rj.eyeoftheworld-第169节

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　　　　　　　Cautiously　Rand　looked　behind　him。　The　hillside　was　there　as　it　had　been；　the　shadowed　trees；　the　lakes　beyond　sinking　into　darkness。　He　was　afraid　to　step　back；　afraid　they　would　all　disappear　again　and　perhaps　this　time　he　would　not　be　able　to　find　them。　Edging　carefully　around　him；　Perrin　let　out　a　long　breath。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　noticed　the　three　of　them　standing　there；　gaping。　Perrin　looked　abashed；　and　slipped　his　axe　back　into　the　heavy　belt　loop　as　if　he　thought　no　one　might　notice。　A　smile　touched　her　lips。　〃It　is　a　simple　thing；〃　she　said；　〃a　bending；　so　any　eye　looking　at　us　sees　around　us；　instead。　We　cannot　have　the　eyes　that　will　be　out　there　seeing　our　lights　tonight；　and　the　Blight　is　no　place　to　be　in　the　dark。〃
　　　　　　　〃Moiraine　Sedai　says　I　might　be　able　to　do　it。〃　Egwene's　eyes　were　bright。　〃She　says　I　can　handle　enough　of　the　One　Power　right　now。〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　without　training；　child；〃　Moiraine　cautioned。　〃The　simplest　matter　concerning　the　One　Power　can　be　dangerous　to　the　untrained；　and　to　those　around　them。〃　Perrin　snorted；　and　Egwene　looked　so　unfortable　that　Rand　wondered　if　she　had　already　been　trying　her　abilities。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　set　down　the　lantern。　Together　with　the　tiny　flame　of　the　stove；　the　pair　of　lanterns　gave　a　generous　light。　〃When　you　go　to　Tar　Valon；　Egwene；〃　she　said　carefully；　〃perhaps　I'll　go　with　you。〃　The　look　she　gave　Moiraine　was　strangely　defensive。　〃It　will　do　her　good　to　see　a　familiar　face　among　strangers。　She'll　need　someone　to　advise　her　besides　Aes　Sedai。〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　that　would　be　for　the　best；　Wisdom；〃　Moiraine　said　simply。
　　　　　　　Egwene　laughed　and　clapped　her　hands。　〃Oh；　that　will　be　wonderful。　And　you；　Rand。　You'll　e；　too；　won't　you？〃　He　paused　in　the　act　of　sitting　across　the　stove　from　her；　then　slowly　lowered　himself。　He　thought　her　eyes　had　never　been　bigger；　or　brighter；　or　more　like　pools　that　he　could　lose　himself　in。　Spots　of　color　appeared　in　her　cheeks；　and　she　gave　a　smaller　laugh。　〃Perrin；　Mat；　you　two　will　e；　won't　you？　We'll　all　be　together。〃　Mat　gave　a　grunt　that　could　have　signified　anything；　and　Perrin　only　shrugged；　but　she　took　it　for　assent。　〃You　see；　Rand。　We'll　all　be　together。　〃
　　　　　　　Light；　but　a　man　could　drown　in　those　eyes　and　be　happy　doing　it。　Embarrassed；　he　cleared　his　throat。　〃Do　they　have　sheep　in　Tar　Valon？　That's　all　I　know；　herding　sheep　and　growing　tabac。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　believe；〃　Moiraine　said；　〃that　I　can　find　something　for　you　to　do　in　Tar　Valon。　For　all　of　you。　Not　herding　sheep；　perhaps；　but　something　you　will　find　interesting。〃
　　　　　　　〃There；〃　Egwene　said　as　if　it　were　settled。　〃I　know。　I　will　make　you　my　Warder；　when　I'm　an　Aes　Sedai。　You　would　like　being　a　Warder；　wouldn't　you？　My　Warder？〃　
　　　　　　　She　sounded　sure；　but　he　saw　the　question　in　her　eyes。　She　wanted　an　answer；　needed　it。
　　　　　　　〃I'd　like　being　your　Warder；〃　he　said。　She's　not　for　you；　nor　you　for　her。　Why　did　Min　have　to　tell　me　that？
