rj.thepathofdaggers-第81部分

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　heads；　she　did　not　want　to　plant　it。
　　　　　　　〃We've　listed　Elaida's　crimes　to　countless　nobles；〃　she　went　on。　〃We've　told　them　we　intend　to　remove　her。　But　they　doubt。　They　think　that　maybe　…　maybe　…　we　are　what　we　say。　And　maybe　there's　a　trick　in　our　words。　Perhaps　we　are　only　Elaida's　hand；　weaving　some　elaborate　scheme。　Doubt　leaves　people　floundering。　Doubt　gave　Pelivar　and　Arathelle　the　nerve　to　stand　before　Aes　Sedai　and　say；　'You　cannot　go　further。'　Who　else　will　stand　in　our　way；　or　interfere；　because　they　aren't　certain；　and　uncertainty　leads　them　to　act　in　a　cloud　of　confusion？　There's　only　one　way　for　us　to　dispel　their　confusion。　We　have　already　done　everything　else。　Once　we　declare　ourselves　at　war　with　Elaida；　there　can　be　no　doubts。　I　don't　say　that　Arathelle　and　Pelivar　and　Aemlyn　will　march　away　as　soon　as　we　do　so；　but　they　and　everyone　else　will　know　who　we　are。　No　one　will　dare　again　to　show　doubt　so　openly　when　you　say　you　are　the　Hall　of　the　Tower。　No　one　will　dare　stand　in　our　way；　meddling　in　the　affairs　of　the　Tower　through　uncertainty　and　ignorance。　We　have　walked　to　the　door　and　put　our　hands　on　the　latch。　If　you　are　afraid　to　walk　through；　then　you　all　but　ask　the　world　to　believe　that　you　are　nothing　but　Elaida's　puppets。〃
　　　　　　　She　sat；　surprised　at　how　calm　she　felt。　Beyond　the　two　rows　of　Sitters；　sisters　outside　stirred；　putting　their　heads　together。　She　could　imagine　the　excited　murmurs　that　Aledrin's　ward　blocked　off。　Now　if　only　Takima　kept　her　mouth　shut　long　enough。
　　　　　　　Romanda　grunted　impatiently；　and　stood　only　long　enough　to　say；　〃Who　stands　for　declaring　war　against　Elaida？〃　Her　gaze　returned　to　Lelaine；　and　her　cold；　smug　smile　returned。　It　was　clear　what　she　considered　important；　once　this　nonsense　was　done　with。
　　　　　　　Janya　rose　immediately；　the　long　brown　fringe　on　her　shawl　swaying。　〃We　might　as　well；〃　she　said。　She　was　not　supposed　to　speak；　but　her　set　jaw　and　sharp　gaze　dared　anyone　to　call　her　down。　She　was　not　normally　so　forceful；　but　as　usual；　her　words　nearly　tripped　over　one　another。　〃Mending　what　the　world　knows　won't　be　any　harder　than　it　is　for　this。　Well？　Well？　I　don't　see　the　point　of　waiting。〃　On　the　other　side　of　Takima；　Escaralde　nodded　and　stood。
　　　　　　　Moria　all　but　bounded　to　her　feet；　frowning　down　at　Lyrelle；　who　gathered　her　skirts　as　if　to　rise；　then　hesitated　and　looked　at　Lelaine　questioningly。　Lelaine　was　too　busy　frowning　across　the　carpets　at　Romanda　to　notice。
　　　　　　　Among　the　Greens；　Samalin　and　Malind　stood　together；　and　Faiselle　looked　up　with　a　jerk。　A　stocky；　copper…skinned　Domani；　Faiselle　was　not　a　woman　startled　by　much；　but　she　looked　startled　now；　her　square　face　swinging　wide…eyed　from　Samalin　to　Malind　and　back。
　　　　　　　Salita　rose；　carefully　adjusting　the　yellow　fringe　of　her　shawl　and　just　as　carefully　avoiding　Romanda's　sudden　frown。　Kwamesa　stood；　and　then　Aledrin；　drawing　Berana　up　by　her　sleeve。　Delana　twisted　pletely　around　on　her　bench；　peering　at　the　sisters　outside。　Even　in　silence　the　spectators'　excitement　municated　itself　in　constant　shifting；　heads　going　together；　eyes　darting　toward　the　Sitters。　Delana　rose　slowly；　both　hands　pressed　to　her　middle；　looking　ready　to　sick　up　on　the　spot。　Takima　grimaced　and　stared　at　her　hands　on　her　knees。　Saroiya　studied　the　other　two　White　Sitters；　tugging　at　her　ear　the　way　she　did　when　deep　in　thought。　But　no　one　else　moved　to　stand。
