rj.acrownofswords-第151章
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Elaida gasped。 The woman had just called her by name！ And before she could begin to splutter with outrage； worse came。
〃I think you are in great trouble； Elaida。〃 Cold eyes stared into Elaida's and cold words slid smoothly from Alviarin's smiling lips。 〃Sooner or later； the Hall will learn of the disaster with al'Thor。 Galina might have satisfied the Hall； possibly； but I doubt Covarla will； they will want someone。。。 higher。。。 to pay。 And sooner or later； we will all learn Toveine's fate。 It will be difficult to keep this on your shoulders then。〃 Casually； she adjusted the Amyrlin's stole around Elaida's neck。 〃In fact； it will be impossible if they learn any time soon。 You will be stilled； made an example； the way you wanted to make Siuan Sanche。 But there might be time to recover； if you listen to your Keeper。 You must take good advice。〃
Elaida's tongue felt frozen。 The threat could not have been clearer。 〃What you have heard tonight is Sealed to the Flame；〃 she said thickly； but she knew that the words were useless before they were out of her mouth。
〃If you mean to reject my advice。。。 〃 Alviarin paused； then began to turn away。
〃Wait！〃 Elaida pulled down the hand she had stretched out unaware。 Stripped of the stole。 Stilled。 Even after that； they would make her howl。 〃What …？〃 She had to stop and swallow。 〃What advice does my Keeper offer？〃 There had to be some way to stop this。
Sighing； Alviarin came close again。 Closer； in fact； much too near for anyone to stand to the Amyrlin； their skirts almost touching。 〃First； I fear you must abandon Toveine to whatever es； for the moment at least。 And also Galina and whoever else was taken prisoner； whether by the Aiel or the Asha'man。 Any attempted rescue now must mean discovery。〃
Elaida nodded slowly。 〃Yes。 I can see that。〃 She could not take her horrified eyes away from the other woman's demanding gaze。 There had to be a way！ This could not be happening！
〃And I think it is time to reconsider your decision about the Tower Guard。 Don't you really think the Guard should be increased after all？〃
〃I … can see my way clear to do that。〃 Light； she had to think！
〃So good；〃 Alviarin murmured； and Elaida flushed with helpless rage。 〃Tomorrow； you will personally search Josaine's rooms； and Adelorna's。〃
〃Why under the Light would I …？〃
The woman tugged her striped stole again； roughly this time； almost as if to yank it off or saw through her neck with it。 〃It seems that Josaine found an angreal some years ago and never turned it in。 Adelorna did worse； I fear。 She removed an angreal from one of the storerooms without permission。 When you have found them； you will announce their punishment immediately。 Something quite stiff。 And at the same time you will hold up Doraise； Kiyoshi and Farellien as models of preserving the law。 You will give each a present； a fine new horse will do。〃
Elaida wondered whether her eyes were going to pop right out of her face。 〃Why？〃 From time to time a sister kept an angreal to herself in defiance of the law； but the penance was seldom more than a stern slap on the knuckles。 Every sister knew the temptation。 And the rest！ The effect was obvious。 Everyone would believe Doraise and Kiyoshi and Farellien had exposed the other two。 Josaine and Adelorna were Green； the others Brown； Gray and Yellow respectively。 The Green Ajah would be furious。 They might even try to get back at the others； which would incite those Ajahs； and。。。 〃Why do you want to do this； Alviarin？〃
〃Elaida； it should be enough for you that it is my advice。〃 Mocking； honeyed ice suddenly turned to cold iron。 〃I want to hear you say that you will do as you are told。 There's no point in me working to keep the stole on your neck； otherwise。 Say it！〃
〃I … 〃 Elaida tried to look away。 Oh； Light； she had to think！ Her belly was clenched in a knot。 〃I will … do … as I … am told。〃
Alviarin smiled that chilly smile。 〃You see； that did not hurt very much。〃 Suddenly she stepped back； spreading her skirts in a moderate curtsy。 〃With your permission； I will withdraw and let you find some sleep in what remains of the night。 You have an early morning ahead； with orders to issue for High Captain Chubain and apartments to search。 We have to decide when to let the Tower know about the Asha'man； too。〃 Her tone made it clear that she would decide。 〃And perhaps we should begin planning our next move against al'Thor。 It is about time the Tower stood openly and called him to heel； don't you think？ Think well。 I give you good night； Elaida。〃
Dazed； wanting to sick up； Elaida watched her go。 Stand openly？ That would invite attack by these … what had the woman called them？ … these Asha'man。 This could not be happening to her。 Not to her！ Before she realized what she was doing； she hurled the goblet across the room to shatter against a tapestry of flowers。 Seizing the pitcher with both hands； she raised it overhead with a shriek of fury and flung that too； in a spray of punch。 The Foretelling had been so certain！ She would。。。！
Abruptly she stopped； frowning at the tiny shards of crystals clinging to the tapestry； the larger pieces scattered across the floor。 The Foretelling。 Surely that had spoken of her triumph。 Her triumph！ Alviarin might have her minor victory； but the future belonged to Elaida。 As long as Alviarin could be gotten rid of。 But it had to be done quietly； in some way so that even the Hall would want silence。 A way that would not point to Elaida until it was too late； should Alviarin's sails gain wind。 And suddenly the why came to her。 Alviarin would not believe if she was told。 No one would。
Could Alviarin have seen her smile then； the woman's knees would have turned to jelly。 Before she was done； Alviarin would envy Galina； alive or dead。
Pausing in the hallway outside Elaida's apartments； Alviarin studied her hands by the light of the stand…lamps。 They did not shake； which surprised her。 She had expected the woman to fight harder； to resist longer。 But it was begun； and she had nothing to fear。 Unless Elaida learned that no fewer than five Ajahs had passed mention of al'Thor to her in the last few days； the deposing of Colavaere had sent every Ajah's agent in Cairhien flying for a pen。 No； if Elaida did learn； she was safe enough； with the hold she had on the woman now。 And with Mesaana as patron。 Elaida； though； was finished whether she realized or not。 Even if the Asha'man failed to trumpet their crushing of Toveine's expedition … and she was sure they would crush it； after what Mesaana had told her of events of Dumai's Wells … all the eyes…and…ears in Caemlyn truly would gain wings once they learned。 Lacking a miracle； such as the rebels appearing at the gates； Elaida would suffer Siuan Sanche's fate in a matter of weeks。 In any case； it had begun； and if she wished she knew what 〃it〃 was； all she really had to do was obey。 And watch。 And learn。 Perhaps she would wear the seven…striped stole herself when all was done。
In the early morning sunlight streaming through her windows； Seaine dipped the pen； but before she could write the next word； the door to the hall opened and the Amyrlin swept in。 Seaine's thick black eyebrows rose； she would have expected anyone else at all before Elaida； perhaps not excluding Rand al'Thor himself。 Still； she set the pen down and rose smoothly； pulling down the silver…white sleeves she had pushed up to keep clear of the ink。 She made the degree of curtsy proper to the Amyrlin Seat from a Sitter in her own apartments。
〃I do hope you haven't found any White sisters hiding away angreal； Mother。〃 She did hope it； quite fervently。 Elaida's descent on the Greens a few hours ago； while most of them slept； was probably still producing wails and gnashing of teeth。 In living memory no one had been ordered birched for keeping back an angreal； and now there were to be two。 The Amyrlin must have been in one of her infamous cold furies。
But if she had been then； no sign of it remained now。 For a moment she regarded Seaine silently； cool as a winter pond in her red…slashed silks； then glided to the carved sideboard where
