rj.acrownofswords-第150部分

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ark　of　indignation。　They　attacked　Aes　Sedai　and　were　angry　when　some　of　them　died？　A　tiny　spark　was　all　she　could　manage。　After　all；　what　was　Sevanna's　twisting　facts　alongside　days　of　beatings　and　Therava's　eyes？　A　pained；　croaking　laugh　bubbled　up　at　the　absurdity　of　it。　Her　throat　was　so　dry。
　　　〃Be　thankful　some　of　you　still　live；〃　she　managed　past　her　laughter。　〃Even　now　it　is　not　too　late　to　rectify　your　mistakes；　Sevanna。〃　With　an　effort；　she　swallowed　rueful　mirth　before　it　turned　to　tears。　Just　before。　〃When　I　return　to　the　White　Tower；　I　will　remember　those　who　assist　me；　even　now。〃　She　would　have　added；　〃and　those　who　do　otherwise；〃　but　Therava's　unwavering　stare　set　fear　fluttering　in　her　middle。　For　all　she　knew；　Therava　still　might　be　allowed　to　do　whatever　she　wished。　There　had　to　be　some　way　to　induce　Sevanna　to。。。　take　charge　of　her。　That　tasted　bitter；　yet　anything　was　better　than　Therava。　Sevanna　was　ambitious；　and　greedy。　In　the　midst　of　frowning　at　Galina；　she　had　caught　sight　of　her　own　hand　and　directed　a　brief；　admiring　smile　at　rings　set　with　large　emeralds　and　firedrops。　She　wore　rings　on　half　her　fingers；　and　necklaces　of　pearls　and　rubies　and　diamonds　fit　for　any　queen　draped　across　the　swell　of　her　bosom。　Sevanna　could　not　be　trusted；　but　perhaps　she　could　be　bought。　Therava　was　a　force　of　nature；　as　well　try　to　buy　a　flood　or　an　avalanche。　〃I　trust　that　you　will　do　what　is　right；　Sevanna；〃　she　finished。　〃The　rewards　of　friendship　with　the　White　Tower　are　great。〃
　　　For　a　long　moment；　there　was　silence　except　for　the　whisper　of　the　white　robes　as　the　servants　moved　with　their　trays。　Then。。。
　　　〃You　are　da'tsang；〃　Sevanna　said。　Galina　blinked。　She　was　a　despised　one？　Certainly　they　had　displayed　their　contempt　plainly；　but　why　…？
　　　〃You　are　da'tsang；〃　a　round…faced　Wise　One　she　did　not　know　intoned；　and　a　woman　a　hand　taller　than　Therava　repeated；　〃You　are　da'tsang。〃
　　　Therava's　hawklike　face　might　have　been　carved　from　wood；　yet　her　eyes；　fixed　on　Galina；　glittered　accusingly。　Galina　felt　nailed　to　the　spot　where　she　knelt；　unable　to　move　a　muscle。　A　hypnotized　bird　watching　a　serpent　slither　nearer。　No　one　had　ever　made　her　feel　that　way。　No　one。
　　　〃Three　Wise　Ones　have　spoken。〃　Sevanna's　satisfied　smile　was　almost　weling。　Therava's　face　was　stark。　The　woman　did　not　like　whatever　had　just　happened。　Something　had　happened；　even　if　Galina　did　not　know　what。　Except　that　it　appeared　to　have　delivered　her　from　Therava。　That　was　more　than　enough　for　the　moment。　More　than　enough。
　　　When　Maidens　cut　her　bounds　and　stuffed　her　into　a　black　wool　robe；　she　was　so　grateful　she　almost　did　not　care　that　they　tore　off　the　remnants　of　her　shift　first；　in　front　of　those　ice…eyed　men。　The　thick　wool　was　hot　and　itchy　and　scratchy　on　her　welts；　and　she　weled　it　as　though　it　were　silk。　Despite　Micara　still　shielding　her；　she　could　have　laughed　as　the　Maidens　led　her　out　of　the　tent。　It　did　not　take　long　for　that　desire　to　vanish　entirely。　It　did　not　take　her　long　to　begin　wondering　whether　begging　on　her　knees　before　Sevanna　would　do　any　good。　She　would　have　done　it；　could　she　have　gotten　to　the　woman；　except　that　Micara　made　it　plain　she　was　not　going　anywhere　she　was　not　told　to　go；　or　speak　a　word　unless　spoken　to。
　　　
