rj.acrownofswords-第119章

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eve　might　have　done　better　had　they　asked　about　Accepted；　a　little　better　at　least；　but　it　was　what　a　novice　should　know　that　interested　them。　She　was　just　glad　Elayne　was　willing　to　go　along；　though　by　her　pale　cheeks　and　raised　chin；　that　could　not　last　much　longer。
　　　〃I　suppose　Nynaeve　was　really　there；〃　Reanne　said　finally；　exchanging　glances　with　the　other　two。　〃If　Elayne　taught　her　to　pass；　I　think　she　would　have　done　a　better　job。　Some　people　live　in　perpetual　fog。〃　Garenia　sniffed；　then　nodded　slowly。　Berowin's　nod　came　entirely　too　promptly　for　Nynaeve's　liking。
　　　〃Please；〃　she　said　politely。　She　could　be　polite　when　there　was　reason；　whatever　anyone　said。　〃We　truly　need　to　find　a　ter'angreal　the　Sea　Folk　call　the　Bowl　of　the　Winds。　It's　in　a　dusty　old　storeroom　somewhere　in　the　Rahad；　and　I　think　your　guild；　your　Circle；　must　know　where。　Please　help　us。〃　Three　suddenly　stony　faces　stared　at　her。
　　　〃There　is　no　guild；〃　Mistress　Corly　said　coolly；　〃only　a　few　friends　who　found　no　place　in　the　White　Tower。。。　〃　Again；　that　reverential　tone。　〃。。。　and　who　are　foolish　enough　occasionally　to　reach　out　a　hand　where　it's　needed。　We　have　no　truck　with　ter'angreal；　or　angreal；　or　sa'angreal　either。　We　are　not　Aes　Sedai。〃　〃Aes　Sedai〃　echoed　with　veneration；　as　well。　〃In　any　case；　you　are　not　here　to　ask　questions。　We　have　more　for　you；　to　see　how　far　you've　gone；　after　which　you　will　be　taken　to　the　country　and。　given　into　the　care　of　a　friend。　She　will　keep　you　until　we　decide　what　to　do　next。　Until　we　can　be　sure　the　sisters　are　not　looking　for　you。　You　have　a　new　life　ahead　of　you；　a　new　chance；　if　you　can　only　let　yourself　see　it。　Whatever　held　you　back　in　the　Tower　does　not　apply　here；　whether　a　lack　of　dexterity　or　fear　or　anything　else。　No　one　will　push　you　to　learn　or　do　what　you　cannot。　What　you　are　is　sufficient。　Now。〃
　　　〃Enough；〃　Elayne　said　in　a　wintery　voice。　〃Long　enough；　Nynaeve。　Or　do　you　intend　to　wait　in　the　country　for　however　long？　They　do　not　have　it；　Nynaeve。〃　Removing　her　Great　Serpent　ring　from　her　belt　pouch；　she　thrust　the　circle　of　gold　onto　her　finger。　From　the　way　she　looked　at　the　seated　women；　no　one　would　believe　her　shielded。　She　was　a　queen　out　of　patience。　She　was　Aes　Sedai　to　her　hair　was　what　she　was。　〃I　am　Elayne　Trakand；　High　Seat　of　House　Trakand。　I　am　Daughter…Heir　of　Andor　and　Aes　Sedai　of　the　Green　Ajah；　and　I　demand　you　release　me　immediately。〃　Nynaeve　groaned。
　　　Garenia　grimaced　with　disgust；　and　Berowin's　eyes　widened　in…horror。　Reanne　Corly　shook　her　head　ruefully；　but　when　she　spoke；　her　voice　was　iron。　〃I　had　hoped　Setalle　had　changed　your　mind　concerning　that　particular　lie。　I　know　how　hard　it　is；　to　set　out　proudly　for　the　White　Tower　then　find　yourself　faced　with　returning　home　to　admit　failure。　But　that　is　never　said；　even　in　joke！〃
　　　〃I　made　no　joke；〃　Elayne　said　lightly。　Snow　was　light。
　　　Garenia　leaned　forward　with　a　scowl；　a　flow　of　Air　already　forming　until　Mistress　Corly　raised　her　hand。　〃And　you；　Nynaeve？　Do　you　persist　in　this。。。　madness；　too？〃
　　　Nynaeve　filled　her　lungs。　These　women　had　to　know　where　the　Bowl　was；　they　just　had　to！
　　　〃Nynaeve！〃　Elayne　said　peevishly。　She　was　not　going　to　let　her　forget　this　even　if　they　did　have　to　effect　an　escape。　She　had　a　way　of　harping　on　every　little　misstep　in　a　manner　that　cut　the　ground　right　from　under　your　feet。
　　　〃I　am　an　Aes　Sedai　of　the　Yellow　Ajah；〃　Nynaeve　said　wearily。　〃The　true　Amyrlin　Seat；　Egwene　al'Vere；　raised　us　to　the　shawl　in　Salidar。　She's　no　older　than　Elayne；　you　must　have　heard。〃　Not　a　glimmer　of　change　in　those　three　hard　faces。　〃She　sent　us　to　find　the　Bowl　of　the　Winds。　With　it；　we　can　mend　the　weather。〃　Not　a　flicker　of　change。　She　tried　to　hold　her　anger　down；　she　truly　did。　It　just　oozed　up　despite　her。　〃You　must　want　that！　Look　around　you！　The　Dark　One　is　strangling　the　world！　If　you　have　even　a　hint　of　where　the　Bowl　might　be；　tell　us！〃
