rj.thepathofdaggers-第16部分

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　　　　　　　Elayne　peeked　at　Birgitte；　and　found　Birgitte　looking　back　at　her。　She　did　not　need　to　see　the　worried　frown　on　the　other　woman's　face；　it　was　mirrored　in　her　mind；　in　the　small　patch　of　her　mind　that　was　Birgitte　and　in　the　rest。　Birgitte　felt　her　worry；　and　she　felt　Birgitte's；　until　sometimes　it　was　hard　to　say　which　was　which。　She　risked　more　than　herself。　But　she　did　know　what　she　was　doing。　More　than　anyone　else　there；　at　least。　And　even　if　none　of　the　Forsaken　appeared；　they　needed　all　the　angreal　she　could　find。
　　　　　　　〃What　happened　to　Martine？〃　Nynaeve　asked　quietly。　〃Afterward；　I　mean。〃　She　could　seldom　hear　of　anyone　being　hurt　without　wanting　to　Heal　them；　she　wanted　to　Heal　everything。
　　　　　　　Vandene　grimaced。　She　might　have　been　the　one　to　bring　up　Martine；　but　Aes　Sedai　did　not　like　talking　about　women　who　had　been　burned　out　or　stilled。　They　did　not　like　remembering　them。　〃She　vanished　once　she　was　well　enough　to　slip　out　of　the　Tower；〃　she　said　hurriedly。　〃The　important　thing　to　remember　is　that　she　was　cautious。　I　never　met　her；　but　I've　been　told　she　treated　every　ter'angreal　as　if　she　had　no　idea　what　it　might　do　next；　even　the　one　that　makes　the　cloth　for　Warders'　cloaks；　and　nobody　has　ever　been　able　to　make　that　do　anything　else。　She　was　careful；　and　it　did　her　no　good。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　laid　an　arm　across　the　nearly　empty　pannier。　〃Maybe　you　really　should；〃　she　began。
　　　　　　　〃No…o…o…o！〃　Merilille　shrieked。
　　　　　　　Elayne　spun；　instinctively　opening　herself　through　the　angreal　again；　only　half　conscious　of　saidar　flooding　into　Nynaeve　and　Vandene。　The　glow　of　the　Power　sprang　up　around　every　woman　in　the　clearing　who　could　embrace　the　Source。　Merilille　was　straining　forward　in　her　saddle；　eyes　bulging；　one　hand　reaching　toward　the　gateway。　Elayne　frowned。　There　was　nothing　there　except　Aviendha；　and　the　last　four　Warders；　startled　in　the　middle　of　walking　away；　searching　for　the　threat　with　swords　half…drawn。　Then　she　realized　what　Aviendha　was　doing　and　nearly　lost　saidar　in　her　shock。
　　　　　　　The　gateway　trembled　as　Aviendha　carefully　picked　apart　the　weave　that　had　made　it。　It　shivered　and　flexed；　the　edges　wavering。　The　last　flows　came　loose；　and　instead　of　winking　out；　the　opening　shimmered；　the　view　through　it　of　the　courtyard　fading　away　until　it　evaporated　like　mist　in　the　sun。
　　　　　　　〃That　is　impossible！〃　Renaile　said　incredulously。　An　astonished　murmur　of　agreement　broke　out　among　the　Windfinders。　The　Kinswomen　gaped　at　Aviendha；　mouths　working　soundlessly。
　　　　　　　Elayne　nodded　slowly　in　spite　of　herself。　Clearly　it　was　possible；　but　one　of　the　first　things　she　had　been　told　as　a　novice　was　that　never；　ever；　under　any　circumstances　was　she　to　try　what　Aviendha　had　just　done。　Picking　apart　a　weave；　any　weave；　rather　than　simply　letting　it　dissipate；　could　not　be　done；　she　had　been　told；　not　without　inevitable　disaster。　Inevitable。
