rj.theshadowrising-第185部分

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under　the　edge　of　her　hood；　half…expecting　to　see　a　gloating　Elaida　staring　down　at　her。
　　　　　　　Elaida　swept　by　without　a　glance　in　Min's　direction；　the　broad；　striped　stole　of　the　Amyrlin　Seat　around　her　shoulders。　Alviarin　followed；　wearing　the　stole　of　the　Keeper　of　the　Chronicles；　white　for　her　Ajah。　A　dozen　or　more　Aes　Sedai　passed　at　Alviarin's　heels；　mostly　Reds；　though　Min　saw　two　yellow…fringed　shawls；　a　green　one　and　a　brown。　Six　Warders　flanked　the　procession；　hands　on　hilts　and　eyes　wary。　Those　eyes　swept　across　the　three　kneeling　women　and　dismissed　them。
　　　　　　　They　were　all　three　kneeling；　Min　realized；　and　realized；　too；　that　she　had　almost　expected　Siuan　and　Leane　to　launch　themselves　at　Elaida's　throat。　Both　women　had　lifted　their　heads　just　enough　to　watch　the　procession　make　its　way　on　down　the　corridor。
　　　　　　　〃Very　few　women　have　been　stilled；〃　Siuan　said；　as　if　to　herself；　〃and　none　have　survived　long；　but　it　is　said　that　one　way　to　survive　is　to　find　something　you　want　as　much　as　you　wanted　to　channel。〃　That　lost　look　was　gone　from　her　eyes。　〃At　first　I　thought　I　wanted　to　gut　Elaida　and　hang　her　in　the　sun　to　dry。　Now　I　know　I　want　nothing　…　nothing！　…　so　much　as　the　day　I　can　tell　that　leech　of　a　woman　that　she'll　live　a　long　life　showing　others　what　happens　to　anyone　who　claims　I　am　a　Darkfriend！〃
　　　　　　　〃And　Alviarin；〃　Leane　said　in　a　tight　voice。　〃And　Alviarin！〃
　　　　　　　〃I　was　afraid　they'd　sense　me；〃　Siuan　went　on；　〃but　there　is　nothing　for　them　to　sense；　now。　An　advantage　to　having　been。。。　stilled；　it　seems。〃　Leane　jerked　her　head　angrily；　and　Siuan　said；　〃We　must　use　whatever　advantages　we　can　find。　And　be　glad　for　them。〃　The　last　sounded　as　if　she　were　trying　to　convince　herself。
　　　　　　　The　final　Warder　disappeared　around　the　distant　curve；　and　Min　swallowed　the　lump　in　her　throat。　〃We　can　talk　of　advantages　later；〃　she　croaked；　and　stopped　to　swallow　again。　〃Let　us　just　go　to　the　horses。　That　has　to　have　been　the　worst。〃
　　　　　　　Indeed；　as　they　hurried　out　of　the　Tower　into　the　noonday　sun；　it　seemed　the　worst　must　have　passed。　A　column　of　smoke　rising　toward　a　cloudless　sky　in　the　east　of　the　Tower　grounds　was　the　only　sign　of　old　trouble。　Groups　of　men　moved　in　the　distance；　but　none　gave　a　second　glance　to　the　three　women　as　they　scurried　past　the　library；　which　was　built　like　towering　waves　frozen　in　stone。　A　footpath　led　deeper　into　the　grounds　and　westward；　into　a　wood　of　oaks　and　evergreens　that　could　have　stood　far　from　any　city。　Min's　steps　lightened　when　she　found　the　three　saddled　horses　still　tied　where　she　and　Laras　had　left　them；　in　a　small　clearing　surrounded　by　leatherleaf　and　paperbark。
　　　　　　　Siuan　went　immediately　to　a　stout；　shaggy　mare　two　hands　shorter　than　the　others。　〃A　suitable　mount　for　my　present　circumstances。　And　she　looks　more　placid　than　the　other　two；　I　was　never　a　good　rider。〃　She　stroked　the　mare's　nose；　and　the　mare　nuzzled　into　her　palm。　〃What　is　her　name；　Min？　Do　you　know？〃
　　　　　　　〃Bela。　She　belongs　to　…〃
