rj.acrownofswords-第64章
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gnity be hanged。 Varilin and Takima glared at one another like two maidservants supporting their mistresses； a long…legged wading bird in a scowling match with a wren。 The whole lot of them seemed to have forgotten Egwene entirely。
Siuan came running up in a broad straw hat； leading a fat dun mare with white…stockinged hind legs； and skidded to a halt when she saw the warded gathering。 One of the grooms was with her； a lanky fellow in a long； frayed vest and a patched shirt； holding the reins of a tall roan。 The wards were invisible to him； but saidar did not hide the faces。 His eyes went very wide； and he began licking his lips。 For that matter； passersby walked wide around the tent and pretended to see nothing； Aes Sedai； Warders and servants alike。 Bryne alone frowned and studied them as though wondering what was hidden from his ears。 Myrelle was retying her saddlebags； plainly on the point of leaving。
〃When you have decided what I should say；〃 Egwene announced； 〃then I can decide what to do。〃 They really had forgotten her。 All four stared at her in amazement as she walked between Romanda and Lelaine and out through the doubled wards。 There was nothing to feel as she brushed by the weave； of course； they had never been made to stop anything as solid as a human body。
When she scrambled onto the roan； Myrelle drew a deep breath and emulated her in resignation。 The wards had vanished； though the glow still enveloped the two Sitters； each more the image of frustration than the other as they stood watching。 Hurriedly Egwene donned the thin linen dust…cloak that had been draped in front of her gelding's saddle； and the riding gloves that were tucked into a small pocket in the cloak。 A wide…brimmed hat hung from the saddle's high pommel； deep blue to match her dress； with a spray of white plumes pinned slanting across the front that shouted of Chesa's hand。 Heat she could ignore； but the glare of the sun was another matter。 Removing plumes and pin； she tucked them into the saddlebags； put the hat on her head and tied the ribbons beneath her chin。
〃Shall we go； Mother？〃 Bryne asked。 He was already mounted； the helmet that had been hanging from his saddle now obscuring his face behind steel bars。 It looked quite natural on him； as though he had been born for armor。
She nodded。 There was no attempt to stop them。 Lelaine would not stoop to shouting halt in public； of course； but Romanda。。。 Egwene felt a sense of relief as they rode away； yet her head seemed to be splitting。 What was she to do about Delana？ What could she do？
The main road in this area； a wide stretch of dirt packed so hard nothing could raise dust from it； ran through the army's camp and along the gap between that and the Aes Sedai's。 Bryne angled across it； through the rest of the army on the other side。
Although the army camp held thirty times or more as many people as the Aes Sedai camp； there seemed to be few more tents than for the sisters and those who served them； all scattered out across the flats and up the hillsides。 Most of the soldiers slept in the open。 But then； it was hard to remember the last time rain had fallen； and there certainly was not a cloud to be seen。 Strangely； there were more women than in the sisters' camp； though they seemed fewer at first glance； among so many men。 Cooks tended kettles and laundresses attacked great heaps of clothing； while some worked with the horses or wagons。 A fair number appeared to be wives； at least； they sat about knitting or darning dresses or shirts or stirring small cookpots。 Armorers had set up almost anywhere she looked； hammers making steel ring on their anvils； and fletchers adding arrows to bundles by their feet； and farriers checking horses。 Wagons of every sort and size stood everywhere； hundreds； perhaps thousands； the army seemed to scoop up every one it found along its path。 Most of the foragers were already out； but a few high…wheeled carts and lumbering wagons still trundled away in search of farms and villages。 Here and there soldiers raised a cheer as they rode by。 〃Lord Bryne！〃 and 〃The Bull！ The Bull！〃 That was his sigil。 Nothing about Aes Sedai or the Amyrlin Seat。
Egwene twisted around in her saddle to make sure Myrelle was still close behind。 She was； letting her horse follow on its own； a far…off； slightly sickly expression on her face。 Siuan had taken a position at the rear； shepherd to their lone sheep。 Then again； she might just have been afraid to urge her mount ahead。 The dun was positively a butterball； but Siuan would probably treat a pony like a warhorse。
Egwene felt a stab of irritation at her own animal。 His name was Daishar； Glory； in the Old Tongue。 She would much rather be riding Bela； a shaggy little mare not much slimmer than Siuan's dun that she had ridden out of the Two Rivers。 Sometimes she thought she must look a doll； perched atop a gelding that could be taken for a warhorse； but the Amyrlin had to have a proper mount。 No shaggy cart horses。 Even if this rule was of her own making； she felt as confined as a novice。
Turning in the saddle； she said； 〃Do you expect any opposition ahead； Lord Bryne？〃
He glanced at her sideways。 She had asked the same once before leaving Salidar and twice while crossing Altara。 Not enough to rouse suspicions； she thought。
〃Murandy is like Altara； Mother。 Neighbor too busy scheming against neighbor； or outright fighting him； to band together for anything short of a war； and not to any great degree then。〃 His tone was very dry。 He had been Captain…General of the Queen's Guards in Andor； with years of border skirmishes against the Murandians behind him。 〃Andor will be another matter； I fear。 I am not looking forward to that。〃 He turned another way； climbing a gentle slope to avoid three wagons rumbling over rocks in the same direction。
Egwene tried not to grimace。 Andor。 Before； he had just said no。 These were the tail end of the Cumbar Hills； somewhat south of Lugard； the capital of Murandy。 Even if they were lucky； the border of Andor lay at least ten days ahead。
〃And when we reach Tar Valon； Lord Bryne。 How do you plan to take the city？〃
〃No one has asked me that yet； Mother。〃 She had only thought his voice was dry before； now it was dry。 〃By the time we reach Tar Valon； the Light willing； I'll have two or three times as many men as I do now。〃 Egwene winced at the idea of paying so many soldiers； he did not seem to notice。 〃With that； I will lay siege。 The hardest part will be finding ships； and sinking them to block Northharbor and Southharbor。 The harbors are as much the key as holding the bridge towns； Mother。 Tar Valon is larger than Cairhien and Caemlyn together。 Once food stops going in。。。 〃 He shrugged。 〃Most of soldiering is waiting； when it isn't marching。〃
〃And if you don't have that many soldiers？〃 She had never thought of all those people going hungry； women and children。 She had never really thought of anyone being involved except the Aes Sedai； and the soldiers。 How could she have been so foolish？ She had seen the results of war in Cairhien。 Bryne seemed to take it so lightly。 But then； he was a soldier； privation and death must be everyday to soldiers。 〃What if you only have。。。 say。。。 what you do now？〃
〃Siege？〃 Apparently some of what they had been saying had finally broken into whatever Myrelle was thinking。 She booted the sorrel forward； making a number of men jump aside； some falling on their faces。 A few opened their mouths angrily； then saw her ageless features and shut their jaws again； glowering。 They might as well not have existed for all of her。 〃Artur Hawkwing besieged Tar Valon for twenty years and failed。〃 Abruptly she realized ears were about and lowered her voice； but it was still acid。 〃Do you expect us to wait twenty years？〃
That acid washed over Gareth Bryne without leaving a stain。 〃Would you prefer a direct assault right off； Myrelle Sedai？〃 He could have been asking whether she wanted her tea sweet or bitter。 〃Several of Hawkwing's generals tried； and their men were slaughtered。 No army has ever managed to breach Tar Valon's walls。〃
That was not strictly true； Egwene knew。 In the Troll
