rj.theshadowrising-第184节

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undercooks　and　the　like。　〃You　use　that　hour　well；　hear！　They　mean　to　stick　you　in　the　scullery；　I　understand；　so　they　can　haul　you　out　for　examples。　I'd　not　care　one　way　or　the　other　…　such　matters　are　for　Aes　Sedai；　not　cooks；　one　Amyrlin　is　the　same　as　another；　to　me　…　but　if　you　get　this　child　caught；　you　can　expect　me　to　be　striping　your　hides　from　sunup　to　sundown　whenever　you're　not　head…down　in　greasy　pots　or　cleaning　slop　jars！　You　will　wish　they　had　cut　off　your　heads　before　I　am　done。　And　don't　think　they'll　believe　I　helped。　Everyone　knows　I　keep　to　my　kitchens。　You　mark　me；　and　jump！〃　The　smile　popped　back　onto　her　face；　and　she　pinched　Min's　cheek。　〃You　hurry　them　along；　child。　Oh；　I　am　going　to　miss　dressing　you。　Such　a　pretty　child。〃　With　a　last　vigorous　pinch；　she　waddled　out　of　the　cell　at　a　near　trot。
　　　　　　　Min　rubbed　her　cheek　irritably；　she　hated　it　when　Laras　did　that。　The　woman　was　as　strong　as　a　horse。　Near　to　hanging？　What　kind　of　〃lively　girl〃　had　Laras　been？
　　　　　　　Gingerly　pulling　her　dress　over　her　head；　Leane　sniffed　loudly。　〃To　think　she　could　speak　to　you　in　that　manner；　Mother！〃　Her　face　popped　out　at　the　top；　scowling。　〃I　am　surprised　she　helped　at　all　if　she　feels　that　way。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　she　did　help；〃　Min　told　her。　〃Remember　that。　And　I　think　she'll　keep　her　word　not　to　give　us　away。　I　am　sure　of　it。〃　Leane　sniffed　again。
　　　　　　　Siuan　swung　her　cloak　around　her　shoulders。　〃It　makes　a　difference；　Leane；　that　I　have　no　more　claim　to　that　title。　It　makes　a　difference　when　tomorrow　you　and　I　might　be　two　of　her　scullery　girls。〃　Leane　clasped　her　hands　to　keep　them　from　shaking　and　would　not　look　at　her。　Siuan　went　on　calmly；　if　in　a　dry　tone。　〃I　also　suspect　Laras　will　keep　her　word　about。。。　other　things。。。　so　even　if　you　don't　care　whether　Elaida　hangs　us　up　like　a　pair　of　netted　sharks　for　the　world　to　see；　I　suggest　you　move　yourself。　Myself；　I　hated　greasy　pots　when　I　was　a　girl；　and　I　don't　doubt　I　still　would。〃
　　　　　　　Leane　sullenly　began　doing　up　the　laces　of　the　country　dress。
　　　　　　　Siuan　turned　her　attention　to　Min。　〃You　may　not　be　so　eager　to　help　us　when　I　tell　you　we've　both　been。。。　stilled。〃　Her　voice　did　not　shake；　but　it　was　stiff　with　the　effort　of　saying　the　word；　and　her　eyes　looked　pained；　and　lost。　It　was　a　shock　to　realize　her　calm　was　all　on　the　surface。　〃Any　one　of　the　Accepted　could　tie　the　pair　of　us　into　a　running　sheepsfoot；　Min。　Most　of　the　novices　could。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know；〃　Min　said；　careful　to　keep　her　tone　clear　of　the　smallest　hint　of　sympathy。　Sympathy　now　might　break　what　self…control　the　other　women　had　left；　and　she　needed　them　in　control　of　themselves。　〃It　was　announced　at　every　square　in　the　city；　and　posted　wherever　they　could　nail　up　a　notice。　But　you　are　still　alive。〃　Leane　gave　a　bitter　laugh；　which　she　ignored。　〃We　had　best　go。　That　guard　might　wake；　or　somebody　check　on　him。〃
　　　　　　　〃Lead；　Min；〃　Siuan　said。　〃We　are　in　your　hands。〃　After　a　moment　Leane　gave　a　short　nod　and　hurriedly　donned　her　cloak。
