said；　〃As　you　mand；　Mother；〃　in　unison　as　they　curtsied。
　　　Egwene's　good　mood　was　fleeting；　though。　Meri　arrived　with　her　breakfast　on　a　tray　as　Theodrin　and　Faolain　departed；　and　when　Egwene　thanked　her　for　the　rose…petal　pomander；　she　said；　〃I　had　a　few　spare　moments；　Mother。〃　By　her　expression；　that　could　have　been　an　accusation　that　Egwene　worked　her　too　hard；　or　that　she　herself　did　not　work　hard　enough。　Not　a　pleasant　spice　for　the　stewed　fruit。　For　that　matter；　the　woman's　face　might　sour　the　mint　tea　and　turn　the　warm　crusty　bun　hard　as　a　rock。　Egwene　sent　her　away　before　eating。　The　tea　was　weak　anyway。　Tea　was　one　of　the　things　in　short　supply。
　　　The　note　that　had　been　under　the　inkwell　proved　no　better　seasoning。　〃Nothing　of　interest　in　the　dream；〃　said　Siuan's　fine　script。　So　Siuan　had　been　in　Tel'aran'rhiod　last　night　too；　she　did　a　good　deal　of　spying　there。　It　mattered　little　whether　she　had　been　hunting　some　sign　of　Moghedien；　though　that　would　have　been　insanely　foolish；　or　something　else；　nothing　was　nothing。
　　　Egwene　grimaced；　and　not　just　for　the　〃nothing。〃　Siuan　in　Tel'aran'rhiod　last　night　meant　a　visit　from　Leane　sometime　today；　plaining。　Siuan　most　definitely　no　longer　was　allowed　any　of　the　dream　ter'angreal；　not　since　she　had　tried　to　teach　some　of　the　other　sisters　about　the　World　of　Dreams。　It　was　not　so　much　that　she　knew　little　more　than　they；　or　even　that　few　sisters　believed　they　actually　needed　a　teacher　to　learn　anything；　but　Siuan　possessed　a　tongue　like　a　rasp　and　no　patience。　Usually　she　managed　to　hold　her　temper；　but　two　outbursts　of　shouting　and　fist…shaking；　and　she　had　been　fortunate　just　to　find　herself　denied　access　to　the　ter'angreal。　Leane　was　given　one　whenever　she　asked；　though；　and　frequently　Siuan　used　it　in　secret。　That　was　one　of　the　few　real　bones　of　contention　between　them；　both　would　have　been　in　Tel'aran'rhiod　every　night　if　they　could。
　　　With　a　grimace　Egwene　channeled　the　tiniest　spark　of　Fire　to　set　a　corner　of　the　parchment　alight　and　held　it　until　it　burned　nearly　to　her　fingers。　Nothing　left　to　be　found　by　anyone　rooting　through　her　belongings　and　reported　where　it　would　rouse　suspicions。
　　　Breakfast　almost　done；　she　was　still　alone；　and　that　was　not　usual。　Sheriam　might　well　be　avoiding　her；　but　Siuan　should　have　been　there。　Popping　a　last　bit　of　the　bun　into　her　mouth　and　washing　it　down　with　a　final　swallow　of　tea；　she　rose　to　go　find　her；　only　to　have　the　object　of　her　intended　search　stalk　into　the　tent。　Had　Siuan　had　a　tail；　she　would　have　been　lashing　it。
　　　〃Where　have　you　been？〃　Egwene　demanded；　weaving　a　ward　against　listeners。
　　　〃Aeldene　pulled　me　out　of　my　blankets　first　thing；〃　Siuan　growled；　dropping　onto　one　of　the　stools。　〃She　still　thinks　she'll　pump　the　Amyrlin's　eyes…and…ears　out　of　me。　No　one　gets　that！　No　one！〃
