rj.eyeoftheworld-第40节

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nly　heard　of　three　in　his　whole　life；　and　thank　the　Light　never　in　the　Two　Rivers　…　but　the　damage　they　did　before　the　Aes　Sedai　found　them　was　always　bad　enough　for　the　news　to　carry；　like　the　news　of　wars；　or　earthquakes　that　destroyed　cities。　He　had　never　really　understood　what　the　Ajahs　did。　According　to　the　stories　they　were　societies　among　the　Aes　Sedai　that　seemed　to　plot　and　squabble　among　themselves　more　than　anything　else；　but　the　stories　were　clear　on　one　point。　The　Red　Ajah　held　its　prime　duty　to　be　the　prevention　of　another　Breaking　of　the　World；　and　they　did　it　by　hunting　down　every　man　who　even　dreamed　of　wielding　the　One　Power。　Mat　and　Perrin　looked　as　if　they　suddenly　wished　they　were　back　home　in　their　beds。
　　　　　　　〃。。。　but　some　of　the　women　die；　too。　It　is　hard　to　learn　without　a　guide。　The　women　we　do　not　find；　those　who　live；　often　bee　。。。　well；　in　this　part　of　the　world　they　might　bee　Wisdoms　of　their　villages。〃　The　Aes　Sedai　paused　thoughtfully。　〃The　old　blood　is　strong　in　Emond's　Field；　and　the　old　blood　sings。　I　knew　you　for　what　you　were　the　moment　I　saw　you。　No　Aes　Sedai　can　stand　in　the　presence　of　a　woman　who　can　channel　or　who　is　close　to　her　change；　and　not　feel　it。　〃　She　rummaged　in　the　pouch　at　her　belt　and　produced　the　small　blue　gem　on　a　gold　chain　that　she　had　earlier　worn　in　her　hair。　〃You　are　very　close　to　your　change；　your　first　touching。　It　will　be　better　if　I　guide　you　through　it。　That　way　you　will　avoid　the　。。。　unpleasant　effects　that　e　to　those　who　must　find　their　own　way。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene's　eyes　widened　as　she　looked　at　the　stone；　and　she　wet　her　lips　repeatedly。　〃Is　。。。　does　that　have　the　Power？〃
　　　　　　　〃Of　course　not；〃　Moiraine　snapped。　〃Things　do　not　have　the　Power；　child。　Even　an　angreal　is　only　a　tool。　This　is　just　a　pretty　blue　stone。　But　it　can　give　off　light。　Here。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene's　hands　trembled　as　Moiraine　laid　the　stone　on　her　fingertips。　She　started　to　pull　back；　but　the　Aes　Sedai　held　both　her　hands　in　one　of　hers　and　gently　touched　the　other　to　the　side　of　Egwene's　head。
　　　　　　　〃Look　at　the　stone；〃　the　Aes　Sedai　said　softly。　〃It　is　better　this　way　than　fumbling　alone。　Clear　your　mind　of　everything　but　the　stone。　Clear　your　mind；　and　let　yourself　drift。　There　is　only　the　stone　and　emptiness。　I　will　begin　it。　Drift；　and　let　me　guide　you。　No　thoughts。　Drift。〃
　　　　　　　Rand's　fingers　dug　into　his　knees；　his　jaws　clenched　until　they　hurt。　She　has　to　fail。　She　has　to。
　　　　　　　Light　bloomed　in　the　stone；　just　one　flash　of　blue　and　then　gone；　no　brighter　than　a　firefly；　but　he　flinched　as　if　it　had　been　blinding。　Egwene　and　Moiraine　stared　into　the　stone；　faces　empty。　Another　flash　came；　and　another；　until　the　azure　light　pulsed　like　the　beating　of　a　heart。　It's　the　Aes　Sedai；　he　thought　desperately。　Moiraine's　doing　it。　Not　Egwene。
　　　　　　　One　last；　feeble　flicker；　and　the　stone　was　merely　a　bauble　again。　Rand　held　his　breath。
