rj.acrownofswords-第108节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　would　bear　close　watching　if　Nynaeve　did　order　anything。　〃Forget　clothes　for　one　moment；　Nynaeve。　Who　is　the　oldest　Accepted　you　remember？〃
　　　She　gave　Elayne　a　very　level　look。　The　woman　made　it　sound　as　if　she　never　thought　of　anything　else！　And　she　had　too　listened。　Sometimes。　〃Elin　Warrel；　I　think。　She's　about　my　age；　I　think。〃　Of　course；　the　seamstress's　own　dress　would　look　fine　with　a　more　modest　neckline　and　much　less　lace。　In　green　silk；　Lan　liked　green；　though　she　certainly　was　not　going　to　choose　her　dresses　for　him。　He　liked　blue；　as　well。
　　　Elayne　barked　such　a　laugh　that　Nynaeve　wondered　whether　she　had　spoken　aloud。　Coloring　fiercely；　she　tried　to　explain　…　she　was　sure　she　could；　by　Bel　Tine　…　but　the　other　woman　gave　her　no　opportunity　for　a　word。　〃Elin's　sister　came　to　visit　her　just　before　you　first　arrived　at　the　Tower；　Nynaeve。　Her　younger　sister。　The　woman　had　gray　hair。　Well；　some　of　it　was。　She　must　have　been　over　forty；　Nynaeve。〃
　　　Elin　Warrel　was　past　forty？　But。。。！　〃What　are　you　saying；　Elayne？〃
　　　No　one　was　close　enough　to　listen；　and　no　one　seemed　to　be　giving　them　a　second　glance　except　the　still　hopeful　seamstress；　but　Elayne　lowered　her　voice　to　a　whisper。　〃We　slow；　Nynaeve。　Somewhere　between　twenty　and　twenty…five；　we　begin　aging　more　slowly。　How　much　depends　on　how　strong　we　are；　but　when　doesn't。　Any　woman　who　can　channel　does　it。　Takima　said　she　thought　it　was　the　beginning　of　achieving　the　ageless　look；　though　I　don't　think　anyone　has　ever　reached　that　until　they've　worn　the　shawl　at　least　a　year　or　two；　sometimes　five　or　more。　Think。　You　know　any　sister　with　gray　hair　is　old；　even　if　you　aren't　supposed　to　mention　it。　So　if　Reanne　slowed；　and　she　must　have；　how　old　is　she？〃
　　　Nynaeve　did　not　care　how　old　Reanne　was。　She　wanted　to　cry。　No　wonder　everyone　refused　to　believe　her　age。　It　explained　why　the　Women's　Circle　back　home　had　looked　over　her　shoulder　as　if　unsure　she　was　old　enough　to　be　trusted　fully。　Achieving　a　sister's　ageless　face　was　all　very　well；　but　how　long　before　she　had　her　gray　hairs？
　　　Blinking；　she　turned　away　angrily。　And　something　struck　her　a　glancing　blow　on　the　back　of　the　head。　Staggering；　she　rounded　on　Elayne　in　astonishment。　Why　had　the　woman　hit　her？　Only；　Elayne　lay　in　a　heap；　eyes　closed　and　a　nasty　purple　lump　rising　on　her　temple。　Groggily；　Nynaeve　fell　to　her　knees　and　gathered　her　friend　into　her　arms。
　　　〃Your　friend　must　be　taken　ill；〃　a　long　nosed　woman　said；　kneeling　beside　them；　careless　of　a　yellow　dress　that　showed　far　too　much　bosom　even　by　Ebou　Dari　standards。　〃Let　me　help。〃
　　　A　tall　fellow；　handsome　in　his　embroidered　silk　vest　except　for　a　rather　oily　grin；　bent　to　take　Nynaeve's　shoulders。　〃Here；　I　have　a　carriage。　We'll　take　you　somewhere　more　fortable　than　a　paving　stone。〃
　　　〃Go　away；〃　Nynaeve　told　them　politely。　〃We　don't　need　your　help。〃
