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！
〃I can only pass on to you what the Ajahs pass to me； Mother。〃 Alviarin adjusted her stole calmly； not a whit ruffled。 〃Do you really mean to court a third debacle by attempting to rescue the captives？〃
Elaida sniffed dismissively。 〃Do you really believe wilders can stand before Aes Sedai？ Galina let herself be surprised； she must have。〃 She frowned。 〃What do you mean； a third debacle？〃
〃You didn't listen； Mother。〃 Shockingly； Alviarin sat without being given permission； crossing her knees and serenely arranging her skirts。 〃Covarla thought they might have held out against the wilders … though I believe she is nowhere near as certain as she tried to pretend … but the men were another matter。 Several hundred of them in black coats； all channeling。 She was very certain of that； and so are the others； apparently。 Living weapons； she called them。 I think she nearly soiled herself just remembering。〃
Elaida stood as if poleaxed。 Several hundred？ 〃Impossible。 There can't be more than … 〃 She walked to a table that seemed all ivory and gilt； and poured herself a goblet of wine punch。 The lip of the crystal pitcher rattled against the crystal goblet； and almost as much punch went onto the golden tray。
〃Since al'Thor can Travel；〃 Alviarin said suddenly； 〃it seems logical at least that some of these men can； too。 Covarla is quite sure that was how they arrived。 I suppose he is rather upset at his treatment。 Covarla seemed somewhat uneasy about it； she implied that a number of the sisters were。 He might feel he owes you something。 It would not be pleasant to have those men suddenly stepping out of thin air right here in the Tower； would it？〃
Elaida practically tossed the punch down her throat。 Galina had been instructed to begin making al'Thor supple。 If he came for revenge。。。 If there really were hundreds of men who could channel； or even one hundred。。。 She had to think！
〃Of course； if they were ing； I believe they would have by now。 They would not have wasted surprise。 Perhaps even al'Thor doesn't wish to confront the full Tower。 I suppose they have all returned to Caemlyn； to their Black Tower。 Which means； I fear； that Toveine has a most unpleasant shock awaiting her。〃
〃Pen an order for her to return immediately；〃 Elaida said hoarsely。 The punch did not seem to help。 She turned； and gave a。 start to find Alviarin right in front of her。 Maybe there were not even one hundred … not even one hundred？ … at sunset； ten would have seemed madness … but she could not take the chance。 〃Write it out yourself； Alviarin。 Now； right now。〃
〃And how is it to be gotten to her？〃 Alviarin tilted her head； icily curious。 For some reason； she wore a faint smile。 〃None of us can Travel。 The ships will put Toveine and her party ashore in Andor any day now； if they have not already。 You told her to divide into small groups and avoid villages； so as to give no warning。 No； Elaida； I am afraid Toveine will regather her forces near Caemlyn and attack the Black Tower without any word from us reaching her。〃
Elaida gasped。 The woman had just called her by name！ And before she could begin to splutter with outrage； worse came。
〃I think you are in great trouble； Elaida。〃 Cold eyes stared into Elaida's and cold words slid smoothly from Alviarin's smiling lips。 〃Sooner or later； the Hall will learn of the disaster with al'Thor。 Galina might have satisfied the Hall； possibly； but I doubt Covarla will； they will want someone。。。 higher。。。 to pay。 And sooner or later； we will all learn Toveine's fate。 It will be difficult to keep this on your shoulders then。〃 Casually； she adjusted the Amyrlin's stole around Elaida's neck。 〃In fact； it will be impossible if they learn any time soon。 You will be stilled； made an example； the way you wanted to make Siuan Sanche。 But there might be time to recover； if you listen to your Keeper。 You must take good advice。〃
Elaida's tongue felt frozen。 The threat could not have been clearer。 〃What you have heard tonight is Sealed to the Flame；〃 she said thickly； but she knew that the words were useless before they were out of her mouth。
〃If you mean to reject my advice。。。 〃 Alviarin paused； then began to turn away。
〃Wait！〃 Elaida pulled down the hand she had stretched out unaware。 Stripped of the stole。 Stilled。 Even after that； they would make her howl。 〃What …？〃 She had to stop and swallow。 〃What advice does my Keeper offer？〃 There had to be some way to stop this。
