rj.thepathofdaggers-第74章

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　municated　itself　in　constant　shifting；　heads　going　together；　eyes　darting　toward　the　Sitters。　Delana　rose　slowly；　both　hands　pressed　to　her　middle；　looking　ready　to　sick　up　on　the　spot。　Takima　grimaced　and　stared　at　her　hands　on　her　knees。　Saroiya　studied　the　other　two　White　Sitters；　tugging　at　her　ear　the　way　she　did　when　deep　in　thought。　But　no　one　else　moved　to　stand。
　　　　　　　Egwene　felt　bile　rising　in　her　own　throat。　Ten。　Just　ten。　She　had　been　so　sure。　Siuan　had　been　so　sure。　Logain　alone　should　have　been　enough；　given　their　ignorance　of　the　law　involved。　Pelivar's　army　and　Arathelle　refusing　to　admit　that　they　were　Sitters　should　have　primed　them　like　a　pump。
　　　　　　　〃For　the　love　of　the　Light！〃　Moria　burst　out。　Rounding　on　Lyrelle　and　Lelaine；　she　planted　her　fists　on　her　hips。　If　Janya's　speaking　had　gone　against　custom；　this　tied　it　in　a　knot。　Displays　of　anger　were　strictly　forbidden　in　the　Hall；　but　Moria's　eyes　blazed；　and　her　Illianer　accent　was　thick　with　it。　〃Why　do　you　wait？　Elaida　did　steal　the　stole　and　the　staff！　Elaida's　Ajah　did　make　Logain　a　false　Dragon；　and　only　the　Light　knows　how　many　other　men！　No　woman　in　the　history　of　the　Tower　did　ever　deserve　this　declaration　more！　Stand；　or　hold　silent　from　now　about　your　resolve　to　remove　her！〃
　　　　　　　Lelaine　did　not　quite　stare；　but　by　her　expression　you　might　have　thought　she　had　found　herself　attacked　by　a　sparrow。　〃This　is　hardly　worth　a　vote；　Moria；〃　she　said　in　a　tight　voice。　〃We　will　speak　later　about　decorum；　you　and　I。　Still；　if　you　need　a　demonstration　of　resolve。。。　〃　With　a　sharp　sniff；　she　rose；　and　gave　a　jerk　of　her　head　that　pulled　Lyrelle　to　her　feet　like　strings。　Lelaine　seemed　surprised　that　it　did　not　pull　up　Faiselle　and　Takima；　too。
　　　　　　　Far　from　standing；　Takima　grunted　as　if　struck。　Disbelief　bright　on　her　face；　she　ran　her　eyes　along　the　women　on　their　feet；　obviously　counting。　And　then　did　it　again。　Takima；　who　remembered　everything　the　first　time。
　　　　　　　Egwene　breathed　deep　in　relief。　It　was　done。　She　could　hardly　believe。　After　a　moment；　she　cleared　her　throat；　and　Sheriam　actually　jumped。
　　　　　　　Green　eyes　as　big　as　teacups；　the　Keeper　cleared　her　throat；　too。　〃The　lesser　consensus　standing；　war　is　declared　against　Elaida　do　Avriny　a'Roihan。〃　Her　voice　was　none　too　steady；　but　it　sufficed。　〃In　the　interest　of　unity；　I　ask　for　the　greater　consensus　to　stand。〃
　　　　　　　Faiselle　half…moved；　then　clenched　her　hands　in　her　lap。　Saroiya　opened　her　mouth；　then　closed　it　without　speaking；　her　face　troubled。　No　one　else　stirred。
　　　　　　　〃You　won't　get　it；〃　Romanda　said　flatly。　The　sneer　she　directed　across　the　pavilion　at　Lelaine　was　as　good　as　a　statement　of　why　she；　at　least；　would　not　stand。　〃Now　that　little　business　is　finished；　we　can　go　on　with　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　think　we　can；〃　Egwene　cut　in。　〃Takima；　what　does　the　Law　of　War　say　about　the　Amyrlin　Seat。〃　Romanda　was　left　with　her　mouth　hanging　open。
　　　　　　　Takima's　lips　writhed。　The　diminutive　Brown　looked　more　than　ever　a　bird　wishing　to　take　flight。　〃The　Law。。。　〃　she　began；　then　took　a　deep　breath　and　sat　up　straight。　〃The　Law　of　War　states；　'As　one　set　of　hands　must　guide　a　sword；　so　the　Amyrlin　Seat　shall　direct　and　prosecute　the　war　by　decree。　She　shall　seek　the　advice　of　the　Hall　of　the　Tower；　but　the　Hall　shall　carry　out　her　decrees　with　all　possible　speed；　and　for　the　sake　of　unity；　they　shall。。。　〃　She　faltered；　and　had　to　visibly　force　herself　to　go　on。　〃。。。　they　shall　and　must　approve　any　decree　of　the　Amyrlin　Seat　regarding　prosecution　of　the　war　with　the　greater　consensus。〃
