rj.thepathofdaggers-第22章
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a voice that might have been heard at the base of the hill。 〃Today； we shall do what has not been done since the Breaking of the World； when our ancestors fought wind and wave gone mad。 By the Bowl of the Winds and the mercy of the Light； they survived。 Today； we will use the Bowl of the Winds； lost to us for more than two thousand years； and now returned。 I have studied the ancient lore； studied the records of the days when our foremothers first learned the sea and the Weaving of the Winds； and the salt entered our blood。 What is known of the Bowl of the Winds； I know； more than anyone else。〃 Her eyes cut toward her sister； a satisfied glance that Tebreille did not acknowledge。 Which seemed to satisfy Caire even more。 〃What the Aes Sedai cannot do； I will do today； if it pleases the Light。 I expect every woman to stand her station to the last。 I will not accept failure。〃
The rest of the Atha'an Miere seemed to accept that speech as expected and proper； but the Kinswomen gaped at Caire in astonishment。 In Elayne's opinion； grandiose did not begin to describe it； plainly Caire fully expected that the Light would be pleased； and she would be most displeased if it was not！ Nynaeve rolled her eyes to the heavens and opened her mouth。 Caire forestalled her。
〃Nynaeve；〃 the Windfinder announced loudly； 〃you will now demonstrate your skill at linking。 Be about it； woman； and quickly！〃
In response； Nynaeve shut her eyes tight。 Her lips。。。 writhed。 She looked about to burst a blood vessel。 〃I assume that means I have permission to speak！〃 she murmured。 Fortunately too low to be heard by Caire； on the far side of the circle。 Opening her eyes； she put on a smile that was quite horrible when added to the rest of her expression。 She was a sour stomach and several other plaints rolled into one。
〃The first thing is to embrace the True Source； Caire。〃 The light of saidar suddenly shone bright around Nynaeve； she was using the angreal on her hand already； by what Elayne could feel。 〃I assume you know how to do that； of course。〃 Ignoring the abrupt tightening of Caire's mouth； Nynaeve went on。 〃Elayne will now assist me in the demonstration。 If we have your permission？〃
〃I prepare myself to embrace the Source；〃 Elayne put in quickly； before Caire could erupt； 〃but I don't actually embrace it。〃 She opened herself； and the Windfinders leaned forward； peering at her； though there really was nothing to see yet。 Even Kirstian and Garenia forgot their fear enough to show interest。 〃While I'm at this point； the rest is up to Nynaeve。〃
〃Now I will reach out to her。。。 〃 Nynaeve paused； looking at Talaan。 Elayne had not had a chance to tell her anything； really。 It's much the same as with an angreal。〃 Nynaeve said； addressing the slender apprentice。 Caire growled； and Talaan tried to watch Nynaeve with her head down。 〃You open yourself to the Source through an angreal； just as I will through Elayne。 As though you mean to embrace the angreal and the Source at the same time。 It isn't very difficult； really。 Watch； and you'll see。 When it's time to bring you into the circle； just put yourself on the brink。 That way； when I embrace through you； I'll embrace through the angreal as well。〃
Concentration or no concentration； sweat began to bead on Elayne's forehead。 But then； the heat had nothing to do with it。 The True Source beckoned； it throbbed； and she throbbed with it。 It demanded。 The longer she hung just a hairsbreadth from touching the Power； the worse the desire； the need； would grow。 Hanging； she began to tremble slightly。 Vandene had told her that the longer you channeled； the worse that anticipation grew。
〃Watch with Aviendha；〃 Nynaeve told Talaan。 〃She knows how to … 〃 She caught sight of Elayne's face and finished hurriedly。 〃Watch！〃
It was not exactly the same as using an angreal； though very close。 It was not meant to be done hurriedly； either； Nynaeve did not have a soft touch； at best。 Elayne felt as though she were being shaken； nothing happened physically； but inside her head she seemed to be bouncing around； tumbling wildly downhill。 Worse； she was jostled toward embracing saidar with excruciating slowness。 It took less than a heartbeat； and seemed to take hours； days。 She wanted to howl； but she could not breathe。 Abruptly； like a dam bursting； the One Power flowed through her； a rush of life and joy； of bliss； and breath left her in a long gasp of pleasure and relief so overwhelming that her legs wobbled。 It was all she could do to keep from panting。 Tottering； pulling herself up； she gave Nynaeve a stern look； and Nynaeve shrugged apologetically。 Twice in one day！ The sun had to be turning green。
〃I now control the flow of saidar from her as well as my own；〃 Nynaeve went on； not quite meeting Elayne's eyes； 〃and will until I let her go。 Now； don't fear that whoever leads the circle；〃 she shot a frown at Caire and sniffed； 〃can make you draw too much。 This really is a great deal like an angreal。 The angreal buffers you against the extra Power； and in somewhat the same way； in a circle you can't be made to draw too much。 In fact； in a circle you can't draw quite as much as you can otherwi…〃
〃This is dangerous！〃 Renaile broke in； shouldering roughly between Caire and Tebreille。 Her scowl took in Nynaeve； Elayne； and the sisters standing off from the circle as well。 〃You say that one woman can simply seize another； hold her captive； use her？ How long have you Aes Sedai known this？ I warn you； if you try to use it on one of us … 〃 It was her turn to be cut off。
