rj.thepathofdaggers-第58部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


n　her　aged　deathbed。
　　　　　　　Abruptly；　Alanna's　eyes　widened　in　alarm；　and　Cadsuane　saw　another　face　reflected　in　the　lid　of　her　thread　box。　Setting　the　cup　back　on　the　tray　and　her　embroidery　hoop　on　the　table；　Cadsuane　stood　and　turned　to　the　door。　She　did　not　hurry；　but　she　did　not　dally　or　play　games　as　she　had　with　Alanna；　either。
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　done　with　her；　Aes　Sedai？〃　Sorilea　asked；　stepping　into　the　room。　The　leathery；　white…haired　Wise　One　spoke　to　Cadsuane；　but　her　eyes　remained　on　Alanna。　Ivory　and　gold　clicked　softly　at　her　wrists　as　she　planted　hands　on　her　hips；　and　her　dark　shawl　slid　to　her　elbows。
　　　　　　　When　Cadsuane　said　that　she　was　indeed　done；　Sorilea　gestured　curtly　to　Alanna；　who　stalked　from　the　room。　Flounced　might　have　been　a　better　word；　with　sullen　irritation　on　her　face。　Sorilea　frowned　after　her。　Cadsuane　had　encountered　the　woman　before；　and　interesting　encounters　they　had　been；　if　brief。　She　had　not　met　many　people　she　considered　formidable；　but　Sorilea　was　one。　Perhaps　even　a　match　for　herself；　in　some　ways。　She　also　suspected　the　woman　was　as　old　as　she　was；　maybe　older；　and　that；　she　had　never　expected　to　find。
　　　　　　　No　sooner　had　Alanna　vanished　than　Kiruna　appeared　in　the　doorway；　kicking　gray　silk　skirts　in　her　hurry　and　peering　down　the　hall　in　the　direction　Alanna　had　gone。　And　carrying　an　intricately　worked　golden　tray　that　held　an　even　more　elaborate　golden　pitcher　with　a　high　neck；　and；　incongruously；　two　small；　white…glazed　pottery　cups。　〃Why　is　Alanna　running？〃　she　said。　〃I　would　have　been　faster；　Sorilea；　but　…　〃　She　saw　Cadsuane　then；　and　her　cheeks　went　the　deepest　possible　crimson。　Embarrassment　looked　quite　odd　on　the　statuesque　woman。
　　　　　　　〃Put　the　tray　on　the　table；　girl；〃　Sorilea　said；　〃and　go　to　Chaelin。　She　will　be　waiting　to　give　you　your　lessons。〃
　　　　　　　Stiffly；　Kiruna　set　her　burden　down；　avoiding　Cadsuane's　eyes。　As　she　turned　to　go；　Sorilea　caught　her　chin　in　sinewy　fingers。　〃You　have　begun　to　make　a　true　effort；　girl；〃　the　Wise　One　told　her　firmly。　〃If　you　continue；　you　will　do　very　well。　Very　well。　Now；　go。　Chaelin　is　not　as　patient　as　I。〃
　　　　　　　Sorilea　waved　toward　the　corridor；　but　Kiruna　stood　staring　at　her　for　a　long　moment；　a　strange　expression　on　her　face。　If　Cadsuane　had　had　to　make　a　wager；　she　would　have　called　Kiruna　pleased　at　the　praise　and　surprised　at　being　pleased。　The　white…haired　woman　opened　her　mouth；　and　Kiruna　gave　herself　a　shake　and　hurried　from　the　room。　A　remarkable　show。
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　really　think　she　will　learn　your　ways　of　weaving　saidar？〃　Cadsuane　asked；　hiding　her　incredulity。　Kiruna　and　the　others　had　told　her　of　these　lessons；　but　many　of　the　Wise　Ones'　weaves　were　very　different　from　those　taught　in　the　White　Tower。　The　first　way　you　learned　the　weave　for　a　particular　thing　imprinted　itself　on　you；　learning　a　second　was　all　but　impossible；　and　even　when　you　could　learn；　the　second…learned　weave　almost　never　worked　nearly　as　well。　That　was　one　reason　some　sisters　did　not　wele　wilders　to　the　Tower　at　any　age；　too　much　might　have　been　learned　already；　and　could　not　be　unlearned。
