rj.theshadowrising-第180部分

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urrounded　Nynaeve；　too。　If　only　the　woman　could　channel　without　anger。
　　　　　　　〃Send　her　in；〃　Nynaeve　said；　and　Elayne　realized　she　was　very　much　aware　of　her　lack；　and　afraid。　As　Rendra　turned　to　go；　Elayne　began　weaving　flows　of　Air；　thick　as　cables　and　ready　to　bind；　flows　of　Spirit　to　shield　another　from　the　Source。　If　this　woman　so　much　as　resembled　one　on　their　list；　if　she　tried　to　channel　a　spark。。。
　　　　　　　The　woman　who　stepped　into　the　Chamber　of　Falling　Blossoms；　in　a　shimmering　black　silk　gown　of　unfamiliar　cut；　was　no　one　Elayne　had　ever　seen　before；　and　surely　not　on　the　list　of　the　women　who　had　gone　with　Liandrin。　Dark　hair　spilling　loose　to　her　shoulders　framed　a　sturdily　handsome　face　with　large；　dark　eyes　and　smooth　cheeks；　but　not　with　Aes　Sedai　agelessness。　Smiling；　she　closed　the　door　behind　her。　〃Forgive　me；　but　I　thought　you　were…〃　The　glow　of　saidar　surrounded　her；　and　she。。。
　　　　　　　Elayne　released　the　True　Source。　There　was　something　very　manding　in　those　dark　eyes；　in　the　halo　around　her；　the　pale　radiance　of　the　One　Power。　She　was　the　most　regal　woman　Elayne　had　ever　seen。　Elayne　found　herself　hurriedly　curtsying；　flushing　that　she　had　considered。。。　What　had　she　considered？　So　hard　to　think。
　　　　　　　The　woman　studied　them　for　a　moment；　then　gave　a　satisfied　nod　and　swept　to　the　table；　taking　the　carved　chair　at　its　head。　〃e　here　where　I　can　see　you　both　more　closely；〃　she　said　in　a　peremptory　voice。　〃e。　Yes。　That's　it。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　realized　she　was　standing　beside　the　table；　looking　down　at　the　dark…eyed；　glowing　woman。　She　did　hope　that　was　all　right。　On　the　other　side　of　the　table　Nynaeve　had　a　tangle　of　her　long；　thin　braids　gripped　in　her　fist；　but　she　stared　at　the　visitor　with　a　foolishly　rapt　expression。　It　made　Elayne　want　to　giggle。
　　　　　　　〃About　what　I　have　e　to　expect；〃　the　woman　said。　〃Little　more　than　girls；　and　obviously　not　close　to　half…trained。　Strong；　though；　strong　enough　to　be　more　than　troublesome。　Especially　you。〃　She　fixed　Nynaeve　with　her　eyes。　〃You　might　bee　something　one　day。　But　you've　blocked　yourself；　haven't　you？　We　would　have　had　that　out　of　you　though　you　howled　for　it。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　still　had　that　tight　hold　on　her　braids；　but　her　face　went　from　a　pleased；　girlish　smile　at　praise　to　shamed　lip…trembling。　〃I　am　sorry　I　blocked　myself；〃　she　almost　whimpered。　〃I'm　afraid　of　it　。　。　all　that　power。。。　the　One　Power。。。　how　can　I　…？〃
　　　　　　　〃Be　silent　unless　I　ask　a　question；〃　the　woman　said　firmly。　〃And　do　not　start　crying。　You　are　joyful　at　seeing　me；　ecstatic。　All　you　want　is　to　please　me　and　answer　my　questions　truthfully。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　nodded　vigorously；　smiling　even　more　rapturously　than　before。　Elayne　realized　that　she　was；　too。　She　was　sure　she　could　answer　the　questions　first。　Anything　to　please　this　woman。
　　　　　　　〃Now。　Are　you　alone？　Are　there　any　other　Aes　Sedai　with　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃No；〃　Elayne　said　quickly　in　answer　to　the　first　question；　and　just　as　fast；　to　the　second；　〃There　are　no　Aes　Sedai　with　us。〃　Perhaps　she　should　tell　that　they　were　not　really　Aes　Sedai　either。　But　she　had　not　been　asked　that。　Nynaeve　glared　at　her；　knuckles　white　on　her　braids；　furious　at　being　beaten　to　the　answer。