　　　　　　　A　long　silence　stretched。　Every　eye　seemed　to　be　goggling。　Turning　abruptly；　Delana　vomited　onto　the　carpets　behind　her　bench。　Kwamesa　and　Salita　both　climbed　down　and　started　toward　her；　but　she　waved　them　off；　plucking　a　scarf　from　her　sleeve　to　wipe　her　mouth。　Magla　and　Saroiya　and　several　others　still　seated　looked　as　though　they　might　follow　her　example。　No　others　who　had　been　chosen　in　Salidar；　though。　Romanda　appeared　ready　to　bite　through　a　nail。
　　　　　　　〃Very　clever；〃　Lelaine　said　at　last　in　clipped　tones；　and　after　a　deliberate　pause；　added；　〃Mother。　Will　you　tell　us　what　the　great　wisdom　of　your　vast　experience　tells　you　to　do？　About　the　war；　I　mean。　I　want　to　make　myself　clear。〃
　　　　　　　〃Let　me　make　myself　clear；　too；〃　Egwene　said　coldly。　Leaning　forward；　she　fixed　the　Blue　Sitter　sternly。　〃A　certain　degree　of　respect　is　required　toward　the　Amyrlin　Seat；　and　from　now　on；　I　will　have　it；　daughter。　This　is　no　time　for　me　to　have　to　unchair　you　and　name　a　penance。〃　Lelaine's　eyes　crept　wider　and　wider　with　shock。　Had　the　woman　really　believed　everything　would　continue　as　before？　Or　after　so　long　not　daring　to　show　more　than　the　tiniest　backbone；　had　Lelaine　simply　believed　she　had　none？　Egwene　really　did　not　want　to　unchair　her；　the　Blues　would　almost　certainly　return　the　woman；　and　she　still　had　to　deal　with　the　Hall　on　matters　that　could　not　be　convincingly　disguised　as　part　of　the　war　against　Elaida。
　　　　　　　From　the　corner　of　her　eye；　she　saw　a　smile　pass　across　Romanda's　lips　at　seeing　Lelaine　set　down。　Small　profit　if　all　she　did　was　raise　Romanda's　stock　with　the　others。　〃That　holds　for　everyone；　Romanda；〃　she　said。　〃If　need　be；　Tiana　can　find　two　birches　as　easily　as　one。〃　Romanda's　smile　vanished　abruptly。
　　　　　　　〃If　I　may　speak；　Mother；〃　Takima　said；　rising　slowly。　She　attempted　a　smile；　but　she　still　looked　decidedly　ill。　〃I　myself　think　you　have　begun　well。　There　may　be　benefits　to　stopping　here　a　month。　Or　longer。〃　Romanda's　head　jerked　around　to　stare　at　her；　but　for　once；　Takima　did　not　appear　to　notice。　〃Wintering　here；　we　can　avoid　worse　weather　further　north；　and　also　plan　carefully　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃There's　an　end　to　delays；　daughter；〃　Egwene　cut　in。　〃No　more　dragging　our　feet。〃　Would　she　be　another　Gerra；　or　another　Shein？　Either　was　still　possible。　〃In　one　month；　we　will　Travel　from　here。〃　No；　she　was　Egwene　al'Vere；　and　whatever　the　secret　histories　would　say　of　her　faults　and　virtues；　the　Light　only　knew；　but　they　would　be　hers；　not　copies　of　some　other　woman's。　〃In　one　month；　we　will　begin　the　siege　of　Tar　Valon。〃
　　　　　　　This　time；　the　silence　was　broken　only　by　the　sound　of　Takima　weeping。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　
Chapter　20　
（Lion　Rampant）　
Into　Andor　
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　Elayne　hoped　that　the　journey　to　Caemlyn　would　go　smoothly；　and　in　the　beginning；　it　seemed　to　do　so。　She　thought　that　even　as　she　and　Aviendha　and　Birgitte　sat　bone…weary　and　huddled　in　the　rags　that　remained　of　their　clothing；　filthy　with　dirt　and　dust　and　the　blood　of　the　injuries　they　had　received　when　the　gateway　exploded。　In　two　weeks　at　most；　she　would　be　ready　to　present　her　claims　to　the　Lion　Throne。　There　on　the　hilltop；　Nynaeve　Healed　their　numerous　hurts　and　spoke　barely　a　word；　certainly　not　berating　them。　Surely　that　was　a　pleasant　sign；　if　unusual。　Relief　at　finding　them　alive　battled　worry　on　her　face。
　　　　　　　Lan's　strength　was　necessary　to　remove　the　Seanchan　crossbow　bolt　from　Birgitte's　thigh　before　she　could　be　Healed　of　that　wound；　but　although　her　face　drained　of　blood　and　Elayne　felt　a　stab　of　agony　through　the　bond；　agony　that　made　her　want　to　cry　out；　her　Warder　barely　groaned　through　her　gritted　teeth。
