rj.theshadowrising-第31部分

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　until　then　it　was　the　possession　of　the　Firsts　of　Mayene；　who　used　its　answers　to　help　keep　Mayene　out　of　Tear's　grasp。　And　they　allowed　Aes　Sedai　to　study　it。　In　secret；　of　course；　Mayene　has　never　dared　anger　Tear　too　openly。〃
　　　　　　　〃If　it　was　so　important　to　Mayene；〃　Nynaeve　said　suspiciously；　〃why　is　it　here；　in　the　Stone？〃
　　　　　　　〃Because　Firsts　have　made　bad　decisions　as　well　as　good　in　trying　to　keep　Mayene　free　of　Tear。　Three　hundred　years　ago　the　High　Lords　were　planning　to　build　a　fleet　to　follow　Mayener　ships　and　find　the　oilfish　shoals。　Halvar；　the　then　First；　raised　the　price　of　Mayener　lamp　oil　well　above　that　of　oil　from　Tear's　olives；　and　to　further　convince　the　High　Lords　that　Mayene　would　always　put　its　own　interests　behind　those　of　Tear；　made　them　a　gift　of　the　ter'angreal。　He　had　already　used　it；　so　it　was　no　further　good　to　him；　and　he　was　almost　as　young　as　Berelain　is　now；　apparently　with　a　long　reign　ahead　of　him　and　many　years　of　needing　Tairen　goodwill。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　was　a　fool；〃　Elayne　muttered。　〃My　mother　would　never　make　such　a　mistake。〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　not；〃　Moiraine　said。　〃But　then；　Andor　is　not　a　small　nation　cornered　by　a　much　larger　and　stronger。　Halvar　was　a　fool　as　it　turned　out　…　the　High　Lords　had　him　assassinated　the　very　next　year　…　but　his　foolishness　does　present　me　with　an　opportunity；　if　I　need　it。　A　dangerous　one；　yet　better　than　none。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　muttered　to　herself；　perhaps　disappointed　that　the　Aes　Sedai　had　not　tripped　herself　up。
　　　　　　　〃It　leaves　the　rest　of　us　right　where　we　were。〃　Egwene　sighed。　〃Not　knowing　who　is　lying；　or　whether　they　both　are。〃
　　　　　　　〃Question　them　again；　if　you　wish；〃　Moiraine　said。　〃You　have　until　they　are　put　on　the　ship；　though　I　very　much　doubt　either　will　change　her　tale　now。　My　advice　is　to　concentrate　on　Tanchico。　If　Joiya　speaks　truly；　it　will　take　Aes　Sedai　and　Warders　to　guard　Mazrim　Taim；　not　just　the　three　of　you。　I　sent　a　warning　to　the　Amyrlin　by　pigeon　when　I　first　heard　Joiya's　story。　In　fact；　I　sent　three　pigeons；　to　make　sure　one　reaches　the　Tower。〃
　　　　　　　〃So　kind　of　you　to　keep　us　informed；〃　Elayne　murmured　coolly。　The　woman　did　go　her　own　way。　Just　because　they　were　only　pretending　to　be　full　Aes　Sedai　was　no　reason　for　Moiraine　to　keep　them　in　the　dark。　The　Amyrlin　had　sent　them　out　to　hunt　the　Black　Ajah。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　inclined　her　head　briefly；　as　if　accepting　the　thanks　for　real。　〃You　are　wele。　Remember　that　you　are　the　hounds　the　Amyrlin　set　after　the　Black　Ajah。〃　Her　slight　smile　at　Elayne's　start　said　she　knew　exactly　what　Elayne　had　been　thinking。　〃The　decision　on　where　to　course　must　be　yours。　You　have　pointed　that　out　to　me；　as　well；〃　she　added　drily。　〃I　trust　it　will　prove　an　easier　decision　than　mine。　And　I　trust　you　will　sleep　well；　what　sleep　is　left　before　daybreak。　A　good　night　to　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　woman。。。　。〃　Elayne　muttered　when　the　door　had　closed　behind　the　Aes　Sedai。　〃Sometimes　I　could　almost　strangle　her。〃　She　dropped　into　one　of　the　chairs　at　the　table　and　sat　frowning　at　her　hands　in　her　lap。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　gave　a　grunt　that　might　have　been　agreement　as　she　went　to　a　narrow　table　against　the　wall　where　silver　goblets　and　spice　jars　stood　next　to　two　pitchers。　One　pitcher；　full　of　wine；　rested　in　a　gleaming　bowl　of　now　mostly　melted　ice；　brought　all　the　way　from　the　Spine　of　the　World　packed　in　chests　of　sawdust。　Ice　in　the　summer　to　chill　a　High　Lord's　drink；　Elayne　could　barely　imagine　such　a　thing。
