rj.thepathofdaggers-第118部分

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ah　would　not　be　freed　of　her　oath　whatever　her　answer；　not　until　the　search　for　the　Black　Ajah　came　to　a　conclusion。　For　one　thing；　she　could　not　be　allowed　to　run　off　and　plain　about　this　questioning；　which　she　most　certainly　would；　with　every　right；　if　she　was　not　of　the　Black。　If。
　　　　　　　Light；　but　Seaine　wished　they　had　found　a　sister　from　another　Ajah　who　fit　the　criteria　they　had　set。　A　Green　or　a　Yellow　would　have　done　quite　nicely。　That　lot　were　overweening　at　the　best　of　times；　and　of　late。。。！　No。　She　was　not　going　to　fall　prey　to　the　sickness　spreading　through　the　Tower。　Yet　she　could　not　help　the　names　that　flashed　through　her　head；　a　dozen　Greens；　twice　as　many　Yellows；　and　every　one　long　past　due　taking　down　a　few　rungs。　Sniff　at　a　Sitter？
　　　　　　　〃You　freed　yourselves　from　one　of　the　Oaths？〃　Zerah　sounded　startled；　disgusted；　uneasy；　all　at　the　same　time。　Perfectly　reasonable　responses。
　　　　　　　〃And　took　it　again；〃　Pevara　muttered　impatiently。　Snatching　up　the　slim　rod；　she　channeled　a　little　Spirit　into　one　end　while　maintaining　Zerah's　shield。　〃Under　the　Light；　I　vow　to　speak　no　word　that　is　not　true。　Under　the　Light；　I　vow　to　make　no　weapon　for　one　man　to　kill　another。　Under　the　Light；　I　vow　not　to　use　the　One　Power　as　a　weapon　except　against　Shadowspawn；　or　in　the　last　defense　of　my　life；　the　life　of　my　Warder；　or　that　of　another　sister。〃　She　did　not　grimace　over　the　part　about　Warders；　new　sisters　bound　for　the　Red　often　did。　〃I　am　not　a　Darkfriend。　I　hope　that　satisfies　you。〃　She　showed　Zerah　her　teeth；　but　whether　in　smile　or　snarl　was　hard　to　say。
　　　　　　　Seaine　retook　the　Oaths　in　turn；　each　producing　a　slight　momentary　pressure　everywhere　from　her　scalp　to　the　soles　of　her　feet。　In　truth；　the　pressure　was　difficult　to　detect　at　all；　with　her　skin　still　feeling　too　tight　from　retaking　the　Oath　against　speaking　a　lie。　Claiming　that　Pevara　had　a　beard　or　that　the　streets　of　Tar　Valon　were　paved　with　cheese　had　been　strangely　exhilarating　for　a　time　…　even　Pevara　had　giggled　…　but　hardly　worth　the　disfort　now。　Testing　had　not　really　seemed　necessary；　to　her。　Logically；　it　must　be　so。　Saying　that　she　was　not　of　the　Black　twisted　her　tongue　…　a　vile　thing　to　be　forced　to　deny　…　but　she　handed　Zerah　the　Oath　Rod　with　a　decisive　nod。
　　　　　　　Shifting　on　her　bench；　the　slender　woman　turned　the　smooth　white　rod　in　her　fingers；　swallowing　convulsively。　The　pale　lantern　light　made　her　appear　ill。　She　looked　from　one　of　them　to　the　other；　wide…eyed；　then　her　hands　tightened　on　the　Rod；　and　she　nodded。
　　　　　　　〃Exactly　as　I　said；〃　Pevara　growled；　channeling　Spirit　to　the　Rod　again；　〃or　you'll　be　swearing　until　you　have　it　right。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　vow　to　obey　the　two　of　you　absolutely；〃　Zerah　said　in　a　tight　voice；　then　shuddered　as　the　oath　took　hold。　It　was　always　tighter　at　the　first。　〃Ask　me　about　the　Black　Ajah；〃　she　demanded。　Her　hands　shook　holding　the　Rod。　〃Ask　me　about　the　Black　Ajah！〃　Her　intensity　told　Seaine　the　answer　even　before　Pevara　released　the　flow　of　Spirit　and　asked　the　question；　manding　utter　truth。　〃No！〃　Zerah　practically　shouted。　〃No；　I　am　not　Black　Ajah！　Now　take　this　oath　from　me！　Free　me！〃
