rj.acrownofswords-第144节

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hey　see　the　Aiel；　they　will　either　run　or　start　fighting。　If　you　won't　take　any　of　the　Aes　Sedai；　at　least　take　those　Asha'man。　One　arrow；　and　you're　dead；　whether　you're　the　Dragon　Reborn　or　a　goatherd！〃
　　　〃But　I　am　the　Dragon　Reborn；　Min；〃　he　said　seriously。　〃And　ta'veren。　We　are　going　alone；　just　you　and　me。　That　is；　if　you　still　want　to　e。〃
　　　〃You're　not　going　anywhere　without　me；　Rand　al'Thor。〃　She　stopped　herself　from　saying　he　would　trip　over　his　own　feet　if　he　did。　This　euphoria　was　almost　as　bad　as　the　dark　bleakness。　〃Nandera　won't　like　this。〃　She　did　not　know　exactly　what　went　on　between　him　and　the　Maidens　…　something　very　peculiar　indeed；　by　the　things　she　had　seen　…　but　any　hope　that　that　might　stop　him　guttered　out　when　he　grinned　like　a　small　boy　evading　his　mother。
　　　〃She　won't　know；　Min。〃　He　even　had　a　twinkle　in　his　eye！　〃I　do　this　all　the　time；　and　they　never　know。〃　He　held　out　a　gloved　hand；　expecting　her　to　jump　when　he　called。
　　　There　really　was　nothing　to　do　but　straighten　her　green　coat；　glance　into　the　stand…mirror　to　make　sure　of　her　hair　…　and　take　his　hand。　The　trouble　was；　she　was　ready　to　leap　if　he　crooked　a　finger；　she　just　wanted　to　make　sure　he　never　found　out。
　　　In　the　anteroom；　he　made　a　gateway　atop　the　golden　Rising　Sun　set　in　the　floor；　and　she　let　him　lead　her　through　onto　a　hilly　forest　floor　carpeted　with　dead　leaves。　A　bird　flashed　away；　flaring　red　wings。　A　squirrel　appeared　on　a　branch　and　chittered　at　them；　lashing　a　furry　white…tipped　tail。
　　　It　was　hardly　the　sort　of　woods　she　remembered　from　near　Baerlon；　there　were　not　many　real　forests　anywhere　close　to　the　city　of　Cairhien。　Most　of　the　trees　stood　four　or　five　or　even　ten　paces　apart；　tall　leatherleafs　and　pines；　taller　oaks　and　trees　she　did　not　know；　running　across　the　flat　she　and　Rand　stood　on　and　up　a　slope　that　began　only　a　few　spans　off。　Even　the　undergrowth　seemed　thinner　than　back　home；　the　bushes　and　vines　and　briars　spread　out　in　patches；　though　some　of　those　were　not　small。　Everything　was　brown　and　dry。　She　plucked　a　lace…edged　handkerchief　from　her　sleeve　and　dabbed　at　the　sweat　that　suddenly　seemed　to　pop　out　on　her　face。
　　　〃Which　way　do　we　go？〃　she　asked。　By　the　sun；　north　lay　over　the　slope；　the　direction　she　would　choose。　The　city　should　lie　about　seven　or　eight　miles　in　that　direction。　With　luck；　they　could　walk　all　the　way　back　without　encountering　anyone。　Or　better；　given　her　heeled　boots　and　the　terrain；　not　to　mention　the　heat；　Rand　could　decide　to　give　up　and　make　another　gateway　back　to　the　Sun　Palace。　The　palace　rooms　were　cool　pared　to　this。
　　　Before　he　could　answer；　crackling　brush　and　leaves　announced　someone　ing。　The　rider　who　appeared　on　a　long…legged　gray　gelding　with　bright…fringed　bridle　and　reins　was　a　Cairhienin　woman；　short　and　slender　in　a　dark　blue；　nearly　black；　silk　riding　dress；　horizontal　slashes　of　red　and　green　and　white　running　from　her　neck　to　below　her　knees。　The　sweat　on　her　face　could　not　diminish　her　pale　beauty；　or　make　her　eyes　less　than　large　dark　pools。　A　small　clear　green　stone　hung　on　her　forehead　from　a　fine　golden　chain　fastened　in　black　hair　that　fell　in　waves　to　her　shoulders。
