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！
Nynaeve merely grunted； it was doubtful she was mad enough to sense what Egwene was doing … she could not； without her temper up … yet she could see Amico stiffen as the flows of Air touched her； then slump； half supported by the flows； as if to show how little she was resisting。
Aviendha shuddered； the way she had taken to doing whenever she knew the Power was being channeled near her。
Egwene wove blocks for Amico's ears … questioning them one at a time did little good if they could hear each other's stories … and turned to Joiya。 She shifted her fan from hand to hand so she could wipe them on her dress； and stopped with a grimace of distaste。 Her sweaty palms had nothing to do with the temperature。
〃Her face；〃 Aviendha said abruptly。 And surprisingly； she almost never spoke unless addressed by Moiraine or one of the others。 〃Amico's face。 She does not have the look she did； as if the years had passed her by。 Not as much as she did。 Is that because she was。。。 because she was stilled？〃 she finished in a breathless rush。 She had picked up a few habits being so much around them。 No woman of the Tower could speak of stilling without a chill。
Egwene moved down the table； to where she could see Amico's face from the side and yet stay out of Joiya's vision。 Joiya's eyes always turned her stomach to a lump of ice。
Aviendha was right； that was the difference she herself had noticed and not understood。 Amico looked young； perhaps younger than her years； but it was not quite the agelessness of Aes Sedai who had worked years with the One Power。 〃You have sharp eyes； Aviendha； but I don't know if this has anything to do with stilling。 It must； though； I suppose。 I don't know what else could cause it。〃
She realized that did not sound very much like an Aes Sedai； who generally spoke as if they knew everything； when an Aes Sedai said she did not know； she usually managed to make her denial appear to cloak volumes of knowledge。 While she was racking her brain for something properly portentous； Nynaeve came to her rescue。
〃Relatively few Aes Sedai have ever been burned out； Aviendha； and far fewer stilled。〃
〃Burned out〃 was what it was called when it happened by accident； officially； stilling resulted from trial and sentence。 Egwene could not see the point of it； really； it was like having two words for falling down the stairs； depending on whether you tripped or were pushed。 For that； most Aes Sedai seemed to see it the same； except when teaching novices or Accepted。 Three words； actually。 Men were 〃gentled；〃 must be gentled； before they went mad。 Only now there was Rand； and the Tower did not dare gentle him。
Nynaeve had put on a lecturing tone； no doubt trying to sound Aes Sedai。 She was doing an imitation of Sheriam before a class； Egwene realized； hands clasped at her waist； smiling slightly as if it were all so simple when you applied yourself。
〃Stilling is not a thing anyone would choose to study； you understand；〃 Nynaeve continued。 〃It is generally accepted to be irreversible。 What makes a woman able to channel cannot be replaced once it is removed； any more than a hand that has been cut off can be Healed back into existence。〃 At least； no one had ever been able to Heal stilling。 There had been attempts。 What Nynaeve said was generally true； yet some sisters of the Brown Ajah would study almost anything if given the chance； and some Yellow sisters； the best Healers； would try to learn to Heal anything。 But even a hint of success at Healing a woman who had been stilled was nonexistent。 〃Aside from that one hard fact； little is known。 Women who are stilled seldom live more than a few years。 They seem to stop wanting to live； they give up。 As I said； it is an unpleasant subject。〃
Aviendha shifted unfortably。 〃I only thought that might be it；〃 she said in a low voice。
Egwene thought it might be； too。 She resolved to ask Moiraine。 If she ever saw her without Aviendha there as well。 It seemed to her that their deceit got in the way almost as much as it helped。
〃Let us see if Joiya still tells the same tale； too。〃 Even so； she had to take herself in hand before she could unravel the flows of Air woven around the Darkfriend。
Joiya must have been stiff from standing so still for so long； but she turned smoothly to face them。 The sweat beading her forehead could not diminish her dignity and presence； any more than her drab； rough dress lessened the sense of her being there by choice。 She was a handsome woman with something motherly about her face despite its ageless smoothness； something forting。 But the dark eyes set in that face made a hawk's look kind。 She smiled at them； a smile that never reached those eyes。 〃The Light illumine you。 May the hand of the Creator shelter you。〃
〃I will not hear that out of you。〃 Nynaeve's voice was quiet and calm； but she tossed her braid over her shoulder and gripped the end in her fist； the way she did when angry or uneasy。 Egwene did not think she was uneasy； Joiya did not seem to make Nynaeve's skin crawl as she did Egwene's。
〃I have repented my sins；〃 Joiya said smoothly。 〃The Dragon is Reborn； and he holds Callandor。 The Prophecies are fulfilled。 The Dark One must fail。 I can see that； now。 My repentance is real。 No one can walk so long in the Shadow that she cannot e again to the Light。〃
Nynaeve's face had grown darker by the word。 Egwene was sure she was furious enough to channel now； but if she did it would probably be to strangle Joiya。 Egwene did not believe Joiya's repentance any more than Nynaeve； of course； but the woman's information might be real。 Joiya was quite capable of a cold decision to go over to what she believed would be the winning side。 Or she might only be buying time； lying in hope of rescue。
Lies should not have been possible for an Aes Sedai； even one who had lost all right to the name； not outright lies。 The very first of the Three Oaths； taken with the Oath Rod in hand； should have seen to that。 But whatever oaths to the Dark One were sworn on joining the Black Ajah； they seemed to sever all Three Oaths。
Well。 The Amyrlin had sent them out to hunt the Black Ajah； to hunt Liandrin and the other twelve who had done murder and fled the Tower。 And all they had to go on now was what these two could； or would； tell them。
〃Give us your tale again；〃 Egwene manded。 〃Use different words； this time。 I am tired of listening to memorized stories。〃 If she was lying； there was more chance she would trip herself up telling it differently。 〃We will hear you out。〃 That was for Nynaeve's benefit； she gave a loud sniff； then a curt nod。
Joiya shrugged。 〃As you wish。 Let me see。 Different words。 The false Dragon； Mazrim Taim； who was captured in Saldaea； can channel with incredible strength。 Perhaps as much as Rand al'Thor； or nearly so； if the reports can be believed。 Before he can be brought to Tar Valon and gentled； Liandrin means to break him free。 He will be proclaimed as the Dragon Reborn； his name given as Rand al'Thor； and then he will be set to destruction on such a scale as the world has not seen since the War of the Hund