　　　　　　　Seaine　slumped　dejectedly；　resting　her　elbows　on　the　table。　She　certainly　had　not　wanted　Zerah　to　answer　yes；　but　she　had　been　sure　they　had　found　the　other　woman　out　in　a　lie。　One　lie　found；　or　so　it　had　seemed；　after　weeks　of　searching。　How　many　more　weeks　of　searching　lay　ahead？　And　of　looking　over　her　shoulder　from　waking　to　sleeping？　When　she　managed　to　sleep。
　　　　　　　Pevara　stabbed　an　accusing　finger　at　the　woman。　〃You　told　people　that　you　came　from　the　north。〃
　　　　　　　Zerah's　eyes　went　wide　again。　〃I　did；〃　she　said　slowly。　〃I　rode　down　the　bank　of　the　Erinin　to　Jualdhe。　Now　free　me　of　this　oath！〃　She　licked　her　lips。
　　　　　　　Seaine　frowned　at　her。　〃Goldenthorn　seeds　and　a　red　cockle…burr　were　found　on　your　saddlecloth；　Zerah。　Goldenthorn　and　red　cockleburr　can't　be　found　for　a　hundred　miles　south　of　Tar　Valon。〃
　　　　　　　Zerah　leaped　to　her　feet；　and　Pevara　snapped；　〃Sit　down！〃
　　　　　　　The　woman　dropped　onto　the　bench　with　a　loud　smack；　but　she　did　not　even　wince。　She　was　trembling。　No；　shaking。　Her　mouth　was　clamped　shut；　otherwise　Seaine　was　sure　her　teeth　would　have　been　chattering。　Light；　the　question　of　north　or　south　frightened　her　more　than　an　accusation　of　being　a　Darkfriend。
　　　　　　　〃From　where　did　you　start　out；〃　Seaine　asked　slowly；　〃and　why　…？〃　She　meant　to　ask　why　the　woman　had　gone　roundabout　…　which　plainly　she　had　…　just　to　hide　which　direction　she　came　from；　but　answers　burst　from　Zerah's　mouth。
　　　　　　　〃From　Salidar；〃　she　squealed。　There　was　no　other　word　for　it。　Still　clutching　the　Oath　Rod；　she　writhed　on　her　bench。　Tears　spilled　from　her　eyes；　eyes　as　wide　as　they　would　go　and　fixed　on　Pevara。　Words　poured　out；　though　her　teeth　truly　did　chatter　now。　〃I　c…came　to　m…make　sure　all　the　sisters　here　know　about　the　R…Reds　and　Logain；　so　they'll　d…depose　Elaida　and　the　T…Tower　can　be　whole　again。〃　With　a　wail　she　collapsed　into　openmouthed　bawling　as　she　stared　at　the　Red　Sitter。
　　　　　　　〃Well；〃　Pevara　said。　Then　again；　more　grimly；　〃Well！〃　Her　face　was　all　posure；　but　the　glitter　in　her　dark　eyes　was　far　from　the　mischief　Seaine　remembered　as　novice　and　Accepted。　〃So　you　are　the　source　of　that。。。　rumor。　You　are　going　to　stand　before　the　Hall　and　reveal　it　for　the　lie　it　is！　Admit　the　lie；　girl！〃
　　　　　　　If　Zerah's　eyes　had　been　wide　before；　they　bulged　now。　The　Rod　dropped　from　her　hands　to　roll　across　the　tabletop；　and　she　clutched　her　throat。　A　choking　sound　came　from　her　suddenly　gaping　mouth。　Pevara　stared　at　her　in　shock；　but　suddenly　Seaine　understood。
　　　　　　　〃Light's　mercy；〃　she　breathed。　〃You　do　not　have　to　lie；　Zerah。〃　Zerah's　legs　thrashed　beneath　the　table　as　if　she　were　trying　to　rise　and　could　not　get　her　feet　under　her。　〃Tell　her；　Pevara。　She　believes　it's　true！　You've　manded　her　to　speak　the　truth　and　to　lie。　Don't　look　at　me　that　way！　She　believes！〃　A　bluish　tinge　appeared　on　Zerah's　lips。　Her　eyelids　fluttered。　Seaine　gathered　calm　with　both　hands。　〃Pevara；　you　gave　the　order　so　apparently　you　must　release　her；　or　she　will　suffocate　right　in　front　of　us。〃