　　　The　man　kept　trying　to　raise　her　to　her　feet；　though；　to　guide　her　toward　a　red　carriage；　where　a　startled…appearing　woman　in　blue　beckoned　vigorously。　The　long…nosed　woman　actually　tried　to　lift　Elayne；　thanking　the　man　for　his　help　and　chattering　how　his　carriage　sounded　a　fine　idea。　A　crowd　of　onlookers　seemed　to　have　gathered　out　of　air　in　a　semicircle；　women　murmuring　sympathy　about　fainting　from　the　heat；　men　offering　to　help　carry　the　ladies。　A　scrawny　fellow；　bold　as　you　please；　reached　for　Nynaeve's　purse　almost　right　under　her　nose。
　　　Her　head　still　swam　enough　to　make　embracing　saidar　difficult；　but　if　all　those　nattering　folk　had　not　fueled　her　temper；　what　she　saw　lying　in　the　street　would　have。　An　arrow　with　a　blunt　stone　head。　The　one　that　had　grazed　her　or　the　one　that　had　struck　Elayne。　She　channeled；　and　the　scrawny　cutpurse　doubled　over；　clutching　himself　and　squealing　like　a　pig　in　briars。　Another　flow；　and　the　long…nosed　woman　fell　over　backward　with　a　shriek　twice　as　high。　The　man　in　the　silk　vest　apparently　decided　they　did　not　need　his　help　after　all；　because　he　turned　and　ran　for　the　carriage；　but　she　gave　him　a　dose　anyway。　He　out…bellowed　any　outraged　bull　as　the　woman　in　the　carriage　hauled　him　in　by　his　vest。
　　　〃Thank　you；　but　we　don't　need　any　help；〃　Nynaeve　shouted。　Politely。
　　　Few　remained　to　hear。　Once　it　became　clear　that　the　One　Power　was　being　used　…　and　folk　suddenly　leaping　about　and　yelling　for　no　visible　cause　made　it　clear　enough　to　most　…　they　hurried　elsewhere。　The　long…nosed　woman　gathered　herself　up　and　actually　jumped　onto　the　back　of　the　red　carriage；　clinging　precariously　as　the　dark…vested　driver　whipped　the　horses　away　through　the　crowd；　people　leaping　aside。　Even　the　cutpurse　hobbled　off　as　fast　as　he　could。
　　　Nynaeve　could　not　have　cared　less　had　the　earth　opened　and　swallowed　the　whole　lot。　Chest　aching；　she　ran　fine　flows　of　Wind　and　Water；　Earth；　Fire　and　Spirit　mixed　and　blended；　through　Elayne。　It　was　a　simple　weave；　no　bother　despite　her　faint　dizziness；　and　the　result　let　her　breathe　again。　The　bruise　was　not　serious；　the　bones　of　Elayne's　skull　were　unbroken。　Normally；　she　would　have　redirected　those　same　flows　into　much　more　plex　weaves；　the　Healing　she　had　discovered　herself。　At　the　moment；　simpler　weaves　were　all　she　could　manage；　though。　With　just　Spirit；　Wind　and　Water；　she　wove　the　Healing　that　Yellows　had　used　since　time　immemorial。
　　　Elayne's　eyes　shot　open　wide；　and　with　a　gasp　that　seemed　to　take　all　the　air　in　her；　she　convulsed　like　a　netted　trout；　slippered　heels　drumming　on　the　pavement。　That　only　lasted　a　moment；　of　course；　but　in　that　moment　the　bruise　shrank　and　vanished。
　　　Nynaeve　helped　her　to　her　feet　…　and　a　woman's　hand　appeared；　holding　a　pewter　cup　full　of　water。　〃Even　an　Aes　Sedai　might　be　thirsty　after　that；〃　the　seamstress　said。
　　　Elayne　reached　for　it；　but　Nynaeve　laid　fingers　on　her　wrist。　〃No；　thank　you。〃　The　woman　shrugged；　and　as　she　turned　away；　Nynaeve　added　in　a　different　tone；　〃Thank　you。〃　It　seemed　to　e　easier　the　more　you　said　it；　she　was　not　sure　she　liked　that。
