rj.thepathofdaggers-第55部分

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nt；　on　instinct；　she　changed　her　intention　to　deny　any　contact　with　Sammael。
　　　　　　　〃I　suspected；〃　she　replied；　directing　a　false　smile　over　the　young　woman's　head　at　Moghedien。　How　much　did　she　know？　Where　had　the　Spider　found　a　girl　so　much　stronger　than　she；　and　why　was　she　traveling　with　her？　Moghedien　had　always　been　jealous　of　anyone　with　more　strength。　Or　more　of　anything。　〃He　used　to　visit　me；　importuning　my　help　in　one　mad　plan　or　another。　I　never　rejected　him　outright；　you　know　Sammael　is　…　was　a　dangerous　man　to　reject。　He　appeared　every　few　days　without　fail；　and　when　he　stopped；　I　assumed　something　dire　had　happened　to　him。　Who　is　this　girl；　Moghedien？　A　remarkable　find。〃
　　　　　　　The　young　woman　stepped　closer；　staring　up　at　her　with　eyes　like　blue　fire。　〃She　told　you　my　name。　That　is　all　you　need　know。〃　The　girl　knew　she　spoke　to　one　of　the　Chosen；　and　yet　her　tone　remained　frost。　Even　given　her　strength；　this　was　no　simple　Friend　of　the　Dark。　Unless　she　was　insane。　〃Have　you　paid　attention　to　the　weather；　Graendal？〃
　　　　　　　Abruptly；　Graendal　realized　that　Moghedien　was　letting　the　girl　do　all　the　talking。　Hanging　back　until　a　weakness　became　apparent。　And　Graendal　had　been　letting　her！　〃I　do　not　suppose　you　came　to　tell　me　of　Sammael's　death；　Moghedien；〃　she　said　sharply。　〃Or　to　talk　about　weather。　You　know　I　seldom　go　outside。〃　Nature　was　unruly；　lacking　order。　There　were　not　even　windows　in　this　room；　nor　in　most　that　she　used。　〃What　do　you　want？〃　The　dark…haired　woman　was　edging　sideways　along　the　wall；　the　glow　of　the　One　Power　still　surrounded　her。　Graendal　stepped　casually　so　that　both　remained　in　her　sight。
　　　　　　　〃You　make　a　mistake；　Graendal。〃　A　chilly　smile　barely　curved　Cyndane's　full　lips；　she　was　enjoying　this。　〃I　lead　between　us。　Moghedien　is　in　a　bad　odor　with　Moridin　for　her　recent　mistakes。〃
　　　　　　　Wrapping　her　arms　around　herself；　Moghedien　shot　the　silver…haired　little　woman　a　scowl　as　good　as　any　spoken　confirmation。　Suddenly　Cyndane's　big　eyes　opened　even　wider；　and　she　gasped；　shuddering。
　　　　　　　Moghedien's　glare　turned　malicious。　〃You　lead　for　the　moment；〃　she　sneered。　〃Your　place　in　his　eyes　is　not　far　better　than　mine。〃　And　then　she　gave　a　start　and　shivered；　biting　her　lip。
　　　　　　　Was　she　being　toyed　with；　Graendal　wondered。　The　pure　hatred　for　each　other　on　the　two　women's　faces　seemed　unfeigned。　Either　way；　she　would　see　how　they　enjoyed　being　played。　Unconsciously　rubbing　her　hands　together；　rubbing　the　angreal　on　her　finger；　she　moved　to　a　chair　without　taking　her　eyes　from　the　pair。　The　sweetness　of　saidar　flowing　into　her　was　a　fort。　Not　that　she　needed　fort；　but　there　was　something　odd　here。　The　high　straight　back；　thickly　carved　and　gilded；　made　the　chair　seem　a　throne；　though　it　was　no　different　from　any　other　in　the　room。　Such　things　affected　even　the　most　sophisticated　on　levels　they　never　knew　consciously。
　　　　　　　She　sat　leaning　back　with　her　leg's　crossed；　one　foot　kicking　idly；　the　picture　of　a　woman　at　her　ease；　and　made　her　voice　bored。　〃Since　you　lead；　child；　tell　me；　when　this　man　who　calls　himself　Death　is　in　his　skin；　who　is　he？　What　is　he？〃
　　　　　　　〃Moridin　is　Nae'blis。〃　The　girl's　voice　was　calm　and　cold　and　arrogant。　〃The　Great　Lord　has　decided　it　is　time　for　you　to　serve　the　Nae'blis；　too。〃
