rj.thepathofdaggers-第116部分

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　to　repeat　that　vile　litany　every　day。　〃I　will　do　as　I　am　told；〃　she　said　at　last；　in　a　flat　voice。　She　was　the　Amyrlin　Seat！　〃I　will　speak　the　words　you　tell　me　to　speak；　and　no　more。〃　Her　Foretelling　ordained　her　triumph；　but；　oh；　Light；　let　it　e　soon！　〃I　will　sign　what　you　tell　me　to　sign；　and　nothing　else。　I　am。。。　〃　She　choked　over　the　last。　〃I　am　obedient　to　your　will。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　sound　as　if　you　need　to　be　reminded　of　the　truth　of　that；〃　Alviarin　said　with　another　sigh。　〃I　suppose　I've　left　you　alone　too　long。〃　She　tapped　the　parchment　with　a　peremptory　finger。　〃Sign。〃
　　　　　　　Elaida　signed；　dragging　the　pen　across　the　parchment。　There　was　nothing　else　she　could　do。
　　　　　　　Alviarin　barely　waited　for　the　pen's　nib　to　lift　before　snatching　up　the　decree。　〃I　will　seal　this　myself；〃　she　said；　heading　for　the　door。　〃I　shouldn't　have　left　the　Amyrlin's　seal　where　you　could　find　it。　I　want　to　talk　to　you　later。　I　have　left　you　to　yourself　too　long。　Be　here　when　I　return。〃
　　　　　　　〃Later？〃　Elaida　said。　〃When？　Alviarin？　Alviarin？〃
　　　　　　　The　door　closed　behind　the　woman；　leaving　Elaida　to　fume。　Be　there　when　Alviarin　returned！　Confined　to　her　quarters　like　a　novice　in　the　punishment　cells！
　　　　　　　For　a　time　she　fingered　her　correspondence　box；　with　its　golden　hawks　fighting　among　white　clouds　in　a　blue　sky；　yet　she　could　not　make　herself　open　it。　With　Alviarin　gone；　that　box　had　begun　once　more　to　hold　letters　and　reports　of　importance；　not　just　the　table　scraps　Alviarin　let　fall　to　her；　yet　with　the　woman's　return；　it　might　as　well　have　been　empty。　Rising；　she　began　rearranging　the　roses　in　their　white　vases；　each　atop　a　white　marble　plinth　in　a　corner　of　the　room。　Blue　roses；　the　most　rare。
　　　　　　　Abruptly　she　realized　that　she　was　staring　at　a　broken　rose　stem　in　her　hands；　snapped　in　two。　Half　a　dozen　more　littered　the　floor　tiles。　She　made　a　vexed　sound　in　her　throat。　She　had　been　thinking　of　her　hands　around　Alviarin's　throat。　It　was　not　the　first　time　she　had　considered　killing　the　woman。　But　Alviarin　would　have　taken　precautions。　Sealed　documents；　to　be　opened　should　anything　untoward　happen；　had　no　doubt　been　left　with　the　last　sisters　Elaida　would　suspect。　That　had　been　her　one　real　worry　during　Alviarin's　absence；　that　someone　else　might　think　the　woman　dead；　and　e　forward　with　the　evidence　that　would　drag　the　stole　from　her　shoulders。　Sooner　or　later；　though；　one　way　or　another；　Alviarin　was　finished；　as　surely　as　those　roses　were　…
　　　　　　　〃You　didn't　answer　my　knock；　Mother；　so　I　came　on　in；〃　a　woman　said　gruffly　behind　her。
　　　　　　　Elaida　turned；　ready　to　flay　with　her　tongue；　but　at　the　sight　of　the　stocky；　square…faced　woman　in　a　red…fringed　shawl　standing　just　inside　the　room；　the　blood　drained　from　her　own　cheeks。
　　　　　　　〃The　Keeper　said　you　wanted　to　speak　me；〃　Silviana　said　irritably。　〃About　a　private　penance。〃　Even　to　the　Amyrlin　Seat；　she　made　no　effort　to　hide　her　disgust。　Silviana　believed　private　penance　a　ridiculous　affectation。　Penance　was　public；　only　punishment　took　place　in　private。　〃She　also　asked　me　to　remind　you　of　something；　but　she　rushed　off　before　saying　what。〃　She　finished　with　a　snort。　Silviana　saw　anything　that　took　time　away　from　her　novices　and　Accepted　as　needless　interruption。
