rj.thepathofdaggers-第56部分

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　　　　　　　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　revenge　for　her　brief　use　of　pulsion；　she　doubted　the　girl　was　any　more　forgiving　than　the　Spider　…　she　decided　to　keep　to　herself　the　letter　she　had　sent　to　Rodel　Ituralde。　Nothing　she　was　told　indicated　that　her　actions　would　be　displeasing　to　the　Great　Lord；　and　she　still　had　to　consider　her　own　position。　Moridin；　whoever　he　was；　might　be　Nae'blis　today；　but　there　was　always　tomorrow。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　Bracing　herself　against　the　rocking　of　Arilyn's　coach；　Cadsuane　moved　one　of　the　leather　window　curtains　far　enough　to　see　out。　A　light　rain　fell　on　Cairhien　from　a　gray　sky　full　of　blustering　clouds　and　rough；　swirling　winds。　Not　only　the　sky　was　full　of　wind。　Howling　gusts　rocked　the　coach　more　than　did　its　forward　motion。　Tiny　droplets　stung　her　hand；　cold　as　ice。　If　the　air　cooled　a　little　more；　there　would　be　snow。　She　drew　her　woolen　cloak　closer；　she　had　been　pleased　to　find　it；　shoved　to　the　bottom　of　her　saddlebags。　The　air　would　cool。
　　　　　　　The　city's　steep　slate　roofs　and　stone…paved　streets　glistened　wetly；　and　though　the　rain　was　not　hard；　few　were　willing　to　brave　the　strong　winds。　A　woman　guiding　an　ox…cart　with　taps　of　a　long　goad　moved　as　patiently　as　her　ox；　but　most　people　afoot　clutched　cloaks　tightly；　hoods　pulled　down；　and　stepped　quickly　as　the　bearers　of　a　sedan　chair　rushed　by；　its　stiff　con　fluttering。　Others　beside　the　woman　and　her　ox　saw　no　reason　for　haste；　though。　In　the　middle　of　the　street　a　towering　Aielman　stood　gaping　at　the　sky　in　disbelief　while　the　drizzle　soaked　him；　so　absorbed　that　a　daring　cutpurse　sliced　away　his　belt　pouch　and　darted　off　unnoticed　by　his　victim。　A　woman　whose　elaborately　curled；　high…piled　hair　marked　her　as　noble　walked　along　slowly；　her　cloak　flapping　wildly；　and　its　long　hood　as　well。　This　might　have　been　the　first　time　ever　that　she　had　actually　walked　in　the　streets；　but　she　was　laughing　as　the　rain　slicked　her　cheeks。　From　the　doorway　of　a　perfumer's　shop；　the　shopkeeper　stared　out　disconsolately；　she　would　do　little　business　today。　Most　of　the　hawkers　had　vanished　for　the　same　reason；　but　a　handful　still　hopefully　cried　hot　tea　and　meat　pies　from　barrows　beneath　makeshift　awnings。　Though　anyone　who　bought　a　meat　pie　in　the　street　these　days　deserved　the　bellyache　she　would　get。
　　　　　　　A　pair　of　starving　dogs　ran　out　from　an　alley；　stiff…legged　and　hackles　up；　barking　and　snarling　at　the　coach。　Cadsuane　let　the　curtain　fall。　Dogs　seemed　to　know　women　who　could　channel　as　easily　as　cats　did；　but　dogs　appeared　to　think　the　women　were　cats；　if　unnaturally　large　ones。　The　pair　of　women　seated　across　from　her　were　still　in　conversation。
　　　　　　　〃Forgive　me；〃　Daigian　was　saying；　〃but　the　logic　is　inescapable。〃　She　ducked　her　head　apologetically；　making　the　moonstone　dangling　on　a　fine　silver　chain　from　her　long　black　hair　sway　across　her　forehead。　Her　fingers　plucked　the　white　slashes　in　her　dark　skirts；　and　she　spoke　rapidly；　as　though　afraid　of　being　interrupted。　〃If　you　accept　that　the　lingering　heat　was　the　Dark　One's　work；　the　change　must　be　by　some　other　agency。　He　would　not　have　relented。　You　might　say　that　he　has　decided　to　freeze　or　drown　the　world　instead　of　baking　it；　but　why？　Had　the　heat　continued　through　spring；　the　dead　might　well　have　outnumbered　the　living；　no　different　than　if　snow　falls　into　the　summer。　Therefore；　logically；　some　other　hand　is　at　work。〃　The　plump　woman's　diffidence　was　trying　at　times；　but　as　always；　Cadsuane　found　her　logic　impeccable。　She　just　wished　she　knew　whose　hand　and　to　what　end。
