rj.theshadowrising-第4部分

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or　no　calf…eyes。　〃Gawyn；　I　am　summoned　to　the　Amyrlin。　Where　can　I　find　you；　when　she　is　done　with　me？〃
〃I　will　be　in　the　practice　yard。　The　only　time　I　can　stop　worrying　is　when　I　am　working　the　sword　with　Hammar。〃　Hammar　was　a　blademaster；　and　the　Warder　who　taught　the　sword。　〃Most　days　I'm　there　until　the　sun　sets。〃
〃Good；　then。　I　will　e　as　soon　as　I　can。　And　try　to　watch　what　you　say。　If　you　make　the　Amyrlin　angry　with　you；　Elayne　and　Egwene　might　share　in　it。〃
〃That　I　cannot　promise；〃　he　said　firmly。　〃Something　is　wrong　in　the　world。　Civil　war　in　Cairhien。　The　same　and　worse　in　Tarabon　and　Arad　Doman。　False　Dragons。　Troubles　and　rumors　of　troubles　everywhere。　I　don't　say　the　Tower　is　behind　it；　but　even　here　things　are　not　what　they　should　be。　Or　what　they　seem；　Elayne　and　Egwene　vanishing　isn't　the　whole　of　it。　Still；　they　are　the　part　that　concerns　me。　I　will　find　out　where　they　are。　And　if　they　have　been　hurt。。。。　If　they　are　dead。。。。〃
He　scowled；　and　for　an　instant　his　face　was　that　bloody　mask　again。　More：　a　sword　floated　above　his　head；　and　a　banner　waved　behind　it。　The　long…hilted　sword；　like　those　most　Warders　used；　had　a　heron　engraved　on　its　slightly　curved　blade；　symbol　of　a　blademaster；　and　Min　could　not　say　whether　it　belonged　to　Gawyn　or　threatened　him。　The　banner　bore　Gawyn's　sigil　of　the　charging　White　Boar；　but　on　a　field　of　green　rather　than　the　red　of　Andor。　Both　sword　and　banner　faded　with　the　blood。
〃Be　careful；　Gawyn。〃　She　meant　it　two　ways。　Careful　of　what　he　said；　and　careful　in　a　way　she　could　not　explain；　even　to　herself。　〃You　must　be　very　careful。〃
His　eyes　searched　her　face　as　if　he　had　heard　some　of　her　deeper　meaning。　〃I。。。　will　try；〃　he　said　finally。　He　put　on　a　grin；　almost　the　grin　she　remembered；　but　the　effort　was　plain。　〃I　suppose　I　had　better　get　myself　back　to　the　practice　yard　if　I　expect　to　keep　up　with　Galad。　I　managed　two　out　of　five　against　Hammar　this　morning；　but　Galad　actually　won　three；　the　last　time　he　bothered　to　e　to　the　yard。〃　Suddenly　he　appeared　to　really　see　her　for　the　first　time；　and　his　grin　became　genuine。　〃You　ought　to　wear　dresses　more　often。　It's　pretty　on　you。　Remember；　I　will　be　there　till　sunset。〃
As　he　strode　away　with　something　very　close　to　the　dangerous　grace　of　a　Warder；　Min　realized　she　was　smoothing　the　dress　over　her　hip　and　stopped　immediately。　The　Light　burn　all　men！
Sahra　exhaled　as　if　she　had　been　holding　her　breath。　〃He　is　very　good…looking；　isn't　he？〃　she　said　dreamily。　〃Not　as　good…looking　as　Lord　Galad；　of　course。　And　you　really　know　him。〃　It　was　half　a　question；　but　only　half。
Min　echoed　the　novice's　sigh。　The　girl　would　talk　with　her　friends　in　the　novices'　quarters。　The　son　of　a　queen　was　a　natural　topic；　especially　when　he　was　handsome　and　had　an　air　about　him　like　the　hero　in　a　gleeman's　tale。　A　strange　woman　only　made　for　more　interesting　speculation。　Still；　there　was　nothing　to　be　done　about　it。　At　any　rate；　it　could　hardly　cause　any　harm　now。
〃The　Amyrlin　Seat　must　be　wondering　why　we　haven't　e；〃　she　said。
