rj.acrownofswords-第166节

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　paces　wide　for　spilling　a　mouthful　over　her　chin。
　　　When　the　waterskin　was　finally　taken　away；　the　blocky　Maiden　hauled　her　to　her　feet　by　her　bound　elbows。　Galina　groaned。　The　Wise　Ones　were　gathering　their　skirts　over　their　arms；　exposing　their　legs　well　above　soft　knee…high　boots。　They　could　not　be　going　to　run。　Not　again。　Not　in　these　mountains。
　　　The　Wise　Ones　loped　forward　as　easily　as　if　on　level　ground。　An　unseen　Maiden　cut　Galina　across　the　back　of　her　thighs　with　a　switch；　and　she　stumbled　to　a　semblance　of　a　run；　half…dragged　by　the　blocky　Maiden。　The　switch　slashed　her　legs　whenever　they　faltered。　If　this　run　continued　the　rest　of　the　day；　they　would　take　turns；　one　Maiden　wielding　the　stick　and　another　dragging。　Laboring　up　slopes　and　nearly　sliding　down；　Galina　ran。　A　tawny　mountain　cat；　striped　in　shades　of　brown　and　heavier　than　a　man；　snarled　at　them　from　a　rocky　ledge　above；　a　female；　lacking　the　tufts　on　her　ears　and　the　wide　cheeks。　Galina　wanted　to　shout　at　her　to　flee；　to　run　before　Therava　caught　her。　The　Aiel　ran　on　by　the　snarling　animal；　unconcerned；　and　Galina　wept　with　jealousy　for　the　cat's　freedom。
　　　She　would　be　rescued　eventually；　of　course；　she　knew　that。　The　Tower　would　not　allow　a　sister　to　remain　in　captivity。　Elaida　would　not　allow　a　Red　to　be　held。　Surely　Alviarin　would　send　rescue。　Someone　would；　anyone；　to　save　her　from　these　monsters；　especially　from　Therava。　She　would　promise　anything　for　that　deliverance。　She　would　even　keep　those　promises。　She　had　been　broken　free　of　the　Three　Oaths　on　joining　the　Black　Ajah；　replacing　them　with　a　new　trinity；　but　at　that　moment　she　truly　believed　she　would　keep　her　word；　if　it　brought　rescue。　Any　promise；　to　anyone　who　would　free　her。　Even　a　man。
　　　By　the　time　low　tents　appeared；　their　dark　colors　fading　into　the　forested　mountainsides　as　well　as　the　cat　had；　Galina　had　two　Maidens　supporting　her；　pulling　her　along。　Shouts　rose　from　every　side；　glad　cries　of　greeting；　but　Galina　was　dragged　on　behind　the　Wise　Ones；　deeper　into　the　camp；　still　running；　stumbling。
　　　Without　warning　the　hands　left　her　arms。　She　pitched　forward　on　her　face　and　lay　there　with　her　nose　in　the　dirt　and　dead　leaves；　sucking　air　through　her　gaping　mouth。　She　coughed　on　a　piece　of　leaf；　but　she　was　too　weak　to　turn　her　head。　The　blood　pounded　her　ears；　but　voices　came　to　her　and　slowly　began　to　make　sense。
　　　〃。。。　Took　your　time；　Therava；〃　a　familiar…sounding　woman's　voice　said。　〃Nine　days。　We　have　been　back　long　since。〃
　　　Nine　days？　Galina　shook　her　head；　scrubbing　her　face　on　the　ground。　Since　the　Aiel　had　shot　her　horse　from　under　her；　memory　blended　all　the　days　into　a　melange　of　thirst　and　running　and　being　beaten；　but　surely　it　had　been　longer　ago　than　nine　days。　Weeks；　certainly。　A　month　or　more。
　　　〃Bring　her　in；〃　the　familiar　voice　said　impatiently。
　　　Hands　pulled　her　up；　shoved　her　forward；　bending　her　to　go　under　the　edge　of　a　large　tent　with　the　sides　raised　all　around。　She　was　thrown　down　on　layered　carpets；　the　edge　of　a　red…and…blue　Tairen　maze　overlapping　gaudy　flowers　beneath　her　nose。　With　difficulty；　she　raised　her　head。
