rj.acrownofswords-第10节

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oments。
　　　Had　he　been　even　twenty　years　younger；　he　might　have　played　more　to　her　true　game。　Long　years　as　a　widower　stretched　behind　him；　and　the　Lord　Captain　mander　of　the　Children　of　the　Light　had　little　time　for　pleasantries　with　women；　little　time　for　anything　except　being　Lord　Captain　mander。　Had　he　been　twenty　years　younger　…well；　twenty…five　…　and　she　not　trained　by　the　Tar　Valon　witches。　It　was　easy　to　forget　that；　in　her　presence。　The　White　Tower　was　a　sink　of　iniquity　and　the　Shadow；　and　she　touched　deeply　by　it。　Rhadam　Asunawa；　the　High　Inquisitor；　would　have　tried　her　for　her　months　in　the　White　Tower　and　hanged　her　without　delay；　had　Niall　allowed　it。　He　sighed　regretfully。
　　　Morgase　kept　her　victorious　smile；　but　those　big　eyes　studied　his　face　with　an　intelligence　she　could　not　hide。　He　filled　her　goblet　and　his　own　with　wine　from　the　silver　pitcher　sitting　in　a　bowl　of　cool　water　that　had　been　ice　a　little　while　ago。
　　　〃My　Lord　Niall。。。　〃　The　hesitation　was　just　right；　the　slim　hand　half…stretched　across　the　table　toward　him；　the　added　respect　in　how　she　addressed　him。　Once　she　had　called　him　simply　Niall；　with　more　contempt　than　she　would　have　handed　a　drunken　groom。　The　hesitation　would　have　been　just　right　had　he　not　had　the　measure　of　her。　〃My　Lord　Niall；　surely　you　can　order　Galad　to　Amador　so　I　may　see　him。　Just　for　a　day。〃
　　　〃I　regret；〃　he　replied　smoothly；　〃that　Galad's　duties　keep　him　in　the　north。　You　should　be　proud；　he　is　one　of　the　best　young　officers　among　the　Children。〃　Her　stepson　was　a　lever　to　use　on　her　at　need；　one　best　used　now　by　keeping　him　away。　The　young　man　was　a　good　officer；　perhaps　the　best　to　join　the　Children　in　Niall's　time；　and　there　was　no　need　to　put　strains　on　his　oath　by　letting　him　know　his　mother　was　here；　and　a　〃guest〃　only　by　courtesy。
　　　No　more　than　a　slight　tightening　of　her　mouth；　quickly　gone；　betrayed　her　disappointment。　This　was　not　the　first　time　she　had　made　that　request；　nor　would　it　be　the　last。　Morgase　Trakand　did　not　surrender　just　because　it　was　plain　she　was　beaten。　〃As　you　say；　my　Lord　Niall；〃　she　said；　so　meekly　that　he　nearly　choked　on　his　wine。　Submissiveness　was　a　new　tactic；　one　she　must　have　worked　up　with　difficulty。　〃It　is　just　a　mother's　…　〃
　　　〃My　Lord　Captain　mander？〃　a　deep；　resonant　voice　broke　in　from　the　doorway。　〃I　fear　I　have　important　news　that　cannot　wait；　my　Lord。〃　Abdel　Omerna　stood　tall　in　the　white…and…gold　tabard　of　a　Lord　Captain　of　the　Children　of　the　Light；　bold　face　framed　by　wings　of　white　at　his　temples；　dark　eyes　deep　and　thoughtful。　From　head　to　toe　he　was　fearless　and　manding。　And　a　fool；　though　that　was　not　apparent　at　a　glance。