　　　　　　　〃Why　are　you　in　this　city？〃　the　woman　said。
　　　　　　　〃We　are　hunting　Black　sisters；〃　Nynaeve　burst　out；　shooting　Elayne　a　triumphant　look。
　　　　　　　The　handsome　woman　laughed。　〃So　that　is　why　I　have　not　felt　you　channel　before　today。　Wise　of　you　to　keep　low　when　it　is　eleven　to　two。　I　have　always　followed　that　policy　myself。　Let　other　fools　leap　about　in　full　view。　They　can　be　brought　low　by　a　spider　hiding　in　the　cracks；　a　spider　they　never　see　until　it　is　too　late。　Tell　me　all　you　have　discovered　about　these　Black　sisters；　all　you　know　of　them。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　spilled　out　everything；　battling　with　Nynaeve　to　be　first。　It　was　not　very　much。　Their　descriptions；　the　ter'angreal　they　had　stolen；　the　murders　in　the　Tower　and　the　fear　of　more　Black　sisters　still　there；　aiding　one　of　the　Forsaken　in　Tear　before　the　Stone　fell；　their　flight　here　seeking　something　dangerous　to　Rand。　〃They　were　all　staying　in　a　house　together；〃　Elayne　finished　up；　panting；　〃but　they　left　last　night。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　seems　you　came　very　close；〃　the　woman　said　slowly。　〃Very　close。　Ter'angreal。　Turn　out　your　purses　on　the　table；　your　pouches。〃　They　did；　and　she　fingered　quickly　through　coins　and　sewing　kits　and　handkerchiefs　and　the　like。　〃Do　you　have　any　ter'angreal　in　your　rooms？　Angreal　or　sa'angreal？〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　was　conscious　of　the　twisted　stone　ring　hanging　between　her　breasts；　but　that　was　not　the　question。　〃No；〃　she　said。　They　had　none　of　those　things　in　their　room。
　　　　　　　Pushing　everything　away；　the　woman　leaned　back；　speaking　half　to　herself。　〃Rand　al'Thor。　So　that　is　his　name　now。〃　Her　face　crumpled　in　a　momentary　grimace。　〃An　arrogant　man　who　stank　of　piety　and　goodness。　Is　he　still　the　same？　No；　do　not　bother　to　answer　that。　An　idle　question。　So　Be'lal　is　dead。　The　other　sounds　like　Ishamael；　to　me。　All　his　pride　at　being　only　half…caught；　whatever　the　price　…　there　was　less　human　left　in　him　than　any　of　us　when　I　saw　him　again；　I　think　he　half…believed　he　was　the　Great　Lord　of　the　Dark　…　all　his　three　thousand　years　of　machinations；　and　it　es　to　an　untaught　boy　hunting　him　down。　My　way　is　best。　Softly；　softly；　in　the　shadows。　Something　to　control　a　man　who　can　channel。　Yes；　it　would　have　to　be　that。〃　Her　eyes　turned　sharp；　studying　them　in　turn。　〃Now。　What　to　do　with　you。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　waited　patiently。　Nynaeve　wore　a　silly　smile；　her　lips　parted　expectantly；　it　looked　especially　foolish　with　the　way　she　was　gripping　her　braids。
