rj.acrownofswords-第171节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　　〃We　will；〃　Rand　assured　him。　Just　not　the　way　Adley　expected。　〃You're　all　going　to　help　me　kill　Sammael　today。〃　Only　Dashiva　looked　startled；　the　other　men　just　nodded。　Not　even　the　Forsaken　frightened　them　anymore。
　　　Rand　expected　argument　out　of　Min；　maybe　a　demand　to　e　along；　but　she　surprised　him。　〃I　expect　you　would　as　soon　no　one　found　out　you're　gone　before　they　have　to；　sheepherder。〃　He　nodded　and　she　sighed。　Perhaps　the　Forsaken　had　to　depend　on　pigeons　and　eyes…and…ears　just　like　anyone　else；　but　being　too　sure　could　be　fatal。
　　　〃The　Maidens　will　want　to　e　if　they　know；　Min。〃　They　would　want　to；　and　he　would　be　hard…pressed　to　refuse。　If　he　could　refuse。　Yet　the　disappearance　even　of　Nandera　and　whoever　she　had　on　guard　might　be　too　much。
　　　Min　sighed　again。　〃I　suppose　I　could　go　talk　to　Nandera。　I　might　be　able　to　keep　them　out　in　the　hallway　for　an　hour；　but　they　won't　be　pleased　with　me　when　they　find　out。〃　He　almost　laughed　again　before　he　remembered　his　side；　they　definitely　would　not　be　pleased　with　her；　or　with　him。　〃More　to　the　point；　farmboy；　Amys　won't　be　pleased。　Or　Sorilea。　The　things　I　let　you　get　me　into。〃
　　　He　opened　his　mouth　to　tell　her　he　had　not　asked　her　to　do　anything；　yet　before　he　could　utter　a　word；　she　moved　very　close。　Looking　up　at　him　through　long　lashes；　she　put　a　hand　on　his　chest；　tapping　her　fingers。　She　smiled　warmly　and　kept　her　voice　soft；　but　the　fingers　were　a　giveaway。　〃If　you　let　anything　happen　to　you；　Rand　al'Thor；　I'll　give　Cadsuane　a　hand　whether　she　needs　one　or　not。〃　Her　smile　brightened　for　a　moment；　almost　cheerily；　before　she　turned　for　the　doors。　He　watched　her　go；　she　might　make　his　head　spin　sometimes　…　nearly　every　woman　he　had　ever　met　had　done　that　at　least　a　time　or　two　…　but　she　did　have　a　way　of　walking　that　made　him　want　to　watch。
　　　Abruptly　he　realized　Dashiva　was　watching　as　well。　And　licking　his　lips。　Rand　cleared　his　throat　loudly　enough　to　be　heard　over　the　sound　of　the　door　closing　behind　her。　For　some　reason；　the　plain…faced　man　raised　his　hands　defensively。　It　was　not　as　though　Rand　glared　at　him；　he　could　not　go　around　glaring　at　men　just　because　Min　wore　tight　breeches。　Surrounding　himself　with　the　emptiness　of　the　Void；　he　seized　saidin　and　forced　frozen　fire　and　molten　filth　into　the　weaves　for　a　gateway。　Dashiva　leaped　back　as　it　opened。　Maybe　having　a　hand　sliced　off　would　teach　the　man　not　to　lick　his　lips　like　a　goat。　Something　crooked　and　red　spiderwebbed　across　the　outside　of　the　Void。
　　　He　stepped　through　onto　bare　dirt；　with　Dashiva　and　the　others　right　behind；　releasing　the　Source　as　soon　as　the　last　stepped　clear。　A　sense　of　loss　rushed　in　as　saidin　left；　as　awareness　of　Alanna　dwindled。　The　loss　had　not　seemed　so　great　while　Lews　Therin　was　there；　not　so　huge。
