rj.theshadowrising-第136节

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　　　　　　　〃I　will。　When　I　have　time。〃　She　had　been　in　Tel'aran'rhiod　too　long　already。　〃Elayne；　if　I　am　not　here　when　we　are　supposed　to　meet　next；　don't　worry。　I　will　try；　but　I　may　not　be　able　to　e。　Be　sure　to　tell　Nynaeve。　If　I　do　not　e；　check　every　night　thereafter。　I　won't　be　more　than　one　or　two　late；　I'm　sure。〃
　　　　　　　〃If　you　say　so；〃　Elayne　said　doubtfully。　〃It　will　surely　take　weeks　to　find　out　if　Liandrin　and　the　others　are　in　Tanchico　or　not。　Thom　seems　to　think　the　city　will　be　very　confused。〃　Her　eyes　went　to　Callandor；　driven　half　its　length　into　the　floor。　〃Why　did　he　do　that；　do　you　think？〃
　　　　　　　〃He　said　it　will　hold　the　Tairens　to　him。　As　long　as　they　know　it's　there；　they　have　to　know　he　is　ing　back。　Maybe　he　knows　what　he　is　talking　about。　I　hope　so。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh。　I　thought。。。　perhaps　he。。。　was　angry　about。。。　something。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　frowned　at　her。　This　sudden　diffidence　was　not　like　Elayne　at　all。　〃Angry　about　what？〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　nothing。　It　was　just　a　thought。　Egwene；　I　gave　him　two　letters　before　leaving　Tear。　Do　you　know　how　he　took　them？〃
　　　　　　　〃No；　I　don't。　Did　you　say　something　you　think　might　have　angered　him？〃
　　　　　　　〃Of　course　not。〃　Elayne　laughed　gaily；　it　sounded　forced。　Her　dress　was　suddenly　dark　wool；　stout　enough　for　a　hard　winter。　〃I　would　have　to　be　a　fool　to　write　things　to　make　him　angry。〃　Her　hair　sprang　up　in　all　directions；　like　a　crazed　crown。　She　was　not　aware　of　it。　〃I　am　trying　to　make　him　love　me；　after　all。　Just　trying　to　make　him　love　me。　Oh；　why　can't　men　be　simple？　Why　do　they　have　to　cause　such　difficulties？　At　least　he's　away　from　Berelain。〃　The　wool　became　silk　again；　cut　even　lower　than　before；　her　hair　made　shimmers　on　her　shoulders　to　shame　the　gown's　sheen。　She　hesitated；　nibbling　her　lower　lip。　〃Egwene？　If　you　find　the　chance；　would　you　tell　him　I　meant　what　I　said　in　…　Egwene？　Egwene！〃
　　　　　　　Something　snatched　Egwene。　The　Heart　of　the　Stone　dwindled　into　blackness　as　if　she　were　being　hauled　away　by　the　scruff　of　her　neck。
　
　　　　　　　With　a　gasp；　Egwene　started　awake；　heart　pounding；　staring　up　the　low　roof　of　the　night…darkened　tent　over　her　head。　Only　a　little　moonlight　crept　in　at　the　open　sides。　She　lay　under　her　blankets　…　the　Waste　was　as　cold　at　night　as　it　was　hot　during　the　day；　and　the　brazier　that　exuded　the　sweetish　smell　of　dried　dung　burning　gave　little　warmth　…　beneath　her　blankets　right　where　she　had　lain　down　to　sleep。　But　…　what　had　pulled　her　back？
　　　　　　　Abruptly　she　became　aware　of　Amys；　sitting　cross…legged　beside　her；　cloaked　in　shadows。　The　Wise　One's　murk…shrouded　face　seemed　as　dark　and　foreboding　as　the　night。
　　　　　　　〃Did　you　do　that；　Amys？〃　she　said　angrily。　〃You　have　no　right　to　just　haul　me　about。　I　am　Aes　Sedai　of　the　Green　Ajah。。。　〃　The　lie　came　easily　to　her　lips　now　〃。　。　。　and　you　have　no　right　…〃
　　　　　　　Amys　cut　her　off　With　a　grim　voice。　〃Beyond　the　Dragonwall；　in　the　White　Tower；　you　are　Aes　Sedai。　Here；　you　are　an　ignorant　pupil；　a　fool　child　crawling　through　a　den　of　vipers。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know　I　said　I　would　not　go　to　Tel'aran'rhiod　without　you；〃　Egwene　said；　trying　to　sound　reasonable；　〃but　…〃