　　　Arms　folded；　Sevanna　watched　the　Aes　Sedai；　the　da'tsang；　stagger　down　the　mountainside　and　stop；　beside　a　Maiden　squatting　on　her　heels　with　a　switch；　to　drop　the　head…shaped　stone　she　had　been　carrying　in　her　hands。　The　black　hood　turned　in　Sevanna's　direction　for　a　moment；　but　the　da'tsang　quickly　bent　to　pick　up　another　large　stone　and　turned　to　labor　back　up　the　fifty　paces　to　where　Micara　waited　with　another　Maiden。　There　she　dropped　that　stone；　picked　up　another；　and　started　back　down。　Da'tsang　were　always　shamed　with　useless　labor；　unless　there　was　great　need；　the　woman　would　not　be　allowed　to　carry　even　a　cup　of　water；　yet　toil　without　purpose　would　fill　her　hours　till　she　burst　of　shame。　The　sun　had　a　long　way　to　climb　yet；　and　many　more　days　lay　ahead。
　　　〃I　did　not　think　she　would　condemn　herself　out　of　her　own　mouth；〃　Rhiale　said　at　Sevanna's　shoulder。　〃Efalin　and　the　others　are　all　but　sure　she　openly　admitted　killing　Desaine。〃
　　　〃She　is　mine；　Sevanna。〃　Therava's　jaw　tightened。　She　might　have　taken　the　woman；　but　da'tsang　belonged　to　no　one。　〃I　intended　to　dress　her　in　gai'shain　robes　of　silk；〃　she　muttered。　〃What　is　the　purpose　of　this；　Sevanna？　I　expected　to　have　to　argue　against　cutting　her　throat；　not　this。〃
　　　Rhiale　tossed　her　head；　casting　a　sidelong　glance　at　Sevanna。　〃Sevanna　intends　to　break　her。　We　have　had　long　talks　of　what　to　do　should　we　capture　any　Aes　Sedai。　Sevanna　wants　a　tame　Aes　Sedai　to　wear　white　and　serve　her。　An　Aes　Sedai　in　black　will　do　well　enough；　though。〃
　　　Sevanna　shifted　her　shawl；　irritated　by　the　woman's　tone。　Not　quite　mocking；　but　all　too　aware　that　she　wanted　somehow　to　use　the　Aes　Sedai's　channeling　as　though　it　were　Sevanna's　own。　It　would　be　possible。　Two　gai'shain　passed　the　three　Wise　Ones；　carrying　a　large　brass…strapped　chest　between　them。　Short　and　pale…faced；　husband　and　wife；　they　had　been　Lord　and　Lady　in　the　treekillers'　lands。　The　pair　bowed　their　heads　more　meekly　than　any　Aiel　in　white　ever　could　have　managed；　their　dark　eyes　were　tight　with　fear　of　a　harsh　word；　much　less　a　switch。　Wetlanders　could　be　tamed　like　horses。
　　　〃The　woman　is　tamed　already；〃　Therava　grumbled。　〃I　have　looked　into　her　eyes。　She　is　a　bird　fluttering　in　the　hand　and　afraid　to　fly。〃
　　　〃In　nine　days？〃　Rhiale　said　incredulously；　and　Sevanna　shook　her　head　vigorously。
　　　〃She　is　Aes　Sedai；　Therava。　You　saw　her　face　go　pale　with　fury　when　I　accused　her。　You　heard　her　laugh　as　she　spoke　of　killing　Wise　Ones。〃　She　made　a　vexed；　angry　sound。　〃And　you　heard　her　threaten　us。〃　The　woman　had　been　as　slippery　as　the　treekillers；　speaking　of　rewards　and　letting　the　threat　if　no　rewards　came　shout　silently。　But　what　else　could　be　expected　of　Aes　Sedai？　〃It　will　take　long　to　break　her；　but　this　Aes　Sedai　will　beg　to　obey　if　it　takes　a　year。〃　Once　she　did　that。。。　Aes　Sedai　could　not　lie；　of　course；　she　had　expected　Galina　to　deny　her　accusation。　Once　she　swore　to　obey。。。
　　　〃If　you　want　to　make　an　Aes　Sedai　obey　you；〃　a　man's　voice　said　behind　her；　〃this　might　help。〃
　　　Incredulous；　Sevanna　spun　about　to　find　Caddar　standing　there；　and　beside　him　the　woman　…　the　Aes　Sedai　…　Maisia；　both　dressed　in　dark　silk　and　fine　lace　as　they　had　been　six　days　ago；　each　with　a　bulging　sack　hanging　incongruously　from　one　shoulder　by　a　strap。　Caddar　held　out　a　smooth　white　rod　about　a　foot　long　in　one　dark　hand。
