rj.thegreathunt-第126节

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　feel　sorry　for　him。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　slumped　back　against　the　wall。　Rand。　Logain　always　made　her　think　of　Rand。　She　had　not　dreamed　about　him　in　months；　now；　not　the　kind　of　dreams　she　had　had　on　the　River　Queen。　Anaiya　still　made　her　write　down　everything　she　dreamed；　and　the　Aes　Sedai　checked　them　for　signs；　or　connections　to　events；　but　there　was　never　anything　about　Rand　except　dreams　that；　Anaiya　said；　meant　she　missed　him。　Oddly；　she　felt　almost　as　if　he　were　not　there　any　longer；　as　if　he　had　ceased　to　exist；　along　with　her　dreams；　a　few　weeks　after　reaching　the　White　Tower。　And　I　sit　thinking　about　how　nicely　Galad　walks；　she　thought　bitterly。　Rand　has　to　be　all　right。　If　he'd　been　caught　and　gentled；　I'd　have　heard　something。
　　　　　　　That　sent　a　chill　through　her；　as　it　never　failed　to　do；　the　thought　of　Rand　being　gentled；　Rand　weeping　and　wanting　to　die　as　Logain　did。
　　　　　　　Elayne　sat　down　beside　her　on　the　bed；　tucking　her　feet　up　under　her。　〃If　you　are　mooning　over　Galad；　Egwene；　you　will　have　no　sympathy　from　me。　I'll　have　Nynaeve　dose　you　with　one　of　those　horrible　concoctions　she's　always　talking　about。〃　She　frowned　at　Nynaeve；　who　had　taken　no　notice　of　her　entrance。　〃What　is　the　matter　with　her？　Don't　tell　me　she　has　started　sighing　after　Galad；　too！〃
　　　　　　　〃I　wouldn't　bother　her。〃　Min　leaned　toward　the　two　of　them　and　lowered　her　voice。　〃That　skinny　Accepted　Irella　told　her　she　was　as　clumsy　as　a　cow　and　had　half　the　Talents；　and　Nynaeve　clouted　her　ear。〃　Elayne　winced。　〃Exactly；〃　Min　murmured。　〃They　had　her　up　to　Sheriam's　study　before　you　could　blink；　and　she　hasn't　been　fit　to　live　with　since。〃
　　　　　　　Apparently　Min　had　not　dropped　her　voice　enough；　for　there　was　a　growl　from　Nynaeve。　Suddenly　the　door　whipped　open　once　more；　and　a　gale　howled　into　the　room。　It　did　not　ruffle　the　blankets　on　Egwene's　bed；　but　Min　and　the　stool　toppled；　to　roll　against　the　wall。　Immediately　the　wind　died；　and　Nynaeve　stood　with　a　stricken　look　on　her　face。
　　　　　　　Egwene　hurried　to　the　door　and　peeked　out。　The　noonday　sun　was　burning　off　the　last　reminders　of　last　night's　rainstorm。　The　still…damp　balcony　around　the　Novices'　Court　was　empty；　the　long　row　of　doors　to　novices'　rooms　all　shut。　The　novices　who　had　taken　advantage　of　the　freeday　to　enjoy　themselves　in　the　gardens　were　no　doubt　catching　up　on　their　sleep。　No　one　could　have　seen。　She　closed　the　door　and　took　her　place　beside　Elayne　again　as　Nynaeve　helped　Min　to　her　feet。
　　　　　　　〃I'm　sorry；　Min；〃　Nynaeve　said　in　a　tight　voice。　〃Sometimes　my　temper　。。。　I　can't　ask　you　to　forgive　me；　not　for　this。〃　She　took　a　deep　breath。　〃If　you　want　to　report　me　to　Sheriam；　I　will　understand。　I　deserve　it。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　wished　she　had　not　heard　that　admission；　Nynaeve　could　grow　prickly　over　such　things。　Searching　for　something　on　which　to　focus；　something　Nynaeve　could　believe　she　had　had　her　attention　on；　she　found　herself　touching　saidar　once　more；　and　began　juggling　the　balls　of　light　again。　Elayne　quickly　joined　her；　Egwene　saw　the　glow　form　around　the　Daughter…Heir　even　before　three　tiny　balls　appeared　above　her　hands。　They　began　to　pass　the　little　glowing　spheres　back　and　forth　in　increasingly　intricate　patterns。　Sometimes　one　winked　out　as　one　girl　or　the　other　failed　to　maintain　it　as　it　came　to　her；　then　winked　back　a　little　altered　in　color　or　size。
