rj.theshadowrising-第196部分

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e　as　its　thick　legs；　stood　where　the　seal　had；　in　the　center　of　the　table。　Suddenly　her　eyes　narrowed。　It　was　not　really　there；　the　thing　was　woven　from　Air　and　Fire；　in　flows　so　minute　they　made　cobwebs　seem　cables。　Even　concentrating；　she　could　barely　see　them。　She　doubted　if　Liandrin　or　any　of　the　other　Black　sisters　could　have。　A　tiny；　slicing　flick　of　the　Power；　and　the　fat　animal　vanished；　in　its　place　the　black…and…white　seal　on　its　red…lacquered　stand。　Moghedien；　the　hider；　had　hidden　it　in　plain　sight。　Fire　melted　a　hole　in　the　glass；　and　the　seal　went　into　her　pouch；　too。　It　bulged　now；　and　pulled　her　belt　down。
　　　　　　　Frowning　at　the　woman　poised　on　the　toe　of　one　slipper；　she　tried　to　think　of　some　means　of　taking　her　as　well。　But　Moghedien　would　not　fit　in　her　pouch；　and　she　rather　thought　that　even　if　she　could　pick　the　other　woman　up；　the　sight　might　raise　a　few　eyebrows。　Still；　as　she　made　her　way　to　the　nearest　arched　doorway；　she　could　not　help　looking　back　every　other　step。　If　only　there　was　some　way。　Pausing　for　one　last；　regretful　look　from　the　doorway；　she　turned　to　go。
　　　　　　　This　door　opened　onto　a　courtyard　with　a　fountain　full　of　lilypads。　On　the　other　side　of　the　fountain；　a　slim；　coppery…skinned　woman　in　a　pale　cream　Taraboner　dress　that　would　have　made　Rendra　blush　was　just　raising　a　fluted　black　rod　a　pace　in　length。　Nynaeve　recognized　Jeaine　Caide。　More；　she　recognized　the　rod。
　　　　　　　Desperately　she　flung　herself　to　one　side；　so　hard　that　she　slid　along　the　smooth　white　floorstones　until　one　of　the　thin　columns　stopped　her　with　a　jar。　A　leg…thick　bar　of　white　shot　through　where　she　had　been　standing；　as　if　the　air　had　turned　to　molten　metal；　slicing　all　the　way　across　the　exhibition　hall；　where　it　struck；　pieces　simply　vanished　out　of　columns；　priceless　artifacts　ceased　to　exist。　Hurling　flows　of　Fire　behind　her　blindly；　hoping　to　strike　something；　anything；　in　the　courtyard；　Nynaeve　scrambled　away　across　the　hall　on　hands　and　knees。　Little　more　than　waist…high；　the　bar　sawed　sideways；　carving　a　swathe　through　both　walls；　between；　cases　and　cabinets　and　wired　skeletons　collapsed　and　crashed。　Severed　columns　quivered；　some　fell；　but　what　dropped　onto　that　terrible　sword　did　not　survive　to　smash　displays　and　pedestals　to　the　floor。　The　glass…walled　table　fell　before　the　molten　shaft　vanished；　leaving　a　purplish　bar　that　seemed　burned　into　Nynaeve's　vision；　the　cuendillar　figures　were　all　that　dropped　out　of　that　molten　white　shaft；　bouncing　on　the　floor。
　　　　　　　The　figurines　did　not　break；　of　course。　It　seemed　Moghedien　was　right；　not　even　balefire　could　destroy　cuendillar。　That　black　rod　was　one　of　the　stolen　ter'angreal。　Nynaeve　could　remember　the　warning　appended　to　their　list　in　a　firm　hand。　Produces　balefire。　Dangerous　and　almost　impossible　to　control。
　　　　　　　Moghedien　seemed　to　be　trying　to　scream　through　her　invisible　gag；　head　whipping　back　and　forth　in　a　frenzy　as　she　fought　her　bonds　of　Air；　but　Nynaeve　spared　her　no　more　than　a　glance。　As　soon　as　the　balefire　disappeared；　she　raised　herself　up　enough　to　peer　back　across　the　hall；　through　the　rent　sawed　along　the　chamber　wall。　Beside　the　fountain；　Jeaine　Caide　was　swaying；　one　hand　to　her　head；　the　black　rod　almost　falling　from　the　other。　But　before　Nynaeve　could　strike　at　her；　she　had　clutched　the　fluted　rod　again；　balefire　burst　from　its　end；　destroying　everything　in　its　path　through　the　chamber。