　　　　　　　〃A　cool　drink　before　bed　will　do　us　all　good；〃　Nynaeve　said；　busying　herself　with　wine　and　water　and　spices。
　　　　　　　Elayne　lifted　her　head　as　Egwene　took　a　seat　next　to　her。　〃Did　you　mean　what　you　said；　Egwene？　About　Rand？〃　Egwene　nodded；　and　Elayne　sighed。　〃Do　you　remember　what　Min　used　to　say；　all　her　jokes　about　sharing　him？　I　sometimes　wondered　if　that　was　a　viewing　she　did　not　tell　us　about。　I　thought　she　meant　we　both　loved　him；　and　she　knew　it。　But　you　had　the　right　to　him；　and　I　didn't　know　what　to　do。　I　still　don't。　Egwene；　he　loves　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　will　just　have　to　be　put　straight；〃　Egwene　said　firmly。　〃When　I　marry；　it　will　be　because　I　want　to；　not　just　because　a　man　expects　me　to　love　him。　I　will　be　gentle　with　him；　Elayne；　but　before　I　am　done；　he　will　know　he　is　free。　Whether　he　wants　to　be　or　not。　My　mother　says　men　are　different　from　us。　She　says　we　want　to　be　in　love；　but　only　with　the　one　we　want；　a　man　needs　to　be　in　love；　but　he　will　love　the　first　woman　to　tie　a　string　to　his　heart。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　is　all　very　well；〃　Elayne　said　in　a　tight　voice；　〃but　Berelain　was　in　his　chambers。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　sniffed。　〃Whatever　she　intends；　Berelain　won't　keep　her　mind　on　one　man　long　enough　to　make　him　love　her。　Two　days　ago　she　was　casting　eyes　at　Rhuarc。　In　two　more；　she'll　be　smiling　at　someone　else。　She　is　like　Else　Grinwell。　You　remember　her？　The　novice　who　spent　all　her　time　out　at　the　practice　yards　fluttering　her　eyelashes　at　the　Warders？〃
　　　　　　　〃She　was　not　just　fluttering　her　eyelashes；　in　his　bedchamber　at　this　hour。　She　was　wearing　even　less　than　usual；　if　that　is　possible！〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　mean　to　let　her　have　him；　then？〃
　　　　　　　〃No！〃　Elayne　said　it　very　fiercely；　and　she　meant　it；　but　in　the　next　breath　she　was　full　of　despair。　〃Oh；　Egwene；　I　do　not　know　what　to　do。　I　love　him。　I　want　to　marry　him。　Light！　What　will　mother　say？　I　would　rather　spend　a　night　in　Joiya's　cell　than　listen　to　the　lectures　mother　will　give　me。〃　Andoran　nobles；　even　in　royal　families；　married　moners　often　enough　that　it　hardly　occasioned　ment　…　in　Andor；　at　least　…　but　Rand　was　not　exactly　the　usual　run　of　moner。　Her　mother　was　quite　capable　of　actually　sending　Lini　to　drag　her　home　by　her　ear。　。　。