　　　　　　　〃I　think　I　remember；〃　Elaida　told　her　dully。
　　　　　　　When　Silviana　finally　left　…　after　only　half　an　hour　by　the　chimes　of　Cemaile's　clock；　yet　an　endless　eternity　…　all　that　kept　Elaida　from　calling　the　Hall　to　sit　immediately　so　she　could　demand　Alviarin　be　stripped　of　the　Keeper's　stole　were　the　certainty　of　her　Foretelling　and　the　certainty　that　Seaine　would　trace　that　trail　of　treason　back　to　Alviarin。　That；　and　the　sure　fact　that　whether　or　not　Alviarin　fell　in　the　confrontation；　she　herself　definitely　would。　So；　Elaida　do　Avriny　a'Roihan；　Watcher　of　the　Seals；　the　Flame　of　Tar　Valon；　the　Amyrlin　Seat；　surely　the　most　powerful　ruler　in　the　world；　lay　facedown　on　her　bed　and　blubbered　into　her　pillows；　too　tender　to　don　the　shift　that　lay　discarded　on　the　floor；　certain　that　when　Alviarin　returned；　the　woman　would　insist　on　her　sitting　through　the　entire　interview。　She　blubbered；　and　through　her　tears　she　prayed　for　Alviarin's　downfall　to　e　soon。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　〃I　did　not　tell　you　to　have　Elaida。。。　beaten；〃　that　voice　of　crystal　chimes　said。　〃Do　you　rise　above　yourself？〃
　　　　　　　Alviarin　flung　herself　from　her　knees　onto　her　belly　before　the　woman　who　seemed　made　of　dark　shadows　and　silvery　light。　Seizing　the　hem　of　Mesaana's　dress；　she　rained　kisses　on　it。　The　weave　of　Illusion　…　it　must　be　that；　though　she　could　not　see　a　single　thread　of　saidar　any　more　than　she　could　sense　the　ability　to　channel　in　the　woman　who　stood　over　her　…　did　not　hold　pletely；　with　her　frantically　shifting　the　skirt's　edge。　Flickers　of　bronze　silk　with　a　thin　border　of　intricately　embroidered　black　scrollwork　showed　through。
　　　　　　　〃I　live　to　serve　and　obey　you；　Great　Mistress；〃　Alviarin　panted　between　kisses。　〃I　know　that　I　am　among　the　lowest　of　the　low；　a　worm　in　your　presence；　and　I　pray　only　for　your　smile。〃　She　had　been　punished　once　for　〃rising　above　herself〃　…　not　for　disobedience；　thanks　be　to　the　Great　Lord　of　the　Dark！　…　and　she　knew　that　whatever　howls　Elaida　might　be　raising　right　then；　they　could　not　be　half　so　loud　as　her　own　had　been。
　　　　　　　Mesaana　let　the　kissing　go　on　for　some　time；　and　finally　signaled　an　end　by　tipping　Alviarin's　face　up　with　the　toe　of　a　slipper　beneath　the　chin。　〃The　decree　has　gone　out。〃　It　was　not　a　question；　but　Alviarin　answered　hastily。
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　Great　Mistress。　Copies　went　to　Northharbor　and　Southharbor　even　before　I　had　Elaida　sign。　The　first　couriers　have　gone；　and　no　merchant　will　leave　the　city　without　copies　to　distribute。〃　Mesaana　knew　all　that；　of　course。　She　knew　everything。　A　cramp　tightened　the　back　of　Alviarin's　awkwardly　craned　neck；　but　she　did　not　move。　Mesaana　would　tell　her　when　to　move。　〃Great　Mistress；　Elaida　is　an　empty　husk。　With　all　humility；　would　it　not　be　better　without　the　need　to　use　her？〃　She　held　her　breath。　Questions　could　be　dangerous；　with　the　Chosen。
