rj.thepathofdaggers-第74部分

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　　　　　　　They　continued　in　that　vein；　but　Bryne　rode　on；　only　murmuring　the　occasional　〃As　you　say；　Aes　Sedai；〃　when　he　had　to　say　something。　He　had　received　worse　in　Egwene's　hearing　this　morning；　and　reacted　no　more。　It　was　Siuan　who　finally　snorted；　and　then　blushed　crimson　when　the　Sitters　looked　at　her　in　surprise。　Egwene　almost　shook　her　head。　Siuan　was　very　definitely　in　love。　And　she　very　definitely　needed　talking　to！　For　some　reason；　Bryne　smiled；　but　that　might　just　have　been　because　he　was　no　longer　the　object　of　the　Sitters'　attention。
　　　　　　　Trees　gave　way　to　another　open　space；　larger　than　most；　and　there　was　no　more　time　for　frivolous　thoughts。
　　　　　　　Aside　from　a　wide　rim　of　tall　brown　reeds　and　cattails　poking　through　the　snow；　nothing　named　this　a　lake。　It　could　have　been　a　big　meadow；　flat　and　very　roughly　oval　in　shape。　Some　distance　from　the　treeline；　on　the　frozen　lake；　stood　a　large　blue　canopy　on　tall　poles；　with　a　small　crowd　of　people　milling　about　it　and　dozens　of　horses　held　by　servants　behind。　The　breeze　ruffled　a　bright　thicket　of　pennants　and　banners；　and　carried　muffled　shouts　that　could　only　have　been　orders。　More　servants　darted　about　hastily。　Apparently；　they　had　not　been　there　long　enough　to　finish　their　preparations。
　　　　　　　Perhaps　a　mile　away　the　trees　began　again；　and　the　feeble　sunlight　glinted　off　metal　there。　Quite　a　lot　of　metal；　stretching　the　length　of　the　far　shore。　To　the　east；　almost　as　close　as　the　pavilion；　the　hundred　men　of　the　Band　made　no　effort　at　concealment；　standing　beside　their　mounts　just　short　of　where　the　cattails　began。　A　few　of　them　pointed　when　the　flag　of　Tar　Valon　appeared。　The　people　at　the　pavilion　stopped　to　look。
　　　　　　　Egwene　did　not　pause　before　riding　out　onto　the　snow…covered　ice。　She　did　imagine　herself　a　rosebud　opening　to　the　sun；　though；　that　old　novice　exercise。　She　did　not　actually　embrace　saidar；　but　the　calm　that　came　was　very　wele。
　　　　　　　Siuan　and　Sheriam　followed；　and　the　Sitters　with　their　Warders；　and　the　servants。　Lord　Bryne　and　the　bannerman　were　the　only　two　soldiers　who　went。　Shouts　rising　behind　her　told　of　Uno　putting　his　armored　horsemen　into　position　along　the　shoreline。　The　more　lightly　armored　men　were　arrayed　to　either　side；　those　not　off　guarding　against　treachery。　One　reason　the　lake　had　been　chosen　was　that　the　ice　was　thick　enough　to　hold　a　fair　number　of　horses；　but　not　hundreds；　much　less　thousands。　That　cut　down　on　the　chance　of　chicanery。　Of　course；　a　pavilion　beyond　bowshot　was　not　beyond　the　range　of　the　One　Power；　not　if　it　could　be　seen。　Except　that　the　worst　man　in　the　world　knew　himself　safe　from　that　unless　he　threatened　a　sister。　Egwene　exhaled　sharply；　and　began　acquiring　calm　all　over　again。
　　　　　　　A　proper　greeting　for　the　Amyrlin　Seat　should　have　had　servants　rushing　forward　with　warm　drinks　and　cloths　wrapped　around　hot　bricks；　and　the　lords　and　ladies　themselves　to　take　reins　and　offer　a　kiss　in　token　of　Abram。　Any　visitor　of　rank　at　all　would　have　had　the　servants；　but　no　one　stirred　from　the　pavilion。　Bryne　himself　dismounted　and　came　to　hold　Daishar's　bridle；　and　the　same　lanky　young　man　who　had　e　with　fresh　charcoal　the　day　before　ran　to　hold　Egwene's　stirrup。　His　nose　still　dripped；　but　in　a　red　velvet　coat　only　a　little　too　large　for　him　and　a　bright　blue　cloak；　he　outshone　any　of　the　nobles　who　stood　staring　from　under　the　canopy。　They　appeared　to　be　in　stout　woolens　for　the　most　part；　with　not　much　embroidery　and　very　little　silk　or　lace。　Likely　they　had　had　to　scramble　to　find　suitable　clothes　once　the　snows　began；　and　them　already　on　the　march。　Though　the　simple　truth　was　that　the　young　man　might　have　outshone　a　Tinker。
