rj.thepathofdaggers-第53部分

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he　Age　of　Legends。　One　hundred　eleven。　She　had　thought　it　was　the　Oath　Rod；　somehow　stolen　from　the　White　Tower。　That　also　was　marked；　but　with　the　numeral　three；　which　some　thought　stood　for　the　Three　Oaths。　Maybe　this　was　not　what　it　seemed。　Maybe。　Yet　no　hooded　viper　from　the　Drowned　Lands　coiled　there　could　have　frozen　her　so　still。
　　　　　　　〃A　fine　oath；　Sevanna。　When　did　you　intend　to　tell　the　rest　of　us？〃
　　　　　　　That　voice　jerked　Galina's　head　up。　It　could　have　pulled　her　eyes　away　from　a　hooded　viper；　too。
　　　　　　　Therava　appeared　among　the　trees　leading　a　dozen　cold…faced　Wise　Ones。　When　they　stopped　behind　her；　confronting　Sevanna；　every　woman　present　except　for　the　Maidens　had　been　there　when　Galina　was　sentenced　to　wear　the　black　robe。　A　word　from　Therava；　a　short　nod　from　Sevanna；　and　the　Maidens　departed　swiftly。　Sweat　still　oozed　from　Galina；　but　suddenly　the　air　seemed　cold。
　　　　　　　Sevanna　glanced　at　Belinde；　who　avoided　her　eye。　Sevanna's　lip　curled；　half　sneer；　half　snarl；　and　she　planted　fists　on　hips。　Galina　did　not　understand　where　she　found　the　nerve；　a　woman　who　could　not　channel　at　all。　Some　of　these　women　possessed　not　inconsiderable　strength。　No；　she　could　not　afford　to　think　of　them　only　as　wilders　if　she　was　to　escape　and　have　her　revenge。　Therava　and　Someryn　were　stronger　than　any　woman　in　the　Tower；　and　any　of　them　could　have　been　Aes　Sedai　easily。
　　　　　　　But　Sevanna　faced　them　defiantly。　〃It　seems　you　rendered　justice　quickly；〃　she　said　in　a　voice　dry　as　dust。
　　　　　　　〃The　matter　was　simple；〃　Tion　replied　calmly。　〃The　Mera'din　received　the　justice　they　deserved。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　they　were　told　they　received　it　in　spite　of　your　attempt　to　sway　us；〃　Rhiale　added　with　some　heat。　Sevanna　nearly　did　snarl　at　that。
　　　　　　　Therava　would　not　be　diverted　from　her　purpose；　though。　In　one　swift　step　she　reached　Galina；　gripped　a　handful　of　her　hair　and　jerked　her　up　to　her　knees；　bent　her　head　back。　Therava　was　not　the　tallest　of　these　women　by　at　least　a　head；　yet　she　loomed　taller　than　most　men；　staring　down　with　a　hawk's　eyes；　driving　away　every　thought　of　revenge　or　defiance。　The　white　streaks　touching　her　dark　red　hair　only　made　her　face　more　manding。　Galina's　hands　clenched　into　fists　on　her　thighs；　nails　digging　into　her　palms。　Even　the　burning　of　her　skin　paled　under　that　stare。　She　had　daydreamed　about　breaking　every　one　of　these　women；　making　them　plead　for　death；　laughing　as　she　denied　their　begging。　About　every　one　except　Therava。　At　night；　Therava　filled　her　dreams　and　all　Galina　could　do　was　try　to　flee；　the　only　escape　was　to　wake　screaming。　Galina　had　broken　strong　men　and　strong　women；　but　she　stared　up　at　Therava　wide…eyed　and　whined。
　　　　　　　〃This　one　has　no　honor　to　shame。〃　Therava　almost　spat　the　words。　〃If　you　want　her　broken；　Sevanna；　let　me　have　her。　When　I　am　done；　she　will　obey　without　the　need　for　your　friend　Caddar's　toy。〃
　　　　　　　Sevanna　spoke　up　heatedly；　denying　friendship　with　this　Caddar；　whoever　he　was；　and　Rhiale　barked　that　Sevanna　had　brought　him　to　the　others；　and　others　began　arguing　about　whether　the　〃binder〃　would　work　any　better　than　the　〃traveling　box。〃
