rj.thepathofdaggers-第23部分

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oking　down　made　Elayne　feel　a　trifle　dizzy。　Aviendha　did　not　seem　to　notice　that　the　edge　was　right　at　her　toes。
　　　　　　　〃Is　something　troubling　you？〃　Elayne　asked　quietly。
　　　　　　　Aviendha　kept　her　gaze　on　the　distance。　〃I　have　failed　you；〃　she　said　finally。　Her　voice　was　flat；　empty。　〃I　cannot　form　the　gateway　properly；　and　all　saw　me　shame　you。　I　thought　a　servant　was　one　of　the　Shadowwrought；　and　behaved　worse　than　foolishly。　The　Atha'an　Miere　ignore　me　and　glare　at　the　Aes　Sedai；　as　if　I　am　an　Aes　Sedai　dog　yapping　at　their　mand。　I　pretended　I　could　make　the　Shadowrunner　talk　for　you；　but　no　Far　Dareis　Mai　is　allowed　to　question　prisoners　until　she　has　been　wed　to　the　spear　for　twenty　years；　or　even　to　watch　until　she　has　carried　it　ten。　I　am　weak　and　soft；　Elayne。　I　cannot　bear　to　shame　you　further。　If　I　fail　you　again；　I　will　die。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne's　mouth　went　dry。　That　sounded　too　close　to　a　promise。　Gripping　Aviendha's　arm　firmly；　she　drew　her　back　from　the　edge。　Aiel　could　be　almost　as　peculiar　as　the　Sea　Folk　thought　they　were。　She　did　not　really　think　Aviendha　would　jump　off　…　not　really　…　but　she　was　not　about　to　take　any　chances。　At　least　the　other　woman　did　not　try　to　resist。
　　　　　　　Everyone　else　seemed　to　be　engrossed　in　themselves；　or　in　each　other。　Nynaeve　had　begun　speaking　to　the　Atha'an　Miere；　both　hands　tight　on　her　braid　and　her　face　almost　as　dark　as　theirs　from　the　strain　of　not　shouting；　while　they　listened　with　contemptuous　arrogance。　Merilille　and　Sareitha　still　guarded　the　Bowl；　but　Careane　was　attempting　to　talk　with　the　Kinswomen；　without　much　success。　Reanne　answered；　if　blinking　uneasily　and　licking　her　lips；　but　Kirstian　stood　trembling　and　silent；　while　Garenia's　eyes　were　squeezed　shut。　Elayne　kept　her　voice　low　anyway；　this　was　none　of　their　business。
　　　　　　　〃You　haven't　failed　anyone；　least　of　all　me；　Aviendha。　Nothing　you've　done　has　ever　shamed　me；　and　nothing　you　do　ever　could。〃　Aviendha　blinked　at　her　doubtfully。　〃And　you're　about　as　weak　and　soft　as　a　stone。〃　That　had　to　be　the　oddest　pliment　she　had　ever　paid　anyone；　yet　Aviendha　actually　looked　gratified。　〃I'll　bet　the　Sea　Folk　are　scared　silly　of　you；　too。〃　Another　strange　one；　it　made　Aviendha　smile；　if　only　faintly。　Elayne　drew　a　breath。　〃As　for　Ispan。。。　〃　She　did　not　like　even　thinking　about　this。　〃I　thought　I　could　do　what　was　necessary；　too；　but　just　letting　my　mind　dwell　on　it　makes　my　hands　sweat　and　my　stomach　roil。　I'd　throw　up　if　I　even　tried。　So　we　share　that。〃
　　　　　　　Aviendha　made　the　Maiden　handtalk　sign　for　〃You　startle　me〃；　she　had　started　teaching　some　of　them　to　Elayne；　though　she　said　it　was　forbidden。　Apparently；　being　near…sisters　who　were　learning　to　be　more　changed　that。　Except　that　it　did　not；　really。　Aviendha　seemed　to　think　her　explanation　had　been　perfectly　clear。　〃I　did　not　mean　I　could　not；〃　she　said　aloud；　〃only　that　I　do　not　know　how。　Likely　I　would　have　killed　her；　trying。〃　Suddenly　she　smiled；　much　wider　and　warmer　than　before；　and　lightly　touched　Elayne's　cheek。　〃We　both　have　weakness　in　us；〃　she　whispered；　〃but　it　brings　no　shame　so　long　as　only　we　two　know。〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；〃　Elayne　said　weakly。　She　just　did　not　know　how！　〃Of　course　it　doesn't。〃　This　woman　contained　more　surprises　than　any　gleeman。　〃Here；〃　she　said；　pressing　the　woman…wrapped…in…her…hair　into　Aviendha's　hand。　〃Use　this　in　the　circle。〃　Letting　the　angreal　go　was　not　easy。　She　had　intended　to　use　it　herself；　but　smiles　or　no　smiles；　her　friend's　spirits　…　her　near…sister's　spirits　…　needed　raising。　Aviendha　turned　the　small　ivory　figure　over　in　her　hands；　Elayne　could　almost　see　her　trying　to　decide　how　to　give　it　back。　〃Aviendha；　you　know　how　it　feels　when　you　hold　as　much　of　saidar　as　you　can？　Think　of　holding　almost　twice　as　much。　Really　think　of　it。　I　want　you　to　use　it。　Please？〃
