rj.acrownofswords-第126节

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mind　her　not　to　go　behind　sisters'　backs。　And　the　same　for　Nynaeve；　as　soon　as　she　can　be　found。〃
　　　Elayne　swallowed。　Confined？　Perhaps　they　did　not　need　to　name　this　a　trial　for　it　to　be　one。　Sareitha　might　not　yet　have　achieved　the　ageless　face；　but　the　weight　of　the　other　women's　years　pressed　at　Elayne。　Adeleas　and　Vandene　with　their　hair　nearly　all　white；　even　their　ageless　faces　echoing　years。　Merilille's　hair　was　glossy　black；　yet　Elayne　would　not　have　been　surprised　to　learn　she　had　worn　the　shawl　as　long　or　longer　than　most　women　not　Aes　Sedai　lived。　For　that　matter；　Careane　might　have；　as　well。　Not　one　of　them　approached　her　own　strength　in　the　Power；　but。。。　All　that　experience　as　Aes　Sedai；　all　that　knowledge。　All　that。。。　authority。　A　heavy　reminder　that　she　was　only　eighteen　and　had　been　in　novice　white　a　year　ago。
　　　Careane　made　no　move　to　rebut　Sareitha's　suggestions。　Perhaps　she　best　go　on　defending　herself。　〃Plainly　this　secret　you　speak　of　has　something　to　do　with　the　Circle；　but　…　〃
　　　〃The　Kin　are　no　concern　of　yours；　child；〃　Merilille　broke　in　sharply。　Drawing　a　deep　breath；　she　smoothed　gold…slashed　skirts　of　silvery　gray。　〃I　propose　to　pass　sentence；〃　she　said　in　a　cold　voice。
　　　〃I　concur；　and　defer　to　your　decision；〃　Adeleas　said。　She　gave　Elayne　a　disappointed　frown　and　shook　her　head。
　　　Vandene　waved　her　hand　dismissively。　〃I　concur　and　defer。　But　I　agree　with　the　Seat　of　Rebuke。〃　Careane's　look　might　have　contained　a　sliver　of　sympathy。　Maybe　a　sliver。
　　　Merilille　opened　her　mouth。
　　　The　timid　knock　at　the　door　sounded　quite　loud　in　the　momentary；　thunderous　silence。
　　　〃What　under　the　Light？〃　Merilille　muttered　angrily。　〃I　told　Pol　not　to　let　anyone　disturb　us。　Careane？〃
　　　Not　the　youngest；　but　the　lowest　in　strength；　Careane　stood　and　glided　to　the　door。　Despite　her　heft；　she　always　moved　like　a　swan。
　　　It　was　Pol　herself；　Merilille's　maid；　who　popped　in　curtsying　left　and　right。　A　slender；　gray…haired　woman　usually　possessed　of　a　dignity　to　rival　that　of　her　mistress；　she　wore　an　anxious　frown　now；　as　well　she　might；　barging　in　after　Merilille's　instructions。　Elayne　had　not　been　so　glad　to　see　anyone　since。。。　since　Mat　Cauthon　appeared　in　the　Stone　of　Tear。　A　horrendous　thought。　If　Aviendha　did　not　say　she　had　met　toh　sufficiently　soon；　she　might　just　see　if　asking　the　man　to　beat　her　after　all　could　end　the　agony。
　　　〃The　Queen　brought　this　herself；〃　Pol　announced　breathily；　proffering　a　letter　sealed　with　a　large　red　lump　of　wax。　〃She　said　if　I　didn't　give　it　to　Elayne　right　away；　she'd　bring　it　in　herself。　She　said　it's　about　the　child's　mother。〃　Elayne　almost　ground　her　teeth。　The　sisters'　serving　women　had　all　picked　up　their　mistresses'　way　of　talking　about　Nynaeve　and　her；　if　seldom　where　they　could　hear。
　　　Furious；　she　snatched　the　letter　without　waiting　for　Merilille　to　say　she　could　…　if　that　was　what　she　would　have　said　…　and　broke　the　seal　with　her　thumb。
　　　
　　　My　Lady　Elayne；
