rj.thepathofdaggers-第84部分

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wene。
　　　　　　　She　wanted　to　look　over　her　shoulder。　The　silence　from　the　Sitters　was　deafening。　Siuan　was　staring　straight　ahead　and　gripping　her　skirts　as　if　to　keep　herself　looking　forward　by　main　force。　At　least　she　had　known　what　was　ing。　Sheriam；　who　had　not；　eyed　the　Andorans　and　Murandians　regally；　calmly；　as　though　she　had　expected　every　word。
　　　　　　　Egwene　needed　to　make　them　forget　the　girl　they　saw　before　them；　and　hear　a　woman　with　the　reins　of　power　firmly　in　hand。　If　they　were　not　in　her　hands　now；　they　would　be！　She　firmed　her　voice。　〃Mark　me　well。　I　have　made　my　decision；　it　is　for　you　to　accept　it。　Or　face　what　surely　will　e　from　your　failure。〃　As　she　fell　silent；　the　wind　gusted　to　a　brief　howl；　rattling　the　canopy；　tugging　at　garments。　Egwene　straightened　her　hair　calmly。　Some　of　the　watching　nobles　shivered　and　twitched　their　cloaks　around　them；　and　she　hoped　their　shivers　came　from　more　than　the　weather。
　　　　　　　Arathelle　exchanged　looks　with　Pelivar　and　Aemlyn；　and　all　three　studied　the　Sitters　before　slowly　nodding。　They　believed　she　was　merely　mouthing　words　the　Sitters　had　put　on　her　tongue！　Even　so；　Egwene　very　nearly　sighed　with　relief。
　　　　　　　〃It　will　be　as　you　say；〃　the　hard…eyed　noblewoman　said。　Again；　to　the　Sitters。　〃We　do　not　doubt　the　word　of　Aes　Sedai；　of　course；　but　you　will　understand　if　we　also　remain。　Sometimes；　what　you　hear　isn't　what　you　think　you　heard。　Not　that　that's　the　case　here；　I'm　sure。　But　we　will　stay　while　you　do。〃　Donel　truly　looked　ready　to　empty　himself。　Very　likely　his　lands　lay　nearby。　Andoran　armies　in　Murandy　had　seldom　been　known　to　pay　for　anything。
　　　　　　　Egwene　stood；　and　she　could　hear　the　rustle　of　the　Sitters　rising　behind　her。　〃It　is　agreed；　then。　We　must　all　depart　soon；　if　we　are　to　return　to　our　own　beds　before　dark；　but　we　should　spare　a　few　moments。　Getting　to　know　one　another　a　little　better　now　might　avoid　misunderstandings　later。〃　And　talk　might　give　her　a　chance　to　reach　Talmanes。　〃Oh。　One　other　thing　you　should　all　be　aware　of。　The　novice　book　is　now　open　to　any　woman；　whatever　her　age；　if　she　tests　true。〃　Arathelle　blinked。　Siuan　did　not；　yet　Egwene　thought　she　heard　a　faint　grunt。　This　was　not　part　of　what　they　had　discussed；　but　there　would　never　be　a　better　time。　〃e。　I'm　sure　you　would　all　like　to　speak　with　the　Sitters。　Let　formality　go。〃
　　　　　　　Without　waiting　for　Sheriam　to　offer　a　hand；　she　stepped　down。　She　almost　felt　like　laughing。　Last　night　she　had　been　afraid　she　might　never　reach　her　goal；　but　she　was　halfway　there；　almost　halfway；　and　it　had　not　been　nearly　as　difficult　as　she　had　feared。　Of　course；　the　other　half　remained。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　
Chapter　18　
（Dice）　
A　Peculiar　Calling　