　　　　　　　Something　seized　her　ankles；　hauled　her　feet　into　the　air；　blankets　tumbled　away；　her　shift　dropped　to　bunch　in　her　armpits。　Upside　down；　she　hung　with　her　face　level　with　that　of　Amys。　Furious；　she　opened　herself　to　saidar　…　and　found　herself　blocked。
　　　　　　　〃You　wanted　to　go　off　alone；〃　Amys　hissed　softly。　〃You　were　warned；　but　you　had　to　go。〃　Her　eyes　seemed　to　glow　in　the　dark；　brighter　and　brighter。　〃Never　a　care　for　what　might　be　waiting。　There　are　things　in　dreams　to　shatter　the　bravest　heart。〃　Around　eyes　like　blue　coals；　her　face　melted；　stretched。　Scales　sprouted　where　skin　had　been；　her　jaws　thrust　out；　lined　with　sharp　teeth。　〃Things　to　eat　the　bravest　heart；〃　she　growled。
　　　　　　　Screaming；　Egwene　battered　vainly　at　the　shield　holding　her　from　the　True　Source。　She　tried　to　beat　at　that　horrible　face；　at　the　thing　that　could　not　be　Amys；　but　something　gripped　her　wrists；　stretched　her　taut　and　quivering　in　midair。　All　she　could　do　was　shriek　as　those　jaws　closed　around　her　face。
　　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　Screaming；　Egwene　sat　up；　clutching　at　her　blankets。　With　an　effort　she　managed　to　snap　her　mouth　shut；　but　she　could　do　nothing　about　the　shudders　that　racked　her。　She　was　in　the　tent　…　or　was　she？　There　was　Amys；　cross…legged　in　the　shadows；　glowing　with　saidar　…　or　was　it　she？　Desperately；　she　opened　herself　to　the　Source；　and　nearly　howled　when　she　found　the　barrier　again。　Tossing　the　blankets　aside；　she　scrambled　across　the　layered　rugs　on　bands　and　knees；　scattered　her　neatly　folded　clothes　with　both　hands。　She　had　a　belt　knife。　Where　was　it？　Where？　There！
　　　　　　　〃Sit　down；〃　Amys　said　acerbically；　〃before　I　dose　you　for　vapors　and　fidgets。　You　will　not　like　the　taste。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　twisted　around　on　her　knees；　the　short　knife　held　in　both　hands；　they　would　have　trembled　if　not　clutched　together　around　the　hilt。　〃Is　it　really　you　this　time？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　myself；　now　and　also　then。　Sharp　lessons　are　the　best　lessons。　Do　you　mean　to　stab　me？〃
　　　　　　　Hesitating；　Egwene　sheathed　the　knife。　〃You　have　no　right　to　…〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　every　right！　You　gave　me　your　word。　I　did　not　know　Aes　Sedai　could　lie。　If　I　am　to　teach　you；　I　must　know　you　will　do　as　I　say。　I　will　not　watch　a　pupil　of　mine　cut　her　own　throat！〃　Amys　sighed；　the　glow　around　her　vanished；　and　so　did　the　barrier　between　Egwene　and　saidar。　〃I　cannot　shield　you　any　longer。　You　are　far　stronger　than　I。　In　the　One　Power；　you　are。　You　very　nearly　battered　down　my　shield。　But　if　you　cannot　keep　your　word；　I　do　not　know　that　I　want　to　instruct　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　keep　my　word；　Amys。　I　promise　I　will。　But　I　have　to　meet　with　my　friends；　in　Tel'aran'rhiod。　I　promised　them；　too。　Amys；　they　might　need　my　help；　my　advice。〃　Amys's　face　was　not　easy　to　make　out　in　the　darkness；　but　Egwene　did　not　see　any　softening。　〃Please；　Amys。　You've　taught　me　so　much　already。　I　think　I　could　find　them　wherever　they　are；　now。　Please；　don't　stop　when　there　is　so　much　yet　for　me　to　learn。　Whatever　you　want　me　to　do；　I　will。〃
