rj.acrownofswords-第61节

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e　wide　depression　on　the　crown。　Beneath　thick　intertwined　branches　stood　three　peaked　tents　of　patched　canvas；　and　a　picket　line　of　horses；　with　a　cart　nearby；　and　five　tall　warhorses　each　carefully　picketed　away　from　the　others。　Nisao　Dachen；　in　a　simply　cut　bronze…colored　riding　dress；　waited　under　the　awning　in　front　of　one　of　the　tents　as　if　to　wele　guests；　with　Sarin　Hoigan　at　her　side　in　the　olive　green　coat　so　many　of　the　Gaidin　wore。　A　bald…headed　stump　of　a　man　with　a　thick　black　beard；　Nisao's　Warder　still　stood　taller　than　she。　A　few　paces　away；　two　of　Myrelle's　three　Gaidin　warily　watched　them　descend　into　the　hollow；　Croi　Makin；　slender　and　yellow…haired；　and　Nuhel　Dromand；　dark　and　bulky；　with　a　beard　that　left　his　upper　lip　bare。　No　one　looked　surprised　in　the　least。　Obviously　one　of　the　Warders　had　been　keeping　guard　and　given　warning。　Nothing　in　sight　warranted　all　the　secrecy；　though；　or　Myrelle's　lip…licking。　For　that　matter；　if　Nisao　waited　in　wele；　why　did　her　hands　keep　stroking　her　divided　skirts？　She　looked　as　if　she　would　rather　face　Elaida　while　shielded。
　　　Two　women　peering　around　a　corner　of　one　of　the　tents　ducked　back　hurriedly；　but　not　before　Egwene　recognized　them。　Nicola　and　Areina。　Suddenly　she　felt　very　uneasy。　What　had　Siuan　brought　her　to？
　　　Siuan　showed　no　nervousness　at　all　as　she　dismounted。　〃Bring　him　out；　Myrelle。　Now。〃　She　was　getting　her　own　back　with　a　vengeance；　her　tone　made　a　file　seem　smooth。　〃It's　too　late　for　hiding。〃
　　　Myrelle　barely　managed　a　frown　at　being　addressed　so；　and　it　appeared　an　effort。　Visibly　pulling　herself　together；　she　jerked　her　hat　from　her　head　and　climbed　down　without　a　word；　glided　to　one　of　the　tents　and　vanished　inside。　Nisao's　already　big　eyes　followed　her；　growing　wider　by　the　moment。　She　seemed　frozen　to　the　spot。
　　　No　one　but　Siuan　was　near　enough　to　overhear。　〃Why　did　you　break　in？〃　Egwene　demanded　softly　as　she　got　down。　〃I'm　sure　she　was　about　to　confess。。。　whatever　it　is。。。　and　I　still　don't　have　a　clue。　Coin　peppers？〃
　　　〃Very　popular　in　Shienar；　and　Malkier；〃　Siuan　said　just　as　quietly。　〃I　only　heard　that　after　I　left　Aeldene　this　morning。　I　had　to　make　her　lead　the　way；　I　didn't　know　it；　not　exactly。　It　would　hardly　have　done　much　good　to　let　her　discover　that；　now　would　it？　I　didn't　know　about　Nisao；　either。　I　thought　they　hardly　ever　spoke　to　one　another。〃　She　glanced　at　the　Yellow　sister　and　gave　her　head　an　irritated　shake。　A　failure　to　learn　something　was　a　failure　Siuan　did　not　tolerate　well　in　herself。　〃Unless　I've　gone　blind　and　stupid；　what　these　two。。。　〃　Grimacing　as　though　she　had　a　mouthful　of　something　rotten；　she　spluttered　trying　to　find　a　name　to　fit。　Abruptly　she　caught　Egwene's　sleeve。　〃Here　they　e。　Now　you'll　see　for　yourself。〃