　　　　　　　For　a　moment　Egwene　continued　to　stare　at　the　small　stone；　then　she　looked　up　at　Moiraine。　〃I　。。。　I　thought　I　felt　。。。　something；　but　。。。　Perhaps　you're　mistaken　about　me。　I　am　sorry　I　wasted　your　time。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　wasted　nothing；　child。〃　A　small　smile　of　satisfaction　flitted　across　Moiraine's　lips。　〃That　last　light　was　yours　alone。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　was？〃　Egwene　exclaimed；　then　slid　immediately　back　into　glumness。　〃But　it　was　barely　there　at　all。　〃
　　　　　　　〃Now　you　are　behaving　like　a　foolish　village　girl。　Most　who　e　to　Tar　Valon　must　study　for　many　months　before　they　can　do　what　you　just　did。　You　may　go　far。　Perhaps　even　the　Amyrlin　Seat；　one　day；　if　you　study　hard　and　work　hard。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　mean　。。。　？〃　With　a　cry　of　delight　Egwene　threw　her　arms　around　the　Aes　Sedai。　〃Oh；　thank　you。　Rand；　did　you　hear？　I'm　going　to　be　an　Aes　Sedai！〃

Chapter　13
Choices
　
　　　　　　　Before　they　went　to　sleep　Moiraine　knelt　by　each　in　turn　and　laid　her　hands　on　their　heads。　Lan　grumbled　that　he　had　no　need　and　she　should　not　waste　her　strength；　but　he　did　not　try　to　stop　her。　Egwene　was　eager　for　the　experience；　Mat　and　Perrin　clearly　frightened　of　it；　and　frightened　to　say　no。　Thom　jerked　away　from　the　Aes　Sedai's　hands；　but　she　seized　his　gray　head　with　a　look　that　allowed　no　nonsense。　The　gleeman　scowled　through　the　entire　thing。　She　smiled　mockingly　once　she　took　her　hands　away。　His　frown　deepened；　but　he　did　look　refreshed。　They　all　did。
　　　　　　　Rand　had　drawn　back　into　a　niche　in　the　uneven　wall　where　he　hoped　he　would　be　overlooked。　His　eyes　wanted　to　slide　closed　once　he　leaned　back　against　the　timber　jumble；　but　he　forced　himself　to　watch。　He　pushed　a　fist　against　his　mouth　to　stifle　a　yawn。　A　little　sleep；　an　hour　or　two；　and　he　would　be　just　fine。　Moiraine　did　not　forget　him；　though。
　　　　　　　He　flinched　at　the　coolness　of　her　fingers　on　his　face；　and　said；　〃I　don't　…〃　His　eyes　widened　in　wonder。　Tiredness　drained　out　of　him　like　water　running　downhill；　aches　and　soreness　ebbed　to　dim　memories　and　vanished。　He　stared　at　her　with　his　mouth　hanging　open。　She　only　smiled　and　withdrew　her　hands。
　　　　　　　〃It　is　done；〃　she　said；　and　as　she　stood　with　a　weary　sigh　he　was　reminded　that　she　could　not　do　the　same　for　herself。　Indeed；　she　only　drank　a　little　tea；　refusing　the　bread　and　cheese　Lan　tried　to　press　on　her；　before　curling　up　beside　the　fire。　She　seemed　to　fall　asleep　the　instant　she　wrapped　her　cloak　around　her。
　　　　　　　The　others；　all　save　Lan；　were　dropping　asleep　wherever　they　could　find　a　space　to　stretch　out；　but　Rand　could　not　imagine　why。　He　felt　as　if　he　had　already　had　a　full　night　in　a　good　bed。　No　sooner　did　he　lean　back　against　the　log　wall；　though；　than　sleep　rolled　him　under。　When　Lan　poked　him　awake　an　hour　later　he　felt　as　though　he　had　had　three　days　rest。
　　　　　　　The　Warder　awakened　them　all；　except　Moiraine；　and　he　sternly　hushed　any　sound　that　might　disturb　her。　Even　so；　he　allowed　them　only　a　short　stay　in　the　snug　cave　of　trees。　Before　the　sun　was　twice　its　own　height　above　the　horizon；　all　traces　that　anyone　had　ever　stopped　there　had　been　cleared　away　and　they　were　all　mounted　and　moving　north　toward　Baerlon；　riding　slowly　to　conserve　the　horses。　The　Aes　Sedai's　eyes　were　shadowed；　but　she　sat　her　saddle　upright　and　steady。
