rj.theshadowrising-第67部分

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　　　　　　　〃Because　I　drove　two　men　mad　with　my　beauty　and　cannot　make　up　my　mind；〃　she　told　him　acidly。
　　　　　　　He　gave　a　bitter　half…laugh；　then　masked　it　with　a　grin。　〃Well；　that　at　least　I　can　believe。〃　He　chuckled；　and　stroked　under　her　chin　with　a　finger。　〃You　are　a　very　pretty　girl；　Elmindreda。　A　pretty；　clever　little　girl。〃
　　　　　　　She　doubled　a　fist　and　tried　to　punch　him　in　the　eye；　but　he　danced　back；　and　she　stumbled　over　her　skirts　and　nearly　fell。　〃You　bloody　ox　of　a　thimble…brained　man！〃　she　growled。
　　　　　　　〃Such　grace　of　movement；　Elmindreda；〃　he　laughed。　〃Such　a　dulcet　voice；　as　a　nightingale；　or　a　cooing　dove　of　the　evening。　What　man　would　not　grow　starry…eyed　at　the　sight　of　Elmindreda？〃　The　mirth　slid　away；　and　he　faced　her　soberly。　〃If　you　learn　anything；　please　tell　me。　Please？　I　will　beg　on　my　knees；　Min。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　tell　you；〃　she　said。　If　I　can。　If　it's　safe　for　them。　Light；　but　I　hate　this　place。　Why　can't　I　just　go　back　to　Rand？
　　　　　　　She　left　Gawyn　there　and　entered　the　Tower　proper　by　herself；　keeping　an　eye　out　for　Aes　Sedai　or　Accepted　who　might　question　why　she　was　above　the　ground　floor　and　where　she　was　going。　The　news　of　Logain　was　too　important　to　wait　until　the　Amyrlin　encountered　her；　seemingly　by　accident；　some　time　in　the　late　afternoon　as　usual。　At　least；　that　was　what　she　told　herself。　Impatience　threatened　to　pop　out　through　her　skin。
　　　　　　　She　only　saw　a　few　Aes　Sedai；　turning　a　corner　ahead　of　her　or　entering　a　room　in　the　distance；　which　was　all　to　the　good。　No　one　simply　dropped　in　on　the　Amyrlin　Seat。　The　handful　of　servants　she　passed；　all　bustling　about　their　work；　did　not　question　her；　of　course；　or　even　look　at　her　twice　except　to　drop　quick　curtsies　almost　without　pausing。
　　　　　　　Pushing　open　the　door　to　the　Amyrlin's　study；　she　had　a　simpering　tale　ready　in　case　anyone　was　with　Leane；　but　the　antechamber　was　empty。　She　hurried　to　the　inner　door　and　put　her　head　in。　The　Amyrlin　and　the　Keeper　were　seated　on　either　side　of　Siuan's　table；　which　was　littered　with　small　strips　of　thin　paper。　Their　heads　swiveled　toward　her　sharply；　a　stare　like　four　nails。
　　　　　　　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　the　Amyrlin　snapped。　〃You　are　supposed　to　be　a　silly　girl　claiming　sanctuary；　not　a　friend　of　my　childhood。　There　is　to　be　no　contact　between　us　except　the　most　casual；　in　passing。　If　necessary；　I'll　name　Laras　to　watch　over　you　like　a　nurse　over　a　child。　She　would　enjoy　that；　I　think；　but　I　doubt　you　would。〃
　　　　　　　Min　shivered　at　the　thought。　Suddenly　Logain　did　not　seem　so　urgent；　it　was　hardly　likely　he　could　achieve　any　glory　in　the　next　few　days。　He　was　not　really　why　she　had　e；　though；　only　an　excuse；　and　she　would　not　turn　back　now。　Closing　the　door　behind　her；　she　stammered　out　what　she　had　seen　and　what　it　meant。　She　still　felt　unfortable　doing　so　in　front　of　Leane。