　　　　　　　In　the　guardroom　at　the　end　of　the　dark　hall；　the　lone　guard　lay　stretched　out；　facedown　on　the　dusty　floor。　The　helmet　that　would　have　saved　him　a　sore　head　sat　on　the　rough　plank　table　beside　the　single　lantern　that　provided　the　room's　light。　He　seemed　to　be　breathing　all　right。　Min　did　not　spare　him　more　than　a　glance；　though　she　hoped　he　was　not　badly　hurt；　he　had　not　tried　to　press　the　advantage　of　her　offer。
　　　　　　　She　hurried　Siuan　and　Leane　through　the　far　door；　all　thick　planks　and　wide　iron　straps；　up　the　narrow；　stone　stairs。　They　had　to　keep　moving。　Passing　for　petitioners　would　not　save　them　from　questioning　if　they　were　seen　ing　from　the　cells。
　　　　　　　They　saw　no　more　guards；　nor　anyone　else；　as　they　climbed　out　of　the　bowels　of　the　Tower；　but　Min　still　found　herself　holding　her　breath　until　they　reached　the　small　door　that　let　into　the　Tower　proper。　Cracking　it　just　enough　to　poke　her　head　through；　she　peeked　both　ways　down　the　corridor。
　　　　　　　Gilded　lamp　stands　stood　against　frieze…banded　walls　of　white　marble。　To　the　right　two　women　moved　swiftly　out　of　sight　without　looking　back。　The　sureness　of　their　steps　marked　them　Aes　Sedai　even　if　she　could　not　see　their　faces；　in　the　Tower；　even　a　queen　walked　hesitantly。　In　the　other　direction　half　a　dozen　men　stalked　away；　just　as　clearly　Warders；　with　their　wolfish　grace　and　cloaks　that　faded　into　the　surroundings。
　　　　　　　She　waited　until　the　Warders　were　gone；　too；　before　slipping　through　the　doorway。　〃It's　clear。　e　on。　Keep　your　hoods　up　and　your　heads　down。　Act　a　little　frightened。〃　For　her　part；　it　was　no　pretense。　From　the　silent　way　the　two　women　followed　her；　she　did　not　think　they　needed　to　pretend　either。
　　　　　　　The　halls　of　the　Tower　were　seldom　full；　yet　now　they　seemed　empty。　Occasionally　someone　appeared　for　a　moment　ahead　of　them；　or　down　a　side　corridor；　but　whether　Aes　Sedai　or　Warder　or　servant；　all　were　hurrying；　too　intent　on　their　own　affairs　to　notice　anyone　else。　The　Tower　was　silent；　too。
　　　　　　　Then　they　passed　a　crossing　hallway　where　dark　blotches　of　dried　blood　flecked　the　pale　green　floor　tiles。　Two　larger　patches　stretched　off　in　long　smears；　as　if　bodies　had　been　dragged　away。
　　　　　　　Siuan　stopped；　staring。　〃What　has　happened？〃　she　demanded。　〃Tell　me；　Min！〃　Leane　gripped　the　hilt　of　her　belt　knife　and　peered　around　as　if　expecting　an　attack。
　　　　　　　〃Fighting；〃　Min　said　reluctantly。　She　had　hoped　the　two　women　would　be　out　of　the　Tower　grounds；　even　out　of　the　city；　before　learning　of　this。　She　herded　them　around　the　dark　stains；　prodded　them　on　when　they　tried　to　look　back。　〃It　began　yesterday；　right　after　you　were　taken；　and　did　not　stop　until　maybe　two　hours　ago。　Not　pletely。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　mean　the　Gaidin？〃　Leane　exclaimed。　〃Warders；　fighting　each　other？〃
　　　　　　　〃Warders；　the　guardsmen；　everyone。　It　started　when　some　men　who　came　claiming　to　be　masons　…　two　or　three　hundred　of　them　…　tried　to　seize　the　Tower　itself　right　after　your　arrest　was　announced。〃
