rj.acrownofswords-第133节

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knelt　quietly　beside　the　Amyrlin　Seat；　he　would　not　speak　unless　given　leave；　which　he　would　not　receive　today。　Today；　he　was　merely　another　symbol　of　her　power；　and　the　twelve　most　favored　Sitters　glowed　with　the　link　that　she　herself　controlled　to　keep　him　safe。
　　　〃The　greater　consensus　is　achieved；　Mother；〃　Alviarin　said　meekly　at　her　shoulder；　bowing　humbly　against　the　Flame…topped　staff。
　　　Down　on　the　floor；　below　the　dais；　Sheriam　screamed　wildly　and　had　to　be　restrained　by　the　Tower　Guard　at　her　side。　The　Red　sister　shielding　her　sneered　in　contempt。　Romanda　and　Lelaine　clung　to　a　cold　outward　dignity；　but　most　of　the　others　shielded　and　guarded　on　the　floor　wept　quietly；　perhaps　in　relief　that　only　four　women　had　been　given　the　ultimate　penalty；　perhaps　in　fear　of　what　else　was　to　e。　The　most　ashen　faces　belonged　to　the　three　who　had　dared　sit　in　a　rebel　Hall　for　the　now…dissolved　Blue。　Every　rebel　had　been　cast　out　from　her　Ajah　until　Elaida　granted　permission　to　request　reacceptance；　but　the　onetime　Blues　knew　they　confronted　difficult　years　working　their　way　into　her　good　graces；　years　before　they　would　be　allowed　to　enter　any　Ajah　at　all。　Until　then；　they　lay　in　the　palm　of　her　hand。
　　　She　stood；　and　it　seemed　the　One　Power　flowing　through　her　from　the　circle　was　a　manifestation　of　her　power。　〃The　Hall　concurs　with　the　will　of　the　Amyrlin　Seat。　Let　Romanda　be　the　first　to　be　birched。〃　Romanda　's　head　jerked；　let　her　see　how　much　dignity　she　could　retain　until　her　stilling。　Elaida　gestured　curtly。　〃Take　the　prisoners　away；　and　bring　in　the　first　of　the　poor　deluded　sisters　who　followed　them。　I　will　accept　their　submission。〃
　　　There　was　a　cry　among　the　prisoners；　and　one　tore　free　from　the　guard　gripping　her　arm。　Egwene　al'Vere　threw　herself　onto　the　steps　at　Elaida's　feet；　hands　outstretched；　tears　streaming　down　her　cheeks。
　　　〃Forgive　me；　Mother！〃　the　girl　wept。　〃I　repent！　I　will　submit；　I　do　submit。　Please；　do　not　still　me！〃　Brokenly；　she　sagged　facedown；　shoulders　shaking　with　sobs。　〃Please；　Mother！　I　repent！　I　do！〃
　　　〃The　Amyrlin　Seat　can　show　mercy；〃　Elaida　said　exultantly。　The　White　Tower　had　to　lose　Lelaine　and　Romanda　and　Sheriam　as　examples；　but　she　could　keep　this　girl's　strength。　She　was　the　White　Tower。　〃Egwene　al'Vere；　you　have　rebelled　against　your　Amyrlin；　but　I　will　show　mercy。　You　will　be　dressed　in　novice　white　again；　until　I　myself　judge　you　ready　to　be　raised　further；　but　this　very　day　you　shall　be　the　first　to　take　a　Fourth　Oath　on　the　Oath　Rod；　of　fealty　and　obedience　to　the　Amyrlin　Seat。〃
　　　The　prisoners　began　falling　on　their　knees；　crying　out　to　be　allowed　to　take　that　oath；　to　prove　their　true　submission。　Lelaine　was　one　of　the　first；　and　neither　Romanda　nor　Sheriam　the　last。　Egwene　crawled　up　the　steps　to　kiss　the　hem　of　Elaida's　dress。
　　　〃I　yield　myself　to　your　will；　Mother；〃　she　murmured　through　her　tears。　〃Thank　you。　Oh；　thank　you！〃
　　　Alviarin　seized　Elaida's　shoulder；　shook　her。　〃Wake　up；　you　fool　woman！〃　she　growled。