　　　　　　　The　One　Power　filled　Egwene　with　life。　She　smelled　the　faint　rose　aroma　of　soap　from　Elayne's　morning　bath。　She　could　feel　the　rough　plaster　of　the　walls；　the　smooth　stones　of　the　floor；　as　well　as　she　could　the　bed　where　she　sat。　She　could　hear　Min　and　Nynaeve　breathe；　much　less　their　quiet　words。
　　　　　　　〃If　it　es　to　forgiving；〃　Min　said；　〃maybe　you　should　forgive　me。　You　have　a　temper；　and　I　have　a　big　mouth。　I　will　forgive　you　if　you　forgive　me。〃　With　murmurs　of　〃forgiven〃　that　sounded　meant　on　both　sides；　the　two　women　hugged。　〃But　if　you　do　it　again；〃　Min　said　with　a　laugh；　〃I　might　clout　your　ear。〃
　　　　　　　〃Next　time；〃　Nynaeve　replied；　〃I　will　throw　something　at　you。〃　She　was　laughing；　too；　but　her　laughter　ceased　abruptly　as　her　eye　fell　on　Egwene　and　Elayne。　〃You　two　stop　that；　or　there　will　be　someone　going　to　the　Mistress　of　Novices。　Two　someones。〃
　　　　　　　〃Nynaeve；　you　wouldn't！〃　Egwene　protested。　When　she　saw　the　look　in　Nynaeve's　eyes；　though；　she　hastily　severed　all　contact　with　saidar。　〃Very　well。　I　believe　you。　There's　no　need　to　prove　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　have　to　practice；〃　Elayne　said。　〃They　ask　more　and　more　of　us。　If　we　did　not　practice　on　our　own；　we　would　never　keep　up。〃　Her　face　showed　calm　posure；　but　she　had　let　go　of　saidar　as　hastily　as　Egwene　herself　had。
　　　　　　　〃And　what　happens　when　you　draw　too　much；〃　Nynaeve　asked；　〃and　there's　no　one　there　to　stop　you？　I　wish　you　were　more　afraid。　I　am。　Don't　you　think　I　know　what　it　is　like　for　you？　It's　always　there；　and　you　want　to　fill　yourself　with　it。　Sometimes　it　is　all　I　can　do　to　make　myself　stop；　I　want　all　of　it。　I　know　it　would　burn　me　to　a　crisp；　and　I　want　it　anyway。〃　She　shivered。　〃I　just　wish　you　were　more　afraid。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　afraid；〃　Egwene　said　with　a　sigh。　〃I'm　terrified。　But　it　doesn't　seem　to　help。　What　about　you；　Elayne？〃
　　　　　　　〃The　only　thing　that　terrifies　me；〃　Elayne　said　airily；　〃is　washing　dishes。　It　seems　as　if　I　have　to　wash　dishes　every　day。〃　Egwene　threw　her　pillow　at　her。　Elayne　pulled　it　off　her　head　and　threw　it　back；　but　then　her　shoulders　slumped。　〃Oh；　very　well。　I　am　so　scared　I　don't　know　why　my　teeth　are　not　chattering。　Elaida　told　me　I'd　be　so　frightened　that　I　would　want　to　run　away　with　the　Traveling　People；　but　I　did　not　understand。　A　man　who　drove　oxen　as　hard　as　they　drive　us　would　be　shunned。　I　am　tired　all　the　time。　I　wake　up　tired　and　go　to　bed　exhausted；　and　sometimes　I'm　so　afraid　that　I　will　slip　and　channel　more　of　the　Power　than　I　can　handle　that　I　。。。〃　Peering　into　her　lap；　she　let　the　words　trail　off。
　　　　　　　Egwene　knew　what　she　had　not　spoken。　Their　rooms　lay　right　next　to　each　other；　and　as　in　many　of　the　novice　rooms；　a　small　hole　had　long　ago　been　bored　through　the　wall　between；　too　small　to　be　seen　unless　you　knew　where　to　look；　but　useful　for　talk　after　the　lamps　were　extinguished；　when　the　girls　could　not　leave　their　rooms。　Egwene　had　heard　Elayne　crying　herself　to　sleep　more　than　once；　and　she　had　no　doubt　that　Elayne　had　heard　her　own　crying。