　　　　　　　〃Tai'shar　Kandor；〃　Lan　murmured；　tossing　the　pile…head　quarrel；　made　to　punch　through　armor；　aside　on　the　ground。　True　blood　of　Kandor。　Birgitte　blinked；　and　he　paused。　〃Forgive　me；　if　I　erred。　I　assumed　from　your　clothes　you　were　Kandori。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　yes；〃　Birgitte　breathed。　〃Kandori。〃　Her　sickly　grin　might　have　been　from　her　injuries；　Nynaeve　was　impatiently　shooing　Lan　out　of　the　way　so　she　could　lay　hands　on　her。　Elayne　hoped　the　woman　knew　more　of　Kandor　than　the　name；　when　Birgitte　had　last　been　born；　there　had　been　no　Kandor。　She　should　have　taken　it　as　an　omen。
　　　　　　　For　the　five　miles　to　the　small　slate…roofed　manor　house；　Birgitte　rode　behind　Nynaeve　on　the　latter's　stout　brown　mare　…　named　Loversknot；　of　all　things　…　and　Elayne　and　Aviendha　rode　Lan's　tall　black　stallion。　At　least；　Elayne　sat　Mandarb's　saddle　with　Aviendha's　arms　around　her　waist　while　Lan　led　the　fiery…eyed　animal。　Trained　warhorses　were　as　much　weapons　as　a　sword；　and　dangerous　mounts　for　strange　riders。　Be　sure　of　yourself；　girl；　Lini　had　always　told　her；　but　not　too　sure；　and　she　did　try。　She　should　have　realized　events　were　no　more　in　her　control　than　Mandarb's　reins。
　　　　　　　At　the　three…story　stone　house；　Master　Hornwell；　stout　and　gray…haired；　and　Mistress　Hornwell；　slightly　less　round　and　slightly　less　gray　but　otherwise　resembling　her　husband　remarkably；　had　every　last　person　who　worked　the　estates；　and　Merilille's　maid；　Pol；　and　the　green…and…white　liveried　servants　who　had　e　from　the　Tarasin　Palace　as　well；　all　bustling　to　find　sleeping　acmodations　for　over　two　hundred　people；　most　women；　who　had　appeared　out　of　nowhere　with　dark　near　to　falling。　The　work　went　with　surprising　swiftness；　in　spite　of　the　estates'　people　stopping　to　gawk　at　an　Aes　Sedai's　ageless　face；　or　a　Warder's　shifting　cloak　making　parts　of　him　vanish；　or　one　of　the　Sea　Folk　with　all　of　her　bright　silks；　her　earrings　and　nosering　and　medallioned　chain。　Kinswomen　were　deciding　that　now　it　was　safe　to　be　frightened　and　cry　no　matter　what　Reanne　and　the　Knitting　Circle　said　to　them；　Windfinders　were　snarling　over　how　far　from　the　salt　they　had　e；　against　their　will　as　Renaile　din　Calon　loudly　claimed；　and　nobles　and　crafts　women　who　had　been　all　too　willing　to　flee　whatever　lay　back　in　Ebou　Dar；　willing　to　carry　their　bundled　possessions　on　their　backs；　were　now　balking　at　being　shown　a　hayloft　for　a　bed。
　　　　　　　All　that　was　going　on　when　Elayne　and　the　others　arrived　with　the　sun　red　on　the　western　horizon；　a　great　upheaval　and　milling　all　about　the　house　and　thatch…roofed　outbuildings；　but　Alise　Tenjile；　smiling　pleasantly　and　implacable　as　an　avalanche；　seemed　to　have　everything　more　in　hand　than　even　the　capable　Hornwells。　Kinswomen　who　wept　harder　for　all　of　Reanne's　attempts　at　fort　dried　their　tears　at　a　murmur　from　Alise　and　began　moving　with　the　purposeful　air　of　women　who　had　been　caring　for　themselves　in　a　hostile　world　for　many　years。　Haughty　nobles　with　marriage　knives　dangling　into　the　oval　cutouts　in　their　lace…trimmed　bodices　and　craftswomen　who　displayed　almost　as　much　arrogance　and　nearly　as　much　bosom；　if　not　in　silk；　flinched　at　the　sight　of　Alise　approaching；　and　went　scurrying　for　the　tall　barns　hugging　their　bundles　and　announcing　loudly　that　they　had　always　thought　it　might　be　amusing　to　sleep　on　straw。　Even　the　Windfinders；　many　of　them　important　and　powerful　women　among　the　Atha'an　Miere；　muffled　their　plaints　when　Alise　came　near。　For　that　matter；　Sareitha；　still　lacking　the　Aes　Sedai　agelessness；　eyed　Alise　askance　and　touched　her　brown…fringed　shawl　as　if　to　remind　herself　it　was　there。　Merilille　…　unflappable　Merilille　…　watched　the　woman　go　about　her　work　with　a　blend　of　approval　and　open　amazement。
　　　　　　　Clambering　down　from　her　saddle　at　the　front　door　of　the　house；　Nynaeve　glared　toward　Alise；　gave　her　dark　braid　one　deliberate；　measured　tug　that　the　other　woman　was　far　too　busy　to　notice；　and　stalked　inside；　stripping　off　her　blue　riding　gloves　and　muttering　to　herself。　Watching　her　g