rj.thegreathunt-第68部分

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　　　　　　　Letting　the　flame　die；　Egwene　put　her　eyes　firmly　on　her　lap。　She　wished　she　could　think　of　a　way　to　sneak　out　of　the　room　without　catching　Nynaeve's　eye。
　　　　　　　The　lesson　had　not　gone　well　for　Nynaeve；　because　she　had　held　her　temper　on　a　tight　lead　until　the　Amyrlin　was　gone。　She　never　could　do　very　much　unless　she　was　angry；　and　then　it　all　burst　out　of　her。　After　failure　upon　failure；　the　Amyrlin　had　done　everything　she　could　to　rouse　her　again。　Egwene　wished　Nynaeve　could　forget　she　had　been　there　to　see　or　hear　any　of　it。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　stalked　stiffly　to　her　bed　and　stood　staring　at　the　wall　behind　it；　her　fist　clenched　at　her　side。　Egwene　looked　longingly　at　the　door。
　　　　　　　〃It　was　not　your　fault；〃　Nynaeve　said；　and　Egwene　gave　a　start。
〃Nynaeve；　I　…　〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　turned　to　look　down　at　her。　〃It　was　not　your　fault；〃　she　repeated；　sounding　unconvinced。　〃But　if　you　ever　breathe　one　word；　I'll　…　I'll　。。。〃Not　a　word；〃　Egwene　said　quickly。　〃I　don't　even　remember　anything　to　breathe　a　word　about。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　stared　at　her　a　moment　longer；　then　nodded。　Abruptly　she　grimaced。　〃Light；　I　did　not　think　anything　tasted　worse　than　raw　sheepstongue　root。　I'll　remember　that；　the　next　time　you　act　the　goose；　so　watch　yourself。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　winced。　That　had　been　the　first　thing　the　Amyrlin　had　done　trying　to　rouse　Nynaeve's　anger。　A　dark　glob　of　something　that　glistened　like　grease　and　smelled　vile　had　suddenly　appeared　and；　while　the　Amyrlin　held　Nynaeve　with　the　Power；　had　been　forced　into　the　Wisdom's　mouth。　The　Amyrlin　had　even　held　her　nose　to　make　her　swallow。　And　Nynaeve　remembered　things；　if　she　had　seen　them　done　once。　Egwene　did　not　think　there　was　any　way　of　stopping　her　if　she　took　it　into　her　mind　to　do　it；　for　all　her　own　success　in　making　a　flame　dance；　she　could　never　have　held　the　Amyrlin　against　a　wall。　〃At　least　being　on　the　ship　isn't　making　you　sick　anymore。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　grunted；　then　gave　a　short；　sharp　laugh。　〃I'm　too　angry　to　be　sick。〃　With　another　mirthless　laugh；　she　shook　her　head。　〃I'm　too　miserable　to　be　sick。　Light；　I　feel　as　if　I've　been　dragged　through　a　knothole　backwards。　If　that　is　what　novice　training　is　like；　you　will　have　incentive　to　learn　quickly。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　scowled　at　her　knees。　pared　to　Nynaeve；　the　Amyrlin　had　only　coaxed　her；　smiled　at　her　successes；　sympathized　with　her　failures；　then　coaxed　again。　But　all　the　Aes　Sedai　had　said　things　would　be　different　in　the　White　Tower；　harder；　though　they　would　not　say　how。　If　she　had　to　go　through　what　Nynaeve　had；　day　after　day；　she　did　not　think　she　could　stand　it。
　　　　　　　Something　changed　in　the　motion　of　the　ship。　The　rocking　eased；　and　feet　thumped　on　the　deck　above　their　heads。　A　man　shouted　something　Egwene　could　not　quite　make　out。
　　　　　　　She　looked　up　at　Nynaeve。　〃Do　you　think　。。。　Tar　Valon？〃
　　　　　　　〃There　is　only　one　way　to　find　out；〃　Nynaeve　replied；　and　determinedly　took　her　cloak　from　its　peg。
