rj.acrownofswords-第18节

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　　　From　the　corner　of　his　eye　he　saw　her　full　mouth　tighten　momentarily。　She　liked　not　knowing　everything　about　as　well　as　being　made　to　wait。　She　would　have　been　beautiful；　in　a　grand　sort　of　manner；　except　that　hers　was　a　face　used　to　getting　what　it　wanted。　Not　petulant；　just　absolutely　certain　that　whatever　she　wanted　was　right　and　proper　and　must　be。　〃With　so　many　crows　and　ravens　in　one　place；　there　are　certainly　hundreds；　perhaps　thousands；　ready　to　report　what　they've　seen　to　a　Myrddraal。〃　She　made　no　effort　to　mask　her　irritation；　she　sounded　as　though　he　had　brought　every　bird　there　himself。　〃In　the　borderlands；　we　kill　them　on　sight。　You　have　men；　and　they　have　bows。〃
　　　It　was　true；　a　raven　or　crow　was　all　too　likely　to　be　a　spy　for　the　Shadow；　but　disgust　welled　up　in　him。　Disgust　and　weariness。　〃To　what　point？〃　With　that　many　birds；　the　Two　Rivers　men　and　the　Aiel　could　shoot　every　arrow　they　had　and　spies　would　still　report。　Most　times　there　was　no　way　to　tell　whether　the　bird　you　killed　was　the　spy　or　the　one　that　flew　away。　〃Hasn't　there　been　enough　killing？　There　will　be　more　soon　enough。　Light；　woman；　even　the　Asha'man　are　sated！〃
　　　Eyebrows　rose　among　the　onlooking　clutch　of　sisters。　No　one　spoke　to　Aes　Sedai　that　way；　not　a　king　or　a　queen。　Bera　gave　him　a　look　that　said　she　was　considering　hauling　him　out　of　the　saddle　and　boxing　his　ears。　Still　peering　toward　the　shambles　below；　Kiruna　smoothed　her　skirts；　her　face　coldly　determined。　Loial's　ears　trembled。　He　had　a　deep　but　uneasy　respect　for　Aes　Sedai；　close　to　twice　as　tall　as　most　of　the　sisters；　sometimes　he　behaved　as　though　one　might　step　on　him　without　noticing　if　he　got　in　her　way。
　　　Perrin　gave　Kiruna　no　chance　to　speak。　Give　an　Aes　Sedai　a　finger；　and　she　took　your　whole　arm；　unless　she　decided　to　take　more。　〃You've　been　staying　clear　of　me；　but　I　have　a　few　things　to　say　to　you。　You　disobeyed　orders　yesterday。　If　you　want　to　call　it　changing　the　plan；〃　he　pushed　on　when　she　opened　her　mouth；　〃then　call　it　that。　If　you　think　that　makes　it　better。〃　She　and　the　other　eight　had　been　told　to　stay　with　the　Wise　Ones；　well　back　from　the　actual　fighting；　guarded　by　the　Two　Rivers　men　and　the　Mayeners。　Instead　they　had　plunged　right　into　the　thick　of　it；　wading　in　where　men　were　trying　to　cut　one　another　into　dogmeat　with　swords　and　spears。　〃You　took　Havien　Nurelle　with　you；　and　half　the　Mayeners　died　for　it。　You　don't　go　your　own　way　with　no　regard　anymore。　I　won't　see　men　die　because　you　suddenly　think　you　see　a　better　way；　and　the　Dark　One　take　what　everyone　else　thinks。　Do　you　understand　me？〃