　　　　　　　Egwene　felt　bile　rising　in　her　own　throat。　Ten。　Just　ten。　She　had　been　so　sure。　Siuan　had　been　so　sure。　Logain　alone　should　have　been　enough；　given　their　ignorance　of　the　law　involved。　Pelivar's　army　and　Arathelle　refusing　to　admit　that　they　were　Sitters　should　have　primed　them　like　a　pump。
　　　　　　　〃For　the　love　of　the　Light！〃　Moria　burst　out。　Rounding　on　Lyrelle　and　Lelaine；　she　planted　her　fists　on　her　hips。　If　Janya's　speaking　had　gone　against　custom；　this　tied　it　in　a　knot。　Displays　of　anger　were　strictly　forbidden　in　the　Hall；　but　Moria's　eyes　blazed；　and　her　Illianer　accent　was　thick　with　it。　〃Why　do　you　wait？　Elaida　did　steal　the　stole　and　the　staff！　Elaida's　Ajah　did　make　Logain　a　false　Dragon；　and　only　the　Light　knows　how　many　other　men！　No　woman　in　the　history　of　the　Tower　did　ever　deserve　this　declaration　more！　Stand；　or　hold　silent　from　now　about　your　resolve　to　remove　her！〃
　　　　　　　Lelaine　did　not　quite　stare；　but　by　her　expression　you　might　have　thought　she　had　found　herself　attacked　by　a　sparrow。　〃This　is　hardly　worth　a　vote；　Moria；〃　she　said　in　a　tight　voice。　〃We　will　speak　later　about　decorum；　you　and　I。　Still；　if　you　need　a　demonstration　of　resolve。。。　〃　With　a　sharp　sniff；　she　rose；　and　gave　a　jerk　of　her　head　that　pulled　Lyrelle　to　her　feet　like　strings。　Lelaine　seemed　surprised　that　it　did　not　pull　up　Faiselle　and　Takima；　too。
　　　　　　　Far　from　standing；　Takima　grunted　as　if　struck。　Disbelief　bright　on　her　face；　she　ran　her　eyes　along　the　women　on　their　feet；　obviously　counting。　And　then　did　it　again。　Takima；　who　remembered　everything　the　first　time。
　　　　　　　Egwene　breathed　deep　in　relief。　It　was　done。　She　could　hardly　believe。　After　a　moment；　she　cleared　her　throat；　and　Sheriam　actually　jumped。
　　　　　　　Green　eyes　as　big　as　teacups；　the　Keeper　cleared　her　throat；　too。　〃The　lesser　consensus　standing；　war　is　declared　against　Elaida　do　Avriny　a'Roihan。〃　Her　voice　was　none　too　steady；　but　it　sufficed。　〃In　the　interest　of　unity；　I　ask　for　the　greater　consensus　to　stand。〃
　　　　　　　Faiselle　half…moved；　then　clenched　her　hands　in　her　lap。　Saroiya　opened　her　mouth；　then　closed　it　without　speaking；　her　face　troubled。　No　one　else　stirred。
　　　　　　　〃You　won't　get　it；〃　Romanda　said　flatly。　The　sneer　she　directed　across　the　pavilion　at　Lelaine　was　as　good　as　a　statement　of　why　she；　at　least；　would　not　stand。　〃Now　that　little　business　is　finished；　we　can　go　on　with　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　think　we　can；〃　Egwene　cut　in。　〃Takima；　what　does　the　Law　of　War　say　about　the　Amyrlin　Seat。〃　Romanda　was　left　with　her　mouth　hanging　open。
　　　　　　　Takima's　lips　writhed。　The　diminutive　Brown　looked　more　than　ever　a　bird　wishing　to　take　flight。　〃The　Law。。。　〃　she　began；　then　took　a　deep　breath　and　sat　up　straight。　〃The　Law　of　War　states；　'As　one　set　of　hands　must　guide　a　sword；　so　the　Amyrlin　Seat　shall　direct　and　prosecute　the　war　by　decree。　She　shall　seek　the　advice　of　the　Hall　of　the　Tower；　but　the　Hall　shall　carry　out　her　decrees　with　all　possible　speed；　and　for　the　sake　of　unity；　they　shall。。。　〃　She　faltered；　and　had　to　visibly　force　herself　to　go　on。　〃。。。　they　shall　and　must　approve　any　decree　of　the　Amyrlin　Seat　regarding　prosecution　of　the　war　with　the　greater　consensus。〃
　　　　　　　A　long　silence　stretched。　Every　eye　seemed　to　be　goggling。　Turning　abruptly；　Delana　vomited　onto　the　carpets　behind　her　bench。　Kwamesa　and　Salita　both　climbed　down　and　started　toward　her；　but　she　waved　them　off；　plucking　a　scarf　from　her　sleeve　to　wipe　her　mouth。　Magla　and　Saroiya　and　several　others　still　seated　looked　as　though　they　might　follow　her　example。　No　others　who　had　been　chosen　in　Salidar；　though。　Romanda　appeared　ready　to　bite　through　a　nail。