　　　　　　　〃Her　horse。〃　Gawyn　stepped　from　behind　a　wide…trunked　paperbark；　one　hand　on　the　long　hilt　of　his　sword。　The　blood　streaking　his　face　made　exactly　the　pattern　Min　had　seen　in　her　viewing；　her　first　day　back　in　Tar　Valon。　〃I　knew　you　must　be　up　to　something；　Min；　when　I　saw　her　horse。〃　His　red…gold　hair　was　matted　with　blood；　his　blue　eyes　half…dazed；　but　he　walked　toward　them　smoothly；　a　tall　man　with　a　catlike　grace。　A　cat　stalking　mice。
　　　　　　　〃Gawyn；〃　Min　began；　〃we　…〃
　　　　　　　His　sword　was　out　of　its　scabbard；　flicking　back　Siuan's　hood；　sharp　edge　laid　against　the　side　of　her　throat；　all　faster　than　Min　could　follow。　Siuan's　breath　caught　audibly；　and　she　was　still；　looking　up　at　him；　outwardly　as　serene　as　though　she　yet　wore　the　stole。
　　　　　　　〃Don't；　Gawyn！〃　Min　gasped。　〃You　must　not！〃　She　took　a　step　toward　him；　but　he　flung　up　his　free　hand　without　looking　at　her；　and　she　stopped。　He　was　as　tight　as　coiled　steel；　ready　to　burst　out　in　any　direction。　She　noticed　Leane　had　shifted　her　cloak　to　hide　one　hand　and　prayed　the　woman　was　not　fool　enough　to　draw　her　belt　knife。
　　　　　　　Gawyn　studied　Siuan's　face；　then　slowly　nodded。　〃It　is　you。　I　was　not　sure；　but　it　is。　This。。。　disguise　cannot　…〃　He　did　not　appear　to　move；　but　a　sudden　widening　of　Siuan's　eyes　spoke　of　a　keen　edge　pressing　harder。　〃Where　are　my　sister　and　Egwene？　What　have　you　done　with　them？〃　Most　frightening　to　Min；　with　that　blood…masked　face　and　half…glazed　eyes；　with　his　body　tensed　almost　to　quivering　and　his　hand　upflung　as　if　he　had　forgotten　it；　he　never　raised　his　voice　or　put　any　emotion　into　it。　He　only　sounded　tired；　more　tired　than　she　had　ever　heard　anyone　sound　in　her　life。
　　　　　　　Siuan's　voice　was　nearly　as　neutral。　〃The　last　I　heard　from　them；　they　were　safe　and　well。　I　cannot　say　where　they　are；　now。　Would　you　rather　they　were　here；　in　the　middle　of　this　feeding　frenzy？〃
　　　　　　　〃No　Aes　Sedai　word　games；〃　he　said　softly。　〃Tell　me　where　they　were；　straight　out；　so　I　know　you　speak　the　truth。〃
　　　　　　　〃Illian；〃　Siuan　said　without　hesitation。　〃In　the　city　itself。　They　are　studying　with　an　Aes　Sedai　named　Mara　Tomanes；　They　should　still　be　there。〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　Tear；〃　he　murmured。　For　a　moment　he　appeared　to　think　that　over。　Abruptly；　he　said；　〃They　say　you　are　a　Darkfriend。　Black　Ajah；　that　would　be；　would　it　not？〃
　　　　　　　〃If　you　really　believe　that；〃　Siuan　said　calmly；　〃then　strike　off　my　head。〃
　　　　　　　Min　almost　screamed　as　his　knuckles　whitened　on　his　sword　hilt。　Slowly　she　reached　out　and　rested　her　fingers　against　his　outstretched　wrist；　careful　not　to　make　him　think　she　meant　to　do　anything　more　than　touch。　It　was　like　resting　her　fingers　on　rock。　〃Gawyn；　you　know　me。　You　can't　think　I　would　help　the　Black　Ajah。〃　His　eyes　never　wavered　from　Siuan's　face；　never　blinked。　〃Gawyn；　Elayne　supports　her　and　everything　she's　done。　Your　own　sister；　Gawyn。〃　His　flesh　was　still　stone。　〃Egwene　believes　in　her；　too；　Gawyn。〃　His　wrist　trembled　under　her　fingers。　〃I　swear　it；　Gawyn。　Egwene　believes。〃
　　　　　　　His　eyes　flickered　to　her；　then　back　to　Siuan。　〃Why　shouldn't　I　drag　you　back　by　the　scruff　of　your　neck？　Give　me　a　reason。〃
