rj.theshadowrising-第66部分

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　　　　　　　She　examined　the　book。　The　Way　of　the　Light；　by　Lothair　Mantelar。　Opening　it；　she　read　at　random。　〃Therefore　abjure　all　pleasure；　for　goodness　is　a　pure　abstract；　a　perfect　crystalline　ideal　which　is　obscured　by　base　emotion。　Pamper　not　the　flesh。　Flesh　is　weak　but　spirit　is　strong；　flesh　is　useless　where　spirit　is　strong。　Right　thought　is　drowned　in　sensation；　and　right　action　hindered　by　passions。　Take　all　joy　from　tightness；　and　rightness　only。〃　It　seemed　to　be　dry　nonsense。
　　　　　　　Min　smiled　at　Gawyn；　and　even　managed　a　titter。　〃So　many　words。　I　fear　I　know　little　of　books；　my　Lord　Gawyn。　I　always　mean　to　read　one　…　I　do。〃　She　sighed。　〃But　there　is　so　little　time。　Why；　just　fixing　my　hair　properly　takes　hours。　Do　you　think　it　is　pretty？〃　The　outraged　startlement　on　his　face　nearly　made　her　laugh；　but　she　changed　it　to　a　giggle。　It　was　a　pleasure　to　turn　the　tables　on　him　for　a　change；　she　would　have　to　see　if　she　could　do　it　more　often。　There　were　possibilities　in　this　disguise　she　had　not　considered。　This　stay　in　the　Tower　had　turned　out　to　be　all　boredom　and　irritation。　She　deserved　some　amusement。
　　　　　　　〃Lothair　Mantelar；〃　Gawyn　said　in　a　tight　voice；　〃founded　the　Whitecloaks。　The　Whitecloaks！〃
　　　　　　　〃He　was　a　great　man；〃　Galad　said　firmly。　〃A　philosopher　of　noble　ideals。　If　the　Children　of　the　Light　have　sometimes　been。。。　excessive。。。　since　his　day；　it　does　not　change　that。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　my。　Whitecloaks；〃　Min　said　breathlessly；　and　added　a　little　shudder。　〃They　are　such　rough　men；　I　hear。　I　cannot　imagine　a　Whitecloak　dancing。　Do　you　think　there　is　any　chance　of　a　dance　here？　Aes　Sedai　do　not　seem　to　care　for　dancing　either；　and　I　do　so　love　to　dance。〃　The　frustration　in　Gawyn's　eyes　was　delightful。
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　think　so；〃　Galad　said；　taking　the　book　from　her。　〃Aes　Sedai　are　too　busy　with。。。　with　their　own　affairs。　If　I　hear　of　a　suitable　dance　in　the　city；　I　will　escort　you；　if　you　wish　it。　You　need　have　no　fear　of　being　annoyed　by　those　two　louts。〃　He　smiled　at　her；　unconscious　of　what　he　was　doing；　and　she　suddenly　found　herself　breathless　in　truth。　Men　should　not　be　allowed　smiles　like　that。
　　　　　　　It　actually　took　her　a　moment　to　remember　what　two　louts　he　was　talking　about。　The　two　men　who　had　supposedly　asked　for　Elmindreda's　hand　in　marriage；　nearly　fighting　each　other　because　she　could　not　make　up　her　mind；　pressing　her　to　the　point　of　seeking　sanctuary　in　the　Tower　because　she　could　not　stop　encouraging　them　both。　Just　the　entire　excuse　for　her　being　there。　It's　this　dress；　she　told　herself。　I　could　think　straight　if　I　had　on　my　proper　clothes。
　　　　　　　〃I've　noticed　the　Amyrlin　speaks　to　you　every　day；〃　Gawyn　said　suddenly。　〃Has　she　mentioned　our　sister　Elayne？　Or　Egwene　al'Vere？　Has　she　said　anything　of　where　they　are？〃
