rj.theshadowrising-第3部分

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ersonally　until　now。　Disaster　striking　the　Tower　would　spread　far　from　Tar　Valon；　yet　she　was　not　of　the　Tower　and　never　could　be。　But　Gawyn　was　someone　she　knew；　someone　she　liked；　and　he　was　going　to　be　hurt　more　than　the　blood　told；　hurt　somehow　deeper　than　wounds　to　his　flesh。　It　hit　her　that　if　catastrophe　seized　the　Tower；　not　only　distant　Aes　Sedai　would　be　harmed；　women　she　could　never　feel　close　to；　but　her　friends　as　well。　They　were　of　the　Tower。
In　a　way　she　was　glad　Egwene　and　the　others　were　not　there；　glad　she　could　not　look　at　them　and　perhaps　see　signs　of　death。　Yet　she　wanted　to　look；　to　be　sure；　to　look　at　her　friends　and　see　nothing；　or　see　that　they　would　live。　Where　in　the　Light　were　they？　Why　had　they　gone？　Knowing　those　three；　she　thought　it　possible　that　if　Gawyn　did　not　know　where　they　were；　it　was　because　they　did　not　want　him　to　know。　It　could　be　that。
Suddenly　she　remembered　where　she　was　and　why；　and　that　she　was　not　alone　with　Gawyn。　Sahra　seemed　to　have　forgotten　she　was　taking　Min　to　the　Amyrlin；　she　seemed　to　have　forgotten　everything　but　the　young　lord；　making　calf…eyes　that　he　was　not　noticing。　Even　so；　there　was　no　use　pretending　any　longer　to　be　a　stranger　to　the　Tower。　She　was　at　the　Amyrlin's　door；　nothing　could　stop　her　now。
〃Gawyn；　I　don't　know　where　they　are；　but　if　they　are　doing　penance　on　a　farm；　they're　probably　all　sweat；　and　mud　to　their　hips；　and　you　are　the　last　one　they　will　want　to　see　them。〃　She　was　not　much　easier　about　their　absence　than　Gawyn　was；　in　truth。　Too　much　had　happened；　too　much　was　happening；　too　much　with　ties　to　them；　and　to　her。　But　it　was　not　impossible　they　had　been　sent　off　for　punishment。　〃You　won't　help　them　by　making　the　Amyrlin　angry。〃
〃I　don't　know　that　they　are　on　a　farm。　Or　even　alive。　Why　all　this　hiding　and　sidestepping　if　they're　just　pulling　weeds？　If　anything　happens　to　my　sister。。。　Or　to　Egwene。。。。〃　He　frowned　at　the　toes　of　his　boots。　〃I　am　supposed　to　look　after　Elayne。　How　can　I　protect　her　when　I　don't　know　where　she　is？〃
Min　sighed。　〃Do　you　think　she　needs　looking　after？　Either　of　them？〃　But　if　the　Amyrlin　had　sent　them　somewhere；　maybe　they　did。　The　Amyrlin　was　capable　of　sending　a　woman　into　a　bear's　den　with　nothing　but　a　switch　if　it　suited　her　purposes。　And　she　would　expect　the　woman　to　e　back　with　a　bearskin；　or　the　bear　on　a　leash；　as　instructed。　But　telling　Gawyn　that　would　only　inflame　his　temper　and　his　worries。　〃Gawyn；　they　have　pledged　to　the　Tower。　They　won't　thank　you　for　meddling。〃
〃I　know　Elayne　isn't　a　child；〃　he　said　patiently；　〃even　if　she　does　bounce　back　and　forth　between　running　off　like　one　and　playing　at　being　Aes　Sedai。　But　she　is　my　sister；　and　beyond　that；　she　is　Daughter…Heir　of　Andor。　She'll　be　queen；　after　Mother。　Andor　needs　her　whole　and　safe　to　take　the　throne；　not　another　Succession。〃
Playing　at　being　Aes　Sedai？　Apparently　he　did　not　realize　the　extent　of　his　sister's　talent。　The　Daughter…Heirs　of　Andor　had　been　sent　to　the　Tower　to　train　for　as　long　as　there　had　been　an　Andor；　but　Elayne　was　the　first　to　have　enough　talent　to　be　raised　to　Aes　Sedai；　and　a　powerful　Aes　Sedai　at　that。　Very　likely　he　also　did　not　know　Egwene　was　just　as　strong。
〃So　you　will　protect　her　whether　she　wants　it　or　not？〃　She　said　it　in　a　flat　voice　meant　to　let　him　know　he　was　making　a　mistake；　but　he　missed　the　warning　and　nodded　agreement。
〃That　has　been　my　duty　since　the　day　she　was　born。　My　blood　shed　before　hers；　my　life　given　before　hers。　I　took　that　oath　when　I　could　barely　see　over　the　side　of　her　cradle；　Gareth　Bryne　had　to　explain　to　me　what　it　meant。　I　won't　break　it　now。　Andor　needs　her　more　than　it　needs　me。〃
