"Jordan, Robert - Wheel of Time 09 - Winter's Heart" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jordan Robert)

УThank you both,Ф Saerin put in dryly, Уfor stating the
obvious. ItТs too late to go back, Yukiri, so we might as
well go forward. And if I were you, Pevara, I wouldnТt be
shouting at one of the four women in the whole Tower I knew I
could trust.Ф
Yukiri flushed and shifted her shawl, and Pevara looked a
trifle abashed. A trifle. They might all be Sitters, but
Saerin had most definitely taken charge. Seaine was unsure
how she felt about that. A few hours ago, she and Pevara had
been two old friends alone on a dangerous quest, equals
reaching decisions together; now they had allies. She should
be grateful for more companions. They were not in the Hall,
though, and they could not claim SitterТs rights on this.
Tower hierarchies had taken over, all the subtle and not-so-
subtle distinctions as to who stood where with respect to
whom. In truth, Saerin had been both novice and Accepted
twice as long as most of them, but forty years as a Sitter,
longer than anyone else in the Hall, counted for a great deal.
Seaine would be lucky if Saerin asked her opinion, much less
her advice, before deciding anything at all. Foolish, yet the
knowledge pricked like a thorn in her foot.
УThe Trollocs are dragging her toward the kettle,Ф Doesine
said suddenly, her voice grating. A thin keening escaped
thorough TaleneТs clenched teeth; she shook so hard she seemed
to vibrate. УIЧI do not know if I canЕcan flaming make
myselfЕ.Ф
УBring her awake,Ф Saerin commanded without so much as
glancing at anyone else to see what they thought. УStop
sulking, Yukiri, and be ready.Ф
The Gray gave her a proud, furious stare, but when Doesine
let her weaves fade and TaleneТs blue eyes fluttered open, the
glow of saidar surrounded Yukiri and she shielded the woman
lying on the Chair without uttering a word. Saerin was in
charge, and everyone knew it, and that was that. A very sharp
thorn.
A shield hardly seemed necessary. Her face a mask of
terror, Talene trembled and panted as though she had run ten
miles at top speed. She still sank into the soft surface, but
without Doesine channeling, it no longer formed itself to her.
Talene stared at the ceiling with bulging eyes, then squeezed
them shut, but they popped right open again. Whatever
memories lay behind her eyelids were nothing she wanted to
face.
Covering the two strides to the Chair, Pevara thrust the
Oath Rod at the distraught woman. УForswear all oaths that
bind you and retake the Three Oaths, Talene,Ф she said
harshly. Talene recoiled from the Rod as from a poisonous
serpent, then jerked the other way as Saerin bent over her.
УNext time, Talene, itТs the cookpot for you. Or the
MyrddraalТs tender attentions.Ф SaerinТs face was implacable,