　　　　　　　Carpets　had　been　laid　to　floor　the　pavilion；　and　braziers　lit；　though　the　breeze　carried　away　heat　and　smoke　alike。　Chairs　stood　in　two　facing　lines　for　the　delegations；　eight　in　each。　They　had　not　expected　so　many　sisters。　Some　of　the　waiting　nobles　exchanged　looks　of　consternation；　and　a　number　of　their　servants　actually　wrung　their　hands；　wondering　what　to　do。　They　need　not　have。
　　　　　　　The　chairs　were　a　mismatched　miscellany；　but　they　were　all　alike　in　size；　and　none　was　noticeably　more　worn　or　battered　than　another。　None　had　noticeably　more　or　less　gilded　carving。　The　lanky　young　man　and　a　number　of　others　trotted　in　and　under　the　frowns　of　the　nobles；　without　so　much　as　a　by…your…leave；　carried　those　meant　for　Aes　Sedai　out　into　the　snow；　then　rushed　to　help　with　unloading　the　packhorses。　Still；　no　one　spoke　a　word。
　　　　　　　Quickly；　seats　were　set　up　sufficient　for　the　entire　Hall；　and　Egwene。　Only　simple　benches；　though　polished　till　they　gleamed；　but　each　stood　on　a　wide　box　covered　with　cloth　in　the　color　of　the　Sitter's　Ajah；　in　a　long　row　as　wide　as　the　canopy。　The　box　placed　in　front；　for　Egwene's　bench；　was　striped　like　her　stole。　There　had　been　a　great　flurry　of　activity　in　the　night；　beginning　with　finding　beeswax　for　polish　and　good　cloth　of　the　right　colors。
　　　　　　　When　Egwene　and　the　Sitters　took　their　places；　they　sat　a　foot　higher　than　anyone　else。　She　had　had　her　doubts　about　that；　but　the　lack　of　any　word　of　wele　had　settled　those。　The　meanest　farmer　would　have　offered　a　cup　and　a　kiss　to　a　vagabond　on　the　Feast　of　Abram。　They　were　not　supplicants；　and　they　were　not　equals。　They　were　Aes　Sedai。
　　　　　　　Warders　stood　behind　their　Aes　Sedai；　and　Siuan　and　Sheriam　flanked　Egwene。　The　sisters　ostentatiously　flung　back　cloaks　and　tucked　gloves　away　to　emphasize　that　the　cold　did　not　touch　them；　a　sharp　contrast　to　the　nobles　clutching　their　own　cloaks　close。　Outside；　the　Flame　of　Tar　Valon　lifted　in　the　stiffening　breeze。　Only　Halima；　lounging　beside　Delana's　chair　on　the　edge　of　the　gray…covered　box；　at　all　spoiled　the　grand　image；　and　her　big　green　eyes　stared　at　the　Andorans　and　Murandians　so　challengingly　that　she　did　not　spoil　it　much。
　　　　　　　There　were　a　few　stares　when　Egwene　took　the　seat　in　front；　but　only　a　few。　No　one　really　looked　surprised。　I　suppose　they've　heard　all　about　the　girl　Amyrlin；　she　thought　dryly。　Well；　there　had　been　queens　younger；　including　queens　of　Andor　and　Murandy。　Calmly；　she　nodded；　and　Sheriam　gestured　to　the　line　of　chairs。　No　matter　who　had　arrived　first　or　provided　the　pavilion；　there　was　no　doubt　who　had　called　this　meeting。　Who　was　in　charge。
