rj.thepathofdaggers-第72部分

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e　grated。　〃How　long　did　you　think　you　could　keep　this　a　secret？　Soldiers　talk；　child。　Men　always　talk！　Bryne　will　be　lucky　if　the　Hall　doesn't　put　his　head　on　a　pike。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　stood　slowly；　smoothing　her　skirt。　She　had　been　waiting　for　this；　but　she　still　needed　to　be　careful。　The　game　was　far　from　played　out；　and　everything　could　still　turn　against　her　in　a　flash。　She　had　to　pretend　innocence；　until　she　could　afford　to　stop　pretending。　〃Must　I　remind　you　that　rudeness　to　the　Amyrlin　Seat　is　a　crime；　daughter；〃　she　said　instead。　She　had　been　pretending　so　long；　and　she　was　so　close。
　　　　　　　〃The　Amyrlin　Seat。〃　Romanda　strode　across　the　carpets　to　within　arm's　reach　of　Egwene；　and　by　her　glare；　the　thought　of　reaching　more　crossed　her　mind。　〃You're　an　infant！　Your　bottom　still　remembers　the　last　switching　it　had　as　a　novice！　After　this；　you'll　be　lucky　if　the　Hall　doesn't　put　you　in　a　corner　with　a　few　play　pretties。　If　you　want　to　avoid　that；　you　will　listen　to　me；　and　do　as　I　tell　you。　Now；　sit　down！〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　seethed　inside；　but　she　sat。　It　was　too　soon。
　　　　　　　With　a　sharp；　satisfied　nod；　Romanda　planted　her　fists　on　her　hips。　She　stared　down　at　Egwene　like　a　stern　aunt　lecturing　a　misbehaving　niece。　A　very　stern　aunt。　Or　a　headsman　with　a　toothache。　〃This　meeting　with　Pelivar　and　Arathelle　has　to　go　forward；　now　it's　been　arranged。　They　expect　the　Amyrlin　Seat；　and　they　will　see　her。　You　will　attend　with　all　the　pomp　and　dignity　your　title　deserves。　And　you　will　tell　them　I　am　to　speak　for　you；　after　which；　you　will　hold　your　tongue！　Getting　them　out　of　our　way　will　require　a　firm　hand；　and　someone　who　knows　what　she's　about。　No　doubt　Lelaine　will　be　here　any　minute；　trying　to　put　herself　forward；　but　you　just　remember　the　trouble　she's　in。　I've　spent　the　day　speaking　with　other　Sitters；　and　it　appears　very　likely　that　Merilille　and　Merana's　failures　will　be　quite　firmly　attached　to　Lelaine　when　the　Hall　sits　next。　So；　if　you　have　any　hope　of　gaining　the　experience　you'll　need　to　grow　into　that　stole；　it　lies　with　me！　Do　you　understand　me？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　understand　perfectly；〃　Egwene　said；　in　what　she　hoped　was　a　meek　voice。　If　she　let　Romanda　speak　in　her　place；　there　would　no　longer　be　any　doubts。　The　Hall　and　the　whole　world　would　know　who　held　Egwene　al'Vere　by　the　scruff　of　her　neck。
　　　　　　　Romanda's　eyes　seemed　to　bore　into　her　head　before　the　woman　gave　a　curt　nod。　〃I　hope　that　you　do。　I　intend　to　remove　Elaida　from　the　Amyrlin　Seat；　and　I　won't　see　that　ruined　because　a　child　thinks　she　knows　enough　to　find　her　way　across　the　street　without　her　hand　held。〃　With　a　snort；　she　flung　her　cloak　around　her　and　flung　herself　out　of　the　tent。　The　ward　vanished　as　she　did。
　　　　　　　Egwene　sat　and　frowned　at　the　tent's　entrance。　A　child？　Burn　the　woman；　she　was　the　Amyrlin　Seat！　Whether　they　liked　it　or　not；　they　had　raised　her；　and　they　were　going　to　have　to　live　with　it！　Eventually。　Snatching　up　the　stone　inkwell；　she　hurled　it　at　the　tentflap。
　　　　　　　Lelaine　dodged　back；　barely　avoiding　the　splash。　〃Temper；　temper；〃　she　chided；　ing　on　in。
　　　　　　　No　more　asking　permission　than　Romanda　had；　she　embraced　the　Source　and　wove　a　ward　to　stop　anyone　overhearing　what　she　had　to　say。　Where　Romanda　had　been　in　a　fury；　Lelaine　appeared　pleased　with　herself；　rubbing　her　gloved　hands　and　smiling。