　　　Mistress　Corly　motioned　for　Derys；　who　came　and　took　the　cups；　casting　fearful；　wide…eyed　looks　at　Nynaeve　and　Elayne。　When　she　scurried　away；　out　of　the　room　in　fact；　the　three　women　stood　slowly；　standing　like　grim　magistrates　pronouncing　sentence。
　　　〃I　regret　that　you　will　not　accept　our　help；〃　Mistress　Corly　said　coldly。　〃I　regret　this　whole　affair。〃　Reaching　into　her　pouch；　she　pressed　three　silver　marks　into　Nynaeve's　hand　and　another　three　into　Elayne's。　〃These　will　take　you　a　little　way。　You　can　also　get　something　for　those　dresses；　I　should　think；　if　not　what　you　paid。　Those　are　hardly　suitable　garments　for　a　journey。　By　tomorrow　sunrise；　you　will　be　gone　from　Ebou　Dar。〃
　　　〃We　aren't　going　anywhere；〃　Nynaeve　told　her。　〃Please；　if　you　know　…　〃　She　might　as　well　have　kept　silent。　The　measured　flow　of　words　did　not　slow。
　　　〃At　that　time　we　will　begin　circulating　your　descriptions；　and　we　will　make　certain　they　reach　the　sisters　in　the　Tarasin　Palace。　If　you　are　seen　after　sunrise；　we　will　see　that　the　sisters　know　where　you　are；　and　the　Whitecloaks　as　well。　Your　choice　then　will　be　to　run；　surrender　to　the　sisters；　or　die。　Go；　do　not　return；　and　you　should　live　long　if　you　give　over　this　repulsive　and　dangerous　ruse。　We　are　done　with　you。　Berowin；　see　to　them；　please。〃　Brushing　between　them；　she　went　from　the　room　without　looking　back。
　　　Sullenly；　Nynaeve　let　herself　be　herded　down　to　the　front　door。　A　struggle　would　not　achieve　anything　except　maybe　being　thrown　out　bodily；　but　she　did　not　like　giving　up。　Light；　she　did　not！　Elayne　marched；　frozen　determination　to　leave　and　be　done　shining　in　every　line　of　her。
　　　In　the　small　entry　hall；　Nynaeve　decided　to　try　once　more。　〃Please；　Garenia；　Berowin；　if　you　have　any　hint；　tell　us。　Any　clue　at　all。　You　must　see　how　important　this　is。　You　must！〃
　　　〃'The　blindest　are　those　who　keep　their　eyes　shut；'〃　Elayne　quoted；　not　quite　under　her　breath。
　　　Berowin　hesitated；　but　not　Garenia。　She　put　her　face　right　in　Nynaeve's。　〃Do　you　think　we're　fools；　girl？　I'll　tell　you　this。　If　I　had　my　way；　we　would　bundle　you　out　to　the　farm　no　matter　what　you　say。　A　few　months　of　Alise's　attentions；　and　you'd　learn　to　guard　your　tongue　and　be　grateful　for　the　help　you　spit　on。〃　Nynaeve　considered　hitting　her　on　the　nose；　she　did　not　need　saidar　to　use　her　fist。
　　　〃Garenia；〃　Berowin　said　sharply。　〃Apologize！　We　do　not　hold　anyone　against　her　will；　and　you　know　it　well。　Apologize　immediately！〃
　　　And　wonder　of　wonders；　the　woman　who　would　have　stood　very　close　to　the　top　had　she　been　Aes　Sedai　looked　sideways　at　the　woman　who　would　have　stood　near　the　bottom；　and　blushed　crimson。　〃I　ask　forgiveness；〃　Garenia　mumbled　at　Nynaeve。　〃My　temper　gets　the　better　of　me　sometimes；　and　I　say　what　I　have　no　right　to。　I　humbly　ask　forgiveness。〃　Another　sidelong　glance　at　Berowin；　who　nodded；　producing　a　sigh　of　open　relief。
　　　While　Nynaeve　was　still　gaping；　the　shields　were　released；　and　she　and　Elayne　were　pushed　into　the　street；　the　door　slamming　shut　behind　them。
　　　
　　　
Chapter　24　
（Flame　of　Tar　Valon）　
The　Kin　
　　　
　　　Incredible；　Reanne　thought；　watching　from　a　window　as　the　two　strange　girls　vanished　down　the　street　among　the　tradesmen　and　beggars　and　occasional　sedan　chairs。　She　had　returned　to　the　meeting　room　as　soon　as　the　pair　was　escorted　from　it。　She　did　not　know　what　to　make　of　them；　and　their　persistent　claims　in　the　face　of　all　reason　were　only　part　of　her　confusion。
　　　〃They　did　not　perspire；〃　Berowin　whispered　at　her　shoulder。
　　　〃Yes？〃　She　would　have　arranged　for　the　news　to　reach　the　Tarasin　Place　in　the　next　hour　if　she　had　not　given　her　word。　And　if　not　for　the　danger。　Fear　bubbled　in　her　middle；　the　same　panic　that　had　overtaken　her　after　one　passage　through　the　silver　arches　when　she　went　to　test　for　Accepted。　Just　as　she　had　every　time　it　had　stirred　in　the　years　since；　she　took　a　fresh　grip　on　herself；　in　truth；　she　did　not　realize　that　the　fear　she　might　run　screaming　again　had　long　since　conquered　any　possibility　that　she　would。　She　prayed　that　those　girls　would　abandon　their　insanity。　She　prayed　that　if　they　did　not；　they　were　caught　far　from　Ebou　Dar　and　either　kept　silent　or　were　not　believed。　Prec