rj.thepathofdaggers-第68部分

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rlier　for　fear　of　them　sprouting　too　soon；　but　now　they　had　all　too　little　time　to　grow。
　　　　　　　〃It　will　be　a　pleasure　to　haul　them　out　of　their　blankets；〃　Siuan　said　when　she　was　done。　〃If　I　have　to　tramp　around　in　this。。。　〃　Releasing　Egwene's　arm；　she　started　to　turn　away；　then　stopped；　her　face　serious；　even　grim。　〃I　know　you　want　to　be　a　second　Gerra　Kishar　…　or　maybe　Sereille　Bagand。　You　have　it　in　you　to　match　either。　But　be　careful　you　don't　turn　out　to　be　another　Shein　Chunla。　Good　night；　Mother。　Sleep　well。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　stood　watching　her　go；　a　cloak…shrouded　figure　sometimes　skidding　on　the　path　and　muttering　angrily　almost　loud　enough　to　make　out。　Gerra　and　Sereille　were　remembered　as　among　the　greatest　Amyrlins。　Both　had　raised　the　influence　and　prestige　of　the　White　Tower　to　levels　seldom　equaled　since　before　Artur　Hawkwing。　Both　controlled　the　Tower　itself；　too；　Gerra　by　skillfully　playing　one　faction　in　the　Hall　against　another；　Sereille　by　the　sheer　force　of　her　will。　Shein　Chunla　was　another　matter；　one　who　had　squandered　the　power　of　the　Amyrlin　Seat；　alienating　most　of　the　sisters　in　the　Tower。　The　world　believed　that　Shein　had　died　in　office；　close　on　four　hundred　years　ago；　but　the　deeply　hidden　truth　was　that　she　had　been　deposed　and　sent　into　exile　for　life。　Even　the　secret　histories　treaded　lightly　in　certain　areas；　yet　it　was　fairly　obvious　that；　after　the　fourth　plot　to　restore　her　to　the　Amyrlin　Seat　was　uncovered；　the　sisters　guarding　Shein　had　smothered　her　in　her　sleep　with　a　pillow。　Egwene　shivered；　and　told　herself　it　was　the　cold。
　　　　　　　Turning；　she　began　making　her　slow　way　back　to　her　tent　alone。　Sleep　well？　The　fat　moon　hung　low　in　the　sky；　and　there　were　hours　yet　till　sunrise；　but　she　was　not　sure　she　was　going　to　be　able　to　sleep　at　all。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　
Chapter　16　
（Flame　of　Tar　Valon）　
Unexpected　Absences　
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　Before　the　sun　made　a　rim　on　the　horizon　the　next　morning；　Egwene　convened　the　Hall　of　the　Tower。　In　Tar　Valon；　that　would　have　been　acpanied　by　considerable　ceremony；　and　even　since　leaving　Salidar　they　had　held　to　some　despite　the　difficulties　of　travel。　Now；　Sheriam　simply　went　from　Sitter's　tent　to　Sitter's　tent　while　it　was　still　dark　to　announce　that　the　Amyrlin　Seat　had　called　the　Hall　to　Sit。　In　fact；　they　did　not　sit　at　all。　In　the　grayness　just　before　true　sunrise；　eighteen　women　stood　in　a　semicircle　on　the　snow　to　hear　Egwene；　all　bundled　against　the　cold　that　misted　their　breath。
　　　　　　　Other　sisters　began　appearing　behind　them　to　listen；　only　a　few　at　the　start；　but　when　no　one　told　them　to　leave；　the　group　thickened　and　spread　out　to　a　soft　buzz　of　talk。　A　very　muted　buzz。　Few　sisters　would　risk　bothering　a　lone　Sitter；　much　less　the　entire　Hall。　The　Accepted　in　banded　dresses　and　cloaks　who　had　appeared　behind　the　Aes　Sedai　were　quieter；　of　course；　and　even　quieter　the　gathering　novices　who　had　no　chores；　though　there　were　a　good　many　more　of　them。　The　camp　now　held　half　again　as　many　novices　as　sisters；　so　many　that　few　possessed　a　proper　white　cloak　and　most　made　do　with　a　simple　white　skirt　instead　of　a　novice　dress。　Some　sisters　still　believed　they　should　go　back　to　the　old　ways　and　let　girls　seek　them　out；　but　most　regretted　the　lost　years；　when　Aes　Sedai　numbers　dwindled。　Egwene　herself　almost　shivered　whenever　she　thought　of　what　the　Tower　could　have　been。　This　was　one　change　not　even　Siuan　could　object　to。