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　suppose　I　need　tell　you　your　little　secret　is　out。　Very　bad　of　Lord　Bryne；　but　I　think　he's　too　valuable　to　kill。　A　good　thing　for　him　I　do。　Let　me　see。　I　suppose　Romanda　told　you　that　there　will　be　a　meeting　with　Pelivar　and　Arathelle；　but　you　are　to　let　her　do　all　the　talking。　Am　I　right？〃　Egwene　stirred；　but　Lelaine　waved　a　hand　at　her。　〃No　need　to　answer。　I　know　Romanda。　Unfortunately　for　her；　I　learned　about　this　before　she　did；　and　instead　of　running　to　you　straight　away；　I've　been　polling　the　other　Sitters。　Do　you　want　to　know　what　they　think？〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　balled　her　fists　in　her　lap；　where　she　hoped　they　would　not　be　noticed。　〃I　expect　you're　going　to　tell　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　are　in　no　position　to　take　that　tone　with　me；〃　Lelaine　said　sharply；　but　the　next　instant；　her　smile　returned。　〃The　Hall　is　displeased　with　you。　Very　displeased。　Whatever　Romanda　has　threatened　you　with　…　and　it's　easy　enough　to　imagine　…　I　can　deliver。　Romanda；　on　the　other　hand；　has　upset　a　number　of　Sitters　with　her　bullying。　So；　unless　you　want　to　find　yourself　with　less　authority　than　the　little　you　have　now；　Romanda　is　going　to　be　surprised　tomorrow　when　you　name　me　to　speak　for　you。　It's　hard　to　believe　Arathelle　and　Pelivar　were　foolish　enough　to　put　a　thing　like　this　in　motion；　but　they'll　slink　away　with　their　tails　between　their　legs　once　I'm　done　with　them。〃
　　　　　　　〃How　do　I　know　you　won't　carry　out　those　threats　anyway？〃　Egwene　hoped　her　angry　mutter　sounded　like　sullenness。　Light；　but　she　was　tired　of　this！
　　　　　　　〃Because　I　say　I　won't；〃　Lelaine　snapped。　〃Don't　you　know　by　now　that　you　aren't　really　in　charge　of　anything？　The　Hall　is；　and　that　is　between　Romanda　and　me。　In　another　hundred　years；　you　may　grow　into　the　stole；　but　for　now；　sit　quietly；　fold　your　hands；　and　let　someone　who　knows　what　she　is　about　see　to　pulling　Elaida　down。〃
　　　　　　　After　Lelaine　left；　Egwene　once　more　sat　staring。　This　time；　she　was　not　letting　anger　boil。　You　may　grow　into　the　stole。　Almost　the　same　thing　Romanda　had　said。　Someone　who　knows　what　she　is　about。　Was　she　deceiving　herself？　A　child；　ruining　what　a　woman　with　experience　could　handle　easily？
　　　　　　　Siuan　slipped　into　the　tent　and　stood　looking　worried。　〃Gareth　Bryne　just　came　to　tell　me　the　Hall　knows；〃　she　said　dryly。　〃Under　cover　of　asking　about　his　shirts。　Him　and　his　bloody　shirts！　The　meeting　is　set　for　tomorrow；　at　a　lake　about　five　hours　to　the　north。　Pelivar　and　Arathelle　are　already　on　the　way。　Aemlyn；　too。　That's　a　third　strong　House。〃
　　　　　　　〃That's　more　than　Lelaine　or　Romanda　saw　fit　to　tell　me；〃　Egwene　said；　just　as　dryly。　No。　A　hundred　years　of　being　led　by　the　hand；　pushed　by　the　scruff　of　her　neck；　or　fifty　years；　or　five；　and　she　would　be　fit　for　nothing　more。　If　she　had　to　grow；　she　had　to　grow　now。
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　blood　and　bloody　ashes；〃　Siuan　groaned。　〃I　can't　stand　it！　What　did　they　say？　How　did　it　go？〃
　　　　　　　〃About　as　we　expected。〃　Egwene　smiled　with　a　wonder　that　touched　her　voice；　too。　〃Siuan；　they　couldn't　have　handed　me　the　Hall　better　if　I　had　told　them　what　to　do。〃
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　The　last　light　was　failing　as　Sheriam　approached　her　tiny　tent；　smaller　even　than　Egwene's。　If　she　had　not　been　Keeper；　she　would　have　had　to　share。　Ducking　inside；　she　had　only　time　to　realize　she　was　not　alone　when　she　was　shielded　and　flung　facedown　on　her　cot。　Stunned；　she　tried　to　cry　out；　but　a　corner　of　one　of　her　blankets　wadded　itself　into　her　mouth。　Dress　and　shift　burst　away　from　her　body　like　a　pricked　bubble。
