rj.acrownofswords-第9节

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　　　To　each　she　had　knelt；　saying　that　she　lived　to　serve　and　meaning　it；　obeying　as　they　manded；　whatever　the　mand。　After　all；　they　stood　only　a　step　below　the　Great　Lord　of　the　Dark　himself；　and　if　she　wanted　the　rewards　of　her　service；　the　immortality　it　seemed　they　already　possessed；　it　was　well　to　obey。　To　each　she　knelt；　and　only　Mesaana　had　appeared　with　an　inhuman　face。　This　cloak　of　shadow　and　light　must　be　woven　with　the　One　Power；　but　Alviarin　could　see　no　weave。　She　had　felt　the　strength　of　Lanfear　and　Graendal；　had　known　from　the　first　instant　how　much　stronger　in　the　Power　they　were　than　she；　but　in　Mesaana　she　sensed。。。　nothing。　As　if　the　woman　could　not　channel　at　all。
　　　The　logic　was　clear；　and　stunning。　Mesaana　hid　herself　because　she　might　be　recognized。　She　must　reside　in　the　Tower　itself。　On　the　face　of　it；　that　seemed　impossible；　yet　nothing　else　fit。　Given　that；　she　must　be　one　of　the　sisters；　surely　she　was　not　among　servants；　bound　to　labor　and　sweat。　But　who？　Too　many　women　had　been　out　of　the　Tower　for　years　before　Elaida's　summons；　too　many　had　no　close　friends；　or　none　at　all。　Mesaana　must　be　one　of　those。　Alviarin　very　much　wanted　to　know。　Even　if　she　could　make　no　use　of　it；　knowledge　was　power。
　　　〃So　our　Elaida　has　had　a　Foretelling；〃　Mesaana　chimed；　and　Alviarin　realized　with　a　start　that　she　had　reached　the　end　of　her　recital。　Her　knees　hurt；　but　she　knew　better　than　to　rise　without　permission。　A　finger　of　shadow　tapped　silver　lips　thoughtfully。　Had　she　seen　any　sister　make　that　gesture？　〃Strange　that　she　should　be　so　clear　and　so　erratic　at　the　same　time。　It　was　always　a　rare　Talent；　and　most　who　had　it　spoke　so　only　poets　could　understand。　Usually　until　it　was　too　late　to　matter；　at　least。　Everything　always　became　clear　then。〃　Alviarin　kept　silent。　None　of　the　Chosen　conversed；　they　manded　or　demanded。　〃Interesting　predictions。　The　rebels　breaking　…　like　a　rotten　melon？　…　was　that　part　of　it？〃
　　　〃I　am　not　certain；　Great　Mistress；〃　she　said　slowly　…　had　it　been？　…　but　Mesaana　only　shrugged。
　　　〃Either　it　is　or　it　is　not；　and　either　way　can　be　used。〃
　　　〃She　is　dangerous；　Great　Mistress。　Her　Talent　could　reveal　what　should　not　be　revealed。〃
　　　Crystalline　laughter　answered　her。　〃Such　as？　You？　Your　Black　Ajah　sisters？　Or　perhaps　you　think　to　safeguard　me？　You　are　a　good　girl　sometimes；　child。〃　That　silvery　voice　was　amused。　Alviarin　felt　her　face　heat　and　hoped　that　Mesaana　read　the　shame；　not　the　anger。　〃Do　you　suggest　that　our　Elaida　should　be　disposed　of；　child？　Not　yet；　I　think。　She　has　her　uses　still。　At　least　until　young　al'Thor　reaches　us；　and　very　likely　after。　Write　out　her　orders　and　see　to　them。　Watching　her　play　her　little　games　is　certainly　amusing。　You　children　almost　match　the　ajah　at　times。　Will　she　succeed　in　having　the　King　of　Illian　and　the　Queen　of　Saldaea　kidnapped？　You　Aes　Sedai　used　to　do　that；　didn't　you；　but　not　for　…　what？　…　two　thousand　years？　Who　will　she　try　to　put　on　the　throne　of　Cairhien？　Will　the　offer　of　being　king　in　Tear　overe　the　High　Lord　Darlin's　dislike　of　Aes　Sedai？　Will　our　Elaida　choke　on　her　own　frustration　first？　A　pity　she　resists　the　idea　of　a　larger　army。　I'd　have　thought　her　ambitions　would　leap　at　that。〃
