rj.thepathofdaggers-第13章

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lines　of　those　dresses　should　have　been　enough。　Most　of　these　women　showed　at　least　a　few　lines　on　their　cheeks；　yet　they　looked　like　girls　caught　with　their　hands　full　of　stolen　nutbread。　All　but　stout　Sumeko；　fists　planted　on　broad　hips；　who　met　the　Aes　Sedai　stare　for　stare。　A　bright　glow　of　saidar　surrounded　one　of　their　number；　Kirstian；　who　kept　glancing　over　her　shoulder。　With　a　pale　face　perhaps　ten　years　older　than　Nynaeve's；　she　appeared　out　of　place　among　the　others。　That　face　grew　whiter　every　time　her　black　eyes　met　those　of　an　Aes　Sedai。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　hurried　to　the　women　who　led　the　Kin；　her　face　beaming　encouragement；　and　Reanne　and　the　others　smiled　with　visible　relief。　Marred　a　little；　true；　by　the　sidelong　glances　they　directed　at　Lan；　him　they　regarded　as　the　wolf　he　resembled。　Nynaeve；　however；　was　the　reason　Sumeko　did　not　wilt　like　the　rest　whenever　an　Aes　Sedai　glanced　in　her　direction。　She　had　vowed　to　teach　those　women　that　they　possessed　backbones；　though　Aviendha　did　not　pletely　understand　why。　Nynaeve　was　Aes　Sedai　herself；　no　Wise　One　would　ever　tell　anyone　to　stand　up　to　Wise　Ones。
　　　　　　　However　well　that　might　be　working　with　respect　to　the　other　Aes　Sedai；　even　Sumeko　wore　a　slightly　fawning　air　for　Nynaeve。　The　Knitting　Circle　found　it　strange；　to　say　the　least；　that　women　as　young　as　Elayne　and　Nynaeve　gave　orders　to　the　other　Aes　Sedai　and　were　obeyed。　Aviendha　herself　found　it　peculiar；　how　could　strength　in　the　Power；　something　you　were　born　with　as　surely　as　your　eyes；　weigh　more　heavily　than　the　honor　that　years　could　bring？　Yet　the　older　Aes　Sedai　did　obey；　and　for　the　Kinswomen；　that　was　enough。　Ieine；　nearly　as　tall　as　Aviendha　herself　and　almost　as　dark　as　the　Sea　Folk；　returned　Nynaeve's　every　glance　with　an　obsequious　smile；　while　Dimana；　white　streaking　her　bright　red　hair；　ducked　her　head　constantly　under　Nynaeve's　eyes；　and　yellow…haired　Sibella　hid　nervous　giggles　behind　a　hand。　Despite　their　Ebou　Dari　garments；　only　Tamarla；　lean　and　olive…skinned；　was　Altaran；　and　not　even　from　the　city。
　　　　　　　They　parted　as　soon　as　Nynaeve　came　close；　revealing　a　woman　on　her　knees；　wrists　bound　behind　her；　a　leather　sack　covering　her　head；　and　her　fine　clothes　torn　and　dusty。　She　was　as　much　the　reason　for　their　uneasiness　as　Merilille's　frowns　or　the　Forsaken。　Perhaps　more。
　　　　　　　Tamarla　dragged　the　hood　off；　leaving　the　woman's　thin；　bead…studded　braids　tangled；　Ispan　Shefar　tried　to　rise；　and　managed　to　reach　an　awkward　crouch　before　she　staggered　and　sank　back　down；　blinking　and　giggling　foolishly。　Sweat　ran　down　her　cheeks；　and　a　few　bruises　from　her　capture　marred　her　ageless　features。　She　had　been　treated　too　gently　for　her　crimes；　to　Aviendha's　mind。
　　　　　　　The　herbs　Nynaeve　had　forced　down　the　woman's　throat　still　fogged　her　wits　as　well　as　weakening　her　knees；　but　Kirstian　held　a　shield　on　her　with　every　shred　of　the　Power　she　could　summon。　There　was　no　chance　the　Shadowrunner　might　escape　…　even　had　she　not　been　dosed；　Kirstian　was　as　strong　in　the　Power　as　Reanne；　stronger　than　most　Aes　Sedai　Aviendha　had　met　…　yet　even　Sumeko　plucked　her　skirts　nervously　and　avoided　looking　at　the　kneeling　woman。
　　　　　　　〃Surely　the　sisters　should　have　her；　now。〃　Reanne's　high…pitched　voice　carried；　unsteady　enough　to　belong　to　the　Black　sister　Kirstian　shielded。　〃Nynaeve　Sedai；　we。。。　we　should　not　be　guar　…　uh　…　in　charge　of。。。　an　Aes　Sedai。〃
　　　　　　　〃That's　right；〃　Sumeko　put　in　quickly。　And　anxiously。　〃The　Aes　Sedai　should　have　her；　now。〃　Sibella　echoed　her；　and　nods　and　murmurs　of　agreement　rippled　through　the　Kinswomen。　They　believed　in　their　bones　that　they　stood　far　below　Aes　Sedai；　very　likely　they　would　have　chosen　guarding　Trollocs　over　holding　an　Aes　Sedai。