　　　　　　　〃Peace！〃　Kumira　muttered。　〃I　would　rather　an　ounce　of　hard　proof　than　a　hundredweight　of　your　White　Ajah　logic。〃　She　was　Brown；　herself；　though　little　given　to　their　usual　failings。　A　handsome　woman　with　short…cut　hair；　she　was　hardheaded　and　practical；　a　keen　observer；　and　never　lost　herself　so　deeply　in　thought　that　she　lost　sight　of　the　world　around　her　as　well。　No　sooner　had　Kumira　spoken　than　she　patted　Daigian's　knee　with　a　graceful　hand；　and　gave　a　smile　that　changed　her　blue　eyes　from　sharp　to　warm。　Shienarans　were　a　polite　people；　by　and　large；　and　Kumira　took　care　not　to　offend。　By　accident；　at　least。　〃Put　your　mind　to　what　we　can　do　about　the　sisters　held　by　the　Aiel。　I　know　you'll　reason　out　something　if　anyone　can。〃
　　　　　　　Cadsuane　snorted。　〃They　deserve　whatever　happens　to　them。〃　She　had　not　been　allowed　near　the　Aiel　tents　herself；　nor　had　any　of　her　panions；　but　some　of　the　fools　who　had　sworn　fealty　to　the　al'Thor　boy　had　ventured　out　to　the　sprawling　encampment　and　e　back　white…faced　and　torn　between　outrage　and　sicking　up。　Normally；　she　also　would　have　been　furious　over　the　affront　to　Aes　Sedai　dignity；　whatever　the　circumstances；　not　now。　To　achieve　her　goal；　she　would　have　run　the　entire　White　Tower　through　the　streets　naked。　How　could　she　concern　herself　with　the　disfort　of　women　who　might　have　ruined　everything？
　　　　　　　Kumira　opened　her　mouth　to　protest　despite　knowing　her　feelings；　but　Cadsuane　went　on；　calm　yet　relentless。　〃Perhaps　they'll　weep　enough　to　atone　for　the　dog's　dinner　they　made　of　matters；　but　I　doubt　it。　They　are　out　of　our　hands；　and　if　they　were　in　mine；　I　might　just　give　them　to　the　Aiel。　Forget　them；　Daigian；　and　put　that　fine　mind　of　yours　on　the　track　I　set　you。〃
　　　　　　　The　Cairhienin　woman's　pale　cheeks　flushed　red　at　the　pliment。　Thank　the　Light　she　was　not　this　way　except　with　other　sisters。　Kumira　sat　silently；　very　smooth…faced；　her　hands　in　her　lap。　She　might　be　subdued　now；　but　little　could　subdue　Kumira　for　long。　They　were　exactly　the　pair　Cadsuane　wanted　with　her　today。
　　　　　　　The　coach　tilted　as　the　team　started　up　the　long　ramp　leading　to　the　Sun　Palace。　〃Remember　what　I　told　you；〃　she　told　the　other　two　firmly。　〃And　have　a　care！〃
　　　　　　　They　murmured　that　they　would；　as　well　they　might；　and　she　nodded。　If　need　demanded；　she　would　use　them　both　for　mulch；　and　others　too；　but　she　did　not　intend　to　lose　either　because　they　grew　careless。
　　　　　　　There　was　no　bother　or　delay　in　letting　the　coach　through　the　Palace　gates。　The　guards　recognized　Arilyn's　sigil　on　the　doors；　and　they　knew　who　would　be　riding　inside。　That　coach　had　been　to　the　Palace　often　enough　in　the　past　week。　The　moment　the　horses　halted；　an　anxious…eyed　footman　in　unadorned　black　opened　the　coach　door；　holding　out　a　broad　flat　parasol　of　dark　oiled　cloth。　Rain　dripped　from　the　edge　onto　his　bare　head；　but　then；　it　was　not　intended　for　his　shelter。