　　　The　interview　was　ing　to　a　close　…　they　never　lasted　longer　than　for　Alviarin　to　report　and　be　given　her　own　orders　…　but　she　had　a　question　yet　to　ask。　〃The　Black　Tower；　Great　Mistress。〃　Alviarin　wet　her　lips。　She　had　learned　much　since　Ishamael　appeared　to　her；　not　least　that　the　Chosen　were　neither　omnipotent　nor　all…knowing。　She　had　risen　because　Ishamael　killed　her　predecessor　in　his　wrath　at　discovering　what　Jarna　Malari　had　begun；　yet　it　had　not　ended　for　another　two　years；　after　the　death　of　another　Amyrlin。　She　often　wondered　whether　Elaida　had　had　any　hand　in　the　death　of　that　one；　Sierin　Vayu；　certainly　the　Black　Ajah　had　not。　Jarna　had　had　Tamra　Ospenya；　the　Amyrlin　before　Sierin；　squeezed　like　a　bunch　of　grapes　…　obtaining　little　juice；　as　it　turned　out　…　and　made　her　appear　to　have　died　in　her　sleep；　but　Alviarin　and　the　other　twelve　sisters　of　the　Great　Council　had　paid　in　pain　before　they　could　convince　Ishamael　they　had　no　responsibility　for　it。　The　Chosen　were　not　all…powerful；　and　they　did　not　know　everything；　yet　sometimes　they　knew　what　no　one　else　did。　Asking　could　be　dangerous；　though。　〃Why〃　was　the　most　dangerous；　the　Chosen　never　liked　to　be　asked　why。　〃Is　it　safe　to　send　fifty　sisters　to　deal　with　them；　Great　Mistress？〃
　　　Eyes　glowing　like　twin　full　moons　regarded　her　in　silence；　and　a　chill　slid　up　Alviarin's　spine。　Jarna's　fate　flashed　into　her　mind。　Publicly　Gray；　Jarna　had　never　shown　any　interest　in　the　ter'angreal　no　one　knew　a　use　for　…　until　the　day　she　became　snared　in　one　untried　for　centuries。　How　to　activate　it　remained　a　mystery　still。　For　ten　days　no　one　could　reach　her；　only　listen　to　her　throat…wrenching　shrieks。　Most　of　the　Tower　thought　Jarna　a　model　of　virtue；　when　what　could　be　recovered　was　buried；　every　sister　in　Tar　Valon　and　every　one　who　could　reach　the　city　in　time　attended　the　funeral。
　　　〃You　have　curiosity；　child；〃　Mesaana　said　finally。　〃That　can　be　an　asset；　properly　directed。　Wrongly　directed。。。　〃　The　threat　hung　in　the　air　like　a　gleaming　dagger。
　　　〃I　will　direct　it　as　you　mand；　Great　Mistress；〃　Alviarin　breathed　hoarsely。　Her　mouth　was　dry　as　dust。　〃Only　as　you　mand。〃　But　she　would　still　see　that　no　Black　sisters　went　with　Toveine。　Mesaana　moved；　looming　over　her　so　she　had　to　crane　her　neck　to　look　up　at　that　face　of　light　and　shadow；　and　suddenly　she　wondered　whether　the　Chosen　knew　her　thoughts。
　　　〃If　you　would　serve　me；　child；　then　you　must　serve　and　obey　me。　Not　Semirhage　or　Demandred。　Not　Graendal　or　anyone　else。　Only　me。　And　the　Great　Lord；　of　course；　but　me　above　all　save　him。〃
　　　〃I　live　to　serve　you；　Great　Mistress。〃　That　came　out　in　a　croak；　but　she　managed　to　emphasize　the　added　word。
