rj.acrownofswords-第136节

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reason　for　blinding　herself；　as　some　did。　Suspicion　made　the　air　in　the　Tower　like　hot　jelly。　Not　a　new　thing；　unfortunately　…　the　Amyrlin　had　begun　it　with　her　harsh　measures；　and　the　rumors　about　Logain　had　only　exacerbated　the　situation　…　but　this　morning　seemed　worse　than　ever。
　　　Talene　Minly　came　around　a　corner　ahead　of　her；　her　shawl　not　just　across　her　shoulders；　but　spread　down　her　arms　as　though　to　display　the　green　fringe。　For　that　matter；　she　realized　that　every　Green　she　had　seen　this　morning　wore　her　shawl。　Talene；　golden…baked　and　statuesque　and　lovely；　had　stood　to　depose　Siuan；　but　she　had　e　to　the　Tower　while　Seaine　was　Accepted；　and　that　decision　had　not　dented　their　long　friendship。　Talene　had　had　reasons　Seaine　accepted　if　not　agreed　with。　Today；　her　friend　stopped；　watching　her　warily。　So　many　sisters　seemed　to　watch　one　another　that　way　of　late。　Another　time；　she　would　have　stopped；　but　not　with　what　made　her　head　want　to　burst　open　like　a　spoiled　melon。　Talene　was　a　friend；　and　she　thought　she　could　be　sure　of　her；　but　thinking　was　not　enough　for　this。　Later；　if　possible；　she　would　approach　Talene。　Hoping　it　would　be　possible；　she　hurried　past　with　only　a　nod。
　　　In　the　Red　quarters；　the　mood　was　even　worse；　the　air　thicker。　As　with　the　other　Ajahs；　there　were　many　more　rooms　than　there　were　sisters　to　fill　them　now　…　that　had　been　so　long　before　the　first　rebel　fled　…　but　the　Red　was　the　largest　of　the　Ajahs；　and　sisters　filled　the　levels　still　in　use。　Reds　frequently　wore　their　shawls　when　there　was　no　need；　but　now　every　last　woman　sported　her　red　fringe　like　a　banner。　Conversations　stopped　as　Seaine　approached；　and　cold　eyes　followed　her　in　a　bubble　of　icy　silence。　She　felt　an　invader　deep　in　enemy　country　as　she　crossed　those　peculiar　floor　tiles；　white　with　the　teardrop　Flame　of　Tar　Valon　in　red。　But　then；　any　part　of　the　Tower　might　be　enemy　country。　Looking　another　way；　those　scarlet　flames　might　be　taken　for　red　Dragon's　Fangs。　She　had　never　believed　those　irrational　tales　about　the　Reds　and　false　Dragons；　but。。。　Why　would　none　of　them　deny　it？
　　　She　had　to　ask　directions。　〃I　will　not　disturb　her　if　she　is　busy；〃　she　said。　〃We　were　close　friends　once；　and　I　would　like　us　to　be　again。　Now　more　than　ever；　the　Ajahs　cannot　afford　to　drift　apart。〃　All　true；　though　the　Ajahs　seemed　to　splitting　apart　rather　than　drifting；　but　the　Domani　woman　listened　with　a　face　that　could　have　been　cast　in　copper。　There　were　not　many　Domani　Reds；　and　those　few　usually　meaner　than　snakes　caught　in　a　fence。
　　　〃I　will　show　you；　Sitter；〃　the　woman　said　at　last；　and　not　very　respectfully。　She　led　the　way；　then　watched　while　Seaine　knocked　on　the　door；　as　though　she　could　not　be　trusted　here　alone。　The　door　panels　were　carved　with　the　Flame；　too；　lacquered　the　color　of　fresh　blood。
　　　〃e！〃　a　brisk　voice　called　from　within。　Seaine　opened　the　door　hoping　she　was　right。
