"Robert Jordan - The Wheel of Time 05 - The Fires of Heaven" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jordan Robert)

The Fires of Heaven - Book 5 of The Wheel of Time - by Robert Jordan v1.2

In this sequel to the phenomenal New York Times bestseller The Shadow Rising, Robert Jordan
again plunges us into his extraordinarily rich, totally unforgettable world: ...into the forbidden
city of Rhuidean, where Rand al'Thor, now the Dragon Reborn, must conceal his present
endeavor from all about him, even Egwene and Moiraine. ...Into the Amyrlin's study in the White
Tower, where the Amyrlin, Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan, is weaving new plans. ...into Andor,
where Siuan Sanche and her companions, including the false Dragon Logain, have been arrested
for barn-burning. ...into the luxurious hidden chamber where the Forsaken Rahvin is meeting with
three of his fellows to ensure their ultimate victory over the Dragon. ...Into the Queen's court in
Caemlyn, where Morgase is curiously in thrall to the handsome Lord Gaebril. For once the
Dragon walks the land, the fires of heaven fall where they will, until all men's lives are ablaze.
And in Shayol Ghul, the Dark One stirs...

Prologue

The First Sparks Fall


Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan absently fingered the long, seven-striped stole about her
shoulders, the stole of the Amyrlin Seat, as she sat behind her wide writing table. Many would
have accounted her beautiful, at first glance, but a second look made it clear that the severity of
her ageless, Aes Sedai face was not a momentary matter. Today there was something more, a
light of anger in her dark eyes. If anyone had noticed.
She barely, listened to the women arrayed on stools before her. Their dresses were every
color from white to the darkest red, in silk or wool as each woman's taste dictated, yet all but one
wore their formal shawls, embroidered White Flame of Tar Valon centered on their backs, colored
fringe proclaiming their Ajahs, as though this were a meeting of the Hall of the Tower. They
discussed reports and rumors of events in the world, trying to sift fact from fancy, trying to decide
the Tower's course of action, but they seldom even glanced at the woman behind the table, the
woman they had sworn to obey. Elaida could not keep her full attention we need is Shienar
weakening itself to the point where a Trolloc army could break through."
"Perhaps." Alviarin nodded, considering. "But there are agents in Shienar-Red, I am sure,
and perhaps others?-" The four Red sisters nodded tightly, reluctantly; no one else did. "--who
can warn us if these small clashes become anything to worry us."
It was an open secret that every Ajah except the White, devoted to logic and philosophy
as it was, had watchers and listeners scattered through the nations to varying degrees, though the
Yellow network was believed to be a pitiful thing. There was nothing of sickness or Healing they
could learn from those who could not channel. Some individual sisters had their own
eyes-and-ears, though perhaps even more closely guarded than agents of the Ajahs. The Blues had
had the most extensive, both Ajah and personal.
"As for Tenobia and Davram Bashere," Alviarin went on, "are we agreed that they must
be dealt with by sisters?" She hardly waited for heads to nod. "Good. It is done. Memara will do
nicely; she will take no nonsense from Tenobia, while never letting her see the leash. Now. Does
anyone have fresh word out of Arad Doman or Tarabon? If we do not do something there soon,
we may find that Pedron Niall and the Whitecloaks have sway from Bandar Eban to the Shadow
Coast. Evanellein, you have something?" Arad Doman and Tarabon were racked by civil wars,
and worse. There was no order anywhere. Elaida was surprised they would bring it up.
"Only a rumor," the Gray sister replied. Her silk dress, matching the fringe on her shawl,
was finely cut and scooped low at the neck. Often Elaida thought the woman should have been