rj.acrownofswords-第65节

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　　　Their　heads　turned　toward　Siuan；　faces　unruffled。　〃As　you　mand；　Mother；〃　they　murmured　together。　It　was　Siuan　who　looked　ready　to　faint。
　　　She　was　still　staring　at　nothing　when　they　reached　the　road　and　turned　their　horses　east　toward　the　Aes　Sedai　camp　and　the　army。　The　sun　still　climbed　toward　its　zenith；　still　well　short。　It　had　been　a　morning　eventful　as　most　days。　Most　weeks；　for　that　matter。　Egwene　let　Daishar　amble。
　　　〃Myrelle　was　right；〃　Siuan　mumbled　finally。　With　her　rider's　mind　elsewhere；　the　mare　moved　with　something　close　to　a　smooth　gait；　she　actually　made　Siuan　appear　a　petent　rider。　〃Fealty。　No　one　has　ever　done　that。　No　one。　There　isn't　so　much　as　a　hint　in　the　secret　histories。　And　them；　obeying　me。　You　aren't　just　changing　a　few　things；　you're　rebuilding　the　boat　while　sailing　a　storm！　Everything　is　changing。　And　Nicola！　In　my　day；　a　novice　would　have　wet　herself　if　she　even　thought　of　blackmailing　a　sister！〃
　　　〃Not　their　first　attempt；〃　Egwene　told　her；　relating　the　facts　in　as　few　words　as　possible。
　　　She　expected　Siuan　to　explode　in　a　fury　at　the　pair；　but　instead　the　woman　said；　quite　calmly；　〃I　fear　our　two　adventurous　lasses　are　about　to　meet　with　accidents。〃
　　　〃No！〃　Egwene　reined　in　so　suddenly　that　Siuan's　mare　ambled　another　half…dozen　paces　before　she　could　bring　the　animal　under　control　and　turn　her；　all　the　while　muttering　imprecations　under　her　breath。　She　sat　there　giving　Egwene　a　patient　look　that　outdid　Lelaine　at　her　worst。
　　　〃Mother；　they　have　a　club　over　your　head；　if　they're　ever　smart　enough　to　think　it　out。　Even　if　the　Hall　doesn't　force　you　into　a　penance；　you　can　watch　any　hope　you　have　with　them　sail　right　over　the　horizon。〃　She　shook　her　head　disgustedly。　〃I　knew　you　would　do　it　when　I　sent　you　out　…　I　knew　you'd　have　to　…　but　I　never　thought　Elayne　and　Nynaeve　were　witless　enough　to　bring　back　anyone　who　knew。　Those　two　girls　deserve　all　they'll　catch　if　this　gets　out。　But　you　can't　afford　to　let　it　out。〃
　　　〃Nothing　is　to　happen　to　Nicola　or　Areina；　Siuan！　If　I　approve　killing　them　for　what　they　know；　who's　next？　Romanda　and　Lelaine；　for　not　agreeing　with　me？　Where　does　it　stop？〃　In　a　way；　she　felt　disgusted　with　herself。　Once；　she　would　not　have　understood　what　Siuan　meant。　It　was　always　better　to　know　than　to　be　ignorant；　but　sometimes　ignorance　was　much　more　fortable。　Heeling　Daishar　on；　she　said；　〃I　won't　have　a　day　of　victory　spoiled　with　talk　of　murder。　Myrelle　wasn't　even　the　beginning；　Siuan。　This　morning；　Faolain　and　Theodrin　were　waiting。。。　〃　Siuan　brought　the　plump　mare　in　closer　to　listen　as　they　rode。
　　　The　news　did　not　relieve　Siuan's　concern　over　Nicola　and　Areina；　but　Egwene's　plans　certainly　put　a　sparkle　in　her　eye　and　a　smile　of　anticipation　on　her　lips。　By　the　time　they　reached　the　Aes　Sedai　camp；　she　was　eager　to　take　on　her　next　task。　Which　was　to　tell　Sheriam　and　the　rest　of　Myrelle's　friends　that　they　were　expected　in　the　Amyrlin's　study　at　midday。　She　could　even　say　quite　truthfully　that　nothing　would　be　required　of　them　that　other　sisters　had　not　done　before。
