rj.acrownofswords-第186章
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uty； like the need to exterminate men with the ability to channel； not actions she took pleasure in beyond that of tasks well done； but she had enjoyed leading the circle that stilled Siuan Sanche。 Surely all those things meant that Galina Casban was herself among the mightiest of the world； among the most powerful。 Surely they did。 They must。
Her legs wavered like springs that had lost their tempering； and she fell heavily； unable to catch herself with arms and elbows tightly bound behind her。 The once…white silk shift； the only garment left to her； tore again as she slid on the loose rocks； scraping her welts。 A tree stopped her。 Face pressed against the ground； she began to sob。 〃How？〃 she moaned in a thick voice。 〃How can this happen to me？〃
After a time she realized that she had not been pulled to her feet； no matter how often she fell； she had never before been allowed a moment's respite。 Blinking away tears； she raised her head。
Aiel women covered the mountainside； several hundred of them scattered among the barren trees with their spears； the veils they could raise in an instant hanging down their chests。 Galina wanted to laugh。 Maidens； they called these monstrous women Maidens。 She wished she could laugh。 At least there were no men present； a small mercy。 Men made her skin crawl； and if one could see her now； less than half…clothed。。。
Anxiously； her eyes sought for Therava； but most of the seventy or so Wise Ones stood together looking at something farther up the slope； blocking her view。 There seemed to be a murmur of voices from the front of them。 Maybe the Wise Ones were conferring about something。 Wise Ones。 They had been brutally efficient in teaching her the correct names； never just Aiel woman； and never wilder。 They could smell contempt however she hid it。 Of course； you did not have to try hiding what had been seared out of you。
Most of the Wise Ones were looking away； but not all。 The glow of saidar surrounded a young； pretty； red…haired woman with a delicate mouth who watched Galina with large； intent blue eyes。 Perhaps as a sign of their own disdain； they had chosen the weakest of their number to shield her this morning。 Micara was not truly weak in the Power … none of them were that … but even smarting from shoulders to knees as she was； Galina could have broken Micara's shield with little effort。 A muscle in her cheek spasmed uncontrollably； it always did when she thought of another escape attempt。 The first had been bad enough。 The second。。。 Shuddering； she fought not to sob again。 She would not make the attempt again until she was sure of plete success。 Very sure。 Absolutely sure。
The mass of Wise Ones parted； turning to follow Therava with their eyes as the hawk…faced woman strode toward Galina。 Suddenly panting once more； with apprehension； Galina tried to struggle to her feet。 Hands bound and muscles watery； she had only reached her knees when Therava bent over her； necklaces of ivory and gold clattering softly。 Seizing a handful of Galina's hair； Therava forced her head back sharply。 Taller than most men； the woman did that even when they were standing； craning Galina's neck painfully to make her look up into the Wise One's face。 Therava was somewhat stronger in the Power than she； which relatively few women were； but that was not what made Galina tremble。 Cold deep blue eyes stabbed into her own； held her more tightly than Therava's rough hand； they seemed to strip her soul naked as easily as the Wise One handled her。 She had not begged yet； not when they made her walk all day with hardly a drop of water； not when they forced her to keep up as they ran for hours； not even when their switches made her howl。 Therava's cruel hard face； staring down at her impassively； made her want to beg。 Sometimes she woke at night； stretched out tight between the four stakes where they bound her； woke whimpering from dreams that her whole life would be lived under Therava's hands。
〃She is collapsing already；〃 the Wise One said in a voice like stone。 〃Water her； and bring her。〃 Turning away； she adjusted her shawl； Galina Casban forgotten until there was need to recall her； to Therava； Galina Casban was less important than a stray dog。
Galina did not try to rise； she had been 〃watered〃 often enough by now。 It was the only way they let her drink。 Aching for moisture； she did not resist when a blocky Maiden took her by the hair as Therava had and pulled her head back。 She just opened her mouth as far as she could。 Another Maiden； with a puckered scar slanting across nose and cheek； tilted a waterskin and slowly poured a trickle into Galina's waiting mouth。 The water was flat and warm； it was delicious。 She swallowed convulsively； awkwardly； holding her jaws wide。 Almost as much as water to drink； she wanted to move her face under that thin stream； to let it run over her cheeks and forehead。 Instead she kept her head very steady； so that every drop went down her throat。 Spilling water was cause for another beating； they had thrashed her in sight of a creek six paces wide for spilling a mouthful over her chin。
When the waterskin was finally taken away； the blocky Maiden hauled her to her feet by her bound elbows。 Galina groaned。 The Wise Ones were gathering their skirts over their arms； exposing their legs well above soft knee…high boots。 They could not be going to run。 Not again。 Not in these mountains。
The Wise Ones loped forward as easily as if on level ground。 An unseen Maiden cut Galina across the back of her thighs with a switch； and she stumbled to a semblance of a run； half…dragged by the blocky Maiden。 The switch slashed her legs whenever they faltered。 If this run continued the rest of the day； they would take turns； one Maiden wielding the stick and another dragging。 Laboring up slopes and nearly sliding down； Galina ran。 A tawny mountain cat； striped in shades of brown and heavier than a man； snarled at them from a rocky ledge above； a female； lacking the tufts on her ears and the wide cheeks。 Galina wanted to shout at her to flee； to run before Therava caught her。 The Aiel ran on by the snarling animal； unconcerned； and Galina wept with jealousy for the cat's freedom。
She would be rescued eventually； of course； she knew that。 The Tower would not allow a sister to remain in captivity。 Elaida would not allow a Red to be held。 Surely Alviarin would send rescue。 Someone would； anyone； to save her from these monsters； especially from Therava。 She would promise anything for that deliverance。 She would even keep those promises。 She had been broken free of the Three Oaths on joining the Black Ajah； replacing them with a new trinity； but at that moment she truly believed she would keep her word； if it brought rescue。 Any promise； to anyone who would free her。 Even a man。
By the time low tents appeared； their dark colors fading into the forested mountainsides as well as the cat had； Galina had two Maidens supporting her； pulling her along。 Shouts rose from every side； glad cries of greeting； but Galina was dragged on behind the Wise Ones； deeper into the camp； still running； stumbling。
Without warning the hands left her arms。 She pitched forward on her face and lay there with her nose in the dirt and dead leaves； sucking air through her gaping mouth。 She coughed on a piece of leaf； but she was too weak to turn her head。 The blood pounded her ears； but voices came to her and slowly began to make sense。
〃。。。 Took your time； Therava；〃 a familiar…sounding woman's voice said。 〃Nine days。 We have been back long since。〃
Nine days？ Galina shook her head； scrubbing her face on the ground。 Since the Aiel had shot her horse from under her； memory blended all the days into a melange of thirst and running and being beaten； but surely it had been longer ago than nine days。 Weeks； certainly。 A month or more。
〃Bring her in；〃 the familiar voice said impatiently。
Hands pulled her up； shoved her forward； bending her to go under the edge of a large tent with the sides raised all around。 She was thrown down on layered carpets； the edge of a red…and…blue Tairen maze overlapping gaudy flowers beneath her nose。 With difficulty； s