　　　　　　　〃She's　a　rebel。〃　Pevara's　mutter　invested　that　word　with　all　the　scorn　it　could　hold。　But　then　she　sighed。　〃She　hasn't　been　tried；　yet。　You　don't　have　to。。。　lie。。。　girl。〃　Zerah　toppled　forward　and　lay　with　her　cheek　pressed　against　the　tabletop；　gulping　air　between　whimpers。
　　　　　　　Seaine　shook　her　head　in　wonder。　They　had　not　considered　the　possibility　of　conflicting　oaths。　What　if　the　Black　Ajah　did　not　merely　remove　the　Oath　against　lying；　but　replaced　it　with　one　of　their　own？　What　if　they　replaced　all　Three　with　their　own　oaths？　She　and　Pevara　would　need　to　go　very　carefully　if　they　did　find　a　Black　sister；　or　they　might　have　her　fall　dead　before　they　knew　what　the　conflict　was。　Perhaps　first　a　renunciation　of　all　oaths　…　no　way　to　go　about　it　more　carefully　without　knowing　what　Black　sisters　swore　…　followed　by　retaking　the　Three？　Light；　the　pain　of　being　loosed　from　everything　at　once　would　be　little　short　of　being　put　to　the　question。　Maybe　not　short　of　it　at　all。　But　certainly　a　Darkfriend　deserved　that　and　more。　If　they　ever　found　one。
　　　　　　　Pevara　glared　down　at　the　gasping　woman　without　the　slightest　touch　of　pity　on　her　face。　〃When　she　stands　trial　for　rebellion；　I　intend　to　sit　on　her　court。〃
　　　　　　　〃When　she　is　tried；　Pevara；〃　Seaine　said　thoughtfully。　〃A　pity　to　lose　the　assistance　of　one　we　know　isn't　a　Darkfriend。　And　since　she　is　a　rebel；　we　need　not　be　overly　concerned　about　using　her。〃　There　had　been　a　number　of　discussions；　none　to　a　conclusion；　about　the　second　reason　for　leaving　the　new　oath　in　place。　A　sister　sworn　to　obey　could　be　pelled　…　Seaine　shifted　uneasily；　that　sounded　entirely　too　close　to　the　forbidden　vileness　of　pulsion　…　she　could　be　induced　to　help　in　the　hunt；　so　long　as　you　did　not　mind　forcing　her　to　accept　the　danger；　whether　she　wished　to　or　not。　〃I　cannot　think　they　would　send　only　one；〃　she　went　on。　〃Zerah；　how　many　of　you　came　to　spread　this　tale？〃
　　　　　　　〃Ten；〃　the　woman　mumbled　against　the　tabletop；　then　jerked　erect；　glaring　in　defiance。　〃I　will　not　betray　my　sisters！　I　won't　…！〃　Abruptly　she　cut　off；　lips　twisting　bitterly　as　she　realized　she　had　done　just　that。
　　　　　　　〃Names！〃　Pevara　barked。　〃Give　me　their　names；　or　I　will　have　your　hide　here　and　now！〃
　　　　　　　Names　spilled　from　Zerah's　unwilling　lips。　At　the　mand；　certainly；　more　than　the　threat。　Looking　at　Pevara's　grim　face；　though；　Seaine　was　sure　she　needed　little　provocation　to　stripe　Zerah　like　a　novice　caught　stealing。　Strangely；　she　herself　did　not　feel　the　same　animosity。　Revulsion；　yes；　but　clearly　not　as　strong。　The　woman　was　a　rebel　who　had　helped　break　the　White　Tower　when　a　sister　must　accept　anything　to　keep　the　Tower　whole；　and　yet。。。　Very　strange。
　　　　　　　〃You　agree；　Pevara？〃　she　said　when　the　list　concluded。　The　stubborn　woman　gave　her　only　a　fierce　nod　for　agreement。　〃Very　well。　Zerah；　you　will　bring　Bernaile　to　my　rooms　this　afternoon。〃　There　were　two　from　each　Ajah　excepting　the　Blue　and　the　Red；　it　seemed；　but　best　to　begin　with　the　other　White。　〃You　will　say　only　that　I　wish　to　speak　to