rj.acrownofswords-第81部分

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go　into　retreat　at　the　close　of　their　lives；　far　from　the　stratagems　and　turbulence　that　none　but　sisters　ever　knew。　Far　from　everyone；　often　as　not。　Who　could　say　what　befell　them　before　the　end？　One　look　at　the　clear；　steady　gaze　regarding　her　over　that　teacup　quickly　disabused　her　of　any　such　notion。　Anyway；　twenty…year…old　vileness；　whatever　it　had　been；　certainly　could　not　hold　a　candle　to　what　the　world　confronted　now。　And　Cadsuane　still　had　not　answered　her　original　questions。　What　did　she　intend？　And　why　now？
　　　Before　Merana　could　ask　again；　the　door　opened　and　Bera　and　Kiruna　were　herded　in　by　Corele　Hovian；　a　boyishly　slim　Yellow　with　thick　black　eyebrows　and　a　mass　of　raven　hair　that　gave　her　something　of　a　wild　appearance　no　matter　how　neatly　she　dressed；　and　she　always　dressed　for　a　country　dance；　with　masses　of　embroidery　on　her　sleeves　and　bodice　and　up　the　sides　of　her　skirts。　There　was　barely　room　to　move；　with　so　many　people　in　this　confined　space。　Corele　never　failed　to　seem　amused；　whatever　happened；　but　now　she　wore　a　wide　smile　somewhere　between　disbelief　and　outright　laughter。　Kiruna's　eyes　flashed　in　a　face　of　frozen　arrogance；　while　Bera　fumed；　mouth　tight　and　forehead　creased。　Until　they　saw　Cadsuane。　Merana　supposed　that　for　them；　it　must　be　as　if　she　had　found　herself　face　to　face　with　Alind　Dyfelle　or　Sevlana　Meseau　or　even　Mabriam　en　Shereed。　Their　eyes　bulged。　Kiruna's　jaw　dropped。
　　　〃I　thought　you　were　dead；〃　Bera　breathed。
　　　Cadsuane　sniffed　irritably。　〃I　am　growing　tired　of　hearing　that。　The　next　imbecile　I　hear　it　from　is　going　to　yelp　for　a　week。〃　Annoura　began　studying　the　toes　of　her　slippers。
　　　〃You'll　never　guess　where　I　found　these　two；〃　Corele　said　in　her　lilting　Murandian　accent。　She　tapped　the　side　of　her　upturned　nose；　the　way　she　did　when　about　to　tell　a　joke；　or　what　she　saw　as　one。　Spots　of　color　appeared　in　Bera's　cheeks；　and　larger　in　Kiruna's。　〃Bera　there　was　sitting　meek　as　a　mouse　under　the　eyes　of　half　a　dozen　of　those　Aiel　wilders；　who　told　me　bold　as　you　please　that　she　couldn't　e　with　me　until　Sorilea　…　oh；　now　that　woman's　a　harridan　to　give　you　nightmares；　she　is　…　I　couldn't　have　Bera　until　Sorilea　was　done　with　her　private　chat　with　the　other　apprentice。　Our　darling　Kiruna；　there。〃
　　　It　was　no　longer　a　matter　of　spots。　Kiruna　and　Bera　reddened　to　their　hair；　refusing　to　meet　anyone's　eye。　Even　Daigian　stared　at　them。
　　　Relief　surged　through　Merana　in　wonderful　waves。　She　would　not　have　to　be　the　one　to　explain　how　the　Wise　Ones　had　interpreted　that　wretched　al'Thor's　orders　that　the　sisters　were　to　obey　them。　They　were　not　really　apprentices；　there　were　no　lessons　involved；　of　course。　What　could　a　great　lot　of　wilders；　savages　at　that；　teach　Aes　Sedai？　It　was　just　that　the　Wise　Ones　liked　to　know　where　everyone　fit。　Just？　Bera　or　Kiruna　could　tell　how　al'Thor　had　laughed　…　laughed！　…　and　said　it　made　no　difference　to　him　and　he　expected　them　to　be　obedient　pupils。　No　one　was　having　an　easy　time　bending　her　neck；　least　of　all　Kiruna。