　　　　　　　In　the　midst　of　all　the　gathering；　Carlinya　came　around　the　corner　of　a　tent　and　stopped　short　at　the　sight　of　Egwene　and　the　Sitters。　Normally　posure　to　her　toenails；　the　White　sister　gaped；　and　her　pale　face　reddened　before　she　hurried　away；　looking　back　over　her　shoulder。　Egwene　stifled　a　grimace。　Everyone　was　too　concerned　with　what　she　herself　was　about　this　morning　to　have　noticed；　but　sooner　or　later；　someone　was　going　to；　and　wonder。
　　　　　　　Flinging　back　her　delicately　embroidered　cloak　to　reveal　the　narrow　blue　stole　of　the　Keeper；　Sheriam　made　Egwene　as　much　of　a　formal　curtsy　as　her　bulky　garments　allowed　before　taking　a　place　at　her　side。　Wrapped　in　layers　of　fine　wool　and　silk；　the　flame…haired　woman　was　the　very　picture　of　equanimity。　At　Egwene's　nod；　she　took　one　step　forward　to　intone　the　ancient　formula　in　a　clear；　high　voice。
　　　　　　　〃She　es；　she　es！　The　Watcher　of　the　Seals；　the　Flame　of　Tar　Valon；　the　Amyrlin　Seat。　Attend　you　all；　for　she　es！〃　It　seemed　a　little　out　of　place　here；　and　besides；　she　was　already　there；　not　ing。　The　Sitters　stood　in　silence；　waiting。　A　few　frowned　impatiently；　or　fiddled　restlessly　with　cloaks　or　skirts。
　　　　　　　Egwene　pushed　back　her　own　cloak；　uncovering　the　seven…striped　stole　draped　around　her　neck。　These　women　needed　any　reminder　she　could　give　that　she　was　indeed　the　Amyrlin　Seat。　〃Everyone　is　weary　from　travel　in　this　weather；〃　she　announced；　not　quite　so　loudly　as　Sheriam；　but　loud　enough　that　everyone　could　hear。　She　felt　a　tingle　of　anticipation；　an　almost　lightheaded　thrill。　It　was　not　much　different　from　being　queasy。　〃I　have　decided　to　stop　here　for　two　days；　perhaps　three。〃　That　brought　heads　up　and　sparked　interest。　She　hoped　Siuan　was　in　the　listening　crowd。　She　did　try　to　hold　to　the　Oaths。　〃The　horses　need　rest；　too；　and　many　of　the　wagons　badly　need　repairs。　The　Keeper　will　see　to　the　necessary　arrangements。〃　It　truly　was　begun；　now。
　　　　　　　She　expected　neither　argument　nor　discussion；　and　there　was　none。　What　she　had　told　Siuan　was　no　exaggeration。　Too　many　sisters　hoped　for　a　miracle；　so　they　would　not　have　to　march　on　Tar　Valon　with　the　world　watching。　Even　among　those　convinced　in　their　souls　that　Elaida　must　be　ousted　for　the　good　of　the　Tower；　despite　everything　they　had　done；　too　many　would　grasp　any　chance　of　delay；　any　chance　for　that　miracle　to　appear。
　　　　　　　One　of　those　last；　Romanda；　did　not　wait　for　Sheriam　to　speak　the　closing　lines。　As　soon　as　Egwene　finished　speaking；　Romanda；　looking　quite　youthful　with　her　tight　gray　bun　hidden　by　her　hood；　simply　strode　away。　Cloaks　flapping；　Magla；　Saroiya；　and　Varilin　scurried　after　her。　As　well　as　anyone　could　scurry；　when　every　other　step　sank　ankle…deep。　They　did　a　good　job　of　it　anyway；　Sitters　or　no；　they　hardly　seemed　to　breathe　without　Romanda's　permission。　When　Lelaine　saw　Romanda　leaving；　she　gathered　up　Faiselle；　Takima；　and　Lyrelle　from　the　semicircle　with　a　gesture　and　went　without　a　backward　glance；　like　a　swan　with　three　anxious　goslings。　If　they　were　not　so　firmly　in　Lelaine's　grasp　as　the　other　three　were　in　Romanda's；　they　did　not　fall　far　short。　For　that　matter；　the　rest　of　the　Sitters　barely　waited　on　the　final　〃Depart　now　in　the　Light〃　to　leave　Sheriam's　lips。　Egwene　turned　to　go　with　her　Hall　of　the　Tower　already　scattering　in　every　direction。　That　tingle　was　stronger。　And　very　like　being　queasy。