　　　　　　　When　they　reached　the　deck；　sailors　were　running　everywhere；　heaving　at　lines；　shortening　sail；　readying　long　sweeps。　The　wind　had　died　to　a　breeze；　and　the　clouds　were　scattering；　now。
　　　　　　　Egwene　rushed　to　the　rail。　〃It　is！　It　is　Tar　Valon！〃　Nynaeve　joined　her　with　an　expressionless　face。
　　　　　　　The　island　was　so　big　it　looked　more　as　if　the　river　split　in　two　than　contained　a　bit　of　land。　Bridges　that　seemed　to　be　made　of　lace　arched　from　either　bank　to　the　island；　crossing　marshy　ground　as　well　as　the　river。　The　walls　of　the　city；　the　Shining　Walls　of　Tar　Valon；　glistened　white　as　the　sun　broke　through　the　clouds。　And　on　the　west　bank；　its　broken　top　leaking　a　thin　wisp　of　smoke；　Dragonmount　reared　black　against　the　sky；　one　mountain　standing　among　flat　lands　and　rolling　hills。　Dragonmount；　where　the　Dragon　had　died。　Dragonmount；　made　by　the　Dragon's　dying。
　　　　　　　Egwene　wished　she　did　not　think　of　Rand　when　she　looked　at　the　mountain。　A　man　channeling。　Light；　help　him。
　　　　　　　The　River　Queen　passed　through　a　wide　opening　in　a　tall；　circular　wall　that　thrust　out　into　the　river。　Inside；　one　long　wharf　surrounded　a　round　harbor。　Sailors　furled　the　last　sails　and　used　sweeps　alone　to　move　the　ship　stern…first　to　its　docking。　Around　the　long　wharf；　the　other　ships　that　had　e　downriver　were　now　being　snugged　into　their　berths　among　the　ships　already　there。　The　White　Flame　banner　set　workers　scurrying　along　the　already　busy　wharf。
　　　　　　　The　Amyrlin　came　on　deck　before　the　shore　lines　were　tied　off；　but　dockworkers　ran　a　gangplank　aboard　as　soon　as　she　appeared。　Leane　walked　at　her　side；　flame…tipped　staff　in　hand；　and　the　other　Aes　Sedai　on　the　ship　followed　them　ashore。　None　of　them　so　much　as　glanced　at　Egwene　or　Nynaeve。　On　the　wharf　a　delegation　greeted　the　Amyrlin…shawled　Aes　Sedai；　bowing　formally；　kissing　the　Amyrlin's　ring。　The　wharf　bustled；　between　ships　unloading　and　the　Amyrlin　Seat　arriving；　soldiers　formed　up　on　disembarking；　men　set　booms　for　cargo；　trumpet　flourishes　rang　from　the　walls；　peting　with　cheers　from　the　onlookers。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　gave　a　loud　sniff。　〃It　seems　they've　forgotten　us。　e　along。　We'll　see　to　ourselves。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　was　reluctant　to　leave　her　first　sight　of　Tar　Valon；　but　she　followed　Nynaeve　below　to　gather　their　things。　When　they　came　back　topside；　bundles　in　their　arms；　soldiers　and　trumpets　were　gone　…　and　Aes　Sedai；　too。　Men　were　swinging　back　hatches　along　the　deck　and　lowering　cables　into　the　holds。
　　　　　　　On　the　deck；　Nynaeve　caught　a　dockman's　arm；　a　burly　fellow　in　a　coarse　brown　shirt　with　no　sleeves。　〃Our　horses；〃　she　began。
　　　　　　　〃I'm　busy；〃　he　growled；　pulling　free。　〃Horses'll　all　be　took　to　the　White　Tower。〃　He　looked　them　up　and　down。　〃If　you've　business　with　the　Tower；　best　you　take　yourselves　on。　Aes　Sedai　don't　hold　with　newlings　being　tardy。〃　Another　man；　wrestling　with　a　bale　being　swung　out　of　the　hold　on　a　cable；　shouted　to　him；　and　he　left　the　women　without　a　backwards　glance。
　　　　　　　Egwene　exchanged　looks　with　Nynaeve。　It　seemed　they　really　were　on　their　own。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　stalked　off　the　ship　with　grim　determination　on　her　face；　but　Egwene　made　her　way　dejectedly　down　the　gangplank　and　through　the　tarry　smell　that　hung　over　the　wharf。　All　that　talk　about　wanting　us　here；　and　now　they　don't　seem　to　care。