　　　For　all　her　talk　of　victory；　Egwene　did　not　feel　so　zestful。　She　barely　heard　blessings　and　calls　for　blessings；　acknowledging　them　with　only　a　wave　of　her　hand；　and　was　sure　she　missed　more　than　she　did　hear。　She　could　not　countenance　murder；　but　Nicola　and　Areina　would　bear　watching。　Will　I　ever　reach　a　place　where　the　difficulties　don't　keep　piling　up？　she　wondered。　Somewhere　a　victory　did　not　seem　to　have　to　be　matched　by　a　new　danger。
　　　When　she　walked　into　her　tent；　her　mood　sank　right　to　her　feet。　Her　head　throbbed。　She　was　beginning　to　think　she　should　just　stay　away　from　the　tent　altogether。
　　　Two　carefully　folded　sheets　of　parchment　sat　neatly　atop　the　writing　table；　each　sealed　with　wax　and　each　bearing　the　words　〃Sealed　to　the　Flame。〃　For　anyone　other　than　the　Amyrlin；　breaking　that　seal　was　accounted　as　serious　as　assaulting　the　Amyrlin's　person。　She　wished　she　did　not　have　to　break　them。　There　was　no　doubt　in　her　mind　who　had　written　those　words。　Unfortunately；　she　was　right。
　　　Romanda　suggested　…　〃demanded〃　was　a　better　word　…　that　the　Amyrlin　issue　an　edict　〃Sealed　to　the　Hall；〃　known　only　to　the　Sitters。　The　sisters　were　all　to　be　summoned　one　by　one；　and　any　who　refused　was　to　be　shielded　and　confined　as　a　suspected　member　of　the　Black　Ajah。　What　they　were　to　be　summoned　for　was　left　rather　vague；　but　Lelaine　had　more　than　hinted　this　morning。　Lelaine's　own　missive　bore　her　manner　all　over　it；　mother　to　child；　what　should　be　done　for　Egwene's　own　good　and　everyone's。　The　edict　she　wanted　was　only　to　be　〃Sealed　to　the　Ring〃；　any　sister　could　know；　and　in　fact；　in　this　case　they　would　have　to。　Mention　of　the　Black　Ajah　was　to　be　forbidden　as　fomenting　discord；　a　serious　charge　under　Tower　law；　with　appropriate　penalties。
　　　Egwene　dropped　onto　her　folding　chair　with　a　groan；　and　of　course　the　legs　shifted　and　nearly　deposited　her　on　the　carpet。　She　could　delay　and　sidestep；　but　they　would　keep　ing　back　with　these　idiocies。　Sooner　or　later　one　would　introduce　her　modest　proposal　to　the　Hall；　and　that　would　put　the　fox　in　the　henyard。　Were　they　blind？　Fomenting　discord？　Lelaine　would　have　every　sister　convinced　not　just　that　there　was　a　Black　Ajah；　but　that　Egwene　was　part　of　it。　The　stampede　of　Aes　Sedai　back　to　Tar　Valon　and　Elaida　could　not　be　far　behind。　Romanda　just　meant　to　set　off　a　mutiny。　There　were　six　of　those　hidden　in　the　secret　histories。　Half　a　dozen　in　more　than　three　thousand　years　might　not　be　very　many；　but　each　had　resulted　in　an　Amyrlin　resigning　and　the　entire　Hall　as　well。　Lelaine　knew　that；　and　Romanda。　Lelaine　had　been　a　Sitter　for　nearly　forty　years；　with　access　to　all　the　hidden　records。　Before　resigning　to　go　into　a　country　retreat；　as　many　sisters　did　in　age；　Romanda　had　held　a　chair　for　the　Yellow　so　long　that　some　said　she　had　had　as　much　power　as　any　Amyrlin　she　sat　under。　Being　chosen　to　sit　a　second　time　was　nearly　unheard　of；　but　Romanda　was　not　one　to　let　power　reside　anywhere　outside　her　own　hands　if　she　could　manage。