　　　　　　　Sorilea　shrugged。　〃Perhaps。　Learning　a　second　way　is　hard　enough　without　all　the　hand…waving　you　Aes　Sedai　do。　The　main　thing　Kiruna　Nachiman　must　learn　is　that　she　owns　her　pride；　it　does　not　own　her。　She　will　be　a　very　strong　woman　once　she　learns　that。〃　Pulling　a　chair　around　to　face　the　one　Cadsuane　had　been　sitting　in；　she　eyed　it　doubtfully；　then　sat　down。　She　appeared　almost　as　stiff　and　unfortable　as　Kiruna　had；　but　she　motioned　authoritatively　for　Cadsuane　to　sit；　a　strong…willed　woman　used　to　mand。
　　　　　　　Cadsuane　swallowed　a　rueful　chuckle　as　she　took　her　chair。　It　was　well　to　be　reminded　that；　wilders　or　not；　the　Wise　Ones　were　far　from　ignorant　savages。　Of　course　they　would　know　the　difficulties。　As　for　hand…waving。。。　Few　had　channeled　where　she　could　see；　but　she　had　noticed　that　they　created　some　weaves　without　the　gestures　that　sisters　used。　The　hand　movements　were　not　truly　part　of　the　weave；　but　in　a　way　they　were；　because　they　had　been　part　of　learning　the　weave。　Perhaps；　once；　there　had　been　Aes　Sedai　who　could；　say；　hurl　a　ball　of　fire　without　some　sort　of　throwing　motion；　but　if　so；　they　were　long　dead；　and　their　teachings　with　them。　Today；　some　things　just　could　not　be　done　without　the　appropriate　gestures。　There　were　sisters　who　claimed　they　could　tell　who　had　taught　another　sister　by　which　motions　she　used　for　which　weaves。
　　　　　　　〃Teaching　any　of　our　new　apprentices　anything　has　been　difficult　at　best；〃　Sorilea　went　on。　〃I　do　not　speak　to　offend；　but　you　Aes　Sedai　give　oath；　it　seems；　and　immediately　try　to　find　a　way　around　it。　Alanna　Mosvani　is　particularly　difficult。〃　Suddenly　her　clear　green　eyes　were　very　sharp　on　Cadsuane's　face。　〃How　can　we　punish　her　willful　failings　if　it　means　harming　the　Car'a'carn'？〃
　　　　　　　Cadsuane　folded　her　hands　in　her　lap。　Masking　surprise　was　not　easy。　So　much　for　the　secret　of　Alanna's　crime。　But　why　had　the　woman　let　her　know　that　she　knew？　Perhaps　one　revelation　called　for　another。　〃The　bond　does　not　work　in　that　fashion；〃　she　said。　〃If　you　kill　her；　he　will　die；　then　or　soon　after。　Short　of　that；　he　will　be　aware　of　what　happens　to　her；　but　he　will　not　really　feel　it。　As　far　away　as　he　is　now；　he　will　only　be　vaguely　aware；　at　that。〃
　　　　　　　Sorilea　nodded　slowly。　Her　fingers　touched　the　golden　tray　on　the　table；　then　came　away。　Her　expression　was　as　hard　to　read　as　the　face　of　a　statue；　but　Cadsuane　suspected　that　Alanna　would　find　an　unpleasant　surprise　the　next　time　she　let　her　temper　flare；　or　threw　one　of　her　Arafellin　sulks。　That　was　unimportant；　though。　Only　the　boy　was　important。
　　　　　　　〃Most　men　will　take　what　is　offered；　if　it　seems　attractive　and　pleasant；〃　Sorilea　said。　〃Once；　we　thought　of　Rand　al'Thor　so。　Unfortunately；　it　is　too　late　to　change　the　path　we　walk。　Now；　he　suspects　whatever　is　offered　freely。　Now；　if　I　wanted　him　to　accept　something；　I　would　pretend　I　did　not　want　him　to　have　it。　If　I　wanted　to　stay　close　to　him；　I　would　pretend　indifference　to　whether　I　ever　saw　him　again。〃　Once　more；　those　eyes　focused　on　Cadsuane；　green　augers。　Not　trying　to　see　what　lay　inside　her　head。　The　woman　knew。　Some；　at　least。　Enough；　or　too　much。
　　　　　　　Still；　Cadsuane　felt　a　rising　thrill　of　possibility。　If　she　had　had　any　doubts　that　Sorilea　wanted　to　feel　her　out；　they　were　gone。　And　you　did　not　feel　out　someone　in　this　manner　unless　you　hoped　for　some　agreement。　〃Do　you　believe　a　man　must　be　hard？〃　she　asked。　She　was　taking　a　chance。　〃Or　strong？〃　By　her　tone；　she　left　no　doubt　she　saw　a　difference。
　　　　　　　Again　Sorilea　touched　the　tray；　the　smallest　of　smiles　might　have　quirked　her　lips　for　an　instant。　Or　not。　〃Most　men　see　the　two　as　one　and　the　same；　Cadsuane　Melaidhrin。　Strong　endures；　hard　shatters。〃