　　　Overhead；　the　golden　sun　was　more　than　halfway　down　to　the　horizon。　A　gust　of　wind　swept　dust　from　under　his　boots　without　leaving　any　coolness　behind。　The　gateway　had　opened　in　a　cleared　area；　marked　off　by　a　rope　strung　between　four　wooden　posts。　At　each　corner　stood　a　pair　of　guards　in　short　coats　and　baggy　trousers　stuffed　into　their　boots；　swords　that　appeared　slightly　serpentine　hanging　at　their　sides。　Some　had　heavy　mustaches　that　hung　to　their　chins　or　thick　beards；　and　all　had　bold　noses　and　dark　eyes　that　seemed　tilted。　As　soon　as　Rand　appeared；　one　of　them　went　running。
　　　〃What　are　we　doing　here？〃　Dashiva　said；　looking　about　incredulously。
　　　Around　them　stretched　hundreds　of　sharp…peaked　tents；　gray　and　dusty　white；　tents　and　picket　lines　of　already　saddled　horses。　Caemlyn　lay　not　many　miles　away；　hidden　behind　the　trees；　and　the　Black　Tower　not　much　farther；　but　Taim　would　not　know　of　this　unless　he　had　a　spy　watching。　One　of　Fedwin　Morr's　tasks　had　been　to　listen　…　to　feel　…　for　anyone　trying　to　spy。　In　a　ripple　of　murmurs　spreading　outward　from　the　ropes；　men　with　bold　noses　and　serpentine　swords　rose　from　their　heels　and　turned　to　stare　expectantly　toward　Rand。　Here　and　there　women　stood　as　well；　Saldaean　women　often　rode　to　the　wars　with　their　husbands；　at　least　among　the　nobles　and　officers。　There　would　be　none　of　that　today；　though。
　　　Ducking　under　the　rope；　Rand　strode　directly　to　a　tent　no　different　from　any　other　except　for　the　banner　on　the　staff　in　front；　three　simple　red　blossoms　on　a　field　of　blue。　The　kingspenny　did　not　die　back　even　in　Saldaean　winters；　and　when　fires　blackened　the　forests；　those　red　flowers　were　always　the　first　to　reappear。　A　blossom　nothing　could　kill：　the　sign　of　House　Bashere。
　　　Inside　the　tent；　Bashere　himself　was　already　booted　and　spurred；　and　his　sword　on　his　hip。　Ominously；　Deira　was　with　him；　in　a　riding　dress　the　same　shade　as　her　husband's　gray　coat；　and　if　she　wore　no　sword；　the　long　dagger　at　her　belt　of　heavy　silver　roundels　would　do　to　go　on　with。　The　leather　gauntlets　tucked　behind　that　belt　spoke　of　someone　meaning　to　ride　hard。
　　　〃I　hadn't　expected　this　for　days　yet；〃　Bashere　said；　rising　from　a　folding　camp　chair。　〃Weeks；　I　hoped；　in　truth。　I　had　hoped　to　have　most　of　Taim's　leavings　armed　the　way　young　Mat　and　I　planned　…　I've　gathered　every　maker　of　crossbows　I　could　find　into　a　manufactory；　and　they're　starting　to　produce　them　like　a　sow　dropping　piglets　…　but　as　it　is；　no　more　than　fifteen　thousand　have　crossbows　and　know　what　to　do　with　them。〃　With　a　questioning　look；　he　lifted　a　silver　pitcher　from　atop　the　maps　spread　out　on　his　folding　table。　〃Do　we　have　time　for　punch？〃
　　　〃No　punch；〃　Rand　said　impatiently。　Bashere　had　spoken　before　about　the　men　Taim　found　who　could　not　learn　to　channel；　but　he　had　scarcely　listened。　If　Bashere　thought　he　had　trained　them　well　enough；　that　was　all　that　mattered。　〃Dashiva　and　three　more　Asha'man　are　waiting　outside；　as　soon　as　Morr　joins　them；　we'll　be　ready。〃　He　eyed　Deira　ni　Ghaline　t'Bashere；　towering　over　her　diminutive　husband　with　her　hawk's　beak　of　a　nose　and　her　eyes　that　made　a　hawk's　look　mild。　〃No　punch；　Lord　Bashere。　And　no　wives。　Not　today。〃
　　　Deira　opened　her　mouth；　her　dark　eyes　all　but　glowing　suddenly。