　　　　　　　Graendal　jerked　upright。　〃This　is　preposterous。〃　She　could　not　keep　the　anger　from　her　voice。　〃A　man　I've　never　heard　of　has　been　named　the　Great　Lord's　Regent　on　Earth？〃　She　did　not　mind　when　others　tried　to　manipulate　her　…　she　always　found　a　way　to　turn　their　schemes　against　them　…　but　Moghedien　must　take　her　for　a　half…wit！　She　had　no　doubt　that　Moghedien　was　directing　this　obnoxious　girl；　whatever　they　claimed；　whatever　looks　they　stabbed　at　each　other。　〃I　serve　the　Great　Lord　and　myself；　no　other！　I　think　the　two　of　you　should　go；　now；　and　play　your　little　game　elsewhere。　Demandred　might　be　diverted　by　it。　Or　Semirhage？　Be　careful　how　you　channel　in　leaving；　I　have　set　a　few　inverted　webs；　and　you　would　not　want　to　trigger　one。〃
　　　　　　　That　was　a　lie；　but　a　very　believable　one；　so　it　came　as　a　shock　when　Moghedien　suddenly　channeled　and　every　lamp　in　the　room　went　out；　plunging　them　into　darkness。　Instantly　Graendal　flung　herself　from　the　chair　so　as　not　to　be　where　they　had　last　seen　her；　and　she　also　channeled　even　as　she　moved；　weaving　a　web　of　light　that　hung　to　one　side；　a　sphere　of　pure　white　that　cast　lurid　shadows　about　the　room。　And　revealed　the　pair　clearly。　Without　hesitation；　she　channeled　again；　drawing　the　full　strength　of　the　little　ring。　She　did　not　need　it　all；　or　even　most；　but　she　wanted　every　advantage　she　could　find。　Attack　her；　would　they！　A　net　of　pulsion　tightened　on　each　of　them　before　they　could　twitch。
　　　　　　　She　had　spun　the　nets　strong；　for　anger's　sake；　nearly　strong　enough　to　do　harm；　and　the　women　stood　staring　at　her　adoringly；　eyes　wide　and　mouths　hanging　open　in　adulation；　intoxicated　with　worship。　They　were　hers　to　mand；　now。　If　she　told　them　to　cut　their　own　throats；　they　would。　Suddenly　Graendal　realized　that　Moghedien　was　no　longer　embracing　the　Source。　This　much　pulsion　might　have　shocked　her　into　letting　go。　The　servants　by　the　door　had　not　moved；　of　course。
　　　　　　　〃Now；〃　she　said　a　touch　breathlessly；　〃you　will　answer　my　questions。〃　She　had　a　number；　including　who　was　this　Moridin　fellow；　if　there　was　such　a　man；　and　where　had　Cyndane　e　from；　but　one　piqued　her　more　than　the　rest。　〃What　did　you　hope　to　gain　by　this；　Moghedien？　I　may　decide　to　knot　those　webs　on　you。　You　can　pay　for　your　game　by　serving　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃No；　please；〃　Moghedien　groaned；　wringing　her　hands。　She　actually　began　to　weep！　〃You　will　kill　us　all！　Please；　you　must　serve　the　Nae'blis！　That　is　what　we　came　for。　To　bring　you　to　Moridin's　service！〃　The　silver…haired　little　woman's　face　was　a　shadowed　mask　of　terror　in　the　pale　light；　her　bosom　heaving　as　she　gulped　breath。
　　　　　　　Suddenly　uneasy；　Graendal　opened　her　mouth。　This　made　less　and　less　sense　by　the　moment。　She　opened　her　mouth；　and　the　True　Source　vanished。　The　One　Power　vanished　from　her；　and　blackness　swallowed　the　room　again。　Abruptly　the　caged　birds　broke　into　a　frenzy　of　chirruping；　their　wings　fluttered　frantically　against　the　bamboo　bars。
　　　　　　　Behind　her；　a　voice　rasped　like　rock　being　ground　to　dust。　〃The　Great　Lord　thought　you　might　not　take　their　word；　Graendal。　The　time　when　you　could　go　your　own　way　has　passed。〃　A　ball　of。。。　something。。。　appeared　in　the　air；　a　dead　black　globe；　but　a　silver　light　filled　the　room。　The　mirrors　did　not　shine；　they　seemed　to　dull　in　that　light。　The　birds　went　still；　silent；　somehow；　Graendal　knew　they　had　frozen　in　terror。