　　　Min　gasped；　and　not　for　the　hunting　crossbow　the　woman　carried　casually　raised　in　one　green…gloved　hand。　For　a　moment；　she　was　sure　it　was　Moiraine。　But。。。
　　　〃I　do　not　recall　seeing　either　of　you　in　the　camp；〃　the　woman　said　in　a　throaty；　almost　sultry；　voice。　Moiraine's　voice　had　been　crystal。　The　crossbow　lowered；　still　quite　casually；　until　it　pointed　rock…steady　at　Rand's　chest。
　　　He　ignored　it。　〃I　thought　I　might　like　to　take　a　look　at　your　camp；〃　he　said　with　a　slight　bow。　〃I　believe　you　are　the　Lady　Caraline　Damodred？〃　The　slender　woman　inclined　her　head；　acknowledging　the　name。
　　　Min　sighed　regretfully；　but　it　was　not　as　if　she　had　really　expected　Moiraine　to　turn　up　alive。　Moiraine　was　the　only　viewing　of　hers　that　had　ever　failed。　But　Caraline　Damodred　herself；　one　of　the　leaders　of　the　rebellion　against　Rand　here　in　Cairhien；　and　a　claimant　to　the　Sun　Throne。。。　He　really　was　pulling　all　the　threads　of　the　Pattern　around　him；　to　have　her　appear。
　　　Lady　Caraline　slowly　raised　the　crossbow　to　one　side；　the　cord　made　a　loud　snap；　launching　the　broadhead　bolt　into　the　air。
　　　〃I　doubt　one　would　do　any　good　against　you；〃　she　said；　walking　her　gelding　slowly　toward　them；　〃and　I　would　not　like　you　to　think　I　was　threatening　you。〃　She　looked　once　at　Min　…　just　a　glance　that　ran　head　to　toe；　though　Min　was　sure　everything　about　her　was　filed　away　…　but　aside　from　that；　Lady　Caraline　kept　her　eyes　on　Rand。　She　drew　rein　three　paces　away；　just　far　enough　so　he　could　not　reach　her　afoot　before　she　could　dig　in　her　heels。　〃I　can　only　think　of　one　gray…eyed　man　with　your　height　who　might　suddenly　appear　out　of　nowhere；　unless　perhaps　you　are　an　Aiel　in　disguise；　but　perhaps　you　will　be　so　kind　as　to　supply　a　name？〃
　　　〃I　am　the　Dragon　Reborn；〃　Rand　said；　every　bit　as　arrogant　as　he　had　been　with　the　Sea　Folk；　yet　if　any　ta'veren　swirling　of　the　Pattern　was　at　work；　the　woman　on　the　horse　gave　no　evidence。
　　　Rather　than　leaping　down　to　fall　to　her　knees；　she　merely　nodded；　pursing　her　lips。　〃I　have　heard　so　very　much　about　you。　I　have　heard　you　went　to　the　Tower　to　submit　to　the　Amyrlin　Seat。　I　have　heard　you　mean　to　give　the　Sun　Throne　to　Elayne　Trakand。　I　have　also　heard　that　you　killed　Elayne；　and　her　mother。〃
　　　〃I　submit　to　no　one；〃　Rand　replied　sharply。　He　stared　up　at　her　with　eyes　fierce　enough　to　snatch　her　out　of　the　saddle　by　themselves。　〃Elayne　is　on　her　way　to　Caemlyn　as　we　speak；　to　take　the　throne　of　Andor。　After　which；　she　will　have　the　throne　of　Cairhien　as　well。〃　Min　winced。　Did　he　have　to　sound　like　a　pillow　stuffed　full　of　haughty？　She　had　hoped　he　had　calmed　down　a　bit　after　the　Sea　Folk。
