rj.acrownofswords-第55章
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ED。
The dream winked out； the soap bubble pricked。 Despite the message； she would have giggled had she possessed a throat。 A disembodied voice in your dream could have a startling effect。 Especially if you were afraid the speaker might be peeking。 Nynaeve was not one to forget even when it was an accident。
That light…spangled sea whirled about her once more until she settled on another sparkling pinpoint。 Elayne。 The two women very likely slept no more than a dozen paces apart in Ebou Dar； but distance had no meaning here。 Or perhaps it had a different meaning。
This time when she delivered her message； the dream pulsed and changed。 It still appeared exactly the same as every other； but even so； to her it was transformed。 Had the words drawn Elayne into another dream？ They would remain； however； and she would remember on waking。
With Nicola and Areina's bowstrings dampened a little more； it was time to turn her attention to Rand。 Unfortunately； finding his dreams would be as useless as finding an Aes Sedai's。 He shielded his somewhat as they did theirs； although apparently a man's shield differed from a woman's。 An Aes Sedai's shield was a crystal carapace； a seamless sphere woven of Spirit； but however transparent it appeared； it might as well have been steel。 She could not recall how many fruitless hours she had frittered away trying to peer through his。 Where a sister's shielded dream seemed brighter； close up； his were dimmer。 It was like staring into muddy water； sometimes you had the impression that something had moved deep in those gray…brown swirls； but you could never tell what。
Again the endless array of lights spun and settled； and she approached a third woman's dream。 Gingerly。 So much lay between her and Amys that it seemed akin to approaching her mother's dreams。 In truth； she had to admit； she wanted to emulate Amys in many ways。 She desired Amys' respect every bit as greatly as she did the Hall's。 Maybe； if she had to choose； she would choose Amys'。 Certainly； there was no Sitter she esteemed as highly as she did Amys。 Pushing away a sudden diffidence； she tried to make her 〃voice〃 softer； to no avail。
AMYS； THIS IS EGWENE。 I MUST SPEAK WITH YOU。
We will e； a voice murmured to her。 Amys' voice。
Startled； Egwene backed away。 She felt like laughing at herself。 Perhaps it was just as well to be reminded that the Wise Ones had long years' more experience at this。 There were times she was afraid she might have been spoiled by not having to work harder for her abilities with the One Power。 Then again； as if to make up for it； sometimes everything else seemed like trying to climb a cliff in a rainstorm。
Abruptly she caught movement at the very edge of her field of vision。 One of those points of light slid through the sea of stars； drifting toward her of its own volition； growing larger。 Only one dream would do that； one dreamer。 In a panic； she fled； wishing she had a throat to scream； or curse； or just shout。 Especially at the tiny corner of her that wanted to stay where she was and wait。
Not even the stars moved this time。 They simply disappeared； and she was leaning against a thick redstone column； panting as though she had sprinted a mile； heart beating fit to burst。 After a moment； she looked down at herself and began to laugh a trifle unsteadily； trying to catch her breath。 She had on a full…skirted gown of shimmering green silk； worked in thread…of…gold in wide； ornate bands across the bodice and along the hem。 That bodice also showed considerably more bosom than she ever would waking； and a broad cinched belt of woven gold made her waist seem smaller than it really was。 Then again； maybe it was smaller。 Here in Tel'aran'rhiod； you could be however you wanted； whatever you wanted。 Even when the wanting was unconscious； if you were not careful。 Gawyn Trakand had unfortunate effects on her； very unfortunate。
That tiny part of her still wished she had waited to be overtaken by his dream。 Overtaken and absorbed by it。 If a dreamwalker loved somebody to distraction； or hated them beyond reason； most especially if the emotion was returned； she could be pulled into that person's dream； she drew the dream； or it drew her； as a lodestone drew iron filings。 She certainly did not hate Gawyn； but she could not afford to be trapped in his dream； not tonight； trapped until he wakened； being as he saw her。 Which was a good deal more beautiful than she truly was； oddly； he appeared less beautiful than he was in life。 There was no question of a strong mind or concentration when love or hate that strong was involved。 Once you were in that dream； there you remained until the other person stopped dreaming about you。 Remembering what he dreamed of doing with her； what they had done in his dreams； she felt a fiery blush suffusing her face。
〃A good thing none of the Sitters can see me now；〃 she muttered。 〃They'd never take me for anything but a girl； then。〃 Grown women did not flutter and moon over a man this way； she was certain of that。 Not women with any sense； anyway。 What he dreamed of would e； but at a time of her choosing。 Obtaining her mother's permission might be difficult； yet surely she would not withhold it even if she had never laid eyes on Gawyn。 Marin al'Vere trusted her daughters' judgment。 Now it was time for her youngest daughter to show a little of that judgment and put these fancies away until a better time。
Looking around； she almost wished she could go on letting Gawyn fill her thoughts。 More massive columns ran in every direction； supporting a soaring； vaulted ceiling and a great dome。 None of the gilded lamps hanging from golden chains overhead was lit； yet there was light of a sort； light that was just there； without source； neither bright nor dim。 The Heart of the Stone； inside the great fortress called the Stone of Tear。 Or rather its image in Tel'aran'rhiod； an image as real as the original in many ways。 This was where she had met the Wise Ones before； their choice。 A strange one for Aiel； it seemed to her。 She would have expected Rhuidean； now that it was open； or somewhere else in the Aiel Waste； or simply wherever the Wise Ones happened to be。 Every place except Ogier stedding had its reflection in the World of Dreams … even the stedding did； really； but they could not be entered； just as Rhuidean had once been closed。 The Aes Sedai camp was out of the question； of course。 A number of the sisters now had access to ter'angreal that allowed them to enter the World of Dreams； and since none really knew what they were doing； they often began their ventures by appearing in the camp of Tel'aran'rhiod as though setting out on a normal journey。
Like angreal and sa'angreal； by Tower law ter'angreal were the property of the White Tower； no matter who happened to possess them for the present。 Very seldom did the Tower insist； at least when possession lay somewhere like the so…called Great Holding in this very Stone of Tear … eventually they would e to the Aes Sedai； and the White Tower had always been good at waiting when it needed to … but those actually in Aes Sedai hands were in the gift of the Hall； of individual Sitters。 The loan； really； they were almost never given。 Elayne had learned to duplicate dream ter'angreal； and she and Nynaeve had taken two with them； but the rest were in the Hall's possession now； along with the other sorts Elayne had made。 Which meant that Sheriam and her little circle could use them whenever they wished； and most assuredly Lelaine and Romanda； though it was likely those two sent others instead of entering Tel'aran'rhiod themselves。 Until quite recently； no Aes Sedai had walked the dream in centuries； and they still had considerable difficulties； most of which stemmed from a belief that they could learn by themselves。 Even so； the last thing Egwene wanted was any of their followers spying on this meeting tonight。
As though the thought of spies had made her more sensitive； she became aware of being watched by unseen eyes。 That sensation was always present in Tel'aran'rhiod； and not even the Wise Ones knew why； but although hidden eyes always seemed to be there； actual watchers might be
