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！
have three children； though only one can properly be called a baby。 Maric is almost to your shoulder and can't decide if he likes horses or books better。 Elnore has already begun practicing how to turn boys' heads； when she is not pestering Sharina about when she'll be old enough to go to the White Tower。〃
〃Elnore was my mother's name；〃 she said softly。
〃So you said when you chose it。 Nynaeve … 〃
〃No。 I will not be pulled into it this time。 Not this。 I won't！〃 Beyond him； among the trees beside the meadow； she saw the silver arch。 The trees had hidden it before。 The way back will e but once。 She turned toward it。 〃I must go。〃 He caught her hand； and it was as if her feet had bee rooted in stone； she could not make herself pull away。
〃I do not know what is troubling you； wife； but whatever it is； tell me and I will make it right。 I know I am not the best of husbands。 I was all hard edges when I found you； but you've smoothed some of them away； at least。〃
〃You are the very best of husbands；〃 she murmured。 To her horror； she found herself remembering him as her husband； remembering laughter and tears； bitter arguments and sweet making up。 They were dim memories； but she could feel them growing stronger； warmer。 〃I cannot。〃 The arch stood there； only a few steps away。 The way back will e but once。 Be steadfast。
〃I do not know what is happening； Nynaeve； but I feel as if I were losing you。 I could not bear that。〃 He put a hand in her hair； closing her eyes； she pressed her cheek against his fingers。 〃Stay with me； always。〃
〃I want to stay；〃 she said softly。 〃I want to stay with you。〃 When she opened her eyes； the arch was gone 。。。 e but once。 〃No。 No！〃
Lan turned her to face him。 〃What troubles you？ You must tell me if I'm to help。〃
〃This is not real。〃
〃Not real？ Before I met you； I thought nothing except the sword was real。 Look around you； Nynaeve。 It is real。 Whatever you want to be real； we can make real together； you and I。〃
Wonderingly； she did look around。 The meadow was still there。 The Seven Towers still stood over the Thousand Lakes。 The arch was gone； but nothing else had changed。 I could stay here。 With Lan。 Nothing has changed。 Her thoughts turned。 Nothing has changed。 Egwene is alone in the White Tower。 Rand will channel the Power and go mad。 And what of Mat and Perrin？ Can they take back any shred of their lives？ And Moiraine； who tore all our lives apart； still walks free。
〃I must go back；〃 she whispered。 Unable to bear the pain on his face； she pulled free of him。 Deliberately she formed a flower bud in her mind； a white bud on a blackthorn branch。 She made the thorns sharp and cruel； wishing they could pierce her flesh； feeling as if she already hung in the blackthorn's branches。 Sheriam Sedai's voice danced just out of hearing； telling her it was dangerous to attempt to channel the Power。 The bud opened； and saidar filled her with light。
〃Nynaeve； tell me what is the matter。〃
Lan's voice slid across her concentration； she refused to let herself hear it。 There had to be a way back still。 Staring at where the silver arch had been； she tried to find some trace of it。 There was nothing。
〃Nynaeve 。。。〃
She tried to picture the arch in her mind； to shape it and form it to the last detail； curve of gleaming metal filled with a glow like snowy fire。 It seemed to waver there； in front of her； first there between her and the trees； then not； then there 。。。
〃。。。 I love you 。。。〃
She drew at saidar； drinking in the flow of the One Power till she thought she would burst。 The radiance filling her； shining around her； hurt her own eyes。 The heat seemed to consume her。 The flickering arch firmed； steadied； stood whole before her。 Fire and pain seemed to fill her； her bones felt as if they were burning； her skull seemed a roaring furnace。
〃。。。 with all my heart。〃
She ran toward the silver curve； not letting herself look back。 She had been sure the bitterest thing she would ever hear was Marin al'Vere's cry for help as Nynaeve abandoned her； but that was honey beside the sound of Lan's anguished voice pursuing her。 〃Nynaeve； please don't leave me。〃
The white glow consumed her。
Naked； Nynaeve staggered through the arch and fell to her knees； slack…mouthed and sobbing； tears streaming down her cheeks。 Sheriam knelt beside her。 She glared at the red…haired Aes Sedai。 〃I hate you！〃 she managed fiercely； gulping。 〃I hate all Aes Sedai！〃
