rj.acrownofswords-第51章
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nd； the army's campfires climbed the surrounding hills all around； the stars brought to ground。 The silence from Caemlyn tied her middle into knots； whatever anyone else thought。
The very day they left Salidar a message had arrived； though Sheriam had not bothered to show it to her until a few days ago； and then with repeated warnings on the need to keep the contents secret。 The Hall knew； but no one else must。 More of the ten thousand secrets that infested the camp。 Egwene was sure she never would have seen it if she had not kept going on about Rand。 She could recall every carefully chosen word； written in a tiny hand on paper so thin it was a wonder the pen had not torn through。
We are well settled at the inn of which we spoke； and we have met with the wool merchant。 He is a very remarkable young man； everything that Nynaeve told us。 Still； he was courteous。 I think he is somewhat afraid of us； which is to the good。 It will go well。
You may have heard rumors about men here； including a fellow from Saldaea。 The rumors are all too true； I fear； but we have seen none of them and will avoid them if we can。 If you pursue two hares； both will escape you。
Verin and Alanna are here； with a number of young women from the same region as the wool merchant。 I will try to send them on to you for training。 Alanna has formed an attachment to the wool merchant which may prove useful； though it is troubling too。 All will go well； I am sure。
Merana
Sheriam emphasized the good news； as she saw it。 Merana； an experienced negotiator； had reached Caemlyn and been well received by Rand； the 〃wool merchant。〃 Wonderful news； to Sheriam。 And Verin and Alanna would be bringing Two Rivers girls to bee novices。 Sheriam was sure they must be ing down the same road they themselves were headed up。 She seemed to think Egwene would be all aglow at the expectation of seeing faces from home。 Merana would handle everything。 Merana knew what she was doing。
〃That's a bucket of horse sweat；〃 Egwene muttered at the night。 A gap…toothed fellow carrying a large wooden bucket gave a start and gaped at her； so amazed he forgot to bow。
Rand； courteous？ She had seen his first meeting with Coiren Saeldain； Elaida's emissary。 〃Overbearing〃 summed it up nicely。 Why should he be different with Merana？ And Merana thought he was afraid； thought that was good。 Rand was seldom afraid even when he should be； and if he was now； Merana should remember that fear could make the mildest man dangerous； remember that Rand was dangerous just being who he was。 And what was this attachment Alanna had formed？ Egwene did not entirely trust Alanna。 The woman did extremely odd things at times； maybe impetuously and maybe with some deeper motive。 Egwene would not put it past her to find a way into Rand's bed； he would be clay in the hands of a woman like her。 Elayne would break Alanna's neck if that was so； but that was the least of it。 Worst of all； no more of the pigeons Merana had taken with her had appeared in the Salidar dovecotes。
Merana should have had some word to send； if only that she and the rest of the embassy had gone to Cairhien。 Lately the Wise Ones did little more than acknowledge Rand was alive； yet it seemed he was there； sitting on his hands as far as she could make out。 Which should have been a warning beacon。 Sheriam saw it differently。 Who could say why any man did what he did？ Probably not even the man himself； most of the time； and when it came to one who could channel。。。 Silence proved all was well； Merana surely would have reported any real difficulty。 She must be on her way to Cairhien； if not there already； and there was no need to report further until she could send word of success。 For that matter； Rand in Cairhien was success of a sort。 One of Merana's goals； if not the most important； had been to ease him out of Caemlyn so that Elayne could return there safely and take the Lion Throne； and the dangers of Cairhien had dissipated。 Incredible as it seemed； the Wise Ones said Coiren and her embassy had left the city on their way back to Tar Valon。 Or maybe not so incredible。 It all made a sort of sense； given Rand； given the way Aes Sedai did things。 Even so； to Egwene； it all felt。。。 wrong。
〃I have to go to him；〃 she muttered。 One hour； and she could straighten everything out。 Underneath； he was still Rand。 〃That's all there is to it。 I have to go to him。〃
〃That isn't possible； and you know it。〃
If Egwene had not had herself on a tight rein； she would have jumped a foot。 As it was； her heart pounded even after she made out Leane by the light of the moon。 〃I thought you were。。。〃 she said before she could stop herself； and only just managed not to say Moghedien's name。
The taller woman fell in beside her； keeping a careful watch for other sisters as they walked。 Leane did not have Siuan's excuse for spending time with her。 Not that being seen together once should cause any harm； but。。。
〃Should not〃 isn't always 〃will not；〃 Egwene reminded herself。 Slipping the stole from her shoulders； she folded it to carry in one hand。 At a glance； from a distance； Leane might well be taken for an Accepted despite her dress； many Accepted lacked enough of the banded white dresses to wear one all the time。 From a distance； Egwene might be taken for one； too。 Not the most pacifying thought。
〃Theodrin and Faolain are asking around near Marigan's tent； Mother。 They weren't especially pleased。 I did a fine sulk over carrying messages； if I do say so。 Theodrin had to stop Faolain dressing me down for it。〃 Leane's laughter was quiet and breathy。 Situations that grated Siuan's teeth usually amused her。 She was cosseted by most of the other sisters for how well she had adjusted。
〃Good； good；〃 Egwene said absently。 〃Merana misstepped somehow； Leane； or he wouldn't be staying in Cairhien； and she wouldn't be keeping quiet。〃 Off in the distance； a dog bayed at the moon； then others； until they were abruptly silenced by shouts that； perhaps luckily； she could not quite understand。 A number of the soldiers had dogs tagging along； there were none in the Aes Sedai camp。 Any number of cats； but no dogs。
〃Merana does know what she is doing； Mother。〃 It sounded very like a sigh。 Leane and Siuan both agreed with Sheriam。 Everyone did； except her。 〃When you give someone a task； you have to trust it to them。〃
Egwene sniffed and folded her arms。 〃Leane； that man could strike sparks from a damp cloth； if it wore the shawl。 I don't know Merana； but I've never seen an Aes Sedai who qualified as a damp cloth。〃
〃I've met one or two；〃 Leane chuckled。 This time her sigh was plain。 〃But not Merana； true。 Does he really believe he has friends inside the Tower？ Alviarin？ That might make him difficult for Merana； I suppose； but I can hardly see Alviarin doing anything to risk her place。 She was always ambitious enough for three。〃
〃He has a letter supposedly from her。〃 She could still see Rand gloating over receiving letters from Elaida and Alviarin both； back before she herself left Cairhien。 〃Maybe her ambitions make her think she can replace Elaida with him on her side。 That's if she really wrote it。 He thinks he's clever； Leane … maybe he is … but he doesn't believe he needs anyone。〃 Rand would go on thinking he could handle anything by himself right up until one of those anythings crushed him。 〃I know him inside and out； Leane。 Being around the Wise Ones seems to have infected him； or maybe he infected them。 Whatever the Sitters think； whatever any of you think； an Aes Sedai's shawl doesn't impress him any more than it does the Wise Ones。 Sooner or later he'll exasperate a sister until she does something about it； or one of them will push him the wrong way； not realizing how strong he is； and what his temper is now。 After that there might be no going back。 I'm the only one who can deal with him safely。 The only one。〃
〃He can hardly be as。。。 irritating。。。 as those Aiel women；〃 Leane murmured wryly。 Even she found it difficult to be amused by her experiences with the Wise Ones。 〃But it hardly matters。 'The Amyrlin Seat being valued with the White Tower i