　　　　　　　Darkness　came　down　heavily；　and　everyone　was　tired。　Loial　was　the　first　to　roll　over　and　ready　himself　for　sleep；　but　others　followed　soon　after。　No　one　used　their　blankets；　except　for　a　pillow。　Moiraine　had　put　something　in　the　oil　of　the　lamps　that　dispelled　the　stench　of　the　Blight　from　the　hilltop；　but　nothing　diminished　the　heat。　The　moon　gave　a　wavering；　watery　light；　but　the　sun　might　have　been　at　its　zenith　for　all　the　cool　the　night　had。
　　　　　　　Rand　found　sleep　impossible；　even　with　the　Aes　Sedai　stretched　out　not　a　span　away　to　shield　his　dreams。　It　was　the　thick　air　that　kept　him　awake。　Loial's　soft　snores　were　a　rumble　that　made　Perrin's　seem　nonexistent；　but　they　did　not　stop　weariness　from　claiming　the　others。　The　Warder　was　still　awake；　seated　not　far　from　him　with　his　sword　across　his　knees；　watching　the　night。　To　Rand's　surprise；　so　was　Nynaeve。
　　　　　　　The　Wisdom　looked　at　Lan　silently　for　a　long　time；　then　poured　a　cup　of　tea　and　brought　it　to　him。　When　he　reached　out　with　a　murmur　of　thanks；　she　did　not　let　go　right　away。　〃I　should　have　known　you　would　be　a　king；〃　she　said　quietly。　Her　eyes　were　steady　on　the　Warder's　face；　but　her　voice　trembled　slightly。
　　　　　　　Lan　looked　back　at　her　just　as　intently。　It　seemed　to　Rand　that　the　Warder's　face　actually　softened。　〃I　am　not　a　king；　Nynaeve。　Just　a　man。　A　man　without　as　much　to　his　name　as　even　the　meanest　farmer's　croft。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve's　voice　steadied。　〃Some　women　don't　ask　for　land；　or　gold。　Just　the　man。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　the　man　who　would　ask　her　to　accept　so　little　would　not　be　worthy　of　her。　You　are　a　remarkable　woman；　as　beautiful　as　the　sunrise；　as　fierce　as　a　warrior。　You　are　a　lioness；　Wisdom。〃
　　　　　　　〃A　Wisdom　seldom　weds。〃　She　paused　to　take　a　deep　breath；　as　if　steeling　herself。　〃But　if　I　go　to　Tar　Valon；　it　may　be　that　I　will　be　something　other　than　a　Wisdom。〃
　　　　　　　〃Aes　Sedai　marry　as　seldom　as　Wisdoms。　Few　men　can　live　with　so　much　power　in　a　wife；　dimming　them　by　her　radiance　whether　she　wishes　to　or　not。〃
　　　　　　　〃Some　men　are　strong　enough。　I　know　one　such。〃　If　there　could　have　been　any　doubt；　her　look　left　none　as　to　whom　she　meant。
　　　　　　　〃All　I　have　is　a　sword；　and　a　war　I　cannot　win；　but　can　never　stop　fighting。　〃
　　　　　　　〃I've　told　you　I　care　nothing　for　that。　Light；　you've　made　me　say　more　than　is　proper　already。　Will　you　shame　me　to　the　point　of　asking　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　never　shame　you。〃　The　gentle　tone；　like　a　caress；　sounded　odd　to　Rand's　ears　in　the　Warder's　voice；　but　it　made　Nynaeve's　eyes　brighten。　〃I　will　hate　the　man　you　choose　because　he　is　not　me；　and　love　him　if　he　makes　you　smile。　No　woman　deserves　the　sure　knowledge　of　widow's　black　as　her　brideprice；　you　least　of　all。〃　He　set　the　untouched　cup　on　the　ground　and　rose。　〃I　must　check　the　horses。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　remained　there；　kneeling；　after　he　had　gone。
　　　　　　　Sleep　or　no；　Rand　closed　his　eyes。　He　did　not　think　the　Wisdom　would　like　it　if　he　watched　her　cry。

Chapter　49
The　Dark　One　Stirs
　