　　　Elaida's　eyes　popped　open　to　the　dim　light　of　a　single　lamp　held　by　Alviarin；　bending　over　her　bed　with　a　hand　on　her　shoulder。　Still　only　half…awake；　she　mumbled；　〃What　did　you　say？〃
　　　〃I　said；　'Please　wake　up；　Mother；'〃　Alviarin　replied　coolly。　〃Covarla　Baldene　has　returned　from　Cairhien。〃
　　　Elaida　shook　her　head；　trying　to　clear　away　the　tag　end　of　the　dream。　〃So　soon？　I　did　not　expect　them　for　another　week　at　least。　Covarla；　you　say？　Where　is　Galina？〃　Foolish　questions；　Alviarin　would　not　know　what　she　meant。
　　　But　in　that　cool　crystalline　tone；　the　woman　said；　〃She　believes　Galina　dead　or　a　prisoner。　I　fear　the　news　is。。。　not　good。〃
　　　What　Alviarin　should　or　should　not　know　rushed　out　of　Elaida's　head。　〃Tell　me；〃　she　demanded；　throwing　off　the　silk　sheet；　but　as　she　rose　and　belted　a　silk　robe　over　her　nightdress；　she　heard　only　snatches。　A　battle。　Hordes　of　Aiel　women　channeling。　Al'Thor　gone。　Disaster。　Distractedly；　she　noticed　that　Alviarin　was　neatly　garbed　in　a　silver…embroidered　white　dress；　with　the　Keeper's　stole　around　her　neck。　The　woman　had　waited　till　she　clothed　herself　to　bring　her　this！
　　　The　case　clock　in　her　study　softly　chimed　Second　Low　as　she　entered　the　sitting　room。　The　small　hours　of　the　morning；　the　worst　time　to　receive　dire　news。　Covarla　rose　hastily　from　one　of　the　red…cushioned　armchairs；　her　implacable　face　sagging　with　weariness　and　worry；　and　knelt　to　kiss　Elaida's　ring。　Her　dark　riding　dress　still　bore　the　dust　of　travel；　and　her　pale　hair　needed　a　brush；　but　she　had　donned　the　shawl　she　had　worn　as　long　as　Elaida　had　been　alive。
　　　Elaida　barely　waited　for　the　woman's　lips　to　touch　the　Great　Serpent　before　pulling　her　hand　away。　〃Why　were　you　sent？〃　she　said　curtly。　Snatching　up　her　knitting　from　where　she　had　left　it　in　a　chair；　she　sat　and　began　to　work　the　long　ivory　needles。　Knitting　served　many　of　the　same　purposes　as　fondling　her　carved　ivory　miniatures；　and　she　surely　needed　soothing　now。　Knitting　helped　her　think；　too。　She　had　to　think。　〃Where　is　Katerine？〃　If　Galina　was　dead；　Katerine　should　have　taken　charge　ahead　of　Coiren；　Elaida　had　made　it　clear　that　once　al'Thor　was　taken；　the　Red　Ajah　was　in　charge。
　　　Covarla　stood　slowly；　as　if　uncertain　she　should。　Her　hands　tightened　on　the　red…fringed　shawl　looped　over　her　arms。　〃Katerine　is　among　the　missing；　Mother。　I　stand　highest　among　those　who。。。　〃　Her　words　trailed　off　as　Elaida　stared　at　her；　fingers　frozen　in　the　act　of　passing　wool　over　one　of　the　needles。　Covarla　swallowed　and　shifted　her　feet。
　　　〃How　many；　daughter？〃　Elaida　asked　finally。　She　could　not　believe　her　voice　was　so　calm。
　　　〃I　cannot　say　how　many　escaped；　Mother；〃　Covarla　said　hesitantly。　〃We　dared　not　wait　to　make　a　thorough　search；　and　…　〃
　　　〃How　many？〃　Elaida　shouted。　With　a　shudder；　she　made　herself　concentrate　on　her　knitting；　giving　way　to　anger　was　weakness。　Loop　the　yarn；　pull　through　and　push　down。　Soothing　motions。
