rj.eyeoftheworld-第139节

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　　　　　　　Abruptly　they　turned　to　stare　at　Rand。　He　had　the　feeling　they　had　forgotten　he　was　there。　〃Who　。。。　？〃　He　had　to　stop　to　wet　his　lips。　〃Who　is　your　mother？〃
　　　　　　　Elayne's　eyes　widened　in　surprise；　but　Gawyn　spoke　in　an　ordinary　tone　that　made　his　words　all　the　more　jarring。　〃Morgase；　by　the　Grace　of　the　Light；　Queen　of　Andor；　Protector　of　the　Realm；　Defender　of　the　People；　High　Seat　of　the　House　Trakand。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Queen；〃　Rand　muttered；　shock　spreading　through　him　in　waves　of　numbness。　For　a　minute　he　thought　his　head　was　going　to　begin　spinning　again。　Don't　attract　any　attention。　Just　fall　into　the　Queen's　garden　and　let　the　Daughter…Heir　tend　your　cuts　like　a　hedge…doctor。　He　wanted　to　laugh；　and　knew　it　for　the　fringes　of　panic。
　　　　　　　Drawing　a　deep　breath；　he　scrambled　hastily　to　his　feet。　He　held　himself　tightly　in　rein　against　the　urge　to　run；　but　the　need　to　get　away　filled　him；　to　get　away　before　anyone　else　discovered　him　there。
　　　　　　　Elayne　and　Gawyn　watched　him　calmly；　and　when　he　leaped　up　they　rose　gracefully；　not　hurried　in　the　least。　He　put　up　a　hand　to　pull　the　scarf　from　his　head；　and　Elayne　seized　his　elbow。　〃Stop　that。　You　will　start　the　bleeding　again。〃　Her　voice　was　still　calm；　still　sure　that　he　would　do　as　he　was　told。
　　　　　　　〃I　have　to　go；〃　Rand　said。　〃I'll　just　climb　back　over　the　wall　and…〃
　　　　　　　〃You　really　didn't　know。〃　For　the　first　time　she　seemed　as　startled　as　he　was。　〃Do　you　mean　you　climbed　up　on　that　wall　to　see　Logain　without　even　knowing　where　you　were？　You　could　have　gotten　a　much　better　view　down　in　the　streets。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　。。。　I　don't　like　crowds；〃　he　mumbled。　He　sketched　a　bow　to　each　of　them。　〃If　you'll　pardon　me；　ah　。。。　my　Lady。〃　In　the　stories；　royal　courts　were　full　of　people　all　calling　one　another　Lord　and　Lady　and　Royal　Highness　and　Majesty；　but　if　he　had　ever　heard　the　correct　form　of　address　for　the　Daughter…Heir；　he　could　not　think　clearly　enough　to　remember。　He　could　not　think　clearly　about　anything　beyond　the　need　to　be　far　away。　〃If　you　will　pardon　me；　I'll　just　leave　now。　Ah　。。。　thank　you　for　the　。。。〃　He　touched　the　scarf　around　his　head。　〃Thank　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃Without　even　telling　us　your　name？〃　Gawyn　said。　〃A　poor　payment　for　Elayne's　care。　I've　been　wondering　about　you。　You　sound　like　an　Andorman；　though　not　a　Caemlyner；　certainly；　but　you　look　like。。。　Well；　you　know　our　names。　Courtesy　would　suggest　you　give　us　yours。〃
　　　　　　　Looking　longingly　at　the　wall；　Rand　gave　his　right　name　before　he　thought　what　he　was　doing；　and　even　added；　〃From　Emond's　Field；　in　the　Two　Rivers。〃〃From　the　west；〃　Gawyn　murmured。　〃Very　far　to　the　west。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　looked　around　at　him　sharply。　There　had　been　a　note　of　surprise　in　the　young　man's　voice；　and　Rand　caught　some　of　it　still　on　his　face　when　he　turned。　Gawyn　replaced　it　with　a　pleasant　smile　so　quickly；　though；　that　he　almost　doubted　what　he　had　seen。