　　　　　　　A　shadow…nailed　silvery　finger　tapped　silver　lips　pursed　in　an　amused　smile。　〃Better　if　you　wore　the　Amyrlin's　stole；　child？〃　Mesaana　said　at　last。　〃An　ambition　small　enough　to　fit　you；　but　all　in　its　time。　For　now；　I　have　a　tiny　task　for　you。　In　spite　of　all　the　walls　that　have　gone　up　between　the　Ajahs；　the　heads　of　the　Ajahs　seem　to　encounter　one　another　with　surprising　frequency。　By　chance；　they　make　it　seem。　All　but　the　Red；　at　least；　a　pity　Galina　got　herself　killed；　or　she　could　tell　you　what　they　are　about。　Very　probably　it　is　trivial；　but　you　will　learn　why　they　bare　teeth　at　one　another　in　public；　then　whisper　together　in　private。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　hear　and　obey；　Great　Mistress；〃　Alviarin　replied　promptly；　grateful　that　Mesaana　considered　it　unimportant。　The　great　〃secret〃　of　who　headed　the　Ajahs　was　none　to　her　…　every　Black　sister　was　required　to　relay　to　the　Supreme　Council　every　whisper　inside　her　supposed　Ajah　…　but　only　Galina　among　them　had　been　Black。　That　meant　querying　the　Black　sisters　among　the　Sitters；　which　meant　going　through　all　the　layers　between　them　and　her。　That　would　take　time；　and　without　any　certainty　of　success。　Except　for　Ferane　Neheran　and　Suana　Dragand；　who　were　the　heads　of　the　their　Ajahs；　Sitters　rarely　seemed　to　know　what　their　Ajah's　head　was　thinking　until　they　were　told。　〃I　will　tell　you　as　soon　as　I　learn；　Great　Mistress。〃
　　　　　　　But　she　did　file　away　a　tidbit　for　herself。　Trivial　matter　or　not；　Mesaana　did　not　know　everything　that　happened　in　the　White　Tower。　And　Alviarin　would　keep　her　eyes　open　for　a　sister　in　bronze　skirts　bordered　on　the　hem　in　black　scrollwork。　Mesaana　was　hiding　herself　in　the　Tower；　and　knowledge　was　power。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　
Chapter　26　
（Dragon's　Fang）　
The　Extra　Bit　
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　Seaine　strode　the　hallways　of　the　Tower　with　a　growing　sense　of　being　confounded　at　every　turn。　The　White　Tower　was　quite　large；　true；　but　she　had　been　at　this　for　hours。　She　very　much　wanted　to　be　snug　in　her　own　rooms。　Despite　casements　in　place　in　every　window；　drafts　drifted　along　the　broad；　tapestry…hung　corridors　and　made　the　stand…lamps　flicker。　Cold　drafts；　and　difficult　to　ignore　when　they　slipped　under　her　skirts。　Her　rooms　were　warm　and　fortable；　and　safe。
　　　　　　　Maids　bobbed　curtsies　and　manservants　bowed　in　her　wake；　half…seen　and　pletely　ignored。　Most　sisters　were　in　their　own　Ajahs'　quarters；　and　those　few　out　and　about　moved　with　wary　pride；　often　in　pairs；　always　of　the　same　Ajah；　shawls　spread　along　their　arms　and　displayed　like　banners。　She　smiled　and　nodded　pleasantly　to　Talene；　but　the　statuesque；　golden…haired　Sitter　returned　a　hard　stare；　beauty　carved　from　ice；　then　stalked　away　twitching　her　green…fringed　shawl。
　　　　　　　Too　late　now　to　approach　Talene　about　being　part　of　the　search；　even　had　Pevara　been　agreeable。　Pevara　counseled　caution；　then　more　caution；　and　truth　to　tell；　Seaine　was　more　than　willing　to　listen　under　the　circumstances。　It　was　just　that　Talene　was　a　friend。　Had　been　a　friend。
　　　　　　　Talene　was　not　the　worst。　Several　ordinary　sisters　sniffed　at　her　openly。　At　a　Sitter！　None　White；　of　course；　but　t