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　For　a　moment　after　Egwene　descended；　no　one　else　moved。　And　then　the　Andorans　and　Murandians　headed　for　the　Sitters；　almost　as　one。　Apparently；　a　girl　Amyrlin　…　a　girl　puppet　and　figurehead！　…　held　no　interest；　not　with　ageless　faces　in　front　of　them　that　at　least　said　they　actually　were　speaking　to　Aes　Sedai。　Two　or　three　lords　and　ladies　clustered　around　each　Sitter；　some　thrusting　their　chins　demandingly；　others　diffidently　bending　their　necks；　yet　every　one　insistent　on　being　heard。　The　sharp　breeze　whisked　away　the　mist　of　their　breath　and　fluttered　cloaks　forgotten　in　the　importance　of　asking　their　questions。　Sheriam　was　buttonholed　too；　by　red…faced　Lord　Donel；　who　blustered　and　jerked　bows　by　turns。
　　　　　　　Egwene　pulled　Sheriam　away　from　the　narrow…eyed　man。　〃Find　out　discreetly　all　you　can　about　these　sisters　and　Tower　Guards　in　Andor；〃　she　whispered　hastily。　As　soon　as　she　released　the　woman；　Donel　reclaimed　her。　Sheriam　actually　looked　put…upon；　but　her　frown　disappeared　quickly。　Donel　blinked　uneasily　as　she　began　questioning　him。
　　　　　　　Romanda　and　Lelaine　gazed　at　Egwene　through　the　crowd　with　faces　carved　from　ice；　but　each　had　acquired　a　pair　of　nobles　who　wanted。。。　Something。　Reassurance　that　there　was　no　hidden　trick　in　Egwene's　words；　perhaps。　How　they　would　hate　doing　that；　but　dodge　and　duck　as　they　would　…　and　they　would！　…　there　was　no　way　to　really　avoid　that　reassurance　without　repudiating　her　on　the　spot。　Even　those　two　would　not　go　that　far。　Not　here；　not　publicly。
　　　　　　　Siuan　slipped　close　to　Egwene；　features　set　in　meekness。　Except　that　her　eyes　darted；　maybe　looking　for　Romanda　or　Lelaine　ing　to　seize　them　where　they　stood；　and　forget　law；　custom；　propriety　and　who　was　watching。　〃Shein　Chunla；〃　she　all　but　hissed　in　a　whisper。
　　　　　　　Egwene　nodded；　but　her　eyes　searched　for　Talmanes。　Most　of　the　men　and　some　of　the　women　were　tall　enough　to　hide　him。　With　everyone　shifting　about。。。　She　went　up　on　her　toes。　Where　had　he　gone　to？
　　　　　　　Segan　planted　herself　in　front　of　her；　fists　on　her　hips；　eyeing　Siuan　doubtfully。　Egwene　let　her　heels　down　hurriedly。　The　Amyrlin　could　not　bob　about　like　a　girl　at　a　dance　looking　for　a　boy。　A　rosebud　unfolding。　Calm。　Serenity。　Drat　all　men！
　　　　　　　A　slender　woman　with　long　dark　hair；　Segan　seemed　to　have　been　born　petulant；　her　full　mouth　fixed　in　a　pout。　Her　dress　was　good　blue　wool　and　made　for　warmth；　but　it　had　far　too　much　vivid　green　embroidery　across　her　bosom；　and　her　gloves　were　bright　enough　for　a　Tinker。　She　looked　Egwene　up　and　down；　pursing　her　lips；　with　as　much　incredulity　on　her　face　as　she　had　given　Siuan。　〃What　you　said　about　the　novice　book；〃　she　said　abruptly。　〃Were　you　meaning　any　woman　of　any　age　at　all？　Any　can　bee　Aes　Sedai；　then？〃
　　　　　　　A　question　close　to　Egwene's　heart；　and　an　answer　she　dearly　wanted　to　give　…　along　with　a　box　on　the　ear　for　the　doubt　…　but　just　then　a　small　gap　in　the　flow　of　people　showed　her　Talmanes　near　the　back　of　the　pavilion。　Talking　with　Pelivar！　They　stood　stiffly；　mastiffs　not　quite　ready　to　show　teeth；　yet　they　were　keeping　a　watch　to　make　sure　no　one　came　close　enough　to　overhear　what　they　had　to　say。　〃Any　woman　of　any　age　at　all；　daughter；〃　she　agreed　absently。　Pelivar？
　　　　　　　〃Thank　you；〃　Segan　said；　and　haltingly　added；　〃Mother。〃　She　sketched　a　curtsy；　the　barest　hint　of　one；　before　hurrying　off。　Egwene　stared　after　her。　Well；　it　was　a　beginning。