Sighing； Alviarin came close again。 Closer； in fact； much too near for anyone to stand to the Amyrlin； their skirts almost touching。 〃First； I fear you must abandon Toveine to whatever es； for the moment at least。 And also Galina and whoever else was taken prisoner； whether by the Aiel or the Asha'man。 Any attempted rescue now must mean discovery。〃
Elaida nodded slowly。 〃Yes。 I can see that。〃 She could not take her horrified eyes away from the other woman's demanding gaze。 There had to be a way！ This could not be happening！
〃And I think it is time to reconsider your decision about the Tower Guard。 Don't you really think the Guard should be increased after all？〃
〃I … can see my way clear to do that。〃 Light； she had to think！
〃So good；〃 Alviarin murmured； and Elaida flushed with helpless rage。 〃Tomorrow； you will personally search Josaine's rooms； and Adelorna's。〃
〃Why under the Light would I …？〃
The woman tugged her striped stole again； roughly this time； almost as if to yank it off or saw through her neck with it。 〃It seems that Josaine found an angreal some years ago and never turned it in。 Adelorna did worse； I fear。 She removed an angreal from one of the storerooms without permission。 When you have found them； you will announce their punishment immediately。 Something quite stiff。 And at the same time you will hold up Doraise； Kiyoshi and Farellien as models of preserving the law。 You will give each a present； a fine new horse will do。〃
Elaida wondered whether her eyes were going to pop right out of her face。 〃Why？〃 From time to time a sister kept an angreal to herself in defiance of the law； but the penance was seldom more than a stern slap on the knuckles。 Every sister knew the temptation。 And the rest！ The effect was obvious。 Everyone would believe Doraise and Kiyoshi and Farellien had exposed the other two。 Josaine and Adelorna were Green； the others Brown； Gray and Yellow respectively。 The Green Ajah would be furious。 They might even try to get back at the others； which would incite those Ajahs； and。。。 〃Why do you want to do this； Alviarin？〃
〃Elaida； it should be enough for you that it is my advice。〃 Mocking； honeyed ice suddenly turned to cold iron。 〃I want to hear you say that you will do as you are told。 There's no point in me working to keep the stole on your neck； otherwise。 Say it！〃
〃I … 〃 Elaida tried to look away。 Oh； Light； she had to think！ Her belly was clenched in a knot。 〃I will … do … as I … am told。〃
Alviarin smiled that chilly smile。 〃You see； that did not hurt very much。〃 Suddenly she stepped back； spreading her skirts in a moderate curtsy。 〃With your permission； I will withdraw and let you find some sleep in what remains of the night。 You have an early morning ahead； with orders to issue for High Captain Chubain and apartments to search。 We have to decide when to let the Tower know about the Asha'man； too。〃 Her tone made it clear that she would decide。 〃And perhaps we should begin planning our next move against al'Thor。 It is about time the Tower stood openly and called him to heel； don't you think？ Think well。 I give you good night； Elaida。〃
Dazed； wanting to sick up； Elaida watched her go。 Stand openly？ That would invite attack by these … what had the woman called them？ … these Asha'man。 This could not be happening to her。 Not to her！ Before she realized what she was doing； she hurled the goblet across the room to shatter against a tapestry of flowers。 Seizing the pitcher with both hands； she raised it overhead with a shriek of fury and flung that too； in a spray of punch。 The Foretelling had been so certain！ She would。。。！
Abruptly she stopped； frowning at the tiny shards of crystals clinging to the tapestry； the larger pieces scattered across the floor。 The Foretelling。 Surely that had spoken of her triumph。 Her triumph！ Alviarin might have her minor victory； but the future belonged to Elaida。 As long as Alviarin could be gotten rid of。 But it had to be done quietly； in some way so that even the Hall would want silence。 A way that would not point to Elaida until it was too late； should Alviarin's sails gain wind。 And suddenly the why came to her。 Alviarin would not believe if she was told。 No one would。
Could Alviarin have seen her smile then； the woman's knees would have turned to jelly。 Before she was done； Alviarin would envy Galina； alive or dead。
Pausing in the hallway outside Elaida's apartments； Alviarin studied her hands by the light of the stand…lamps。 They did not shake； which surprised her。 She had expected the woman to fight harder； to resist longer。 But it was begun； and she had nothing to fear。 Unless Elaida learned that no fewer than five Ajahs h