rj.acrownofswords-第132节

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maced　before　she　could　stop　herself。　Vandene　and　Careane　were　both　tight…lipped；　and　even　Adeleas　seemed　included；　turning　her　head　this　way　and　that　to　study　the　women　along　the　walls　as　she　might　have　insects　previously　unknown　to　her。　Of　course；　what　Reanne　saw　and　what　was　were　not　the　same。　They　had　all　accepted　Elayne's　decision；　but　no　amount　of　〃Yes；　Elayne。。。〃　could　make　them　like　it。　They　would　have　been　here　two　hours　ago　if　not　for　a　great　deal　of　〃But；　Elayne。。。　〃　tossed　in。　Sometimes　leading　meant　herding。
　　　Reanne　did　not　faint；　but　fear　filled　her　face；　and　she　raised　pleading　hands。　〃Do　you　mean　to　destroy　the　Kin？　Why　now；　after　so　long？　What　have　we　done　that　you　should　e　down　on　us　now？〃
　　　〃No　one　will　destroy　you；〃　Elayne　told　her。　〃Careane；　since　nobody　else　is　going　to　help　those　two；　would　you；　please？〃　Jumps　and　blushes　ran　around　the　room；　and　before　Careane　could　move；　two　women　were　crouching　over　each　one　who　had　fainted；　lifting　her　up　and　waving　smelling　salts　under　her　nose。　〃The　Amyrlin　Seat　desires　every　woman　who　can　channel　to　be　connected　to　the　Tower；〃　Elayne　went　on。　〃The　offer　is　open　to　any　of　the　Kin　who　wish　to　accept。〃
　　　Had　she　woven　flows　of　Air　around　every　one　of　those　women；　she　could　not　have　frozen　them　more　still。　Had　she　squeezed　those　flows　tight；　she　could　not　have　produced　more　bulging　eyes。　One　of　the　women　who　had　fainted　suddenly　gasped　and　coughed；　pushing　away　the　tiny　vial　of　salts　that　had　been　held　still　too　long。　That　broke　everyone　free　in　a　deluge　of　voices。
　　　〃We　can　bee　Aes　Sedai　after　all？〃　the　Tairen　in　the　goldsmith's　vest　asked　excitedly；　at　the　same　time　that　a　round…faced　woman　with　a　red　belt　at　least　twice　as　long　as　anyone　else's　burst　out　with；　〃They　will　let　us　learn？　They　will　teach　us　again？〃　A　deluge　of　painfully　eager　voices。　〃We　can　really。。。？〃　and　〃They　will　let　us。。。？〃　from　every　side。
　　　Reanne　rounded　on　them　fiercely。　〃Ivara；　Sumeko；　all　of　you；　you　forget　yourselves！　You　speak　in　front　of　Aes　Sedai！　You　speak　in　…　front　of　…　Aes　Sedai。〃　She　passed　a　hand　over　her　face；　trembling。　An　embarrassed　silence　descended。　Eyes　fell　and　blushes　rose。　With　all　those　lined　faces；　all　that　gray　and　white　hair；　Elayne　still　was　minded　of　nothing　so　much　as　a　group　of　novices　having　a　pillow…fight　after　Last　had　tolled　when　the　Mistress　of　Novices　walked　in。
　　　Hesitantly；　Reanne　looked　at　her　across　her　fingertips。　〃We　truly　will　be　allowed　to　return　to　the　Tower？〃　she　mumbled　into　her　hand。
　　　Elayne　nodded。　〃Those　who　can　learn　to　bee　Aes　Sedai　will　have　the　chance；　and　there　will　be　a　place　for　all。　For　any　woman　who　channels。〃
　　　Unshed　tears　shone　in　Reanne's　eyes。　Elayne　was　not　sure；　but　she　thought　the　woman　whispered；　〃I　can　be　Green。〃　It　was　hard　not　to　rush　over　and　throw　her　arms　around　her。
　　　None　of　the　other　Aes　Sedai　showed　any　signs　of　giving　way　to　emotion；　and　Merilille　certainly　was　of　sterner　stuff。　〃If　I　may　ask　a　question；　Elayne？　Reanne；　how　many。。。　of　you　will　we　be　taking　in？〃　Doubtless　that　pause　covered　a　change　from　〃how　many　wilders　and　failures。〃