　　　I　greet　the　Daughter…Heir　of　Andor　with　joyous　news。　I　have　but　just　learned　that　your　mother；　Queen　Morgase；　lives　and　is　at　present　the　guest　of　Pedron　Niall　in　Amador；　and　wishes　above　all　to　be　reunited　with　you　so　that　you　may　return　to　Andor　together　in　triumph。　I　offer　escort　through　the　bandits　now　infesting　Altara；　so　that　you　may　reach　your　mother's　side　in　safety　and　all　speed。　Forgive　these　few　poor　words；　scribbled　in　haste；　but　I　know　you　would　wish　to　learn　the　wondrous　news　as　soon　as　possible。　Until　I　can　leave　you　at　your　mother's　side。
　　　Sealed　in　the　Light；
Jaichim　Carridin
　　　
　　　The　paper　crumpled　in　her　fist。　How　dare　he？　The　pain　of　her　mother's　death；　without　even　a　body　to　be　buried；　was　only　beginning　to　fade；　and　Carridin　dared　mock　her　this　way？　Embracing　the　True　Source；　she　hurled　the　foul　lies　away　from　her　and　channeled；　fire　flared　in　midair；　so　hot　that　only　a　dust　of　ash　fell　to　the　blue…and…gold　floor　tiles。　That　for　Jaichim　Carridin。　And　as　for　these。。。　women！　The　pride　of　a　thousand　years　of　Andoran　queens　put　steel　into　her　backbone。
　　　Merilille　surged　to　her　feet。　〃You　were　not　given　permission　to　channel！　You　will　release　the　…！〃
　　　〃Leave　us；　Pol；〃　Elayne　said。　〃Now。〃　The　serving　woman　stared；　but　Elayne's　mother　had　taught　her　well　the　voice　of　mand；　the　voice　of　a　Queen　from　her　throne。　Pol　bobbed　a　curtsy　and　was　moving　before　she　realized。　Once　under　way；　she　hesitated　only　an　instant　before　hurrying　out　and　closing　the　door　behind　her。　Whatever　was　about　to　happen　plainly　was　for　Aes　Sedai　alone。
　　　〃What　has　gotten　into　you；　child？〃　Pure　fury　submerged　the　remnants　of　Merilille's　regathered　calm。　〃Release　the　Source　immediately；　or　I　vow；　I'll　fetch　a　slipper　myself　this　minute！〃
　　　〃I　am　Aes　Sedai。〃　The　words　came　out　like　winter　stone；　and　Elayne　meant　them　to。　Carridin's　lies　and　these　women。　Merilille　threatened　to　slipper　her？　They　would　acknowledge　her　rightful　place　as　a　sister。　She　and　Nynaeve　had　found　the　Bowl！　As　good　as；　anyway；　and　the　arrangements　for　its　use　were　under　way。　〃You　propose　to　punish　me　for　endangering　a　secret　apparently　known　only　to　sisters；　but　no　one　bothered　to　tell　me　this　secret　when　I　attained　the　shawl。　You　suggest　punishing　me　like　a　novice　or　Accepted；　but　I　am　Aes　Sedai。　I　was　raised　to　the　shawl　by　Egwene　al'Vere；　the　Amyrlin　you　claim　to　serve。　If　you　deny　that　Nynaeve　and　I　are　Aes　Sedai；　then　you　deny　the　Amyrlin　Seat　who　sent　me　to　find　the　Bowl　of　the　Winds；　which　we　have　done。　I　will　not　have　it！　I　call　you　to　account；　Merilille　Ceandevin。　Submit　to　the　will　of　the　Amyrlin　Seat；　or　I　will　call　judgment　on　you　as　a　rebellious　traitor！〃
　　　Merilille's　eyes　bulged；　and　her　mouth　hung　open；　but　she　appeared　posed　beside　Careane　or　Sareitha；　who　looked　about　to　choke　to　death　on　incredulity。　Vandene　seemed　mildly　taken　aback；　a　thoughtful　finger　pressed　to　her　lips　beneath　slightly　widened　eyes；　while　Adeleas　sat　forward；　studying　Elayne　as　if　seeing　her　for　the　first　time。