　　　〃Seaine！〃　Pevara　exclaimed　cheerfully。　〃What　brings　you　here　this　morning？　e！　Shut　the　door　and　sit！〃　It　was　as　if　all　the　years　since　they　were　novice　and　Accepted　together　had　melted　away。　Quite　plump　and　not　tall　…　in　truth；　for　a　Kandori；　she　was　short　…　Pevara　was　also　quite　pretty；　with　a　merry　twinkle　in　her　dark　eyes　and　a　ready　smile。　It　was　sad　that　she　had　chosen　Red；　no　matter　how　good　her　reasons；　because　she　still　liked　men。　The　Red　did　attract　women　who　were　naturally　suspicious　of　men；　of　course；　but　others　chose　it　because　the　task　of　finding　men　who　could　channel　was　important。　Whether　they　liked　men；　or　disliked　them；　or　did　not　care　one　way　or　the　other　in　the　beginning；　however；　not　many　women　could　belong　to　the　Red　for　long　without　taking　a　jaundiced　view　of　all　men。　Seaine　had　reason　to　believe　Pevara　had　served　a　penance　shortly　after　attaining　the　shawl　for　saying　that　she　wished　she　had　a　Warder；　since　reaching　the　safer　heights　of　the　Hall；　she　had　openly　said　Warders　would　make　the　Red　Ajah's　work　easier。　Not　that　that　had　any　part　in　Seaine　trusting　her。　Of　all　the　sisters　in　the　Tower；　though；　Pevara　was　the　one　she　was　sure　she　could　trust　with　this。
　　　〃I　cannot　tell　you　how　happy　I　am　to　see　you；〃　Pevara　said　once　they　were　ensconced　in　armchairs　carved　in　the　spirals　popular　in　Kandor　a　hundred　years　ago；　with　delicate；　butterfly…painted　cups　of　blueberry　tea　in　hand。　〃I've　often　thought　how　I　should　go　to　you；　but　I　admit　to　fearing　what　you　would　say　after　I　gave　you　the　cut　direct　so　many　years　ago。　Sworn　on　the　blade；　Seaine；　I'd　not　have　done　it；　except　Tesien　Jorhald　practically　had　me　by　the　scruff　of　my　neck；　and　I　was　too　new　to　the　shawl　to　have　much　backbone　yet。　Can　you　forgive　me？〃
　　　〃Of　course；　I　can；〃　Seaine　replied。　〃I　understood。〃　The　Red　firmly　discouraged　friendships　outside　the　Ajah。　Quite　firmly；　and　quite　efficiently。　〃We　cannot　go　against　our　Ajahs　when　we　are　young　and　later；　it　seems　impossible　to　retrace　our　steps。　A　thousand　times　I've　remembered　us　whispering　together　after　Last　…　oh；　and　the　pranks！　do　you　recall　when　we　dusted　Serancha's　shift　with　powdered　itchoak？　…　but　I'm　shamed　to　say　it　took　being　terrified　out　of　my　wits　to　stir　my　feet。　I　do　want　us　to　be　friends　again；　but　I　need　your　help；　too。　You　are　the　only　one　I'm　sure　I　can　trust。〃
　　　〃Serancha　was　a　prig　then；　and　still　is。〃　Pevara　laughed。　〃The　Gray　is　a　good　place　for　her。　But　I　can't　believe　you　terrified　at　anything。　Why；　you　never　decided　it　was　logical　to　be　afraid　until　we　were　back　in　our　beds。　Short　of　a　promise　to　stand　in　the　Hall　without　knowing　what　for；　whatever　help　I　can　give　is　yours；　Seaine。　What　do　you　need？〃
　　　Brought　to　the　point；　Seaine　hesitated；　sipping　her　tea。　Not　that　she　had　any　doubts　about　Pevara；　but　pushing　the　words　out　of　her　mouth　was。。。　difficult。　〃The　Amyrlin　came　to　see　me　this　morning；〃　she　said　finally。　〃She　instructed　me　to　make　an　inquiry；　Sealed　to　the　Flame。〃　Pevara　frowned　slightly；　but　she　did　not　say　that　in　that　case　Seaine　should　not　be　speaking　of　it。　Seaine　might　have　planned　how　to　carry　out　most　of　their　pranks　as　girls；　but　Pevara　had　been　the　one　with　the　audacity　to　think　most　of　them　up；　and　she　had　provided　most　of　the　nerve　to　go　through　with　them。　〃She　was　very　circumspect；　but　after　a　little　thought；　it　was　clear　to　me　what　she　wanted。　I　am　to　hunt　out。。。　〃　At　the　last；　courage　failed　her　tongue。　〃。。。　Darkfriends　in　the　Tower。〃
