rj.acrownofswords-第50章
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h Bryne hardly requires enough of my time to interfere with that。〃 She almost always referred to him that way； and even when she used his title； she put a bite into it。
〃Siuan； a burned barn and a few cows couldn't cost that much。〃 Not pared with paying and feeding all those soldiers； certainly。 But she had offered before； and the stiff reply was the same。
〃I thank you； Mother； but no。 I won't have him saying I break my word； and I swore to work the debt off。〃 Abruptly； Siuan's stiffness dissolved in laughter； rare when she spoke about Lord Bryne。 Scowls were much more mon。 〃If you need to worry about somebody； worry about him； not me。 I need no help handling Gareth Bryne。〃
And that was the strange part。 Weak she might be in the One Power； now； but not so weak that Siuan had to keep on as his servant； spending hours up to her elbows in hot soapy water with his shirts and smallclothes。 Perhaps she did so in order to have someone at hand on whom she could loose the temper she was otherwise forced to keep in a sack。 Whatever the reason； it occasioned no little talk； and confirmed her oddness in many eyes； she was Aes Sedai； after all； if rather far down。 His methods of dealing with her temper … once she threw plates and boots； anyway … outraged her and provoked threats of dire consequences； yet though she could have wrapped him up unable to stir a finger； Siuan never touched saidar around him； not to do his chores and not even when it meant being turned over his knee。 That fact she had kept hidden from most so far； but some things slipped out when she was in a rage； or when Leane was in a humor。 There seemed to be no explanation。 Siuan was not weak…spirited or a fool； she was neither meek nor afraid； she was not。。。
〃You might as well be on your way； Siuan。〃 Clearly； some secrets were not going to be revealed tonight。 〃It's late； and I know you want your bed。〃
〃Yes； Mother。 And； thank you；〃 she added； though Egwene could not have said for what。
After Siuan left； Egwene rubbed her temples once more。 She wanted to pace。 The tent would not do； it might be the largest in the camp occupied by just one person； but that meant less than two spans by two； and it was crowded with cot and chair and stool； washstand and stand…mirror and no fewer than three chests full of clothes。 Chesa had seen to those last； and Sheriam； and Romanda and Lelaine and a dozen more Sitters。 They kept seeing to them； a few more gifts of silk shifts or stockings； one more dress grand enough to receive a king； and there would be need for a fourth chest。 Maybe Sheriam and the Sitters hoped all the fine dresses would blind her to anything else； but Chesa just thought the Amyrlin Seat had to be clothed suitably for her station。 Servants； it seemed； believed in following the correct rituals as much as the Hall ever did。 Shortly Selame would be there； it was her turn to undress Egwene for bed； another ritual。 Only； between her head and her restless feet； she was not ready for bed yet。
Leaving the lamps burning； she hurried out before Selame could arrive。 Walking would clear her head； and maybe tire her enough that she could sleep soundly。 Putting herself to sleep would be no problem … the Wise One dreamwalkers had taught her that skill early on … yet finding any rest in it was another matter。 Especially when her mind boiled with a list of worries that began with Romanda and Lelaine and Sheriam； then ran through Rand； Elaida； Moghedien； the weather and on out of sight。
She avoided the area near Moghedien's tent。 If she asked questions herself； too much importance would be given to a servant running away。 Discretion had bee part of her。 The game she played allowed few slips； and being careless where you knew it did not matter could lead to being careless where it did。 Worse； you could discover you had been wrong about where it mattered。 The weak must be bold cautiously。 That was Siuan again； she truly did her best to teach； and she knew this particular game very well。
There were no more people out and about in the moon…shadowed camp than had been there before； handfuls slouched wearily around low fires； exhausted by their evening's labors after a hard day's journey。 Those who saw her rose tiredly to make their courtesies as she passed； murmuring 〃The Light shine on you； Mother〃 or something like； occasionally asking her blessing； which she gave with a simple 〃The Light bless you； my child。〃 Men and women old enough to be her grandparents sat back down beaming from that； yet she wondered what they actually believed about her； what they knew。 All the Aes Sedai presented an unbroken front to the outside world； including their own servants。 But Siuan said that if you believed a servant knew twice what he should； you only knew half the truth。 Still； those bows and curtsies and murmurs followed her from one clump of people to the next； forting her with the possibility that there were some at least who did not see her as a child the Hall brought out when they needed her。
As she passed an open area surrounded by ropes tied to posts driven into the ground； a gateway's silver slash of light flashed vivid in the darkness as it rotated open。 It was not really light； though； it cast no shadows。 She paused to watch beside a corner post。 No one at the nearby fires even looked up； they were used to this by now。 A dozen or more sisters； twice as many servants and a number of Warders bustled out； returning with messages and wicker cages of pigeons from the dovecotes in Salidar； a good five hundred miles west and south as the goose flew。
They began scattering before the gateway closed； carrying their burdens to Sitters； to their Ajahs； a few back to their own tents。 Most nights； Siuan would have been with them； she seldom trusted anyone else to fetch messages destined for her even if most were in codes or ciphers。 Sometimes the world seemed to hold more networks of eyes…and…ears than it did Aes Sedai； though most were severely truncated by circumstance。 The majority of agents for the various Ajahs seemed to be lying low until the 〃difficulties〃 in the White Tower subsided； and a good many of the individual sisters' eyes…and…ears had no idea where the woman they served was at present。
Several of the Warders saw Egwene and made careful bows； with a respect proper to the stole； sisters might eye her askance； but the Hall had raised her Amyrlin and the Gaidin needed no more。 A number of the servants offered bows or curtsies too。 Not one of the Aes Sedai hurrying away from the gateway so much as glanced in her direction。 Perhaps they did not notice her。 Perhaps。
In a way； that anybody could still hear from any of their eyes…and…ears at all was one of Moghedien's 〃gifts。〃 The sisters with the strength to make gateways had all been in Salidar long enough to know it well。 Those who could weave a gateway of useful size were able to Travel almost anywhere from there； and land right on the spot。 Trying to Travel to Salidar； however； would have meant spending half of each night learning the new roped…off patch of ground； more for some； every time they made camp。 What Egwene had pried from Moghedien was a way to journey from a place you did not know well to one you did。 Slower than Traveling； Skimming was not one of the lost Talents … no one had ever heard of it … so even the name was credited to Egwene。 Anyone who could Travel could Skim； so every night sisters Skimmed to Salidar； checking the dovecotes for birds that had returned to where they had been hatched； then Traveled back。
The sight should have pleased her … the rebel Aes Sedai had gained Talents the White Tower thought lost forever； as well as learned new ones； and those abilities would help cost Elaida the Amyrlin Seat before all was done … yet instead of pleasure； Egwene felt sourness。 Being snubbed had nothing to do with it； or not much； anyway。 As she walked on； the fires grew farther between； then faded behind； all around her lay the dark shapes of wagons； most with canvas tops stretched over iron hoops； and tents glowing palely in the moonlight。 Beyond； the army's campfires climbed the surrounding hills all around； the stars brought to ground。 The