〃It doesn't work that way； Renaile。〃 Sareitha touched Garenia； and she and Kirstian leaped apart to make room。 The young Brown eyed Nynaeve uncertainly； then folded her hands and took on a lecturing tone； as if addressing a class。 With it came posure； perhaps she did see Renaile as a pupil right then。 〃The Tower studied this for many years； long before the Trolloc Wars。 I have read every page that survives in the Tower Library of those studies。 It was proven conclusively that one woman cannot form a link with another against her will。 It simply cannot be done； nothing happens。 A willing surrender is necessary； just as in embracing to saidar itself。〃 She sounded absolutely definite； but Renaile still frowned； too many people knew how Aes Sedai could sidestep the Oath against lying。
〃And why did they study it？〃 Renaile demanded。 〃Why was the White Tower so interested in such a thing？ Perhaps you Aes Sedai still study？〃
〃That is ridiculous。〃 Exasperation dripped from Sareitha's voice。 〃If you must know； it was the problem of men who can channel that drew them to it。 The Breaking of the World was a living memory to some； then。 I don't suppose even very many sisters remember … it hasn't been part of the required instruction since before the Trolloc Wars … but men can be brought into a circle； too； and as the circle doesn't break even if you go to sleep。。。 Well； you can see the advantages。 That was an utter failure； unfortunately。 More to the point here； I say again that it is impossible to force a woman into a circle。 If you doubt； try it yourself。 You will see。〃
Renaile nodded； accepting at last； there was very little else to do when an Aes Sedai made a simple statement of fact。 Yet Elayne wondered。 What was in the pages that had not survived？ She had noticed a slight change in Sareitha's inflection at one point。 She had questions。 For later； when there were fewer ears around。
When Renaile and Sareitha withdrew； Nynaeve twitched her divided skirts straight； plainly irritated at the interruption； and opened her mouth again。
〃Continue your demonstration； Nynaeve；〃 Caire manded harshly。 Her dark face might have been smooth as a frozen pond； but she was not very pleased； either。
Nynaeve's mouth worked before she could make any sound e out； and when it did； she went on in a rush； as though afraid someone else might break in。
The next part of the lesson was passing control of the circle。 That had to be done voluntarily； too； and even as she reached out toward Nynaeve； Elayne held her breath until she felt the subtle shift that meant she now controlled the Power flowing into her。 And that flowing through Nynaeve； of course。 She had not been sure it would work。 Nynaeve could form a circle easily； if not with any finesse； but passing guidance also involved a form of surrender； Nynaeve had considerable difficulties relinquishing control or being brought into a circle； just as she had once had difficulty surrendering to saidar。 Which was why Elayne kept the guidance for now。 It would have to be passed to Caire； and Nynaeve might not be able to manage letting go twice。 Those apologies must have been much easier for her。
Elayne linked next with Aviendha； so Talaan could actually see how it was done with an angreal； as much as there was to see； and it went perfectly； Aviendha was a very quick study； blending in easily。 Talaan was quick as well； it turned out； adding her still greater angreal…aided flow without a hitch。 One by one； Elayne brought them in； and she herself almost shivered at the river of the Power that streamed into her。 No one yet was drawing nearly as much as she could； but it added up； especially with angreal involved。 Elayne's awareness climbed higher with each addition of saidar。 She could smell the heavy scents in the lacework gold boxes that the Windfinders wore around their necks； and separate one from another。 She could make out each fold and crease in everyone's clothes as sharply as if she had her nose pressed to the cloth； more sharply。 She was aware of the faintest movement of the air against her hair and skin； caresses she never would have noticed without the Power。
That was not the whole of her awareness； of course。 The link had a certain kinship to the Warder bond； just as intense and somehow even more intimate。 She knew that a tiny blister from climbing the hill made a spot of pain on Nynaeve's right heel； Nynaeve always talked about good stout shoes； but she had a weakness for slippers with a great deal of embroidery。 Nynaeve wore a fixed frown； directed at Caire； her arms were crossed； her fingers wearing the angreal played on the braid pulled over her right shoulder； every line of her of a piece； yet inside she was a maelstrom of emotions。 Fear； worry； anticipation； irritation； wariness and impatience bounced over each other； and washing through it all； sometimes submerging the rest； ripples of warmth and waves of heat that threatened to burst into flame。 Those last Nynaeve suppressed quickly； especially the heat； but they always returned。 Elayne almost thought she could recognize them； but it was like something glimpsed from the corner of your eye that was gone when you turned your head。
Surprisingly； Aviendha felt fear； too； but small and tightly contained； and all but swallowed by determination。 Garenia and Kirstian； shaking visibly； were nearly pure terror； so strong it was amazing that they could even have begun to embrace the Source。 What filled Reanne to overflowing was eagerness； and no matter her skirt smoothing。 As for the Atha'an Miere。。。 Even Tebreille exuded a wary alertness； and it did not take the quick