　　　Yet　Cadsuane　did　not　demand　explanations。　〃I　expected　a　dog's　dinner；〃　she　said　dryly；　〃but　not　a　bucket　from　the　midden。　Let　me　see　if　I　have　the　straight　of　it。　You　children　who　stand　in　rebellion　against　a　lawfully　raised　Amyrlin　have　now　somehow　associated　yourselves　with　the　al'Thor　boy；　and　if　you　are　taking　orders　from　these　Aiel　women；　I　assume　you　take　his　as　well。〃　Her　grunt　was　disgusted　enough　for　a　mouthful　of　rotten　plums。　Shaking　her　head；　she　peered　into　her　teacup；　then　fixed　the　pair　again。　〃Well；　what's　one　treason　more　or　less？　The　Hall　can　put　you　on　your　knees　from　here　to　Tarmon　Gai'don　for　penance；　but　they　can　only　take　your　heads　once。　What　of　the　rest；　out　in　the　Aiel　camp？　All　Elaida's；　I　suppose。　Have　they　also。。。　apprenticed。。。　themselves？　None　of　us　have　been　allowed　as　close　as　the　first　row　of　tents。　These　Aiel　seem　to　have　no　love　of　Aes　Sedai。〃
　　　〃I　do　not　know；　Cadsuane；〃　Kiruna　answered；　so　red…faced　she　appeared　about　to　catch　fire。　〃We　have　been　kept　apart。〃　Merana's　eyes　widened。　She　had　never　before　heard　Kiruna　sound　deferential。
　　　Bera；　on　the　other　hand；　drew　a　deep　breath。　She　already　stood　straight；　yet　she　seemed　to　straighten　herself　for　an　unpleasant　task。　〃Elaida　is　not　…　〃　she　began　heatedly。
　　　〃Elaida　is　overambitious；　as　near　as　I　can　make　out；〃　Cadsuane　broke　in；　leaning　forward　so　abruptly　that　Merana　and　Annoura　both　started　back　on　the　bed；　though　she　was　not　looking　at　them；　〃and　she　may　be　a　catastrophe　simmering；　but　she　is　still　the　Amyrlin　Seat；　raised　by　the　Hall　of　the　Tower　in　full　accordance　with　the　laws　of　the　Tower。〃
　　　〃If　Elaida　is　a　lawful　Amyrlin；　why　have　you　not　obeyed　her　order　to　return？〃　All　that　betrayed　Bera's　lack　of　posure　was　the　stillness　of　her　hands　on　her　skirts。　Only　a　marked　effort　to　keep　from　clutching　or　smoothing　could　hold　them　so　motionless。
　　　〃So　one　of　you　has　a　little　backbone。〃　Cadsuane　laughed　softly；　but　her　eyes　did　not　look　mirthful　at　all。　Leaning　back；　she　sipped　her　tea。　〃Now　sit　down。　I　have　a　great　many　more　questions。〃
　　　Merana　and　Annoura　rose；　offering　their　places　on　the　bed；　but　Kiruna　simply　stood　peering　at　Cadsuane　worriedly；　and　Bera　glanced　at　her　friend；　then　shook　her　head。　Corele　rolled　her　blue　eyes；　grinning　broadly　for　some　reason；　but　Cadsuane　did　not　seem　to　care。
　　　〃Half　the　rumors　I　hear；〃　she　said；　〃concern　the　Forsaken　being　loose。　It　would　hardly　be　a　surprise；　with　all　else；　but　do　you　have　any　evidence；　for　or　against？〃
　　　Before　very　long；　Merana　was　glad　to　be　sitting；　before　very　long；　she　knew　what　laundry　felt　going　through　the　laundress's　mangle。　Cadsuane　did　all　the　questioning；　dodging　from　topic　to　topic　so　you　never　knew　what　was　ing　next。　Corele　held　her　peace　except　for　chuckling　now　and　then　or　shaking　her　head；　and　Daigian　did　not　even　do　that；　of　course。　Merana　caught　the　worst；　her　and　Bera　and　Kiruna；　yet　Annoura　was　certainly　not　spared。　Every　time　Berelain's　advisor　relaxed；　thinking　she　was　in　the　clear；　Cadsuane　skewered　her　anew。
　　　The　woman　wanted　to　know　everything；　from　the　al'Thor　boy's　authority　with　the　Aiel　to　why　a　Sea　Folk　Wavemistress　was　anchored　in　the　river；　from　whether　Moiraine　truly　was　dead　to　whether　the　boy　really　had　rediscovered　Traveling　and　whether　Berelain　had　bedded　him　or　had　any　intention　of　it。　What　Cadsuane　thought　of　the　answers　was　impossible　to　say；　except　once；　when　she　learned　that　Alanna　had　bonded　al'Thor；　and　how。　Her　mouth　pressed　to　a　thin　line　and　she　frowned　a　hole　though　the　wall；　but　while　everyone　else　expressed　disgust；　Merana　thought　of　Cadsuane　saying　she　had　considered　taking　another　Warder　herself。