　　　　　　　〃Morgase　can　hardly　say　much　if　Mat　is　to　be　believed；〃　Egwene　said　fortingly。　〃Or　even　half　believed。　This　Lord　Gaebril　your　mother　is　mooning　after　hardly　sounds　the　choice　of　a　woman　thinking　with　her　head。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　sure　Mat　exaggerated；〃　Elayne　replied　primly。　Her　mother　was　too　shrewd　to　make　herself　a　fool　over　any　man。　If　Lord　Gaebril　…　she　had　never　even　heard　of　him　before　Mat　spoke　his　name　…　if　this　fellow　dreamed　he　could　gain　power　through　Morgase；　she　would　give　him　a　rude　awakening。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　brought　three　goblets　of　spiced　wine　to　the　table；　beads　of　condensation　running　down　their　shining　sides；　and　small　green…and…gold　woven　straw　mats　to　put　them　on　so　the　damp　would　not　mar　the　table's　polish。　〃So；〃　she　said；　taking　a　chair；　〃you've　discovered　you　are　in　love　with　Rand；　Elayne；　and　Egwene　has　discovered　she　isn't。〃
　　　　　　　The　two　younger　women　gaped　at　her；　one　dark；　the　other　fair；　yet　a　near　mirror　image　of　astonishment。
　　　　　　　〃I　have　eyes；〃　Nynaeve　said　placently。　〃And　ears；　when　you　don't　take　the　trouble　to　whisper。〃　She　sipped　at　her　wine；　and　her　voice　grew　cold　when　she　continued。　〃What　do　you　mean　to　do　about　it？　If　that　chit　Berelain　has　her　claws　into　him；　it　will　not　be　easy　to　pry　them　loose。　Are　you　sure　you　want　to　go　to　the　effort？　You　know　what　he　is。　You　know　what　lies　ahead　of　him；　even　setting　the　Prophecies　aside。　Madness。　Death。　How　long　does　he　have？　A　year？　Two？　Or　will　it　begin　before　summer's　end？　He　is　a　man　who　can　channel。〃　She　bit　off　each　word　in　tones　of　iron。　〃Remember　what　you　were　taught。　Remember　what　he　is。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　held　her　head　high　and　met　Nynaeve　stare　for　stare。　〃It　does　not　matter。　Perhaps　it　should；　but　it　doesn't。　Perhaps　I　am　being　foolish。　I　do　not　care。　I　cannot　change　my　heart　to　order；　Nynaeve。〃
　　　　　　　Suddenly　Nynaeve　smiled。　〃I　had　to　be　sure；〃　she　said　warmly。　〃You　must　be　sure。　It　isn't　easy　loving　any　man；　but　loving　this　man　will　be　harder　yet。〃　Her　smile　faded　as　she　went　on。　〃My　first　question　still　has　to　be　answered。　What　do　you　mean　to　do　about　it？　Berelain　may　look　soft　…　she　certainly　makes　men　see　her　so！　…　but　I　do　not　think　she　is。　She　will　fight　for　what　she　wants。　And　she's　the　kind　to　hold　hard　to　something　she　doesn't　particularly　want；　just　because　someone　else　does　want　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　would　like　to　stuff　her　in　a　barrel；〃　Egwene　said；　gripping　her　goblet　as　if　it　were　the　First's　throat；　〃and　ship　her　back　to　Mayene。　In　the　bottom　of　the　hold。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve's　braid　swung　as　she　shook　her　head。　〃All　very　well；　but　try　to　offer　advice　that　helps。　If　you　cannot；　keep　silent　and　let　her　decide　what　she　must　do。〃　Egwene　stared　at　her；　and　she　added；　〃Rand　is　Elayne's　to　deal　with；　now；　not　yours。　You　have　stepped　aside；　remember。〃
　　　　　　　The　remark　should　have　made　Elayne　smile；　but　it　did　not。　〃This　was　all　supposed　to　be　different。〃　She　sighed。　〃I　thought　I　would　meet　a　man；　learn　to　know　him　over　months　or　years；　and　slowly　I　would　e　to　realize　I　loved　him。　That　is　the　way　I　always　thought　it　would　be。　I　hardly　know　Rand。　I've　talked　with　him　no　more　than　half　a　dozen　times　in　the　space　of　a　year。　But　I　knew　I　loved　him　five　minutes　after　I　first　set　eyes　on　him。〃　Now　that　was　foolish。　Only；　it　was　true；　and　she　did　not　care　if　it　was　foolish。　She　would　tell　her　mother　the　same　to　her　face；　and　Lini。　Well；　perhaps　not　Lini。　Lini　had　drastic　ways　of　dealing　with　foolishness；　and　she　seemed　to　think　Elayne　had　not　aged　beyond　ten。　〃As　matters　stand；　though；　I　don't　even　have　the