"Robert Jordan - The Wheel of Time 07 - A Crown of Swords" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jordan Robert)

Feir had reported Siuan Sanche there, too. And Logain Ablar, spreading those vicious lies no Red sister could lower
herself to acknowledge, much less deny. The Sanche woman had a hand in that obscenity, or the sun would rise in the
west tomorrow. Why could she not simply have crawled away and died, decently out of sight, like other stilled women?
It required effort not to draw a deep breath. Logain could be hanged quietly as soon as the rebels were dealt with; most
of the world thought him dead long since. The filthy slander that the Red Ajah had set him up as a false Dragon would
die with him. When the rebels were dealt with, the Sanche woman could be made to hand over the keys' to the
Amyrlin's eyes-and-ears. And name the traitors who had helped her escape, A foolish hope to wish that Alviarin would
be named among them. "I can hardly see the al'Meara girl running to Ebou Dar claiming to be Aes Sedai, much less
Elayne, can you?"
"You did order Elayne found, Mother. As important as putting a leash on al'Thor, you said. When she was among three
hundred rebels in Salidar, it was impossible to do anything, but she will not be so well protected in the Tarasin Palace."
"I have no time for gossip and rumors." Elaida bit off each word with contempt. Did Alviarin know more than she
should, mentioning al'Thor, and leashing? "I suggest you read Tarna's report again, then ask yourself whether even
rebels would allow Accepted to pretend to the shawl."
Alviarin waited with visible patience for her to finish, then examined her sheaf again and pulled out four more sheets.
"The Gray agent sent sketches," she said blandly, proffering the pages. "He is no artist, but Elayne and Nynaeve are
recognizable." After a moment, when Elaida did not take the drawings, she slipped them under the rest.
Elaida felt the color of anger and embarrassment rising in her cheeks. Alviarin had led her down this path deliberately
by not bringing out those sketches at the first. She ignored thatтАФ anything else would only be more embarrassing
stillтАФ but her voice became cold. "I want them taken, and brought to me."
The lack of curiosity on Alviarin's face made Elaida wonder again how much the woman knew that she was not
supposed to. The al'Meara girl might well provide a handle on al'Thor, coming from the same village. All the sisters
knew that, just as they knew that Elayne was Daughter-Heir of Andor, and that her mother was dead. Vague rumors
linking Morgase to the Whitecloaks were so much nonsense, for she would never have gone to the Children of the
Light for help. She was dead, leaving not even a corpse behind, and Elayne would be Queen. If she could be wrested
away from the rebels before the Andoran Houses put Dyelin on the Lion Throne instead. It was not widely known what
made Elayne more important than any other noble with a strong claim to a throne. Aside from the fact that she would
be Aes Sedai one day, of course.
Elaida had the Foretelling sometimes, a Talent many thought lost before her, and long ago she had Foretold that the
Royal House of Andor held the key to winning the Last Battle. Twenty-five years gone and more, as soon as it became
clear that Morgase Trakand would gain the throne in the Succession, Elaida had fastened herself to the girl, as she was
then. How Elayne was crucial, Elaida did not know, but Foretelling never lied. Sometimes she almost hated the Talent.
She hated things* she could not control.
"I want all four of them, Alviarin." The other two were unimportant, certainly, but she would take no chances. "Send
my command to Teslyn immediately. Tell herтАФ and JolineтАФ that if they fail to send regular reports from now on, they
will wish they had never been born. Include the information from the Macura woman." Her mouth twisted around that
last.
The name made Alviarin shift uneasily, too, and no wonder. Ronde Macura's nasty little infusion was something to
make any sister uncomfortable. Forkroot was not lethalтАФ at least you woke, if you drank enough to sleepтАФ but a tea
that deadened a woman's ability to channel seemed aimed too directly at Aes Sedai. A pity the information had not
been received before Galina went; if fork-root worked on men as well as it seemed to on women, it would have made
her task considerably easier.
Alviarin's ill ease lasted only a moment; a* mere instant and she was all self-possession again, unyielding as a wall of
ice. "As you wish, Mother. I am sure they will leap to obey, as of course they should."
A sudden flash of irritation swept Elaida like fire in dry pasture. The fate of the world in her hands, and petty stumbling
blocks kept rising beneath her feet. Bad enough that she had rebels and recalcitrant rulers to handle, but too many
Sitters still brooded and grumbled behind her back, fertile ground for the other woman to plow. Only six were firmly
under her own thumb, and she suspected as many at least listened closely to Alviarin before they voted. Certainly
nothing of importance passed through the Hall unless Alviarin agreed to it. Not open agreement, not with any
acknowledgment that Alviarin bore a shred more influence or power than a Keeper should, but if Alviarin opposed....