rj.acrownofswords-第60部分

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　　　〃I　fear　some　of　these　knots　will　pull；　Mother；〃　the　cheerless　woman　murmured；　drawing　the　brush　through　Egwene's　hair；　and　Egwene　very　nearly　told　her　she　had　not　deliberately　tangled　it　in　her　sleep。
　　　〃I　understand　we　will　rest　here　today；　Mother。〃　Bone　idleness；　seethed　Meri's　reflection　in　the　stand…mirror。
　　　〃This　shade　of　blue　will　set　off　your　coloring　nicely；　Mother；〃　Meri　said　as　she　did　up　Egwene's　buttons；　her　face　an　accusation　of　vanity。
　　　Filled　with　relief　that　she　would　have　Chesa　tonight；　Egwene　donned　the　stole　and　fled　almost　before　the　woman　finished。
　　　Not　even　a　rim　of　the　sun　showed　above　the　hills　to　the　east。　The　land　humped　up　all　around　in　long　ridges　and　irregular　mounds；　sometimes　hundreds　of　feet　high；　that　often　looked　as　though　monstrous　fingers　had　squeezed　them。　Shadows　like　twilight　bathed　the　camp　lying　in　one　of　the　broad　valleys　between；　but　it　was　well　awake　in　the　heat　that　never　really　lifted。　Smells　of　breakfast　cooking　filled　the　air；　and　people　bustled　about；　though　there　was　none　of　the　rush　that　would　have　meant　a　day's　marching　ahead。　White…clad　novices　darted　about　at　a　near　run；　a　wise　novice　always　carried　out　her　chores　as　quickly　as　she　could。　Warders　never　seemed　hurried；　of　course；　but　even　servants　carrying　the　morning　meal　to　Aes　Sedai　appeared　to　stroll　this　morning。　Well；　almost。　In　parison　to　the　novices。　The　whole　camp　was　taking　advantage　of　the　halt。　A　clatter　and　curses　as　a　jack…lever　slipped　announced　wagonwrights　making　repairs；　and　a　distant　tapping　of　hammers　told　of　farriers　reshoeing　horses。　A　dozen　candlemakers　had　their　molds　lined　up　already；　and　the　kettles　heating　to　melt　the　carefully　hoarded　drippings　and　tag…ends　of　every　candle　that　had　been　burned。　More　big　black　kettles　stood　on　fires　to　boil　water　for　baths　and　laundry；　and　men　and　women　were　heaping　clothes　up　nearby。　Egwene　gave　little　notice　to　any　of　the　activity。
　　　The　thing　of　it　was；　she　was　certain　Meri　did　not　do　it　apurpose；　she　could　not　help　her　face。　Even　so；　she　was　as　bad　as　it　would　be　to　have　Romanda　for　a　maid。　The　thought　made　her　laugh　out　loud。　Romanda　as　lady's　maid　would　have　her　mistress　toeing　the　line　in　no　time；　no　doubt　as　to　who　would　run　and　fetch　in　that　pair。　A　gray…haired　cook　paused　in　raking　coals　from　atop　an　iron　oven　to　give　her　a　grin　of　shared　amusement。　For　a　moment；　anyway。　Then　he　realized　he　was　grinning　at　the　Amyrlin　Seat；　not　just　some　young　woman　walking　by；　and　the　grin　melted　crookedly　as　he　jerked　a　bow　before　bending　back　to　his　work。
　　　If　she　sent　Meri　off；　Romanda　would　only　find　a　new　spy。　And　Meri　would　again　be　starving　her　way　from　village　to　village。　Adjusting　her　dress　…　she　really　had　gone　before　the　woman　was　quite　finished　…　Egwene's　fingers　found　a　small　linen　bag；　the　strings　tucked　behind　her　belt。　She　did　not　have　to　lift　it　all　the　way　to　her　nose　to　smell　rose　petals　and　a　blend　of　herbs　with　a　cool　scent。　It　made　her　sigh。　A　face　like　a　headsman's；　spying　for　Romanda　without　any　doubt；　and　trying　to　perform　her　duties　as　well　as　she　could。　Why　were　these　things　never　easy？
　　　Approaching　the　tent　she　used　as　a　study　…　many　called　it　the　Amyrlin's　study；　as　if　it　were　rooms　in　the　Tower　…　a　solemn　satisfaction　replaced　worry　over　Meri。　Whenever　they　halted　for　a　day；　Sheriam　would　be　there　before　her　with　fat　sheaves　of　petitions。　A　laundress　imploring　clemency　on　a　charge　of　theft　when　she　had　been　caught　with　the　jewelry　sewn　into　her　dress；　or　a　blacksmith　begging　a　testimonial　for　his　work；　which　he　could　not　use　unless　he　intended　to　leave；　and　likely　not　then。　A　harness　maker　asking　the　Amyrlin's　prayers　for　her　to　give　birth　to　a　daughter。　One　of　Lord　Bryne's　soldiers　requesting　the　Amyrlin's　personal　blessing　to　his　wedding　a　seamstress。　There　was　always　a　slew　from　older　novices；　appealing　visits　to　Tiana　and　even　extra　chores。　Anyone　had　the　right　to　petition　the　Amyrlin；　but　those　in　service　to　the　Tower　seldom　did；　and　never　novices。　Egwene　suspected　that　Sheriam　worked　to　dig　up　petitioners；　something　to　butter　the　cat's　paws；　to　keep　her　out　of　Sheriam's　hair　while　the　Keeper　took　care　of　what　she　considered　important。　This　morning；　Egwene　thought　she　might　make　Sheriam　eat　those　petitions　for　her　breakfast。
