rj.thepathofdaggers-第20章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ognize what they were after as quickly as she did。 Not a great surprise。 A few of the sisters Elayne had trained showed a greater skill in this than she did herself； but most came nowhere near。 Still； two sets of hands found more than one； and there was a great deal to be found。 Liveried stablemen and women carried away the rubbish； while a collection of ter'angreal grew on the broad stone lid of a square cistern。
Four more horses were unloaded quickly； and they accumulated a selection that would have caused a celebration； brought into the Tower。 Even with no one studying ter'angreal。 They took every form imaginable。 Cups and bowls and vases； no two the same size or design or in the same material。 A flat； worm…eaten box； half…falling apart and whatever had lined it long since gone to dust； held pieces of jewelry … a necklace and bracelets set with colored stones； a slim gem…studded belt； several finger rings … and there were spaces for more。 Every single one was a ter'angreal； and they all matched； meant to be worn together； though Elayne could not imagine why any woman would want to carry so many about her at one time。 Aviendha found a dagger with gold wire wrapped around a hilt of rough deerhorn； the blade was dull； and by all evidence； always had been。 She kept turning that over and over in her fingers … her hands actually began to tremble … until Elayne took it away from her and put it with the others on the cistern's lid。 Even then Aviendha stood for a time； looking at it and licking her lips as though they had gone dry。 There were finger rings； earrings； necklaces； bracelets and buckles； many of very peculiar pattern indeed。 There were statuettes and figures of birds and animals and people； several knives that did have edges； half a dozen large medallions in bronze or steel； most worked with strange patterns and not one carrying an image Elayne could really understand； a pair of peculiar hats seemingly made of metal； too ornate and too thin to be helmets； and any number of items she could not think what to call。 A rod； as thick as her wrist； bright red and smooth and rounded； firm rather than hard for all that it seemed to be stone； it did not warm slightly in her hand； it almost felt hot！ Not real heat any more than the warmth was real； but still！ What about a set of metal basketwork balls； one inside the other？ Any movement produced a faint musical chime； a different tone every time； and she had the feeling that no matter how hard she looked into it； there would always be a still smaller ball waiting to be discovered。 A thing that looked like a blacksmith's puzzle made of glass？ It was heavy enough that she dropped it； and it broke a chip off the edge of the cistern cover。 A collection to stir amazement in any Aes Sedai。 More important； they found two more angreal。 Those Elayne set very carefully aside； within arm's reach。
One was an odd piece of jewelry； a golden bracelet attached by four flat chains to finger rings； every bit of it engraved in an intricate mazelike pattern。 That was the stronger of the two； stronger than the turtle still in her pouch。 It was made for a smaller hand than hers or Aviendha's。 Strangely； the bracelet had a tiny lock； plete with a minuscule； tubular key dangling from a fine chain that was obviously made to be removed。 Along with the key！ The other was a seated woman in age…darkened ivory； her legs folded in front of her； her exposed knees bare； but with hair so long and luxuriant she could not have been more muffled in the heaviest cloak。 It was not even as strong as the turtle； but she found it very appealing。 One hand rested on a knee； palm up and fingers arranged so the thumb touched the tips of the middle two fingers； while the other hand was lifted； the first two fingers raised and the others folded。 The whole figure carried an air of supreme dignity； yet the delicately worked face showed amusement and delight。 Maybe it had been made for a particular woman？ It seemed personal； somehow。 Perhaps they had done that； in the Age of Legends。 Some ter'angreal were immense； needing men and horses； or even the Power； to move； but most angreal were small enough to carry about your person； not all； but most。
They were tossing back the canvas covers on another set of wicker panniers when Nynaeve came striding up。 The Atha'an Miere began filing out of one of the farm buildings； no longer limping。 Merilille was talking with Renaile； or rather； the Windfinder was talking and Merilille listening。 Elayne wondered what had happened in there。 The slim Gray did not look so satisfied anymore。 The huddle of Kinswomen had grown larger； but even as Elayne looked up； three more came hesitantly into the farmyard； and another two stood at the edge of the olive trees； peering about indecisively。 She could sense Birgitte； somewhere out among the groves and only a little less irritated than earlier。
Nynaeve glanced at the display of ter'angreal and gave her braid a tug。 Her hat had gone missing somewhere。 〃That can wait；〃 she said； sounding disgusted。 〃It's time。〃
Chapter 5
（Lion Rampant）
The Breaking Storm
The sun stood little more than halfway down toward the horizon by the time they clambered up the well…worn； snaking path to the top of the steep…sided hill above the barns。 That was the spot Renaile had chosen。 It did make sense from what Elayne knew of working weather； all learned from a Sea Folk Windfinder； to be sure。 Changing anything beyond your immediate vicinity required working over long distances； which meant being able to see a long distance； much easier on the ocean than on land。 Except from a mountain or hilltop。 It also needed a deft hand to avoid causing torrential rains or whirlwinds or the Light alone knew what elsewhere。 Whatever you did； the effects spread like ripples from a stone tossed into a pond。 She had no desire whatsoever to lead the circle that would use the Bowl。