　　　　　　　〃Very　clever；〃　Lelaine　said　at　last　in　clipped　tones；　and　after　a　deliberate　pause；　added；　〃Mother。　Will　you　tell　us　what　the　great　wisdom　of　your　vast　experience　tells　you　to　do？　About　the　war；　I　mean。　I　want　to　make　myself　clear。〃
　　　　　　　〃Let　me　make　myself　clear；　too；〃　Egwene　said　coldly。　Leaning　forward；　she　fixed　the　Blue　Sitter　sternly。　〃A　certain　degree　of　respect　is　required　toward　the　Amyrlin　Seat；　and　from　now　on；　I　will　have　it；　daughter。　This　is　no　time　for　me　to　have　to　unchair　you　and　name　a　penance。〃　Lelaine's　eyes　crept　wider　and　wider　with　shock。　Had　the　woman　really　believed　everything　would　continue　as　before？　Or　after　so　long　not　daring　to　show　more　than　the　tiniest　backbone；　had　Lelaine　simply　believed　she　had　none？　Egwene　really　did　not　want　to　unchair　her；　the　Blues　would　almost　certainly　return　the　woman；　and　she　still　had　to　deal　with　the　Hall　on　matters　that　could　not　be　convincingly　disguised　as　part　of　the　war　against　Elaida。
　　　　　　　From　the　corner　of　her　eye；　she　saw　a　smile　pass　across　Romanda's　lips　at　seeing　Lelaine　set　down。　Small　profit　if　all　she　did　was　raise　Romanda's　stock　with　the　others。　〃That　holds　for　everyone；　Romanda；〃　she　said。　〃If　need　be；　Tiana　can　find　two　birches　as　easily　as　one。〃　Romanda's　smile　vanished　abruptly。
　　　　　　　〃If　I　may　speak；　Mother；〃　Takima　said；　rising　slowly。　She　attempted　a　smile；　but　she　still　looked　decidedly　ill。　〃I　myself　think　you　have　begun　well。　There　may　be　benefits　to　stopping　here　a　month。　Or　longer。〃　Romanda's　head　jerked　around　to　stare　at　her；　but　for　once；　Takima　did　not　appear　to　notice。　〃Wintering　here；　we　can　avoid　worse　weather　further　north；　and　also　plan　carefully　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃There's　an　end　to　delays；　daughter；〃　Egwene　cut　in。　〃No　more　dragging　our　feet。〃　Would　she　be　another　Gerra；　or　another　Shein？　Either　was　still　possible。　〃In　one　month；　we　will　Travel　from　here。〃　No；　she　was　Egwene　al'Vere；　and　whatever　the　secret　histories　would　say　of　her　faults　and　virtues；　the　Light　only　knew；　but　they　would　be　hers；　not　copies　of　some　other　woman's。　〃In　one　month；　we　will　begin　the　siege　of　Tar　Valon。〃
　　　　　　　This　time；　the　silence　was　broken　only　by　the　sound　of　Takima　weeping。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　
Chapter　20　
（Lion　Rampant）　
Into　Andor　
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　Elayne　hoped　that　the　journey　to　Caemlyn　would　go　smoothly；　and　in　the　beginning；　it　seemed　to　do　so。　She　thought　that　even　as　she　and　Aviendha　and　Birgitte　sat　bone…weary　and　huddled　in　the　rags　that　remained　of　their　clothing；　filthy　with　dirt　and　dust　and　the　blood　of　the　injuries　they　had　received　when　the　gateway　exploded。　In　two　weeks　at　most；　she　would　be　ready　to　present　her　claims　to　the　Lion　Throne。　There　on　the　hilltop；　Nynaeve　Healed　their　numerous　hurts　and　spoke　barely　a　word；　certainly　not　berating　them。　Surely　that　was　a　pleasant　sign；　if　unusual。　Relief　at　finding　them　alive　battled　worry　on　her　face。
　　　　　　　Lan's　strength　was　necessary　to　remove　the　Seanchan　crossbow　bolt　from　Birgitte's　thigh　before　she　could　be　Healed　of　that　wound；　but　although　her　face　drained　of　blood　and　Elayne　felt　a　stab　of　agony　through　the　bond；　agony　that　made　her　want　to　cry　out；　her　Warder　barely　gro