　　　　　　　〃Tabac　and　wool；〃　Gawyn　said。　〃I　have　to　know　the　principal　products　of　every　part　of　the　Realm。　Of　every　land；　for　that　matter。　Part　of　my　training。　Principal　products　and　crafts；　and　what　the　people　are　like。　Their　customs；　their　strengths　and　weaknesses。　It's　said　Two　Rivers　people　are　stubborn。　They　can　be　led；　if　they　think　you　are　worthy；　but　the　harder　you　try　to　push　them；　the　harder　they　dig　in。　Elayne　ought　to　choose　her　husband　from　there。　It'll　take　a　man　with　a　will　like　stone　to　keep　from　being　trampled　by　her。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　stared　at　him。　Elayne　was　staring；　too。　Gawyn　looked　as　much　under　control　as　ever；　but　he　was　babbling。　Why？
　　　　　　　〃What's　this？〃
　　　　　　　All　three　of　them　jumped　at　the　sudden　voice；　and　spun　to　face　it。
　　　　　　　The　young　man　who　stood　there　was　the　handsomest　man　Rand　had　ever　seen；　almost　too　handsome　for　masculinity。　He　was　tall　and　slender；　but　his　movements　spoke　of　whipcord　strength　and　a　sure　confidence。　Dark　of　hair　and　eye；　he　wore　his　clothes；　only　a　little　less　elaborate　in　red　and　white　than　Gawyn's；　as　if　they　were　of　no　importance。　One　hand　rested　on　his　sword　hilt；　and　his　eyes　were　steady　on　Rand。
　　　　　　　〃Stand　away　from　him；　Elayne；〃　the　man　said。　〃You；　too；　Gawyn。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　stepped　in　front　of　Rand；　between　him　and　the　newer；　head　high　and　as　confident　as　ever。　〃He　is　a　loyal　subject　of　our　mother；　and　a　good　Queen's　man。　And　he　is　under　my　protection；　Galad。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　tried　to　remember　what　he　had　heard　from　Master　Kinch；　and　since　from　Master　Gill。　Galadedrid　Damodred　was　Elayne's　half…brother；　Elayne's　and　Gawyn's；　if　he　remembered　correctly；　the　three　shared　the　same　father。　Master　Kinch　might　not　have　liked　Taringail　Damodred　too　well　…　neither　did　anyone　else　that　he　had　heard　…　but　the　son　was　well　thought　of　by　wearers　of　the　red　and　the　white　alike；　if　talk　in　the　city　was　any　guide。
　　　　　　　〃I　am　aware　of　your　fondness　for　strays；　Elayne；〃　the　slender　man　said　reasonably；　〃but　the　fellow　is　armed；　and　he　hardly　looks　reputable。　In　these　days；　we　cannot　be　too　careful。　If　he's　a　loyal　Queen's　man；　what　is　he　doing　here　where　he　does　not　belong？　It　is　easy　enough　to　change　the　wrappings　on　a　sword；　Elayne。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　is　here　as　my　guest；　Galad；　and　I　vouch　for　him。　Or　have　you　appointed　yourself　my　nurse；　to　decide　whom　I　may　talk　to；　and　when？〃
　　　　　　　Her　voice　was　rich　with　scorn；　but　Galad　seemed　unmoved。　〃You　know　I　make　no　claims　for　control　over　your　actions；　Elayne；　but　this　。。。　guest　of　yours　is　not　proper；　and　you　know　that　as　well　as　I。　Gawyn；　help　me　convince　her。　Our　mother　would　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃Enough！〃　Elayne　snapped。　〃You　are　right　that　you　have　no　say　over　my　actions；　nor　have　you　any　right　to　judge　them。　You　may　leave　me。　Now！〃
　　　　　　　Galad　gave　Gawyn　a　rueful　look；　at　one　and　the　same　time　it　seemed　to　ask　for　help　while　saying　that　Elayne　was　too　headstrong　to　be　helped。　Elayne's　face　darkened；　but　just　as　she　opened　her　mouth　again；　he　bowed；　in　all　formality　yet　with　the　grace　of　a　cat；　took　a　step　back；　then　turned　and　strode　down　the　paved　path；　his　long　legs　carrying　him　quickly　out　of　sight　beyond　the　arbor。