　　　Myrelle　left　the　tent　first；　then　a　man　in　just　boots　and　breeches　who　had　to　duck　low　through　the　doorflaps；　a　bared　sword　in　his　hand　and　scars　crisscrossing　his　lightly　furred　chest。　He　was　head　and　shoulders　and　more　taller　than　her；　taller　than　any　of　the　other　Warders。　His　long　dark　hair；　held　by　a　braided　leather　cord　around　his　temples；　was　more　streaked　with　gray　than　when　Egwene　has　seen　him　last；　but　there　was　nothing　at　all　soft　in　Lan　Mandragoran。　Pieces　of　the　puzzle　suddenly　clicked　into　place；　yet　it　still　would　not　e　apart　for　her。　He　had　been　Warder　to　Moiraine；　the　Aes　Sedai　who　had　brought　her　and　Rand　and　the　rest　out　of　the　Two　Rivers　what　seemed　an　Age　ago；　but　Moiraine　was　dead　killing　Lanfear；　and　Lan　had　gone　missing　in　Cairhien　right　after。　Maybe　it　was　all　clear　to　Siuan；　to　her；　it　was　mostly　mud。
　　　Murmuring　something　to　Lan；　Myrelle　touched　his　arm。　He　flinched　slightly；　like　a　nervous　horse；　but　his　hard　face　never　turned　from　Egwene。　Finally；　though；　he　nodded　and　pivoted　on　his　heel；　strode　farther　away　beneath　the　branches　of　the　oaks。　Gripping　the　sword　hilt　in　both　hands　above　his　head；　blade　slanted　down；　he　rose　onto　the　ball　of　one　booted　foot　and　stood　motionless。
　　　For　a　moment；　Nisao　frowned　at　him　as　though　she；　too；　saw　a　puzzle。　Then　her　gaze　met　Myrelle's；　and　together　their　eyes　swept　to　Egwene。　Instead　of　ing　to　her；　they　went　to　each　other；　exchanging　hasty　whispers。　At　least；　it　was　an　exchange　at　first。　Then　Nisao　merely　stood　there；　shaking　her　head　in　disbelief　or　denial。　〃You　dropped　me　into　this；〃　she　groaned　aloud　at　last。　〃I　was　a　blind　fool　to　listen　to　you。〃
　　　〃This　should　be。。。　interesting；〃　Siuan　said　as　they　finally　turned　toward　her　and　Egwene。　The　twist　she　gave　the　word　made　it　sound　decidedly　unpleasant。
　　　Myrelle　and　Nisao　hurriedly　touched　hair　and　dresses　as　they　crossed　the　short　distance；　making　certain　everything　was　in　order。　Perhaps　they　had　been　caught　out　…　In　what？　Egwene　wondered　…　but　apparently　they　intended　to　put　the　best　face　they　could　on　matters。
　　　〃If　you　will　step　inside；　Mother；〃　Myrelle　said；　gesturing　to　the　nearest　tent。　Only　the　slightest　tremor　in　her　voice　betrayed　her　cool　face。　The　sweat　was　gone。　Wiped　away；　of　course；　but　it　had　not　returned。
　　　〃Thank　you；　no；　daughter。〃
　　　〃Some　wine　punch？〃　Nisao　asked　with　a　smile。　Hands　clasped　at　her　breast；　she　looked　anxious　anyway。　〃Siuan；　go　tell　Nicola　to　bring　the　punch。〃　Siuan　did　not　move；　and　Nisao　blinked　in　surprise；　her　mouth　thinning。　The　smile　returned　in　an　instant；　though；　and　she　raised　her　voice　a　little。　〃Nicola？　Child；　bring　the　punch。　Made　with　dried　blackberries；　I　fear；〃　she　confided　to　Egwene；　〃but　quite　restorative。〃
　　　〃I　don't　want　punch；〃　Egwene　said　curtly。　Nicola　emerged　from　behind　the　tent；　yet　she　showed　no　sign　of　running　to　obey。　Instead；　she　stood　staring　at　the　four　Aes　Sedai；　chewing　her　underlip。　Nisao　flashed　a　glare　of　what　could　only　be　called　distaste；　but　said　nothing。　Another　piece　of　the　puzzle　snapped　into　place；　and　Egwene　breathed　a　trifle　easier。　〃What　I　want；　daughter；　what　I　require；　is　an　explanation。〃
　　　Best　face　or　no；　it　was　a　thin　veneer。　Myrelle　stretched　out　a　pleading　hand。　〃Mother；　Moiraine　did　not　choose　me　just　because　we　were　friends。　Two　of　my　Warders　belonged　first　to　sisters　who　died。　Avar　and　Nuhel。　No　sister　has　saved　more　than　one　in　centuries。〃
