rj.thepathofdaggers-第12部分

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　a　larger；　as　large　as　Elayne　could；　using　the　weaves　she　had　made　without　thought　while　trying　to　escape　Rand　al'Thor　what　seemed　a　very　long　time　ago；　but　no　matter　how　often　she　tried；　only　scraps　came　back　to　her。　She　felt　no　envy　…　rather；　she　took　pride　in　her　near…sister's　acplishments　…　but　her　own　failure　made　shame　surge　in　her　heart。　Sorilea　or　Amys　would　be　hard　on　her；　if　they　knew　that。　About　the　shame。　Too　much　pride；　they　would　call　it。　Amys　should　understand；　she　had　been　a　Maiden。　There　was　shame　in　failing　at　what　you　should　be　able　to　do。　If　she　had　not　had　to　hold　the　weave；　she　would　have　run　away　so　no　one　could　see　her。
　　　　　　　The　departure　had　been　carefully　planned；　and　the　whole　stableyard　sprang　into　motion　as　soon　as　the　gateway　opened　fully。　Two　of　the　Knitting　Circle　pulled　the　hooded　Shadowrunner　to　her　feet；　and　the　Windfinders　hurriedly　formed　a　line　behind　Renaile　din　Calon。　The　servants　began　bringing　horses　out　of　the　stables。　Lan；　Birgitte；　and　one　of　Careane's　Warders；　a　lanky　man　called　Cieryl　Arjuna；　immediately　darted　through　the　gateway；　one　behind　the　other。　Like　Far　Dareis　Mai；　Warders　always　claimed　the　right　to　scout　ahead。　Aviendha's　feet　itched　to　run　after　them；　but　there　was　no　point。　Unlike　Elayne；　she　could　not　move　more　than　five　or　six　steps　without　this　weave　beginning　to　weaken；　and　the　same　if　she　tried　to　tie　it　off。　It　was　very　frustrating。
　　　　　　　This　time　there　was　no　real　expectation　of　danger；　so　the　Aes　Sedai　followed　immediately；　Elayne　and　Nynaeve　as　well。　Farms　dotted　that　treed　area　thickly；　and　a　wandering　shepherd　or　a　young　couple　seeking　privacy　might　need　guidance　away　from　seeing　too　much；　but　no　Shadowsouled　or　Shadowrunner　could　know　that　clearing；　only　she；　Elayne；　and　Nynaeve　did；　and　they　had　not　spoken　in　the　choosing；　for　fear　of　eavesdroppers。　Standing　in　the　opening；　Elayne　gave　Aviendha　a　questioning　look；　but　Aviendha　motioned　her　to　go　on。　Plans　were　meant　to　be　followed　unless　there　was　reason　to　change　them。
　　　　　　　The　Windfinders　began　filing　slowly　through　to　the　clearing；　each　suddenly　irresolute　as　she　approached　this　thing　she　had　never　dreamed　of；　taking　a　breath　before　she　entered。　And　abruptly；　the　prickling　returned。
　　　　　　　Aviendha's　eyes　rose　to　the　windows　overlooking　the　stable…yard。　Anyone　might　be　hidden　behind　the　white　screens　of　intricate　wrought　iron　and　piercework　carving。　Tylin　had　ordered　the　servants　to　stay　away　from　those　windows；　but　who　would　stop　Teslyn；　or　Joline；　or。。。　Something　made　her　look　higher；　to　the　domes　and　towers。　Narrow　walks　ringed　some　of　those　slim　spires；　and　on　one；　very　high；　was　a　black　shape　haloed　by　a　sharp　nimbus　from　the　sun　behind。　A　man。
　　　　　　　Her　breath　caught。　Nothing　in　his　stance；　hands　on　the　stone　railing；　spoke　of　danger；　yet　she　knew　he　was　the　one　who　put　that　crawling　between　her　shoulder　blades。　One　of　the　Shadowsouled　would　not　stand　there　simply　watching；　but　that　creature；　that　gholam。。。　Ice　formed　in　her　belly。　He　could　be　just　a　palace　servant。　He　could　be；　but　she　did　not　believe　it。　No　shame　in　knowing　fear。