　　　　　　　Quickly　touching　the　ornaments　dangling　from　the　bun　atop　her　head　to　be　sure　they　were　all　there　…　she　had　never　lost　one；　but　that　was　because　she　was　careful　of　them　…　Cadsuane　gathered　the　handles　of　her　square　wicker　sewing　basket　from　beneath　her　seat　and　stepped　down。　Half　a　dozen　footmen　stood　waiting　behind　the　first；　parasols　at　the　ready。　So　many　passengers　would　have　crowded　the　coach　beyond　fort；　but　the　footmen　were　not　about　to　be　caught　short；　and　the　extra　did　not　hurry　away　until　it　was　plain　there　were　only　the　three　of　them。
　　　　　　　Obviously　the　coach　had　been　seen　ing。　Dark…garbed　serving　men　and　women　made　a　neat　array　on　the　deep　blue　and　gold　tiles　of　the　great　entry　hall　with　its　square…vaulted　ceiling　five　spans　high。　They　leaped　forward；　taking　cloaks；　offering　small；　warm　linen　towels　in　case　anyone　needed　to　dry　face　or　hands；　proffering　Sea　Folk　porcelain　goblets　of　mulled　wine　that　gave　off　a　heady　scent　of　spices。　A　winter　drink；　yet　the　sudden　drop　in　temperature　made　it　suitable。　And　after　all；　it　was　winter。　Finally。
　　　　　　　Three　Aes　Sedai　stood　waiting　to　one　side　among　the　massive　square　columns　of　dark　marble；　in　front　of　tall；　pale　friezes　depicting　battles　no　doubt　important　to　Cairhien；　but　Cadsuane　ignored　the　women　for　the　time　being。　One　of　the　young　serving　men　had　a　small　red…and…gold　figure　embroidered　on　the　left　breast　of　his　coat；　what　people　were　calling　a　Dragon。　Corgaide；　the　grave…faced；　gray…haired　woman　who　ordered　the　servants　in　the　Sun　Palace；　wore　no　ornament　save　for　the　large　ring　of　heavy　keys　at　her　waist。　Nor　did　anyone　else　have　any　decoration　on　their　clothes；　and　despite　the　young　man's　apparent　enthusiasm；　it　was　Corgaide；　the　Holder　of　the　Keys；　who　would　set　the　mood　among　the　servants。　Still；　she　had　allowed　the　young　fellow　his　embroidery；　a　point　to　remember。　Cadsuane　spoke　to　her　quietly；　asking　after　a　room　where　she　might　work　her　embroidery　hoop　undisturbed；　and　the　woman　did　not　blink　at　the　request。　But　then；　doubtless　she　had　heard　stranger；　serving　in　this　place。
　　　　　　　As　the　servants　with　the　cloaks　and　trays　bowed　and　curtsied　themselves　off；　Cadsuane　finally　turned　to　the　three　sisters　among　the　columns。　They　were　all　looking　at　her；　ignoring　Kumira　and　Daigian。　Corgaide　remained；　but　she　stayed　well　back；　giving　the　Aes　Sedai　privacy。　〃I　hardly　expected　to　find　you　strolling　about　at　your　ease；〃　Cadsuane　said。　〃I　thought　the　Aiel　worked　their　apprentices　hard。〃
　　　　　　　Faeldrin　barely　reacted；　merely　a　slight　jerk　of　her　head　that　softly　rattled　the　colored　beads　in　her　thin　braids；　but　Merana　colored　with　embarrassment；　and　her　hands　clenched　in　her　skirts。　Events　had　shaken　Merana　so　deeply　that　Cadsuane　was　unsure　she　would　ever　recover。　Bera；　of　course；　was　very　nearly　unflappable。
　　　　　　　〃Most　of　us　were　given　a　freeday　because　of　the　rain；〃　Bera　replied　calmly。　A　sturdy　woman　in　plain　wool　…　fine　and　well…cut；　but　decidedly　plain　…　you　might　have　thought　her　more　at　home　on　a　farm　than　in　a　palace。　You　might　if　you　were　a　fool；　Bera　had　a　keen　mind；　a　strong　will；　and　Cadsuane　did　not　believe　she　ever　made　the　same　mistake　twice。　Like　most　sisters；　she　had　not　entirely　gotten　over　meeting　Cadsuane　Melaidhrin；　alive　and　in　the　flesh；　yet　she　did　not　let　awe　rule　her。　After　only　the　slightest　of　deep　breaths；　she　went　on。　〃I　cannot　understand　why　you　keep　ing　back；　Cadsuane。　Clearly；　you　want　something　from　us；　but　unless　you　tell　us　what　it　is；　we　cannot　help　you。　We　know　what　you　did　for　the　Lord　Dragon〃　…　she　stumbled　a　little　over　the　title；　they　still　were　not　quite　sure　what　to　call　the　boy　…　〃but　it's　obvious　you　c