　　　〃I　only　became　involved　because　of　his　mind；〃　Nisao　said　hastily。　〃I　have　some　interest　in　diseases　of　the　mind；　and　this　must　rightly　be　called　one。　Myrelle　practically　dragged　me　into　it。〃
　　　Smoothing　her　skirts；　Myrelle　directed　a　dark　look　at　the　Yellow　that　was　returned　with　interest。　〃Mother；　when　a　Warder's　Aes　Sedai　dies；　it　is　as　though　he　swallows　her　death　and　is　consumed　by　it　from　the　inside。　He　…　〃
　　　〃I　know　that；　Myrelle；〃　Egwene　broke　in　sharply。　Siuan　and　Leane　had　told　her　a　good　bit；　though　neither　knew　she　had　asked　because　she　wanted　to　know　what　to　expect　with　Gawyn。　A　poor　bargain；　Myrelle　had　called　it；　and　perhaps　it　was。　When　a　sister's　Warder　died；　grief　enveloped　her；　she　could　control　it　somewhat；　sometimes；　hold　it　in；　but　sooner　or　later　it　gnawed　a　way　out。　However　well　Siuan　managed　when　others　were　around；　she　still　wept　alone　many　nights　for　her　Alric；　killed　the　day　she　was　deposed。　Yet　what　were　even　months　of　tears；　pared　with　death　itself？　The　stories　were　full　of　Warders　dying　to　avenge　their　Aes　Sedai；　and　indeed　it　was　very　often　the　case。　A　man　who　wanted　to　die；　a　man　looking　for　what　could　kill　him；　took　risks　not　even　a　Warder　could　survive。　Perhaps　the　most　horrible　part　of　it；　to　her；　was　that　they　knew。　Knew　what　their　fate　would　be　if　their　Aes　Sedai　died；　knew　what　drove　them　when　she　did；　knew　nothing　they　did　could　change　it。　She　could　not　imagine　the　courage　required　to　accept　the　bargain；　knowing。
　　　She　stepped　aside；　so　she　could　see　Lan　clearly。　He　still　stood　motionless；　not　even　seeming　to　breathe。　Apparently　forgetting　the　tea；　Nicola　had　seated　herself　cross…legged　on　the　ground　to　watch　him。　Areina　squatted　on　her　heels　at　Nicola's　side　with　her　braid　pulled　over　her　shoulder；　staring　even　more　avidly。　Much　more　avidly；　actually；　since　Nicola　sometimes　darted　furtive　glances　at　Egwene　and　the　others。　The　rest　of　the　Warders　made　a　small　cluster；　pretending　to　watch　him　too　while　keeping　a　close　eye　on　their　Aes　Sedai。
　　　A　more　than　warm　breeze　stirred；　ruffling　the　dead　leaves　that　carpeted　the　ground；　and　with　shocking　suddenness；　Lan　was　moving；　shifting　from　stance　to　stance；　blade　a　whirling　blur　in　his　hands。　Faster　and　faster；　till　he　seemed　to　sprint　from　one　to　the　next；　yet　all　as　precise　as　the　movements　of　a　clock。　She　waited　for　him　to　stop；　or　at　least　slow；　but　he　did　not。　Faster。　Areina's　mouth　slowly　dropped　open；　eyes　going　wide　with　awe；　and　for　that　matter；　so　did　Nicola's。　They　leaned　forward；　children　watching　candy　set　to　dry　on　the　kitchen　table。　Even　the　other　Warders　really　divided　their　attention　between　their　Aes　Sedai　and　him　now；　but　in　contrast　to　the　two　women；　they　watched　a　lion　that　might　charge　any　moment。
　　　〃I　see　you　are　working　him　hard；〃　Egwene　said。　That　was　part　of　the　method　for　saving　a　Warder。　Few　sisters　were　willing　to　make　the　attempt；　given　the　rate　of　failure；　and　the　cost　of　it　to　themselves。　Keeping　him　from　risks　was　another。　And　bonding　him　again；　t