rj.thepathofdaggers-第11章
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ckily； Teslyn Baradon took the encounter little better。
The sharp…faced woman recoiled in surprise； gaping before she could stop herself； then shifting her narrow shoulders irritably。 Gaunt cheeks and a narrow nose hid the ageless quality of the Red sister's features； and her red dress； brocaded in a blue that was nearly black； only made her appear bonier； yet she quickly gathered a clan roofmistress's self…possession； dark brown eyes as cool as deep shadows。 They slid past Aviendha dismissively； ignoring Lan like a tool she had no use for； burned a brief moment at Birgitte。 Most Aes Sedai disapproved of Birgitte being a Warder； though none could give a reason beyond sour mutters about tradition。 Elayne and Nynaeve； however； the woman fixed by turns。 Aviendha could have tracked yesterday's wind before reading anything on Teslyn Baradon's face now。
〃I did already tell Merilille；〃 she said in a thick Illianer accent； 〃but I may as well put your minds at rest； also。 Whatever。。。 mischief。。。 you do be about； Joline and I will no interfere。 I did see to that。 Elaida may never learn of it； if you do have some care。 Stop gaping at me like carp； children；〃 she added with a grimace of distaste。 〃I be neither blind nor deaf。 I do know of Sea Folk Windfinders in the palace； and secret meetings with Queen Tylin。 And other things。〃 That thin mouth tightened； and though her tone remained serene； her dark gaze flared with anger。 〃You will pay dearly yet for those other things； you and those who do allow you to play at being Aes Sedai； but I will look aside for now。 Atonement can wait。〃
Nynaeve took a tight grip on her braid； back straight； head high； and her own eyes blazed。 Under different circumstances Aviendha might have found some sympathy for the target of the tongue…lashing plainly about to erupt。 Nynaeve's tongue carried more spines than a hair…needle segade； and sharper ones。 Coldly； Aviendha considered this woman who thought she could look fight through her。 A Wise One did not stoop to thrashing someone with her fists； but she was still only an apprentice； perhaps it would not cost her ji if she just bruised this Teslyn Baradon a little。 She opened her mouth to give the Red sister a chance to defend herself at the same instant Nynaeve opened hers； yet Elayne spoke first。
〃What we are about； Teslyn；〃 she said in a chill voice； 〃is none of your business。〃 She； too； stood straight； her eyes blue ice； a chance ray of light from a high window caught her golden…red curls； seeming to set them afire。 Right then； Elayne could have made a roofmistress seem a goatherd with too much oosquai in her belly。 It was a skill she honed well。 She delivered each word with cold crystal dignity。 〃You have no right to interfere in anything we do； in anything that any sister does。 No right whatsoever。 So pull your nose out of our coats； you summer ham； and be glad we do not choose to take issue with you supporting a usurper on the Amyrlin Seat。〃
Perplexed； Aviendha glanced sideways at her near…sister。 Pull her nose out of their coats？ She and Elayne； at least； were not wearing coats。 A summer ham？ What did that mean？ Wetlanders often said peculiar things； but the other women all looked as puzzled as she。 Only Lan； staring at Elayne askance； appeared to understand； and he seemed。。。 startled。 And perhaps amused。 It was difficult to tell； Aan'allein controlled his features well。
Teslyn Baradon sniffed； pinching her face even tighter。 Aviendha was trying hard to call these people by only part of their names the way they themselves did … when she used a whole name； they thought she was upset！ … but she could not begin to imagine being so intimate with Teslyn Baradon。 〃I will leave you foolish children to your business；〃 the woman growled。 〃Be sure you do no get your noses caught in a worse crack than they already do be。〃
