rj.thepathofdaggers-第6部分

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aths　to　al'Thor；　the　way　you　did。　Oh；　Verin；　how　could　you？　Swearing　fealty！　And　worse；　to　a　man；　to　him！　Even　if　you　could　bring　yourself　to　rebel　against　the　Amyrlin　Seat；　against　the　White　Tower。。。　〃　She　made　the　two　sound　much　the　same。　〃。。。　how　could　you　do　that！〃
　　　　　　　For　a　moment　Verin　wondered　whether　things　would　be　better　if　the　women　now　held　in　the　Aiel　camp　had　been　caught　up　as　she　had　been；　a　woodchip　in　the　millrace　of　Rand　al'Thor's　ta'veren　swirl；　words　pouring　from　her　mouth　before　they　had　time　to　form　in　her　brain。　Not　words　she　could　never　have　said　on　her　own　…　that　was　not　how　ta'veren　affected　you　…　but　words　she　might　possibly　have　said　one　time　in　a　thousand　under　those　circumstances；　one　time　in　ten　thousand。　No；　the　arguments　had　been　long　and　hot　over　whether　oaths　given　in　that　way　had　to　be　kept；　and　the　arguments　over　how　to　keep　them　still　continued。　Much　better　as　it　was。　Absently　she　fingered　a　hard　shape　inside　her　belt　pouch；　a　small　brooch；　a　translucent　stone　carved　into　what　appeared　to　be　a　lily　with　too　many　petals。　She　never　wore　it；　but　it　had　not　been　out　of　her　reach　in　nearly　fifty　years。
　　　　　　　〃You　are　da'tsang；　Beldeine。　You　must　have　heard　that。〃　She　did　not　need　Beldeine's　curt　nod；　telling　the　despised　one　was　part　of　Aiel　law；　like　pronouncing　sentence。　That　much　she　knew；　if　very　little　more。　〃Your　clothes；　and　anything　else　that　would　burn；　were　put　to　the　fire　because　no　Aiel　would　own　anything　that　once　belonged　to　a　da'tsang。　The　rest　was　hacked　to　pieces　or　hammered　into　scrap；　even　the　jewelry　you　had　with　you；　and　buried　under　a　pit　dug　for　a　jakes。〃
　　　　　　　〃My。。。？　My　horse？〃　Beldeine　asked　anxiously。
　　　　　　　〃They　didn't　kill　the　horses；　but　I　don't　know　where　yours　is。〃　Being　ridden　by　someone　in　the　city；　probably；　or　perhaps　given　to　an　Asha'man。　Telling　her　that　might　do　more　harm　than　good。　Verin　seemed　to　recall　that　Beldeine　was　one　of　those　young　women　who　had　very　deep　feelings　for　horses。　〃They　let　you　keep　the　ring　to　remind　you　of　who　you　were；　and　increase　your　shame。　I　don't　know　whether　they　would　let　you　swear　to　Master　al'Thor　if　you　begged。　It　would　take　something　incredible　on　your　part；　I　think。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　won't！　Never！〃　The　words　rang　hollow；　though；　and　Beldeine's　shoulders　slumped。　She　was　shaken；　but　not　sufficiently。
　　　　　　　Verin　put　on　a　warm　smile。　A　fellow　had　once　told　her　that　her　smile　made　him　think　of　his　dear　mother。　She　hoped　he　had　not　been　lying　about　that；　at　least。　He　had　tried　to　slide　a　dagger　between　her　ribs　a　little　later；　and　her　smile　had　been　the　last　thing　he　ever　saw。　〃I　can't　think　of　the　reason　you　would。　No；　I　fear　what　you　have　to　look　forward　to　is　useless　labor。　That's　shaming；　to　them。　Bone　shaming。　Of　course；　if　they　realize　you　don't　see　it　that　way。。。　Oh；　my。　I'll　wager　you　didn't　like　digging　without　any　clothes　on；　even　with　Maidens　for　guards；　but　think　of；　say；　standing　in　a　tent　full　of　men　that　way？〃　Beldeine　flinched。　