　　　　　　　Siuan　snorted。　〃I　don't　mind　sailing　the　Fingers　of　the　Dragon　in　the　dark　if　I　must；〃　she　muttered　half　under　her　breath。　〃We　discussed　that；　we　weighed　the　dangers；　and　anyway；　there　doesn't　seem　to　be　a　gull's　last　dinner　for　choice。　But　you　have　to　set　a　fire　on　deck　just　to　make　things　interesting。　Netting　lionfish　isn't　enough　for　you。　You　have　to　stuff　a　prickleback　down　your　dress；　too。　You　aren't　content　trying　to　wade　a　school　of　silver…pike　…　〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　broke　in。　〃Siuan；　I　think　I　should　tell　Lord　Bryne　you're　head　over　heels　in　love　with　him。　It's　only　fair　that　he　know；　don't　you　agree？〃　Siuan's　blue　eyes　bulged；　and　her　mouth　worked；　but　all　that　came　out　was　a　sort　of　gobbling。　Egwene　patted　her　shoulder。　〃You're　Aes　Sedai；　Siuan。　Try　to　maintain　at　least　a　little　dignity。　And　try　to　find　out　about　those　sisters　in　Andor。〃　The　crowd　parted　again。　She　saw　Talmanes　in　a　different　place；　but　still　on　the　edge　of　the　pavilion。　And　alone；　now。
　　　　　　　Trying　not　to　hurry；　she　walked　in　his　direction；　leaving　Siuan　still　gobbling。　A　pretty；　black…haired　serving　man；　whose　bulky　woolen　breeches　could　not　quite　hide　neatly　turned　calves；　offered　Siuan　a　steaming　silver　cup　from　a　tray。　Other　servants　were　moving　about　with　other　silver　trays。　Refreshment　was　being　offered；　if　a　bit　late。　It　was　much　too　late　for　the　kiss　of　peace。　She　did　not　hear　what　Siuan　said　as　she　snatched　a　cup；　but　from　the　way　the　fellow　jerked　and　started　bobbing　bows；　he　had　received　sharp　shards　of　her　temper　at　the　least。　Egwene　sighed。
　　　　　　　Talmanes　stood　with　arms　folded；　observing　the　goings…on　with　an　amused　smile　that　did　not　reach　his　eyes。　He　seemed　poised　to　explode　into　motion；　but　his　eyes　were　tired。　At　her　approach；　he　made　a　respectful　leg；　but　there　was　a　wry　touch　to　his　voice　when　he　said；　〃You　changed　a　border　today。〃　He　gathered　his　cloak　against　the　icy　breeze。　〃It　has　always　been。。。　fluid。。。　between　Andor　and　Murandy；　no　matter　what　maps　say；　but　Andor　has　never　e　south　in　such　numbers　before。　Except　for　the　Aiel　War；　and　the　Whitecloak　War；　anyway；　but　they　were　only　passing　through；　then。　Once　they　have　been　here　a　month；　new　maps　will　show　a　new　line。　Look　at　the　Murandians　scramble；　fawning　over　Pelivar　and　his　panions　as　much　as　they　do　the　sisters。　They　are　hoping　to　make　new　friends　for　the　new　day。〃
　　　　　　　To　Egwene；　trying　to　conceal　her　careful　watch　on　those　who　might　be　watching　her；　it　seemed　that　all　of　the　nobles；　Murandian　and　Andoran；　were　intent　on　the　Sitters；　crowding　around　them。　In　any　case；　she　had　slightly　more　important　matters　in　mind　than　borders。　To　her；　if　not　to　the　nobles。　Except　for　brief　moments；　none　of　the　Sitters　were　visible　beyond　the　tops　of　their　heads。　Only　Halima　and　Siuan　seemed　to　notice　her；　and　a　babble　like　that　of　a　flock　of　excited　geese　filled　the　air。　She　lowered　her　voice；　and　chose　her　words　carefully。
　　　　　　　〃Friends　are　always　important；　Talmanes。　You've　been　a　good　friend　to　Mat；　and　I　think　to　me。　I　hope　that　hasn't　changed。　I　hope　you've　not　told　anyone　what　you　shouldn't。〃　Light；　she　was