　　　When　Siuan　had　first　arrived　in　Salidar；　a　stilled　woman　on　the　run；　a　deposed　Amyrlin　the　world　thought　dead；　the　sisters　might　well　not　have　let　her　stay　except　that　she　knew　not　only　the　Amyrlin　Seat's　network　of　agents；　but　also　that　of　the　Blue　Ajah；　which　she　had　run　before　being　raised　to　the　stole。　That　had　given　her　a　certain　influence；　just　as　Leane's　agents　inside　Tar　Valon　had　given　her　some。　The　arrival　of　Aeldene　Stonebridge；　who　had　taken　her　place　with　the　Blue　eyes…and…ears；　had　changed　matters　for　Siuan。　Aeldene　had　been　outraged　that　reports　from　the　handful　of　Blue　agents　Siuan　had　managed　to　reach　had　been　handed　to　women　outside　the　Ajah。　That　Aeldene's　own　position　had　been　revealed　…　only　two　or　three　sisters　were　supposed　to　know；　even　within　the　Blue　…　infuriated　her　to　near　apoplexy。　She　not　only　snatched　back　control　of　the　Blue　network；　not　only　upbraided　Siuan　in　a　voice　that　might　have　been　heard　a　mile　off；　she　very　nearly　went　for　Siuan's　throat。　Aeldene　was　from　an　Andoran　mining　village　in　the　Mountains　of　Mist；　and　it　was　said　her　crooked　nose　came　from　fighting　with　her　fists　when　she　was　a　girl。　Aeldene's　actions　had　started　others　thinking。
　　　Egwene　returned　to　her　unsteady　chair　and　pushed　her　breakfast　tray　aside。　〃Aeldene　won't　take　it　away　from　you；　Siuan；　and　neither　will　anyone　else。〃　When　Aeldene　reclaimed　the　Blue　eyes…and…ears；　others　had　begun　thinking　that　the　Blue　should　not　have　the　Amyrlin's　as　well。　No　one　suggested　that　it　should　be　in　Egwene's　control。　The　Hall　was　to　have　it。　So　Romanda　said；　and　Lelaine。　Each　intended　to　be　the　one　in　charge；　of　course；　the　one　those　reports　came　to　first；　for　being　first　to　know　had　advantages。　Aeldene　thought　those　agents　should　be　added　to　the　Blue　network　since　Siuan　was　Blue。　At　least　Sheriam　was　content　simply　to　be　handed　all　the　reports　Siuan　received。　Which　she　usually　was。　〃They　can't　make　you　give　it　up。〃
　　　Egwene　filled　her　teacup　again；　setting　it　and　the　blue…glazed　honeypot　on　the　corner　of　the　table　nearest　Siuan；　but　the　other　woman　only　stared　at　them。　The　anger　had　gone　out　of　her。　She　slumped　on　the　stool。　〃You　never　really　think　about　strength；〃　she　said；　half　to　herself。　〃You're　aware　of　it；　whether　you're　stronger　than　somebody　else；　but　you　don't　think　about　it。　You　just　know　that　she　defers　to　you；　or　you　to　her。　There　was　no　one　stronger　than　me；　before。　No　one；　since。。。〃　Her　eyes　dropped　to　her　hands；　stirring　uneasily　on　her　lap。　〃Sometimes；　when　Romanda　is　hammering　at　me；　or　Lelaine；　it　suddenly　hits　me　like　a　gale。　They're　so　far　above　me　now；　I　should　be　holding　my　tongue　until　they　give　me　permission　to　speak。　Even　Aeldene　is；　and　she's　no　more　than　middling。〃　She　forced　her　head　upright；　mouth　tight　and　voice　bitter。　〃I　suppose　I'm　adjusting　to　reality。　That's　ingrained　in　us；　too；　driven　deep　before　you　ever　test　for　the　shawl。　But　I　don't　like　it。　I　don't！〃