　　　No；　they　were　not　blind；　just　afraid。　Everybody　was；　including　her；　and　even　Aes　Sedai　did　not　always　think　clearly　when　they　were　afraid。　She　refolded　the　pages；　wanting　to　crumple　them　up　and　stamp　her　feet　on　them。　Her　head　was　going　to　burst。
　　　〃May　I　e　in；　Mother？〃　Halima　Saranov　swayed　into　the　tent　without　waiting　for　an　answer。　The　way　Halima　moved　always　drew　every　male　eye　from　age　twelve　to　two　days　past　the　grave；　but　then；　if　she　hid　herself　in　a　heavy　cloak　from　the　shoulders　down；　men　still　would　stare。　Long　black　hair；　glistening　as　if　she　washed　it　every　day　in　fresh　rainwater；　framed　a　face　that　made　sure　of　that。　〃Delana　Sedai　thought　you　might　want　to　see　this。　She's　putting　it　before　the　Hall　this　morning。〃
　　　The　Hall　was　sitting　without　so　much　as　informing　her？　Well；　she　had　been　away；　but　custom　if　not　law　said　the　Amyrlin　must　be　informed　before　the　Hall　could　sit。　Unless　they　were　sitting　to　depose　her；　anyway。　At　that　moment；　she　would　almost　have　taken　it　as　a　blessing。　She　eyed　the　folded　sheet　of　paper　Halima　laid　on　her　table　much　as　she　would　a　poisonous　snake。　Not　sealed；　the　newest　novice　could　read　it；　so　far　as　Delana　was　concerned。　The　declaration　that　Elaida　was　a　Darkfriend；　of　course。　Not　quite　as　bad　as　Romanda　or　Lelaine；　but　if　she　heard　the　Hall　had　broken　up　in　a　riot；　she　would　hardly　blink。
　　　〃Halima；　I　could　wish　you'd　gone　home　when　Cabriana　died。〃　Or　at　least　that　Delana　had　had　the　sense　to　seal　the　woman's　information　to　the　Hall。　Or　even　to　the　Flame。　Instead　of　telling　every　sister　she　could　collar。
　　　〃I　could　hardly　do　that；　Mother。〃　Halima's　green　eyes　flashed　with　what　seemed　challenge　or　defiance；　but　she　only　had　two　ways　to　look　at　anyone；　a　wide；　direct　stare　that　dared　and　a　lidded　gaze　that　smoldered。　Her　eyes　caused　a　lot　of　misunderstanding。　〃After　Cabriana　Sedai　told　me　what　she'd　learned　about　Elaida？　And　her　plans？　Cabriana　was　my　friend；　and　friend　to　you；　to　all　of　you　opposing　Elaida；　so　I　had　no　choice。　I　only　thank　the　Light　she　mentioned　Salidar；　so　I　knew　where　to　e。〃　She　put　her　hands　on　a　waist　as　small　as　Egwene's　had　been　in　Tel'aran'rhiod　and　tilted　her　head　to　one　side；　studying　Egwene　intently。　〃Your　brain　is　hurting　again；　isn't　it？　Cabriana　used　to　have　such　pains；　so　bad　they　made　her　toes　cramp。　She　had　to　soak　in　hot　water　till　she　could　bear　to　put　on　clothes。　It　took　days；　sometimes。　If　I　hadn't　e；　yours　could　have　gotten　that　bad　eventually。〃　Moving　around　behind　the　chair；　she　began　kneading　Egwene's　scalp。　Halima's　fingers　possessed　a　skill　that　melted　pain　away。　〃You　could　hardly　ask　another　sister　for　Healing　as　often　as　you　have　these　aches。　It's　just　tightness；　anyway。　I　can　feel　it。〃
　　　〃I　suppose　I　couldn't；〃　Egwene　murmured。　She　rather　liked　the　woman；　whatever　anyone　said；　and　not　just　for　her　talent　in　smoothing　away　headaches。　Halima　was　earthy　and　open；　a　country　woman　however　much　time　she　had　spent　gaining　a　skim　of　city　sophistication；　balancing　respect　for　the　Amyrlin　with　a　sort　of　neighborliness　in　a　way　Egwene　found　refreshing。　Startling；