　　　　　　　〃I　hate　him；〃　Elayne　breathed。　〃He　is　vile　and　full　of　envy。〃
　　　　　　　〃There　you　go　too　far；　Elayne；〃　Gawyn　said。　〃Galad　does　not　know　the　meaning　of　envy。　Twice　he　has　saved　my　life；　with　none　to　know　if　he　held　his　hand。　If　he　had　not；　he　would　be　your　First　Prince　of　the　Sword　in　my　place。〃
　　　　　　　〃Never；　Gawyn。　I　would　choose　anyone　before　Galad。　Anyone。　The　lowest　stableboy。〃　Suddenly　she　smiled　and　gave　her　brother　a　mock…stern　look。　〃You　say　I　am　fond　of　giving　orders。　Well；　I　mand　you　to　let　nothing　happen　to　you。　I　mand　you　to　be　my　First　Prince　of　the　Sword　when　I　take　the　throne　…　the　Light　send　that　day　is　far　off！　…　and　to　lead　the　armies　of　Andor　with　the　sort　of　honor　Galad　cannot　dream　of。〃
　　　　　　　〃As　you　mand；　my　Lady。〃　Gawyn　laughed；　his　bow　a　parody　of　Galad's。
　　　　　　　Elayne　gave　Rand　a　thoughtful　frown。　〃Now　we　must　get　you　out　of　here　quickly。　〃
　　　　　　　〃Galad　always　does　the　right　thing；〃　Gawyn　explained；　〃even　when　he　should　not。　In　this　case；　finding　a　stranger　in　the　gardens；　the　right　thing　is　to　notify　the　Palace　guards。　Which　I　suspect　he　is　on　his　way　to　do　right　this　minute。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　it's　time　I　was　back　over　the　wall；〃　Rand　said。　A　fine　day　for　going　unnoticed！　I　might　as　well　carry　a　sign！　He　turned　to　the　wall；　but　Elayne　caught　his　arm。
　　　　　　　〃Not　after　the　trouble　I　went　to　with　your　hands。　You'll　only　make　fresh　scrapes　and　then　let　some　back…alley　crone　put　the　Light　knows　what　on　them。　There　is　a　small　gate　on　the　other　side　of　the　garden。　It's　overgrown；　and　no　one　but　me　even　remembers　it's　there。〃
　　　　　　　Suddenly　Rand　heard　boots　pounding　toward　them　over　the　slate　paving　stones。
　　　　　　　〃Too　late；〃　Gawyn　muttered。　〃He　must　have　started　running　as　soon　as　he　was　out　of　eyeshot。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　growled　an　oath；　and　Rand's　eyebrows　shot　up。　He　had　heard　that　one　from　the　stablemen　at　The　Queen's　Blessing　and　had　been　shocked　then。　The　next　moment　she　was　in　cool　self…possession　once　more。
　　　　　　　Gawyn　and　Elayne　appeared　content　to　remain　where　they　were；　but　he　could　not　make　himself　stay　for　the　Queen's　Guards　with　such　equanimity。　He　started　once　more　for　the　wall；　knowing　he　would　be　no　more　than　halfway　up　before　the　guards　arrived；　but　unable　to　stand　still。
　　　　　　　Before　he　had　taken　three　steps　red…uniformed　men　burst　into　sight；　breastplates　catching　the　sun　as　they　dashed　up　the　path。　Others　came　like　breaking　waves　of　scarlet　and　polished　steel；　seemingly　from　every　direction。　Some　held　drawn　swords；　others　only　waited　to　set　their　boots　before　raising　bows　and　nocking　feathered　shafts。　Behind　the　barred　face…guards　every　eye　was　grim；　and　every　broadhead　arrow　was　pointed　unwaveringly　at　him。
　　　　　　　Elayne　and　Gawyn　leaped　as　one；　putting　themselves　between　him　and　the　arrows；　their　arms　spread　to　cover　him。　He　stood　very　still　and　kept　his　hands　in　plain　sight；　away　from　his　sword。
　　　　　　　While　the　thud　of　boots　and　the　creak　of　bowstrings　still　hung　in　the　air；　one　of　the　soldiers；　with　the　golden　knot　of　an　officer　on　his　shoulder；　shouted；　〃My　Lady；　my　Lord；　down；　quickly！〃
　　　　　　　Despite　her　outstretched　arms　Elayne　drew　herself　up　regally。　〃You　dare　to　bring　bare　steel　into　my　presenc