　　　That　ocean　of　lace　heaved　as　the　seamstress　shrugged　again。　〃I　make　dresses　for　anyone。　I　can　do　better　for　your　coloring　than　that。〃　She　vanished　back　into　her　shop。　Nynaeve　frowned　after　her。
　　　〃What　happened？〃　Elayne　demanded。　〃Why　wouldn't　you　let　me　take　a　drink？　I'm　thirsty　and　hungry。〃
　　　With　a　last　frown　for　the　seamstress；　Nynaeve　bent　to　pick　up　the　arrow。
　　　The　other　woman　needed　no　explanations。　Saidar　shone　around　her　in　a　flash。　〃Teslyn　and　Joline？〃
　　　Nynaeve　shook　her　head；　the　slight　wooziness　seemed　to　be　fading。　She　did　not　think　those　two　would　stoop　to　this。　She　did　not　think　so。　〃What　about　Reanne？〃　she　said　quietly。　The　seamstress　was　back　in　the　doorway；　still　hopeful。　〃She　might　want　to　make　sure　we　leave。　Or　worse；　maybe　Garenia。〃　That　was　almost　as　chilling　as　Teslyn　and　Joline。　And　twice　as　infuriating。
　　　Somehow　Elayne　managed　to　look　pretty　while　scowling。　〃Whoever　it　was；　we　will　settle　them。　You'll　see。〃　The　scowl　faded。　〃Nynaeve；　if　the　Circle　does　know　where　the　Bowl　is；　we　can　find　it；　but。。。　〃　She　bit　her　lip；　hesitating。　〃I　only　know　one　way　to　be　sure。〃
　　　Nynaeve　nodded　slowly；　though　she　would　rather　have　eaten　a　handful　of　dirt。　Today　had　seemed　so　bright　for　a　time；　but　then　it　had　spiraled　into　darkness；　from　Reanne　to。。。　Oh；　Light；　how　long　before　she　had　her　gray　hair？
　　　〃Don't　cry；　Nynaeve。　Mat　can't　possibly　be　that　bad。　He'll　find　it　for　us　in　a　few　days；　I　know。〃
　　　Nynaeve　only　cried　harder。
　　　
　　　
Chapter　25　
（Snakey　Square）　
Mindtrap　
　　　
　　　Moghedien　did　not　want　to　dream　the　dream　again；　but　wanting　to　wake；　wanting　to　scream；　did　no　good。　Sleep　held　her　faster　than　any　manacles。　The　beginning　went　by　quickly；　a　sketchy　blur。　No　mercy；　she　would　have　to　relive　the　rest　that　much　sooner。
　　　She　barely　recognized　the　woman　who　entered　the　tent　where　she　was　held　prisoner。　Halima；　secretary　to　one　of　these　fools　who　called　themselves　Aes　Sedai。　Fools；　yet　they　held　her　tightly　enough　by　the　band　of　silver　metal　around　her　neck；　held　her　and　made　her　obey。　Fast　movement；　though　she　prayed　for　slowness。　The　woman　channeled　to　make　a　light；　and　Moghedien　saw　only　the　light。　It　had　to　be　saidin　…　among　the　living；　only　the　Chosen　knew　how　to　tap　the　True　Power　…　the　Power　that　came　from　the　Dark　One　…　and　few　were　fool　enough　to　except　in　direst　need　…　but　that　was　impossible！　Blurring　quickness。　The　woman　named　herself　Aran'gar　and　called　Moghedien　by　name；　she　gave　summons　to　the　Pit　of　Doom　and　removed　the　a'dam　necklace；　flinching　at　pain　no　woman　should　have　felt。　Again　…　how　many　times　had　she　done　this？　…　again　Moghedien　wove　a　small　gateway　in　the　tent。　She　Skimmed　to　give　herself　time　to　think　in　the　endless　dark；　but　no　sooner　did　she　step　onto　her　platform；　like　a　small　enclosed　marble　balcony　plete　with　a　fortable　chair；　than　she　arrived　on　the　black　slopes　of　Shayol　Ghul；　forever　shrouded　in　twilight；　where　vents　and　tunnels　emitted　steam　and　smoke　and　harsh　vapors；　and　a　Myrddraal　came　to　her　in　its　dead　black　garb；　like　a　slug…white；　eyeless　man；　but　taller；　more　massive　than　any　other　Halfman。　It　regarded　her　arrogantly；　and　gave　its　odd　name　unbidde