　　　　　　　Min　wished　she　could　black　his　eye。　He　did　not　know　why　she　was　pretending　to　be　someone　else；　of　course；　but　he　had　agreed　to　help　her　be　accepted　as　Elmindreda；　and　now　he　was　linking　her　to　women　too　many　in　the　Tower　knew　were　friends　of　Min。　〃Oh；　the　Amyrlin　Seat　is　such　a　wonderful　woman；〃　she　said　sweetly；　baring　her　teeth　in　a　smile。　〃She　always　asks　how　I　am　passing　the　time；　and　pliments　my　dress。　I　suppose　she　hopes　I'll　make　a　decision　soon　between　Darvan　and　Goemal；　but　I　just　cannot。〃　She　widened　her　eyes；　hoping　it　made　her　look　helpless　and　confused。　〃They　are　both　so　sweet。　Who　did　you　say？　Your　sister；　my　Lord　Gawyn？　The　Daughter…Heir　herself？　I　do　not　think　I've　ever　heard　the　Amyrlin　Seat　mention　her。　What　was　the　other　name？〃　She　could　hear　Gawyn　grinding　his　teeth。
　　　　　　　〃We　should　not　bother　Mistress　Elmindreda　with　that；〃　Galad　said。　〃It　is　our　problem；　Gawyn。　It　is　up　to　us　to　find　the　lie　and　deal　with　it。〃
　　　　　　　She　barely　heard　him；　because　suddenly　she　was　staring　at　a　big　man　with　long　dark　hair　curling　around　slumped　shoulders；　wandering　aimlessly　down　one　of　the　graveled　paths　through　the　trees；　under　the　watchful　eyes　of　an　Accepted。　She　had　seen　Logain　before；　a　sad…faced；　once…hearty　man；　always　with　an　Accepted　for　panion。　The　woman　was　meant　to　keep　him　from　killing　himself　as　much　as　to　prevent　his　escape；　despite　his　size；　he　truly　did　not　seem　up　to　anything　of　the　latter　sort。　But　she　had　never　before　seen　a　flaring　halo　around　his　head；　radiant　in　gold　and　blue。　It　was　only　there　for　a　moment；　but　that　was　enough。
　　　　　　　Logain　had　proclaimed　himself　the　Dragon　Reborn；　had　been　captured　and　gentled。　Whatever　glory　he　might　have　had　as　a　false　Dragon　was　far　behind　him　now。　All　that　remained　for　him　was　the　despair　of　the　gentled；　like　a　man　who　had　been　robbed　of　sight　and　hearing　and　taste；　wanting　to　die；　waiting　for　the　death　that　inevitably　came　to　such　men　in　a　few　years。　He　glanced　at　her；　perhaps　not　seeing　her；　his　eyes　looked　hopelessly　inward。　So　why　had　he　worn　a　halo　that　shouted　of　glory　and　power　to　e？　This　was　something　she　had　to　tell　the　Amyrlin。
　　　　　　　〃Poor　fellow；〃　Gawyn　muttered。　〃I　cannot　help　pitying　him。　Light；　it　would　be　a　mercy　to　let　him　end　it。　Why　do　they　make　him　keep　on　living？〃
　　　　　　　〃He　deserves　no　pity；〃　Galad　pronounced。　〃Have　you　forgotten　what　he　was；　what　he　did？　How　many　thousands　died　before　he　was　taken？　How　many　towns　were　burned？　Let　him　live　on　as　a　warning　to　others。〃
　　　　　　　Gawyn　nodded；　but　reluctantly。　〃Yet　men　followed　him。　Some　of　those　towns　were　burned　after　they　declared　for　him。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　to　go；〃　Min　said；　getting　to　her　feet；　and　Galad　was　instantly　all　solicitude。
　　　　　　　〃Forgive　us；　Mistress　Elmindreda。　We　did　not　mean　to　frighten　you。　Logain　cannot　harm　you。　I　give　you　my　assurance。〃
　　　　　　　〃I。　。　。　Yes；　he's　made　me　feel　faint。　Do　excuse　me。　I　really　must　go　lie　down。〃
　　　　　　　Gawyn　looked　extremely　skeptical；　but　he　scooped　up　her　basket　before　she　could　touch　it。　〃Let　me　see　you　part　of　the　way；　at　least；〃　he　said；　his　voice　oozing　false　concern。　〃This　basket　must　be　too　heavy　for　you；　dizzy　as　you　are。　I'd　not　want　you　to　swoon。〃