Sahra　came　to　herself　with　a　wide…eyed　start　and　a　loud　gulp。　Seizing　Min's　sleeve　with　one　hand；　she　jumped　to　open　one　of　the　doors；　pulling　Min　behind　her。　The　moment　they　were　inside；　the　novice　curtsied　hastily　and　burst　out　in　panic；　〃I've　brought　her；　Leane　Sedai。　Mistress　Elmindreda？　The　Amyrlin　Seat　wants　to　see　her？〃
The　tall；　coppery…skinned　woman　in　the　anteroom　wore　the　hand…wide　stole　of　the　Keeper　of　the　Chronicles；　blue　to　show　she　had　been　raised　from　the　Blue　Ajah。　Fists　on　hips；　she　waited　for　the　girl　to　finish；　then　dismissed　her　with　a　clipped　〃Took　you　long　enough；　child。　Back　to　your　chores；　now。〃　Sahra　bobbed　another　curtsy　and　scurried　out　as　quickly　as　she　had　entered。
Min　stood　with　her　eyes　on　the　floor；　her　hood　still　pulled　up　around　her　face。　Blundering　in　front　of　Sahra　had　been　bad　enough…　though　at　least　the　novice　did　not　know　her　name　…　but　Leane　knew　her　better　than　anyone　in　the　Tower　except　the　Amyrlin。　Min　was　sure　it　could　make　no　difference　now；　but　after　what　had　happened　in　the　hallway；　she　meant　to　hold　to　Moiraine's　instructions　until　she　was　alone　with　the　Amyrlin。
This　time　her　precautions　did　no　good。　Leane　took　two　steps；　pushed　back　the　hood；　and　grunted　as　if　she　had　been　poked　in　the　stomach。　Min　raised　her　head　and　stared　back　defiantly；　trying　to　pretend　she　had　not　been　attempting　to　sneak　past。　Straight；　dark　hair　only　a　little　longer　than　her　own　framed　the　Keeper's　face；　the　Aes　Sedai's　expression　was　a　blend　of　surprise　and　displeasure　at　being　surprised。
〃So　you　are　Elmindreda；　are　you？〃　Leane　said　briskly。　She　was　always　brisk。　〃I　must　say　you　look　it　more　in　that　dress　than　in　your　usual。。。　garb。〃
〃Just　Min；　Leane　Sedai；　if　you　please。〃　Min　managed　to　keep　her　face　straight；　but　it　was　difficult　not　to　glare。　The　Keeper's　voice　had　held　too　much　amusement。　If　her　mother　had　had　to　name　her　after　someone　in　a　story；　why　did　it　have　to　be　a　woman　who　seemed　to　spend　most　of　her　time　sighing　at　men；　when　she　was　not　inspiring　them　to　pose　songs　about　her　eyes；　or　her　smile？
〃Very　well。　Min。　I'll　not　ask　where　you've　been；　nor　why　you've　e　back　in　a　dress；　apparently　wanting　to　ask　a　question　of　the　Amyrlin。　Not　now；　at　least。〃　Her　face　said　she　meant　to　ask　later；　though；　and　get　answers。　〃I　suppose　the　Mother　knows　who　Elmindreda　is？　Of　course。　I　should　have　known　that　when　she　said　to　send　you　straight　in；　and　alone。　The　Light　alone　knows　why　she　puts　up　with　you。〃　She　broke　off　with　a　concerned　frown。　〃What　is　the　matter；　girl？　Are　you　ill？〃
Min　carefully　blanked　her　face。　〃No。　No；　I　am　all　right。〃　For　a　moment　the　Keeper　had　been　looking　through　a　transparent　mask　of　her　own　face；　a　screaming　mask。　〃May　I　go　in　now；　Leane　Sedai？〃
Leane　studied　her　a　moment　longer；　then　jerked　her　head　toward　the　inner　chamber。　〃In　with　you。〃　Min's　leap　to　obey　would　have　satisfied　the　hardest　taskmistress。