　　　　　　　Perhaps　Aiel　did　not　show　a　great　deal　on　their　faces；　but　Aviendha's　green　eyes　widened。　They　had　discussed　angreal；　considering　their　search；　but　she　probably　never　had　thought　what　it　would　be　like　to　use　one　before　this。　〃Twice　as　much；〃　she　murmured。　〃To　hold　all　that。　I　can　barely　make　myself　imagine。　This　is　a　very　great　gift；　Elayne。〃　She　touched　Elayne's　cheek　again；　pressing　her　fingertips；　that　was　the　Aiel　equivalent　of　a　kiss　and　a　hug。
　　　　　　　Whatever　Nynaeve　had　to　say　to　the　Sea　Folk；　it　did　not　take　long。　She　stalked　away　from　them　twitching　at　her　skirts　furiously。　Approaching　Elayne；　she　frowned　equally　at　Aviendha　and　at　the　edge　of　the　cliff。　Usually　she　denied　her　poor　head　for　heights；　but　she　kept　them　between　herself　and　the　drop。　〃I　have　to　talk　to　you；〃　she　muttered；　guiding　Elayne　a　little　distance　along　the　hilltop。　And　farther　from　the　edge。　A　little　way；　but　far　enough　from　anyone　to　avoid　being　overheard。　She　drew　several　deep　breaths　before　beginning；　in　a　low　voice；　and　she　did　not　look　at　Elayne。
　　　　　　　〃I。。。　I've　been　behaving　like　a　fool。　It's　that　bloody　man's　fault！　When　he's　not　right　in　front　of　me；　I　can　hardly　think　of　anything　else；　and　when　he　is；　I　can　hardly　think　at　all！　You。。。　you　have　to　tell　me　when　I。。。　when　I'm　acting　the　fool。　I　depend　on　you；　Elayne。〃　Her　voice　stayed　low；　but　her　tone　became　almost　a　wail。　〃I　can't　afford　to　lose　my　wits　in　a　man；　not　now。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　was　so　shocked；　she　could　not　speak　for　a　moment。　Nynaeve；　admitting　she　had　been　a　fool？　She　almost　looked　to　see　whether　the　sun　had　turned　green！　〃It　isn't　Lan's　fault；　and　you　know　it；　Nynaeve；〃　she　said　at　last。　She　pushed　away　memories　of　her　own　recent　thoughts　about　Rand。　This　was　not　the　same。　And　the　opportunity　was　a　gift　of　the　Light。　Tomorrow；　Nynaeve　would　likely　try　to　box　her　ears　if　she　said　Nynaeve　was　being　foolish。　〃Take　hold　of　yourself；　Nynaeve。　Stop　behaving　like　a　giddy　girl。〃　Definitely　not　thoughts　of　Rand！　She　had　not　been　mooning　over　him　that　badly！　〃You're　an　Aes　Sedai；　and　you　are　supposed　to　be　leading　us。　Lead！　And　think！〃
　　　　　　　Folding　her　hands　at　her　waist；　Nynaeve　actually　hung　her　head。　〃I'll　try；〃　she　mumbled。　〃I　will；　truly。　You　don't　know　what　it's　like；　though。　I。。。　I'm　sorry。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　nearly　swallowed　her　tongue。　Nynaeve；　apologizing　on　top　of　the　other？　Nynaeve；　abashed？　Maybe　she　was　ill。
　　　　　　　It　did　not　last；　of　course。　Abruptly　frowning　at　the　angreal；　Nynaeve　cleared　her　throat。　〃You　gave　one　to　Aviendha；　did　you？〃　she　said　briskly。　〃Well；　I　suppose　she's　all　right。　A　pity　we　have　to　let　the　Sea　Folk　use　one。　I'll　wager　they　try　to　hang　on　to　it！　Well；　just　let　them　try！　Which　one　is　mine？〃
　　　　　　　With　a　sigh；　Elayne　handed　her　the　bracelet…and…rings；　and　she　stalked　away；　fumbling　the　piece　of　jewelry　onto　her　left　hand　and　calling　loudly　for　everyone　to　take　their　places。　Sometimes；　it　was　difficult　to　tell　Nynaeve　leading　from　Nynaeve　bullying。　As　long　as　she　did　lead；　though。