　　　At　first；　she　saw　nothing　but　Sevanna；　seated　on　a　large　yellow…tasseled　cushion　in　front　of　her。　Sevanna　with　her　hair　like　fine…spun　gold；　her　clear　emerald　eyes。　Treacherous　Sevanna；　who　had　given　her　word　to　distract　attention　by　raiding　into　Cairhien；　then　broken　her　pledge　by　trying　to　free　al'Thor。　Sevanna；　who　at　the　least　might　take　her　from　Therava's　clutches。
　　　She　struggled　up　onto　her　knees；　and　for　the　first　time　realized　there　were　others　in　the　tent。　Therava　sat　on　a　cushion　to　Sevanna's　right；　at　the　head　of　a　curving　line　of　Wise　Ones；　fourteen　women　who　could　channel　in　all；　though　Micara；　who　still　held　the　shield　on　her；　stood　at　the　foot　of　the　line　rather　than　sitting。　Half　of　them　had　been　among　the　Wise　Ones　who　captured　her　with　such　scornful　ease。　She　would　never　again　be　so　careless　about　Wise　Ones；　never　again。　Short；　pale…faced　men　and　women　in　white　robes　moved　behind　the　Wise　Ones；　wordlessly　offering　trays　of　gold　or　silver　with　small　cups；　and　more　did　the　same　on　the　other　side　of　the　tent；　where　a　gray…haired　woman　in　an　Aiel　coat　and　breeches　of　brown　and　gray　sat　to　Sevanna's　left；　at　the　head　of　a　line　of　twelve　stone…faced　Aielmen。　Men。　And　she　wore　nothing　but　her　shift；　ripped　and　gaping　in　a　number　of　places。　Galina　clamped　her　teeth　shut　to　stifle　a　scream。　She　forced　her　back　stiff　to　keep　from　trying　to　burrow　into　the　rugs　arid　hide　from　those　cold　male　eyes。
　　　〃It　seems　that　Aes　Sedai　can　lie；〃　Sevanna　said；　and　the　blood　drained　from　Galina's　face。　The　woman　could　not　know；　she　could　not。　〃You　made　pledges；　Galina　Casban；　and　broke　them。　Did　you　think　you　could　murder　a　Wise　One　and　then　run　beyond　the　reach　of　our　spears？〃
　　　For　a　moment；　relief　froze　Galina's　tongue。　Sevanna　did　not　know　about　the　Black　Ajah。　Had　she　not　abandoned　the　Light　long　ago；　she　would　have　thanked　the　Light。　Relief　stilled　her　tongue；　and　a　tiny　spark　of　indignation。　They　attacked　Aes　Sedai　and　were　angry　when　some　of　them　died？　A　tiny　spark　was　all　she　could　manage。　After　all；　what　was　Sevanna's　twisting　facts　alongside　days　of　beatings　and　Therava's　eyes？　A　pained；　croaking　laugh　bubbled　up　at　the　absurdity　of　it。　Her　throat　was　so　dry。
　　　〃Be　thankful　some　of　you　still　live；〃　she　managed　past　her　laughter。　〃Even　now　it　is　not　too　late　to　rectify　your　mistakes；　Sevanna。〃　With　an　effort；　she　swallowed　rueful　mirth　before　it　turned　to　tears。　Just　before。　〃When　I　return　to　the　White　Tower；　I　will　remember　those　who　assist　me；　even　now。〃　She　would　have　added；　〃and　those　who　do　otherwise；〃　but　Therava's　unwavering　stare　set　fear　fluttering　in　her　middle。　For　all　she　knew；　Therava　still　might　be　allowed　to　do　whatever　she　wished。　There　had　to　be　some　way　to　induce　Sevanna　to。。。　take　charge　of　her。　That　tasted　bitter；　yet　anything　was　better　than　Therava。　Sevanna　was　ambitious；　and　greedy。　In　the　midst　of　frowning　at　Galina；　she　had　caught　sight　of　her　own　hand　and　directed　a　brief；　admiring　smile　at　rings　set　with　large　emeralds　and　firedrops。　She　wore　rings　on　half　her　fingers；　and　necklaces　of　pearls　and　rubies　and　diamonds　fit　for　any　queen　draped　across　the　swell　of　her　bosom。　Sevanna　could　not　be　trusted；　but　perhaps　she　could　be　bought。　Therava　was　a　force　of　nature；　as　well　try　to　buy　a　flood　or　an　avalanche。　〃I　trust　that　you　will　do　what　is　right；　Sevanna；〃　she　finished。　〃The　rewards　of　friendship　with　the　White　Tower　are　great。〃