　　　Lady　Caraline　laid　her　crossbow　across　the　saddle　in　front　of　her；　running　a　gloved　hand　along　it。　Perhaps　regretting　that　loosed　bolt？　〃I　could　accept　my　young　cousin　on　the　throne　…　better　she　than　some；　at　least　…　but。。。　〃　Those　big　dark　eyes　that　had　seemed　so　liquid　suddenly　became　stone。　〃But　I　am　not　sure　I　can　accept　you　in　Cairhien；　and　I　do　not　mean　only　your　changes　to　laws　and　customs。　You。。。　change　fate　by　your　very　presence。　Every　day　since　you　came；　people　die　in　accidents　so　bizarre　no　one　can　believe　them。　So　many　husbands　abandon　their　wives；　and　wives　their　husbands；　that　no　one　even　ments　upon　it　now。　You　will　tear　Cairhien　apart　just　by　remaining　here。〃
　　　〃Balance；〃　Min　broke　in　hastily。　Rand's　face　was　so　dark；　he　looked　ready　to　burst。　Maybe　he　had　been　right　to　e　after　all。　Certainly　there　was　no　point　letting　him　throw　this　meeting　away　in　a　tantrum。　She　gave　no　one　a　chance　to　speak。　〃There　is　always　a　balance　of　good　against　bad。　That's　how　the　Pattern　works。　Even　he　doesn't　change　that。　As　night　balances　day；　good　balances　harm。　Since　he　came；　there　hasn't　been　a　single　stillbirth　in　the　city；　not　one　child　born　deformed。　There　are　more　marriages　some　days　than　used　to　be　in　a　week；　and　for　every　man　who　chokes　to　death　on　a　feather；　a　woman　tumbles　head　over　heels　down　three　flights　of　stairs　and；　instead　of　breaking　her　neck；　stands　up　without　a　bruise。　Name　the　evil；　and　you　can　point　to　the　good。　The　turning　of　the　Wheel　requires　balance；　and　he　only　increases　the　chances　of　what　might　have　happened　anyway　in　nature。〃　Suddenly　she　colored；　realizing　they　were　both　looking　at　her。　Staring；　more　like。
　　　〃Balance？〃　Rand　murmured；　eyebrows　lifting。
　　　〃I've　been　reading　some　of　Master　Fel's　books；〃　she　said　faintly。　She　did　not　want　anyone　to　think　she　was　pretending　to　be　a　philosopher。　Lady　Caraline　smiled　at　her　tall　saddlebow　and　toyed　with　her　reins。　The　woman　was　laughing　at　her。　She　would　show　this　woman　what　she　could　laugh　at！
　　　Abruptly　a　tall　black　gelding　with　the　look　of　a　warhorse　came　crashing　through　the　undergrowth；　ridden　by　a　man　well　into　his　middle　years；　with　close…cropped　hair　and　a　pointed　beard。　Despite　his　yellow　Tairen　coat；　the　fat　sleeves　striped　with　green　satin；　eyes　of　a　startling　pretty　blue　looked　out　of　his　damp；　dark　face；　like　pale　polished　sapphires。　Not　a　particularly　pretty　man；　but　those　eyes　made　up　for　a　too…long　nose。　He　carried　a　crossbow　in　one　leather…gauntleted　hand；　and　brandished　a　broadhead　bolt　in　the　other。
　　　〃This　came　down　inches　from　my　face；　Caraline；　and　it　has　your　markings！　Just　because　there's　no　game　is　no　reason　…　〃　He　became　aware　of　Rand　and　Min　just　then；　and　his　drawn　crossbow　lowered　toward　them。　〃Are　these　strays；　Caraline；　or　did　you　find　spies　from　the　city？　I've　never　believed　al'Thor　would　continue　to　let　us　sit　here　unhindered。〃
　　　Half　a　dozen　more　riders　appeared　behind　him；　sweating　men　in　fat…sleeved　coats　with　satin　stripes　and　perspiring　women　in　riding　dresses　with　wide；　thick　lace　collars。　All　carrying　crossbows。　The　last　of　those　riders　had　not　halted；　horses　stamping　and　tossing　heads；　before　twice　as　many　came　struggling　through　the　brush　from　another　direction　and　pulled　up　near　Caraline；　slight；　pale　men　and　women　in　dark　clothes　with　stripes　of　color　sometimes　to　below　the　w