rj.acrownofswords-第60节

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own　there　has　a　fine　crop。　I　don't　say　any　of　it　is　true；　of　course；　but。。。　〃　It　was　odd；　seeing　him　so　hesitant。　〃Mother；　one　tale　that　caught　them　up　on　the　road　is　that　Rand　al'Thor　has　gone　to　the　White　Tower　and　sworn　fealty　to　Elaida。〃
　　　For　a　moment　Myrelle　and　Siuan　looked　much　alike；　blood　draining　from　their　faces　as　they　envisioned　catastrophe。　Myrelle　actually　swayed　in　her　saddle。　For　a　moment　Egwene　could　only　stare　at　him。　Then　she　startled　herself；　and　the　others；　by　bursting　out　laughing。　Daishar　danced　in　surprise；　and　settling　him　on　the　rocky　slope　settled　her　nerves　as　well。　〃Lord　Bryne；〃　she　said；　patting　the　gelding's　neck；　〃that　isn't　so；　believe　me。　I　know　it　for　a　fact；　as　of　last　night。〃
　　　Siuan　heaved　an　instant　sigh；　and　Myrelle　was　only　a　heartbeat　behind。　Egwene　felt　like　laughing　again；　at　their　expressions。　So　incredibly　relieved　they　were　wide…eyed。　Children　who　had　been　told　the　Shadowman　was　not　under　the　bed。　Aes　Sedai　calm　indeed。
　　　〃That's　good　to　hear；〃　Bryne　said　flatly；　〃but　even　if　I　sent　away　every　man　down　there；　the　tale　will　still　reach　my　ranks。　It　will　go　through　the　army　like　wildfire　crossing　these　hills。〃　That　cut　her　mirth　short。　That　could　be　disaster；　left　alone。
　　　〃I　will　have　sisters　announce　the　truth　to　your　soldiers　tomorrow。　Will　six　Aes　Sedai　who　know　of　themselves　be　enough？　Myrelle；　here；　and　Sheriam。　Carlinya　and　Beonin；　Anaiya　and　Morvrin。〃　Those　sisters　would　not　like　having　to　meet　with　the　Wise　Ones；　but　they　would　not　be　able　to　refuse　her；　either。　Would　not　want　to；　really；　to　stop　this　tale　spreading。　Should　not　want　to；　at　least。　Myrelle's　tiny　wince　was　followed　by　a　resigned　twist　of　her　mouth。
　　　Leaning　an　elbow　on　his　helmet；　Bryne　studied　Egwene　and　Myrelle。　He　never　so　much　as　peeked　at　Siuan。　His　bay　stamped　a　hoof　on　the　rocks；　and　a　covey　of　some　sort　of　dove　with　bright　blue　wings　whirred　into　the　air　from　beneath　bushes　a　few　paces　away；　making　Daishar　and　Myrelle's　roan　start　skittishly。　Bryne's　mount　did　not　stir。　He　had　heard　of　the　gateways；　without　doubt；　though　he　surely　knew　nothing　of　what　they　were　…　Aes　Sedai　did　keep　secrets　by　habit；　and　had　some　hope　of　keeping　that　one　from　Elaida　…　and　he　certainly　knew　nothing　at　all　about　Tel'aran'rhiod　…　that　vital　secret　was　easier　to　guard　with　no　manifestations　anyone　could　see　…　yet　he　did　not　ask　how。　Perhaps　he　was　accustomed　to　Aes　Sedai　and　secrets　by　now。
　　　〃So　long　as　they　say　the　words　straight；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃If　they　hedge　even　a　hair。。。　〃　His　stare　was　not　an　attempt　to　intimidate；　just　to　drive　the　point　home。　He　seemed　satisfied　by　what　he　saw　in　her　face。　〃You　do　very　well；　it　appears；　Mother。　I　wish　you　continued　success。　Set　your　time　for　this　afternoon；　and　I　will　e。　We　should　confer　regularly。　I　will　e　whenever　you　send　for　me。　We　should　begin　making　firm　plans　how　to　put　you　on　the　Amyrlin　Seat　once　we　reach　Tar　Valon。〃
