rj.acrownofswords-第64节

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d　done　the　sums　correctly。　Apparently　including　sums　he　could　not　have　suspected　before　seeing　her　with　the　stole。　Nynaeve　had　better　take　care；　she　always　did　think　men　were　dimmer　than　they　actually　were。
　　　〃At　least　they　can't　get　into　any　real　trouble；〃　she　told　herself　aloud。　Lan　topped　a　hill　and　vanished　over　the　other　side。　Had　there　been　any　real　danger　in　Ebou　Dar；　Elayne　or　Nynaeve　would　have　said　something。　They　did　not　meet　often　…　she　just　had　too　much　to　do　…　but　they　had　worked　out　a　way　to　leave　messages　in　the　Salidar　of　Tel'aran'rhiod　whenever　there　was　need　for　one。
　　　A　wind　that　might　have　e　from　an　open　oven　gusted　up　sheets　of　dust。　Coughing；　she　covered　her　mouth　and　nose　with　a　corner　of　the　Amyrlin's　striped　stole　and　hurriedly　retreated　through　the　gateway　to　her　ferry。　The　journey　back　was　silent　and　boring；　leaving　her　to　worry　whether　she　had　done　the　right　thing　sending　Lan；　whether　it　was　right　to　keep　Nynaeve　in　the　dark。　It's　done；　she　kept　telling　herself；　but　that　did　not　help。
　　　When　she　stepped　once　more　into　the　hilltop　hollow　beneath　the　oak　trees；　Myrelle's　third　Warder；　Avar　Hachami；　had　joined　the　others；　a　hawk…nosed　man　with　thick；　gray…streaked　mustaches　like　down…curving　horns。　All　four　Gaidin　were　hard　at　work；　the　tents　down　and　nearly　folded。　Nicola　and　Areina　trotted　back　and　forth　loading　all　the　camp　paraphernalia　into　the　cart；　everything　from　blankets　to　cookpots　and　black　iron　wash…kettle。　They　really　did　trot；　not　pausing；　but　at　least　half　their　attention　was　on　Siuan　and　the　other　two　sisters；　over　near　the　treeline。　For　that　matter；　the　Warders　gave　the　three　Aes　Sedai　much　more　than　half　their　consideration。　Their　ears　might　as　well　have　been　up　in　points。　Who　was　simmering　who　seemed　to　be　a　question。
　　　〃。。。　not　speak　to　me　in　that　manner；　Siuan；〃　Myrelle　was　saying。　Not　only　loud　enough　to　be　heard　across　the　clearing；　but　cold　enough　to　take　the　edge　off　the　weather。　Arms　folded　tightly　beneath　her　breasts；　she　was　drawn　up　to　every　inch　of　height；　imperious　to　the　point　of　bursting。　〃Do　you　hear　me？　You　will　not！〃
　　　〃Are　you　lost　to　all　propriety；　Siuan？〃　Nisao's　hands　were　knotted　in　her　skirts　in　a　vain　attempt　to　keep　herself　from　quivering；　and　the　heat　in　her　voice　easily　matched　the　ice　in　Myrelle's。　〃If　you've　forgotten　simple　manners　pletely；　you　can　be　taught　again！〃
　　　Facing　them　with　her　hands　on　her　hips；　Siuan　moved　her　head　jerkily；　struggling　both　to　keep　a　glare　on　her　face　and　to　keep　it　fixed　on　the　other　two。　〃I。。。　I　am　only。。。　〃　When　she　saw　Egwene　approaching；　her　relief　bloomed　like　a　flower　in　spring。　〃Mother。。。　〃　That　was　almost　a　gasp。　〃。。。　I　was　explaining　possible　penalties。〃　She　drew　a　long　breath；　and　went　on　more　definitely。　〃The　Hall　will　have　to　invent　them　as　they　go；　of　course；　but　I　think　they　might　well　start　with　making　these　two　pass　their　Warders　to　others；　since　they　seem　so　fond　of　it。〃