　　　　　　　Her　action　was　not　well　received；　of　course。　There　was　a　moment　of　silent　hesitation　while　the　nobles　cast　their　minds　about　for　some　way　to　regain　an　equal　footing；　and　no　few　grimaces　as　they　realized　it　could　not　be　done。　Grim…faced；　eight　of　them　sat　down；　four　men　and　four　women；　with　much　angry　gathering　of　cloaks　and　adjusting　of　skirts。　Those　of　lesser　rank　stood　behind　the　chairs；　and　clearly　there　was　little　love　lost　between　Andoran　and　Murandian。　For　that　matter；　the　Murandians；　men　and　women　alike；　muttered　and　jostled　one　another　for　precedence　as　fiercely　as　they　did　their　〃allies〃　from　the　north。　The　Aes　Sedai　received　a　good　many　dark　looks　as　well；　and　a　few　folk　spared　scowls　for　Bryne；　who　stood　off　to　one　side　with　his　helmet　under　his　arm。　He　was　well　known　on　both　sides　of　the　border；　and　respected　even　by　most　of　those　who　would　have　liked　to　see　him　dead。　At　least；　that　had　been　the　case　before　he　turned　up　leading　the　Aes　Sedai's　army。　He　ignored　their　acid　glares　as　he　had　the　Sitters'　acid　tongues。
　　　　　　　Another　man　did　not　join　with　either　party。　A　pale　man；　less　than　a　hand　taller　than　Egwene；　in　a　dark　coat　and　breastplate；　he　wore　the　front　of　his　head　shaved；　and　there　was　a　long　red　scarf　tied　around　his　left　arm。　His　deep　gray　cloak　had　a　large　red　hand　worked　on　the　breast。　Talmanes　stood　opposite　Bryne；　leaning　against　one　of　the　pavilion's　poles　with　an　arrogant　casualness；　and　watched　without　revealing　a　hint　of　his　thoughts。　Egwene　wished　she　knew　what　he　was　doing　there。　She　wished　she　knew　what　he　had　said　before　she　arrived。　In　any　case；　she　had　to　speak　with　him。　If　it　could　be　managed　without　a　hundred　ears　listening。
　　　　　　　A　lean；　weathered　man　in　a　red　cloak；　sitting　in　the　middle　of　the　row　of　chairs；　leaned　forward　and　opened　his　mouth；　but　Sheriam　forestalled　him　in　a　clear；　carrying　voice。
　　　　　　　〃Mother；　may　I　present　to　you；　of　Andor；　Arathelle　Renshar；　High　Seat　of　House　Renshar。　Pelivar　Coelan；　High　Seat　of　House　Coelan。　Aemlyn　Carand；　High　Seat　of　House　Carand；　and　her　husband；　Culhan　Carand。〃　They　acknowledged　their　names　sourly；　with　bare　nods　and　no　more。　Pelivar　was　the　lean　man；　he　was　losing　his　dark　hair　from　the　front。　Sheriam　went　on　without　pause；　it　was　a　good　thing　Bryne　had　been　able　to　supply　the　names　of　those　who　had　been　chosen　to　speak。　〃May　I　present；　of　Murandy；　Donel　do　Morny　a'Lordeine。　Cian　do　Mehon　a'Macansa。　Paitr　do　Fearna　a'Conn。　Segan　do　Avharin　a'Roos。〃　The　Murandians　seemed　to　feel　the　lack　of　titles　even　more　than　the　Andorans。　Donel；　wearing　more　lace　than　most　of　the　women；　twisted　his　curled　mustaches　fiercely；　and　Paitr　appeared　to　be　trying　to　yank　his　loose。　Segan　pursed　full　lips　and　her　dark　eyes　caught　fire；　while　Cian；　a　stocky；　graying　woman；　snorted　quite　loudly。　Sheriam　took　no　notice。　〃You　are　beneath　the　eyes　of　the　Watcher　of　the　Seals。　You　are　before　the　Flame　of　Tar　Valon。　You　may　present　your　supplications　to　the　Amyrlin　Seat。〃
　　　　　　　Well。　They　did　not　like　that；　not　in　the　least。　Egwene　had　thought　them　sour　before；　but　now　they　looked　stuffed　full　of　green　persimmons。　Perhaps　they　had　believed　they　could　pretend　she　was　not　the　Amyrlin　at　all。　They　would　learn。　Of　course；　first　she　had　to　teach　the　Hall。
　　　　　　　〃There　are　ancient　ties　between　Andor　and　the　White　Tower；〃　she　said；　loudly　and　firmly。　〃Sisters　have　always　expected　wele　in　Andor　or　Murandy。　Why　then　do　you　bring　an　army　against　Aes　Sedai？　You　meddle　where　thrones　and　nations　fear　to　step。　Thrones　have　fallen；　meddling　in　the　affairs　of　Aes　Sedai。〃
　　　　　　　That　sounded　suitably　threatening；　whether　or　not　Myrelle　and　the　others　had　managed　to　prepare　her　way。　With　luck；　they　were　well　on　their　way　back　to　the　camp；　with　no　one　the　wiser。　Unless　one　of　these　nobles　spoke　the　wrong　name。　That　would　lose　her　an　advantage　against　the　Hall；　but　alongside　everything　else；　it　was　a　straw　beside　a　hayloft。