　　　　　　　Anxiously　she　glanced　at　the　women　still　edging　though　the　gateway　with　agonizing　slowness。　Half　the　Sea　Folk　were　gone；　and　the　Knitting　Circle　waited　behind　the　rest　with　the　Shadowrunner　firmly　in　hand；　their　own　unease　at　the　passage　warring　with　resentment　that　the　Sea　Folk　women　were　allowed　to　go　first。　If　she　voiced　her　suspicions；　the　Kinswomen　surely　would　run　…　mere　mention　of　the　Shadowsouled　dried　their　mouths　and　turned　their　bowels　to　water　…　while　the　Windfinders　might　well　try　to　claim　the　Bowl　straightaway。　With　them；　the　Bowl　stood　above　anything　else。　But　only　a　blind　fool　stood　scratching　herself　while　a　lion　crept　up　on　the　herd　she　had　been　set　to　guard。　She　caught　one　of　the　Atha'an　Miere　by　a　red　silk　sleeve。
　　　　　　　〃Tell　Elayne　…　〃　A　face　like　smooth　black　stone　turned　to　her；　the　woman　somehow　made　full　lips　seem　thin；　her　eyes　were　black　pebbles；　flat　and　hard。　What　message　could　she　send　that　would　not　bring　down　all　the　troubles　she　feared　from　them？　〃Tell　Elayne　and　Nynaeve　to　be　wary。　Tell　them　enemies　always　e　when　you　least　want　them。　You　must　say　this　to　her；　without　fail。〃　The　Windfinder　nodded　with　barely　concealed　impatience；　but　surprisingly；　she　waited　for　Aviendha　to　release　her　before　making　her　hesitant　way　through　the　gateway。
　　　　　　　The　walk　up　on　the　tower　stood　empty。　Aviendha　felt　no　relief。　He　could　be　anywhere。　Making　his　way　down　to　the　stable…yard。　Whoever　he　was；　whatever　he　was；　he　was　dangerous；　this　was　not　a　dust…funnel　dancing　in　her　imagination。　The　last　four　Warders　had　formed　a　square　around　the　gateway；　a　guard　who　would　be　last　to　leave；　and　much　as　she　despised　their　swords；　she　was　grateful　that　someone　there　besides　herself　knew　the　use　of　sharp　metal。　Not　that　they　would　have　any　more　chance　against　a　gholam；　or　worse；　one　of　the　Shadowsouled；　than　the　servants　waiting　with　the　horses。　Or　than　she　herself。
　　　　　　　Grimly　she　drew　the　Power；　until　the　sweetness　of　saidar　grew　near　to　pain。　A　hair　beyond；　and　pain　would　almost　bee　blinding　agony　for　the　moments　needed　to　die　or　lose　the　ability　pletely。　Would　those　shuffling　women　quicken　their　feet！　No　shame　in　feeling　fear；　but　she　was　very　much　afraid　that　hers　was　painted　on　her　face。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　
Chapter　2　
（Snakey　Square）　
Unweaving　
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　Elayne　stepped　to　one　side　as　soon　as　she　was　through　the　gateway；　but　Nynaeve　trampled　across　the　clearing；　kicking　up　brown　grasshoppers　from　the　dead　grass　and　peering　this　way　and　that　for　evidence　of　the　Warders。　Of　one　Warder；　anyway。　A　bright　red　bird　flashed　across　the　clearing　and　was　gone。　Nothing　else　moved　except　the　sisters；　a　squirrel　barked　somewhere　in　the　mostly　leafless　trees；　and　then　there　was　silence。　To　Elayne　it　seemed　impossible　those　three　could　have　passed　this　way　without　leaving　paths　as　wide　as　that　behind　Nynaeve；　yet　she　could　not　make　out　any　sign　that　they　had　been　there　at　all。
　　　　　　　She　sensed　Birgitte　somewhere　off　to　her　left；　roughly　southwest　she　thought；　and　feeling　quite　content；　clearly　in　no　immediate　danger。　Careane；　part　of　a　protective　circle　gathered　around　Sareitha　and　the　Bowl；　cocked　her　head　almost　as　if　listening。　Apparently　her　Cieryl　was　to　the　southeast。　Which　meant　Lan　was　north。　Oddly　enough；　north　was　the　direction　Nynaeve　had　settled　down　to　watch；　all　the　while　muttering　under　her　breath。　Perhaps　being　married　had　created　some　sense　of　him　in　her。　More　likely；　she　had　noticed　a　track　that　escaped　Elayne。　Nynaeve　was　as　skilled　at　woodscraft　as　she　was　with　herbs。