　　　　　　　The　Bowl　of　the　Winds　sat　atop　its　unfolded　white　wrappings　in　the　center　of　the　hilltop；　a　shallow；　heavy　disc　of　clear　crystal　two　feet　across；　worked　inside　with　thick　swirling　clouds。　An　ornate　piece；　yet　simple　when　you　thought　of　what　it　could　do。　What　they　hoped　it　could　do。　Nynaeve　took　up　her　place　nearby；　the　angreal　finally　clicking　shut　on　her　wrist。　She　worked　her　hand；　looking　surprised　that　the　chains　did　not　seem　to　inconvenience　her；　it　fit　as　if　made　for　her　hand。　The　three　Kinswomen　were　already　there；　Kirstian　and　Garenia　huddling　at　Reanne's　back　and　appearing　more　frightened　than　ever；　if　that　was　possible。　The　Windfinders　still　stood　arrayed　behind　Renaile；　almost　twenty　paces　away。
　　　　　　　Lifting　her　divided　skirts；　Elayne　met　Aviendha　at　the　Bowl　and　eyed　the　Sea　Folk　suspiciously。　Did　they　intend　to　create　a　fuss？　She　had　been　afraid　of　exactly　that　from　the　first　mention　of　women　at　the　farm　who　might　be　strong　enough　to　join　the　link。　The　Atha'an　Miere　were　sticklers　for　rank　enough　to　shame　the　White　Tower；　and　Garenia's　presence　meant　that　Renaile　din　Calon　Blue　Star；　Windfinder　to　the　Mistress　of　the　Ships　to　the　Atha'an　Miere；　would　not　be　part　of　the　circle。　Should　not　be。
　　　　　　　Renaile　frowned　searchingly　at　the　women　around　the　Bowl。　She　seemed　to　be　weighing　them；　judging　their　capabilities。　〃Talaan　din　Gelyn；〃　she　barked　suddenly；　〃take　your　station！〃　It　was　like　a　whip…crack！　Even　Nynaeve　jumped。
　　　　　　　Talaan　bowed　low；　touching　her　heart；　then　ran　to　the　Bowl。　As　soon　as　she　moved；　Renaile　barked　again。　〃Metarra　din　Junalle；　take　your　station！〃　Metarra；　plump　yet　solid；　sped　on　Talaan's　heels。　Neither　apprentice　was　old　enough　to　have　earned　what　the　Sea　Folk　called　a　〃salt　name。〃
　　　　　　　Once　begun；　Renaile　rattled　off　names　quickly；　sending　Rainyn　and　two　other　Windfinders；　all　of　whom　moved　quickly；　yet　not　so　fast　as　the　apprentices。　By　the　number　of　their　medallions；　Naime　and　Rysael　were　higher　in　rank　than　Rainyn；　dignified　women　with　a　quiet　air　of　mand；　but　markedly　weaker。　Then　Renaile　paused；　only　for　a　heartbeat；　yet　in　that　rapid　listing　it　stood　out。　〃Tebreille　din　Gelyn　South　Wind；　take　your　station！　Caire　din　Gelyn　Running　Wave；　assume　the　mand！〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　felt　a　moment　of　relief　that　Renaile　had　not　named　herself；　but　it　lasted　about　as　long　as　Renaile's　pause　had。　Tereille　and　Caire　exchanged　one　look；　Tebreille　grim　and　Caire　smug；　before　moving　to　the　Bowl。　Eight　earrings　and　a　multitude　of　overlapping　medallions　marked　each　Windfinder　to　a　Clan　Wavemistress。　Only　Renaile　stood　above　them；　only　Dorile　among　the　Sea　Folk　on　the　hilltop　was　their　equal。　In　brocaded　yellow　silks；　Caire　was　slightly　the　taller；　Tebreille　in　brocaded　green　somewhat　sterner　of　face；　both　more　than　handsome　women；　and　it　did　not　take　their　names　to　know　them　blood　sisters。　They　had　the　same　big；　almost　black　eyes；　the　same　straight　nose；　the　same　strong　chin。　Caire　silently　pointed　to　a　spot　at　her　right　side；　Tebreille　did　not　speak　either；　nor　did　she　hesitate　in　standing　where　her　sister　pointed；　but　her　face　was　stone。　With　her；　a　circle　of　thirteen　women　surrounded　the　Bowl　nearly　shoulder…to…shoulder。　Caire's　eyes　almost　sparkled。　Tebreille's　were　leaden。　Elayne　was　reminded　of　another　of　Lini's　sayings。　No　knife　is　sharper　than　a　sister's　hate。
　　　　　　　Caire　glared　around　the　circle　of　women　surrounding　the　Bowl；　not　yet　truly　a　circle；　as　tho