　　　　　　　Dropping　almost　to　her　belly；　Nynaeve　crawled　the　other　way　as　fast　as　she　could；　amid　the　crash　and　clatter　of　falling　columns　and　masonry。　Panting；　she　pulled　herself　into　a　corridor　slashed　through　both　walls。　There　was　no　telling　how　far　the　balefire　had　sliced；　all　the　way　out　of　the　palace；　perhaps。　Twisting　about　on　a　carpet　littered　with　bits　of　stone；　she　peeked　cautiously　around　the　side　of　the　doorframe。
　　　　　　　The　balefire　had　gone　again。　Silence　held　in　the　ruined　exhibition　hall；　except　when　a　weakened　piece　of　stonework　gave　way　and　smashed　to　the　rubble…strewn　floor。　There　was　no　sign　of　Jeaine　Caide；　though　enough　of　the　far　wall　had　fallen　to　show　the　fountained　courtyard　clearly。　She　was　not　about　to　risk　going　to　see　if　the　ter'angreal　had　killed　the　woman　in　using　it。　Her　breath　came　raggedly；　and　her　arms　and　legs　trembled　enough　that　she　was　glad　to　lie　there　a　moment。　Channeling　took　energy　the　same　as　any　other　work；　the　more　you　did；　the　more　energy。　And　the　wearier　you　were；　the　less　you　could　channel。　She　was　not　entirely　certain　she　herself　was　up　to　facing　even　a　weakened　Jeaine　Caide　right　then。
　　　　　　　Such　a　fool　she　had　been。　Battling　Moghedien　with　the　Power；　and　never　thinking　that　channeling　that　strong　would　have　every　Black　sister　in　the　palace　jumping　out　of　her　skin。　She　was　lucky　the　Domani　woman　had　not　arrived　with　her　ter'angreal　while　she　was　still　absorbed　with　the　Forsaken。　They　very　likely　both　would　have　died　before　they　knew　she　was　there。
　　　　　　　Suddenly　she　stared　in　disbelief。　Moghedien　was　gone！　The　balefire　had　not　e　nearer　than　ten　feet　from　where　she　had　stood；　but　she　was　not　there　any　longer。　It　was　impossible。　She　had　been　shielded。
　　　　　　　〃How　do　I　know　what's　impossible？〃　Nynaeve　muttered。　〃It　was　impossible　for　me　to　beat　one　of　the　Forsaken；　but　I　did　it。〃
　　　　　　　Still　no　sign　of　Jeaine　Caide。
　　　　　　　Pushing　herself　to　her　feet；　she　hurried　for　the　appointed　meeting　place。　If　only　Elayne　had　not　run　into　any　trouble；　they　might　make　it　out　here　safely　after　all。


Chapter　55
（Waves）
Into　the　Deep

　　　　　　　Servants　boiled　along　the　halls　as　Nynaeve　ran；　shouting　frantic　questions。　They　might　not　be　able　to　sense　channeling；　but　they　had　certainly　felt　the　palace　being　torn　half　apart。　She　threaded　her　way　through；　just　one　more　serving　woman　in　a　panic　as　far　as　they　were　concerned。
　　　　　　　Saidar　faded　from　her　as　she　sped　down　corridors　and　across　courtyards。　Holding　on　to　anger　was　difficult　when　she　was　increasingly　uneasy　for　Elayne。　If　the　Black　sisters　had　found　her。。。　Who　knew　what　they　had　beside　the　balefire　ter'angreal？　The　list　they　had　been　given　certainly　did　not　give　a　use　for　everything。
　　　　　　　Once　she　saw　Liandrin；　with　her　pale　honey　braids；　and　Rianna；　with　that　white　streak　in　her　black　hair；　hurrying　down　a　flight　of　broad　marble　stairs；　she　could　not　see　the　glow　of　saidar　around　them；　but　from　the　way　servants　cried　out　and　leaped　from　their　path；　they　were　whipping　a　way　clear　for　themselves　with　the　Power。　It　made　her　glad　she　had　not　tried　to　cling　to　the　Source　herself；　they　would　have　picked　her　out　of　the　throng　in　an　instant　by　the　glow；　and　until　she　had　some　rest；　she　was　not　up　to　facing　either　of　them；　much　less　both。　She　had　what　she　had　e　for。　They　had　to　wait。