He　spoke　with　a　calm　certainty；　an　acceptance　of　something　natural　and　right；　that　sent　chills　through　her。　She　had　always　thought　of　him　as　boyish；　laughing　and　teasing；　but　now　he　was　something　alien。　She　thought　the　Creator　must　have　been　tired　when　it　came　time　to　make　men；　sometimes　they　hardly　seemed　human。　〃And　Egwene？　What　oath　did　you　take　about　her？〃
His　face　did　not　change；　but　he　shifted　his　feet　warily。　〃I'm　concerned　about　Egwene；　of　course。　And　Nynaeve。　What　happens　to　Elayne's　panions　might　happen　to　Elayne。　I　assume　they're　still　together；　when　they　were　here；　I　seldom　saw　one　without　the　others。〃
〃My　mother　always　told　me　to　marry　a　poor　liar；　and　you　qualify。　Except　that　I　think　someone　else　has　first　claim。〃
〃Some　things　are　meant　to　be；〃　he　said　quietly；　〃　and　some　never　can。　Galad　is　heartsick　because　Egwene　is　gone。〃　Galad　was　his　half…brother；　the　pair　of　them　sent　to　Tar　Valon　to　train　under　the　Warders。　That　was　another　Andoran　tradition。　Galadedrid　Damodred　was　a　man　who　took　doing　the　right　thing　to　the　point　of　a　fault；　as　Min　saw　it；　but　Gawyn　could　see　no　wrong　in　him。　And　he　would　not　speak　his　feelings　for　a　woman　Galad　had　set　his　heart　on。
She　wanted　to　shake　him；　shake　some　sense　into　him；　but　there　was　no　time　now。　Not　with　the　Amyrlin　waiting；　not　with　what　she　had　to　tell　the　Amyrlin　waiting。　Certainly　not　with　Sahra　standing　there；　calf…eyes　or　no　calf…eyes。　〃Gawyn；　I　am　summoned　to　the　Amyrlin。　Where　can　I　find　you；　when　she　is　done　with　me？〃
〃I　will　be　in　the　practice　yard。　The　only　time　I　can　stop　worrying　is　when　I　am　working　the　sword　with　Hammar。〃　Hammar　was　a　blademaster；　and　the　Warder　who　taught　the　sword。　〃Most　days　I'm　there　until　the　sun　sets。〃
〃Good；　then。　I　will　e　as　soon　as　I　can。　And　try　to　watch　what　you　say。　If　you　make　the　Amyrlin　angry　with　you；　Elayne　and　Egwene　might　share　in　it。〃
〃That　I　cannot　promise；〃　he　said　firmly。　〃Something　is　wrong　in　the　world。　Civil　war　in　Cairhien。　The　same　and　worse　in　Tarabon　and　Arad　Doman。　False　Dragons。　Troubles　and　rumors　of　troubles　everywhere。　I　don't　say　the　Tower　is　behind　it；　but　even　here　things　are　not　what　they　should　be。　Or　what　they　seem；　Elayne　and　Egwene　vanishing　isn't　the　whole　of　it。　Still；　they　are　the　part　that　concerns　me。　I　will　find　out　where　they　are。　And　if　they　have　been　hurt。。。。　If　they　are　dead。。。。〃
He　scowled；　and　for　an　instant　his　face　was　that　bloody　mask　again。　More：　a　sword　floated　above　his　head；　and　a　banner　waved　behind　it。　The　long…hilted　sword；　like　those　most　Warders　used；　had　a　heron　engraved　on　its　slightly　curved　blade；　symbol　of　a　blademaster；　and　Min　could　not　say　whether　it　belonged　to　Gawyn　or　threatened　him。　The　banner　bore　Gawyn's　sigil　of　the　charging　White　Boar；　but　on　a　field　of　green　rather　than　the　red　of　Andor。　Both　sword　and　banner　faded　with　the　blood。
〃Be　careful；　Gawyn。〃　She　meant　it　two　ways。　Careful　of　what　he　said；　and　careful　in　a　way　she　could　not　explain；　even　to　herself。　〃You　must　be　very　careful。〃
His　eyes　searched　her　face　as　if　he　had　heard　some　of　her　deeper　meaning。　〃I。。。　will　try；〃　he　said　finally。　He　put　on　a　grin；　almost　the　grin　she　remembered；　but　the　effort　was　plain。　〃I　suppose　I　had　better　get　myself　back　to　the　practice　yard　if　I　expect　to　keep　up　with　Galad。　I　managed　two　out　of　five　against　Hammar　this　morning；　but　Galad　actually　won　three；　the　last　time　he　bothered　to　e　to　the　yard。〃　Suddenly　he　appeared　to　really　see　her　for　the　first　time；　and　his　grin　became　genuine。　〃You　ought　to　wear　dresses　more　often。　It's　pretty　on　you。　Remember；　I　will　be　there　till　sunset。〃
As　he　strode　away　with　something　very　close　to　the　dangerous　grace　of　a　Warder；　Min　realized　she　was　smoothing　the　dress　over　her　hip　and　stopped　immediately。　The　Light　burn　all　men！
