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

dangerous ground, Javindhra hurried on. "And her new lover, Lord Gaebril, seems to be keeping
her occupied otherwise." Her thin mouth narrowed even further. "She is completely besotted with
the man."
"He keeps her concentrated on Cairhien," Alviarin said. "The situation there is nearly as
bad as in Tarabon and Arad Doman, with every House contending for the Sun Throne, and famine
everywhere. Morgase will reestablish order, but it will take time for her to have the throne secure.
Until that is done, she will have little energy left to worry about other matters, even the
Daughter-Heir. And I set a clerk the task of sending occasional letters; the woman does a good
imitation of Elayne's hand. Morgase will keep until we can secure proper control of her again."
"At least we still have her son in hand." Joline smiled.
"Gawyn do hardly be in hand," Teslyn said sharply. "Those Younglings of his do skirmish
with Whitecloaks on both sides of the river. He does act on his own as much as at our direction."
"He will be brought under control," Alviarin said. Elaida was beginning to find that
constant cool composure hateful
"Speaking of the Whitecloaks," Danelle put in, "it appears that Pedron Niall is conducting
secret negotiations, trying to convince Altara and Murandy to cede land to Illian, and thus keep
the Council of Nine from invading one or both."
Safely back from the precipice, the women on the other side of the table nattered on,
deciding whether the Lord Captain Commander's negotiations might gain too much influence for
the Children of the Light. Perhaps they should be disrupted so the Tower could step in and
replace him.
Elaida's mouth twisted. The Tower had often in its history been cautious of necessity-too
many feared them, too many distrusted them-but it had never feared anything or anyone. Now, it
feared.
She raised her eyes to the paintings. One consisted of three wooden panels depicting
Bonwhin, the last Red to have been raised to the Amyrlin Seat, a thousand years before, and the
reason no Red had worn the stole since. Until Elaida. Bonwhin, tall and proud, ordering Aes
Sedai in their manipulations of Artur Hawkwing; Bonwhin, defiant, on the white walls of Tar
Valon, under siege by Hawkwing's forces; and Bonwhin, kneeling and bumbled, before the Hall of
the Tower as they stripped her of stole and staff for nearly destroying the Tower.
Many wondered why Elaida had had the triptych retrieved from the storerooms where it
had lain covered in dust; if none spoke openly, she had still heard the whispers. They did not
understand that constant reminder of the price of failure was necessary.
The second painting was in the new fashion, on stretched canvas, a copy of a street artist's
sketch from the distant west. That one caused even more unease among the Aes Sedai who saw
it. Two men fought among clouds, seemingly in the sky, wielding lightning for weapons. One had
a face of fire. The other was tall and young, with reddish hair. It was the youth who caused the
fear, who made even Elaida's teeth clench. She was not sure if it was in anger, or to keep them
from chattering. But fear could and must be controlled. Control was all.
"We are done, then," Alviarin said, rising smoothly from her stool. The others copied her,
adjusting skirts and shawls in preparation for leaving. "In three days, I will expect-"
"Have I given you leave to go, daughters?" Those were the first words Elaida had spoken
since telling them to be seated. They looked at her in surprise. Surprise! Some moved back
toward the stools, but not with any haste. And not a word of apology. She had let this go on
much too long. "Since you are standing, you will remain so until I am done." A moment of
confusion caught those half-seated, and she continued as they straightened again uncertainly. "I
have heard no mention of the search for that woman and her companions."
no need to name that woman, Elaida's predecessor. They knew who she meant, and Elaida
found it harder every day even to think the former Amyrlin's name. All of her current
problems-all!-could be laid at that woman's feet.