rj.acrownofswords-第140节

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　　　〃Al'Thor！　Al'Thor！　Al'Thor！〃　filled　the　courtyard。　People　crowding　the　archers'　balconies　joined　in；　Tairen　and　Cairhienin　in　their　silks　and　laces　who　just　a　week　before　had　no　doubt　cheered　Colavaere　as　loudly。　Men　and　women　who　would　as　soon　he　had　never　returned　to　Cairhien；　some　of　them；　waving　their　arms　and　giving　voice。　He　raised　the　Dragon　Scepter　to　acknowledge　them；　and　they　roared　louder。
　　　A　thunderous　roll　of　drums　and　a　blare　of　trumpets　rose　through　the　cheers；　produced　by　a　dozen　more　of　Dobraine's　men　who　wore　crimson　tabards　with　the　black…and…white　disc　on　the　chest；　half　carrying　long　trumpets　draped　in　identical　cloths；　the　other　half　with　kettle　drums　also　decorated　slung　on　either　side　of　the　horses。
　　　Five　Aes　Sedai　in　their　shawls　came　to　meet　him　as　he　descended　the　broad　stairs。　At　least；　they　glided　toward　him。　Alanna　gave　him　one　searching　look　with　those　big　dark　penetrating　eyes；　the　tiny　knot　of　emotions　in　his　skull　said　she　was　calmer；　more　relaxed；　than　he　ever　remembered。　Then　she　made　a　small　motion；　and　Min　touched　his　arm　and　went　aside　with　her。　Bera　and　the　others　made　small　curtsies；　inclining　their　heads　slightly；　as　Aiel　streamed　out　of　the　palace　behind　him。　Nandera　led　two　hundred　Maidens　…　they　were　not　about　to　be　outshone　by　the　〃oathbreakers〃　…　and　Camar；　a　rangy　Bent　Peak　Daryne　grayer　than　Nandera　and　half　a　head　taller　than　Rand；　led　two　hundred　Seia　Doon　who　would　not　be　outshone　by　Far　Dareis　Mai；　let　alone　Cairhienin。　They　swung　past　on　either　side　of　him　and　the　Aes　Sedai　to　ring　the　courtyard。　Bera　like　a　proud　farmwife　and　Alanna　like　some　darkly　beautiful　queen；　in　their　green…fringed　shawls；　and　plump　Rafela；　even　darker　wrapped　in　her　blue；　watching　him　anxiously；　and　cool…eyed　Faeldrin；　yet　another　Green；　her　thin　braids　worked　with　colored　beads；　and　slim　Merana　in　her　gray；　whose　frown　made　Rafela　seem　a　picture　of　Aes　Sedai　serenity。　Five。
　　　〃Where　are　Kiruna　and　Verin？〃　he　demanded。　〃I　called　for　all　of　you。〃
　　　〃So　you　did；　my　Lord　Dragon；〃　Bera　answered　smoothly。　She　made　another　curtsy；　too；　only　the　slightest　dip；　but　it　took　him　aback。　〃We　could　not　find　Verin；　she　is　somewhere　in　the　Aiel　tents。　Questioning　the。。。〃　Her　smooth　tone　faltered　for　one　instant。　〃。。。　the　prisoners；　I　believe；　in　an　attempt　to　learn　what　was　planned　once　they　reached　Tar　Valon。〃　Once　he　reached　Tar　Valon；　she　knew　enough　not　to　blurt　that　where　anyone　could　hear。　〃And　Kiruna　is。。。　consulting　with　Sorilea　on　a　matter　of　protocol。　But　I'm　quite　certain　she　will　be　more　than　happy　to　join　us　if　you　send　a　personal　summons　to　Sorilea。　I　could　go　myself；　if　you　…　〃
　　　He　waved　that　away。　Five　should　be　enough。　Perhaps　Verin　could　learn　something。　Did　he　want　to　know？　And　Kiruna。　A　matter　of　protocol？　〃I'm　glad　you　are　getting　on　with　the　Wise　Ones。〃　Bera　started　to　speak；　then　closed　her　mouth　firmly。　Whatever　Alanna　was　saying　to　Min；　scarlet　spots　had　flared　in　Min's　cheeks　and　she　had　raised　her　chin；　though　oddly；　she　seemed　to　be　replying　calmly　enough。　He　wondered　whether　she　would　tell　him。　One　thing　he　was　sure　of　about　women　was　that　every　last　one　had　secret　places　in　her　heart；　sometimes　shared　with　another　woman　but　never　with　a　man。　The　only　thing　he　was　sure　of　about　women。