　　　　　　　She　wanted　to　snatch　the　basket　and　hit　him　with　it；　but　that　was　not　how　Elmindreda　would　react。　〃Oh；　thank　you；　my　Lord　Gawyn。　You　are　so　kind。　So　kind。　No；　no；　my　Lord　Galad。　Do　not　let　me　encumber　both　of　you。　Do　sit　down　here　and　read　your　book。　Do　say　you　will。　I　just　could　not　bear　it；　otherwise。〃　She　even　fluttered　her　eyelashes。
　　　　　　　Somehow　she　managed　to　ensconce　Galad　on　the　marble　bench　and　get　away；　though　with　Gawyn　right　beside　her。　Her　skirts　were　an　irritant；　she　wanted　to　pull　them　up　to　her　knees　and　run；　but　Elmindreda　would　never　run；　and　never　expose　so　much　of　her　legs　except　when　dancing。　Laras　had　lectured　her　severely　on　that　very　point；　one　time　running；　and　she　would　nearly　destroy　the　image　of　Elmindreda　pletely。　And　Gawyn。。。　！
　　　　　　　〃Give　me　that　basket；　you　muscle…brained　cretin；〃　she　snarled　as　soon　as　they　were　out　of　Galad's　sight；　and　pulled　it　away　from　him　before　he　could　ply。　〃What　do　you　mean　by　asking　me　about　Elayne　and　Egwene　in　front　of　him？　Elmindreda　never　met　them。　Elmindreda　does　not　care　about　them。　Elmindreda　doesn't　want　to　be　mentioned　in　the　same　sentence　with　them！　Can't　you　understand　that？〃
　　　　　　　〃No；〃　he　said。　〃Not　since　you　won't　explain。　But　I　am　sorry。〃　There　was　hardly　enough　repentance　in　his　voice　to　suit　her。　〃It　is　just　that　I　am　worried。　Where　are　they？　This　news　ing　upriver　about　a　false　Dragon　in　Tear　makes　me　no　easier　in　my　mind。　They　are　out　there；　somewhere；　the　Light　knows　where；　and　I　keep　asking　myself；　what　if　they　are　in　the　middle　of　the　sort　of　bonfire　Logain　made　out　of　Ghealdan？〃
　　　　　　　〃What　if　he　isn't　a　false　Dragon？〃　she　asked　cautiously。
　　　　　　　〃You　mean　because　the　stories　in　the　streets　say　he's　taken　the　Stone　of　Tear？　Rumor　has　a　way　of　magnifying　events。　I　will　believe　that　when　I　see　it；　and　in　any　case；　it　will　take　more　to　convince　me。　Even　the　Stone　could　fall。　Light；　I　don't　really　believe　Elayne　and　Egwene　are　in　Tear；　but　the　not　knowing　eats　at　my　belly　like　acid。　If　she　is　hurt。。。〃
　　　　　　　Min　did　not　know　which　〃she〃　he　meant；　and　suspected　he　did　not　either。　In　spite　of　his　teasing；　her　heart　went　out　to　him；　but　there　was　nothing　she　could　do。　〃If　you　could　only　do　as　I　say　and…〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know。　Trust　the　Amyrlin。　Trust！〃　He　exhaled　a　long　breath。　〃Do　you　know　Galad　has　been　drinking　in　the　taverns　with　Whitecloaks？　Anyone　can　cross　the　bridges　if　they　e　in　peace；　even　Children　of　the　bloody　Light。〃
　　　　　　　〃Galad？〃　she　said　incredulously。　〃In　taverns？　Drinking？〃
　　　　　　　〃No　more　than　a　cup　or　two；　I'm　sure。　He　would　not　unbend　more　than　that；　not　for　his　own　nameday。〃　Gawyn　frowned　as　if　unsure　whether　that　might　be　a　criticism　of　Galad。　〃The　point　is　that　he　is　talking　with　Whitecloaks。　And　now　this　book。　According　to　the　inscription；　Eamon　Valda　himself　gave　it　to　him。　'In　the　hope　you　will　find　the　way。'　Valda；　Min。　The　man　manding　the　Whitecloaks　on　the　other　side　of　the　bridges。　Not　knowing　is　eating　Galad　up；　too。　Listening　to　Whitecloaks。　If　anything　happens　to　our　sister；　or　to　Egwene。。。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃Do　you　know　where　they　are；　Min？　Would　you　tell　me　if　you　did？　Why　are　you　hiding？〃
　　　　　　　〃Because　I　drove　two　men　mad　with　my　beauty　and　cannot　make　up　my　mind；〃　she　told　him　acidly。
　　　　　　　He　gave