rj.theshadowrising-第209部分
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ad rested。 〃I've been too long with the Power；〃 she said； a trifle unsteadily。 〃I had forgotten what it is like to face someone who can pick you up and snap you like a thread。〃 She peered at Leane then； as if seeing her for the first time； and touched her own face as though unsure what it looked like。 〃From what I have read it is supposed to take longer to fade； but perhaps Elaida's rough treatment had something to do with it。 A disguise； he called it； and it may serve for one。〃 She clambered awkwardly onto Bela's back； handling the reins as if the shaggy mare were a spirited stallion。 〃Another advantage； it seems； to being。。。 I have to learn to say it without flinching。 I have been stilled。〃 She said the words slowly and deliberately； then nodded。 〃There。 If Leane is any guide； I've lost a good fifteen years； maybe more。 I've known women who would pay any price for that。 A third advantage。〃 She glanced at Gawyn。 He still had his back turned； but she lowered her voice anyway。 〃Along with a certain loosening of the tongue； shall we say？ I had not thought of Mara in years。 A friend of my girlhood。〃
〃Will you age like the rest of us； now？〃 Min asked as she climbed into her saddle。 Better than menting on the lie。 Better just to remember that she could lie now。 Leane mounted the third mare with smooth skill and walked her in a circle； testing her step； she had surely been on a horse before。
Siuan shook her head。 〃I really don't know。 No stilled woman has ever lived long enough to find out。 I intend to。〃
〃Do you mean to go；〃 Gawyn asked harshly； 〃or sit there talking？〃 Without waiting for an answer； he strode off through the trees。
They heeled their mares after him； Siuan pulling her hood well forward to hide her face。 Disguise or no； it seemed she was taking no chances。 Leane was already shrouded as deeply in hers as she could be。 After a moment； Min imitated them。 Elaida wanted her arrested？ That had to mean that she knew 〃Elmindreda〃 was Min。 How long had the woman known？ How long had Min been walking around thinking herself hidden while Elaida watched and smirked at her for a fool？ It was a shivery thought。
As they caught up to Gawyn at a graveled path； twenty or more young men appeared； striding toward them； some perhaps a few years older than he； others little more than boys。 Min suspected some of those last did not have to shave yet； at least not regularly。 All carried swords at their belts or on their backs； though； and three or four had breastplates。 More than one sported a bloody bandage； and most wore clothes spotted with blood。 Each had the same unblinking stare as Gawyn。 At the sight of him they stopped； clapping right fists to chests。 Without slowing； Gawyn acknowledged the salute with a nod； and the young men fell in behind the women's horses。
〃The students？〃 Siuan murmured。 〃They also took part in the fighting？〃
Min nodded； keeping her face expressionless。 〃They call themselves the Younglings。〃
〃A fitting name。〃 Siuan sighed。
〃Some are no more than children；〃 Leane muttered。
Min was not about to tell them that Warders from the Blue and Green Ajahs had planned to free them before they were stilled； and might have succeeded if Gawyn had not roused the students； 〃children〃 too； and led them into the Tower to stop it。 The fighting had been among the deadliest； student against teacher and no mercy； no quarter。
The tall； bronze…studded Alindrelle Gates stood open； but guarded heavily。 Some guards wore the Flame of Tar Valon on their chests； others had workmen's coats； and mismatched breastplates and helmets。 Guardsmen and fellows who had e disguised as masons。 Both sorts looked hard and resourceful； used to their weapons； but they kept apart； eyeing each other distrustfully。 A grizzled officer stood out from the Tower guardsmen with his arms folded and watched Gawyn and the others approach。
〃Writing materials！〃 Gawyn snapped。 〃Quickly！〃
〃Well； you must be these Younglings I've heard of；〃 the grizzled man said。 〃A fine bunch of bloody young cockerels； but I've had orders to let no one leave the Tower grounds。 Signed by the Amyrlin Seat herself。 Who do you think you are to countermand that？〃
Gawyn raised his head slowly。 〃I am Gawyn Trakand of Andor；〃 he said softly。 〃And I mean to see these women leave； or you dead。〃 The other Younglings moved up behind him； spreading out to face the guards with hands on swords； unblinking； perhaps not caring that they were outnumbered。
The grizzled man shifted uneasily； and one of the others muttered； 〃He's the one they say killed Hammar and Coulin。〃
After a moment； the officer jerked his head toward the guardhouse； and one of the guardsmen ran inside； returning with a lapdesk； a small red stick of sealing wax burning in a brass holder at one corner。 Gawyn let the man hold the desk while he scribbled furiously。
〃This will let you past the bridge guards；〃 he said； letting a pool of red wax drip beneath his signature。 He pressed his signet ring into it firmly。
〃You killed Coulin？〃 Siuan said in a cold tone fitting her former office。 〃And Hammar？〃
Min's heart sank。 Be quiet； Siuan！ Remember who you are now； and be quiet！
Gawyn spun to face the three women； his eyes like blue fire。 〃Yes；〃 he grated。 〃They were my friends； and I respected them； but they sided with。。。 with Siuan Sanche； and I had to …〃 Abruptly he shoved the paper he had sealed into Min's hand。 〃Go！ Go； before I change my mind！〃 He slapped her mare； then darted to slap the other two as Min's horse leaped through the open gates。 〃Go！〃
Min let her horse cross the great plaza surrounding the Tower grounds at a quick trot； Siuan and Leane right behind her。 The plaza was empty； and so were the streets beyond。 The ring of their horses' hooves on the paving stones echoed hollowly。 Whoever had not already fled the city was hiding。
She studied Gawyn's paper as they rode。 The blob of red wax bore the imprint of a charging boar。 〃This just says we have permission to leave。 We could use it to board a ship as well as at the bridges。〃 It seemed smart to be going a way no one knew； not even Gawyn。 She did not really think he would change his mind； but he was brittle； ready to shatter at the wrong blow。
〃That might be a good idea；〃 Leane said。 〃I always thought Galad was the more dangerous of those two； but I am no longer sure。 Hammar； and Coulin。。。〃 She shivered。 〃A ship would take us farther； faster than these horses can。〃
Siuan shook her head。 〃Most of the Aes Sedai who fled will have crossed the bridges； for sure。 That is the quickest way out of the city if someone might be chasing you； quicker than waiting while a ship's crew casts off。 I must stay close to Tar Valon if I'm to gather them in。〃
〃They won't follow you；〃 Leane said in a monotone freighted with meaning。 〃You have no right to the stole any longer。 Not even to the shawl or the ring。〃
〃I may no longer wear the stole；〃 Siuan replied just as flatly； 〃but I still know how to ready a crew for a storm。 And since I cannot wear the stole； I must see they choose the right woman in my place。 I'll not let Elaida get away with calling herself the Amyrlin。 It has to be someone strong in the Power； someone who sees things the right way。〃
〃Then you mean to go on aiding this。。。 this Dragon！〃 Leane snapped。
〃What else would you have me do？ Curl up and die？〃
Leane shuddered as if she had been struck in the face； and they rode in silence for a time。 All of those fabulous buildings around them； like wind…sculpted cliffs and waves and great flights of birds； loomed frighteningly with no people in the streets save themselves； and one lone fellow who came darting around a corner up ahead； scuttling from doorway to doorway as if scouting their way for them。 He did not lessen the emptiness； only emphasized it。
〃What else can we do？〃 Leane said eventually。 She rode slumped in her saddle now like a sack of grain。 〃I feel so … empty。 Empty。〃
〃Find something to fill it up；〃 Siuan told her firmly。 〃Anything。 Cook for the hungry； tend the sick； find a husband and raise a ho