　　　　　　　〃Braid　your　hair；〃　Amys　said　in　a　flat　tone。
　　　　　　　〃My　hair？〃　Egwene　said　uncertainly。　It　would　certainly　be　no　inconvenience；　but　why？　She　wore　it　loose　now；　falling　below　her　shoulders；　yet　it　was　not　that　long　ago　that　she　had　almost　burst　with　pride　on　the　day　the　Women's　Circle　back　home　had　said　she　was　old　enough　to　put　her　hair　in　a　braid　like　the　one　Nynaeve　still　wore。　In　the　Two　Rivers；　a　braid　said　you　were　old　enough　to　be　considered　a　woman。
　　　　　　　〃One　over　each　ear。〃　Amys's　voice　was　still　like　a　flat　rock。　〃If　you　have　no　ribbon　to　twine　in　the　braids；　I　will　give　you　some。　That　is　how　little　girls　wear　their　hair　among　us。　Girls　too　young　to　be　held　to　their　word。　When　you　prove　to　me　that　you　can　keep　yours；　you　can　stop　wearing　it　so。　But　if　you　lie　to　me　again；　I　will　make　you　cut　your　skirts　off　short；　like　little　girls'　dresses；　and　find　you　a　doll　to　carry。　When　you　decide　to　behave　as　a　woman；　you　will　be　treated　as　a　woman。　Agree　to　it；　or　I　will　teach　you　no　more。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　agree　if　you　will　acpany　me　when　I　must　meet　…〃
　　　　　　　〃Agree；　Aes　Sedai！　I　do　not　bargain　with　children；　or　those　who　cannot　keep　their　word。　You　will　do　as　I　say；　accept　what　I　choose　to　give；　and　no　more。　Or　else　go　off　and　get　yourself　killed　on　your　own。　I　…　will　…　not　…　aid　it！〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　was　glad　of　the　dark；　it　hid　her　scowl。　She　had　given　her　word；　but　this　was　all　so　unfair。　No　one　was　trying　to　hedge　Rand　around　with　silly　rules。　Well；　perhaps　he　was　different。　She　was　not　sure　she　wanted　to　trade　Amys's　edicts　for　Couladin's　desiring　to　put　a　spear　through　her；　in　any；　case。　Mat　would　certainly　not　put　up　with　other　people's　rules。　Yet　ta'veren　or　not；　Mat　had　nothing　to　learn；　all　he　had　to　do　was　be。　Very　likely　he　would　refuse　to　learn　anything　given　the　chance；　unless　it　had　to　do　with　gambling　or　raising　food。　She　wanted　to　learn。　Sometimes　it　seemed　an　unending　thirst；　however　much　she　absorbed；　she　could　not　quench　it。　That　still　did　not　make　it　fair。　Only　the　way　things　are；　she　thought　ruefully。
　　　　　　　〃I　agree；〃　she　said。　〃I　will　do　as　you　say；　accept　what　you　give；　and　no　more。〃
　　　　　　　〃Good。〃　After　a　long　pause；　as　if　waiting　to　see　whether　Egwene　wanted　to　say　more　…　she　wisely　held　her　tongue　…　Amys　added；　〃I　mean　to　be　hard　on　you；　Egwene；　but　not　without　purpose。　That　you　think　I　have　taught　you　much　already　only　shows　how　little　you　knew　to　begin。　You　have　a　strong　talent　for　the　dream；　very　likely　you　will　outstrip　any　of　us　by　far；　one　day。　But　if　you　do　not　learn　what　I　can　teach　you　…　what　we　four　can　all　teach　you　…　you　will　never　develop　that　talent　fully。　It　is　most　likely　you　will　not　live　long　enough　to　do　so。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　try；　Amys。〃　She　thought　she　managed　a　good　approximation　of　meekness。　Why　did　the　woman　not　say　what　she　wanted　to　hear？　If　Egwene　could　not　go　to　Tel'aran'rhiod　alone；　then　Amys　had　to　e；　too；　when　she　next　met　Elayne。　Or　it　might　be　Nynaeve；　next　time。
　　　　　　　〃Good。　Do　you　have　anything　else　to　say？〃
　　　　　　　〃No；　Amys。〃
　　　　　　　The　pause　was　longer　this　time；　Egwene　waited　as　patientl