　　　　　　　〃You　fool　girl！〃　Vandene　snapped；　her　face　a　thunderhead。　She　strode　toward　Aviendha　dragging　her　gelding　behind。　〃Do　you　realize　what　you　almost　did？　One　slip　…　one！　…　and　there's　no　saying　what　the　weave　will　snap　into；　or　what　it　will　do！　You　could　have　pletely　destroyed　everything　for　a　hundred　paces！　Five　hundred！　Everything！　You　could　have　burned　yourself　out　and　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃It　was　necessary；〃　Aviendha　cut　in。　A　babble　erupted　from　the　mounted　Aes　Sedai　crowding　around　her　and　Vandene；　but　she　glared　at　them　and　raised　her　voice　over　theirs。　〃I　know　the　dangers；　Vandene　Namelle；　but　it　was　necessary。　Is　this　another　thing　you　Aes　Sedai　cannot　do？　The　Wise　Ones　say　any　woman　can　learn；　if　she　is　taught；　some　women　more　and　some　less；　but　any　woman；　if　she　can　pick　out　embroidery。〃　She　did　not　quite　sneer。　Not　quite。
　　　　　　　〃This　is　not　embroidery；　girl！〃　Merilille's　voice　was　deep　winter　ice。　〃Whatever　so…called　training　you　received　among　your　people；　you　cannot　possibly　know　what　you　are　playing　with！　You　will　promise　me　…　swear　to　me！　…　that　you　will　never　do　this　again！〃
　　　　　　　〃Her　name　should　be　in　the　novice　book；〃　Sareitha　said　firmly；　glaring　across　the　Bowl　still　held　firmly　to　her　bosom。　〃I've　always　said　it。　She　should　be　entered　in　the　book。〃　Careane　nodded；　her　stern　gaze　measuring　Aviendha　for　a　novice　dress。
　　　　　　　〃That　might　not　be　necessary　for　the　moment；〃　Adeleas　told　Aviendha；　leaning　forward　in　her　saddle；　〃but　you　must　let　yourself　be　guided　by　us。〃　The　Brown　sister's　tone　was　much　milder　than　the　others'；　yet　she　was　not　making　a　suggestion。
　　　　　　　A　month　or　so　earlier；　Aviendha　might　have　begun　to　wilt　under　all　that　Aes　Sedai　disapproval；　but　not　now。　Elayne　hurriedly　pushed　in　among　the　horses　before　her　friend　decided　to　draw　the　knife　she　was　fondling。　Or　to　do　something　worse。　〃Maybe　somebody　should　ask　why　she　thought　it　was　necessary；〃　she　said；　slipping　an　arm　around　Aviendha's　shoulders　as　much　to　keep　her　arms　at　her　sides　as　for　fort。
　　　　　　　Aviendha　did　not　quite　include　her　in　the　exasperated　look　she　gave　the　other　sisters。　〃This　leaves　no　residue；〃　she　said　patiently。　Too　patiently。　〃The　residues　of　a　weave　this　large　might　be　read　two　days　from　now。〃
　　　　　　　Merilille　snorted；　a　very　strong　sound　to　e　from　that　slight　body。　〃That　is　a　rare　Talent；　girl。　Neither　Teslyn　nor　Joline　has　it。　Or　do　you　Aiel　wilders　all　learn　that　as　well？〃
　　　　　　　〃Few　can　do　it；〃　Aviendha　admitted　calmly。　〃But　I　can。〃　That　produced　a　different　sort　of　stare；　from　Elayne　as　well；　it　was　a　very　rare　Talent。　She　did　not　seem　to　notice。　〃Do　you　claim　that　none　of　the　Shadowsouled　can？〃　she　went　on。　The　tightness　of　her　shoulder　under　Elayne's　hand　said　she　was　not　so　cool　as　she　pretended。　〃Are　you　such　fools　that　you　leave　tracks　for　your　enemies　to　follow？　Any　who　could　read　the　residues　could　make　a　gateway　to　this　spot。〃
　　　　　　　That　would　have　taken　great　dexterity；　very　great　dexterity；　but　the　suggestion　was　enough　to　leave　Merilille　blinking。　Adeleas　opened　her　mouth；　then　closed　it　without　speaking；　and　Vandene　frowned　thoughtfully。　Sareitha　simply　looked　worried。　Who　could　say　what　Talents　the　Forsaken　had；　what　skill？