　　　For　a　long　moment；　there　was　silence　except　for　the　whisper　of　the　white　robes　as　the　servants　moved　with　their　trays。　Then。。。
　　　〃You　are　da'tsang；〃　Sevanna　said。　Galina　blinked。　She　was　a　despised　one？　Certainly　they　had　displayed　their　contempt　plainly；　but　why　…？
　　　〃You　are　da'tsang；〃　a　round…faced　Wise　One　she　did　not　know　intoned；　and　a　woman　a　hand　taller　than　Therava　repeated；　〃You　are　da'tsang。〃
　　　Therava's　hawklike　face　might　have　been　carved　from　wood；　yet　her　eyes；　fixed　on　Galina；　glittered　accusingly。　Galina　felt　nailed　to　the　spot　where　she　knelt；　unable　to　move　a　muscle。　A　hypnotized　bird　watching　a　serpent　slither　nearer。　No　one　had　ever　made　her　feel　that　way。　No　one。
　　　〃Three　Wise　Ones　have　spoken。〃　Sevanna's　satisfied　smile　was　almost　weling。　Therava's　face　was　stark。　The　woman　did　not　like　whatever　had　just　happened。　Something　had　happened；　even　if　Galina　did　not　know　what。　Except　that　it　appeared　to　have　delivered　her　from　Therava。　That　was　more　than　enough　for　the　moment。　More　than　enough。
　　　When　Maidens　cut　her　bounds　and　stuffed　her　into　a　black　wool　robe；　she　was　so　grateful　she　almost　did　not　care　that　they　tore　off　the　remnants　of　her　shift　first；　in　front　of　those　ice…eyed　men。　The　thick　wool　was　hot　and　itchy　and　scratchy　on　her　welts；　and　she　weled　it　as　though　it　were　silk。　Despite　Micara　still　shielding　her；　she　could　have　laughed　as　the　Maidens　led　her　out　of　the　tent。　It　did　not　take　long　for　that　desire　to　vanish　entirely。　It　did　not　take　her　long　to　begin　wondering　whether　begging　on　her　knees　before　Sevanna　would　do　any　good。　She　would　have　done　it；　could　she　have　gotten　to　the　woman；　except　that　Micara　made　it　plain　she　was　not　going　anywhere　she　was　not　told　to　go；　or　speak　a　word　unless　spoken　to。
　　　
　　　Arms　folded；　Sevanna　watched　the　Aes　Sedai；　the　da'tsang；　stagger　down　the　mountainside　and　stop；　beside　a　Maiden　squatting　on　her　heels　with　a　switch；　to　drop　the　head…shaped　stone　she　had　been　carrying　in　her　hands。　The　black　hood　turned　in　Sevanna's　direction　for　a　moment；　but　the　da'tsang　quickly　bent　to　pick　up　another　large　stone　and　turned　to　labor　back　up　the　fifty　paces　to　where　Micara　waited　with　another　Maiden。　There　she　dropped　that　stone；　picked　up　another；　and　started　back　down。　Da'tsang　were　always　shamed　with　useless　labor；　unless　there　was　great　need；　the　woman　would　not　be　allowed　to　carry　even　a　cup　of　water；　yet　toil　without　purpose　would　fill　her　hours　till　she　burst　of　shame。　The　sun　had　a　long　way　to　climb　yet；　and　many　more　days　lay　ahead。
　　　〃I　did　not　think　she　would　condemn　herself　out　of　her　own　mouth；〃　Rhiale　said　at