　　　〃I　didn't　e　out　here　to　stand　all　day；〃　he　said　irritably。　The　Aes　Sedai　had　arranged　themselves　with　Bera　in　the　lead；　the　others　half　a　step　back。　If　it　had　not　been　her；　it　would　have　been　Kiruna。　Their　own　arrangements；　not　his。　He　did　not　really　care　so　long　as　they　held　to　their　oaths；　and　he　might　have　left　it　alone　if　not　for　Min　and　Alanna。　〃Merana　will　speak　for　you　from　now　on；　you　will　take　your　orders　from　her。〃
　　　By　the　suddenly　widened　eyes；　you　would　have　thought　he　had　slapped　every　one　of　them。　Including　Merana。　Even　Alanna's　head　whipped　around。　Why　should　they　be　startled？　True；　Bera　or　Kiruna　had　done　almost　all　the　talking　since　Dumai's　Wells；　but　Merana　had　been　the　ambassador　sent　to　him　at　Caemlyn。
　　　〃If　you　are　ready；　Min？〃　he　said；　and　without　waiting　for　a　reply　strode　out　into　the　courtyard。　The　big；　fiery…eyed　black　gelding　he　had　ridden　back　from　Dumai's　Wells　had　been　brought　out　for　him；　with　a　high…cantled　saddle　all　worked　in　gold　and　a　crimson　saddlecloth　embroidered　with　the　disc　of　black…and…white　at　each　corner。　The　trappings　suited　the　animal；　and　his　name。　Tai'daishar；　in　the　Old　Tongue；　Lord　of　Glory。　Horse　and　trappings　both　suited　the　Dragon　Reborn。
　　　As　he　mounted；　Min　led　up　the　mouse…colored　mare　she　had　ridden　back；　snugging　on　her　riding　gloves　before　swinging　into　the　saddle。　〃Seiera's　a　fine　animal；〃　she　said；　patting　the　mare's　arched　neck。　〃I　wish　she　was　mine。　I　like　her　name；　too。　We　call　the　flower　a　blue…eye　around　Baerlon；　and　they　grow　everywhere　in　the　spring。〃
　　　〃She's　yours；〃　Rand　said。　Whichever　Aes　Sedai　the　mare　belonged　to　would　not　refuse　to　sell　to　him。　He　would　give　Kiruna　a　thousand　crowns　for　Tai'daishar；　she　could　not　plain　then；　the　finest　stallion　of　Tairen　bloodstock　never　cost　a　tenth　of　that。　〃Did　you　have　an　interesting　conversation　with　Alanna？〃
　　　〃Nothing　that　would　interest　you；〃　she　said　offhandedly。　But　a　faint　touch　of　red　stained　her　cheeks。
　　　He　snorted　softly；　then　raised　his　voice。　〃Lord　Dobraine；　I've　kept　the　Sea　Folk　waiting　long　enough；　I　think。〃
　　　The　procession　drew　crowds　along　the　broad　avenues　and　filled　the　windows　and　rooftops　as　word　raced　ahead。　Twenty　of　Dobraine's　lancers　led；　to　clear　the　way；　along　with　thirty　Maidens　and　as　many　Black　Eyes；　then　drummers；　booming　away　…　droom；　droom；　droom；　DROOM…DROOM　…　and　the　trumpeters　punctuating　that　with　nourishes。　Shouts　from　the　onlookers　nearly　drowned　drums　and　trumpets　alike；　a　wordless　roar　that　could　have　been　rage　as　easily　as　approbation。　The　banners　streamed　out；　just　ahead　of　Dobraine　and　behind　Rand；　the　white　Dragon　Banner　and　the　scarlet　Banner　of　the　Light；　and　veiled　Aiel　trotted　alongside　the　lancers；　whose　streamers　also　floated　in　the　air。　Now　and　then　a　few　flowers　were　hurled　at　him。　Maybe　they　did　not　hate　him。　Maybe　they　only　feared。　It　had　to　do。