　　　　　　　A　hand　stroked　her　head。　〃You　were　supposed　to　keep　me　informed；　Sheriam。　That　girl　is　up　to　something；　and　I　want　to　know　what。〃
　　　　　　　It　took　a　long　time　to　convince　her　questioner　that　she　had　already　told　all　she　knew；　that　she　would　never　hold　back　a　word；　not　a　whisper。　When　she　was　left　alone　at　last；　it　was　to　lie　curled　up　and　whimpering　from　her　welts；　bitterly　wishing　that　she　had　never　in　her　life　spoken　to　a　single　sister　in　the　Hall。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　
Chapter　17　
（Flame　of　Tar　Valon）　
Out　on　the　Ice　
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　The　next　morning；　a　column　rode　north　from　the　Aes　Sedai　camp　well　before　dawn；　near　silent　except　for　the　creak　of　saddles　and　the　crunch　of　hooves　breaking　through　the　snow's　crisp　crust。　Occasionally　a　horse　snorted；　or　metal　jingled　and　was　quickly　muffled。　The　moon　was　already　down；　the　sky　glistening　with　stars；　but　the　pale　blanket　lying　over　everything　below　lightened　the　darkness。　When　the　first　glimmers　of　day　appeared　in　the　east；　they　had　been　riding　a　good　hour　or　more。　Which　was　not　to　say　they　had　traveled　far。　Over　some　open　stretches；　Egwene　could　let　Daishar　go　at　a　slow　canter　that　sprayed　white　like　splashing　water；　but　for　the　most　part；　the　horses　walked；　and　not　quickly；　through　sparse　forest　where　the　snow　made　deep　drifts　below　and　clung　to　branches　overhead。　Oak　and　pine；　sourgum　and　leatherleaf　and　trees　she　did　not　recognize　all　looked　even　more　bedraggled　than　they　had　in　the　heat　and　drought。　Today　was　the　Feast　of　Abram；　but　there　would　be　no　prizes　baked　in　honeycakes。　The　Light　send　some　people　found　surprises　in　the　day；　though。
　　　　　　　The　sun　rose　and　climbed；　a　pale　golden　ball　that　gave　no　warmth。　Every　breath　still　bit　the　throat　and　produced　a　puff　of　mist。　A　sharp　wind　blew；　not　hard；　but　cutting；　and　to　the　west　dark　clouds　rolled　north　on　their　way　to　Andor。　She　felt　a　touch　of　pity　for　whoever　would　know　the　burden　of　those　clouds。　And　relief　that　they　were　heading　away。　Waiting　another　day　would　have　been　maddening。　She　had　been　unable　to　sleep　at　all；　for　fidgety　restlessness；　not　headaches。　Restlessness；　and　tendrils　of　fear　that　had　crept　in　like　cold　air　under　the　edges　of　the　tent。　She　was　not　tired；　though。　She　felt　like　a　pressed　spring；　a　tight…wound　clock；　full　of　energy　that　wanted　desperately　to　find　release。　Light；　everything　could　still　go　horribly　wrong。
　　　　　　　It　was　an　impressive　column；　behind　the　standard　of　the　White　Tower；　the　white　Flame　of　Tar　Valon　centered　on　a　spiral　of　seven　colors；　one　for　each　Ajah。　Sewn　secretly　in　Salidar；　it　had　lain　in　the　bottom　of　a　chest　ever　since；　with　the　keys　in　the　keeping　of　the　Hall。　She　did　not　think　they　would　have　produced　it　except　for　this　morning's　need　for　pomp。　A　thousand　heavy　cavalry　in　plate…and…mail　provided　a　close　escort；　a　panoply　of　lances；　swords；　maces　and　axes　seldom　seen　south　of　the　Borderlands。　Their　mander　was　a　one…eyed　Shienaran　with　a　vividly　painted　eyepatch；　a　man　she　had　met　once；　what　seemed　an　Age　ago。　Uno　Nomesta　glared　at　the　trees　through　the　steel　bars　of　his　helmet's　faceguard　as　if　he　expected　every　last　one　to　hide　an　ambush；　and　his　men　seemed　nearly　as　watchful；　erect　in　their　saddles。
　　　　　　　Almost　out　of　sight　ahead　through　the　trees　rode　a　knot　of　men　who　wore　helmets；　breast…　and　back…plates；　but　no　other　armor。　Their　cloaks　whipped　about　freely；　a　gauntleted　hand　for　the　reins