　　　If　Reanne　noticed　or　suspected；　she　ignored　it　or　did　not　care。　〃I　cannot　believe　there　are　any　who　would　refuse　the　offer；〃　she　said　breathlessly。　〃It　may　take　some　time　to　send　word　to　everyone。　We　remain　spread　out；　you　see；　so。。。　〃　She　laughed；　a　touch　nervously　and　still　not　far　from　tears。　〃。。。　so　Aes　Sedai　would　not　notice　us。　At　present　there　are　one　thousand　seven　hundred　and　eighty…three　names　on　the　roll。〃
　　　Most　Aes　Sedai　learned　to　cover　shock　with　an　outward　show　of　calm；　and　only　Sareitha　allowed　her　eyes　to　widen。　She　also　mouthed　silent　words；　but　Elayne　knew　her　well　enough　to　read　her　lips。　Two　thousand　wilders！　Light　help　us！　Elayne　made　a　great　show　of　adjusting　her　skirts　until　she　was　sure　her　own　face　was　under　control。　Light　help　them；　indeed。
　　　Reanne　misunderstood　the　silence。　〃You　expected　more？　Accidents　do　take　some　every　year；　or　natural　deaths；　as　with　everyone　else；　and　I　fear　the　Kin　have　grown　fewer　in　the　last　thousand　years。　Perhaps　we　have　been　too　cautious　in　approaching　women　when　they　leave　the　White　Tower；　but　there　has　always　been　the　fear　that　one　of　them　might　report　being　questioned；　and。。。　and。。。　〃
　　　〃We　are　not　disappointed　in　the　least；〃　Elayne　assured　her；　making　soothing　gestures。　Disappointed？　She　very　nearly　giggled　hysterically。　There　were　nearly　twice　as　many　Kinswomen　as　there　were　Aes　Sedai！　Egwene　could　never　say　she　had　not　done　her　part　to　bring　women　who　could　channel　to　the　Tower。　But　if　the　Kin　refused　wilders。。。　She　must　stick　to　the　point；　conscripting　the　Kin　had　only　been　incidental。　〃Reanne；〃　she　said　gently；　〃do　you　think　perhaps　you　might　happen　to　recall　where　the　Bowl　of　the　Winds　is；　now？〃
　　　Reanne　blushed　a　sunset。　〃We've　never　touched　them；　Elayne　Sedai。　I　don't　know　why　they　were　gathered。　I've　never　heard　of　this　Bowl　of　the　Winds；　but　there　is　a　storeroom　such　as　you　describe　over　…　〃
　　　Belowstairs；　a　woman　channeled　briefly。　Someone　screamed　in　purest　terror。
　　　Elayne　was　on　her　feet　in　a　flash；　as　were　they　all。　From　somewhere　in　that　feathered　dress；　Birgitte　produced　a　dagger。
　　　〃That　must　have　been　Derys；〃　Reanne　said。　〃She's　the　only　other　one　here。〃
　　　Elayne　darted　forward　and　caught　her　arm　as　she　started　for　the　door。　〃You　aren't　Green　yet；〃　she　murmured；　and　was　rewarded　with　a　lovely　dimpled　smile；　surprised　and　pleased　and　diffident　all　at　once。　〃We　will　handle　this；　Reanne。〃
　　　Merilille　and　the　others　arrayed　themselves　to　either　side；　ready　to　follow　Elayne　out；　but　Birgitte　was　at　the　door　before　any　of　them；　grinning　as　she　put　hand　to　latch。　Elayne　swallowed　and　said　nothing。　That　was　the　Warder's　honor；　so　the　Gaidin　said；　first　to　go　in；　last　to　e　out。　But　she　still　filled　herself　with　saidar；　ready　to　crush　anything　that　threatened　her　Warder。
　　　The　door　opened　before　Birgitte　could　lift　the　latch。