Verin　prattled　on；　she　had　developed　prattling　to　something　of　a　Talent。　〃They'd　only　make　you　stand　there；　of　course。　Da'tsang　aren't　allowed　to　do　anything　useful　unless　there's　great　need；　and　an　Aielman　would　as　soon　put　his　arm　around　a　rotting　carcass　as。。。　Well；　that's　not　a　pleasant　thought；　is　it？　In　any　case；　that's　what　you　have　to　look　forward　to。　I　know　you'll　resist　as　long　as　you　can；　though　I'm　not　sure　what　there　is　to　resist。　They　won't　try　to　get　information　out　of　you；　or　anything　that　people　usually　do　with　prisoners。　But　they　won't　let　you　go；　not　ever；　until　they're　sure　the　shame　is　so　deep　in　you　there's　nothing　else　left。　Not　if　it　takes　the　rest　of　your　life。〃
　　　　　　　Beldeine's　lips　moved　soundlessly；　but　she　might　as　well　have　spoken　the　words。　The　rest　of　my　life。　Shifting　unfortably　on　her　cushion；　she　grimaced。　Sunburn　or　welts　or　simply　the　ache　of　unaccustomed　work。　〃We　will　be　rescued；〃　she　said　finally。　〃The　Amyrlin　won't　leave　us。。。　We'll　be　rescued；　or　we'll　…　We　will　be　rescued！〃　Snatching　up　the　silver　cup　from　beside　her；　she　tilted　her　head　back　to　gulp　until　it　was　empty；　then　thrust　it　out　for　more。　Verin　floated　the　pewter　pitcher　over　and　set　it　down　so　the　young　woman　could　pour　for　herself。
　　　　　　　〃Or　you'll　escape？〃　Verin　said；　and　Beldeine's　dirty　hands　jerked；　splashing　water　down　the　sides　of　the　cup。　〃Really；　now。　You　have　as　much　chance　of　that　as　you　do　of　rescue。　You're　surrounded　by　an　army　of　Aiel。　And　apparently　al'Thor　can　call　up　a　few　hundred　of　those　Asha'man　whenever　he　wants；　to　hunt　you　down。〃　The　other　woman　shivered　at　that；　and　Verin　nearly　did。　That　little　mess　should　have　been　stopped　as　soon　as　it　started。　〃No；　I　fear　you　must　make　your　own　way；　somehow。　Deal　with　things　as　they　are。　You　are　quite　alone　in　this。　I　know　they　don't　let　you　speak　to　the　others。　Quite　alone；〃　she　sighed。　Wide　eyes　stared　at　her　as　they　might　have　at　a　red　adder。　〃There's　no　need　to　make　it　worse　than　it　must　be。　Let　me　Heal　you。〃
　　　　　　　She　barely　waited　for　the　other　woman's　pitiful　nod　before　moving　to　kneel　beside　her　and　place　hands　on　Beldeine's　head。　The　young　woman　was　almost　as　ready　as　she　could　be。　Opening　herself　to　more　of　saidar；　Verin　wove　the　flows　of　Healing；　and　the　Green　gasped　and　quivered。　The　half　filled　cup　dropped　from　her　hands；　and　a　flailing　arm　knocked　the　pitcher　onto　its　side。　Now　she　was　as　ready　as　she　could　be。
　　　　　　　In　the　moments　of　confusion　that　gripped　anyone　after　being　Healed；　while　Beldeine　still　blinked　and　tried　to　e　back　to　herself；　Verin　opened　herself　further；　opened　herself　through　the　carved…flower　angreal　in　her　pouch。　Not　a　very　powerful　angreal；　but　enough；　and　she　needed　every　bit　of　the　extra　Power　it　gave　her　for　this。　The　flows　she　began　weaving　bore　no　resemblance　to　Healing。　Spirit　predominated　by　far；　but　there　was　Wind　and　Water；　Fire　and　Earth；　the　last　of　some　difficulty　for　her；　and　even　the　skeins　of　Spirit　had　to　be　divided　again　and　again；　placed　with　an　intricacy　to　boggle　a　weaver　of　fine　carpets。　Even　if　a　Wise　One　poked　her　head　into　the　tent；　with　the　smallest　of　luck　she　would　not　possess　the　rare　Talent　needed　to　realize　what　Verin　was　doing。　There　would　still　be　difficulties；　perhaps　painful　difficulties　one　way　and　another；　but　she　could　live　with　anything　short　of　true　discovery。
