rj.thepathofdaggers-第80部分

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ite　that　oath。　After　all；　Aes　Sedai　were　noted　for　finding　loopholes　in　what　they　had　said。　She　did　not　really　believe　that　would　happen；　but　just　as　with　Lord　Bryne；　she　could　not　take　even　small　chances　unless　she　had　to。
　　　　　　　〃I　have　to　tell　you；〃　Sheriam　said　bitterly；　〃I　think　tomorrow　Romanda　or　Lelaine　will　be　your　Keeper　of　the　Chronicles；　and　I'll　be　serving　a　penance　for　not　warning　the　Hall。　And　I　think　you　might　envy　me。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　nodded。　All　too　possible。　〃Shall　we　go？〃
　　　　　　　The　sun　made　a　red　dome　on　the　treetops　to　the　west；　and　a　lurid　light　shone　off　the　snow。　Servants　marked　Egwene's　passage　along　the　deep　paths　with　silent　bows　and　curtsies。　Their　faces　were　troubled　or　else　blank；　servants　could　pick　up　the　moods　of　those　they　served　almost　as　quickly　as　Warders。
　　　　　　　Not　a　sister　was　to　be　seen；　at　first；　and　then　they　all　were；　in　a　great　gathering　three　deep　around　a　pavilion　set　up　in　the　only　open　space　in　the　camp　large　enough；　the　area　used　by　sisters　Skimming　to　the　dovecotes　in　Salidar　and　Traveling　back　with　reports　from　the　eyes…and…ears。　A　large　much…mended　piece　of　heavy　canvas；　not　a　patch　on　the　splendor　of　the　canopy　at　the　lake；　it　had　been　a　great　deal　of　effort　to　set　up。　Most　often　in　the　past　two　months；　the　Hall　had　convened　much　as　they　had　yesterday　morning；　or　perhaps　squeezed　into　one　of　the　larger　tents。　The　pavilion　had　been　erected　only　twice　since　leaving　Salidar。　Both　times　for　a　trial。
　　　　　　　Noticing　Egwene　and　Sheriam's　approach；　sisters　in　the　back　murmured　to　those　ahead；　and　a　gap　opened　to　let　them　through。　Expressionless　eyes　watched　the　pair　of　them；　giving　not　a　clue　to　whether　the　watching　sisters　knew　or　even　suspected　what　was　happening。　Not　a　clue　to　what　they　thought。　Butterflies　stirred　in　Egwene's　stomach。　A　rosebud。　Calm。
　　　　　　　She　stepped　onto　the　layered　carpets；　woven　in　bright　flowers　and　a　dozen　different　patterns；　and　moved　through　the　ring　of　braziers　set　up　around　the　canopy's　rim；　and　Sheriam　began。　〃She　es；　she　es。。。　〃　If　she　sounded　a　little　less　grand　than　usual；　a　touch　nervous；　it　was　small　wonder。
　　　　　　　The　polished　benches　and　cloth…covered　boxes　from　the　lake　were　in　use　again。　They　made　a　much　more　formal　sight　than　the　mismatched　gaggle　of　chairs　that　had　been　used　previously；　two　slanting　lines　of　nine；　grouped　by　threes；　Green；　Gray　and　Yellow　to　one　side；　White；　Brown　and　Blue　to　the　other。　At　the　wide　end；　farthest　from　Egwene；　stood　the　striped　box　and　bench　for　the　Amyrlin　Seat。　Sitting　there；　she　would　be　the　focus　of　every　eye；　very　much　aware　that　she　was　one　facing　eighteen。　As　well　she　had　not　changed　her　clothes；　every　Sitter　still　wore　her　finery　from　the　lake；　only　adding　her　shawl。　A　rosebud。　Calm。
　　　　　　　One　of　the　benches　was　empty；　though　only　for　a　moment　longer。　Delana　came　running　in　just　as　Sheriam　finished　her　litany。　Looking　breathless　and　flustered；　the　Gray　Sitter　scrambled　up　to　her　seat；　between　Varilin　and　Kwamesa；　with　little　of　her　usual　grace。　She　wore　a　sickly　grin；　and　toyed　nervously　with　the　firedrops　around　her　neck。　Anyone　might　have　thought　she　was　the　one　on　trial。　Calm。　No　one　was　on　trial。　Yet。
