rj.thepathofdaggers-第72章
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a sister Healed him。 The wounds no one could Heal are still there。 He leaps about； Traveling； but he's still in the south。 Somewhere in Illian； I think； but at this distance； he could be in Tear for all I know。 He's full of rage； and pain； and suspicion。 There isn't any more； Cadsuane。 There isn't！〃
Careful of the silver pitcher's heat； Cadsuane poured a cup of tea； testing the thin green porcelain cup for warmth。 As might have been expected in silver； the tea had cooled quickly。 Channeling briefly； she heated it again。 The dark tea tasted too much of mint； Cairhienin used mint entirely too freely in her opinion。 She did not offer a cup to Alanna。 Traveling。 How could the boy have rediscovered what had been lost to the White Tower since the Breaking？ 〃You will keep me fully informed； however； won't you； Alanna。〃 That was not a question。 〃Look at me； woman！ If you dream of him； I want every detail！〃
Unshed tears glistened in Alanna's eyes。 〃In my place； you would have done the same！〃
Cadsuane scowled over the cup at her。 She might have。 There was no difference between what Alanna had done and a man forcing himself on a woman； but； the Light help her； she might have； had she believed it would help her reach her goal。 Now； she no longer considered even making Alanna pass the bond to her。 Alanna had proved how useless that was in controlling him。
〃Do not keep me waiting； Alanna；〃 she said in an icy tone。 She had no sympathy for the other woman。 Alanna was another in a line of sisters； from Moiraine to Elaida； who had bungled and worsened what they should have been mending。 While she herself had been off chasing first Logain Ablar and then Mazrim Taim。 Which did not soothe her mood。
〃I will keep you fully informed；〃 Alanna sighed； pouting like a girl。 Cadsuane itched to slap her。 Alanna had worn the shawl almost forty years； she should have grown up more than this。 Of course； she was Arafellin。 In Far Madding； few girls of twenty sulked and pouted as much as an Arafellin could on her aged deathbed。
Abruptly； Alanna's eyes widened in alarm； and Cadsuane saw another face reflected in the lid of her thread box。 Setting the cup back on the tray and her embroidery hoop on the table； Cadsuane stood and turned to the door。 She did not hurry； but she did not dally or play games as she had with Alanna； either。
〃Are you done with her； Aes Sedai？〃 Sorilea asked； stepping into the room。 The leathery； white…haired Wise One spoke to Cadsuane； but her eyes remained on Alanna。 Ivory and gold clicked softly at her wrists as she planted hands on her hips； and her dark shawl slid to her elbows。
When Cadsuane said that she was indeed done； Sorilea gestured curtly to Alanna； who stalked from the room。 Flounced might have been a better word； with sullen irritation on her face。 Sorilea frowned after her。 Cadsuane had encountered the woman before； and interesting encounters they had been； if brief。 She had not met many people she considered formidable； but Sorilea was one。 Perhaps even a match for herself； in some ways。 She also suspected the woman was as old as she was； maybe older； and that； she had never expected to find。
No sooner had Alanna vanished than Kiruna appeared in the doorway； kicking gray silk skirts in her hurry and peering down the hall in the direction Alanna had gone。 And carrying an intricately worked golden tray that held an even more elaborate golden pitcher with a high neck； and； incongruously； two small； white…glazed pottery cups。 〃Why is Alanna running？〃 she said。 〃I would have been faster； Sorilea； but … 〃 She saw Cadsuane then； and her cheeks went the deepest possible crimson。 Embarrassment looked quite odd on the statuesque woman。
〃Put the tray on the table； girl；〃 Sorilea said； 〃and go to Chaelin。 She will be waiting to give you your lessons。〃
Stiffly； Kiruna set her burden down； avoiding Cadsuane's eyes。 As she turned to go； Sorilea caught her chin in sinewy fingers。 〃You have begun to make a true effort； girl；〃 the Wise One told her firmly。 〃If you continue； you will do very well。 Very well。 Now； go。 Chaelin is not as patient as I。〃
Sorilea waved toward the corridor； but Kiruna stood staring at her for a long moment； a strange expression on her face。 If Cadsuane had had to make a wager； she would have called Kiruna pleased at the praise and surprised at being pleased。 The white…haired woman opened her mouth； and Kiruna gave herself a shake and hurried from the room。 A remarkable show。
〃Do you really think she will learn your ways of weaving saidar？〃 Cadsuane asked； hiding her incredulity。 Kiruna and the others had told her of these lessons； but many of the Wise Ones' weaves were very different from those taught in the White Tower。 The first way you learned the weave for a particular thing imprinted itself on you； learning a second was all but impossible； and even when you could learn； the second…learned weave almost never worked nearly as well。 That was one reason some sisters did not wele wilders to the Tower at any age； too much might have been learned already； and could not be unlearned。
Sorilea shrugged。 〃Perhaps。 Learning a second way is hard enough without all the hand…waving you Aes Sedai do。 The main thing Kiruna Nachiman must learn is that she owns her pride； it does not own her。 She will be a very strong woman once she learns that。〃 Pulling a chair around to face the one Cadsuane had been sitting in； she eyed it doubtfully； then sat down。 She appeared almost as stiff and unfortable as Kiruna had； but she motioned authoritatively for Cadsuane to sit； a strong…willed woman used to mand。
Cadsuane swallowed a rueful chuckle as she took her chair。 It was well to be reminded that； wilders or not； the Wise Ones were far from ignorant savages。 Of course they would know the difficulties。 As for hand…waving。。。 Few had channeled where she could see； but she had noticed that they created some weaves without the gestures that sisters used。 The hand movements were not truly part of the weave； but in a way they were； because they had been part of learning the weave。 Perhaps； once； there had been Aes Sedai who could； say； hurl a ball of fire without some sort of throwing motion； but if so； they were long dead； and their teachings with them。 Today； some things just could not be done without the appropriate gestures。 There were sisters who claimed they could tell who had taught another sister by which motions she used for which weaves。
〃Teaching any of our new apprentices anything has been difficult at best；〃 Sorilea went on。 〃I do not speak to offend； but you Aes Sedai give oath； it seems； and immediately try to find a way around it。 Alanna Mosvani is particularly difficult。〃 Suddenly her clear green eyes were very sharp on Cadsuane's face。 〃How can we punish her willful failings if it means harming the Car'a'carn'？〃
Cadsuane folded her hands in her lap。 Masking surprise was not easy。 So much for the secret of Alanna's crime。 But why had the woman let her know that she knew？ Perhaps one revelation called for another。 〃The bond does not work in that fashion；〃 she said。 〃If you kill her； he will die； then or soon after。 Short of that； he will be aware of what happens to her； but he will not really feel it。 As far away as he is now； he will only be vaguely aware； at that。〃
Sorilea nodded slowly。 Her fingers touched the golden tray on the table； then came away。 Her expression was as hard to read as the face of a statue； but Cadsuane suspected that Alanna would find an unpleasant surprise the next time she let her temper flare； or threw one of her Arafellin sulks。 That was unimportant； though。 Only the boy was important。
〃Most men will take what is offered； if it seems attractive and pleasant；〃 Sorilea said。 〃Once； we thought of Rand al'Thor so。 Unfortunately； it is too late to change the path we walk。 Now； he suspects whatever is offered freely。 Now； if I wanted him to accept something； I would pretend I did not want him to have it。 If I wanted to stay close to him； I would pretend indifference to whether I ever saw him again。〃 Once more； those eyes focused on Cadsuane； green augers。 Not trying