　　　Myrelle　squeezed　her　eyes　shut；　and　Nisao　turned　to　look　at　the　Warders。　Her　expression　never　changed；　calm　if　a　touch　flushed；　but　Sarin　stumbled　to　his　feet　and　took　three　quick　steps　toward　her　before　she　raised　a　hand　to　stop　him。　A　Warder　could　sense　his　Aes　Sedai's　presence；　her　pain；　her　fear　and　anger；　every　bit　as　much　as　Egwene　could　feel　Moghedien's　when　she　wore　the　a'dam。　No　wonder　all　the　Gaidin　moved　on　their　toes　and　looked　ready　to　spring　at　something；　they　might　not　know　what　had　driven　their　Aes　Sedai　to　the　brink　of　despair；　but　they　knew　the　two　women　were　at　that　brink。
　　　Which　was　exactly　where　Egwene　wanted　them。　She　did　not　like　this　part　of　it。　All　the　maneuvering　was　like　a　game；　but　this。。。　I　do　what　I　must；　she　thought；　unsure　whether　that　was　an　attempt　to　stiffen　her　backbone　or　an　attempt　to　excuse　what　she　was　about　to　do。　〃Siuan；　please　send　Nicola　and　Areina　back　to　the　camp。〃　What　they　did　not　see；　they　could　not　tell。　〃We　can't　have　their　tongues　flapping；　so　make　sure　they　know　what　will　happen　to　them。　Tell　them　they　have　one　more　chance；　because　the　Amyrlin　is　feeling　merciful；　but　they'll　never　get　another。〃
　　　〃I　think　I　can　manage　that　much；〃　Siuan　replied；　and　gathering　her　skirts；　she　stalked　off。　No　one　could　stalk　like　Siuan；　yet　she　seemed　more　eager　to　be　away　from　Myrelle　and　Nisao　than　anything　else。
　　　〃Mother；〃　Nisao　said；　choosing　her　words；　〃before　you　left；　you　said　something　…　indicated　there　might　be　some　way　…　for　us　to　avoid　…　some　way　we　might　not　have　to　…　〃　She　glanced　at　Sarin　again。　Myrelle　would　have　been　a　study　in　Aes　Sedai　serenity　as　she　examined　Egwene；　except　that　her　fingers　were　laced　together　so　tightly　that　her　knuckles　strained　the　thin　leather　of　her　gloves。　Egwene　motioned　them　to　wait。
　　　Nicola　and　Areina；　turning　away　from　the　cart；　saw　Siuan　ing　and　went　stiff　as　posts。　Which　was　no　wonder；　considering　that　Siuan　advanced　as　though　she　intended　to　walk　right　over　them　and　the　cart。　Areina's　head　swiveled；　searching；　but　before　she　could　think　to　actually　run；　Siuan's　hands　darted　out　and　caught　each　of　them　by　an　ear。　What　she　said　was　too　low　to　carry；　yet　Areina　stopped　trying　to　pry　her　ear　free。　Her　hands　stayed　on　Siuan's　wrist；　but　she　almost　seemed　to　be　using　it　to　hold　herself　up。　A　look　of　such　horror　oozed　across　Nicola's　face　that　Egwene　wondered　whether　Siuan　might　be　going　too　far。　But　then；　maybe　not；　under　the　circumstances；　they　were　going　to　walk　free　of　their　crime。　A　pity　she　could　not　find　a　way　to　harness　such　a　talent　for　ferreting　out　what　was　hidden。　A　way　to　harness　it　safely。
　　　Whatever　Siuan　said；　when　she　loosed　their　ears；　the　pair　immediately　turned　toward　Egwene　and　dropped　into　curtsies。　Nicola's　was　so　low　it　nearly　put　her　face　on　the　ground；　and　Areina　came　close　to　falling　on　hers。　Siuan　clapped　hands　sharply；　and　the　two　women　bounded　to　their　feet；　scrambled　to　untie　a　pair　of　shaggy　wagon　horses　from　the　picket　line。　They　were　astride　bareback　and　galloping　out　of　the　hollow　so　quickly；　it　was　a　wonder　they　did　not　have　wings。