　　　　　　　A　small　part　of　Galina's　mind　seized　on　mention　of　the　traveling　box。　She　had　heard　it　spoken　of　before；　longed　to　lay　hands　on　it　if　only　for　a　moment。　With　a　ter'angreal　that　enabled　her　to　Travel；　however　imperfectly　it　seemed　to　work；　she　would　be　able　to。。。　Even　hope　of　escape　could　not　stand　against　thoughts　of　what　Therava　would　do　to　her　if　the　others　decided　to　give　in　to　the　woman's　request。　When　the　hawk…eyed　Wise　One　loosed　her　hair　to　join　the　argument；　Galina　hurled　herself　at　the　rod；　landing　flat　on　her　belly。　Anything；　even　having　to　obey　Sevanna；　was　better　than　being　handed　over　to　Therava。　If　she　had　not　been　shielded；　she　would　have　channeled　to　operate　the　rod　herself。
　　　　　　　No　sooner　did　her　fingers　close　on　the　smooth　rod　than　Therava's　foot　came　down　on　it　hard；　trapping　her　hands　painfully　against　the　ground。　None　of　the　Wise　Ones　so　much　as　glanced　at　her　where　she　lay　writhing；　trying　futilely　to　pull　free。　She　could　not　make　herself　pull　too　hard；　dimly　she　could　recall　making　rulers　pale　with　fear；　but　she　did　not　dare　disturb　this　woman's　foot。
　　　　　　　〃If　she　is　to　swear；〃　Therava　said；　staring　hard　at　Sevanna；　〃it　should　be　to　obey　all　of　us　here。〃　The　others　nodded；　some　voicing　agreement；　all　but　Belinde；　and　she　pursed　her　lips　thoughtfully。
　　　　　　　Sevanna　stared　back　just　as　hard。　〃Very　well；〃　she　acceded　finally。　〃But　me　first　among　us。　I　am　not　only　a　Wise　One；　I　speak　as　the　clan　chief。〃
　　　　　　　Therava　smiled　thinly。　〃So　you　do。　Two　among　us　first；　Sevanna。　You　and　I。〃　Not　a　whisper　of　defiance　faded　from　Sevanna's　face；　but　she　nodded。　Grudgingly。　Only　then　did　Therava　move　her　foot。　The　light　of　saidar　surrounded　her；　and　a　flow　of　Spirit　touched　the　numerals　at　the　end　of　the　rod　in　Galina's　hands。　Just　as　was　done　with　the　Oath　Rod。
　　　　　　　For　an　instant；　Galina　hesitated；　flexing　mashed　fingers。　It　felt　the　same　as　the　Oath　Rod；　too；　not　quite　like　ivory；　not　quite　like　glass；　distinctly　cool　on　her　palms。　If　it　was　a　second　Oath　Rod；　it　could　be　used　to　remove　any　oath　she　swore　now。　If　she　were　given　the　opportunity。　She　did　not　want　to　take　the　chance；　did　not　want　to　swear　to　Therava　in　any　case。　Always　before　this　in　her　life；　she　had　manded；　life　since　her　capture　had　been　misery；　but　Therava　would　make　her　a　lapdog！　Yet　if　she　did　not；　would　they　let　Therava　break　her？　She　could　not　find　the　smallest　particle　of　doubt　that　the　woman　would　do　just　that。　Utterly。
　　　　　　　〃Under　the　Light　and　by　my　hope　of　salvation　and　rebirth〃　…　she　no　longer　believed　in　the　Light　or　a　hope　of　salvation；　and　there　was　no　need　to　speak　more　than　a　simple　promise；　but　they　expected　a　strong　oath　…　〃I　swear　to　obey　every　Wise　One　present　here　in　all　things；　and　first　among　them；　Therava　and　Sevanna。〃　The　last　hope　that　this　〃binder〃　was　something　else　vanished　as　Galina　felt　the　oath　settle　on　her；　as　if　she　suddenly　wore　a　garment　that　covered　her　far　too　tightly　from　her　scalp　to　the　soles　of　her　feet。　Throwing　back　her　head；　she　screamed。　In　part　that　was　because　it　suddenly　seemed　as　if　the　burning　of　her　skin　was　being　pressed　deep　into　her　flesh；　but　mainly；　it　was　pure　despair。
　　　　　　　〃Be　quiet！〃　Therava　said　sharply。　〃I　do　not　want　to　listen　to　you　wailing！〃　Galina's　teeth　clicked　shut；　nearly　biting　her　tongue；　and　she　struggled　to　swallow　her　sobs。　Nothing　but　obedience　was　possible；　now。　Therava　frowned　at　her。　〃Let　us　see　if　this　truly　works；〃　she　muttered；　bending　closer。　〃Have　you　planned　violence　against　any　Wise　One　here？　Answer　truthfully；　and　ask　to　be　punished　if　you　have。　The　penalty　for　violence　against　a　Wise　One；〃　she　added　like　an　afterthought；　〃can　be　to　be　killed　like　an　animal。〃　She　drew　a　finger　expressively　across　her　throat　then　gripped　her　belt　knife　with　the　same　hand。
