rj.thepathofdaggers-第137节
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She had no choice except to follow him； shivering and stumbling through the snow。 Her skin pebbled with the cold。 Light； how she had ever thought this day anything less than icy？ Light； if only someone had managed to escape with the news of Masema！ To carry word of her capture to Perrin； of course； but she could escape somehow。 The other was more important。
The first body she saw was Parelean； sprawled on his back with his sword in one outflung hand and blood all over his fine coat with the satin…striped sleeves。 There were plenty of corpses after； Winged Guards in their red breastplates； Alliandre's soldiers in their dark green helmets； one of the hawkers； the hooded duckhawk flapping vainly against the jesses still gripped in the dead man's fist。 She held on to hope； though。
The first other prisoners she saw； kneeling among some Aiel； men and Maidens with their veils hanging down their chests； were Bain and Chiad； each naked； unbound hands on her knees。 Blood ran down across Bain's face and matted her flame…red hair。 Chiad's left cheek was purple and swollen； and her gray eyes looked slightly glazed。 They knelt there； straight…backed； impassive； and unashamed； but as the big Aielman pushed her roughly to her knees beside them； they roused themselves。
〃This is not right； Shaido；〃 Chiad mumbled angrily。
〃She does not follow ji'e'toh；〃 Bain barked。 〃You cannot make her gai'shain。〃
〃The gai'shain will be quiet；〃 a graying Maiden said absently。 Bain and Chiad gave Faile regretful looks； then settled back to their calm waiting。 Huddling； trying to hide her nakedness against her knees； Faile did not know whether to weep or laugh。 The two women she would have chosen to help her escape from anywhere； and neither would raise a hand to try because of ji'e'toh。
〃I say again； Efalin；〃 the man who had captured her muttered； 〃this is foolishness。 We travel at a crawl in this。。。 snow。〃 He said the word awkwardly。 〃There are too many armed men； here。 We should be moving east； not taking more gai'shain to slow us further。〃
〃Sevanna wants more gai'shain； Rolan；〃 the graying Maiden replied。 She frowned； though； and her hard gray eyes seemed disapproving for a moment。
Shivering； Faile blinked as the names sank in。 Light； but the cold was making her wits slow。 Sevanna。 Shaido。 They were in Kinslayer's Dagger； as far from here as was possible to be without crossing the Spine of the World！ Clearly they were not； though。 That was something Perrin should know； another reason for her to escape soon。 There seemed little chance of that； crouching there in the snow and wondering which bits of her were going to freeze first。 The Wheel was balancing her amusement over Berelain's shivers with a vengeance。 She was actually looking forward to the thick woolen robes that gai'shain wore。 Her captors made no move to depart； though。 There were other captives to be brought in。
First was Maighdin； stripped bare and bound as Faile was； and struggling every step of the way。 Until the Maiden who was pushing her along abruptly kicked her feet out from under her。 Maighdin plunked down sitting in the snow； and her eyes popped so wide that Faile might have laughed if she had not felt sorry for the woman。 Alliandre came next； bent nearly double in an effort to shield herself； and then Arrela； who seemed half paralyzed by her nudity and was almost being dragged by a pair of Maidens。 Finally； another tall Aielman appeared with a furiously kicking Lacile tucked under one arm like a package。
〃The rest are dead or escaped；〃 the man said； dropping the small Cairhienin woman beside Faile。 〃Sevanna will have to be satisfied； Efalin。 She puts too much store in taking people who wear silk。〃
Faile did not struggle at all when she was prodded to her feet and set to laboring through the snow at the head of the other prisoners。 She was too stunned to fight。 Parelean dead； Arrela and Lacile captive； and Alliandre； and Maighdin。 Light； someone had to warn Perrin about Masema。 Someone。 It seemed a final blow。 Here she was； shivering and gritting her teeth to keep them from chattering； trying her best to pretend that she was not stark naked and bound； on her way to an uncertain captivity。 All of that； and she had to hope that that slinking cat … that pouting trull！ … Berelain； had managed to escape so she could reach Perrin。 Alongside everything else； that seemed the worst of all。
