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

gripped her knife hilt so hard that her knuckles paled.
Saerin had had to fight harder than most for the shawl, for
the right to remain in the Tower at all. To her, the Tower
was more than home, more important than her own life. If
Talene gave the wrong answer, Elaida might not live to face
trial.
“They don’t have meetings,” Talene muttered sullenly.
“Except the Supreme Council, I suppose. But she must be.
They know every report she receives, even the secret ones,
every word spoken to her. They know every decision she makes
before it’s announced. Days before; sometimes weeks. How
else, unless she tells them?” Sitting up with an effort, she
tried to fix them each in turn with an intent stare. It only
made her eyes seem to dart anxiously. “We have to run’ we
have to find a place to hide. I’ll help you—tell you
everything I know!—but they’ll kill us unless we run.”
Strange, Seaine thought, how quickly Talene had made her
former cronies “they” and tried to identify herself with the
rest of them. No. She was avoiding the real problem, and
avoidance was witless. Had Elaida really set her to dig out
the Black Ajah? She had never once actually mentioned the
name. Could she have meant something else? Elaida had always
jumped down the throat of anyone who even mentioned the Black.
Nearly any sister would do the same yet….
“Elaida’s proven herself a fool,” Saerin said, “and more
than once I’ve regretted standing for her, but I’ll not
believe she’s Black, not without more than that.” Tight-
lipped, Pevara jerked an agreeing nod. As a Red, she would
want much more.
“That’s as may be, Saerin,” Yukiri said, “but we cannot hold
Talene long before the Greens start asking where she is. Not
to mention the …the Black. We’d better decide what to do
fast, or we’ll still be digging at the bottom of the well when
the rains hit.” Talene gave Saerin a feeble smile that was
probably meant to be ingratiating. It faded under the Brown
Sitter’s frown.
“We don’t dare tell Elaida anything until we can cripple
the Black at one blow,” Saerin said finally. “Don’t argue,
Pevara; it’s sense.” Pevara threw up her hands and put on a
stubborn expression, but she closed her mouth. “if Talene is
right,” Saerin went on, “the Black knows about Seaine or soon
will, so we must ensure her safety, as much s we can. That
won’t be easy, with only five of us. We can’t trust anyone
until we are certain of them! At least w have Talene, and who
knows what we’ll learn before she’s wrung out?” Talene
attempted to look willing to be wrung out, but no one was
paying her any mind. Seaine’s throat had gone dry.
“We might not be entirely alone,” Pevara said reluctantly.
“Seaine, tell them your little scheme with Zerah and her
friends.”