rj.acrownofswords-第142章
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My Lady Elayne；
I greet the Daughter…Heir of Andor with joyous news。 I have but just learned that your mother； Queen Morgase； lives and is at present the guest of Pedron Niall in Amador； and wishes above all to be reunited with you so that you may return to Andor together in triumph。 I offer escort through the bandits now infesting Altara； so that you may reach your mother's side in safety and all speed。 Forgive these few poor words； scribbled in haste； but I know you would wish to learn the wondrous news as soon as possible。 Until I can leave you at your mother's side。
Sealed in the Light；
Jaichim Carridin
The paper crumpled in her fist。 How dare he？ The pain of her mother's death； without even a body to be buried； was only beginning to fade； and Carridin dared mock her this way？ Embracing the True Source； she hurled the foul lies away from her and channeled； fire flared in midair； so hot that only a dust of ash fell to the blue…and…gold floor tiles。 That for Jaichim Carridin。 And as for these。。。 women！ The pride of a thousand years of Andoran queens put steel into her backbone。
Merilille surged to her feet。 〃You were not given permission to channel！ You will release the …！〃
〃Leave us； Pol；〃 Elayne said。 〃Now。〃 The serving woman stared； but Elayne's mother had taught her well the voice of mand； the voice of a Queen from her throne。 Pol bobbed a curtsy and was moving before she realized。 Once under way； she hesitated only an instant before hurrying out and closing the door behind her。 Whatever was about to happen plainly was for Aes Sedai alone。
〃What has gotten into you； child？〃 Pure fury submerged the remnants of Merilille's regathered calm。 〃Release the Source immediately； or I vow； I'll fetch a slipper myself this minute！〃
〃I am Aes Sedai。〃 The words came out like winter stone； and Elayne meant them to。 Carridin's lies and these women。 Merilille threatened to slipper her？ They would acknowledge her rightful place as a sister。 She and Nynaeve had found the Bowl！ As good as； anyway； and the arrangements for its use were under way。 〃You propose to punish me for endangering a secret apparently known only to sisters； but no one bothered to tell me this secret when I attained the shawl。 You suggest punishing me like a novice or Accepted； but I am Aes Sedai。 I was raised to the shawl by Egwene al'Vere； the Amyrlin you claim to serve。 If you deny that Nynaeve and I are Aes Sedai； then you deny the Amyrlin Seat who sent me to find the Bowl of the Winds； which we have done。 I will not have it！ I call you to account； Merilille Ceandevin。 Submit to the will of the Amyrlin Seat； or I will call judgment on you as a rebellious traitor！〃
Merilille's eyes bulged； and her mouth hung open； but she appeared posed beside Careane or Sareitha； who looked about to choke to death on incredulity。 Vandene seemed mildly taken aback； a thoughtful finger pressed to her lips beneath slightly widened eyes； while Adeleas sat forward； studying Elayne as if seeing her for the first time。
Channeling； Elayne floated one of the tall armchairs to her and sat； posing her skirts。 〃You may as well sit； too； Merilille。〃 She still used the voice of mand … apparently it was the only way to make them listen … but she was startled when Merilille actually sank back down slowly； staring at her pop…eyed。
Outside； she maintained a calm； cool fa？ade； but inside； anger bubbled。 No； it boiled。 Secrets。 She had always thought Aes Sedai kept too many secrets； even from each other。 Especially from each other。 True； she kept some herself； but only at necessity； and not from anyone who needed to know。 And these women had thought to punish her！ 〃Your authority es from the Hall of the Tower； Merilille； Nynaeve's and mine from the Amyrlin Seat。 Ours supersedes yours。 From now on； you will take your instructions from Nynaeve or me。 We will of course listen carefully to any advice you might offer。〃 She had thought Merilille's eyes bulged before； but now。。。
〃Impossible；〃 the Gray spluttered。 〃You are … 〃
〃Merilille！〃 Elayne said sharply； leaning forward。 〃Do you still deny the authority of your Amyrlin？ Do you still dare？〃 Merilille's mouth worked soundlessly。 She wet her lips。 She shook her head jerkily。 Elayne felt a thrill of exultation； all that about Merilille taking direction was stuff and nonsense； of course； but she would be acknowledged。 Thom and her mother both said you must begin by asking for ten to get one。 Still； that was not enough to damp her anger。 She had half a mind to fetch a slipper herself and see how far she could push this。 Except； that would shatter everything。 They would remember her age fast enough then； and how short a time ago she had put off a novice dress； they might even begin thinking of her as a foolish child again。 Which thought stoked her fury anew。 But she contented herself with； 〃While you think quietly on what else I should be told as Aes Sedai； Merilille； Adeleas and Vandene will instruct me in this secret I endangered。 Do you mean to tell me the Tower has known of the Circle … these Kin； as you call them … all along？〃 Poor Reanne and her hopes to avoid Aes Sedai notice。
〃As near as they could make themselves e to sisters； I suppose；〃 Vandene replied。 Carefully。 She studied Elayne as intently as her sister did； now。 Though a Green； she had many of the same mannerisms as Adeleas。 Careane arid Sareitha looked stunned； disbelieving eyes swinging from a silent； red…cheeked Merilille to Elayne and back。
〃Even during the Trolloc Wars； women failed their tests； or lacked the strength； or were sent away from the Tower for any of the usual reasons。〃 Adeleas had adopted a lecturing tone； but not offensively。 Browns often did when expounding。 〃Under the circumstances； it is hardly surprising that a number feared to go off into the world alone； nor that they might flee to Barashta； as the city that existed here then was called。 Though the main part of Barashta was； of course； where the Rahad now stands。 Not that a stone of Barashta remains。 The Trolloc Wars did not truly envelope Eharon until late； but in the end； Barashta fell as pletely as Barsine； or Shaemal； or。。。 〃
〃The Kin。。。 〃 Vandene broke in gently； Adeleas blinked at her； then nodded。 〃。。。 The Kin persisted even after Barashta fell； in the same way they had before； taking in wilders and women put out of the Tower。〃 Elayne frowned； Mistress Anan had said the Kin took in wilders； too； but Reanne's biggest anxiety had seemed to be making her and Nynaeve prove they were not。
〃None ever remained long；〃 Adeleas added。 〃Five years； perhaps ten； then； I suppose； as now。 Once they realize that their little group is no replacement for the White Tower； they go off and bee village Healers or Wisdoms or the like； or sometimes simply forget the Power； stop channeling； and take up a craft or trade。 In any case； they vanish； so to speak。〃 Elayne wondered how anyone could forget the One Power that way； the urge to channel； the temptation of the Source； was always there； once you learned how。 Aes Sedai did seem to believe some women could just put it behind them； though； once they found out they would not be Aes Sedai。
Vandene took up the explanation again； the sisters frequently spoke almost in alternating sentences； each carrying on smoothly where the other left off。 〃The Tower has known of the Kin from nearly the beginning； perhaps from the very beginning。 At first； no doubt； the Wars took precedence。 And despite calling themselves the Kin； they have done just what we want such women to do。 They remain hidden； even the fact that they can channel； draw no attention whatsoever to themselves。 Over the years； they have even passed along word … secretly； of course； carefully … when one of them found a woman falsely claiming the shawl。 You said something？〃
Elayne shook her head。 〃Careane； is there any tea in that pot？〃 Careane gave a small start。 〃I think Adeleas and Vandene might like to wet their throats。〃 The Domani woman did not quite look at a still…staring Merilille before going to the table where the silver teapot and cups were。 〃That doesn't explain why；〃 Elayne went on。 〃W