　　　Channeling；　Elayne　floated　one　of　the　tall　armchairs　to　her　and　sat；　posing　her　skirts。　〃You　may　as　well　sit；　too；　Merilille。〃　She　still　used　the　voice　of　mand　…　apparently　it　was　the　only　way　to　make　them　listen　…　but　she　was　startled　when　Merilille　actually　sank　back　down　slowly；　staring　at　her　pop…eyed。
　　　Outside；　she　maintained　a　calm；　cool　fa？ade；　but　inside；　anger　bubbled。　No；　it　boiled。　Secrets。　She　had　always　thought　Aes　Sedai　kept　too　many　secrets；　even　from　each　other。　Especially　from　each　other。　True；　she　kept　some　herself；　but　only　at　necessity；　and　not　from　anyone　who　needed　to　know。　And　these　women　had　thought　to　punish　her！　〃Your　authority　es　from　the　Hall　of　the　Tower；　Merilille；　Nynaeve's　and　mine　from　the　Amyrlin　Seat。　Ours　supersedes　yours。　From　now　on；　you　will　take　your　instructions　from　Nynaeve　or　me。　We　will　of　course　listen　carefully　to　any　advice　you　might　offer。〃　She　had　thought　Merilille's　eyes　bulged　before；　but　now。。。
　　　〃Impossible；〃　the　Gray　spluttered。　〃You　are　…　〃
　　　〃Merilille！〃　Elayne　said　sharply；　leaning　forward。　〃Do　you　still　deny　the　authority　of　your　Amyrlin？　Do　you　still　dare？〃　Merilille's　mouth　worked　soundlessly。　She　wet　her　lips。　She　shook　her　head　jerkily。　Elayne　felt　a　thrill　of　exultation；　all　that　about　Merilille　taking　direction　was　stuff　and　nonsense；　of　course；　but　she　would　be　acknowledged。　Thom　and　her　mother　both　said　you　must　begin　by　asking　for　ten　to　get　one。　Still；　that　was　not　enough　to　damp　her　anger。　She　had　half　a　mind　to　fetch　a　slipper　herself　and　see　how　far　she　could　push　this。　Except；　that　would　shatter　everything。　They　would　remember　her　age　fast　enough　then；　and　how　short　a　time　ago　she　had　put　off　a　novice　dress；　they　might　even　begin　thinking　of　her　as　a　foolish　child　again。　Which　thought　stoked　her　fury　anew。　But　she　contented　herself　with；　〃While　you　think　quietly　on　what　else　I　should　be　told　as　Aes　Sedai；　Merilille；　Adeleas　and　Vandene　will　instruct　me　in　this　secret　I　endangered。　Do　you　mean　to　tell　me　the　Tower　has　known　of　the　Circle　…　these　Kin；　as　you　call　them　…　all　along？〃　Poor　Reanne　and　her　hopes　to　avoid　Aes　Sedai　notice。
　　　〃As　near　as　they　could　make　themselves　e　to　sisters；　I　suppose；〃　Vandene　replied。　Carefully。　She　studied　Elayne　as　intently　as　her　sister　did；　now。　Though　a　Green；　she　had　many　of　the　same　mannerisms　as　Adeleas。　Careane　arid　Sareitha　looked　stunned；　disbelieving　eyes　swinging　from　a　silent；　red…cheeked　Merilille　to　Elayne　and　back。
　　　〃Even　during　the　Trolloc　Wars；　women　failed　their　tests；　or　lacked　the　strength；　or　were　sent　away　from　the　Tower　for　any　of　the　usual　reasons。〃　Adeleas　had　adopted　a　lecturing　tone；　but　not　offensively。　Browns　often　did　when　expounding。　〃Under　the　circumstances；　it　is　hardly　surprising　that　a　number　feared　to　go　off　into　the　world　alone；　nor　that　they　might　flee　to　Barashta；　as　the　city　that　existed　here　then　was　called。　Though　the　main　part　of　Barashta　was；　of　course；　where　the　Rahad　now　stands。　Not　that　a　stone　of　Barashta　remains。　The　Trolloc　Wars　did　not　truly　envelope　Eharon　until　late；　but　in　the　end；　Barashta　fell　as　pletely　as　Barsine；　or　Shaemal；　or。。。　〃
　　　〃The　Kin。。。　〃　Vandene　broke