　　　His　tone　was　guarded　…　very　likely　he　still　was　not　entirely　sure　what　was　going　on；　or　how　far　he　could　trust　Myrelle　…　and　it　took　her　a　moment　to　realize　what　he　had　done。　It　made　her　breath　catch。　Maybe　she　was　just　being　too　used　to　the　way　Aes　Sedai　shaded　words；　but。。。　Bryne　had　just　said　the　army　was　hers。　She　was　sure　of　it。　Not　the　Hall's；　and　not　Sheriam's；　hers。
　　　〃Thank　you；　Lord　Bryne。〃　That　seemed　little　enough；　especially　when　his　careful　nod；　his　eyes　steady　on　hers；　seemed　to　confirm　her　belief。　Suddenly　she　had　a　thousand　more　questions。　Most　of　which　she　could　not　ask　even　were　they　alone。　A　pity　she　could　not　take　him　into　her　confidence　pletely。　Caution　until　you're　sure；　and　then　a　little　more　caution。　An　old　saying　that　applied　very　well　to　any　dealings　that　brushed　against　Aes　Sedai。　And　even　the　best　men　would　talk　things　over　with　their　friends；　perhaps　especially　when　things　were　supposed　to　be　secret。　〃I'm　sure　you　have　a　thousand　details　to　see　to；　what's　left　of　the　morning；〃　she　said；　gathering　her　reins。　〃You　go　on　back。　We　will　ride　a　little　more。〃
　　　Bryne　protested；　of　course。　He　almost　sounded　like　a　Warder；　talking　of　the　impossibility　of　watching　every　way　at　once　and　how　an　arrow　in　the　back　could　kill　an　Aes　Sedai　as　quickly　as　it　could　anyone　else。　The　next　man　who　told　her　that；　she　decided；　was　going　to　pay　for　it。　Three　Aes　Sedai　were　surely　the　equal　of　three　hundred　men。　In　the　end；　for　all　his　grumbles　and　grimaces；　he　had　no　choice　but　to　obey。　Donning　his　helmet；　he　started　his　horse　down　the　uneven　slope　toward　the　merchant　train；　instead　of　back　the　way　they　had　e；　but　that　was　even　better　from　her　point　of　view。
　　　〃Will　you　lead　the　way；　Siuan；〃　she　said　when　he　was　a　dozen　strides　below。
　　　Siuan　glared　after　him　as　though　he　had　been　badgering　her　the　whole　time。　With　a　snort；　she　tugged　her　straw　hat　straight；　wheeled　her　mare　around　…　well；　dragged　her　around　…　and　heeled　the　stout　animal　to　a　walk。　Egwene　motioned　Myrelle　to　follow。　Like　Bryne；　the　woman　had　no　choice。
　　　At　first　Myrelle　directed　sidelong　glances　at　her；　plainly　expecting　her　to　bring　up　the　sisters　sent　to　the　White　Tower；　plainly　gathering　excuses　for　why　they　had　to　be　kept　secret　even　from　the　Hall。　The　longer　Egwene　rode　in　silence；　the　more　uneasily　the　other　shifted　in　her　saddle。　Myrelle　began　wetting　her　lips；　fine　cracks　spreading　in　that　Aes　Sedai　calm。　A　very　useful　tool；　silence。
　　　For　a　time　the　only　sounds　were　their　horses'　hooves　and　the　occasional　cry　of　a　bird　in　the　brush；　but　as　Siuan's　direction　became　clear；　angling　a　little　west　from　the　path　back　to　the　camp；　Myrelle's　shifting　increased　until　she　might　have　been　sitting　on　nettles。　Maybe　there　was　something　to　those　bits　and　pieces　Siuan　had　gathered　after　all。
　　　When　Siuan　took　another　turn　westward；　between　two　misshapen　hills　that　bent　toward　each　other；　Myrelle　drew　rein。　〃There。。。　There　is　a　waterfall　in　that　direction；〃　she　said；　pointing　east。　〃Not　very　large；　even　before　the　drought；　but　quite　pretty　even　now。〃　Siuan　stopped　too；　looking　back　with　a　small　smile。