　　　The　answer　was　ignorance　entirely　too　often　to　suit；　but　saying　you　did　not　know　failed　to　quench　Cadsuane's　appetite；　she　required　every　last　shred　and　particle　you　did　know；　even　if　you　did　not　know　you　knew　it。　They　managed　to　keep　a　little　back；　most　of　what　had　to　be　kept　back；　yet　a　few　surprising　things　came　out　that　way；　some　very　surprising；　even　from　Annoura；　who；　it　turned　out；　had　been　receiving　detailed　letters　from　Berelain　almost　from　the　day　the　girl　rode　north。　Cadsuane　demanded　answers；　but　gave　none；　and　that　worried　Merana。　She　watched　faces　grow　dogged　and　defensive　and　apologetic；　and　wondered　whether　her　own　looked　the　same。
　　　〃Cadsuane。〃　She　had　to　make　one　more　effort。　〃Cadsuane；　why　have　you　decided　to　take　an　interest　in　him　now？〃　An　unblinking　gaze　met　hers　for　a　moment；　then　Cadsuane　turned　her　attention　to　Bera　and　Kiruna。
　　　〃So　they　actually　managed　to　kidnap　him　right　out　of　the　palace；〃　the　gray…haired　woman　said；　holding　out　her　empty　cup　for　Daigian　to　refill。　No　one　else　had　been　offered　tea。　Cadsuane's　expression　and　tone　were　so　neutral　that　Merana　wanted　to　tear　her　own　hair。　Al'Thor　would　not　be　pleased　if　he　learned　Kiruna　had　revealed　the　kidnapping；　however　inadvertently；　Cadsuane　used　any　slip　of　your　tongue　to　pry　out　more　than　you　meant　to　say。　At　least　the　details　of　his　treatment　had　not　e　out。　He　had　made　plain　how　displeased　he　would　be　if　that　happened。　Merana　thanked　the　Light　that　the　woman　was　not　staying　with　any　one　subject　for　long。
　　　〃You　are　sure　it　was　Taim？　And　you　are　sure　these　blackcoats　didn't　arrive　on　horses？〃　Bera　answered　reluctantly；　and　Kiruna　sullenly；　they　were　as　certain　as　they　could　be；　no　one　had　actually　seen　the　Asha'man　e　or　depart；　and　the。。。　hole。。。　that　brought　them　all　here　could　have　been　made　by　al'Thor。　Which　did　not　satisfy　at　all；　of　course。
　　　〃Think！　You　aren't　silly　girls　any　longer；　or　shouldn't　be。　Phaw！　You　must　have　noticed　something。〃
　　　Merana　felt　ill。　She　and　the　others　had　spent　half　the　night　arguing　over　what　their　oath　meant　before　deciding　it　meant　exactly　what　they　had　said；　with　no　loopholes　to　wriggle　through。　At　last　even　Kiruna　conceded　that　they　must　defend　and　support　al'Thor　as　well　as　obey；　that　standing　aside　in　the　slightest　was　not　permitted。　What　that　might　mean　when　it　came　to　Elaida　and　the　sisters　loyal　to　her　really　concerned　no　one。　At　least；　no　one　admitted　any　concern。　The　mere　fact　of　what　they　had　decided　was　stunner　enough。　But　Merana　wondered　whether　Bera　or　Kiruna　had　yet　realized　what　she　had。　They　might　just　find　themselves　opposing　a　legend；　not　to　mention　whatever　sisters　besides　Corele　and　Daigian　had　chosen　to　follow　her。　Worse。。。　Cadsuane's　eyes　rested　on　her　for　a　moment；　giving　away　nothing；　demanding　everything。　Worse；　Merana　was　sure　that　Cadsuane　knew　that　very　well。
　　　
　　　Hurrying　along　the　palace　corridors；　Min　ignored　greetings　from　half　a　dozen　Maidens　she　knew；　just　trotted　right　by　without　a　word　in　return；　never　considering　that　she　was　being　rude。　Trotting　was　not　easy　in　heeled　boots。　The　fool　things　women　did　for　men！　Not　that　Rand　had　asked　her　to　wear　the　boots；　but　she　put　them　on　the　first　time　with　him　in　mind；　and　she　had　seen　him　smile。　He　liked　them。　Light；　what　was　she　doing；　thinking　about　boots！　She　should　never　have　gone　to　Colavaere's　apartments。　Shivering；　blinking　back　unshed　tears；　she　began　to　run。
　　　As　usual；　a　number　of　Maidens　were　squatting　on　their　Heels　beside　the　ta