　　　　　　　〃What。。。？〃　Beldeine　said　drowsily。　Her　head　would　have　lolled　except　for　Verin's　grip；　and　her　eyelids　were　half…closed。　〃What　are　you。。。？　What　is　happening？〃
　　　　　　　〃Nothing　that　will　harm　you；〃　Verin　told　her　reassuringly。　The　woman　might　die　inside　the　year；　or　in　ten；　as　a　result　of　this；　but　the　weave　itself　would　not　harm　her。　〃I　promise　you；　this　is　safe　enough　to　use　on　an　infant。〃　Of　course；　that　depended　on　what　you　did　with　it。
　　　　　　　She　needed　to　lay　the　flows　in　place　thread　by　thread；　but　talking　seemed　to　help　rather　than　hinder。　And　too　long　a　silence　might　rouse　suspicion；　if　her　twin　guardians　were　listening。　Her　eyes　darted　frequently　to　the　dangling　doorflaps。　She　wanted　some　answers　she　had　no　intention　of　sharing；　answers　none　of　the　women　she　questioned　were　likely　to　give　freely　even　if　they　knew　them。　One　of　the　smaller　effects　of　this　weave　was　to　loosen　the　tongue　and　open　the　mind　as　well　as　any　herb　ever　could；　an　effect　that　came　on　quickly。
　　　　　　　Dropping　her　voice　almost　to　a　whisper；　she　continued。　〃The　al'Thor　boy　seems　to　think　he　has　supporters　of　some　kind　inside　the　White　Tower；　Beldeine。　In　secret；　of　course；　they　must　be。〃　Even　a　man　with　his　ear　pressed　to　the　fabric　of　the　tent　should　be　able　to　hear　only　that　they　were　talking。　〃Tell　me　anything　you　know　about　them。〃
　　　　　　　〃Supporters？〃　Beldeine　murmured；　attempting　a　frown　that　seemed　beyond　her　ability。　She　stirred；　though　it　hardly　deserved　the　word　agitation；　feeble　and　uncoordinated。　〃For　him？　Among　the　sisters？　It　can't　be。　Except　for　those　of　you　who。。。　How　could　you；　Verin？　Why　didn't　you　fight　it？〃
　　　　　　　Verin　tsked　vexedly。　Not　for　the　foolish　suggestion　that　she　should　have　fought　a　ta'veren。　The　boy　seemed　so　certain。　Why？　She　kept　her　voice　low。　〃Do　you　have　no　suspicions；　Beldeine？　Did　you　hear　no　rumors　before　you　left　Tar　Valon？　No　whispers？　No　one　who　hinted　at　approaching　him　differently？　Tell　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃No　one。　Who　could。。。？　No　one　would。。。　I　admired　Kiruna　so。〃　There　was　a　hint　of　loss　in　Beldeine's　sleepy　voice；　and　tears　leaking　from　her　eyes　made　tracks　through　the　dirt。　Only　Verin's　hands　kept　her　sitting　upright。
　　　　　　　Verin　continued　to　lay　down　the　threads　of　her　weaving；　eyes　flashing　from　her　work　to　the　doorflaps　and　back。　She　felt　a　little　like　sweating　herself。　Sorilea　might　decide　she　needed　help　with　the　questioning。　She　might　bring　out　one　of　the　sisters　from　the　Sun　Palace。　Should　any　sister　learn　of　this；　stilling　was　a　very　real　possibility。　〃So　you　were　going　to　deliver　him　to　Elaida　neatly　washed　and　well…behaved；〃　she　said　in　a　slightly　louder　tone。　The　quiet　had　gone　on　too　long。　She　did　not　want　that　pair　outside　reporting　that　she　was　whispering　with　the　prisoners。
　　　　　　　〃I　couldn't。。。　speak　out。。。　against　Galina's　decision。　She　led。。。　by　the　Amyrlin's　mand。〃　Beldeine　shifted　again；　weakly。　Her　voice　was　still　dreamy；　but　it　pick