　　　What　could　Myrelle　be　hiding？　Egwene　was　curious。　Glancing　at　the　Green　sister；　she　gave　a　start　at　a　single　bead　of　perspiration　on　the　woman's　forehead；　glistening　in　the　shadow　just　at　the　edge　of　her　wide　gray　hat。　She　most　certainly　wanted　to　know　what　could　shake　an　Aes　Sedai　enough　to　make　her　sweat。
　　　〃I　think　Siuan's　way　will　offer　even　more　interesting　sights；　don't　you？〃　Egwene　said；　turning　Daishar；　and　Myrelle　seemed　to　fold　in　on　herself。　〃e　along。〃
　　　〃You　know　everything；　don't　you？〃　Myrelle　muttered　unsteadily　as　they　rode　between　the　leaning　hills。　More　than　one　drop　of　sweat　decorated　her　face　now。　She　was　shaken　to　her　core。　〃Everything。　How　could　you。。。？〃　Suddenly　she　jerked　upright　in　her　saddle；　staring　at　Siuan's　back。　〃Her！　Siuan's　been　your　creature　from　the　beginning！〃　She　sounded　almost　indignant。　〃How　could　we　have　been　so　blind？　But　I　still　don't　understand。　We　were　so　circumspect。〃
　　　〃If　you　want　to　keep　something　hidden；〃　Siuan　said　contemptuously　over　her　shoulder；　〃don't　try　to　buy　coin　peppers　this　far　south。〃
　　　What　in　the　world　were　coin　peppers？　And　what　were　they　talking　about？　Myrelle　shuddered。　It　was　a　measure　of　how　upset　she　was　that　Siuan's　tone　brought　no　quick　snap　to　put　the　other　woman　in　her　places。　Instead；　she　licked　her　lips　as　though　they　were　suddenly　very　dry。
　　　〃Mother；　you　have　to　understand　why　I　did　it；　why　we　did　it。〃　The　frantic　edge　to　her　voice　was　fit　for　confronting　half　the　Forsaken；　and　her　in　her　shift。　〃Not　just　because　Moiraine　asked；　not　just　because　she　was　my　friend。　I　hate　letting　them　die。　I　hate　it！　The　bargain　we　make　is　hard　on　us；　sometimes；　but　harder　on　them。　You　must　understand。　You　must！〃
　　　Just　when　Egwene　thought　she　was　about　to　reveal　everything；　Siuan　halted　her　round　mare　again　and　faced　them。　Egwene　could　have　slapped　her。　〃It　might　go　easier　with　you；　Myrelle；　if　you　lead　the　rest　of　the　way；〃　she　said　coldly。　Disgustedly；　in　fact。　〃Cooperation　might　mean　mitigation。　A　little。〃
　　　〃Yes。〃　Myrelle　nodded；　hands　working　incessantly　on　the　reins。　〃Yes；　of　course。〃
　　　She　looked　on　the　point　of　tears　as　she　took　the　lead。　Siuan；　falling　in　behind；　appeared　relieved　for　just　an　instant。　Egwene　thought　she　herself　was　going　to　burst。　What　bargain？　With　whom？　Letting　who　die？　And　who　was　〃we〃？　Sheriam　and　the　others？　But　Myrelle　would　have　heard；　and　exposing　her　own　ignorance　hardly　seemed　advisable　at　this　point。　An　ignorant　woman　who　keeps　her　mouth　shut　will　be　thought　wise；　the　saying　went。　And　there　was　another：　Keeping　the　first　secret　always　means　keeping　ten　more。　There　was　nothing　for　it　but　to　follow；　holding　everything　in。　Siuan　was　going　to　get　a　talking…to；　though。　The　woman　was　not　supposed　to　be　keeping　secrets　from　her。　Grinding　her　teeth；　Egwene　tried　to　appear　patient；　unconcerned。　Wise。
　　　Almost　back　to　the　road　the　camp　was　on；　a　few　miles　to　the　west；　Myrelle　led　the　way　up　a　low　flat…topped　hill　covered　with　pine　and　leatherleaf。　Two　huge　oaks　kept　anything　else　from　growing　in　the　wide　depression　on　the　crown。　Beneath　thick　intertwined　branches　stood　three　peaked　tents　of　patch