　　　　　　　Gulping　air　in　horrified　panic；　Galina　shied　back　from　the　woman。　She　could　not　take　her　eyes　away　from　Therava's；　though；　and　she　could　not　stop　the　words　that　chattered　through　her　teeth。　〃I　d…did；　ag…g…gainst　all　of　you！　P…please　p…punish　me　f…for　it！〃　Would　they　kill　her；　now？　After　all　of　this；　was　she　to　die　here？
　　　　　　　〃It　seems　this　binder　does　as　your　friend　claimed　after　all；　Sevanna。〃　Plucking　the　rod　from　Galina's　limp　hands；　Therava　tucked　it　behind　her　belt　as　she　straightened。　〃It　also　seems　that　you　will　wear　white　after　all；　Galina　Casban。〃　For　some　reason；　she　gave　a　pleased　smile　at　that。　But　she　issued　other　mands；　too。　〃You　will　behave　meekly；　as　a　gai'shain　should。　If　a　child　tells　you　to　jump；　you　will　jump　unless　one　of　us　has　said　otherwise。　And　you　will　not　touch　saidar　or　channel　unless　one　of　us　tells　you。　Release　the　shield　on　her；　Belinde。〃
　　　　　　　The　shield　vanished；　and　Galina　knelt　there；　staring　hollowly。　The　Source　shone　just　out　of　sight；　tantalizing。　And　she　could　have　sprouted　wings　as　easily　as　she　could　stretch　out　for　it。
　　　　　　　Bracelets　clattered　as　Sevanna　shifted　her　shawl　in　anger。　〃You　take　too　much　on　yourself；　Therava。　That　is　mine；　give　it　to　me！〃　She　held　out　her　hand；　but　Therava　merely　folded　her　arms　beneath　her　breasts。
　　　　　　　〃There　have　been　meetings　among　the　Wise　Ones；〃　the　stern…eyed　woman　told　Sevanna。　〃We　have　reached　certain　decisions。〃　The　women　who　had　e　with　her　gathered　behind　her；　all　of　them　facing　Sevanna；　and　Belinde　hurried　to　join　them。
　　　　　　　〃Without　me？〃　Sevanna　snapped。　〃Do　any　of　you　dare　reach　a　decision　without　me？〃　Her　tone　remained　as　strong　as　ever；　but　her　eyes　flickered　to　the　rod　in　Therava's　belt；　and　Galina　thought　there　was　a　touch　of　uneasiness　there。　Another　time；　she　would　have　been　delighted　to　see　it。
　　　　　　　〃One　decision　had　to　be　reached　without　you；〃　Tion　said　in　a　flat　voice。
　　　　　　　〃As　you　so　often　point　out；　you　speak　as　the　clan　chief；〃　Emerys　added；　a　mocking　light　in　her　big　gray　eyes。　〃Sometimes；　Wise　Ones　must　talk　without　a　clan　chief　listening。　Or　someone　who　speaks　as　a　chief。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　decided；〃　Therava　said；　〃that　just　as　a　clan　chief　must　have　a　Wise　One　to　advise　him；　so　must　you　have　a　Wise　One's　advice。　I　will　advise　you。〃
　　　　　　　Gathering　her　shawl　around　her；　Sevanna　studied　the　women　confronting　her。　Her　expression　was　unreadable。　How　did　she　do　it？　They　could　crush　her　like　an　egg　beneath　a　hammer。　〃And　what　advice　do　you　offer　me；　Therava？〃　she　said　at　last　in　an　icy　voice。
　　　　　　　〃My　strong　advice　is　that　we　move　without　delay；〃　Therava　replied；　as　cool　as　Sevanna。　〃These　Seanchan　are　too　close　and　too　many。　We　should　move　north　into　these　Mountains　of　Mist　and　establish　a　hold。　From　there；　we　can　send　parties　to　find　the　other　septs。　It　may　take　long　to　reunite　the　Shaido；　Sevanna。　Your　wetlander　friend　may　have　scattered　us　to　the　nine　corners　of　the　world。　Until　we　do　that；　we　are　vulnerable。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　will　move　tomorrow。〃　If　Galina　had　not　been　sure　she　knew　Sevanna　inside　and　out；　she　would　have　thought　the　woman　sounded　petulant　as　well　as　angry。　Those　green　eyes　flashed。　〃But　east。　That　also　is　away　from　the　Seanchan；　and　the　lands　to　the　east　are　in　turmoil；　ripe　for　plucking。〃
　　　　　　　There　was　a　long　silence；　then　Therava　nodded。　〃East。〃　Sh