The top of the hill was clear of brush and flat； if far from level； a rough stone table； fifty paces long and broad； with plenty of room for everybody who needed to be there； and some who did not； strictly speaking。 From at least fifty paces above the farm； the spectacular view stretched for miles over a patchwork quilt of forms and pastures； forests and olive groves。 Far too many browns and sere yellows were mixed in with a hundred shades of green； crying the need for what they were to do； yet even so； the beauty of it struck Elayne。 Despite dust in the air like a faint mist； she could see so far！ The land really was quite flat here except for those few hills。 Ebou Dar lay just out of sight to the south even if she embraced the Power； yet it seemed she should be able to see it； by straining just a little。 Surely with a little effort she could see the River Eldar。 A marvelous view。 Not everyone was interested。
〃An hour wasted；〃 Nynaeve grumbled； glaring sideways at Reanne。 And at just about everyone else。 With Lan not there； it seemed she might take the opportunity to unleash her temper。 〃Almost an hour。 Maybe more。 pletely wasted。 Alise is capable enough； I suppose； but you'd think Reanne would know who was there！ Light！ If that fool woman faints on me again。。。！〃 Elayne hoped she held on a little longer。 It looked to be quite a storm once she let it break。
Reanne tried to keep a cheerful； eager face； yet her hands were never still on her skirts； constantly plucking and smoothing。 Kirstian simply clutched hers and sweated； appearing ready to empty her stomach any minute； when anyone looked at her； anyone at all； she shivered。 The third Kinswoman； Garenia； was a Saldaean merchant with a strong nose and a wide mouth； a short slim…hipped woman； stronger than the other two； who looked not that much older than Nynaeve。 A greasy dampness glistened on her pale face； and her dark eyes grew wider whenever they fell on an Aes Sedai。 Elayne thought she might soon discover whether someone's eyes actually could pop out of her head。 At least Garenia had stopped moaning； which she had done all the way up the hill。
There really had been another pair who might have been strong enough … possibly； the Kin did not pay much attention to that … but the last had gone on her way three days past。 No one else at the farm even came close。 Which was why Nynaeve was still disgusted。 One reason。 The other was that Garenia had been one of the very first found； passed out in the farmyard。 For that matter； she fainted again the first two times she was roused； as soon as her eyes fell on one of the sisters。 Of course； Nynaeve being Nynaeve； she was not about to admit that she should have done anything so simple as ask Alise who was still at the farm。 Or even tell Alise what she was looking for before the woman inquired。 Nynaeve never expected anyone to have sense to know up from down。 Except herself。
〃We could be done by now！〃 Nynaeve growled。 〃We could be shut of …！〃 She almost quivered with the effort of not scowling at the Sea Folk as they gathered near the east end of the stone table。 Renaile； gesturing emphatically； appeared to be giving instructions。 Elayne would have given a pretty to hear those。
Nynaeve's glares certainly took in Merilille and Careane and Sareitha； who still clutched the silk…wrapped Bowl tightly。 Adeleas and Vandene had remained below； sequestered with Ispan。 The three sisters stood chatting together； not paying any mind to Nynaeve unless she spoke to them directly； but Merilille's gaze sometimes slipped to the Windfinders； then jerked away； her mask of serenity faltered slightly； and she licked her lips with the tip of her tongue。
Had she made some mistake down below while Healing them？ Merilille had negotiated treaties and mediated disputes between nations； few in the White Tower were better than she。 But Elayne remembered hearing a story once； a joke of sorts； about a Domani merchant； a Sea Folk Cargomaster and an Aes Sedai。 Not many people told jokes involving Aes Sedai； telling one might not be entirely safe。 The merchant and the Cargomaster found an ordinary rock on the shore and proceeded to sell it back and forth between them； somehow making a profit each time。 Then an Aes Sedai came along。 The Domani convinced the Aes Sedai to buy the simple stone for twice what she herself had last paid。 After which the Atha'an Miere convinced the Aes Sedai to buy the same rock from him for twice that again。 Only a joke； but it showed what people believed。 Maybe the older sisters would not have done any better bargaining with the Sea Folk。
Aviendha strode straight to the edge of the cliffs as soon as she reached the hilltop； and stood staring north； motionless as a statue。 After a moment； Elayne realized that she was not admiring the view； Aviendha was simply staring。 Gathering her skirts a bit awkwardly with the three angreal in hand； she joined her friend。
The cliff fell in fifty…foot steps to olive groves； steep swathes or ridged gray stone； bare except for a few small； dying bushes。 The drop was not really bothersome； but it was hardly the same as looking at the ground from the top of a tree； either。 Strangely； looking down made Elayne feel a trifle dizzy。 Aviendha did not seem to notice that the edge was right