　　　　　　　Strangely；　all　the　fierceness　drained　out　of　Aviendha。　Her　eyes　fell；　her　shoulders　loosened。　〃Perhaps　I　should　not　have　taken　the　risk；〃　she　muttered。　〃With　that　man　watching　me；　I　could　not　think　clearly；　and　when　he　disappeared。。。　〃　A　little　of　her　spirit　returned；　but　not　a　great　deal。　〃I　do　not　think　a　man　could　read　my　weaves；〃　she　said　to　Elayne；　〃but　if　he　was　one　of　the　Shadowsouled；　or　even　the　gholam。。。　The　Shadowsouled　know　more　than　any　of　us。　If　I　was　wrong；　I　have　great　toh。　But　I　do　not　think　I　was。　I　do　not　think　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　man？〃　Nynaeve　demanded。　Her　hat　had　been　knocked　askew　in　pushing　among　the　horses；　and　that；　with　the　tight　frown　she　directed　at　everyone　impartially；　made　her　look　ready　for　a　fight。　Perhaps　she　was。　Careane's　gelding　accidentally　nudged　her　with　a　shoulder；　and　she　swatted　the　blue　dun's　nose。
　　　　　　　〃A　servant；〃　Merilille　said　dismissively。　〃Whatever　orders　Tylin　gave；　Altaran　servants　are　an　independent　lot。　Or　perhaps　her　son；　that　boy　is　too　curious　by　half。〃
　　　　　　　The　sisters　around　her　nodded；　and　Careane　said；　〃One　of　the　Forsaken　would　hardly　have　stood　and　watched。　You　said　so　yourself。〃　She　was　patting　her　gelding's　neck　and　frowning　accusingly　at　Nynaeve　…　Careane　was　one　of　those　who　gave　her　horse　the　sort　of　affection　most　people　reserved　for　infants　…　she　was　frowning　at　Nynaeve；　and　Nynaeve　took　the　words　for　her；　too。
　　　　　　　〃Maybe　it　was　a　servant；　and　maybe　it　was　Beslan。　Maybe。〃　Nynaeve's　sniff　said　she　did　not　believe　it。　Or　that　she　wanted　them　to　believe　she　did　not；　she　could　tell　you　to　your　face　that　you　were　a　blind　idiot；　yet　let　anyone　else　say　it；　and　she　would　defend　you　until　she　went　hoarse。　Of　course；　she　did　not　seem　ready　to　decide　whether　she　liked　Aviendha；　but　she　definitely　did　not　like　the　older　Aes　Sedai。　She　tugged　her　hat　almost　straight；　and　her　frown　swept　across　them；　then　started　over。　〃Whether　it　was　Beslan　or　the　Dark　One；　there's　no　call　to　stand　here　all　day。　We　need　to　get　ready　and　move　on　to　the　farm。　Well？　Move！〃　She　clapped　her　hands　sharply；　and　even　Vandene　gave　a　little　start。
　　　　　　　There　was　little　preparation　left　to　do　when　the　sisters　moved　their　horses　away。　Lan　and　the　other　Warders　had　not　sat　on　their　heels　once　they　realized　there　was　no　danger。　Some　of　the　servants　had　gone　back　through　the　gateway　before　Aviendha　disposed　of　it；　but　the　rest　stood　with　the　three　dozen　or　so　packhorses；　occasionally　glancing　at　the　Aes　Sedai；　clearly　wondering　what　marvel　they　might　produce　next。　The　Windfinders　were　all　mounted；　if　awkwardly；　and　holding　their　reins　as　though　expecting　their　horses　to　bolt　any　moment；　or　perhaps　sprout　wings　and　take　flight。　So　were　the　Knitting　Circle；　with　a　good　deal　more　grace；　unconcerned　that　their　skirts　and　petticoats　were　pushed　up　past　their　knees；　and　with　Ispan　still　hooded　and　tied　across　a　saddle　like　a　sack。　She　could　not　possibly　have　sat　upright　on　a　horse；　yet　even　Sumeko's　eyes　popped　whenever　they　touched　her。
　　　　　　　Glaring　about　her；　Nynaeve　looked　ready　to　tongue…lash　everybody　into　doing　what　they　had　already　done；　but　only　until　Lan　ha