rj.thepathofdaggers-第58部分
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yed man。 〃They will give fair judgment； Kinhuin。 And I am certain they will speak in favor of the Mera'din。〃
The other women gave her hard looks before Tion motioned abruptly for Kinhuin to lead the way。 He had to tear his eyes away from Sevanna to ply。 Wearing a faint smile … he had been staring at her； not Someryn … she watched them vanish into the mass of people moving about the manor grounds。 For all their misliking the Brotherless … and her making predictions to the man about their decision … the chances were they would decide that way。 Either way； Kinhuin would remember and tell the others of his so…called society。 The Jumai were already in her belt pouch； but anything that tied the Mera'din to her was wele。
Turning； Sevanna strode back into the trees； though not toward the stable。 Now that she was alone； she could see to something much more important than the Brotherless。 She checked what she had tucked into her skirt at the small of her back； where her shawl hid it。 She would have felt if it slipped a hair； but she wanted to touch its smooth length with her fingers。 No Wise One would dare think her less than they； once she used that； perhaps today。 And one day； it would give her Rand al'Thor。 After all； if Caddar had lied in one thing； maybe he had lied in others。
Through a blur of tears Galina Casban glared at the Wise One shielding her。 As if there were any need for the slender woman's shield。 Right then she could not have so much as embraced the Source。 Sitting cross…legged on the ground between two squatting Maidens； Belinde adjusted her shawl and gave a thin smile； as if she knew Galina's thoughts。 Her face was narrow and foxlike； and her hair and eyebrows had been bleached nearly white by the sun。 Galina wished she had crushed her skull instead of merely slapping her。
It had not been an attempt at escape； merely more frustration than she could bear。 Her days began and ended with exhaustion； every day more than the last。 She could not remember how long since they had stuffed her into that coarse black robe； the days ran together like an everlasting stream。 A week？ A month？ Maybe not that long。 Surely not more。 She wished she had never touched Belinde。 If the woman had not stuffed rags into her mouth to silence her sobbing； she would have begged to be allowed to carry rocks again； or move a pile of pebbles stone by stone； or any of the tortures they filled her hours with。 Anything rather than this。
Only Galina's head stuck out of the leather sack that hung suspended from the stout limb of an oak。 Directly beneath the sack； coals glowed in a bronze brazier； a slow burn； heating the air inside the sack。 She huddled in that sweltering heat with her thumbs tied to her toes； sweat slicking her nakedness。 Her hair clung damply to her face； and she panted； nostrils flaring for air； when she was not sobbing。 Even so； this would have been better than the endless； senseless； backbreaking labor they subjected her to except for one thing。 Before snugging the neck of the sack beneath her chin； Belinde had emptied a pouch of some fine powder over her； and as she had begun to sweat； it had begun to burn like pepper flung in the eyes。 It seemed to coat her from the shoulders down； and； oh； Light； it burned！
That she called on the Light measured her desperation； but they had not broken her for all their trying。 She would get free … she would！ … and once she did； she would make these savages pay in blood！ Rivers of blood！ Oceans！ She would have them all skinned alive！ She would。。。！ Flinging back her head； she howled； the wadded rags in her mouth muffled the sound； but she howled； and she did not know whether it was a shriek of rage or a scream for mercy。
When her howls died and her head fell forward； Belinde and the Maidens were on their feet； and Sevanna was with them。 Galina attempted to stifle her sobbing in front of the golden…haired woman； but she could as soon have plucked the sun from the sky with her fingers。
〃Listen to her whine and snivel；〃 Sevanna sneered； ing to look up at her。 Galina tried to put an equal contempt in her own stare。 Sevanna decked herself with enough jewelry for ten women！ She wore her blouse unlaced to nearly bare her bosom； except for all those mismatched necklaces； and breathed deep when men looked at her！ Galina tried； but contempt was hard to manage with tears rolling down her cheeks along with her sweat。 She shook with weeping； making the sack sway。