　　　　　　　Cadsuane　drew　breath。　A　chance　she　would　have　scoured　anyone　else　for　taking。　But　she　was　not　anyone　else；　and　sometimes　chances　had　to　be　taken。　〃The　boy　confuses　them；〃　she　said。　〃He　needs　to　be　strong；　and　makes　himself　harder。　Too　hard；　already；　and　he　will　not　stop　until　he　is　stopped。　He　has　forgotten　how　to　laugh　except　in　bitterness；　there　are　no　tears　left　in　him。　Unless　he　finds　laughter　and　tears　again；　the　world　faces　disaster。　He　must　learn　that　even　the　Dragon　Reborn　is　flesh。　If　he　goes　to　Tarmon　Gai'don　as　he　is；　even　his　victory　may　be　as　dark　as　his　defeat。〃
　　　　　　　Sorilea　listened　intently；　and　kept　silent　even　after　Cadsuane　finished。　Those　green　eyes　studied　her。　〃Your　Dragon　Reborn　and　your　Last　Battle　are　not　in　our　prophecies；〃　Sorilea　said　at　last。　〃We　have　tried　to　make　Rand　al'Thor　know　his　blood；　but　I　fear　he　sees　us　as　only　another　spear。　If　one　spear　breaks　in　your　hand；　you　do　not　pause　to　mourn　before　taking　up　another。　Perhaps　you　and　I　aim　at　targets　not　too　far　apart。〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　we　do；〃　Cadsuane　said　cautiously。　Targets　even　a　hand　apart　might　be　not　at　all　alike。
　　　　　　　Abruptly；　the　glow　of　saidar　surrounded　the　leather…faced　woman。　She　was　weak　enough　to　make　Daigian　look　at　least　moderately　strong。　But　then；　Sorilea's　strength　did　not　lie　in　the　Power。　〃There　is　a　thing　you　may　find　useful；〃　she　said。　〃I　cannot　make　it　work；　but　I　can　weave　the　flows　to　show　you。〃　She　did　just　that；　laying　feeble　skeins　that　fell　into　place　and　melted；　too　poor　to　do　what　they　were　intended　for。　〃It　is　called　Traveling；〃　Sorilea　said。
　　　　　　　This　time；　Cadsuane's　jaw　dropped。　Alanna　and　Kiruna　and　the　rest　denied　teaching　the　Wise　Ones　how　to　link；　or　a　number　of　other　skills　they　suddenly　seemed　to　have；　and　Cadsuane　had　assumed　the　Aiel　had　managed　to　wring　them　out　of　the　sisters　held　in　the　tents。　But　this　was。。。
　　　　　　　Impossible；　she　would　have　said；　yet　she　did　not　believe　Sorilea　was　lying。　She　could　hardly　wait　to　try　the　weave　herself。　Not　that　it　was　of　much　use　immediately。　Even　if　she　knew　exactly　where　the　wretched　boy　was；　she　had　to　make　him　e　to　her。　Sorilea　was　right　about　that。　〃A　very　great　gift；〃　she　said　slowly。　〃I　have　nothing　I　can　give　you　to　pare。〃
　　　　　　　This　time；　there　was　no　doubt　of　the　brief　smile　that　flashed　across　Sorilea's　lips。　She　knew　very　well　that　Cadsuane　was　in　her　debt。　Taking　up　the　heavy　golden　pitcher　with　both　hands；　she　carefully　filled　the　small　white　cups。　With　plain　water。　She　did　not　spill　a　drop。
　　　　　　　〃I　offer　you　water　oath；〃　she　said　solemnly；　picking　up　one　of　the　cups。　〃By　this；　we　are　bound　as　one；　to　teach　Rand　al'Thor　laughter　and　tears。〃　She　sipped；　and　Cadsuane　imitated　her。
　　　　　　　〃We　are　bound　as　one。〃　And　if　their　targets　turned　out　not　to　be　the　same　at　all？　She　did　not　underestimate　Sorilea　as　ally　or　opponent；　but　Cadsuane　knew　which　target　had　to　be　struck；　at　any　cost。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　
Chapter　13　
（Dragon）　
Floating　Like　Snow　
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　The　northern　horizon　was　purple　with　the　fierce　rain　that　had　hammered　the　east　of　Illian　through　the　night。　Overhead；　a　morning　sky　of　dark　boiling　clouds　threatened；　and　strong　winds　flung　cloaks　about；　made　banners　snap　and　crack　like　whips　on　the　crest　of　the　ridge；　the　white　Dragon　Banner　and　the　crimson　Banner　of　Light；　and　the　bright　standards　of　nobility　from　Illian　and　Cairhien　and　Tear。　The　nobles　kept