　　　　　　　The　disapproving　stares　from　Merilille　and　the　other　sisters　changed　once　Ispan　Shefar's　face　was　revealed。　Sareitha　Tomares；　who　had　worn　her　brown…fringed　shawl　only　a　few　years　and　still　did　not　have　the　ageless　appearance；　glared　with　a　disgust　that　should　have　flayed　the　Shadowrunner　at　fifty　paces。　Adeleas　and　Vandene；　hands　tightening　on　their　skirts；　appeared　to　struggle　with　hatred　for　the　woman　who　had　been　their　sister　and　betrayed　them。　Yet　the　stares　they　gave　the　Knitting　Circle　were　not　that　much　better。　They；　too；　knew　in　their　hearts　that　the　Kin　stood　a　very　long　way　below　them。　There　was　much　more　to　it　than　that；　but　the　betrayer　had　been　one　of　their　own；　and　no　one　but　they　had　the　right　to　her。　Aviendha　agreed。　A　Maiden　who　betrayed　her　spear…sisters　did　not　die　quickly　or　unshamed。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　pulled　the　sack　back　down　over　Ispan　Shefar's　head　with　some　force。　〃You've　done　well　so　far；　and　you'll　continue　to　do　well；〃　she　told　the　Kinswomen　firmly。　〃If　she　shows　signs　of　ing　round；　pour　some　more　of　that　mixture　down　her。　It'll　keep　her　giddy　as　a　goat　full　of　ale。　Hold　her　nose；　if　she　tries　not　to　swallow。　Even　an　Aes　Sedai　will　swallow　if　you　hold　her　nose　and　threaten　to　box　her　ears。〃
　　　　　　　Reanne's　jaw　dropped　and　her　eyes　sprang　wide；　like　most　of　her　panions'。　Sumeko　nodded；　but　slowly；　and　goggled　nearly　as　much　as　the　others。　When　Kinswomen　said　Aes　Sedai；　they　might　have　been　naming　the　Creator。　The　thought　of　holding　an　Aes　Sedai's　nose；　even　a　Shadowrunner's；　painted　their　faces　with　horror。
　　　　　　　By　the　popping　eyes　among　the　Aes　Sedai；　they　liked　the　notion　even　less。　Merilille　opened　her　mouth；　staring　at　Nynaeve；　but　just　then　Elayne　reached　her；　and　the　Gray　sister　rounded　on　her　instead；　sparing　barely　a　single　disapproving　frown　for　Brigitte。　It　was　a　measure　of　her　agitation　that　her　voice　rose　rather　than　dropping；　normally　Merilille　was　very　discreet。　〃Elayne；　you　must　speak　to　Nynaeve。　Those　women　are　confused　and　frightened　out　of　their　wits　already。　It　won't　help　if　she　upsets　them　even　more。　If　the　Amyrlin　Seat　really　does　intend　to　allow　them　to　go　to　the　Tower；〃　she　shook　her　head　slowly；　trying　to　deny　that；　and　perhaps　a　great　deal　else；　〃if　she　does　mean　to；　they　must　have　a　clear　picture　of　their　places；　and　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Amyrlin　does；〃　Elayne　cut　her　off。　From　Nynaeve；　a　firm　tone　was　a　fist　shaken　under　your　nose；　from　Elayne；　it　was　calm　certainty。　〃They　will　have　their　chance　to　try　again；　and　if　they　fail；　they　still　will　not　be　sent　away。　No　woman　who　can　channel　will　be　cut　off　from　the　Tower　again。　They　will　all　be　a　part　of　the　White　Tower。〃
　　　　　　　Fingering　her　belt　knife　idly；　Aviendha　wondered　about　that。　Egwene；　Elayne's　Amyrlin　Seat；　said　much　the　same。　She　was　a　friend；　too；　but　she　had　wrapped　her　heart　around　being　Aes　Sedai。　Aviendha　herself　did　not　want　to　be　part　of　the　White　Tower。　She　very　much　doubted　that　Sorilea　or　any　other　Wise　One　did；　either。
　　　　　　　Merilille　sighed　and　folded　her　hands；　yet　for　all　her　outward　acceptance；　she　still　forgot　to　lower　her　voice。　〃As　you　say；　Elayne。　But　about　Ispan。　We　simply　cannot　allow　…　〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　raised　a　hand　sharply。　mand　replaced　mere　certainty。　〃Cease；　Merilille。　You　have　the　Bowl　of　the　Winds　to　watch。　That　is　enough　for　anyone。　It　will　be　enough　for　you。〃
　　　　　　　Merilille　opened　her　mouth；　then　closed　it　again　and　bowed　her　head　slightly　in　acquiescence。　Under　Elayne's　steady　gaze；　the　other　Aes　Sedai　bent　theirs；　too。　If　some　displayed　reluctance；　however　small；　not　all　did。　Sareitha　hurriedly　picked　up　the　disc…shaped　bundle；　wrapped　in　layers　of　white　silk；　that　had　been　lying　by　her　feet。　Her　arms　barely　went　all　the　way　around　as　she　held　the　Bowl　of　the　Winds　to　her　bosom；　smiling　anxiously　at　Elayne　as　if　to　show　that　she　really　was　keeping　a　close　eye　on　it。
　　　　　　　The　Sea　Folk　women　stared　hungrily　at　the　bundle；　almost　leaning　forward。　Aviendha　would　not　have　been　surprised　to　see　them　leap　across　the　stones　to　seize　the　Bowl。　The　Aes　Sedai　saw　the　same；　plainly。　Sareitha　clutched　the　white　parcel　more　tightly；　and　Merilille　actually　stepped　between　her　and　the　Atha'an　Miere。　Smooth　Aes　Sedai　faces　tightened　with　the　effort　of　remaining　expressionless。　They　believed　the　Bowl　should　belong　to　them；　all　things　that　used　or　manipulated　the　One　Power　belonged　to　the　White　Tower　in　their　eyes；　no　matter　who　happened　to　possess　them　at　the　moment。　But　there　was　the　bargai