"Robert Jordan - The Wheel of Time 04 - The Shadow Rising" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jordan Robert)

even fell to their knees. The rich merchant looked frightened; the farm couple at her side stared at legends
come to life. How to deal with Aes Sedai was a matter of hearsay for most; it was unlikely that any here,
except those who actually lived in Tar Valon, had seen an Aes Sedai before, and probably not even the
Tar Valoners had been this close.

But it was not the Aes Sedai themselves that halted MinтАЩs tongue. Sometimes, not often, she saw things
when she looked at people, images and auras that usually flared and were gone in moments. Occasionally
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she knew what they meant. It happened rarely, the knowing тАФ much more rarely than the seeing, even
тАФ but when she knew, she was always right.

Unlike most others, Aes Sedai тАФ and their Warders тАФ always had images and auras, sometimes so
many dancing and shifting that they made Min dizzy. The numbers made no difference in interpreting
them, though; she knew what they meant for Aes Sedai as seldom as for anyone else. But this time she
knew more than she wanted to, and it made her shiver.

A slender woman with black hair falling to her waist, the only one of the three she recognized тАФ her
name was Ananda; she was Yellow Ajah тАФ wore a sickly brown halo, shriveled and split by rotting
fissures that fell in and widened as they decayed. The small, fair-haired Aes Sedai beside Ananda was
Green Ajah, by her green-fringed shawl. The White Flame of Tar Valon on it showed for a moment
when she turned her back. And on her shoulder, as if nestled among the grape vines and flowering apple
branches worked on her shawl, sat a human skull. A small womanтАЩs skull, picked clean and
sun-bleached. The third, a plumply pretty woman halfway around the room, wore no shawl; most Aes
Sedai did not except for ceremony. The lift of her chin and the set of her shoulders spoke of strength and
pride. She seemed to be casting cool blue eyes on the petitioners through a tattered curtain of blood,
crimson streamers running down her face.

Blood and skull and halo faded away in the dance of images around the three, came and faded again.
The petitioners stared in awe, seeing only three women who could touch the True Source and channel the
One Power. No one but Min saw the rest. No one but Min knew those three women were going to die.
All on the same day.

тАЬThe Amyrlin cannot see everyone,тАЭ Faolain said with poorly hidden impatience. тАЬHer next public
audience is not for ten days. Tell me what you want, and I will arrange for you to see the sister who can
best help you.тАЭ

MinтАЩs eye flew to the bundle in her arms and stayed there, partly so she would not have to see again
what she had already seen.All threeof them! Light! What chance was there that three Aes Sedai would
die on the same day? But she knew. She knew.

тАЬI have the right to speak to the Amyrlin Seat. In person.тАЭ It was a right seldom demanded тАФ who
would dare? тАФ but it existed. тАЬAny woman has that right, and I ask it.тАЭ

тАЬDo you think the Amyrlin Seat herself can see everyone who comes to the White Tower? Surely
another Aes Sedai can help you.тАЭ Faolain gave heavy weight to the titles as if to overpower Min. тАЬNow
tell me what your question is about. And give me your name, so the novice will know who to come for.тАЭ