rj.acrownofswords-第49部分

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ey　said　they'd　see　we　were　tested　and　raised　properly　as　soon　we　return　to　the　Tower。〃　Her　face　grew　angrier；　and　Theodrin　rolled　her　eyes　and　broke　in。
　　　〃Mother；　what　Faolain　is　fumbling　all　around　without　getting　to　the　point　is　that　we　didn't　attach　ourselves　to　you　because　we　had　no　choice。　And　we　didn't　do　it　in　gratitude　for　the　shawl。〃　She　pursed　her　lips　as　if　thinking　that　raising　them　Aes　Sedai　in　the　manner　Egwene　had　was　not　really　a　gift　to　inspire　much　gratitude。
　　　〃Then　why？〃　Egwene　asked；　leaning　back。　The　chair　shifted；　but　held。
　　　Faolain　jumped　in　before　Theodrin　could　more　than　open　her　mouth。　〃Because　you　are　the　Amyrlin　Seat。〃　She　still　sounded　angry。　〃We　can　see　what　happens。　Some　of　the　sisters　think　you're　Sheriam's　puppet；　but　most　believe　Romanda　or　Lelaine　tells　you　where　and　when　to　step。　It　is　not　right。〃　Her　face　was　twisted　in　a　scowl。　〃I　left　the　Tower　because　what　Elaida　did　wasn't　right。　They　raised　you　Amyrlin。　So　I　am　yours。　If　you　will　have　me。　If　you　can　trust　me　without　the　Oath　Rod。　You　must　believe　me。〃
　　　〃And　you；　Theodrin？〃　Egwene　said　quickly；　schooling　her　face。　Knowing　how　the　sisters　felt　was　bad　enough；　hearing　it　again　was。。。　painful。
　　　〃I　am　yours；　too；〃　Theodrin　sighed；　〃if　you'll　have　me。〃　She　spread　her　hands　disparagingly。　〃We　are　not　much；　I　know；　but　it　looks　as　though　we　are　all　you　have。　I　must　admit　I　was　hesitant；　Mother。　Faolain　is　the　one　who　kept　insisting　we　do　this。　Frankly。。。　〃　She　settled　her　shawl　again　unnecessarily；　and　her　voice　firmed。　〃Frankly；　I　do　not　see　how　you　can　win　out　over　Romanda　and　Lelaine。　But　we　are　trying　to　behave　as　Aes　Sedai；　even　though　we　aren't　really；　yet。　We　will　not　be　that；　Mother；　whatever　you　say；　until　the　other　sisters　see　us　as　Aes　Sedai；　and　that　won't　happen　until　we　have　been　tested　and　have　sworn　the　Three　Oaths。〃
　　　Plucking　the　folded　scrap　of　parchment　out　from　under　the　inkwell；　Egwene　fingered　it　while　she　thought。　Faolain　was　the　driving　force　behind　this？　That　seemed　as　unlikely　as　a　wolf　befriending　the　shepherd。　She　suspected　〃dislike〃　was　a　mild　word　for　what　Faolain　felt　for　her；　and　the　woman　must　know　Egwene　hardly　saw　her　as　a　potential　friend。　If　they　had　accepted　either　Sitter's　arrangement；　mentioning　the　offer　might　be　a　good　means　of　disarming　her　suspicions。
　　　〃Mother；〃　Faolain　said；　and　stopped；　looking　surprised　at　herself。　It　was　the　first　time　she　had　addressed　Egwene　so。　Drawing　a　deep　breath；　she　went　on。　〃Mother；　I　know　you　must　have　a　hard　time　believing　us；　since　we've　never　held　the　Oath　Rod；　but　…　〃