　　　When　she　entered　the　tent；　though；　Sheriam　was　not　there。　Which　perhaps　should　not　have　been　a　surprise；　given　the　night　before。　The　tent　was　not　empty；　however。
　　　〃The　Light　illumine　you　this　morning；　Mother；〃　Theodrin　said；　making　a　deep　curtsy　that　set　the　brown　fringe　of　her　shawl　swaying。　She　had　all　the　fabled　Domani　grace；　though　her　high…necked　dress　was　really　quite　modest。　Domani　women　were　not　known　for　modesty。　〃We　did　as　you　manded；　but　no　one　saw　anybody　near　Marigan's　tent　last　night。〃
　　　〃Some　of　the　men　remembered　seeing　Halima；〃　Faolain　added　sourly；　with　a　much　briefer　bend　of　her　knees；　〃but　aside　from　that；　they　hardly　recalled　whether　they　went　to　sleep。〃　Many　women　disapproved　of　Delana's　secretary；　but　it　was　her　next　remark　that　made　Faolain's　round　face　darker　than　usual。　〃We　met　Tiana　while　we　were　roaming　about。　She　told　us　to　go　to　bed　and　be　quick　about　it。〃　Unconsciously　she　stroked　the　blue　fringe　on　her　shawl。　New　Aes　Sedai　almost　always　wore　their　shawls　more　often　than　they　needed　to；　so　Siuan　said。
　　　Giving　them　a　smile　she　hoped　was　weling；　Egwene　took　her　place　behind　the　small　table。　Carefully；　the　chair　tilted　for　a　moment　anyway；　until　she　reached　down　and　pulled　the　leg　straight。　An　edge　of　folded　parchment　peeked　out　from　beneath　the　stone　inkwell。　Her　hands　twitched　toward　it；　but　she　made　them　be　still。　Too　many　sisters　saw　little　need　for　courtesy。　She　would　not　be　one　of　those。　Besides；　these　two　had　a　claim　on　her。
　　　〃I　am　sorry　for　your　difficulties；　daughters。〃　Made　Aes　Sedai　by　her　decree　on　being　raised　Amyrlin；　they　faced　the　same　predicament　as　she；　but　lacking　the　added　shield　of　the　Amyrlin's　stole；　small　shield　that　that　had　proved。　Most　sisters　behaved　as　though　they　were　still　only　Accepted。　What　went　on　inside　the　Ajahs　was　seldom　known　outside；　but　it　was　rumored　that　they　truly　had　had　to　beg　admittance；　and　that　guardians　had　been　named　to　oversee　their　behavior。　No　one　had　ever　heard　the　like；　but　everyone　took　it　for　fact。　She　had　done　them　no　favor。　Another　thing　that　had　been　necessary；　though。　〃I　will　speak　to　Tiana。〃　It　might　do　some　good。　For　a　day；　or　an　hour。
　　　〃Thank　you；　Mother；〃　Theodrin　said；　〃but　there　is　no　need　to　bother　yourself。〃　Still；　she　also　touched　her　shawl；　hands　lingering。　〃Tiana　wanted　to　know　why　we　were　up　so　late；〃　she　added　after　a　moment；　〃but　we　didn't　tell　her。〃
　　　〃There　was　no　need　for　secrecy；　daughter。〃　A　pity　they　had　not　found　a　witness；　though。　Moghedien's　rescuer　would　remain　a　shadow　half…glimpsed。　Always　the　most　frightening　sort。　She　glanced　at　the　tiny　corner　of　parchment；　itching　to　read　it。　Maybe　Siuan　had　discovered　something。　〃Thank　you　both。〃　Theodrin　recognized　a　dismissal　and　made　her　manners　to　go；　but　stopped　when　Faolain　remained　where　she　was。
　　　〃I　wish　I　had　held　the　Oath　Rod　already；〃　Faolain　told　Egwene　in　tones　of　frustration；　〃so　you　could　know　what　I　say　is　true。〃
　　　〃This　isn't　the　time　to　bother　the　Amyrlin；〃　Theodrin　began；　then　folded　her　hands　and　turned　her　attention　to　Egwene。　Patience　blended　with　something　else　on　her　face。　Clearly　the　stronger　of　the　two　in　the　Power；　she　always　took　the　lead；　yet　this　time　she　was　prepared　to　step　back。　In　aid　of　what；　Egwene　wondered。
　　　〃It　isn't　the　Oath　Rod　that　makes　a　woman　Aes　Sedai；　daughter。〃　Whatever　some　believed。　〃Speak　the　truth　to　me；　and　I　will　believe　it。〃
　　　〃I　don't　like　you。〃　Faolain's　mop　of　dark　curls　swayed　as　she　shook　her　head　for　emphasis。　〃You　must　know　that。　You　probably　think　I　was　mean　when　you　were　a　novice；　when　you　came　back　to　the　White　Tower　after　running　away；　but　I　still　believe　you　didn't　get　half　the　punishment　you　should　have。　Maybe　my　admitting　it　will　help　you　know　I　speak　the　truth。　It　isn't　as　though　we　have　no　choice　even　now。　Romanda　offered　to　take　us　under　her　protection；　and　so　did　Lelaine。　They　said　they'd　see　we