　　　　　　　Siuan　shook　her　head　wearily。　〃Another　thing　to　worry　about。　Starvation　in　Cairhien。　A　sister　missing　in　Tarabon。　Trolloc　raids　increasing　in　the　Borderlands　again。　This　fool　who　calls　himself　the　Prophet；　stirring　up　riots　in　Ghealdan。　He's　apparently　preaching　that　the　Dragon　has　been　Reborn　as　a　Shienaran　lord；〃　she　said　incredulously。　〃Even　the　small　things　are　bad。　The　war　in　Arad　Doman　has　stopped　trade　from　Saldaea；　and　the　pinch　is　making　unrest　in　Maradon。　Tenobia　may　even　be　forced　off　the　throne　by　it。　The　only　good　news　I　have　heard　is　that　the　Blight　has　retreated　for　some　reason。　Two　miles　or　more　of　green　beyond　the　borderstones；　without　a　hint　of　corruption　or　pestilence；　all　the　way　from　Saldaea　to　Shienar。　The　first　time　in　memory　it　has　done　that。　But　I　suppose　good　news　has　to　be　balanced　by　bad。　When　a　boat　has　one　leak　it　is　sure　to　have　others。　I　only　wish　it　was　a　balance。　Leane；　have　the　watch　on　Logain　increased。　I　can't　see　what　trouble　he　could　cause　now；　but　I　do　not　want　to　find　out。〃　She　turned　those　piercing　blue　eyes　on　Min。　〃Why　did　you　e　flapping　up　here　with　this　like　a　startled　gull？　Logain　could　have　waited。　The　man　is　hardly　likely　to　find　power　and　glory　before　sunset。〃
　　　　　　　The　near　echo　of　her　own　thoughts　made　Min　shift　unfortably。　〃I　know；〃　she　said；　Leane's　eyebrows　rose　warningly；　and　she　added　a　hasty；　〃Mother。〃　The　Keeper　nodded　approvingly。
　　　　　　　〃That　does　not　tell　me　why；　child；〃　Siuan　said。
　　　　　　　Min　steeled　herself。　〃Mother；　nothing　I've　viewed　since　the　first　day　has　been　very　important。　I　certainly　have　not　seen　anything　that　points　to　the　Black　Ajah。〃　That　name　still　gave　her　a　chill。　〃I've　told　you　everything　I　know　about　whatever　disaster　you　Aes　Sedai　are　going　to　face；　and　the　rest　of　it　is　just　useless。〃　She　had　to　stop　and　swallow；　with　that　penetrating　gaze　on　her。　〃Mother；　there　is　no　reason　I　should　not　go。　There's　reason　I　should。　Perhaps　Rand　could　make　real　use　of　what　I　can　do。　If　he　has　taken　the　Stone。。。　Mother；　he　may　need　me。〃　At　least　I　need　him；　burn　me　for　a　fool！
　　　　　　　The　Keeper　shuddered　openly　at　the　mention　of　Rand's　name。　Siuan；　on　the　other　hand；　snorted　loudly。　〃Your　viewings　have　been　very　useful。　It's　important　to　know　about　Logain。　You　found　the　groom　who　was　stealing　before　suspicion　could　land　on　anyone　else。　And　that　fire…haired　novice　who　was　going　to　get　herself　with　child。。。　！　Sheriam　cut　that　short　…　the　girl　won't　even　think　of　men　until　she's　finished　her　training　…　but　we'd　not　have　known　until　it　was　too　late；　without　you。　No；　you　cannot　go。　Sooner　or　later　your　viewings　will　draw　me　a　chart　to　the　Black　Ajah；　and　until　they　do；　they　still　more　than　pay　their　passage。〃
　　　　　　　Min　sighed；　and　not　only　because　the　Amyrlin　meant　to　hold　on　to　her。　The　last　time　she　had　seen　that　redheaded　novice；　the　girl　had　been　sneaking　off　to　a　wooded　part　of　the　grounds　with　a　muscular　guard。　They　would　be　married；　maybe　before　the　end　of　summer；　Min　had　known　that　as　soon　as　she　saw　them　together；　though　the　Tower　never　let　a　novice　leave　until　the　Tower　was　ready；　even　one　who　could　not　go　any　further　in　her　training。　There　was　a　farm　in　that　pair's　future；　and　a　swarm　of　children；　but　it　was　pointless　to　tell　the　Amyrlin　that。