　　　〃They　won't　even　talk　in　their　sleep；〃　Siuan　said　sourly　when　she　returned。　〃I　can　still　handle　novices　and　scoundrels；　at　least。〃　Her　eyes　stayed　on　Egwene's　face；　avoiding　the　other　two　sisters　entirely。
　　　Suppressing　a　sigh；　Egwene　turned　to　Myrelle　and　Nisao。　She　had　to　do　something　about　Siuan；　but　first　things　first。　The　Green　sister　and　the　Yellow　eyed　her　warily。　〃It　is　very　simple；〃　she　said　in　a　firm　voice。　〃Without　my　protection；　you　will　very　likely　lose　your　Warders；　and　almost　certainly　wish　you'd　been　skinned　alive　by　the　time　the　Hall　finishes　with　you。　Your　own　Ajahs　may　have　a　few　choice　words　for　you；　as　well。　It　may　be　years　before　you　can　hold　your　heads　up　again；　years　before　you　don't　have　sisters　looking　over　your　shoulder　every　minute。　But　why　should　I　protect　you　from　justice？　It　puts　me　under　an　obligation；　you　might　do　the　same　again；　or　worse。〃　The　Wise　Ones　had　their　part　in　this；　though　it　was　not　exactly　ji'e'toh。　〃If　I'm　to　take　on　that　responsibility；　then　you　must　have　an　obligation　too。　I　must　be　able　to　trust　you　utterly；　and　I　can　only　see　one　way　to　do　that。〃　The　Wise　Ones；　and　then　Faolain　and　Theodrin。　〃You　must　swear　fealty。〃
　　　They　had　been　frowning；　wondering　where　she　was　headed；　but　wherever　they　thought；　it　was　not　where　she　ended。　Their　faces　were　a　study。　Nisao's　jaw　dropped；　and　Myrelle　looked　as　though　she　had　been　hit　between　the　eyes　with　a　hammer。　Even　Siuan　gaped　in　disbelief。
　　　〃Im…p…possible；〃　Myrelle　spluttered。　〃No　sister　has　ever　…！　No　Amyrlin　has　required　…！　You　can't　really　think　…！〃
　　　〃Oh；　do　be　quiet；　Myrelle；〃　Nisao　snapped。　〃This　is　all　your　fault！　I　should　never　have　listened　…！　Well。　Done　is　done。　And　what　is；　is。〃　Peering　at　Egwene　from　beneath　lowered　brows；　she　muttered；　〃You　are　a　dangerous　young　woman；　Mother。　A　very　dangerous　woman。　You　may　break　the　Tower　more　than　it　already　is；　before　you're　done。　If　I　was　sure　of　that；　if　I　had　the　courage　to　do　my　duty　and　face　whatever　es　…　〃　Yet　she　knelt　smoothly；　pressing　her　lips　to　the　Great　Serpent　ring　on　Egwene's　finger。　〃Beneath　the　Light　and　by　my　hope　of　rebirth　and　salvation。。。　〃　Not　the　same　wording　as　Faolain　and　Theodrin；　but　every　scrap　as　strong。　More。　By　the　Three　Oaths；　no　Aes　Sedai　could　speak　a　vow　she　did　not　mean。　Except　the　Black　Ajah；　of　course；　it　seemed　obvious　they　must　have　found　a　way　to　lie。　Whether　either　of　these　women　was　Black　was　a　problem　for　another　time；　though。　Siuan；　eyes　popping　and　mouth　working　without　sound；　looked　like　a　fish　stranded　on　a　mudbank。
　　　Myrelle　tried　another　protest；　but　Egwene　just　thrust　out　her　right　hand　with　the　ring；　and　Myrelle's　knees　folded　in　jerks。　She　gave　the　oath　in　bitter　tones；　then　looked　up。　〃You've　done　what　has　never　been　done　before；　Mother。　That　is　always　dangerous。〃
　　　〃It　won't　be　the　last　time；〃　Egwene　told　her。　〃In　fact。。。　My　first　order　to　you　is　that　you　will　tell　no　one　that　Siuan　is　anything　but　what　everybody　thinks。　My　second　is；　you　will　obey　any　order　she　gives　as　if　it　came　from　me。〃
　　　Their　heads　turned　toward　Siuan；　faces　unruffled。　〃As　you　mand；　Mother；〃　they　murmured　together。　It　was　Siuan　who　looked　r