　　　　　　　Siuan　met　his　stare　with　a　good　deal　more　calm　than　Min　felt。　〃You　could　do　it；　and　I　suppose　my　struggles　wouldn't　give　you　much　more　trouble　than　a　kitten's。　Yesterday；　I　was　one　of　the　most　powerful　women　in　the　world。　Perhaps　the　most　powerful。　Kings　and　queens　would　e　if　I　summoned　them；　even　if　they　hated　the　Tower　and　all　it　stood　for。　Today；　I'm　afraid　that　I　may　have　nothing　to　eat　tonight；　and　that　I'll　have　to　sleep　under　a　bush。　In　the　space　of　one　day　I've　been　reduced　from　the　most　powerful　woman　in　the　world　to　one　hoping　to　find　a　farm　where　I　might　earn　my　keep　in　the　fields。　Whatever　you　think　I　have　done；　isn't　that　a　fitting　punishment？〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps；〃　he　said　after　a　moment。　Min　took　a　deep　breath　of　relief　as　he　resheathed　his　sword　in　a　flowing　motion。　〃But　that　is　not　why　I　will　let　you　go。　Elaida　might　take　your　head　yet；　and　I　cannot　allow　that。　I　want　what　you　know　to　be　there；　if　I　need　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃Gawyn；〃　Min　said；　〃e　with　us。〃　A　Warder…trained　swordsman　might　be　useful　in　the　days　to　e。　〃That　way　you'd　have　her　ready　to　hand　to　answer　your　questions。〃　Siuan's　gaze　flickered　to　her；　not　really　leaving　Gawyn's　face　and　not　exactly　indignant；　she　pressed　on　anyway。　〃Gawyn；　Egwene　and　Elayne　believe　in　her。　Can't　you　believe；　too？〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　not　ask　more　than　I　can　give；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃I　will　take　you　to　the　nearest　gate。　You　would　never　get　out　without　me。　That's　all　I　can　do；　Min；　and　it　is　more　than　I　should。　Your　arrest　has　been　ordered；　did　you　know　that？〃　His　eyes　swung　back　to　Siuan。　〃If　anything　happens　to　them；〃　he　said　in　that　expressionless　voice；　〃to　Egwene　or　my　sister；　I　will　find　you；　wherever　you　hide；　and　I　will　make　sure　the　same　happens　to　you。〃　Abruptly　he　stalked　a　dozen　paces　away　and　stood　with　his　arms　folded；　head　down　as　if　he　could　not　bear　to　look　at　them　any　longer。
　　　　　　　Siuan　half…raised　a　hand　to　her　throat；　a　tiny　line　of　red　on　the　fair　skin　marked　where　his　blade　had　rested。　〃I've　been　too　long　with　the　Power；〃　she　said；　a　trifle　unsteadily。　〃I　had　forgotten　what　it　is　like　to　face　someone　who　can　pick　you　up　and　snap　you　like　a　thread。〃　She　peered　at　Leane　then；　as　if　seeing　her　for　the　first　time；　and　touched　her　own　face　as　though　unsure　what　it　looked　like。　〃From　what　I　have　read　it　is　supposed　to　take　longer　to　fade；　but　perhaps　Elaida's　rough　treatment　had　something　to　do　with　it。　A　disguise；　he　called　it；　and　it　may　serve　for　one。〃　She　clambered　awkwardly　onto　Bela's　back；　handling　the　reins　as　if　the　shaggy　mare　were　a　spirited　stallion。　〃Another　advantage；　it　seems；　to　being。。。　I　have　to　learn　to　say　it　without　flinching。　I　have　been　stilled。〃　She　said　the　words　slowly　and　deliberately；　then　nodded。　〃There。　If　Leane　is　any　guide；　I've　lost　a　good　fifteen　years；　maybe　more。　I've　known　women　who　would　pay　any　price　for　that。　A　third　advantage。〃　She　glanced　at　Gawyn。　He　still　had　his　back　turned；　but　she　lowered　her　voice　anyway。　〃Along　with　a　certain　loosening　of　the　tongue；　shall　we　say？　I　had　not　thought　of　Mara　in　years。　A　friend　of　my　girlhood。〃
　　　　　　　〃W