　　　　　　　Egwene　started　slowly　across　the　carpets；　between　the　two　rows；　with　Sheriam　close　behind；　and　Kwamesa　stood。　The　light　of　saidar　suddenly　shone　around　the　dark　slender　woman；　youngest　of　the　Sitters。　Tonight　there　would　be　no　skimping　of　the　formalities。　〃What　is　brought　before　the　Hall　of　the　Tower　is　for　the　Hall　alone　to　consider；〃　Kwamesa　announced。　〃Whosoever　intrudes　unbidden；　woman　or　man；　initiate　or　outsider；　whether　they　e　in　peace　or　in　anger；　I　will　bind　according　to　the　law；　to　face　the　law。　Know　that　what　I　speak　is　true；　it　will　and　shall　be　done。〃
　　　　　　　That　formula　was　older　than　the　oath　against　speaking　untruth；　from　a　time　when　almost　as　many　Amyrlins　died　by　assassination　as　by　all　other　causes　put　together。　Egwene　continued　her　measured　tread。　It　was　an　effort　not　to　touch　her　stole；　for　a　reminder。　She　tried　to　concentrate　on　the　bench　ahead。
　　　　　　　Kwamesa　resumed　her　seat；　still　shining　with　the　Power；　and　among　the　Whites；　Aledrin　rose；　the　glow　surrounding　her　as　well。　With　her　dark　golden　hair　and　big　pale　brown　eyes；　she　was　quite　lovely　when　she　smiled；　but　tonight　a　stone　had　more　expression　than　she。　〃There　are　those　within　earshot　who　are　not　of　the　Hall；〃　she　said　in　a　cool　voice　strong　with　the　accents　of　Tarabon。　〃What　is　spoken　in　the　Hall　of　the　Tower　is　for　the　Hall　alone　to　hear；　until　and　unless　the　Hall　decides　otherwise。　I　will　make　us　private。　I　will　seal　our　words　to　our　ears　only。〃　Weaving　a　ward　that　walled　the　entire　pavilion；　she　sat。　There　was　a　stir　among　the　sisters　outside；　who　now　must　watch　the　Hall　move　in　utter　silence。
　　　　　　　Strange；　that　so　much　among　Sitters　depended　on　age；　when　distinction　by　age　was　next　to　anathema　among　the　rest　of　Aes　Sedai。　Could　Siuan　have　seen　a　pattern　in　the　Sitters'　ages？　No。　Focus。　Calm；　and　focus。
　　　　　　　Gripping　the　edges　of　her　cloak；　Egwene　stepped　up　onto　the　brightly　striped　box　and　turned。　Lelaine　was　already　on　her　feet；　blue…fringed　shawl　looped　across　her　arms；　and　Romanda　was　rising；　without　even　waiting　for　Egwene　to　sit。　She　dared　not　let　either　seize　the　tiller。　〃I　call　a　question　before　the　Hall；〃　she　said　in　a　loud；　firm　voice。　〃Who　will　stand　to　declare　war　against　the　usurper　Elaida　do　Avriny　a'Roihan？〃
　　　　　　　And　then　she　sat；　throwing　off　her　cloak　and　letting　it　fall　across　the　bench。　Standing　beside　her　on　the　carpets；　Sheriam　appeared　quite　cool　and　collected；　but　she　made　a　small　sound；　almost　a　whimper。　Egwene　did　not　think　anyone　else　had　heard。　She　hoped　not。
　　　　　　　There　was　a　brief　moment　of　shock；　women　frozen　on　their　seats；　staring　at　her　in　amazement。　Perhaps　as　much　because　she　had　asked　at　all　as　what　she　had　asked。　No　one　put　a　question　before　the　Hall　before　sounding　out　the　Sitters；　it　just　was　not　done；　for　practical　reasons　as　much　as　tradition。
　　　　　　　At　last　Lelaine　spoke。　〃We　do　not　declare　war　on　individuals；〃　she　said　in　a　dry　voice。　〃Not　even　on　traitors　like　Elaida。　In　any　case；　I　call　to　shelve　your　question　while　we　deal　with　more　immediate　matters。〃　She　had　had　time　to　gather　herself　since　the　ride　back；　her　face　was　merely　hard　now；　not　thunderous。　Brushing　blue…slashed　skirts　as　if　brushing　away　Elaida　…　or　perhaps　Egwene　…　she　turned　her　attention　to　the　other　Sitters。　〃What　brings　us　to　sit　tonight　is。。。　I　was　about　to　say　simple；　but　it　isn't。　Open　the　novice　book？　We　would　have　grandmothers　clamoring　to　be　tested。　Remain　here　a　month？　I　hardly　need　list　the　difficulties；　beginning　with　spending　half　our　gold　without　ing　a　foot　nearer　Tar　Valon。　And　as　for　not　crossing　into　Andor　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃My　sister　Lelaine；　in　her　anxiety；　has　forgotten　who　has　the　right　to　speak　first；〃　Romanda　cut　in　smoothly。　Her　smile　managed　to　make　Lelaine　appear　merry。　Still；　she　took　her　time　adjusting　her　shawl　just　as　she　wanted；　a　woman　with　all　the　time　in　the　world。　〃I　have　two　questions　to　call　before　the　Hall；　and　in　the　second　I　will　address　Lelaine's　concerns。　Unfortunately　for　her；　my　first　question　concerns　Lelaine's　own　fitness　to　continue　in　the　Hall。〃　Her　smile　widened　without　growing　the　slightest　bit　warmer。　Lelaine　sat　slowly；　her　scowl　quite　open。