　　　〃I　…　I　brought　eleven　other　sisters　with　me；　Mother。〃　The　woman　paused；　breathing　hard；　and　then；　when　Elaida　said　nothing；　rushed　on。　〃Others　may　be　making　their　way　back；　Mother。　Gawyn　refused　to　wait　longer；　and　we　dared　not　remain　without　him　and　his　Younglings；　not　with　so　many　Aiel　about；　and　the。。。　〃
　　　Elaida　did　not　hear。　Twelve　returned。　Had　any　more　escaped；　they　would　have　sped　back　to　Tar　Valon；　would　have　been　here　as　soon　as　Covarla；　surely。　Even　if　one　or　two　were　injured；　traveling　slowly。。。　Twelve　out　of　thirty…nine。　The　Tower　had　not　suffered　a　disaster　of　this　magnitude　even　during　the　Trolloc　Wars。
　　　〃These　Aiel　wilders　must　be　taught　a　lesson；〃　she　said；　trampling　over　whatever　Covarla　was　babbling。　Galina　had　thought　she　could　use　Aiel　to　divert　Aiel；　what　a　fool　the　woman　had　been！　〃We　will　rescue　the　sisters　they　hold　prisoner；　and　teach　them　what　it　means　to　defy　Aes　Sedai！　And　we　will　take　al'Thor　again。〃　She　would　not　let　him　get　away；　not　if　she　had　to　personally　lead　the　entire　White　Tower　to　take　him！　The　Foretelling　had　been　certain。　She　would　triumph！
　　　Casting　an　uneasy　glance　at　Alviarin；　Covarla　shifted　her　feet　again。　〃Mother；　those　men　…　I　think　…　〃
　　　〃Do　not　think！〃　Elaida　snapped。　Her　hands　clasped　the　knitting　needles　convulsively；　and　she　leaned　forward　so　fiercely　that　Covarla　actually　raised　a　hand　as　though　to　fend　off　an　attack。　Alviarin's　presence　had　slipped　from　Elaida's　mind。　Well；　the　woman　knew　what　she　knew；　now；　that　could　be　dealt　with　later。　〃You　have　maintained　secrecy；　Covarla？　Aside　from　informing　the　Keeper？〃
　　　〃Oh；　yes；　Mother；〃　Covarla　said　hastily。　Her　head　bobbed　with　eagerness；　glad　that　she　had　done　something　right。　〃I　entered　the　city　alone；　and　hid　my　face　until　I　reached　Alviarin。　Gawyn　meant　to　acpany　me；　but　the　bridge　guards　refused　to　let　any　member　of　the　Younglings　pass。〃
　　　〃Forget　Gawyn　Trakand；〃　Elaida　ordered　sourly。　That　young　man　remained　alive　to　trouble　her　plans；　it　seemed。　If　Galina　did　turn　out　to　be　alive　still；　she　would　pay　for　failing　in　that；　on　top　of　letting　al'Thor　escape。　〃You　will　leave　the　city　as　circumspectly　as　you　entered；　daughter；　and　keep　yourself　and　the　others　well　hidden　in　one　of　the　villages　beyond　the　bridge　towns　until　I　send　for　you。　Dorian　will　do　nicely。〃　They　would　have　to　sleep　in　barns　in　that　tiny　hamlet；　which　had　no　inn；　the　least　their　bungling　deserved。　〃Go；　now。　And　pray　that　someone　above　you　does　arrive　soon。　The　Hall　will　demand　amends　for　this　unparalleled　catastrophe；　and　at　the　moment；　it　seems　you　stand　highest　among　those　at　fault。　Go！〃
　　　Covarla's　face　went　white。　She　tottered　so　making　her　curtsy　to　leave；　Elaida　thought　she　might　fall。　Bunglers！　She　was　surrounded　by　fools；　traitors　and　bunglers！
　　　As　soon　as　Elaida　heard　the　outer　door　close；　she　hurled　down　her　knitting　and　sprang　to　her　feet；　rounding　on　Alviarin。　〃Why　have　I　not　heard　of　this　before？　If　al'Thor　escaped　…　what　was　it　you　said？　seven　days　ago？　…　if　he　escaped　seven　days　ago；　someone's　eyes…and…ears　must　have　seen　him。　Why　was　I　not　informed？〃
　　　〃I　can　only　pass　on　to　you　what　the　Ajahs　pass　to　me；　Mother。〃　Alviarin　adjusted　her　stole　calmly；　not　a　whit