rj.thepathofdaggers-第35章
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of silver appeared as it should； and widened into an opening right alongside the cistern。 An opening no bigger than the one Aviendha had made； and at that； Elayne was grateful it was large enough to fit a horse through。 At the last； she had not been certain it would be。 Gasps rose from the Kinswomen； seeing a view of an upland meadow suddenly standing between them and the familiar gray bulk of the cistern。
〃You should have let me try；〃 Nynaeve said softly。 Softly； but with a sharp point even so。 〃You nearly fubbed it altogether。〃
Aviendha gave Nynaeve a flat look that almost made Elayne grab her arm。 The longer they remained near…sisters； the more she seemed to think she had to defend Elayne's honor； if they did bee first…sisters； Elayne could see having to keep her away from Nynaeve； and Birgitte； pletely！
〃It's done； Nynaeve；〃 she said quickly。 〃That's all that counts。〃 Nynaeve directed a flat look at her and muttered something about the day being prickly； as if Elayne were the one showing her snappish side。
Birgitte was the first through； grinning impudently at Lan； leading her horse with her bow already in her other hand。 Elayne could sense eagerness in her； a touch of satisfaction； perhaps that this time she had the lead instead of Lan … there was always a bit of rivalry between Warders … and a small measure of wariness。 Very small。 Elayne knew that meadow well； Gareth Bryne had taught her to ride not far from there。 About five miles over those first sparsely treed hills lay the manor house of one of her mother's estates。 One of her estates； she had to get used to that。 The seven families who tended the house and its grounds would be the only people for half a day's journey in any direction。
Elayne had chosen that destination because they could reach Caemlyn in two weeks from there。 And because the estate was so isolated； she might be entering Caemlyn before anyone knew she was in Andor。 That could be a very necessary precaution； at various times in Andor's history； rivals for the Rose Crown had been kept as 〃guests〃 until they relinquished their claims。 Her mother had kept two； until she took the throne。 With luck； she could have a solid base established by the time Egwene and the others arrived。
Lan took Mandarb right behind Birgitte's brown gelding； and Nynaeve lurched as if to rush after the black warhorse； then pulled herself up short with a level stare that dared Elayne to say a word。 Fiddling furiously with her reins； she made a visible effort to look anywhere except through the gateway after Lan。 Her lips moved。 After a moment； Elayne realized that she was counting。
〃Nynaeve；〃 she said quietly； 〃we really don't have time for … 〃
〃Move along；〃 Alise called from the rear； the sound of her hands clapping a sharp punctuating crack。 〃No pushing or shoving； now； but I'll have no laggards either！ Move along。〃
Nynaeve's head swung wildly； pained indecision painting her face。 For some reason she touched her wide hat； a few of its blue plumes broken and drooping； before pulling her hand away。 〃Oh； that goat…kissing old。。。！〃 she growled； the rest lost as she dragged her mare through the gateway。 Elayne sniffed。 And Nynaeve had the nerve to speak to anybody about their language！ She wished she could have heard the rest； though； she already knew the first bit。
Alise continued her urging； but there really did not seem to be much need after the first。 Even the Windfinders hurried； glancing worriedly over their shoulders at the sky。 Even Renaile； who mumbled something about Alise that Elayne noted in the back of her head。 Though calling someone 〃a fish…loving scavenger〃 did seem rather mild。 She would have expected the Sea Folk to eat fish all the time。
Alise herself brought up the very rear； except for the remaining Warders； as if to herd even the packhorses along。 She paused long enough to hand Elayne her green…plumed hat。 〃You'll want to keep the sun off that sweet face of yours；〃 she said with a smile。 〃Such a pretty girl。 No need to turn to leather before your time。〃
Aviendha； sitting on the ground nearby； fell over backward and kicked her heels laughing。
〃I think I'll ask her to find you a hat。 With lots of plumes； and big bows；〃 Elayne said in dulcet tones before quickly following the Kinswoman。 That certainly cut off Aviendha's laughter。
The gently rolling meadow was broad and nearly a mile long； surrounded by hills taller than those she had left behind； and by trees she knew； oak and pine and blackwood； sourgum and leatherleaf and fir； thick forest with good； tall timber to south and west and east； though there might not be any cutting this year。 Most of the more scattered trees to the north； toward the manor； were better suited for firewood。 Small gray boulders dotted the thick brown grass here and there； and not even a withered stalk marked the death of a wildflower。 That was not so different from the south。
For once Nynaeve was not peering at the surrounding countryside trying to find Lan。 He and Birgitte would not be gone long anyway； not here。 Instead she strode briskly among the horses； ordering people to mount in a loud； manding voice； chivvying the servants with the pack animals； curtly telling some of the Kinswomen who had no horses that any child could walk five miles； shouting at a slender Altaran noblewoman with a scar on her cheek and carrying a bundle nearly as big as herself that if she had been fool enough to bring all of her dresses then she could carry them。 Alise had gathered the Atha'an Miere around her and was instructing them on how to mount a horse。 For a wonder； they actually appeared to be paying attention。 Nynaeve glanced her way and seemed pleased to see Alise standing in one spot。 Until Alise smiled encouragingly and motioned her to go on with what she was doing。
For an instant Nynaeve stood stock…still； staring at the woman。 Then she came striding through the grass to Elayne。 Reaching up to her hat with both hands； she hesitated； glowering up at it her through her lashes before giving it a twitch straight。 〃I'll just let her take care of everything this time；〃 she said in a suspiciously reasonable tone。 〃We'll just see how well she does with those。。。 Sea Folk。 Yes； we will。〃 Too reasonable a tone by half。 Abruptly she frowned at the still…open gateway。 〃Why are you holding it？ Let go。〃 Aviendha was frowning； too。
Elayne drew a deep breath。 She had thought about this； and there was no other way； but Nynaeve would try to argue her out of it； and there no time for arguing。 Through the gateway； the farmyard stood empty； even the chickens finally frightened away by the hubbub； yet how long before it filled up again？ She studied her weave； melded together so snugly that only a few threads remained distinct。 She could see every flow； of course； but except for those few； they appeared inseparably bined。 〃Take everyone to the manor house； Nynaeve；〃 she said。 The sun did not have very much farther to fall； perhaps two hours of light remained。 〃Master Hornwell will be surprised at so many visitors arriving at dark； but tell him you're guests of the girl who cried over the redbird with the broken wing； he'll remember that。 I will be along as soon as I can。〃
〃Elayne；〃 Aviendha began in a surprisingly anxious voice； and at the same time； Nynaeve said sharply； 〃Just what do you think you're … 〃
There was only one way to stop it。 Elayne plucked one of the discernible threads free of the weave； it wavered and flailed like a living tentacle； it fuzzed and spluttered； tiny fluffs of saidar breaking off and fading away。 She had not noticed that when Aviendha unmade her weave； but she had only seen the tail of that； really。 〃Go on；〃 she told Nynaeve。 〃I'll wait for the rest until you are all out of sight。〃 Nynaeve stared out； her jaw hanging。 〃It has to be done；〃 Elayne sighed。 〃The Seanchan will be at the farm in hours； for sure。 Even if they wait until tomorrow； what if one of the damane has the Talent to read residues？ Nynaeve； I won't give Traveling to the Seanchan。 I won't！〃
Nynaeve growled something under her breath about the Seanchan that must have been par