　　　　　　　The　crowd　thinned　and　disappeared　by　the　time　she　reached　the　narrow　hall　on　the　west　side　of　the　palace　that　was　the　meeting　place。　The　others　were　waiting　for　her　beside　a　small；　bronze…studded　door　fastened　with　a　large　iron　lock。　Including　Amathera；　standing　very　straight；　wearing　a　light　linen　cloak　with　the　hood　up。　The　Panarch's　white　dress　might　pass　for　serving…woman　garb　if　you　did　not　look　closely　enough　to　see　it　was　silk；　and　the　veil　that　did　not　hide　her　face　was　certainly　servant's　linen。　The　sound　of　shouts　came　muffled　through　the　door。　Apparently　the　riot　was　still　going　on。　Now　if　only　the　men　were　doing　the　rest　of　their　part。
　　　　　　　Ignoring　Egeanin；　Nynaeve　threw　her　arms　around　Elayne　in　a　quick　hug。　〃I　was　so　worried。　Did　you　have　any　trouble？〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　a　bit；〃　Elayne　replied。　Egeanin　shifted　slightly；　and　the　younger　woman　gave　her　a　meaningful　look；　then　added；　〃Amathera　did　cause　a　little　problem；　but　we　sorted　it　out。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　frowned。　〃Trouble？　Why　would　she　give　trouble？　Why　would　you　give　trouble？〃　That　last　was　for　the　Panarch；　who　held　her　head　high；　refusing　to　look　at　anyone。　Elayne　seemed　as　reluctant。
　　　　　　　It　was　the　Seanchan　woman　who　answered。　〃She　tried　to　sneak　off　to　rouse　her　soldiers　to　harry　the　Darkfriends　out。　After　she　had　been　warned。〃　Nynaeve　refused　to　look　at　her。
　　　　　　　〃Do　not　scowl　so；　Nynaeve；〃　Elayne　said。　〃I　chased　her　down　quickly；　and　we　had　a　little　talk。　I　think　she　is　in　perfect　agreement　with　me　now。〃
　　　　　　　The　Panarch's　cheek　twitched；　〃I　am　in　agreement；　Aes　Sedai；〃　she　said　hastily。　〃I　will　do　exactly　as　you　say；　and　I　will　provide　papers　that　should　make　even　the　rebels　let　you　pass　unhindered。　There　is　no　need　for　more。。。　talking。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　nodded　as　if　all　of　that　made　sense；　motioning　for　the　women　to　be　quiet。　Whereupon　the　Panarch　obediently　closed　her　mouth。　A　trifle　sullenly；　but　perhaps　that　was　just　the　shape　of　her　mouth。　Clearly　there　had　been　some　very　odd　goings　on；　and　Nynaeve　intended　to　find　the　bottom　of　them。　Later。　The　narrow　hallway　was　still　empty　in　both　directions；　but　panicked　shouts　still　echoed　from　deeper　in　the　palace。　The　mob　rumbled　beyond　the　small　door。
　　　　　　　〃But　what　of　you？〃　Elayne　went　on　with　a　frown。　〃You　were　supposed　to　be　here　half　an　hour　ago。　Did　you　cause　all　of　this？　I　felt　two　women　channeling　enough　of　the　Power　to　shake　the　palace　down；　and　then　a　bit　later　someone　did　try　to　shake　it　down。　I　thought　it　must　be　you。　I　had　to　restrain　Egeanin　from　going　to　find　you。〃
　　　　　　　Egeanin？　Nynaeve　hesitated；　then　made　herself　touch　the　Seanchan　woman's　shoulder。　〃Thank　you。〃　Egeanin　looked　as　though　she　did　not　quite　understand　herself　what　she　had　done；　but　she　gave　a　quick　nod。　〃Moghedien　found　me；　and　because　I　was　worrying　about　how　to　bring　her　out　for　trial；　Jeaine　Caide　nearly　took　my　head　off　with　balefire。〃　Elayne　gave　a　small　squeak；　and　she　hurried　to　reassure　her。　〃It　didn't　really　e　close　to　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　captured　Moghedien？　You　captured　one　of　the　Forsaken？〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　but　she　got　away。〃　There。　She　had　admitted　everything。　Conscious　of　all　their　eyes　on　her；　she　shifted　unfortably。　She　did　not　like　being　in　the　wrong。　She　especially　did　not　like　being　in　the　wrong　when　it　was　she　who　had　pointed　out　that　it　was　wrong　in　the　first　place。　〃Elayne；　I　know　what　I　said　about　being　careful；　but　once　I　had　her　in　my　hands；　it　seemed　all　I　could　think　of　was　bringing　her　to　trial。〃　Taking　a　deep　breath；　Nynaeve　made　her　voi