rj.acrownofswords-第45章
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Lews Therin's cackling。 Bring her quickly； before Andor and Cairhien both erupt in my face。
Chapter 8
（Snakey Square）
The Figurehead
〃We must stop here tomorrow。〃 Egwene shifted carefully on her folding chair； it had a tendency to fold on its own； sometimes。 〃Lord Bryne says the army is running short of food。 Our camp is certainly short of everything。〃
Two stubby tallow candles burned on the wooden table in front of her。 That folded； too； for easy packing； but it was sturdier than the chair。 The candles in the tent that served as her study were supplemented by an oil lantern hanging from the centerpole up near the peak。 The dim yellow light flickered； making faint shadows dance on patched canvas walls that were a far cry from the grandeur of the Amyrlin's study in the White Tower； but that did not upset her。 Truth be known； she herself was some considerable distance short of the grandeur normally associated with the Amyrlin Seat。 She knew very well that the seven…striped stole on her shoulders was the only reason any stranger would believe her Amyrlin。 If they did not think it an extremely foolish joke。 Odd things had happened in the White Tower's history … Siuan had told her secret details of some of them … yet surely nothing so odd as her。
〃Four or five days would be better；〃 Sheriam mused； studying the sheaf of papers in her lap。 Slightly plump； with high cheekbones and tilted green eyes； in her dark green riding dress she managed to look elegant and manding despite her perch on one of the two precarious stools in front of the table。 Exchange her narrow blue stole of the Keeper of the Chronicles for the Amyrlin's； and anyone would think she wore it by right。 Sometimes she certainly seemed to believe the striped stole rested on her own shoulders。 〃Or perhaps longer。 It would not hurt to build our stores up once more。〃
Siuan； atop the other rickety； stool； shook her head slightly； but Egwene did not need the hint。 〃One day。〃 She might be just eighteen and well short of a true Amyrlin's grandeur； but she was no fool。 Too many of the sisters seized on any excuse for a halt … too many of the Sitters； as well … and if they stopped too long； it might be impossible to start them moving again。 Sheriam opened her mouth。
〃One； daughter；〃 Egwene said firmly。 Whatever Sheriam thought； the fact was that Sheriam Bayanar was the Keeper and Egwene al'Vere the Amyrlin。 If only Sheriam could be brought to realize that。 And the Hall of the Tower； they were worse。 She wanted to snarl or snap or maybe throw something； but after close to a month and half； she already had a lifetime's practice in keeping her face and voice smooth at far greater provocation than this。 〃Any longer； and we'll begin to strip the countryside bare。 I won't leave people to starve。 On the practical side； if we take too much from them； even paid for； they'll give us a hundred problems in return。〃
〃Raids on the herds and flocks and thieves at the storewagons；〃 Siuan murmured。 Studying her divided gray skirts； not looking at anyone； she seemed to be thinking aloud。 〃Men shooting at our guards at night； maybe setting fire to whatever they can reach。 A bad business。 Hungry people bee desperate in a hurry。〃 Those were the same reasons Lord Bryne had given Egwene； in very nearly the same words。
The fiery…haired woman shot Siuan a hard look。 Many sisters had a difficult time with Siuan。 Her face was probably the best known in the camp； young enough to have looked proper above an Accepted's dress； or a novice's for that matter。 That was a side effect of being stilled； though not many had known it； Siuan could hardly walk a step without sisters staring at her； the once Amyrlin Seat； deposed and cut off from saidar； then Healed and restored to at least some ability； when everyone knew that was impossible。 Many weled her back warmly as a sister once more； for herself and for the miracle that held out hope against what every Aes Sedai feared beyond death； but just as many or more offered lukewarm toleration or condescension or both； blaming her for their present situation。
Sheriam was one of those who thought Siuan should instruct the new young Amyrlin in protocol and the like； which everyone believed she hated； and keep her mouth closed unless she was called upon。 She was less than she had been； no longer Amyrlin and no longer anywhere near so strong in the Power。 It was not cruelty as Aes Sedai saw it。 The past was past； what was now； was； and must be accepted。 Anything else only brought greater pain。 By and large； Aes Sedai admitted change slowly； but once they did； for most it was as if things had always been that way。
〃One day； Mother； as you say；〃 Sheriam sighed at last； bowing her head slightly。 Less in submission； Egwene was sure； than to hide a grimace over her stubbornness。 She would accept the grimace if the acquiescence came with it。 For the time being； she had to。
Siuan bowed her head； too。 To hide a smile。 Any sister might be appointed to any post； but the social pecking order was quite rigid； and Siuan stood a long way further down than she had。 That was one reason。
The papers on Sheriam's lap were duplicated on Siuan's； and on the table in front of Egwene。 Reports on everything from the number of candles and sacks of beans remaining in the camp to the state of the horses； and the same for Lord Bryne's army。 The army's camp encircled the Aes Sedai's； with a ring perhaps twenty steps wide between； but in many ways they might as well have been a mile apart。 Surprisingly； Lord Bryne insisted on that as much as the sisters。 The Aes Sedai did not want soldiers wandering among their tents； a lot of unwashed； illiterate ruffians with light fingers often as not； and it seemed the soldiers did not want Aes Sedai wandering among them either … though； perhaps wisely； they held their reasons close。 They marched toward Tar Valon to pull down a usurper to the Amyrlin Seat and raise Egwene in her place； yet few men were truly fortable around Aes Sedai。 Few enough women； either。
As Keeper； Sheriam would have been all too happy to take these minor matters out of Egwene's hands。 She had said as much； explaining how minor they were； how the Amyrlin Seat should not be burdened with day…to…day trifles。 Siuan； on the other hand； said a good Amyrlin paid attention to just those； not trying to duplicate the work of dozens of sisters and clerks； yet checking on something different every day。 That way she had a good idea of what was happening and what needed doing before someone came running to her with a crisis already breaking into shards。 A feel for how the wind was blowing； Siuan called it。 Making sure these reports reached her had required weeks； and Egwene was sure that once she let them pass to Sheriam's control； she would never again learn anything until it was long dealt with。 If then。
A silence stretched as they began reading the next paper in each stack。
They were not alone。 Chesa； seated on cushions to one side of the tent； spoke。 〃Too little light is bad for the eyes；〃 she murmured almost to herself； holding up one of Egwene's silk stockings that she was darning。 〃You'll never catch me ruining my eyes over words in this little light。〃 Just short of stout； with a twinkle in her eyes and a merry smile； Egwene's maid was always trying to slip advice to the Amyrlin as though talking about herself。 She could have been in Egwene's service twenty years instead of less than two months； and three times as old as Egwene instead of barely twice。 Tonight； Egwene suspected that she talked to fill silences。 There was a tension in the camp since Logain had escaped。 A man who could channel； shielded and under close guard； yet he had slipped away like fog。 Everyone walked on edge wondering how； wondering where he was； what he intended to do now。 Egwene wished harder than most that she could be sure she knew where Logain Ablar was。
Giving her papers a firm snap of her wrists； Sheriam frowned at Chesa； she did not understand why Egwene let her maid be present at these meetings； much less let her chatter away freely。 It probably never occurred to her that Chesa's presence and h