Sahra　exhaled　as　if　she　had　been　holding　her　breath。　〃He　is　very　good…looking；　isn't　he？〃　she　said　dreamily。　〃Not　as　good…looking　as　Lord　Galad；　of　course。　And　you　really　know　him。〃　It　was　half　a　question；　but　only　half。
Min　echoed　the　novice's　sigh。　The　girl　would　talk　with　her　friends　in　the　novices'　quarters。　The　son　of　a　queen　was　a　natural　topic；　especially　when　he　was　handsome　and　had　an　air　about　him　like　the　hero　in　a　gleeman's　tale。　A　strange　woman　only　made　for　more　interesting　speculation。　Still；　there　was　nothing　to　be　done　about　it。　At　any　rate；　it　could　hardly　cause　any　harm　now。
〃The　Amyrlin　Seat　must　be　wondering　why　we　haven't　e；〃　she　said。
Sahra　came　to　herself　with　a　wide…eyed　start　and　a　loud　gulp。　Seizing　Min's　sleeve　with　one　hand；　she　jumped　to　open　one　of　the　doors；　pulling　Min　behind　her。　The　moment　they　were　inside；　the　novice　curtsied　hastily　and　burst　out　in　panic；　〃I've　brought　her；　Leane　Sedai。　Mistress　Elmindreda？　The　Amyrlin　Seat　wants　to　see　her？〃
The　tall；　coppery…skinned　woman　in　the　anteroom　wore　the　hand…wide　stole　of　the　Keeper　of　the　Chronicles；　blue　to　show　she　had　been　raised　from　the　Blue　Ajah。　Fists　on　hips；　she　waited　for　the　girl　to　finish；　then　dismissed　her　with　a　clipped　〃Took　you　long　enough；　child。　Back　to　your　chores；　now。〃　Sahra　bobbed　another　curtsy　and　scurried　out　as　quickly　as　she　had　entered。
Min　stood　with　her　eyes　on　the　floor；　her　hood　still　pulled　up　around　her　face。　Blundering　in　front　of　Sahra　had　been　bad　enough…　though　at　least　the　novice　did　not　know　her　name　…　but　Leane　knew　her　better　than　anyone　in　the　Tower　except　the　Amyrlin。　Min　was　sure　it　could　make　no　difference　now；　but　after　what　had　happened　in　the　hallway；　she　meant　to　hold　to　Moiraine's　instructions　until　she　was　alone　with　the　Amyrlin。
This　time　her　precautions　did　no　good。　Leane　took　two　steps；　pushed　back　the　hood；　and　grunted　as　if　she　had　been　poked　in　the　stomach。　Min　raised　her　head　and　stared　back　defiantly；　trying　to　pretend　she　had　not　been　attempting　to　sneak　past。　Straight；　dark　hair　only　a　little　longer　than　her　own　framed　the　Keeper's　face；　the　Aes　Sedai's　expression　was　a　blend　of　surprise　and　displeasure　at　being　surprised。
〃So　you　are　Elmindreda；　are　you？〃　Leane　said　briskly。　She　was　always　brisk。　〃I　must　say　you　look　it　more　in　that　dress　than　in　your　usual。。。　garb。〃
〃Just　Min；　Leane　Sedai；　if　you　please。〃　Min　managed　to　keep　her　face　straight；　but　it　was　difficult　not　to　glare。　The　Keeper's　voice　had　held　too　much　amusement。　If　her　mother　had　had　to　name　her　after　someone　in　a　story；　why　did　it　have　to　be　a　woman　who　seemed　to　spend　most　of　her　time　sighing　at　men；　when　she　was　not　inspiring　them　to　pose　songs　about　her　eyes；　or　her　smile？
〃Very　well。　Min。　I'll　not　ask　where　you've　been；　nor　why　you've　e　back　in　a　dress；　apparently　wanting　to　ask　a　question　of　the　Amyrlin。　Not　now；　at　least。〃　Her　face　said　she　meant　to　ask　later；　though；　and　get　answers。　〃I　suppose　the　Mother　knows　who　Elmindreda　is？　Of　course。　I　should　have　known　that　when　she　said　to　send　you　straight　in；　and　alone。　The　Light　alone　knows　why　she　puts　up　with　you。〃　She　broke　off　with　a　concerned　frown。　〃What　is　the　matter；　girl？　Are　you　ill？〃
Min　carefully　blanked　her　face。　〃No。　No；　I　am　all　right。〃　For　a　moment　the　Keeper　had　been　looking　through　a　transparent　mask　of　her　own　face；　a　screaming　mask。　〃May　I　go　in　now；　Leane　Sedai？〃
Leane　studied　her　a　moment　longer；　then　jerked　her　head　toward　the　inner　chamber。　〃In　with　you。〃　Min's　leap　to　obey　would　have　satisfied　the　hardest　taskmistress。
The　Amyrlin　Seat's　study　had　been　occupied　by　many　grand　and　powerful　women　over　the　centuries；　and　reminders　of　the　fact　filled　the　room；　from　the　tall　fireplace　all　of　golden　marble　from　Kandor；　cold　now；　to　the　paneled　walls　of　pale；　oddly　str