　　　Egwene　picked　up　her　pen　from　beside　the　inkwell　and　the　sand　jar；　fiddling　with　it　while　she　chose　words。　〃Siuan；　you　know　how　I　feel　about　what　needs　to　be　changed。　There's　too　much　we　do　because　Aes　Sedai　have　always　done　it　that　way。　But　things　are　changing；　no　matter　who　believes　it　will　all　go　back　to　how　it　was。　I　doubt　anyone　else　was　ever　raised　Amyrlin　without　being　Aes　Sedai　first！〃　That　should　have　elicited　a　ment　on　the　White　Tower's　hidden　records　…　Siuan　often　said　there　was　nothing　that　had　not　occurred　at　least　once　in　the　Tower's　history；　though　this　did　seem　to　be　a　first　…　but　Siuan　sat　there　disheartened；　like　a　sack。　〃Siuan；　the　Aes　Sedai　way　isn't　the　only　way；　and　not　even　always　the　best。　I　intend　to　make　sure　we　follow　the　best　way；　and　whoever　can't　learn　to　change；　or　won't；　had　better　learn　to　live　with　it。〃　Leaning　across　the　table；　she　tried　to　make　her　expression　encouraging。　〃I　never　did　figure　out　how　Wise　Ones　determine　precedence；　but　it　isn't　strength　in　the　Power。　There　are　women　who　can　channel　who　defer　to　women　who　can't。　One；　Sorilea；　would　never　have　made　it　to　Accepted；　yet　even　the　strongest　jump　when　she　says　toad。〃
　　　〃Wilders；〃　Siuan　said　dismissively；　but　it　lacked　force。
　　　〃Aes　Sedai；　then。　I　wasn't　raised　Amyrlin　because　I　am　the　strongest。　The　wisest　women　are　chosen　for　the　Hall　or　to　be　ambassadors　or　advisors；　the　most　skillful　anyway；　not　those　with　the　most　strength。〃　Best　not　to　say　skillful　in　what；　though　Siuan　certainly　possessed　those　particular　skills　too。
　　　〃The　Hall？　The　Hall　might　send　me　for　tea。　They　might　have　me　sweep　out　when　they've　finished　sitting。〃
　　　Sitting　back；　Egwene　threw　down　the　pen。　She　wanted　to　shake　the　woman。　Siuan　had　kept　going　when　she　could　not　channel　at　all；　and　now　her　knees　began　to　fold？　Egwene　was　on　the　point　of　telling　her　about　Theodrin　and　Faolain　…　that　should　get　some　rise；　and　approval　…　when　she　saw　an　olive…skinned　woman　ride　past　the　open　tent　flaps　looking　lost　in　thought　beneath　the　wide　gray　hat　she　wore　to　keep　off　the　sun。
　　　〃Siuan；　it's　Myrelle。〃　Letting　the　ward　go；　she　rushed　outside。　〃Myrelle；〃　she　called。　Siuan　needed　a　victory　to　wash　the　taste　of　being　bullied　out　of　her　mouth；　and　this　might　be　just　the　thing。　Myrelle　was　one　of　Sheriam's　lot；　and　apparently　with　a　secret　all　her　own。
　　　Reining　in　her　sorrel　gelding；　Myrelle　looked　around；　and　gave　a　start　when　she　saw　Egwene。　By　her　expression；　the　Green　sister　had　not　realized　what　part　of　the　camp　she　was　passing　through。　A　thin　dustcloak　hung　down　the　back　of　her　pale　gray　riding　dress。　〃Mother；〃　she　said　hesitantly；　〃if　you　will　forgive　me；　I　…　〃
　　　〃I　will　not　forgive　you；〃　Egwene　cut　in；　making　her　flinch。　Any　doubt　vanished　that　Myrelle　had　heard　about　last　night　from　Sheriam。　〃I　will　talk　with　you。　Now。〃
　　　Siuan　had　e　outside　too；　but　instead　of　watching　the　sister　climb　uneasily　from　her　saddle；　she　stared　down　the　rows　of　tents　toward　a　stocky；　grayin