　　　Mat　sauntered　in；　pushing　the　slender　maid　Elayne　remembered　ahead　of　him。　〃I　thought　you　might　be　here。〃　He　grinned　insolently；　ignoring　Derys'　glares；　and　went　on；　〃When　I　found　a　bloody　great　lot　of　Warders　drinking　at　my　least　favorite　tavern。　I've　just　e　back　from　following　a　woman　to　the　Rahad。　To　the　top　floor　of　a　house　with　nobody　living　on　it；　to　be　precise。　After　she　left；　the　floor　was　so　dusty；　I　could　see　right　away　which　room　she'd　gone　to。　There's　a　flaming　big　rusted　lock　on　the　door；　but　I'll　bet　a　thousand　crowns　to　a　kick　in　the　bottom；　your　Bowl　is　behind　it。〃　Derys　aimed　a　kick　at　him；　and　he　pushed　her　away；　pulling　a　small　knife　from　his　belt　to　bounce　on　his　palm。　〃Will　one　of　you　tell　this　wildcat　watchdog　whose　side　I'm　on？　Women　with　knives　make　me　uneasy；　these　days。〃
　　　〃We　already　know　all　about　that；　Mat；〃　Elayne　said。　Well；　they　had　been　just　about　to　learn　all　about　it；　and　the　stunned　look　on　his　face　was　priceless。　She　felt　something　from　Birgitte。　The　other　woman　gazed　at　her　without　any　particular　expression；　but　that　little　knot　of　emotion　in　the　back　of　Elayne's　head　radiated　disapproval。　Aviendha　probably　would　not　think　much　of　it；　either。　Opening　her　mouth　was　one　of　the　most　difficult　things　Elayne　had　ever　done。　〃I　must　thank　you；　though；　Mat。　It　is　entirely　due　to　you　that　we　have　found　what　we　were　looking　for。〃　His　gaping　astonishment　was　almost　worth　the　agony。
　　　He　closed　his　mouth　quickly；　though　opening　it　again　to　say；　〃Then　let's　hire　a　boat　and　fetch　this　bloody　Bowl。　With　any　luck；　we　can　leave　Ebou　Dar　tonight。〃
　　　〃That　is　ridiculous；　Mat。　And　don't　tell　me　I'm　demeaning　you。　We　are　not　crawling　about　the　Rahad　in　the　dark；　and　we　are　not　leaving　Ebou　Dar　until　we　have　used　the　Bowl。〃
　　　He　tried　to　argue；　of　course；　but　Derys　took　the　opportunity　of　his　attention　being　elsewhere　to　try　kicking　him　again。　He　dodged　around　Birgitte；　yelping　for　somebody　to　help　him；　while　the　slender　woman　darted　after　him。
　　　〃He　is　your　Warder；　Elayne　Sedai？〃　Reanne　asked　doubtfully。
　　　〃Light；　no！　Birgitte　is。〃　Reanne's　mouth　fell　open。　Having　answered　a　question；　Elayne　asked　one；　a　question　she　could　not　have　brought　herself　to　ask　another　sister。　〃Reanne；　if　you　don't　mind　telling　me；　how　old　are　you？〃
　　　The　woman　hesitated；　glancing　at　Mat；　but　he　was　still　dodging　to　keep　a　grinning　Birgitte　between　him　and　Derys。　〃My　next　naming　day；〃　Reanne　said　as　if　it　was　the　most　ordinary　thing　in　the　world；　〃will　be　my　four　hundred　and　twelfth。〃
　　　Merilille　fainted　dead　away。
　　　
　　　
Chapter　32　
（Flame　of　Tar　Valon）　
Sealed　to　the　Flame　
　　　
　　　Elaida　do　Avriny　a'Roihan　sat　regally　in　the　Amyrlin　Seat；　the　tall　vine…carved　chair　painted　now　in　only　six　colors　instead　of　seven；　a　six…striped　stole　on　her　shoulders；　and　ran　her　gaze　around　the　circular　Hall　of　the　Tower。　The　Sitters'　painted　chairs　had　been　rearranged　along　the　stair…fronted　dais　that　encircled　the　chamber　beneath　the　great　dome；　spaced　out　to　account　for　only　six　Ajahs　instead　of　seven　now；　and　eighteen　Sitters　stood　obediently。　Young　al'Thor　knelt　quietly　beside　the　Amyrlin　Seat；　he　would　not　speak　unless　given　leave；　which　he　would　not　rec