Sheriam gave a small sigh； then pulled Nynaeve to her feet。 〃Child； almost every woman who does this says much the same thing。 It is no small thing to be made to face your fears。 What is this？〃 she said sharply； turning Nynaeve's palms up。
Nynaeve's hands quivered with a sudden pain she had not felt before。 Driven through the palm of each hand； right in the center； was a long black thorn。 Sheriam drew them out carefully； Nynaeve felt the cool Healing of the Aes Sedai's touch。 When each thorn came free； it left only a small scar on front and back of the hand。
Sheriam frowned。 〃There shouldn't be any scarring。 And how did you only get two； and both placed so precisely？ If you tangled yourself in a blackthorn bush； you should be covered with scratches and thorns。〃
〃I should；〃 Nynaeve agreed bitterly。 〃Maybe I thought I had already paid enough。〃
〃There is always a price；〃 the Aes Sedai agreed。 〃e； now。 You have paid the first price。 Take what you have paid for。〃 She gave Nynaeve a slight push forward。
Nynaeve realized there were more Aes Sedai in the chamber。 The Amyrlin in her striped stole was there； with a shawled sister from each Ajah ranged to either side of her； all of them watching Nynaeve。 Remembering Sheriam's instruction； Nynaeve tottered forward and knelt before the Amyrlin。 It was she who held the last chalice； and she tipped it slowly over Nynaeve's head。
〃You are washed clean of Nynaeve al'Maera from Emond's Field。 You are washed clean of all ties that bind you to the world。 You e to us washed clean； in heart and soul。 You are Nynaeve al'Maera； Accepted of the White Tower。〃 Handing the chalice to one of the sisters； the Amyrlin drew Nynaeve to her feet。 〃You are sealed to us； now。〃
The Amyrlin's eyes seemed to hold a dark glow。 Nynaeve's shiver had nothing to do with being naked and wet。
Chapter 24
（Flame of Tar Valon）
New Friends and Old Enemies
Egwene followed the Accepted through the halls of the White Tower。 Tapestries and paintings covered walls as white as the outside of the tower； patterned tiles made the floor。 The Accepted's white dress was exactly like hers； except for seven narrow bands of color at hem and cuffs。 Egwene frowned； looking at that dress。 Since yesterday Nynaeve had worn an Accepted's dress； and she seemed to have no joy of it； nor of the golden ring； a serpent eating its own tail； that marked her level。 The few times Egwene had been able to see the Wisdom； Nynaeve's eyes had seemed shadowed； as if she had seen things she wished with all her heart not to have seen。
〃In here；〃 the Accepted said curtly； gesturing to a door。 Named Pedra； she was a short； wiry woman； a little older than Nynaeve； and with a briskness always in her voice。 〃You're given this time because it is your first day； but I'll expect you in the scullery when the gong sounds High； and not one moment later。〃
Egwene curtsied； then stuck out her tongue at the Accepted's retreating back。 It might have been only the evening before that Sheriam had finally put her name in the novice book； but already she knew she did not like Pedra。 She pushed open the door and went in。
The room was plain and small； with white walls； and there was a young woman； with reddish gold hair spilling around her shoulders； sitting on one of two hard benches。 The floor was bare； novices did not get much use of rooms with carpets。 Egwene thought the girl was about her own age； but there was a dignity and self…possession about her that made her seem older。 The plainly cut novice dress appeared somehow more； on her。 Elegant。 That was it。
〃My name is Elayne；〃 she said。 She tilted her head； studying Egwene。 〃And you are Egwene。 From Emond's Field； in the Two Rivers。〃 She said it as if it had some significance； but went right on anyway。 〃Someone who has been here a little while is always assigned to a new novice for a few days； to help her find her way。 Sit； please。〃
Egwene took the other bench； facing Elayne。 〃I thought the Aes Sedai would teach me； now that I'm finally a novice。 But all that's happened so far is that Pedra woke me a good two hours before first light and put me to sweeping the halls。 She says I have to help wash dishes after dinner； too。〃
Elayne grimaced。 〃I hate washing dishes。 I never had to … well； that doesn't matter。 You will have training。 From now on； you will be at training at this hour every day； as a matter of fact。 From breakfast until High； then again from dinner to Trine。 If you are especially quick or especially slow； they may take you from supper to Full； as well； but that is usually for more chores。〃 Elayne's blue eyes took