　　　〃A　train　worthy　of　any　king；〃　Merana　said　loudly；　to　be　heard。
　　　〃Then　it's　enough　for　the　Dragon　Reborn；〃　he　replied　sharply；　〃Will　you　stay　back？　And　you；　too；　Min。〃　Other　rooftops　had　held　assassins。　The　arrow　or　crossbow　bolt　meant　for　him　would　not　find　its　target　in　a　woman　today。
　　　They　did　fall　behind　his　big　black；　for　all　of　three　paces；　and　then　they　were　right　beside　him　again；　Min　telling　him　what　Berelain　had　written　about　the　Sea　Folk　on　the　ships；　about　the　Jendai　Prophecy　and　the　Coramoor；　and　Merana　adding　what　she　knew　of　the　prophecy；　though　she　admitted　that　was　not　very　much；　little　more　than　Min。
　　　Watching　the　rooftops；　he　listened　with　half　an　ear。　He　did　not　hold　saidin；　but　he　could　feel　it　in　Dashiva　and　the　other　two；　right　behind　him。　He　did　not　feel　the　tingle　that　would　announce　the　Aes　Sedai　embracing　the　Source；　but　he　had　told　them　not　to；　without　permission。　Perhaps　he　should　change　that。　They　did　seem　to　be　keeping　their　oath。　How　could　they　not？　They　were　Aes　Sedai。　A　fine　thing　if　he　took　an　assassin's　blade　while　one　of　the　sisters　tried　to　decide　whether　serving　meant　saving　him　or　obeying　meant　not　channeling。
　　　〃Why　are　you　laughing？〃　Min　wanted　to　know。　Seiera　pranced　closer；　and　she　smiled　up　at　him。
　　　〃This　is　no　laughing　matter；　my　Lord　Dragon；〃　Merana　said　acidly　on　the　other　side。　〃The　Atha'an　Miere　can　be　very　particular。　Any　people　grow　fastidious　when　it　es　to　their　prophecies。〃
　　　〃The　world　is　a　laughing　matter；〃　he　told　her。　Min　laughed　along　with　him；　but　Merana　sniffed　and　went　right　back　to　the　Sea　Folk　as　soon　as　he　stopped。
　　　At　the　river；　the　high　city　walls　ran　out　into　the　water；　flanking　long　gray　stone　docks　that　stretched　out　from　the　quay。　Riverships　and　boats　and　barges　of　every　kind　and　size　were　tied　everywhere；　the　crews　on　deck　to　see　the　motion；　but　the　vessel　Rand　sought　stood　ready　and　waiting；　lashed　end…on　to　the　end　of　a　dock　where　all　the　laborers　had　already　been　cleared　off。　A　longboat；　it　was　called；　a　low　narrow　splinter　without　any　masts；　just　one　staff　in　the　bow；　four　paces　tall；　topped　by　a　lantern；　and　another　at　the　stern。　Nearly　thirty　paces　in　length　and　lined　with　as　many　long　oars；　it　could　not　carry　the　cargo　a　sailing　vessel　the　same　size　would；　but　it　had　no　need　of　the　wind；　either；　and　with　a　shallow　draft；　it　could　travel　day　and　night；　using　rowers　in　shifts。　Longboats　ran　the　rivers　with　cargoes　of　importance　and　urgency。　It　had　seemed　appropriate。
　　　The　captain　bowed　repeatedly　as　Rand　came　down　the　boarding　ramp　with　Min　on　his　arm　and　the　Aes　Sedai　and　Asha'man　at　his　heels。　Elver　Shaene　was　even　skinnier　than　his　craft　in　a　yellow　coat　of　Murandian　cut　that　hung　to　his　knees。　〃It's　an　honor　to　be　carrying　you；　my　Lord　Dragon；〃　he　murmured；　mopping　his　bald　head　with　a　large　handkerchief。　〃An　honor；　it　is。　An　honor；　indeed。　An　honor。〃
　　　Plainly　the　man　would　rather　have　had　his　ship　brim　full　of　live　vipers。　He　blinked　at　the　Aes　Sedai's　shawls　and　stared　at　their　ageless　faces　a