　　　Morgase　drew　in　on　herself　at　the　sight　of　Omerna；　so　small　a　motion　most　men　would　not　have　noticed。　She　believed　him　spymaster　for　the　Children；　as　everyone　did；　a　man　to　be　feared　almost　as　much　as　Asunawa；　perhaps　more。　Even　Omerna　himself　did　not　know　he　was　but　a　decoy　to　keep　eyes　away　from　the　true　master　of　spies；　a　man　known　only　to　Niall　himself。　Sebban　Balwer；　Niall's　dry　little　stick　of　a　secretary。　Yet　decoy　or　not；　something　useful　did　pass　through　Omerna's　hands　on　occasion。　On　rare　occasions；　something　dire。　Niall　had　no　doubts　what　the　man　had　brought；　nothing　else　except　Rand　al'Thor　at　the　gates　would　have　sent　him　barging　in　this　way。　The　Light　send　it　was　all　a　rug　merchant's　madness。
　　　〃I　fear　our　gaming　is　done　for　this　morning；〃　Niall　told　Morgase；　standing。　He　offered　her　a　slight　bow　as　she　rose；　and　she　acknowledged　it　by　inclining　her　head。
　　　〃Until　this　evening；　perhaps？〃　Her　voice　still　held　that　almost　docile　tone。　〃That　is；　if　you　will　dine　with　me？〃
　　　Niall　accepted；　of　course。　He　did　not　know　where　she　was　leading　with　this　new　tactic　…　not　where　an　oaf　might　suppose；　he　was　sure　…　but　it　would　be　amusing　to　find　out。　The　woman　was　full　of　surprises。　Such　a　pity　she　was　tainted　by　the　witches。
　　　Omerna　advanced　as　far　as　the　great　sunflare　of　gold；　set　in　the　floor；　that　had　been　worn　by　feet　and　knees　over　centuries。　It　was　a　plain　room　aside　from　that　and　the　captured　banners　that　lined　the　walls　high　beneath　the　ceiling；　age…tattered　and　worn。　Omerna　watched　her　skirt　around　him　without　really　acknowledging　his　presence；　and　when　the　door　closed　behind　her；　he　said；　〃I　have　not　yet　found　Elayne　or　Gawyn；　my　Lord。〃
　　　〃Is　that　your　important　news？〃　Niall　demanded　irritably。　Balwer　reported　Morgase's　daughter　in　Ebou　Dar；　still　mired　to　her　neck　with　the　witches；　orders　concerning　her　had　already　been　sent　to　Jaichim　Carridin。　Her　other　son　still　toiled　with　the　witches　as　well；　it　seemed；　in　Tar　Valon；　where　even　Balwer　possessed　few　eyes…and…ears。　Niall　took　a　long　swallow　of　cool　wine。　His　bones　felt　old　and　brittle　and　cold　of　late；　yet　the　Shadowspawned　heat　made　his　skin　sweat　enough；　and　dried　his　mouth。
　　　Omerna　gave　a　start。　〃Ah。。。　no；　my　Lord。〃　He　fumbled　in　a　pocket　of　his　white　undercoat　and　pulled；　out　a　tiny　bone　cylinder　with　three　red　stripes　running　its　length。　〃You　wanted　this　brought　as　soon　as　the　pigeon　arrived　in　the　…　〃　He　cut　off　as　Niall　snatched　the　tube。
　　　This　was　what　he　had　been　waiting　for；　the　reason　a　legion　was　not　already　on　its　way　to　Andor　with　Morgase　riding　at　its　head；　if　not　leading。　If　it　was　not　all　Varadin's　madness；　the　ravings　of　a　man　unbalanced　by　watching　Tarabon　collapse　into　anarchy；　Andor　would　have　to　wait。　Andor；　and　maybe　more。
　　　〃I。。。　I　have　confirmation　that　the　White　Tower　truly　has　broken；〃　Omerna　went　on。　〃The。。。　the　Black　Ajah　has　seized　Tar　Valon。〃　No　wonder　he　sounded　nervous；　speaking　heresy。　There　was　no　Black　Ajah；　all　of　the　witches　were　Darkfriends。
　　　Niall　ignored　him　and　broke　the　wax　sealing　the　tube　with　his　thumbnail。　He　had　used　Balwer　to　start　those　rumors；　and　now　they　came　back　to　him。　Omerna　believed　every　rumor　his　ears　caught；　and　his　ears　caught　them　all。
　　　〃And　there　are　reports　that　the　witches　are　conferring　with　the　false　Dragon　al'Thor；　my　Lord。〃