〃This da'tsang is tough as an old ewe；〃 Belinde cackled； 〃but I always found even the toughest old ewe was made tender if cooked slowly； with the right herbs。 When I was a Maiden； I softened Stone Dogs with enough cooking。〃 Galina closed her eyes。 Oceans of blood； to pay for。。。！
The sack lurched； and Galina's eyes popped open as it began to settle。 The Maidens had undone the rope running over the limb； and the pair of them were lowering her slowly。 Frantically she thrashed about； trying to look down； and almost began sobbing anew； with relief； when she saw that the brazier had been moved aside。 With Belinde's talk of cooking。。。 That would be Belinde's fate； Galina decided。 Tied to a spit and turned over a fire until her juices dripped！ That to begin！
With a thud that made Galina grunt； the leather bag hit the ground and toppled over。 As unconcerned as if they were handling a sack of potatoes； the Maidens tumbled her out onto the brown weeds； sliced the cords that held her thumbs and toes； plucked the gag from between her teeth。 Dirt and dead leaves stuck to the sweat coating her。
She very much wanted to stand； to meet them all eye…to…eye and glare…for…glare。 Instead； she rose only as far as hands and knees； then dug her fingers into the mulch of the forest floor； dug her toes in。 Any further； and she would not be able to stop her hands from flying to soothe her red； flaming skin。 Her sweat felt like the juice of ice peppers。 All she could do was crouch there and quiver； try to work some moisture back into her mouth and daydream of what she would do to these savages。
〃I believed you were stronger than this；〃 Sevanna said above her in thoughtful tones； 〃but perhaps Belinde is right。 Perhaps you are soft enough； now。 If you swear to obey me； you can stop being da'tsang。 Perhaps you will not even have to be gai'shain。 Will you swear to obey me in all things？〃
〃Yes！〃 The hoarse word flew from Galina's tongue without hesitation； though she had to swallow before speaking more。 〃I will obey you！ I swear it！〃 And so she would obey。 Until they gave the opening she needed。 Was this all that had been necessary？ An oath she would have made the first day？ Sevanna would learn what it was like to hang over hot coals。 Oh； yes； she。。。
〃Then you will not object to swearing your oath on this；〃 Sevanna said； tossing something down in front of her。
Galina's scalp crawled as she stared at it。 A white rod like polished ivory； a foot long and no thicker than her wrist。 Then she saw the flowing marks carved into the end toward her； numerals used in the Age of Legends。 One hundred eleven。 She had thought it was the Oath Rod； somehow stolen from the White Tower。 That also was marked； but with the numeral three； which some thought stood for the Three Oaths。 Maybe this was not what it seemed。 Maybe。 Yet no hooded viper from the Drowned Lands coiled there could have frozen her so still。
〃A fine oath； Sevanna。 When did you intend to tell the rest of us？〃
That voice jerked Galina's head up。 It could have pulled her eyes away from a hooded viper； too。
Therava appeared among the trees leading a dozen cold…faced Wise Ones。 When they stopped behind her； confronting Sevanna； every woman present except for the Maidens had been there when Galina was sentenced to wear the black robe。 A word from Therava； a short nod from Sevanna； and the Maidens departed swiftly。 Sweat still oozed from Galina； but suddenly the air seemed cold。
Sevanna glanced at Belinde； who avoided her eye。 Sevanna's lip curled； half sneer； half snarl； and she planted fists on hips。 Galina did not understand where she found the nerve； a woman who could not channel at all。 Some of these women possessed not inconsiderable strength。 No； she could not afford to think of them only as wilders if she was to escape and have her revenge。 Therava and Someryn were stronger than any woman in the Tower； and any of them could have been Aes Sedai easily。
But Sevanna faced them defiantly。 〃It seems you rendered justice quickly；〃 she said in a voice dry as dust。
〃The matter was simple；〃 Tion replied calmly。 〃The Mera'din received the justice they deserved。〃
〃And they were told they received it in spite of your attempt to sway us；〃 Rhiale added with some heat。 Sevanna nearly did snarl at that。
Therava would not be diverted from her purpose； though。 In one swift step she reached Galina； gripped a handful of her hair and jerked her up to her knees； bent her head back。 Therava was not the tallest of these women by at least a head； yet she loomed taller than most men； staring down with a hawk's eyes； driving away every thought of revenge or defiance。 The white s