　　　　　　　From　where　Elayne　stood　at　first；　Aviendha　was　clearly　visible　through　the　gateway；　studying　the　palace　rooftops　as　if　she　expected　an　ambush。　By　her　stance；　she　could　have　been　carrying　spears；　ready　to　leap　into　battle　in　her　riding　dress。　She　made　Elayne　smile；　hiding　how　distressed　she　was　about　her　problems　with　the　gateway；　so　much　braver　than　she　herself。　But　at　the　same　time　she　could　not　help　worrying。　Aviendha　was　brave；　and　no　one　Elayne　knew　was　better　able　to　keep　her　head。　She　also　might　decide　that　ji'e'toh　required　her　to　fight　when　there　was　no　chance　except　in　running。　The　light　around　her　shone　so　brightly　it　was　obvious　she　could　not　draw　much　more　of　saidar。　If　one　of　the　Forsaken　did　appear。。。
　　　　　　　I　should　have　stayed　with　her。　Elayne　rejected　the　thought　immediately。　Whatever　excuse　she　gave；　Aviendha　would　know　the　truth；　and　she　was　touchy　as　a　man；　sometimes。　Most　of　the　time。　Especially　when　it　bore　upon　her　honor。　With　a　sigh；　Elayne　let　the　Atha'an　Miere　crowd　her　further　from　the　gateway　as　they　filed　through。　She　stayed　close　enough　to　hear　any　shout　on　the　other　side；　though。　Close　enough　to　leap　to　Aviendha's　aid　in　a　heartbeat。　And　for　another　reason。
　　　　　　　The　Windfinders　came　through　in　order　of　rank；　striving　to　keep　their　faces　smooth；　but　even　Renaile　relaxed　tight　shoulders　once　her　bare　feet　were　beating　down　the　tall　brown　grass。　Some　gave　a　little　shiver；　quickly　suppressed；　or　glanced　back　with　round　eyes　at　the　opening　hanging　in　midair。　One　and　all；　they　stared　at　Elayne　suspiciously　as　they　stepped　by　her；　and　two　or　three　opened　their　mouths；　perhaps　to　ask　what　she　was　doing；　perhaps　to　ask　…　or　tell　…　her　to　move。　She　was　just　as　glad　that　they　hurried　on　in　obedience　to　Renaile's　curt　urgings。　They　would　have　their　chance　to　tell　Aes　Sedai　what　to　do　soon　enough；　it　did　not　have　to　start　with　her。
　　　　　　　That　thought　made　her　stomach　sink；　and　the　number　of　them　made　her　shake　her　head。　They　had　the　knowledge　of　weather　to　use　the　Bowl　properly；　yet　even　Renaile　agreed　…　if　reluctantly　…　that　the　more　Power　directed　through　the　Bowl；　the　better　the　chances　of　being　able　to　heal　the　weather。　It　must　be　directed　with　a　precision　impossible　except　for　one　woman　alone　or　a　circle；　though。　A　full　circle　of　thirteen　it　had　to　be。　That　thirteen　certainly　would　include　Nynaeve　and　Aviendha　and　Elayne　herself；　and　probably　a　few　of　the　Kin；　but　Renaile　plainly　intended　to　jump　on　the　part　of　the　bargain　that　said　they　would　be　allowed　to　learn　any　abilities　the　Aes　Sedai　could　teach。　The　gateway　had　been　the　first；　and　forming　a　circle　would　be　the　second。　A　wonder　she　had　not　brought　every　Windfinder　in　the　harbor。　Imagine　trying　to　deal　with　three　or　four　hundred　of　these　women！　Elayne　offered　a　small　prayer　of　thanks　that　there　were　only　twenty。
　　　　　　　She　was　not　standing　there　to　count　them；　though。　As　each　Windfinder　passed；　barely　more　than　a　pace　away；　she　let　herself　feel　the　woman's　strength　in　the　Power。　Earlier　there　had　been　time　to　get　close　enough　to　only　a　handful；　what　with　all　the　trouble　of　convincing　Renaile　to　e　at　all。　Apparently　achieving　rank　among　the　Windfinders　had　nothing　to　with　either　age　or　strength；　Renaile　was　far　from　the　strongest　even　in　the　first　three　or　four；　while　one　woman　toward　the　rear；　Senine；　had　weathered　cheeks　and　thickly　grayed　hair。　Strangely；　by　the　marks　in　her　ears　it　seemed　that　Senine　might　once　have　worn　more　than　six　earrings；　and　thicker　ones　than　she　did　now。
　　　　　　　Elayne　sorted　and　stored　away　faces　and　the　names　she　knew　with　a　growing　sense　of　place