　　　　　　　Siuan　scowled。　〃Danelle！　I　should　have　realized　there　was　more　to　it　than　not　paying　attention。〃　Her　face　twisted　more；　until　Min　thought　she　might　begin　crying。　〃Artur　Hawkwing　could　not　do　it；　but　we　did　it　ourselves。〃　Edge　of　tears　or　not；　her　voice　was　fierce。　〃The　Light　help　us；　we　have　broken　the　Tower。〃　Her　long　sigh　seemed　to　empty　her　of　breath；　and　anger；　too。　〃I　suppose；〃　she　said　sadly　after　a　moment；　〃I　should　be　glad　that　some　of　the　Tower　supported　me；　but　I　almost　wish　they　had　not。〃　Min　tried　to　keep　her　face　expressionless；　but　those　sharp　blue　eyes　seemed　to　interpret　every　flicker　of　an　eyelash。　〃Or　did　they　support　me；　Min？〃
　　　　　　　〃Some　did。〃　She　had　no　intention　of　telling　her　how　few；　not　yet。　But　she　had　to　prevent　Siuan　thinking　she　still　had　partisans　inside　the　Tower。　〃Elaida　didn't　wait　to　find　out　if　the　Blue　Ajah　would　stand　for　you　or　not。　There　isn't　a　Blue　sister　still　in　the　Tower；　not　alive；　I　know　that。〃
　　　　　　　〃Sheriam？〃　Leane　asked　anxiously。　〃Anaiya？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know。　There　are　not　many　Greens　left；　either。　Not　in　the　Tower。　The　other　Ajahs　split；　one　way　and　another。　Most　of　the　Reds　are　still　here。　As　far　as　I　know；　everybody　who　opposed　Elaida　has　either　fled　or　else　they　are　dead。　Siuan。。。〃　It　seemed　odd；　calling　her　that　…　Leane　muttered　angrily　under　her　breath　…　but　calling　her　Mother　would　only　be　a　mockery；　now。　〃Siuan；　the　charges　posted　against　you　claim　you　and　Leane　arranged　Mazrim　Taim's　escape。　Logain　got　away　during　the　fighting；　and　they've　blamed　that　on　you；　too。　They　don't　quite　name　you　Darkfriends　…　I　suppose　that　would　be　too　close　to　Black　Ajah　…　but　they　do　not　miss　by　much。　I　think　everyone　is　meant　to　understand；　though。〃
　　　　　　　〃They　won't　even　admit　the　truth；〃　Siuan　said　softly；　〃that　they　mean　to　do　exactly　what　they　pulled　me　down　for。〃
　　　　　　　〃Darkfriends？〃　Leane　murmured　in　bewilderment。　〃They　named　us。。。？〃
　　　　　　　〃Why　would　they　not？〃　Siuan　breathed。　〃What　would　they　not　dare；　when　they　dared　so　much？〃
　　　　　　　They　hunched　their　shoulders　in　their　cloaks　and　let　Min　lead　them　as　she　would。　She　just　wished　their　faces　did　not　look　so　hopeless。
　　　　　　　As　they　drew　nearer　an　outside　door；　she　began　to　breathe　more　easily。　She　had　horses　hidden　in　a　wooded　part　of　the　grounds；　not　far　from　one　of　the　western　gates。　There　was　still　the　question　of　how　easy　it　would　be　to　actually　ride　out；　but　once　they　reached　the　horses　she　would　feel　the　next　thing　to　free。　Surely　the　gate　guards　would　not　stop　three　women　leaving。　She　kept　telling　herself　that。
　　　　　　　The　door　she　sought　appeared　ahead　…　a　small；　plain…paneled　door；　letting　onto　a　path　not　much　used；　just　opposite　where　this　hall　met　the　broad　corridor　that　ran　all　the　way　around　the　Tower　…　and　Elaida's　face　caught　her　eye；　sweeping　down　the　outer　corridor　toward　her。
　　　　　　　Min's　knees　thudded　onto　the　floor　tiles；　and　she　huddled；　head　down　and　face　hidden　by　her　hood；　heart　trying　to　pound　through　her　ribs。　A　petitioner；　that's　all　I　am。　Just　a　simple　woman；　with　nothing　to　do　with　what's　happened。　Oh；　Light；　please！　She　raised　her　head　just　enough　to　peek　under　the　edge　of　her　hood；　half…expecting　to　see　a　gloating　Elaida　staring　down　at　her。
　　　　　　　Ela