rj.thepathofdaggers-第26部分

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me　when　I。。。　when　I'm　acting　the　fool。　I　depend　on　you；　Elayne。〃　Her　voice　stayed　low；　but　her　tone　became　almost　a　wail。　〃I　can't　afford　to　lose　my　wits　in　a　man；　not　now。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　was　so　shocked；　she　could　not　speak　for　a　moment。　Nynaeve；　admitting　she　had　been　a　fool？　She　almost　looked　to　see　whether　the　sun　had　turned　green！　〃It　isn't　Lan's　fault；　and　you　know　it；　Nynaeve；〃　she　said　at　last。　She　pushed　away　memories　of　her　own　recent　thoughts　about　Rand。　This　was　not　the　same。　And　the　opportunity　was　a　gift　of　the　Light。　Tomorrow；　Nynaeve　would　likely　try　to　box　her　ears　if　she　said　Nynaeve　was　being　foolish。　〃Take　hold　of　yourself；　Nynaeve。　Stop　behaving　like　a　giddy　girl。〃　Definitely　not　thoughts　of　Rand！　She　had　not　been　mooning　over　him　that　badly！　〃You're　an　Aes　Sedai；　and　you　are　supposed　to　be　leading　us。　Lead！　And　think！〃
　　　　　　　Folding　her　hands　at　her　waist；　Nynaeve　actually　hung　her　head。　〃I'll　try；〃　she　mumbled。　〃I　will；　truly。　You　don't　know　what　it's　like；　though。　I。。。　I'm　sorry。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　nearly　swallowed　her　tongue。　Nynaeve；　apologizing　on　top　of　the　other？　Nynaeve；　abashed？　Maybe　she　was　ill。
　　　　　　　It　did　not　last；　of　course。　Abruptly　frowning　at　the　angreal；　Nynaeve　cleared　her　throat。　〃You　gave　one　to　Aviendha；　did　you？〃　she　said　briskly。　〃Well；　I　suppose　she's　all　right。　A　pity　we　have　to　let　the　Sea　Folk　use　one。　I'll　wager　they　try　to　hang　on　to　it！　Well；　just　let　them　try！　Which　one　is　mine？〃
　　　　　　　With　a　sigh；　Elayne　handed　her　the　bracelet…and…rings；　and　she　stalked　away；　fumbling　the　piece　of　jewelry　onto　her　left　hand　and　calling　loudly　for　everyone　to　take　their　places。　Sometimes；　it　was　difficult　to　tell　Nynaeve　leading　from　Nynaeve　bullying。　As　long　as　she　did　lead；　though。
　　　　　　　The　Bowl　of　the　Winds　sat　atop　its　unfolded　white　wrappings　in　the　center　of　the　hilltop；　a　shallow；　heavy　disc　of　clear　crystal　two　feet　across；　worked　inside　with　thick　swirling　clouds。　An　ornate　piece；　yet　simple　when　you　thought　of　what　it　could　do。　What　they　hoped　it　could　do。　Nynaeve　took　up　her　place　nearby；　the　angreal　finally　clicking　shut　on　her　wrist。　She　worked　her　hand；　looking　surprised　that　the　chains　did　not　seem　to　inconvenience　her；　it　fit　as　if　made　for　her　hand。　The　three　Kinswomen　were　already　there；　Kirstian　and　Garenia　huddling　at　Reanne's　back　and　appearing　more　frightened　than　ever；　if　that　was　possible。　The　Windfinders　still　stood　arrayed　behind　Renaile；　almost　twenty　paces　away。
　　　　　　　Lifting　her　divided　skirts；　Elayne　met　Aviendha　at　the　Bowl　and　eyed　the　Sea　Folk　suspiciously。　Did　they　intend　to　create　a　fuss？　She　had　been　afraid　of　exactly　that　from　the　first　mention　of　women　at　the　farm　who　might　be　strong　enough　to　join　the　link。　The　Atha'an　Miere　were　sticklers　for　rank　enough　to　shame　the　White　Tower；　and　Garenia's　presence　meant　that　Renaile　din　Calon　Blue　Star；　Windfinder　to　the　Mistress　of　the　Ships　to　the　Atha'an　Miere；　would　not　be　part　of　the　circle。　Should　not　be。
