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！
iculous care as Lelaine searched for a way to turn matters about。 〃We will see how the Hall stands； Lelaine；〃 she said finally。 〃Until the question is called； I think it best if Merilille does not meet with any of the Sitters involved in her selection。 Even a suggestion of collusion would be looked at askance。 I'm sure you will agree I should be the one to speak with her。〃
Lelaine's face paled differently。 She was not afraid； not visibly； yet Egwene could almost see her counting who might stand for her； or against。 Collusion was almost as serious as a charge of treason； and required only the lesser consensus。 Likely； she could avoid that； but the arguments would be deep and acrimonious； Romanda's faction might even increase。 That would cause untold problems whether or not Egwene's own plans bore fruit。 And there was nothing she could do to stop it； short of revealing what really had happened in Ebou Dar。 As well ask them to let her accept the same offer Faolain and Theodrin had。
Egwene drew breath。 At least she might be able to prevent the use of Salidar as a meeting place in Tel'aran'rhiod。 That was where she met Elayne and Nynaeve； now。 When she did； anyway； she had not in days。 With Sitters popping in and out of the World of Dreams； finding anywhere you could be sure they would not appear was difficult。 〃The next time I encounter Elayne or Nynaeve； I will pass on your instructions regarding Merilille。 I can let you know when she's ready to meet you。〃 Which would be never； once she was done with those instructions。
The Sitters' heads whipped around； and two sets of eyes stared at her。 They had forgotten she was there！ Struggling to keep her face smooth； she realized her foot was tapping irritably； and stopped it。 She had to go along with what they thought of her a while longer； yet。 A little while longer。 At least she no longer felt nauseated。 Just angry。
Into that moment of silence； Chesa came bustling with Egwene's midday meal on a cloth…covered tray。 Dark…haired； plump and pretty in her middle years； Chesa managed to convey a proper respect without cringing。 Her curtsy was as simple as her dark gray dress； with just a touch of plain lace at the throat。 〃Forgive me for intruding； Mother； Aes Sedai。 I am sorry this is late； Mother； but Meri seems to have wandered off。〃 She clicked her tongue in exasperation as she set the tray in front of Egwene。 Wandering seemed very unlike the misnamed Meri。 That dour woman was as disapproving of faults in herself as she was of those in others。
Romanda frowned； but she said nothing。 After all； she could hardly show too much interest in one of Egwene's maids。 Especially when the woman was her spy。 Just as Selame was Lelaine's。 Egwene avoided looking at Theodrin or Faolain； both still standing dutifully in their corners like Accepted； rather than Aes Sedai themselves。
Chesa half…opened her mouth； but closed it again； perhaps intimidated by the Sitters。 Egwene was relieved when she dipped another curtsy and left with a murmured 〃By your leave； Mother。〃 Chesa's advice was always indirect enough for any sister when anyone else was present； but right then； the last thing Egwene wanted was even a circumspect reminder to eat while her food was hot。
Lelaine took up as if there had been no interruption。 〃The important thing；〃 she said firmly； 〃is to learn what the Atha'an Miere want。 Or what the boy does。 Maybe he wants to be their king； too。〃 Holding out her arms； she allowed Faolain to restore her cloak； which the dark young woman did with care。 〃You will remember to let me know if you have any thoughts on it； Mother？〃 That was just barely a request。
〃I will think hard；〃 Egwene told her。 Which was not to say she would share her thoughts。 She wished she had a glimmer of the answer。 That the Atha'an Miere believed Rand was their prophesied Coramoor； she knew； though the Hall did not； but what he wanted from them； or them from him； she could not begin to imagine。 According to Elayne； the Sea Folk with them had no clue。 Or said not。 Egwene almost wished one of the handful of sisters who had e from the Atha'an Miere was in the camp。 Almost。 One way or another； those Windfinders were going to cause trouble。
At a wave of Romanda's hand； Theodrin leaped forward with the Sitter's cloak as though goosed。 By Romanda's expression； Lelaine's recovery did not best please her。 〃You will remember to tell Merilille I wish to speak with her； Mother；〃 she said； and that was not a request at all。
For a brief moment the two Sitters stood staring at one another； Egwene forgotten again in their mutual animosity。 They departed without a word to her； very nearly jostling for precedence before Romanda slipped out first； drawing Theodrin in her wake。 Baring her teeth； Lelaine practically pushed Faolain from the tent ahead of her。
Siuan heaved a hearty sigh； and made no attempt to hide her relief。
〃By your leave； Mother；〃 Egwene muttered mockingly。 〃If you please； Mother。 You may go； daughters。〃 Letting out a long breath； she settled back in her chair。 Which promptly pitched her onto the carpets in a heap。 She picked herself up slowly and jerked her skirts straight； put her stole to rights。 At least it had not happened in front of those two。 〃Go get something to eat； Siuan。 And bring it back。 We've a long day； yet。〃
〃Some falls hurt less than others；〃 Siuan said as if to herself before ducking outside。 It was a good thing she went so quickly； or Egwene might have given her an earful。
She returned soon； though； and they ate hard rolls and lentil stew laced with tough carrot and scraps of meat Egwene did not look at closely。 There were only a few interruptions； intrusions where they fell silent and pretended to study reports。 Chesa came to take away the tray； and later to replace the candles； a task she grumbled over； which was not like her。
〃Who'd expect Selame to go missing； too？〃 she muttered； half to herself。 〃Off canoodling with the soldiers； I expect。 That Halima's a bad influence。〃
A skinny young fellow with a dripping nose renewed the already dead coals in the braziers … the Amyrlin got more warmth than most； but that was not a great deal … and he stumbled over his own boots and gaped at Egwene in a manner quite gratifying after the two Sitters。 Sheriam appeared to ask whether Egwene had any further instructions； of all things； and then seemed to want to stay。 Perhaps the few secrets she knew made her nervous； her eyes certainly darted uneasily。
That was the lot； and Egwene was not sure whether it was because no one bothered the Amyrlin without cause； or because everyone knew the real decisions were made in the Hall。
〃I don't know about this report of soldiers moving south out of Kandor；〃 Siuan said as soon as the tentflap fell behind Sheriam。 〃There's just the one； and Borderlanders seldom go far from the Blight； but every fool knows that； so it's hardly the kind of tale anyone would make up。〃 She was not reading from a page； now。
Siuan had managed to keep very tenuous control of the Amyrlin's network of eyes…and…ears so far； and reports； rumors； and gossip flowed to her in steady streams； to be studied before she and Egwene decided what to pass on to the Hall。 Leane had her own network； to add to the flow。 Most of it was passed on … some things the Hall had to know； and there was no guarantee that the Ajahs would pass on what their own agents learned … but it all had to be sieved for what might be dangerous； or serve to divert attention from the real goal。
Few of those streams carried anything good； of late。 Cairhien had produced any number of rumors of Aes Sedai allied with Rand； or； worse； serving him； yet at least those could be dismissed out of hand。 The Wise Ones would not say much at all about Rand or anyone connected to him； but according to them； Merana was awaiting his return； and certainly sisters in the Sun Palace； where the Dragon Reborn kept his first throne； were more than seed enough to grow those tales。 Others were not easily ignored； even when it was hard to know what to make of them。 A printer in Illian asserted that he had proof Rand had killed Mat