　　　〃How　did　you　e　here？〃　she　demanded；　then　pressed　her　lips　in　anger。　Plainly　he　had　e　as　he　had　before；　she　was　just　surprised　at　him　appearing　here；　in　the　middle　of　the　camp。　She　snatched　the　white　rod　he　offered；　and　as　always　he　stepped　back　beyond　arm's　reach。　〃Why　have　you　e？〃　she　amended。　〃What　is　this？〃　A　little　slimmer　than　her　wrist；　the　rod　was　smooth　except　for　a　few　odd；　flowing　symbols　incised　on　one　flat　end。　It　felt　not　quite　like　ivory；　not　quite　like　glass。　Very　cool　to　the　touch。
　　　〃You　might　call　it　an　Oath　Rod；〃　Caddar　said；　showing　teeth　in　what　was　doubtless　meant　for　a　smile。　〃It　only　came　into　my　hands　yesterday；　and　I　immediately　thought　of　you。〃
　　　Sevanna　clamped　her　hands　tight　around　the　rod　to　keep　from　hurling　it　away。　Everyone　knew　what　the　Aes　Sedai's　Oath　Rod　did。　Trying　not　even　to　think；　much　less　speak；　she　thrust　it　behind　her　belt　and　took　her　hands　away。
　　　Rhiale　frowned　at　the　rod　at　Sevanna's　waist；　and　her　eyes　rose　slowly；　coldly；　to　Sevanna's　face。　Therava　adjusted　her　shawl　in　a　clatter　of　bracelets；　and　gave　a　hard；　thin　smile。　There　would　never　be　any　chance　of　one　of　them　touching　the　rod　and　maybe　no　chance　of　any　other　Wise　One　doing　so　either。　But　there　was　still　Galina　Casban。　One　day　she　would　break。
　　　Raven…eyed　Maisia；　a　little　behind　Caddar；　smiled　almost　as　faintly　as　Therava。　She　had　seen；　and　understood。　She　was　observant；　for　a　wetlander。
　　　〃e；〃　Sevanna　told　Caddar。　〃We　will　drink　tea　in　my　tent。〃　She　certainly　would　not　share　water　with　him。　Lifting　her　skirts；　she　started　up　the　slope。
　　　To　her　surprise；　Caddar　was　also　observant。　〃All　you　need　do　is　have　your　Aes　Sedai〃　…　walking　easily　beside　her　on　his　long　legs；　he　grinned　suddenly；　toothily；　at　Rhiale　and　Therava　…　〃or　any　woman　who　can　channel　hold　the　rod　and　speak　whatever　promises　you　wish　while　someone　channels　a　little　Spirit　into　the　number。　The　marks　on　the　end　of　the　rod？〃　he　added；　raising　his　eyebrows　insultingly。　〃You　can　use　it　to　release　her；　too　but　that　is　more　painful。　Or　so　I　understand。〃
　　　Sevanna's　fingers　touched　the　rod　lightly。　More　glass　than　ivory；　and　very　cool。　〃It　only　works　on　women？〃　She　ducked　into　the　tent　ahead　of　him。　The　Wise　Ones　and　the　leaders　of　the　warrior　societies　were　gone；　but　the　dozen　treekiller　gai'shain　remained；　kneeling　patiently　to　one　side。　No　one　person　had　ever　kept　a　dozen　gai'shain　before；　and　she　possessed　more。　There　would　have　to　be　a　new　name　for　them；　though；　since　they　would　never　put　off　the　white。
　　　〃Women　who　can　channel；　Sevanna；〃　Caddar　said；　following　her　in。　The　man's　tone　was　incredibly　insolent。　His　dark　eyes　shone　with　open　amusement。　〃You　will　have　to　wait　until　you　have　al'Thor　before　I　give　you　what　will　control　him。〃
　　　Removing　the　sack　from　his　shoulder；　he　sat。　Not　on　a　cushion　near　hers；　of　course。　Maisia　was　not　afraid　of　a　blade　in　her　ribs；　she　lounged　on　an　elbow　almost　at　Sevanna's　side。　Sevanna　eyed　her　sideways；　then　casually　undid　another　lace　of　her　own　blouse。　She　did　not　recall　the　woman's　bosom　being　as　round　as　that。　For　that　matter；　her　face　seemed　even　more　beautiful；　as　well。　Sevanna　tried　not　to　grind　her　teeth。
　　　〃Of　course；〃　Caddar　went　on；　〃if　you　mean　some　other　man　…　There　is　a　thing　called　a　binding　chair。　Binding　people　who　cannot　channel　is　more　difficult　than　binding　those　who　can。　Perhaps　a　binding　chair　survived　the　Breaking；　but　you　will　have　to　wait　while　I　find　it。〃
　　　Sevanna　touched　the　rod　again；　then　impatiently　ordered　one　of　the　g