　　　　　　　Renaile　frowned　searchingly　at　the　women　around　the　Bowl。　She　seemed　to　be　weighing　them；　judging　their　capabilities。　〃Talaan　din　Gelyn；〃　she　barked　suddenly；　〃take　your　station！〃　It　was　like　a　whip…crack！　Even　Nynaeve　jumped。
　　　　　　　Talaan　bowed　low；　touching　her　heart；　then　ran　to　the　Bowl。　As　soon　as　she　moved；　Renaile　barked　again。　〃Metarra　din　Junalle；　take　your　station！〃　Metarra；　plump　yet　solid；　sped　on　Talaan's　heels。　Neither　apprentice　was　old　enough　to　have　earned　what　the　Sea　Folk　called　a　〃salt　name。〃
　　　　　　　Once　begun；　Renaile　rattled　off　names　quickly；　sending　Rainyn　and　two　other　Windfinders；　all　of　whom　moved　quickly；　yet　not　so　fast　as　the　apprentices。　By　the　number　of　their　medallions；　Naime　and　Rysael　were　higher　in　rank　than　Rainyn；　dignified　women　with　a　quiet　air　of　mand；　but　markedly　weaker。　Then　Renaile　paused；　only　for　a　heartbeat；　yet　in　that　rapid　listing　it　stood　out。　〃Tebreille　din　Gelyn　South　Wind；　take　your　station！　Caire　din　Gelyn　Running　Wave；　assume　the　mand！〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　felt　a　moment　of　relief　that　Renaile　had　not　named　herself；　but　it　lasted　about　as　long　as　Renaile's　pause　had。　Tereille　and　Caire　exchanged　one　look；　Tebreille　grim　and　Caire　smug；　before　moving　to　the　Bowl。　Eight　earrings　and　a　multitude　of　overlapping　medallions　marked　each　Windfinder　to　a　Clan　Wavemistress。　Only　Renaile　stood　above　them；　only　Dorile　among　the　Sea　Folk　on　the　hilltop　was　their　equal。　In　brocaded　yellow　silks；　Caire　was　slightly　the　taller；　Tebreille　in　brocaded　green　somewhat　sterner　of　face；　both　more　than　handsome　women；　and　it　did　not　take　their　names　to　know　them　blood　sisters。　They　had　the　same　big；　almost　black　eyes；　the　same　straight　nose；　the　same　strong　chin。　Caire　silently　pointed　to　a　spot　at　her　right　side；　Tebreille　did　not　speak　either；　nor　did　she　hesitate　in　standing　where　her　sister　pointed；　but　her　face　was　stone。　With　her；　a　circle　of　thirteen　women　surrounded　the　Bowl　nearly　shoulder…to…shoulder。　Caire's　eyes　almost　sparkled。　Tebreille's　were　leaden。　Elayne　was　reminded　of　another　of　Lini's　sayings。　No　knife　is　sharper　than　a　sister's　hate。
　　　　　　　Caire　glared　around　the　circle　of　women　surrounding　the　Bowl；　not　yet　truly　a　circle；　as　though　trying　to　fix　each　face　in　her　mind。　Or　maybe　to　fix　her　scowl　in　theirs。　Remembering　herself；　Elayne　hurriedly　passed　the　last　angreal；　the　small　amber　turtle；　to　Talaan　and　started　to　explain　how　it　was　used。　The　explanation　was　simple；　yet　anyone　who　tried　without　knowing　how　could　fumble　for　hours。　She　was　not　given　the　chance　for　five　words。
　　　　　　　〃Silence！〃　Caire　roared。　Tattooed　fists　on　her　hips　and　bare　feet　apart；　she　belonged　on　the　deck　of　a　ship　going　into　battle。　〃There　will　be　no　talking　on　station　without　my　permission。　Talaan；　report　yourself　immediately　on　returning　to　your　ship。〃　Nothing　in　Caire's　tone　suggested　that　she　was　speaking　to　her　own　daughter。　Talaan　bowed　deeply；　touching　her　heart；　and　murmured　something　inaudible。　Caire　snorted　contemptuously　…　and　gave　Elayne　a　glare　that　suggested　a　wish　that　she　could　order　her　to　report　herself　to　someone　as　well　…　before　going　on　in　a　voice　that　might　have　been　heard　at　the　base　of　the　hill。　