　　　Of　course　the　witches　were　conferring　with　him！　He　was　their　creation；　their　puppet。　Niall　shut　out　the　fool's　blather　and　moved　back　to　the　gaming　table　while　he　drew　a　slim　roll　of　paper　from　the　tube。　He　never　let　anyone　know　more　of　these　messages　than　that　they　existed；　and　few　knew　that　much。　His　hands　trembled　as　they　unrolled　the　thin　paper。　His　hands　had　not　trembled　since　he　was　a　boy　facing　his　first　battle；　more　than　seventy　years　ago。　Those　hands　seemed　little　more　than　bone　and　sinew　now；　but　they　still　possessed　enough　strength　for　what　he　had　to　do。
　　　The　writing　was　not　that　of　Varadin；　but　of　Faisar；　sent　to　Tarabon　for　a　different　purpose。　Niall's　stomach　twisted　into　a　knot　as　he　read；　it　was　in　clear　language；　not　Varadin's　cipher。　Varadin's　reports　had　been　the　work　of　a　man　on　the　brink　of　madness　if　not　over；　yet　Faisar　confirmed　the　worst　of　it　and　more。　Much　more。　Al'Thor　was　a　rabid　beast；　a　destroyer　who　must　be　stopped；　but　now　a　second　mad　animal　had　appeared；　one　that　might　be　even　more　dangerous　than　the　Tar　Valon　witches　with　their　tame　false　Dragon。　But　how　under　the　Light　could　he　fight　both？
　　　〃It。。。　it　seems　that　Queen　Tenobia　has　left　Saldaea；　my　Lord。　And　the。。。　the　Dragonsworn　are　burning　and　killing　across　Altara　and　Murandy。　I　have　heard　the　Horn　of　Valere　has　been　found；　in　Kandor。〃
　　　Still　half…distracted；　Niall　looked　up　to　find　Omerna　at　his　side；　licking　his　lips　and　wiping　sweat　from　his　forehead　with　the　back　of　his　hand。　No　doubt　he　hoped　for　a　glance　at　what　was　in　the　message。　Well；　everyone　would　know　soon　enough。
　　　〃It　seems　one　of　your　wilder　fancies　wasn't　so　wild　after　all；〃　Niall　said；　and　that　was　when　he　felt　the　knife　go　in　under　his　ribs。
　　　Shock　froze　him　long　enough　for　Omerna　to　pull　the　dagger　free　and　plunge　it　in　again。　Other　Lord　Captain　manders　had　died　this　way　before　him；　yet　he　had　never　thought　it　would　be　Omerna。　He　tried　to　grapple　with　his　killer；　but　there　was　no　force　in　his　arms。　He　hung　on　to　Omerna　with　the　man　supporting　him；　the　pair　of　them　eye　to　eye。
　　　Omerna's　face　was　red；　he　looked　ready　to　weep。　〃It　had　to　be　done。　It　had　to　be。　You　let　the　witches　sit　there　in　Salidar　unhindered；　and。。。　〃　As　if　suddenly　realizing　that　he　had　his　arms　around　the　man　he　was　murdering；　he　pushed　Niall　away。
　　　Strength　had　gone　from　Niall's　legs　now　as　well　as　his　arms。　He　fell　heavily　against　the　gaming　table；　turning　it　over。　Black　and　white　stones　scattered　across　the　polished　wooden　floor　around　him；　the　silver　pitcher　bounced　and　splashed　wine。　The　cold　in　his　bones　was　leaching　out　into　the　rest　of　him。
　　　He　was　not　certain　whether　time　had　slowed　for　him　or　everything　really　did　happen　so　quickly。　Boots　thudded　across　the　floor；　and　he　lifted　his　head　wearily　to　see　Omerna　gaping　and　wide…eyed；　backing　away　from　Eamon　Valda。　Every　bit　as　much　the　picture　of　a　Lord　Captain　as　Omerna　in　his　white…and…gold　tabard　and　white　undercoat；　Valda　was　not　so　tall；　not　so　plainly　manding；　but　the　dark　man's　face　was　hard；　as　ever；　and　he　had　a　sword　in　his　hands；　the　heron…mark　blade　he　prized　so　highly。
　　　〃Treason！〃　Valda　bellowed；　and　drove　the　s