　　　　　　　Broad　stairs　led　up　from　the　dock　to　a　wide　arch　of　dark　redstone。　On　reaching　it；　Egwene　and　Nynaeve　stopped　to　stare。
　　　　　　　Every　building　seemed　a　palace；　though　most　of　those　close　to　the　arch　seemed　to　contain　inns　or　shops；　from　the　signs　over　the　doors。　Fanciful　stonework　was　everywhere；　and　the　lines　of　one　structure　seemed　designed　to　plement　and　set　off　the　next；　leading　the　eye　along　as　if　everything　were　part　of　one　vast　design。　Some　structures　did　not　look　like　buildings　at　all；　but　like　gigantic　waves　breaking；　or　huge　shells；　or　fanciful；　windsculpted　cliffs。　Right　in　front　of　the　arch　lay　a　broad　square；　with　a　fountain　and　trees；　and　Egwene　could　see　another　square　further　on。　Above　everything　rose　the　towers；　tall　and　graceful；　some　with　sweeping　bridges　between　them；　high　in　the　sky。　And　over　all　rose　one　tower；　higher　and　wider　than　all　the　rest；　as　white　as　the　Shining　Walls　themselves。
　　　　　　　〃Fair　takes　the　breath　at　first　sight；〃　said　a　woman's　voice　behind　them。　〃At　tenth　sight；　for　that。　And　at　hundredth。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　turned。　The　woman　was　Aes　Sedai；　Egwene　was　sure　of　it；　though　she　wore　no　shawl。　No　one　else　had　that　ageless　look；　and　she　held　herself　with　an　assurance；　a　confidence　that　seemed　to　confirm　it。　A　glance　at　her　hand　showed　the　golden　ring；　the　serpent　biting　its　own　tail。　The　Aes　Sedai　was　a　little　plump；　with　a　warm　smile；　and　one　of　the　oddest…appearing　women　Egwene　had　ever　seen。　Her　plumpness　could　not　hide　high　cheekbones；　her　eyes　had　a　tilt　to　them　and　were　the　clearest；　palest　green；　and　her　hair　was　almost　the　color　of　fire。　Egwene　barely　stopped　herself　from　goggling　at　that　hair；　those　slightly　slanted　eyes。
　　　　　　　〃Ogier　built；　of　course；〃　the　Aes　Sedai　went　on；　〃and　their　best　work　ever；　some　say。　One　of　the　first　cities　built　after　the　Breaking。　There　weren't　half　a　thousand　people　here　altogether　then　…　no　more　than　twenty　sisters　…　but　they　built　for　what　would　be　needed。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　a　lovely　city；〃　Nynaeve　said。　〃We　are　supposed　to　go　to　the　White　Tower。　We　came　here　for　training；　but　no　one　seems　to　care　if　we　go　or　stay。〃
　　　　　　　〃They　care；〃　the　woman　said；　smiling。　〃I　came　here　to　meet　you；　but　I　was　delayed　speaking　with　the　Amyrlin。　I　am　Sheriam；　the　Mistress　of　Novices。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　not　to　be　a　novice；〃　Nynaeve　said　in　a　firm　voice；　but　a　little　too　quickly。　〃The　Amyrlin　herself　said　I　was　to　be　one　of　the　Accepted。〃
　　　　　　　〃So　I　was　told。〃　Sheriam　sounded　amused。　〃I　have　never　heard　of　it　being　done　so　before；　but　they　say　you　are　。。。　exceptional。　Remember；　though；　even　one　of　the　Accepted　can　be　called　to　my　study。　It　requires　more　breaking　of　the　rules　than　for　a　novice；　but　it　has　been　known　to　happen。〃　She　turned　to　Egwene　as　if　she　had　not　seen　Nynaeve　frown。　〃And　you　are　our　new　novice。　It　is　always　good　to　see　a　novice　e。　We　have　too　few；　these　days。　You　will　make　forty　。。。　Only　forty。　And　no　more　than　eight　or　nine　of　those　will　be　raised　to　the　A