〃Today；　we　shall　do　what　has　not　been　done　since　the　Breaking　of　the　World；　when　our　ancestors　fought　wind　and　wave　gone　mad。　By　the　Bowl　of　the　Winds　and　the　mercy　of　the　Light；　they　survived。　Today；　we　will　use　the　Bowl　of　the　Winds；　lost　to　us　for　more　than　two　thousand　years；　and　now　returned。　I　have　studied　the　ancient　lore；　studied　the　records　of　the　days　when　our　foremothers　first　learned　the　sea　and　the　Weaving　of　the　Winds；　and　the　salt　entered　our　blood。　What　is　known　of　the　Bowl　of　the　Winds；　I　know；　more　than　anyone　else。〃　Her　eyes　cut　toward　her　sister；　a　satisfied　glance　that　Tebreille　did　not　acknowledge。　Which　seemed　to　satisfy　Caire　even　more。　〃What　the　Aes　Sedai　cannot　do；　I　will　do　today；　if　it　pleases　the　Light。　I　expect　every　woman　to　stand　her　station　to　the　last。　I　will　not　accept　failure。〃
　　　　　　　The　rest　of　the　Atha'an　Miere　seemed　to　accept　that　speech　as　expected　and　proper；　but　the　Kinswomen　gaped　at　Caire　in　astonishment。　In　Elayne's　opinion；　grandiose　did　not　begin　to　describe　it；　plainly　Caire　fully　expected　that　the　Light　would　be　pleased；　and　she　would　be　most　displeased　if　it　was　not！　Nynaeve　rolled　her　eyes　to　the　heavens　and　opened　her　mouth。　Caire　forestalled　her。
　　　　　　　〃Nynaeve；〃　the　Windfinder　announced　loudly；　〃you　will　now　demonstrate　your　skill　at　linking。　Be　about　it；　woman；　and　quickly！〃
　　　　　　　In　response；　Nynaeve　shut　her　eyes　tight。　Her　lips。。。　writhed。　She　looked　about　to　burst　a　blood　vessel。　〃I　assume　that　means　I　have　permission　to　speak！〃　she　murmured。　Fortunately　too　low　to　be　heard　by　Caire；　on　the　far　side　of　the　circle。　Opening　her　eyes；　she　put　on　a　smile　that　was　quite　horrible　when　added　to　the　rest　of　her　expression。　She　was　a　sour　stomach　and　several　other　plaints　rolled　into　one。
　　　　　　　〃The　first　thing　is　to　embrace　the　True　Source；　Caire。〃　The　light　of　saidar　suddenly　shone　bright　around　Nynaeve；　she　was　using　the　angreal　on　her　hand　already；　by　what　Elayne　could　feel。　〃I　assume　you　know　how　to　do　that；　of　course。〃　Ignoring　the　abrupt　tightening　of　Caire's　mouth；　Nynaeve　went　on。　〃Elayne　will　now　assist　me　in　the　demonstration。　If　we　have　your　permission？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　prepare　myself　to　embrace　the　Source；〃　Elayne　put　in　quickly；　before　Caire　could　erupt；　〃but　I　don't　actually　embrace　it。〃　She　opened　herself；　and　the　Windfinders　leaned　forward；　peering　at　her；　though　there　really　was　nothing　to　see　yet。　Even　Kirstian　and　Garenia　forgot　their　fear　enough　to　show　interest。　〃While　I'm　at　this　point；　the　rest　is　up　to　Nynaeve。〃
　　　　　　　〃Now　I　will　reach　out　to　her。。。　〃　Nynaeve　paused；　looking　at　Talaan。　Elayne　had　not　had　a　chance　to　tell　her　anything；　really。　It's　much　the　same　as　with　an　angreal。〃　Nynaeve　said；　addressing　the　slender　apprentice。　Caire　growled；　and　Talaan　tried　to　watch　Nynaeve　with　her　head　down。　〃You　open　yourself　to　the　Source　through　an　angreal；　just　as　I　will　through　Elayne。　As　though　you　mean　to　embrace　the　angreal　and　the　Source　at　the　same　time。　It　isn't　very　difficult；　really。　Watch；　and　you'll　see。　When　it's　time　to　bring　you　into　the　circle；　just　put　yourself　on　the