　　　　　　　〃Could　you　at　least　let　Gawyn　and　Galad　know　that　Egwene　and　their　sister　are　all　right；　Mother？〃　Asking　irked　her；　and　her　tone　of　voice　did；　too。　A　child　denied　a　slice　of　cake　begging　for　a　cookie　instead。　〃At　least　tell　them　something　besides　that　ridiculous　tale　about　doing　penance　on　a　farm。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　told　you　that　is　none　of　your　concern。　Do　not　make　me　tell　you　again。〃
　　　　　　　〃They　don't　believe　it　any　more　than　I　do；〃　Min　got　out　before　the　Amyrlin's　dry　smile　quieted　her。　It　was　not　an　amused　smile。
　　　　　　　〃So　you　suggest　I　change　where　they　are　supposed　to　be？　After　letting　everyone　think　them　on　a　farm？　Do　you　suppose　that　might　raise　a　few　eyebrows？　Everyone　but　those　boys　accepts　it。　And　you。　Well；　Coulin　Gaidin　will　just　have　to　work　them　that　much　harder。　Sore　muscles　and　enough　sweat　will　take　most　men's　minds　off　other　troubles。　Women's　minds　too。　You　ask　many　more　questions；　and　I'll　see　what　a　few　days　scrubbing　pots　will　do　for　you。　Better　to　lose　your　services　for　two　or　three　days　than　have　you　poking　your　nose　where　it　does　not　belong。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　don't　even　know　if　they　are　in　trouble；　do　you？　Or　Moiraine。〃　It　was　not　Moiraine　she　meant。
　　　　　　　〃Girl；〃　Leane　said　warningly；　but　Min　was　not　to　be　stopped　now。
　　　　　　　〃Why　haven't　we　heard？　Rumors　reached　here　two　days　ago。　Two　days！　Why　doesn't　one　of　those　slips　on　your　desk　contain　a　message　from　her？　Doesn't　she　have　pigeons？　I　thought　you　Aes　Sedai　had　people　with　messenger　pigeons　everywhere。　If　there　isn't　one　in　Tear；　there　should　be。　A　man　on　horseback　could　have　reached　Tar　Valon　before　now。　Why　…？〃
　　　　　　　The　flat　crack　of　Siuan's　palm　on　the　table　cut　her　off。　〃You　obey　remarkably　well；〃　she　said　wryly。　〃Child；　until　we　hear　something　to　the　contrary；　assume　the　young　man　is　well。　Pray　that　he　is。〃　Leane　shivered　again。　〃There's　a　saying　in　the　Maule；　child；〃　the　Amyrlin　went　on。　〃'Do　not　trouble　trouble　till　trouble　troubles　you。'　Mark　it　well；　child。〃
　　　　　　　There　was　a　timid　knock　at　the　door。
　　　　　　　The　Amyrlin　and　the　Keeper　exchanged　glances；　then　two　sets　of　eyes　shifted　to　Min。　Her　presence　was　a　problem。　There　was　certainly　nowhere　to　hide；　even　the　balcony　was　clearly　visible　from　the　room　in　its　entirety。
　　　　　　　〃A　reason　for　you　to　be　here；〃　Siuan　muttered；　〃that　doesn't　make　you　any　more　than　the　fool　girl　you're　supposed　to　be。　Leane；　stand　ready　at　the　door。〃　She　and　the　Keeper　were　on　their　feet　together；　Siuan　ing　around　the　table　while　Leane　moved　to　the　door。　〃Take　Leane's　seat；　girl。　Move　your　feet；　child；　move　your　feet。　Now　look　sulky。　Not　angry；　sulky！　Stick　your　lower　lip　out　and　stare　at　the　floor。　I　may　make　you　wear　ribbons　in　your　hair；　huge　red　bows。　That's　it。　Leane。〃　The　Amyrlin　put　her　fists　on　her　hips　and　raised　her　voice。　〃And　if　you　ever　walk　in　on　me　unannounced　again；　child；　I　will。。。〃
　　　　　　　Leane　pulled　the　door　open　to　reveal　a　dark　novice　who　flinched　at　Siuan's　continuing　tirade；　then　dropped　a　deep　curtsy。　〃Messages　for　the　Amyrlin；　Aes　Sedai；〃　the　girl　squeaked。　〃Two　pigeons　arrived　at　the　loft。〃　She　was　one　of　those　who　had　told　Min　she　was　beaut