　　　　　　　〃A　question　of　war　cannot　be　shelved；〃　Egwene　said　in　a　carrying　tone。　〃It　must　be　answered　before　any　question　called　after　it。　That　is　the　law。〃
　　　　　　　Quick；　questioning　glances　passed　between　Sitters。
　　　　　　　〃Is　that　so？〃　Janya　said　finally。　Squinting　thoughtfully；　she　twisted　on　her　bench　to　address　the　woman　next　to　her。　〃Takima；　you　remember　everything　you　read；　and　I'm　sure　I　remember　you　saying　you　had　read　the　Law　of　War。　Is　that　what　it　says？〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　held　her　breath。　The　White　Tower　had　sent　soldiers　to　any　number　of　wars　over　the　last　thousand　years；　but　always　in　response　to　a　plea　for　help　from　at　least　two　thrones；　and　it　always　had　been　their　war；　not　the　Tower's。　The　last　time　the　Tower　itself　actually　declared　war　had　been　against　Artur　Hawkwing。　Siuan　said　that　now　only　a　few　librarians　knew　much　more　than　that　there　was　a　Law　of　War。
　　　　　　　Short；　with　long　dark　hair　to　her　waist　and　skin　the　color　of　aged　ivory；　Takima　often　reminded　people　of　a　bird；　tilting　her　head　in　thought。　Now　she　looked　like　a　bird　that　wanted　to　take　flight；　shifting　on　her　seat；　adjusting　her　shawl；　unnecessarily　straightening　her　cap　of　pearls　and　sapphires。　〃It　is；〃　she　said　finally；　and　clamped　her　mouth　shut。
　　　　　　　Egwene　quietly　started　breathing　again。
　　　　　　　〃It　seems；〃　Romanda　said　in　a　clipped　tone；　〃that　Siuan　Sanche　has　been　teaching　you　well。　Mother。　How　speak　you　in　support　of　declaring　war？　On　a　woman。〃　She　sounded　as　if　she　were　trying　to　push　something　disagreeable　out　of　her　way；　and　she　dropped　onto　her　seat　waiting　for　it　to　depart。
　　　　　　　Egwene　nodded　graciously　anyway；　and　rose。　She　met　the　Sitters'　gazes　one　by　one；　levelly；　firmly。　Takima　avoided　her　eyes。　Light；　the　woman　knew！　But　she　had　not　said　anything。　Would　she　hold　silent　long　enough？　It　was　too　late　to　change　plans。
　　　　　　　〃Today　we　find　ourselves　confronted　by　an　army；　led　by　people　who　doubt　us。　That　army　would　not　be　there　otherwise。〃　Egwene　wanted　to　put　passion　into　her　voice；　to　let　it　burst　out；　but　Siuan　had　advised　utter　coolness；　and　finally　she　had　agreed。　They　needed　to　see　a　woman　in　control　of　herself；　not　a　girl　being　ridden　by　her　heart。　The　words　came　from　her　heart；　though。　〃You　heard　Arathelle　say　she　did　not　want　to　bee　entangled　in　Aes　Sedai　affairs。　Yet　they　were　willing　to　bring　an　army　into　Murandy　and　stand　in　our　way。　Because　they　are　not　certain　who　we　are；　or　what　we　are　about。　Did　any　of　you　feel　that　they　truly　believe　you　are　Sitters？〃　Malind；　round…faced　and　fierce…eyed；　shifted　on　her　bench　among　the　Greens；　and　so　did　Salita；　twitching　her　yellow…fringed　shawl；　though　her　dark　face　managed　to　hide　any　expression。　Berana；　another　Sitter　chosen　in　Salidar；　frowned　thoughtfully。　Egwene　did　not　mention　the　reaction　to　her　as　Amyrlin；　if　that　thought　was　not　already　in　their　heads；　she　did　not　want　to　plant　it。
　　　　　　　〃We've　listed　Elaida's　crimes　to　countless　nobles；〃　sh