　　　〃I　wish　you　would　stop　bringing　that　up；〃　Egwene　said。　It　was　well　to　be　careful；　but　she　could　not　afford　to　refuse　every　offer　of　help　for　fear　of　plots。　〃Do　you　think　everybody　believes　Aes　Sedai　because　of　the　Three　Oaths？　People　who　know　Aes　Sedai　know　a　sister　can　stand　truth　on　its　head　and　turn　it　inside　out　if　she　chooses　to。　Myself；　I　think　the　Three　Oaths　hurt　as　much　as　they　help；　maybe　more。　I　will　believe　you　until　I　learn　you've　lied　to　me；　and　I　will　trust　you　until　you　show　you　don't　deserve　it。　The　same　way　everybody　else　does　with　one　another。〃　e　to　think　of　it；　the　Oaths　did　not　really　change　that。　You　still　had　to　take　a　sister　on　trust　most　of　the　time。　The　Oaths　just　made　people　warier　about　it；　wondering　whether　and　how　they　were　being　manipulated。　〃Another　thing。　You　two　are　Aes　Sedai。　I　don't　want　to　hear　any　more　about　having　to　be　tested；　or　hold　the　Oath　Rod；　or　any　of　it。　Bad　enough　you　have　to　face　that　nonsense　without　parroting　it　yourselves。　Have　I　made　myself　clear？〃
　　　The　two　women　standing　on　the　other　side　of　the　table　murmured　hastily　that　she　had；　then　exchanged　long　looks。　This　time；　it　was　Faolain　who　appeared　indecisive。　Finally；　Theodrin　glided　around　to　kneel　beside　Egwene's　chair　and　kiss　her　ring。　〃Under　the　Light　and　by　my　hope　of　salvation　and　rebirth；　I；　Theodrin　Dabei；　swear　fealty　to　you；　Egwene　al'Vere；　to　faithfully　serve　and　obey　on　pain　of　my　life　and　honor。〃　She　looked　at　Egwene　questioningly。
　　　It　was　all　Egwene　could　do　to　nod。　This　was　no　part　of　Aes　Sedai　ritual；　this　was　how　noble　swore　to　ruler。　Even　some　rulers　did　not　receive　so　strong　an　oath。　Yet　no　sooner　had　Theodrin　risen　with　a　relieved　smile　than　Faolain　took　her　place。
　　　〃Under　the　Light　and　by　my　hope　of　salvation　and　rebirth；　I；　Faolain　Orande。。。　〃
　　　All　that　she　could　have　wished　for　and　more。　From　any　other　sisters；　at　least；　who　were　not　just　as　likely　to　be　sent　to　fetch　another's　dustcloak　if　the　wind　rose。
　　　When　Faolain　finished；　she　remained　kneeling；　but　stiffly　upright。　〃Mother；　there　is　the　matter　of　my　penance。　For　what　I　said　to　you；　about　not　liking　you。　I　will　set　it　myself；　if　you　wish；　but　it　is　your　right。〃　Her　voice　was　as　rigid　as　her　posture；　yet　not　at　all　fearful。　She　looked　ready　to　stare　down　a　lion。　Eager　to；　in　fact。
　　　Biting　her　lip；　Egwene　nearly　laughed　aloud。　Keeping　her　face　smooth　took　effort；　maybe　they　would　take　it　for　a　hiccough。　However　much　they　claimed　they　were　not　really　Aes　Sedai；　Faolain　had　just　proved　how　much　of　one　she　was。　Sometimes　sisters　set　themselves　penances；　in　order　to　maintain　the　proper　balance　between　pride　and　humility　…　that　balance　was　much　prized；　supposedly；　and　the　only　reason　given　usually　…　but　certainly　none　sought　to　have　one　imposed。　Penance　set　by　another　could　be　quite　harsh；　and　the　Amyrlin　was　supposed　to　be　harder　in　this　than　the　Ajahs。　Either　way；　though；　many　sisters　made　a　haughty　display　of　submission　to　the　greater　will　of　the　Aes　Sedai；　an　arrogant　showing　of　their　lack　of　arrogance。　The　pride　of　humility；　Siuan　called　it。　She　considered　telling　the　woman　to　eat　a　handful　of　soap　just　to　see　her　expression　…　Faolain　had　a　mean　tongue　…　but　instead。。。
　　　〃I　don't　hand　out　penance　for　telling　the　truth；　daughter。　Or　for　not　liking　me。　Dislike　to　your　heart's　content；　so　long　as　you　keep　your　oath。〃　Not　that　anyone　except　a　Darkfriend　would　break　that　particular　oath。　Still；　there　were　ways　around　almost　anything。　But　weak　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　contr