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！
red at him silently； hardly blinking； and held on to each other。 Nynaeve had not really been surprised when Marigan and Nicola asked to acpany her。 Nicola might be watching Thom and laughing delightedly now； but she would have spent every moment at Nynaeve's side had the latter allowed it。 Areina wanting to e had been something of a shock； though。 She was sitting off by herself on a fallen log； watching Birgitte； who was stringing her bow。 All three women might be in for a shock when they discovered what was in Salidar。 At least Nicola would find her sanctuary； and Marigan might even have a chance to dispense herbs if there were not too many Yellows about。
〃Nynaeve； have you thought about。。。 how we're going to be received？〃
Nynaeve looked at Elayne in astonishment。 They had crossed half the world； or near enough； and defeated the Black Ajah twice。 Well； they had had help in Tear； but Tanchico had been all their doing。 They brought news of Elaida and the Tower she was willing to bet no one in Salidar had。 And most importantly； they could help these sisters make contact with Rand。 〃Elayne； I won't say they will greet us as heroes； but it wouldn't surprise me if they kissed us before today is done。〃 Rand alone would be worth that。
Two of the barefoot sailors leaped out to hold the rowboat against the current； and Juilin and the Shienarans splashed ashore as the sailors scrambled back aboard。 On Riverserpent men were already hauling in the anchor。
〃Clear us a path； Uno；〃 Nynaeve said。 〃I mean to be there before dark。〃 From the look of the forest； all vines and dusty undergrowth； two miles might take that long。 If Neres had not managed to gull her。 That worried her more than anything else。
Chapter 50
（Flame of Tar Valon）
To Teach； and Learn
Some four hours later； the sweat running down Nynaeve's face had very little to do with unseasonable heat； and she was wondering whether it might not have been better if Neres had gulled them。 Or refused to carry them beyond Boannda。 Late afternoon sunlight slanted sharply through windows with mostly cracked panes。 Clutching her skirts in blended irritation and unease； she tried to avoid looking at the six Aes Sedai grouped around one of the sturdy tables near the wall。 Their mouths moved silently as they conferred behind a screen of saidar。 Elayne had her chin high； her hands folded calmly at her waist； but a tightness about her eyes and the corners of her mouth spoiled her regal air。 Nynaeve was not sure she wanted to know what the Aes Sedai were saying； one stunning blow after another had knocked all her high expectations into a daze。 One more shock and she thought she might scream； and she did not know whether from fury or pure hysteria。
Very nearly everything except their clothes was laid out on that table； from Birgitte's silver arrow in front of stout Morvrin to the three ter'angreal before Sheriam； to the gilded coffers in front of dark…eyed Myrelle。 Not one of the women looked pleased。 Carlinya's face might have been carved from snow； even motherly Anaiya wore a stern mask； and Beonin's look of constant wide…eyed startlement had a distinctly annoyed cast。 Annoyed and something more。 Sometimes Beonin made as if to touch the white cloth spread neatly over the cuendillar seal； but her hand always stopped and retreated。
Nynaeve's eyes jerked away from the cloth。 She knew exactly when things had begun to go wrong。 The Warders who surrounded them in。 the woods had been proper； if cool … once she made Uno and the Shienarans put up their swords； anyway。 And Min's warm greetings had been all laughter and hugs。 But the Aes Sedai and others in the streets； caught up in their own errands； had scurried along with hardly a glance for the party being escorted in。 Salidar was quite crowded； with armed men drilling in nearly every open space。 The first person aside from the Warders and Min to pay any attention to them at all had been the lean Brown sister they were taken to； in what had once been the mon room of this inn。 She and Elayne had told the story they had agreed on to Phaedrine Sedai； or tried to。 Five minutes into it； they were left standing； with strict orders not to move a foot or speak a word； even to each other。 Ten more minutes； staring at one another in confusion； while all around them Accepted and white…clad novices； Warders and servants and soldiers bustled between tables where Aes Sedai pored over papers and briskly handed out orders； and then they had been hustled before Sheriam and the others so quickly Nynaeve did not think her shoes had touched the floor twice。 That was when the grilling had begun； more suitable for captured prisoners than returning heroes。 Nynaeve dabbed at the perspiration on her face； but as soon as she tucked the handkerchief back up her sleeve； her hands returned to their grip on her skirts。
She and Elayne were not alone standing on the colorful silk carpet。 Siuan； in a plain dress of fine blue wool； might have been there by choice if Nynaeve had not known better； her face cool； utterly posed。 She seemed lost in untroubled thought。 Leane at least watched the Aes Sedai； yet she appeared equally confident。 In fact； somehow more self…confident than Nynaeve remembered。 The copper…skinned woman looked even more willowy； too； more supple in some fashion。 Perhaps it was her scandalous dress。 That pale green silk was every bit as high…necked as Siuan's； but it clung to every curve of her； and the material only managed to be opaque by a thin hair。 It was their faces that truly stunned Nynaeve； though。 She had never expected to find either alive； and certainly never looking so very young … no more than a few years older than she if that。 They did not so much as glance at one another。 In truth； she thought she detected a distinct chill between them。
There was another difference about them； one that Nynaeve was just beginning to recognize。 If everyone including Min had been ginger about it； no one made any real secret of the fact that they had been stilled。 Nynaeve could feel that lack。 Perhaps it was being in a room where all the other women could channel； or perhaps it was knowing they had been stilled； but for the first time she was truly conscious of the ability in Elayne and the others。 And its absence from Siuan and Leane。 Something had been taken from them； cut away。 It was like a wound。 Perhaps the worst wound a woman could suffer。
Curiosity overcame her。 What sort of wound would it be？ What had been cut away？ She might as well make use of the waiting； and the irritation that larded itself through her nervousness。 She reached out to saidar。
〃Did anyone grant you permission to channel here； Accepted？〃 Sheriam asked； and Nynaeve gave a start； hurriedly releasing the True Source。
The green…eyed Aes Sedai led the others back to their mismatched chairs； arranged on the carpet in a semicircle that had the four standing women as its focus。 Some of them carried things from the table。 They sat staring at Nynaeve； earlier emotion swallowed in Aes Sedai calm。 None of those ageless faces acknowledged the heat by so much as a single bead of moisture。 Fi