　　　For　a　long　moment　silvery　eyes　stared　down　at　her　unblinking。　Then　Mesaana　said；　〃Good。　I　will　teach　you；　then。　But　remember　that　a　pupil　is　not　a　teacher。　I　choose　who　learns　what；　and　I　decide　when　they　can　make　use　of　it。　Should　I　find　you　have　passed　on　the　smallest　scrap　or　used　even　a　hair　of　it　without　my　direction；　I　will　extinguish　you。〃
　　　Alviarin　worked　moisture　back　into　her　mouth。　There　was　no　anger　in　those　chimes；　only　certainty。　〃I　live　to　serve　you；　Great　Mistress。　I　live　to　obey　you；　Great　Mistress。〃　She　had　just　learned　something　about　the　Chosen　that　she　could　hardly　credit。　Knowledge　was　power。
　　　〃You　have　a　little　strength；　child。　Not　much；　but　enough。〃
　　　A　weave　appeared　seemingly　from　nowhere。
　　　〃This；〃　Mesaana　chimed；　〃is　called　a　gateway。〃
　　　
　　　Pedron　Niall　grunted　as　Morgase　placed　a　white　stone　on　the　board　with　a　smile　of　triumph。　Lesser　players　might　set　two　dozen　more　stones　each　yet；　but　he　could　see　the　inevitable　course　now；　and　so　could　she。　In　the　beginning　the　golden…haired　woman　seated　on　the　other　side　of　the　small　table　had　played　to　lose；　to　make　the　game　close　enough　to　be　interesting　for　him；　but　it　had　not　taken　her　long　to　learn　that　that　led　to　obliteration。　Not　to　mention　that　he　was　clever　enough　to　see　through　the　subterfuge　and　would　not　tolerate　it。　Now　she　plied　all　her　skill　and　managed　to　win　nearly　half　their　games。　No　one　had　beaten　him　so　often　in　a　good　many　years。
　　　〃The　game　is　yours；〃　he　told　her；　and　the　Queen　of　Andor　nodded。　Well；　she　would　be　Queen　again；　he　would　see　to　that。　In　green　silk；　with　a　high　lace　collar　brushing　her　chin；　she　looked　every　inch　a　queen　despite　the　sheen　of　perspiration　on　her　smooth　cheeks。　She　hardly　appeared　old　enough　to　have　a　daughter　Elayne's　age；　though；　much　less　a　son　Gawyn's。
　　　〃You　did　not　realize　I　saw　the　trap　you　were　laying　from　your　thirty…first　stone；　Lord　Niall；　and　you　took　my　feint　from　the　forty…third　stone　to　be　my　real　attack。〃　Excitement　sparkled　in　her　blue　eyes；　Morgase　liked　to　win。　She　liked　playing　to　win。
　　　It　was　all　meant　to　lull　him；　of　course；　the　playing　at　stones；　the　politeness。　Morgase　knew　she　was　a　prisoner　in　the　Fortress　of　the　Light　in　all　but　name；　albeit　a　luxuriously　pampered　prisoner。　And　a　secret　one。　He　had　allowed　stories　of　her　presence　to　spread；　but　issued　no　proclamations。　Andor　had　too　strong　a　history　of　opposing　the　Children　of　the　Light。　He　would　announce　nothing　until　legions　moved　into　Andor；　with　her　their　figurehead。　Morgase　certainly　knew　that；　as　well。　Very　probably　she　also　knew　he　was　aware　of　her　attempts　to　soften　him。　The　treaty　she　had　signed　gave　the　Children　rights　in　Andor　they　had　never　possessed　anywhere　except　here　in　Amadicia；　and　he　expected　that　she　already　planned　how　to　lighten　his　hand　on　her　land；　how　to　remove　his　hand　altogether　as　soon　as　she　could。　She　had　only　signed　because　he　backed　her　into　a　corner；　yet　confined　in　that　corner；　she　fought　on　as　skillfully　as　she　maneuvered　on　a　stones　board。　For　one　so　beautiful；　she　was　a　tough　woman。　No；　she　was　tough；　and　that　was　that。　She　did　let　herself　be　caught　up　for　the　pure　pleasure　of　the　game；　but　he　could　not　count　that　a　fault　when　it　gave　him　so　many　pleasant　moments。