　　　　　　　〃You　are　too　strong　to　waste；　you　may　be　useful　one　day。　I　would　love　to　see　Rahvin's　eyes　the　day　he　meets　you　unblocked；〃　she　told　Nynaeve。　〃I　would　put　you　off　this　hunt　of　yours；　if　I　could。　A　pity　pulsion　is　so　limited。　Still；　with　the　little　you　have　learned；　you　are　too　far　behind　to　catch　up　now。　I　suppose　I　must　collect　you　later　and　see　to　your。。。　retraining。〃　She　stood；　and　suddenly　Elayne's　entire　body　tingled。　Her　brain　seemed　to　shiver；　she　was　conscious　of　nothing　but　the　woman's　voice；　roaring　in　her　ears　from　a　great　distance。　〃You　will　pick　up　your　things　from　the　table；　and　when　you　have　replaced　them　where　they　belong；　you　will　remember　nothing　of　what　happened　here　except　that　I　came　thinking　you　were　friends　I　knew　from　the　country。　I　was　mistaken；　I　had　a　cup　of　tea；　and　I　left。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　blinked　and　wondered　why　she　was　tying　her　purse　back　beside　her　belt　pouch。　Nynaeve　was　frowning　at　her　own　hands；　adjusting　her　pouch。
　　　　　　　〃A　nice　woman；〃　Elayne　said；　rubbing　her　forehead。　She　had　a　headache　ing　on。　〃Did　she　give　her　name？　I　don't　remember。〃
　　　　　　　〃Nice？〃　Nynaeve's　hand　came　up　and　gave　a　sharp　tug　to　her　braids；　she　stared　as　if　it　had　moved　of　its　own　accord。　〃I。。。　do　not　think　she　did。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　were　we　talking　of　when　she　came　in？〃　Egeanin　had　just　gone。　What　had　it　been？
　　　　　　　〃I　remember　what　I　was　about　to　say。〃　Nynaeve's　voice　firmed。　〃We　must　find　the　Black　sisters　without　them　suspecting；　or　we　will　never　have　a　chance　of　following　them　to　whatever　this　thing　is　that's　dangerous　to　Rand。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know；〃　Elayne　said　patiently。　Had　she　said　that　already？　Of　course　not。　〃We　have　discussed　it。　…　〃
　
　　　　　　　At　the　arched　gates　leading　from　the　inn's　small　courtyard；　Egeanin　paused；　studying　the　hard…faced　men　who　lounged；　barefoot　and　often　bare…chested；　among　the　idlers　on　this　side　of　the　narrow　street。　They　looked　as　if　they　could　use　the　curved　boarding　swords　hanging　at　their　belts　or　thrust　through　their　sashes；　but　none　of　those　faces　looked　familiar。　If　any　of　them　had　been　on　Bayle　Demon's　ship　when　she　took　him　and　it　to　Falme；　she　did　not　remember。　If　any　had　been；　it　was　to　be　hoped　none　connected　a　woman　in　a　riding　dress　to　the　woman　in　armor　who　had　captured　their　vessel。
　　　　　　　Suddenly　she　realized　her　palms　were　damp。　Aes　Sedai。　Women　who　could　wield　the　Power；　and　not　decently　leashed。　She　had　sat　at　the　same　table　with　them；　talked　with　them。　They　were　not　at　all　what　she　had　expected；　she　could　not　dig　that　thought　out　of　her　head。　They　could　channel；　therefore　they　were　dangerous　to　proper　order；　therefore　they　must　be　safely　leashed　…　and　yet。。。　Not　at　all　what　she　had　been　taught。　It　could　be　learned。　Learned！　As　long　as　she　could　avoid　Bayle　Domon　…　he　would　surely　recognize　her　…　she　should　be　able　to　return。　She　had　to　learn　more。　More　than　ever；　she　had　to。
　　　　　　　Wishing　she　had　a　hooded　cloak；　she　took　a　firm　grip　on　her　staff　and　started　up　the　street；　threading　her　way　into　the　passing　throng。　None　of　the　sailors　looked　at　her　twice；　and　she　watched　them　to　be　sure。
　　　　　　　She　did　not　see　the　pale…haired　man　in　filthy　Tanchican　garb　huddled　against　the　front　of　a　white…plastered　wineshop　on　the　other　side　of　the　street。　His　eyes；　blue　above　a　dingy　veil　and　a　thick　mustache　held　in　place　with　glue；　followed　her　before　sliding　back　to　the　Three　Plum　Court。　Standing；　he　crossed　the　street；　ignoring　the　disgusting　way　people　brushed　against　him。　Egeanin　had　nearly　spotted　him　when　he　had　forgotten　himself　enough　to　break　that　fool's　arm。　One　of　the　Blood；　as