　　　　　　　Dawn　woke　Rand　with　a　start；　the　sullen　sun　pricking　his　eyelids　as　it　peeked　reluctantly　over　the　treetops　of　the　Blight。　Even　so　early；　heat　covered　the　spoiled　lands　in　a　heavy　blanket。　He　lay　on　his　back　with　his　head　pillowed　on　his　blanketroll；　staring　at　the　sky。　It　was　still　blue；　the　sky。　Even　here；　that；　at　least；　was　untouched。
　　　　　　　He　was　surprised　to　realize　that　he　had　slept。　For　a　minute　the　dim　memory　of　a　conversation　overheard　seemed　like　part　of　some　dream。　Then　he　saw　Nynaeve's　red…rimmed　eyes；　she　had　not　slept；　obviously。　Lan's　face　was　harder　than　ever；　as　if　he　had　resumed　a　mask　and　did　not　intend　to　let　it　slip　again。
　　　　　　　Egwene　went　over　and　crouched　beside　the　Wisdom；　her　face　concerned。　He　could　not　make　out　what　they　said。　Egwene　spoke；　and　Nynaeve　shook　her　head。　Egwene　said　something　else；　and　the　Wisdom　waved　her　away　dismissively。　Instead　of　going；　Egwene　bent　her　head　closer；　and　for　a　few　minutes　the　two　women　talked　even　more　softly；　with　Nynaeve　still　shaking　her　head。　The　Wisdom　ended　it　with　a　laugh；　hugging　Egwene　and；　by　her　expression；　making　soothing　talk。　When　Egwene　stood；　though；　she　glared　at　the　Warder。　Lan　did　not　seem　to　notice；　he　did　not　look　in　Nynaeve's　direction　at　all。
　　　　　　　Shaking　his　head；　Rand　gathered　his　things；　and　gave　his　hands　and　face　and　teeth　a　hasty　wash　with　the　little　water　Lan　allowed　for　such　things。　He　wondered　if　women　had　a　way　of　reading　men's　minds。　It　was　an　unsettling　thought。　All　women　are　Aes　Sedai。　Telling　himself　he　was　letting　the　Blight　get　to　him；　he　rinsed　out　his　mouth　and　hurried　to　get　the　bay　saddled。
　　　　　　　It　was　more　than　a　little　disconcerting；　having　the　campsite　disappear　before　he　reached　the　horses；　but　by　the　time　his　saddle　girth　was　tight　everything　on　the　hill　winked　back　into　view。　Everyone　was　hurrying。
　　　　　　　The　seven　towers　stood　plain　in　the　morning　light；　distant　broken　stumps；　like　huge；　rough　hills　that　merely　hinted　at　grandeur　gone。　The　hundred　lakes　were　a　smooth；　unruffled　blue。　Nothing　broke　the　surface　this　morning。　When　he　looked　at　the　lakes　and　the　ruined　towers；　he　could　almost　ignore　the　sickly　things　growing　around　the　hill。　Lan　did　not　seem　to　be　avoiding　looking　at　the　towers；　any　more　than　he　seemed　to　be　avoiding　Nynaeve；　but　somehow　he　never　did　as　he　concentrated　on　getting　them　ready　to　go。
　　　　　　　After　the　wicker　panniers　were　fastened　on　the　packhorse；　after　every　scrap　and　smudge　and　track　were　gone　and　everyone　else　was　mounted；　the　Aes　Sedai　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　hilltop　with　her　eyes　closed；　not　even　seeming　to　breathe。　Nothing　happened　that　Rand　could　see；　except　that　Nynaeve　and　Egwene　shivered　despite　the　heat　and　rubbed　their　arms　briskly。　Egwene's　hands　suddenly　froze　on　her　arms；　and　she　opened　her　mouth；　staring　at　the　Wisdom。　Before　she　could　speak；　Nynaeve　also　ceased　her　rubbing　and　gave　her　a　sharp　look。　The　two　women　looked　at　one　another；　then　Egwene　nodded　and　grinned；　and　after　a　moment　Nynaeve　did；　too；　though　her　smile　was　only　halfhearted。
　　　　　　　Rand　scrubbed　his　fingers　through　his　hair；　already　more　damp　with　sweat　than　with　the　water　he　had　splashed　in　his　face。　He　was　sure　there　was　something　in　the　silent　exchange　that　he　should　understand；　but　that　feather…light　brush　across　his