As she turned to go； gathering her skirts grandly； Nynaeve caught her arm。 Wetlanders usually let emotion gild their faces； and Nynaeve's was the image of conflict； anger struggling to break through fixed determination。 〃Wait； Teslyn；〃 she said reluctantly。 〃You and Joline may be in danger。 I told Tylin； but I think she may be afraid to tell anyone else。 Unwilling； anyway。 It's nothing anybody really wants to talk about。〃 She drew a long； deep breath； and if she was thinking of her own fears in the matter； she had cause。 There was no shame in feeling fear； only in giving way to it； or letting it show。 Aviendha felt a flutter in her own belly as Nynaeve went on。 〃Moghedien has been here in Ebou Dar。 She might still be。 And maybe another of the Forsaken； too。 With a gholam； a kind of Shadowspawn the Power won't touch。 It looks like a man； but it was made； and made to kill Aes Sedai。 Steel doesn't seem to hurt it either； and it can squeeze through a mousehole。 The Black Ajah is here； as well。 And there's a storm ing； a bad storm。 Only it isn't a storm； not weather。 I can feel it； that's a skill I have； a Talent； maybe。 There's danger headed for Ebou Dar； and trouble worse than any wind or rain or lightning。〃
〃The Forsaken； a storm that is no a storm； and some Shadowspawn I did never hear of before；〃 Teslyn Baradon said wryly。 〃Not to mention the Black Ajah。 Light！ The Black Ajah！ And the Dark One himself； perhaps？〃 Her twisted smile was razor thin。 She plucked Nynaeve's hand from her sleeve contemptuously。 〃When you do be back in the White Tower where you belong； in white as you all truly belong； you will learn no to waste your hours with wild fancies。 Or to carry your tales to sisters。〃 Running her eyes over them； and once more skipping past Aviendha； she gave a loud sniff and marched off down the hallway so quickly that servants had to leap from her path。
〃That woman has the nerve to。。。！〃 Nynaeve spluttered； glaring after the retreating woman and strangling her braid with both hands。 〃After I made myself。。。！〃 She almost choked on her spleen。 〃Well； I tried。〃 And now regretted the attempt； by the sound。
〃You did；〃 Elayne agreed with a sharp nod； 〃and more than she deserves。 Denying that we're Aes Sedai！ I won't put up with that anymore！ I won't！〃 Her voice had only seemed cold before； now it was cold； and grim。
〃Can one like that be trusted？〃 Aviendha muttered。 〃Maybe we should be sure she cannot interfere。〃 She examined her fist； Teslyn Baradon would see that。 The woman deserved to be caught by the Shadowsouled； by Moghedien or another。 Fools deserved whatever their foolishness brought。
Nynaeve appeared to consider the suggestion； but what she said was 〃If I didn't know better； I'd think she was ready to turn on Elaida。〃 She clicked her tongue in exasperation。
〃You can dizzy yourself trying to read the currents in Aes Sedai politics。〃 Elayne did not say Nynaeve should know that by now； but her tone did。 〃Even a Red might be turning against Elaida； for some reason we can't begin to imagine。 Or she could be trying to make us lower our guard； so she can somehow trick us into putting ourselves into Elaida's hands。 Or … 〃
Lan coughed。 〃If any of the Forsaken are ing；〃 he said in a voice like polished stone； 〃they could be here any moment。 Or that gholam could。 In either case； it would be best to be elsewhere。〃
〃With Aes Sedai； always a little patience；〃 Birgitte murmured as though quoting。 〃But the Windfinders don't seem to have any；〃 she continued； 〃so you might do well to forget Teslyn and remember Renaile。〃
Elayne and Nynaeve turned stares on the Warders cold enough to give ten Stone Dogs pause。 Neither liked running from the Shadowsouled and this gholam； for all they were the ones who had decided there was no choice。 Certainly neither liked being reminded that they needed to run to meet the Windfinders almost as much as to escape the Forsaken。 Aviendha would have studied those looks … Wise Ones did with a glance or a few words what she had always needed the threat of spear or fist for； only they usually did it faster and with more success … she would have studied Elayne and Nynaeve； except that their glares had no visible effect on the pair at all。 Birgitte grinned and cut her eyes toward Lan； who shrugged back at her with obvious