　　　Pevara's　eyes；　as　dark　as　her　own　were　blue；　became　stone；　and　swept　to　the　mantel　above　her　fireplace；　where　miniatures　of　her　own　family　made　a　precise　line。　They　had　all　died　while　she　was　a　novice；　parents；　brothers　and　sisters；　aunts；　uncles　and　all；　murdered　in　a　quickly　suppressed　uprising　of　Darkfriends　who　had　bee　convinced　the　Dark　One　was　about　to　break　free。　That　was　why　Seaine　had　been　sure　she　could　trust　her。　That　was　why　Pevara　had　chosen　Red　…　though　Seaine　still　thought　she　could　have　done　as　well　and　been　happier　as　a　Green　…　because　she　believed　a　Red　hunting　men　who　could　channel　had　the　best　chance　of　finding　Darkfriends。　She　had　been　very　good　at　it；　that　plump　exterior　covered　a　core　of　steel。　And　she　possessed　the　courage　to　say　calmly　what　Seaine　had　been　unable　to　bring　herself　to　utter。
　　　〃The　Black　Ajah。　Well。　No　wonder　Elaida　would　be　circumspect。〃
　　　〃Pevara；　I　know　she's　always　denied　its　existence　harder　than　any　three　other　sisters　bined；　but　I'm　certain　sure　that's　what　she　meant；　and　if　she　is　convinced。。。　〃
　　　Her　friend　waved　her　off。　〃You　have　no　need　to　convince　me；　Seaine。　I　have　been　sure　the　Black　Ajah　exists　for。。。　〃　Strangely；　Pevara　became　hesitant；　peering　into　her　teacup　like　a　fortune…teller　at　a　fair。　〃What　do　you　know　of　events　right　after　the　Aiel　War？〃
　　　〃Two　Amyrlins　dying　suddenly　in　the　space　of　five　years；〃　Seaine　said　carefully。　She　assumed　the　other　woman　meant　events　in　the　Tower。　Truth　to　tell；　until　being　raised　a　Sitter　nearly　fifteen　years　ago；　just　a　year　after　Pevara；　she　had　not　given　much　attention　to　anything　outside　the　Tower。　And　not　that　much　inside；　really。　〃A　great　many　sisters　died　in　those　years；　as　I　recall。　Do　you　mean　to　say　you　think　the。。。　the　Black　Ajah　had　a　hand　in　that？〃　There；　she　had　said　it；　and　the　name　had　not　burned　her　tongue。
　　　〃I　don't　know；〃　Pevara　said　softly；　shaking　her　head　〃You've　done　well　to　wrap　yourself　deep　in　philosophy。　There　were。。。　things。。。　done　then；　and　Sealed　to　the　Flame。〃　She　drew　a　troubled　breath。
　　　Seaine　did　not　press　her；　she　herself　had　mitted　something　akin　to　treason　by　breaking　that　same　seal；　and　Pevara　would　have　to　decide　on　her　own。　〃Looking　at　reports　will　be　safer　than　asking　questions　with　no　idea　who　we're　really　asking。　Logically；　a　Black　sister　must　be　able　to　lie　despite　the　Oaths。〃　Otherwise；　the　Black　Ajah　would　have　been　revealed　long　since。　That　name　seemed　to　be　ing　more　easily　with　use。　〃If　any　sister　wrote　that　she　did　one　thing　when　we　can　prove　she　did　another；　then　we　have　found　a　Darkfriend。〃
　　　Pevara　nodded。　〃Yes。　Perhaps　the　Black　Ajah　has　no　hand　in　the　rebellion；　but　I　cannot　think　they　would　let　this　turmoil　pass　without　taking　advantage。　We　must　look　closely　at　this　last　year；　I　think。〃
　　　To　that；　Seaine　agreed　rel