rj.thepathofdaggers-第80章
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〃Who knows what's possible？〃 Rand said。 〃I don't！ Do you？〃 Dashiva's head came up in surprise； but Rand turned to Morr； moderating his tone。 〃Don't worry； man。〃 Not a mild tone … he could not manage that … yet heartening； he hoped。 His making； his responsibility。 〃You'll be with me to the Last Battle。 I promise it。〃
The young man nodded； and scrubbed at his face with his hand as though surprised to find it damp； but he glanced at Torval； who had gone as still as stone。 Did Morr know about the wine？ It was a mercy； given the alternatives。 A small and bitter mercy。
Rand picked up Taim's missive； folded the page； and thrust it into his coat pocket。 One in fifty mad already； and more to e。 Was Morr next？ Dashiva was surely close。 Hopwil's stares took on a new meaning； and even Narishma's habitual quiet。 Madness did not always mean screaming about spiders。 He had asked once； warily； where he knew the answers would be true； how to cleanse the taint from saidin。 And got a riddle for answer。 Herid Fel had claimed the riddle stated 〃sound principles； in both high philosophy and natural philosophy；〃 but he had not seen any way to apply it to the problem at hand。 Had Fel been killed because he might have puzzled out the riddle？ Rand had a hint at the answer； or thought he might； a guess that could be disastrously wrong。 Hints and riddles were not answers； yet he had to do something。 If the taint was not cleansed somehow； Tarmon Gai'don might find a world already ruined by madmen。 What had to be done； had to be done。
〃That would be wondrous；〃 Torval said in a near whisper； 〃but how could anyone short of the Creator or。。。？〃 He trailed off uneasily。
Rand had not realized he had spoken any of his thoughts aloud。 Narishma's eyes； and Morr's； and Hopwil's； belonged in one face； shining with sudden hope。 Dashiva looked poleaxed。 Rand hoped he had not said too much。 Some secrets had to be kept。 Including what he would do next。
In short order； Hopwil was running for his horse to ride to the ridge with orders for the nobles； Morr and Dashiva to find Flinn and the other Asha'man； and Torval was striding off to Travel back to the Black Tower with mands for Taim。 Narishma was last； and thinking of Aes Sedai and Seanchan and weapons； Rand sent him away as well； with careful instructions that made the young man's mouth tighten。
〃Speak to no one；〃 Rand finished softly； gripping Narishma's arm hard。 〃And don't fail me。 Not by a hair。〃
〃I won't fail；〃 Narishma said； unblinking。 With a quick salute； he was gone； too。
Dangerous； a voice whispered in Rand's head。 Oh； yes； very dangerous； maybe too dangerous。 But it might work； it might。 In any event； you must kill Torval now。 You must。
Weiramon entered the council tent； shouldering aside Gregorin and Tolmeran； trying to shoulder aside Rosana and Semaradrid； the lot of them eager to tell Rand that the men in the trees had decided wisely after all。 They found him laughing till tears rolled down his face。 Lews Therin had e back。 Or else he really was mad already。 Either way； it was reason to laugh。
Chapter 15
（Bull）
Stronger than Written Law
In the dim； cold dark of deep night； Egwene woke groggily from restless sleep and troubling dreams； the more troubling because she could not remember them。 Her dreams were always open to her； as clear as printed words on a page； yet these had been murky and fearful。 She had had too many of those； lately。 They left her wanting to run； to escape； never able to recall what from； but always queasy and uncertain； even trembling。 At least her head was not hurting。 At least she could recall the dreams she knew must be significant； though not how to interpret them。 Rand； wearing different masks； until suddenly one of those false faces was no longer a mask； but him。 Perrin and a Tinker； frenziedly hacking their way through brambles with axe and sword； unaware of the cliff that lay just ahead。 And the brambles screamed with human voices they did not hear。 Mat； weighing two Aes Sedai on a huge set of balance scales； and on his decision depended。。。 She could not say what； something vast； the world； perhaps。 There had been other dreams； most tinged with suffering。 Recently； all of her dreams about Mat were pale and full of pain； like shadows cast by nightmares； almost as though Mat himself were not quite real。 That made her afraid for him； left behind in Ebou Dar； and gave her agonies of grief for sending him there； not to mention poor old Thom Merrilin。 But the unremembered dreams were worse； she was sure。
The sound of low voices arguing had wakened her； and the full moon was still up outside； casting enough light for her to make out two women confronting one another at the tent's entrance。
〃The poor woman's head pains her all day； and she gets little rest at night；〃 Halima whispered fiercely； fists on her hips。 〃Let this wait till morning。〃
〃I don't propose to argue with you。〃 Siuan's voice was winter itself； and she tossed back her cloak with a mittened hand as though preparing to fight。 She was dressed for the weather； in stout wool no doubt worn over as many shifts as she could fit underneath。 〃You stand aside； and right quick； or I'll have your guts for bait！ And put on some decent clothes！〃
With a soft laugh； Halima drew up and if anything planted herself more squarely in Siuan's way。 Her white nightgown clung； but was decent enough for its purpose。 Though it did seem a wonder she evaded freezing in that thin silk。 The coals in the tripod braziers had died down long since； and neither much…mended tent canvas nor layered carpets on the ground held in warmth any longer。 Both women's breath was pale mist。
Throwing off the blankets； Egwene sat up wearily on her narrow cot。 Halima was a country woman with a skim of sophistication； and often she did not seem to realize the deference due to Aes Sedai； or indeed seem to think she need defer to anyone。 She spoke to Sitters as she might to the goodwives in her own village； with a laugh and a level eye and a straightforward earthiness that sometimes shocked。 Siuan spent her days giving way to women who had jumped at her word a year earlier； smiling and curtsying for nearly every sister in the camp。 Many still laid much of the Tower's troubles at her feet and thought she had hardly suffered enough to atone。 Sufficient to keep anyone's pride at a stiff prickle。 Together； the pair were a lantern tossed into the back of an Illuminator's wagon； but Egwene hoped to avoid an explosion。 Besides； Siuan would not have e in the middle of the night unless it was necessary。
〃Go back to bed； Halima；〃 Smothering a yawn； Egwene bent to fumble her shoes and stockings from beneath the cot。 She did not channel a lamp alight。 Better if no one noticed that the Amyrlin was awake。 〃Go on； you need your rest。〃
Halima protested； perhaps more strongly than she should have to the Amyrlin Seat； but soon enough she was back on the tiny cot that had been squeezed into the tent for her。 Very little room remained to move in； with a washstand； a stand…mirror and a real armchair； plus four large chests stacked atop one another。 Those held the constant flow of clothes from Sitters who had not yet realized that however young Egwene might be； she was not young enough to be dazzled or diverted by silks and laces。 Halima lay curled up； watching in the darkness； while Egwene hastily dragged an ivory b through her hair； donned stout mittens； and pulled a fox…lined cloak over her nightgown。 A thick woolen nightgown； and she would not have minded thicker in this weather。 Halima's eyes seemed to pick up the faint moonlight and shine darkly； unblinking。
Egwene did not think the woman jealous of her place near the Amyrlin Seat； casual as it was； and the Light knew she did not carry gossip； but Halima had an innocent curiosity about everything； whether or not it was any of her business。 Reason enough to hear Siuan out elsewhere。 Everyone knew now that Siuan had thrown in her lot with Egwene； after a fashion； as they thought； sullenly and grudgingly。 A figure of some amusement and occasional pity； Siuan Sanche； red