　　　　　　　Fog　still　hung　thick　over　the　river　behind　them；　a　gray　wall　resisting　the　efforts　of　the　feeble　sun　to　burn　it　away　and　hiding　the　Two　Rivers　from　view。　Rand　watched　over　his　shoulder　as　he　rode；　hoping　for　one　last　glimpse；　even　of　Taren　Ferry；　until　the　fogbank　was　lost　to　sight。
　　　　　　　〃I　never　thought　I'd　ever　be　this　far　from　home；〃　he　said　when　the　trees　at　last　hid　both　the　fog　and　the　river。　〃Remember　when　Watch　Hill　seemed　a　long　way？〃　Two　days　ago；　that　was。　It　seems　like　forever。
　　　　　　　〃In　a　month　or　two；　we'll　be　back；〃　Perrin　said　in　a　strained　voice。　〃Think　what　we'll　have　to　tell。〃
　　　　　　　〃Even　Trollocs　can't　chase　us　forever；〃　Mat　said。　〃Burn　me；　they　can't。〃　He　straightened　around　with　a　heavy　sigh；　slumping　in　his　saddle　as　if　he　did　not　believe　a　word　that　had　been　said。
　　　　　　　〃Men！〃　Egwene　snorted。　〃You　get　the　adventure　you're　always　prating　about；　and　already　you're　talking　about　home。〃　She　held　her　head　high；　yet　Rand　noticed　a　tremor　to　her　voice；　now　that　nothing　more　was　to　be　seen　of　the　Two　Rivers。
　　　　　　　Neither　Moiraine　nor　Lan　made　any　attempt　to　reassure　them；　not　a　word　to　say　that　of　course　they　would　e　back。　He　tried　not　to　think　on　what　that　might　mean。　Even　rested；　he　was　full　enough　of　doubts　without　searching　out　more。　Hunching　in　his　saddle　he　began　a　waking　dream　of　tending　the　sheep　alongside　Tam　in　a　pasture　with　deep；　lush　grass　and　larks　singing　of　a　spring　morning。　And　a　trip　into　Emond's　Field；　and　Bel　Tine　the　way　it　had　been；　dancing　on　the　Green　with　never　a　care　beyond　whether　he　might　stumble　in　the　steps。　He　managed　to　lose　himself　in　it　for　a　long　time。
　　　　　　　The　journey　to　Baerlon　took　almost　a　week。　Lan　muttered　about　the　laggardness　of　their　travel；　but　it　was　he　who　set　the　pace　and　forced　the　rest　to　keep　it。　With　himself　and　his　stallion；　Mandarb　…　he　said　it　meant　〃Blade〃　in　the　Old　Tongue　…　he　was　not　so　sparing。　The　Warder　covered　twice　as　much　ground　as　they　did；　galloping　ahead；　his　color…shifting　cloak　swirling　in　the　wind；　to　scout　what　lay　before　them；　or　dropping　behind　to　examine　their　backtrail。　Any　others　who　tried　to　move　at　more　than　a　walk；　though；　got　cutting　words　on　taking　care　of　their　animals；　biting　words　on　how　well　they　would　do　afoot　if　the　Trollocs　did　appear。　Not　even　Moiraine　was　proof　against　his　tongue　if　she　let　the　white　mare　pick　up　her　step。　Aldieb；　the　mare　was　called；　in　the　Old　Tongue；　〃Westwind；〃　the　wind　that　brought　the　spring　rains。
　　　　　　　The　Warder's　scouting　never　turned　up　any　sign　of　pursuit；　or　ambush。　He　spoke　only　to　Moiraine　of　what　he　saw；　and　that　quietly；　so　it　could　not　be　overheard；　and　the　Aes　Sedai　informed　the　rest　of　them　of　what　she　thought　they　needed　to　know。　In　the　beginning；　Rand　looked　over　his　shoulder　as　much　as　he　did　ahead。　He　was　not　the　only　one。　Perrin　fingered　his　axe　often；　and　Mat　rode　with　an　arrow　nocked　to　his　bow；　in　the　beginning。　But　the　land　behind　remained　empty　of　Trollocs　or　figures　in　black　cloaks；　the　sky　remained　empty　of　Draghkar。　Slowly；　Rand　began　t