　　　　　　　She　gaped　at　the　Myrddraal　standing　there；　pale　and　eyeless　and　clothed　in　black　deeper　than　the　ball；　but　larger　than　any　she　had　ever　seen。　It　had　to　be　the　reason　she　could　not　sense　the　Source；　but　that　was　impossible！　Except。。。　Where　had　that　strange　sphere　of　black　light　e　from　if　not　from　it？　She　had　never　felt　the　same　fear　others　did　at　a　Myrddraal's　gaze；　not　to　the　same　degree；　yet　her　hands　rose　on　their　own；　and　she　had　to　snatch　them　down　to　keep　from　covering　her　face。　Glancing　toward　Moghedien　and　Cyndane；　she　flinched。　They　had　adopted　the　same　pose　as　her　servants；　crouching　on　their　knees；　heads　to　the　floor　toward　the　Myrddraal。
　　　　　　　She　had　to　work　moisture　into　her　mouth。　〃You　are　a　messenger　from　the　Great　Lord？〃　Her　voice　was　steady；　but　weak。　She　had　never　heard　of　such　a　thing；　the　Great　Lord　sending　a　message　by　Myrddraal；　and　yet。。。　Moghedien　was　a　physical　coward；　but　still　one　of　the　Chosen；　and　she　groveled　as　assiduously　as　the　girl。　And　there　was　the　light。　Graendal　found　herself　wishing　her　dress　were　not　cut　so　low。　Ridiculous；　of　course；　Myrddraal's　appetites　for　women　were　well　known；　but　she　was　one　of　the。。。　Her　eyes　drifted　to　Moghedien　once　more。
　　　　　　　The　Myrddraal　strode　by　her　sinuously；　seeming　not　to　pay　her　any　heed。　Its　long　black　cloak　hung　undisturbed　by　its　movements。　Aginor　had　thought　the　creatures　were　not　quite　in　the　world　in　the　same　way　everything　else　was；　〃slightly　out　of　phase　with　time　and　reality；〃　he　had　called　it；　whatever　that　meant。
　　　　　　　〃I　am　Shaidar　Haran。〃　Stopping　by　her　servants；　the　Myrddraal　bent　to　grip　them　by　the　backs　of　their　necks；　one　hand　to　each。　〃When　I　speak；　you　may　consider　that　you　hear　the　voice　of　the　Great　Lord　of　the　Dark。〃　Those　hands　tightened　to　the　surprisingly　loud　sound　of　cracking　bone。　The　young　man　spasmed　as　he　died；　kicking　out；　the　young　woman　merely　went　limp。　They　had　been　two　of　her　prettiest。　The　Myrddraal　straightened　from　the　corpses。　〃I　am　his　hand　in　this　world；　Graendal。　When　you　stand　before　me；　you　stand　before　him。〃
　　　　　　　Graendal　considered　carefully；　if　quickly。　She　was　afraid；　an　emotion　she　was　far　more　used　to　inspiring　in　others；　but　she　knew　how　to　control　her　fear。　While　she　had　never　manded　armies　as　some　of　the　others　had；　she　was　neither　a　stranger　to　hazard　nor　a　coward；　yet　this　was　more　than　a　mere　threat。　Moghedien　and　Cyndane　still　knelt　with　their　heads　to　the　marble　floor；　Moghedien　actually　trembling　visibly。　Graendal　believed　this　Myrddraal。　Or　whatever　it　truly　was。　The　Great　Lord　was　taking　a　more　direct　hand　in　events；　as　she　had　feared。　And　if　he　learned　of　her　scheming　with　Sammael。。。　If　he　chose　to　take　action；　that　was；　betting　that　he　did　not　know　was　a　foolish　wager　at　this　point。
　　　　　　　She　knelt　smoothly　before　the　Myrddraal。　〃What　would　you　have　me　do？〃　Her　voice　had　regained　its　strength。　A　necessary　flexibility　was　not　cowardice；　those　who　did　not　bend　for　the　Great　Lord　were　bent。　Or　snapped　in　two。　〃Should　I　call　you　Great　Master；　or　would　you　prefer　another　title？　I　would　not　feel　fortable　addressing　even　the　Great　Lord's　hand　as　I　would　him。〃
　　　　　　　Shockingly；　the　Myrddraal　laughed。　It　sounded　like　ice　crumbling。　Myrddraal　never　laughed。　〃You　are　braver　than　most。　And　wiser。　Shaidar　Haran　will　do　for　you。　So　long　as　you　remember　who　I　am。　So　long　as　you　do　not　let　bravery　overe　your　fear　too　far。〃
　　　　　　　As　it　issued　its　mands　…　a　visit　to　this　Moridin　was　first；　it　seemed；　she　would　need　to　be　on　her　guard　against　Moghedien；　and　perhaps　Cyndane　also；　taking　reveng