　　　　　　　〃Three　days；〃　Sheriam　murmured；　offering　Egwene　a　hand　to　help　her　down　into　one　of　the　rutted　paths。　The　corners　of　her　tilted　green　eyes　crinkled　quizzically。　〃I'm　surprised；　Mother。　Forgive　me；　but　you　dug　in　your　heels　nearly　every　time　I　wanted；　to　stop　for　more　than　one。〃
　　　　　　　〃Speak　to　me　again　after　you've　talked　to　the　wheelwrights　and　farriers；〃　Egwene　told　her。　〃We'll　not　go　far　with　horses　dropping　dead　and　wagons　falling　apart。〃
　　　　　　　〃As　you　say；　Mother；〃　the　other　woman　replied；　not　precisely　meekly；　but　in　perfect　acceptance。
　　　　　　　The　footing　was　no　better　now　than　it　had　been　the　night　before；　and　their　steps　sometimes　slid。　Linking　arms；　they　walked　on　slowly。　Sheriam　offered　more　support　than　Egwene　required；　but　she　did　so　almost　surreptitiously。　The　Amyrlin　Seat　should　not　fall　on　her　bottom　in　the　full　view　of　fifty　sisters　and　a　hundred　servants；　but　neither　should　she　seem　propped　up　like　an　invalid。
　　　　　　　Most　of　the　Sitters　who　had　sworn　to　Egwene；　Sheriam　included；　had　done　so　out　of　simple　fear；　really；　and　self…preservation。　If　the　Hall　learned　they　had　sent　sisters　to　sway　the　Aes　Sedai　in　Tar　Valon；　and　worse；　kept　the　fact　from　the　Hall　for　fear　of　Darkfriends　among　the　Sitters；　they　surely　and　certainly　would　spend　the　rest　of　their　lives　in　penance　and　exile。　So　the　women　who　had　believed　they　could　somehow　twitch　Egwene　about　like　a　puppet；　after　the　greater　part　of　their　influence　with　the　Hall　melted；　instead　found　themselves　sworn　to　obey　her。　That　was　rare　even　in　the　secret　histories；　sisters　were　expected　to　obey　the　Amyrlin；　but　swearing　fealty　was　something　else　again。　Most　still　seemed　unsettled　by　it；　though　they　did　obey。　Few　were　as　bad　as　Carlinya；　but　Egwene　had　actually　heard　Beonin's　teeth　chatter　the　first　time　she　saw　Egwene　with　Sitters　after　swearing。　Morvrin　looked　astonished　anew　whenever　her　eyes　fell　on　Egwene；　as　if　she　still　did　not　quite　believe；　and　Nisao　hardly　seemed　to　stop　frowning。　Anaiya　clicked　her　tongue　over　the　secrecy；　and　Myrelle　often　flinched；　though　for　more　reason　than　taking　an　oath。　But　Sheriam　simply　had　settled　into　the　role　of　Egwene's　Keeper　of　the　Chronicles　in　truth；　not　just　name。
　　　　　　　〃May　I　suggest　using　this　opportunity　to　see　what　the　surrounding　country　offers　in　way　of　food　and　fodder；　Mother？　Our　stocks　are　low。〃　Sheriam　frowned　anxiously。　〃Especially　tea　and　salt；　though　I　doubt　we'll　find　those。〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　what　you　can；〃　Egwene　said　in　a　soothing　tone。　Odd　now；　to　think　that　once　she　had　gone　in　awe　of　Sheriam；　and　in　no　little　fear　of　her　displeasure。　Strange　as　it　seemed；　now　that　she　was　no　longer　Mistress　of　Novices；　no　longer　trying　to　tug　and　push　Egwene　to　do　as　she　wished；　Sheriam　actually　seemed　happier。　〃I　have　every　confidence　in　you；　Sheriam。〃　The　woman　positively　beamed　at　the　pliment。
　　　　　　　The　sun　still　did　not　show　above　the　tents　and　wagons　to　the　east；　but　the　camp　was　already　bustling。　In　a　manner　of　speaking。　Breakfast　done；　the　cooks　were　cleaning　up；　helped　by　a　horde　of　novices。　From　the　vigor　they　put　into　it；　the　young　women　seemed　to　find　some　warmth　in　scrubbing　kettles　with　snow；　but　the　cooks　moved　laboriously；　knuckling　their　backs；　stopping　to　sigh　and　sometimes　to　pull　their　cloaks　close　and　stare　bleakly　at　the　snow。　Shivering　serving　men；　wearing　most　of　the　clothes　they　owned；　had　begun　striking　tents　and　loading　wagons　automatically　as　soon　as　th