Egwene walked Daishar along the column of initiates； sisters on their horses among the wagons； Accepted and novices afoot despite the snow。 The sun was bright in a sky with few clouds； but mist curled from her gelding's nostrils。 Sheriam and Siuan rode at her back； talking quietly about information learned from Siuan's eyes…and…ears。 Egwene had thought the fire…haired woman an efficient Keeper once she learned that she was not the Amyrlin； but day by day； Sheriam seemed to grow ever more assiduous about her duties。 Chesa followed on her tubby mare in case the Amyrlin wanted anything； and unlike her； she was muttering again about Meri and Selame both running away； the ungrateful wretches； leaving her to do the work of three。 They rode slowly； and Egwene very carefully did not look toward the column。
A month of recruiting； a month of the novice book being open to all； had brought in startling numbers； a flood anxious to bee Aes Sedai； women of every age some from hundreds of miles away。 There were now twice as many novices with the column as before。 Almost a thousand！ Most by far would never wear the shawl； yet the number of them had everyone staring。 Some might cause minor problems； and one； a grandmother named Sharina with a potential above even that of Nynaeve； certainly had everyone startled； but it was not the sight of a mother and daughter squabbling because the daughter would be the stronger by far one day that she was trying to avoid； or noblewomen who were beginning to think they had made the wrong choice asking to be tested； or even Sharina's disturbingly direct looks。 The gray…haired woman obeyed every rule and showed every proper respect； but she had run her large family by the sheer force of her presence； and even some of the sisters stepped warily around her。 What Egwene did not want to see were the young women who had joined them two days before。 The two sisters who brought them had been more than startled to find Egwene as Amyrlin； but their charges could not believe it； not Egwene al'Vere； the Mayor's daughter from Emond's Field。 She did not want to order anyone else punished； but she would have to if she saw another stick her tongue out at her。
Gareth Bryne had his army in a wide column； too； cavalry and foot all arrayed and stretching out of sight through the trees。 The pale sun glinted off breastplates and helmets and the points of pikes。 Horses stamped their hooves in the snow impatiently。
Bryne walked his sturdy bay to meet her before she reached the Sitters waiting on their horses； in a large clearing ahead of both columns。 He smiled at her through the face…bars of his helmet。 A reassuring smile； she thought。 〃A fine morning for it； Mother；〃 he said。 〃Here。〃
She only nodded； and he fell in behind her； beside Siuan。 Who did not immediately begin spitting at him。 Egwene was not certain exactly what acmodation Siuan had reached with the man； but she seldom grumbled about him anymore in Egwene's hearing； and never when he was present。 Egwene was glad he was there； now。 The Amyrlin Seat could not let her general know she wanted his reassurance； but she felt the need of it this morning。
The Sitters had their horses in a line at the edge of the trees； and thirteen more sisters sat their mounts a little way off； watching the Sitters carefully。 Romanda and Lelaine spurred their animals forward almost together； and Egwene could hardly help sighing as they approached； cloaks flaring behind them； hooves spraying snow as if at the charge。 The Hall obeyed her because it had no choice。 In matters concerning the war against Elaida； they did； but Light； how they could quibble over what did or did not concern the war。 When it did not； getting anything out of them was like pulling duck's teeth！ Except for Sharina； they might have found a way to put a stop to accepting women of any age。 Even Romanda was impressed by Sharina。
The pair reined in before her； but before they could open their mouths； she spoke。 〃It's time we got on with it； daughters； and no time for wasting in idle chatter。 Proceed。〃 Romanda sniffed； though softly； and Lelaine looked as though she wanted to。
They wheeled their horses as one； then glared at one another a moment。 Events this past month had only heightened their dislike for each other。 Lelaine tossed her head angrily in concession； and Romanda smiled； a faint curving of her lips。 Egwene almost smiled； too。 That mutual animosity was still her greatest strength in the Hall。
〃The Amyrlin Seat mands you to proceed；〃 Romanda announced； raising one hand grandly。
The light of saidar sprang up around the thirteen sisters near the Sitters； around all of them together； and a thick slash of silver appeared in the middle of the c
