rj.acrownofswords-第67章
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she resisted the urge to twist around in her saddle and look back。 Looking would change nothing。
Lord Bryne was as good as his word。 Perhaps three or four miles from the camp … three or four in a straight line； twice that over the country they had crossed … they rounded the shoulder of a hill spotted with brush and trees； and he drew rein。 The sun stood almost halfway to its crest； now。 Another road ran below； narrower and much more winding than the one through the camp。 〃They had the idea traveling by night would take them safe past the bandits；〃 he said。 〃Not a bad notion； as it turns out； or else they've just had the Dark One's own luck。 They've e from Caemlyn。〃
A merchant train of some fifty large wagons behind teams of ten or so lay stretched out along the road； halted under the eyes of more of Bryne's soldiers。 A few of the soldiers were afoot； supervising the transfer of barrels and bags from the merchants' wagons to half a dozen of their own。 One woman in a plain dark dress waved her arms and pointed vigorously to this item or that； either protesting or bargaining； but her fellows stood in a glum silent knot。 A short way farther up the road； grim fruit decorated the spreading limbs of an oak； men hanging by the neck from every bare branch。 Bare except for crows； almost enough to make the tree seem leafed in black。 They had larger than fish to feed on； these birds。 Even at a distance it was not a sight to ease Egwene's head； or her stomach。
〃This what you wanted me to see？ The merchants； or the bandits？〃 She could hot see a dress on any of those dangling corpses； and when the bandits hanged people； they included women and children。 Anyone could have put the corpses there； Bryne's soldiers； the Band … that the Band hanged any of the so…called Dragonsworn they caught made little difference to the sisters … or even some local lord or lady。 Had the Murandian nobles worked together； all the brigands might have hung from trees by now； but that was like asking cats to dance。 Wait。 He had said Caemlyn。 〃Is it something to do with Rand？ Or the Asha'man？〃
This time he looked from her to Myrelle and back quite openly。 Myrelle's hat cast shadows on her face。 She appeared sunk in gloom； sagging in her saddle and not at all the confident rider she had been earlier。 He seemed to reach a decision。 〃I thought you should hear before anybody else did； but perhaps I misunderstood。。。 〃 He eyed Myrelle again。
〃Hear what； you hairy…eared lump？〃 Siuan growled； thumping the fat mare closer with her heels。
Egwene made a soothing gesture toward her。 〃Myrelle can hear anything I do； Lord Bryne。 She has my plete trust。〃 The Green sister's head jerked around。 From her stricken look； anyone would doubt they had heard Egwene correctly； but after a moment Bryne nodded。
〃I see that matters have。。。 changed。 Yes； Mother。〃 Removing his helmet； he set it on the pommel of his saddle。 He still seemed reluctant； picking his words with care。 〃Merchants carry rumors the way dogs do fleas； and that lot down there has a fine crop。 I don't say any of it is true； of course； but。。。 〃 It was odd； seeing him so hesitant。 〃Mother； one tale that caught them up on the road is that Rand al'Thor has gone to the White Tower and sworn fealty to Elaida。〃
For a moment Myrelle and Siuan looked much alike； blood draining from their faces as they envisioned catastrophe。 Myrelle actually swayed in her saddle。 For a moment Egwene could only stare at him。 Then she startled herself； and the others； by bursting out laughing。 Daishar danced in surprise； and settling him on the rocky slope settled her nerves as well。 〃Lord Bryne；〃 she said； patting the gelding's neck； 〃that isn't so； believe me。 I know it for a fact； as of last night。〃
Siuan heaved an instant sigh； and Myrelle was only a heartbeat behind。 Egwene felt like laughing again； at their expressions。 So incredibly relieved they were wide…eyed。 Children who had been told the Shadowman was not under the bed。 Aes Sedai calm indeed。
〃That's good to hear；〃 Bryne said flatly； 〃but even if I sent away every man down there； the tale will still reach my ranks。 It will go through the army like wildfire crossing these hills。〃 That cut her mirth short。 That could be disaster； left alone。
〃I will have sisters announce the truth to your soldiers tomorrow。 Will six Aes Sedai who know of themselves be enough？ Myrelle； here； and Sheriam。 Carlinya and Beonin； Anaiya and Morvrin。〃 Those sisters would not like having to meet with the Wise Ones； but they would not be able to refuse her； either。 Would not want to； really； to stop this tale spreading。 Should not want to； at least。 Myrelle's tiny wince was followed by a resigned twist of her mouth。
Leaning an elbow on his helmet； Bryne studied Egwene and Myrelle。 He never so much as peeked at Siuan。 His bay stamped a hoof on the rocks； and a covey of some sort of dove with bright blue wings whirred into the air from beneath bushes a few paces away； making Daishar and Myrelle's roan start skittishly。 Bryne's mount did not stir。 He had heard of the gateways； without doubt； though he surely knew nothing of what they were … Aes Sedai did keep secrets by habit； and had some hope of keeping that one from Elaida … and he certainly knew nothing at all about Tel'aran'rhiod … that vital secret was easier to guard with no manifestations anyone could see … yet he did not ask how。 Perhaps he was accustomed to Aes Sedai and secrets by now。
〃So long as they say the words straight；〃 he said at last。 〃If they hedge even a hair。。。 〃 His stare was not an attempt to intimidate； just to drive the point home。 He seemed satisfied by what he saw in her face。 〃You do very well； it appears； Mother。 I wish you continued success。 Set your time for this afternoon； and I will e。 We should confer regularly。 I will e whenever you send for me。 We should begin making firm plans how to put you on the Amyrlin Seat once we reach Tar Valon。〃
His tone was guarded … very likely he still was not entirely sure what was going on； or how far he could trust Myrelle … and it took her a moment to realize what he had done。 It made her breath catch。 Maybe she was just being too used to the way Aes Sedai shaded words； but。。。 Bryne had just said the army was hers。 She was sure of it。 Not the Hall's； and not Sheriam's； hers。
〃Thank you； Lord Bryne。〃 That seemed little enough； especially when his careful nod； his eyes steady on hers； seemed to confirm her belief。 Suddenly she had a thousand more questions。 Most of which she could not ask even were they alone。 A pity she could not take him into her confidence pletely。 Caution until you're sure； and then a little more caution。 An old saying that applied very well to any dealings that brushed against Aes Sedai。 And even the best men would talk things over with their friends； perhaps especially when things were supposed to be secret。 〃I'm sure you have a thousand details to see to； what's left of the morning；〃 she said； gathering her reins。 〃You go on back。 We will ride a little more。〃
Bryne protested； of course。 He almost sounded like a Warder； talking of the impossibility of watching every way at once and how an arrow in the back could kill an Aes Sedai as quickly as it could anyone else。 The next man who told her that； she decided； was going to pay for it。 Three Aes Sedai were surely the equal of three hundred men。 In the end； for all his grumbles and grimaces； he had no choice but to obey。 Donning his helmet； he started his horse down the uneven slope toward the merchant train； instead of back the way they had e； but that was even better from her point of view。
〃Will you lead the way； Siuan；〃 she said when he was a dozen strides below。
Siuan glared after him as though he had been badgering her the whole time。 With a snort； she tugged her straw hat straight； wheeled her mare around … well； dragged her around … and heeled the stout animal to a walk。 Egwene motioned Myrelle to follow。 Like Bryne； the woman had no choice。
At first Myrelle directed sidelong glances at her； plainly expecting her to bring up the sisters sent to the White Tower； plainly gathering excuses for why they had