The　Amyrlin　Seat's　study　had　been　occupied　by　many　grand　and　powerful　women　over　the　centuries；　and　reminders　of　the　fact　filled　the　room；　from　the　tall　fireplace　all　of　golden　marble　from　Kandor；　cold　now；　to　the　paneled　walls　of　pale；　oddly　striped　wood；　iron　hard　yet　carved　in　wondrous　beasts　and　wildly　feathered　birds。　Those　panels　had　been　brought　from　the　mysterious　lands　beyond　the　Aiel　Waste　well　over　a　thousand　years　ago；　and　the　fireplace　was　more　than　twice　as　old。　The　polished　red…stone　of　the　floor　had　e　from　the　Mountains　of　Mist。　 High　arched　windows　let　onto　a　balcony。　The　iridescent　stone　framing　the　windows　shone　like　pearls；　and　had　been　salvaged　from　the　remains　of　a　city　sunk　into　the　Sea　of　Storms　by　the　Breaking　of　the　World；　no　one　had　ever　seen　its　like。
The　current　occupant；　Siuan　Sanche；　had　been　born　a　fisherman's　daughter　in　Tear；　though；　and　the　furnishings　she　had　chosen　were　simple；　if　well　made　and　well　polished。　She　sat　in　a　stout　chair　behind　a　large　table　plain　enough　to　have　served　a　farmhouse。　The　only　other　chair　in　the　room；　just　as　plain　and　usually　set　off　to　one　side；　now　stood　in　front　of　the　table　atop　a　small　Tairen　rug；　simple　in　blue　and　brown　and　gold。　Half　a　dozen　books　rested　open　on　tall　reading　stands　about　the　floor。　That　was　all　of　it。　A　drawing　hung　above　the　fireplace：　tiny　fishing　boats　working　among　reeds　in　the　Fingers　of　the　Dragon；　just　as　her　father's　boat　had。
At　first　glance；　despite　her　smooth　Aes　Sedai　features；　Siuan　Sanche　herself　looked　as　simple　as　her　furnishings。　She　herself　was　sturdy；　and　handsome　rather　than　beautiful；　and　the　only　bit　of　ostentation　in　her　clothing　was　the　broad　stole　of　the　Amyrlin　Seat　she　wore；　with　one　colored　stripe　for　each　of　the　seven　Ajahs。　Her　age　was　indeterminate；　as　with　any　Aes　Sedai；　not　even　a　hint　of　gray　showed　in　her　dark　hair。　But　her　sharp　blue　eyes　brooked　no　nonsense；　and　her　firm　jaw　spoke　of　the　determination　of　the　youngest　woman　ever　to　be　chosen　Amyrlin　Seat。　For　over　ten　years　Siuan　Sanche　had　been　able　to　summon　rulers；　and　the　powerful；　and　they　had　e；　even　if　they　hated　the　White　Tower　and　feared　Aes　Sedai。
As　the　Amyrlin　strode　around　in　front　of　the　table；　Min　set　down　her　bundle　and　began　an　awkward　curtsy；　muttering　irritably　under　her　breath　at　having　to　do　so。　Not　that　she　wanted　to　be　disrespectful　…　that　did　not　even　occur　to　one　facing　a　woman　like　Siuan　Sanche　…　but　the　bow　she　usually　would　have　made　seemed　foolish　in　a　dress；　and　she　had　only　a　rough　idea　of　how　to　curtsy。
Halfway　down；　with　her　skirts　already　spread；　she　froze　like　a　crouching　toad。　Siuan　Sanche　was　standing　there　as　regal　as　any　queen；　and　for　a　moment　she　was　also　lying　on　the　floor；　naked。　Aside　from　her　being　in　only　her　skin；　there　was　something　odd　about　the　image；　but　it　vanished　before　Min　could　say　what。　It　was　as　strong　a　viewing　as　she　had　ever　seen；　and　she　had　no　idea　what　it　meant。
〃Seeing　things　again；　are　you？〃　the　Amyrlin　said。　〃Well；　I　can　certainly　make　use　of　that　ability　of　yours。　I　could　have　used　it　all　the　months　you　were　gone。　But　we'll　not　talk　of　that。　What's　done　is　done。　The　Wheel　weaves　as　the　Wheel　wills。〃　She　smiled　a　tight　smile。　〃But　if　you　do　it　again；　I'll　have　your　hide　for　gloves。　Stand　up；　girl。　Leane　force