　　　〃No　wives；〃　Bashere　said；　knuckling　his　heavy　gray…streaked　mustaches。　〃I　will　pass　the　order。〃　Turning　to　Deira；　he　held　out　his　hand。　〃Wife；〃　he　said　mildly。　Rand　winced；　mild　tone　or　no；　and　waited　for　the　eruption。
　　　Deira's　mouth　thinned。　She　scowled　down　at　her　husband；　a　hawk　ready　to　stoop　on　a　mouse。　Not　that　Bashere　looked　anything　like　a　mouse；　of　course；　just　a　much　smaller　hawk。　She　drew　a　deep　breath；　Deira　could　make　drawing　a　deep　breath　seem　a　thing　that　should　cause　the　earth　to　tremble。　And　unhooking　her　sheathed　dagger　from　her　belt；　she　laid　it　in　her　husband's　hand。　〃We　will　talk　of　this　later；　Davram；〃　she　said。　〃At　length。〃
　　　One　day　when　he　had　time；　Rand　decided；　he　was　going　to　make　Bashere　explain　how　he　did　that。　If　there　ever　was　time。
　　　〃At　length；〃　Bashere　agreed；　grinning　through　his　mustaches　as　he　stuffed　the　dagger　behind　his　own　belt。　Maybe　the　man　was　simply　suicidal。
　　　The　rope　had　been　taken　down　outside；　and　Rand　stood　waiting　with　Dashiva　and　the　other　Asha'man　while　nine　thousand　Saldaean　light　horse　arrayed　themselves　behind　Bashere　in　a　column　of　threes。　Somewhere　behind　them；　fifteen　thousand　men　who　called　themselves　the　Legion　of　the　Dragon　would　be　gathering　afoot。　Rand　had　glimpsed　them；　every　one　in　a　blue　coat　made　to　button　up　the　side　so　the　red…and…gold　Dragon　across　the　chest　would　not　be　broken。　Most　carried　steel…armed　crossbows；　some　bore　heavy　unwieldy　shields　instead；　but　not　one　carried　a　pike。　Whatever　odd　notion　Mat　and　Bashere　had　cooked　up；　Rand　hoped　it　would　not　lead　a　lot　of　this　legion　to　death。
　　　Morr　grinned　eagerly　while　he　waited；　all　but　bouncing　on　his　toes。　Perhaps　he　was　simply　glad　to　be　back　in　his　black　coat　with　the　silver　sword　on　his　collar；　yet　Adley　and　Narishma　wore　almost　identical　grins；　and　for　that　matter；　Flinn's　was　not　far　off。　They　knew　where　they　were　going　now；　and　what　to　do　there。　Dashiva　scowled　at　nothing　as　usual；　his　lips　moving　silently。　As　usual。　Also　silent；　scowling；　were　the　Saldaean　women　gathered　behind　Deira；　watching　from　one　side。　Eagles　and　falcons；　feathers　ruffled　and　furious。　Rand　did　not　care　how　they　grimaced　and　frowned；　if　he　could　face　Nandera　and　the　rest　of　the　Maidens　after　keeping　them　back　from　this；　then　the　Saldaean　men　could　put　up　with　any　number　of　lengthy　discussions。　Today；　the　Light　willing；　no　women　would　die　because　of　him。
　　　So　many　men　could　not　be　lined　up　in　a　minute；　even　when　they　had　been　awaiting　the　order；　but　in　a　remarkably　short　time；　Bashere　raised　his　sword　and　called；　〃My　Lord　Dragon！〃
　　　A　shout　rippled　down　the　great　column　behind　him。　〃The　Lord　Dragon！〃
　　　Seizing　the　Source；　Rand　made　a　gateway　between　the　posts；　four　paces　by　four；　and　ran　through　as　he　tied　off　the　weave；　filled　with　saidin　and　the　Asha'man　on　his　heels；　into　a　great　open　square　surrounded　by　huge　white　columns；　each　topped　with　a　marble　wreath　of　olive　branches。　At　the　two　ends　of　the　square　stood　nearly　identical　purple…roofed　palaces　of　columned　walks　and　high　balconies　and　slender　spires。　Those　were　the　King's　Palace　and　the　sl