　　　　　　　〃The　Traveling　People　are　tempting；〃　Nynaeve　agreed；　〃but　wherever　you　go；　it　will　not　change　what　you　can　do。　You　cannot　run　from　saidar。〃　She　did　not　sound　as　if　she　liked　what　she　was　saying。
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　see；　Min？〃　Elayne　said。　〃Are　we　all　going　to　be　powerful　Aes　Sedai；　or　will　we　spend　the　rest　of　our　lives　washing　dishes　as　novices；　or　。。。〃　She　shrugged　unfortably　as　if　she　did　not　want　to　voice　the　third　alternative　that　came　to　mind。　Sent　home。　Put　out　of　the　Tower。　Two　novices　had　been　put　out　since　Egwene　came；　and　everyone　spoke　of　them　in　whispers；　as　if　they　were　dead。
　　　　　　　Min　shifted　on　her　stool。　〃I　don't　like　reading　friends；〃　she　muttered。　〃Friendship　gets　in　the　way　of　the　reading。　It　makes　me　try　to　put　the　best　face　on　what　I　see。　That's　why　I　don't　do　it　for　you　three　anymore。　Anyway；　nothing　has　changed　about　you　that　I　can　。。。〃　She　squinted　at　them；　and　suddenly　frowned。　〃That's　new；〃　she　breathed。
　　　　　　　〃What？〃　Nynaeve　asked　sharply。
　　　　　　　Min　hesitated　before　answering。　〃Danger。　You　are　all　in　some　kind　of　danger。　Or　you　will　be；　very　soon。　I　can't　make　it　out；　but　it　is　danger。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　see；〃　Nynaeve　said　to　the　two　girls　sitting　on　the　bed。　〃You　must　take　care。　We　all　must。　You　must　both　promise　not　to　channel　again　without　someone　to　guide　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　want　to　talk　about　it　anymore；〃　Egwene　said。
　　　　　　　Elayne　nodded　eagerly。　〃Yes。　Let's　talk　about　something　else。　Min；　if　you　put　on　a　dress；　I'll　wager　Gawyn　would　ask　you　to　go　walking　with　him。　You　know　he's　been　looking　at　you；　but　I　think　the　breeches　and　the　man's　coat　put　him　off。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　dress　the　way　I　like；　and　I　won't　change　for　a　lord；　even　if　he　is　your　brother。〃　Min　spoke　absently；　still　squinting　at　them　and　frowning；　it　was　a　conversation　they　had　had　before。　〃Sometimes　it　is　useful　to　pass　as　a　boy。〃
　　　　　　　〃No　one　who　looks　twice　believes　you　are　a　boy。〃　Elayne　smiled。
　　　　　　　Egwene　was　unfortable。　Elayne　was　forcing　a　semblance　of　gaiety；　Min　was　hardly　paying　attention；　and　Nynaeve　looked　as　if　she　wanted　to　warn　them　again。When　the　door　swung　open　once　more；　Egwene　bounded　to　her　feet　to　close　it；　grateful　for　something　to　do　besides　watch　the　others　pretend。　Before　she　reached　it；　though；　a　dark…eyed　Aes　Sedai　with　her　blond　hair　done　in　a　multitude　of　braids　stepped　into　the　room。　Egwene　blinked　in　surprise；　as　much　at　it　being　any　Aes　Sedai　as　at　Liandrin。　She　had　not　heard　that　Liandrin　had　returned　to　the　White　Tower；　but　beyond　that；　novices　were　sent　for　if　an　Aes　Sedai　wanted　them；　it　could　mean　no　good；　a　sister　ing　herself。
　　　　　　　The　room　was　crowded　with　five　women　in　it。　Liandrin　paused　to　adjust　her　red…fringed　shawl；　eyeing　them。　Min　did　not　move；　but　Elayne　rose；　and　the　three　standing　curtsied；　though　Nynaeve　barely　flexed　her　knee。　Egwene　did　not　think　Nynaeve　would　ever　grow　used　to　havi