rj.theshadowrising-第32部分
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Elayne was certain she had kept her face calm since entering the room； but Egwene came to her； put an arm around her。 〃What is the matter； Elayne？ You look about to cry。〃
The concern in her voice made Elayne feel like bursting into tears。 Light！ she thought。 I will not be that silly。 I will not！ 〃A weeping woman is a bucket with no bottom。〃 Lini had been full of sayings like that。
〃Three times …〃 Nynaeve burst out at Moiraine； 〃only three！ … you have consented to help us question them。 This time you vanish before we begin； and now you calmly announce you are sending them off to Tar Valon！ If you will not help； at least do not interfere！〃
〃Do not presume on the Amyrlin's authority too far；〃 Moiraine said coolly。 〃She may have set you to chase Liandrin； but you are still only Accepted； and woefully ignorant； whatever letters you carry。 Or did you mean to keep questioning them forever before reaching a decision？ You Two Rivers people seem to work at avoiding decisions that must be made。〃 Nynaeve opened and closed her mouth； eyes bulging； as if wondering which accusation to answer first； but Moiraine turned to Egwene and Elayne。 〃Pull yourself together； Elayne。 How you can carry out the Amyrlin's orders if you think every land has the customs you were born to； I do not know。 And I do not know why you are so upset。 Do not let your feelings hurt others。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 Egwene said。 〃What customs？ What are you talking about？〃
〃Berelain was in Rand's chambers；〃 Elayne said in a small voice before she could stop herself。 Her eyes flickered guiltily toward Egwene。 Surely she had kept her own feelings hidden。
Moiraine gave her a reproachful look and sighed。 〃I would have spared you this if I could； Egwene。 If Elayne had not let her disgust with Berelain overe her sense。 The customs of Mayene are not those either of you were born to。 Egwene； I know what you feel for Rand； but you must realize by now that nothing can e of it。 He belongs to the Pattern； and to history。〃
Seemingly ignoring the Aes Sedai； Egwene peered into Elayne's eyes。 Elayne wanted to look away； and could not。 Suddenly Egwene leaned closer； whispering behind a cupped hand。 〃I love him。 Like a brother。 And you like a sister。 I wish you well of him。〃
Elayne's eyes widened； a smile spreading slowly across her face。 She answered Egwene's hug with a fierce hug of her own。 〃Thank you；〃 she murmured softly。 〃I love you too； sister。 Oh； thank you。〃
〃She got it wrong；〃 Egwene said half to herself； a delighted grin blooming on her face。 〃Have you ever been in love； Moiraine？〃
What a startling question。 Elayne could not imagine the Aes Sedai in love。 Moiraine was Blue Ajah； and it was said Blue sisters gave all their passions to causes。
The slender woman was not at all taken aback。 For a long moment she looked levelly at the pair of them； each with an arm around the other。 Finally she said； 〃I could wager I know the face of the man I will marry better than either of you knows that of your future husband。〃
Egwene gaped in surprise。
〃Who？〃 Elayne gasped。
The Aes Sedai appeared regretful of having spoken。 〃Perhaps I only meant we share an ignorance。 Do not read too much into a few words。〃 She looked at Nynaeve consideringly。 〃Should I ever choose a man … should； I say … it will not be Lan。 That much I will say。〃
That was a sop to Nynaeve； but Nynaeve did not seem to like hearing it。 Nynaeve had what Lini would have called 〃a hard patch to hoe；〃 loving not just a Warder but a man who tried to deny returning her love。 Fool man that he was； he talked of the war against the Shadow he could not stop fighting and could never win； of refusing to dress Nynaeve in widow's clothes for her wedding feast。 Silly things of that sort。 Elayne did not see how Nynaeve put up with it。 She was not a very patient woman。
〃If you are finished chatting about men；〃 Nynaeve said acidly； as though to prove just that； 〃perhaps we can go back to what is important？〃 Gripping her braid hard； she picked up speed and force as she went along； like a waterwheel with the gears disengaged。 〃How are we to decide whether Joiya is lying； or Amico； if you send them away？ Or whether they both are？ Or neither？ I don't relish dithering here； Moiraine； no matter what you think； but I have walked into too many traps to want to walk into another。 And I don't want to run after Jak…o'…the…Wisps； either。 I。。。 we。。。 are the ones the Amyrlin sent after Liandrin and her cronies。 Since you don't seem to think they are important enough to spare more than a moment to help us； the least you can do is not crack our ankles with a broom！〃
She seemed about to rip that braid free and try to strangle the Aes Sedai with it； and Moiraine wore a dangerously cool crystalline calm that suggested she might be ready to teach again the lesson on holding her tongue that she had taught Joiya。 It was； Elayne decided； time for her to stop moping。 She did not know how she had fallen into the role of peacemaker among these women … sometimes she wanted to take them all by the scruff of the neck and shake them … but her mother always said no good decision was ever made in anger。 〃You might add to your list of what you want to know；〃 she said； 〃why were we summoned to Rand？ That is where Careen took us。 He is all right； now； of course。 Moiraine Healed him。〃 She could not repress a shudder； thinking of her brief glimpse inside his chamber； but the diversion worked a charm。
〃Healed！〃 Nynaeve gasped。 〃What happened to him？〃
〃He almost died；〃 the Aes Sedai said； as calmly as if she were saying he had a pot of tea。
Elayne felt Egwene tremble as they listened to Moiraine's dispassionate report； but perhaps some of the trembling was her own。 Bubbles of evil drifting through the Pattern； Reflections leaping out of mirrors。 Rand a mass of blood and wounds。 Almost as an afterthought； Moiraine added that she was sure Perrin and Mat had experienced something of the same； but escaped unharmed。 The woman must have ice instead of blood。 No； she was heated enough about Rand's stubbornness。 And she wasn't cold when she spoke of marrying； however much she pretended to be。 But now she could have been discussing whether a bolt of silk was the right color for a dress。
〃And these。。。 these things will keep on？〃 Egwene said when Moiraine finished。 〃Is there nothing you can do to stop it？ Or that Rand can do？〃
The small blue stone dangling from Moiraine's hair swung as she shook her head。 〃Not until he learns to control his abilities。 Perhaps not then。 I do not know if even he will be strong enough to push the miasma away from himself。 At the least； though； he will be better able to defend himself。〃
〃Can't you do something to help him？〃 Nynaeve demanded。 〃You are the one of us who is supposed to know everything； or pretends to。 Can't you teach him？ Some part of it； anyway？ And don't quote proverbs about birds teaching fish to fly。〃
〃You would know better；〃 Moiraine replied； 〃if you had taken the advantage of your studies that you should have。 You should know better。 You want to know how to use the Power； Nynaeve； but you do not care to learn about the Power。 Saidin is not saidar。 The flows are different； the ways of weaving are different。 The bird has a better chance。〃
This time Egwene took a turn at diffusing tension。 〃What is Rand being stubborn about； now？〃 Nynaeve opened her mouth； and she added； 〃He can be stubborn as a stone； sometimes。〃 Nynaeve shut her mouth with a snap； they all knew how true that was。
Moiraine eyed them； considering。 At times； Elayne was not sure how much the Aes Sedai trusted them。 Or anyone。 〃He must move；〃 the Aes Sedai said at last。 〃Instead he sits here； and the Tairens already begin to lose their fear of him。 He sits here； and the longer he sits； doing nothing； the more the Forsaken will see his inaction as a sign of weakness。 The Pattern moves and flows； only the dead are still。 He must act； or he will die。 From a crossbow bolt in his back； or poison in his food； or the Forsaken banding together to rip his soul from his body。 He must act or die。〃
