rj.acrownofswords-第60章
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〃I fear some of these knots will pull； Mother；〃 the cheerless woman murmured； drawing the brush through Egwene's hair； and Egwene very nearly told her she had not deliberately tangled it in her sleep。
〃I understand we will rest here today； Mother。〃 Bone idleness； seethed Meri's reflection in the stand…mirror。
〃This shade of blue will set off your coloring nicely； Mother；〃 Meri said as she did up Egwene's buttons； her face an accusation of vanity。
Filled with relief that she would have Chesa tonight； Egwene donned the stole and fled almost before the woman finished。
Not even a rim of the sun showed above the hills to the east。 The land humped up all around in long ridges and irregular mounds； sometimes hundreds of feet high； that often looked as though monstrous fingers had squeezed them。 Shadows like twilight bathed the camp lying in one of the broad valleys between； but it was well awake in the heat that never really lifted。 Smells of breakfast cooking filled the air； and people bustled about； though there was none of the rush that would have meant a day's marching ahead。 White…clad novices darted about at a near run； a wise novice always carried out her chores as quickly as she could。 Warders never seemed hurried； of course； but even servants carrying the morning meal to Aes Sedai appeared to stroll this morning。 Well； almost。 In parison to the novices。 The whole camp was taking advantage of the halt。 A clatter and curses as a jack…lever slipped announced wagonwrights making repairs； and a distant tapping of hammers told of farriers reshoeing horses。 A dozen candlemakers had their molds lined up already； and the kettles heating to melt the carefully hoarded drippings and tag…ends of every candle that had been burned。 More big black kettles stood on fires to boil water for baths and laundry； and men and women were heaping clothes up nearby。 Egwene gave little notice to any of the activity。
The thing of it was； she was certain Meri did not do it apurpose； she could not help her face。 Even so； she was as bad as it would be to have Romanda for a maid。 The thought made her laugh out loud。 Romanda as lady's maid would have her mistress toeing the line in no time； no doubt as to who would run and fetch in that pair。 A gray…haired cook paused in raking coals from atop an iron oven to give her a grin of shared amusement。 For a moment； anyway。 Then he realized he was grinning at the Amyrlin Seat； not just some young woman walking by； and the grin melted crookedly as he jerked a bow before bending back to his work。
If she sent Meri off； Romanda would only find a new spy。 And Meri would again be starving her way from village to village。 Adjusting her dress … she really had gone before the woman was quite finished … Egwene's fingers found a small linen bag； the strings tucked behind her belt。 She did not have to lift it all the way to her nose to smell rose petals and a blend of herbs with a cool scent。 It made her sigh。 A face like a headsman's； spying for Romanda without any doubt； and trying to perform her duties as well as she could。 Why were these things never easy？
Approaching the tent she used as a study … many called it the Amyrlin's study； as if it were rooms in the Tower … a solemn satisfaction replaced worry over Meri。 Whenever they halted for a day； Sheriam would be there before her with fat sheaves of petitions。 A laundress imploring clemency on a charge of theft when she had been caught with the jewelry sewn into her dress； or a blacksmith begging a testimonial for his work； which he could not use unless he intended to leave； and likely not then。 A harness maker asking the Amyrlin's prayers for her to give birth to a daughter。 One of Lord Bryne's soldiers requesting the Amyrlin's personal blessing to his wedding a seamstress。 There was always a slew from older novices； appealing visits to Tiana and even extra chores。 Anyone had the right to petition the Amyrlin； but those in service to the Tower seldom did； and never novices。 Egwene suspected that Sheriam worked to dig up petitioners； something to butter the cat's paws； to keep her out of Sheriam's hair while the Keeper took care of what she considered important。 This morning； Egwene thought she might make Sheriam eat those petitions for her breakfast。
When she entered the tent； though； Sheriam was not there。 Which perhaps should not have been a surprise； given the night before。 The tent was not empty； however。
〃The Light illumine you this morning； Mother；〃 Theodrin said； making a deep curtsy that set the brown fringe of her shawl swaying。 She had all the fabled Domani grace； though her high…necked dress was really quite modest。 Domani women were not known for modesty。 〃We did as you manded； but no one saw anybody near Marigan's tent last night。〃
〃Some of the men remembered seeing Halima；〃 Faolain added sourly； with a much briefer bend of her knees； 〃but aside from that； they hardly recalled whether they went to sleep。〃 Many women disapproved of Delana's secretary； but it was her next remark that made Faolain's round face darker than usual。 〃We met Tiana while we were roaming about。 She told us to go to bed and be quick about it。〃 Unconsciously she stroked the blue fringe on her shawl。 New Aes Sedai almost always wore their shawls more often than they needed to； so Siuan said。
Giving them a smile she hoped was weling； Egwene took her place behind the small table。 Carefully； the chair tilted for a moment anyway； until she reached down and pulled the leg straight。 An edge of folded parchment peeked out from beneath the stone inkwell。 Her hands twitched toward it； but she made them be still。 Too many sisters saw little need for courtesy。 She would not be one of those。 Besides； these two had a claim on her。
〃I am sorry for your difficulties； daughters。〃 Made Aes Sedai by her decree on being raised Amyrlin； they faced the same predicament as she； but lacking the added shield of the Amyrlin's stole； small shield that that had proved。 Most sisters behaved as though they were still only Accepted。 What went on inside the Ajahs was seldom known outside； but it was rumored that they truly had had to beg admittance； and that guardians had been named to oversee their behavior。 No one had ever heard the like； but everyone took it for fact。 She had done them no favor。 Another thing that had been necessary； though。 〃I will speak to Tiana。〃 It might do some good。 For a day； or an hour。
〃Thank you； Mother；〃 Theodrin said； 〃but there is no need to bother yourself。〃 Still； she also touched her shawl； hands lingering。 〃Tiana wanted to know why we were up so late；〃 she added after a moment； 〃but we didn't tell her。〃
〃There was no need for secrecy； daughter。〃 A pity they had not found a witness； though。 Moghedien's rescuer would remain a shadow half…glimpsed。 Always the most frightening sort。 She glanced at the tiny corner of parchment； itching to read it。 Maybe Siuan had discovered something。 〃Thank you both。〃 Theodrin recognized a dismissal and made her manners to go； but stopped when Faolain remained where she was。
〃I wish I had held the Oath Rod already；〃 Faolain told Egwene in tones of frustration； 〃so you could know what I say is true。〃
〃This isn't the time to bother the Amyrlin；〃 Theodrin began； then folded her hands and turned her attention to Egwene。 Patience blended with something else on her face。 Clearly the stronger of the two in the Power； she always took the lead； yet this time she was prepared to step back。 In aid of what； Egwene wondered。
〃It isn't the Oath Rod that makes a woman Aes Sedai； daughter。〃 Whatever some believed。 〃Speak the truth to me； and I will believe it。〃
〃I don't like you。〃 Faolain's mop of dark curls swayed as she shook her head for emphasis。 〃You must know that。 You probably think I was mean when you were a novice； when you came back to the White Tower after running away； but I still believe you didn't get half the punishment you should have。 Maybe my admitting it will help you know I speak the truth。 It isn't as though we have no choice even now。 Romanda offered to take us under her protection； and so did Lelaine。 They said they'd see we