　　　〃Are　you　finished；　farmboy？〃　Kiruna's　voice　was　dangerously　calm。　The　face　she　turned　up　to　him　might　have　been　carved　from　some　dark　ice；　and　she　reeked　of　affront。　Standing　on　the　ground；　she　somehow　made　it　seem　that　she　was　looking　down　at　him。　Not　an　Aes　Sedai　trick；　that；　he　had　seen　Faile　do　it。　He　suspected　most　women　knew　how。　〃I　will　tell　you　something；　though　the　meanest　intelligence　should　be　able　to　reason　it　out。　By　the　Three　Oaths；　no　sister　may　use　the　One　Power　as　a　weapon　except　against　Shadowspawn　or　in　defense　of　her　life；　or　that　of　her　Warders　or　another　sister。　We　could　have　stood　where　you　would　have　had　us　and　watched　until　Tarmon　Gai'don　without　ever　being　able　to　do　anything　effective。　Not　until　we　were　in　danger　ourselves。　I　do　not　like　having　to　explain　my　actions；　farmboy。　Do　not　make　me　do　it　again。　Do　you　understand？〃
　　　Loial's　ears　wilted；　and　he　stared　straight　ahead　so　hard　that　it　was　plain　he　wished　he　were　anywhere　but　here；　even　with　his　mother；　who　wanted　to　marry　him　off。　Aram's　mouth　hung　open；　and　he　always　tried　to　pretend　Aes　Sedai　did　not　impress　him　at　all。　Jondyn　and　Tod　climbed　down　from　their　wagon　wheel　just　a　touch　too　casually；　Jondyn　managed　to　stroll　away；　but　Tod　ran；　looking　back　over　his　shoulder。
　　　Her　explanation　sounded　reasonable；　it　was　probably　the　truth。　No；　by　another　of　the　Three　Oaths；　it　was　the　truth。　There　were　loopholes；　though。　Like　not　speaking　the　whole　truth；　or　talking　around　it。　The　sisters　might　well　have　put　themselves　in　danger　so　they　could　use　the　Power　as　a　weapon；　but　Perrin　would　eat　his　boots　if　they　had　not　also　been　thinking　they　could　reach　Rand　before　anybody　else。　What　would　have　happened　then　was　anyone's　guess；　but　he　was　certain　their　plans　had　not　included　anything　like　what　actually　happened。
　　　〃He's　ing；〃　Loial　said　suddenly。　〃Look！　Rand　is　ing。〃　Dropping　to　a　whisper；　he　added；　〃Be　careful；　Perrin。〃　For　an　Ogier；　it　truly　was　a　whisper。　Aram　and　Kiruna　probably　heard　quite　clearly；　and　maybe　Bera；　but　certainly　no　one　besides。　〃They　did　not　swear　anything　to　you！〃　His　voice　went　back　to　its　normal　boom。　〃Do　you　think　he　might　talk　to　me　about　what　went　on　inside　the　camp？　For　my　book。〃　He　was　writing　a　book　about　the　Dragon　Reborn；　or　at　least　taking　notes　for　one。　〃I　really　didn't　see　much　once　the。。。　the　fighting　began。〃　He　had　been　at　Perrin's　side　in　the　thick　of　it；　wielding　an　axe　with　a　haft　nearly　as　long　as　he　was　tall；　it　was　hard　to　take　note　of　much　else　when　you　were　trying　to　stay　alive。　If　you　listened　to　Loial；　you　would　think　he　was　always　somewhere　else　when　things　became　dangerous。　〃Do　you　think　he　might；　Kiruna　Sedai？〃
　　　Kiruna　and　Bera　exchanged　looks；　then　without　a　word　glided　across　the　ground　to　Verin　and　the　others。　Peering　after　them；　Loial　heaved　a　sigh；　a　wind　through　caverns。
　　　〃You　really　should　have　a　care；　Perrin；〃　he　breathed。　〃You're　always　so　hasty　with　your　tongue。〃　He　sounded　like　a　bumblebee　the　size　of　a　cat　instead　of　a　mastiff。　Perrin　thought　he　might　learn　to　whisper　yet；　if　they　spent　enough　time　around　Aes　Sedai。　He　motioned　the　Ogier　to　be　quiet；　though；　so　he　could　listen。　The　sisters　began　talking　right　away；　but　not　a　sound　reached　Perrin's　ears。　Clearly　they　had　erected　a　barrier　with　the　One　Power。
　　　Clear　to　the　Asha'man　as　well。　They　went　from　lounging　to　up　on　their　toes　in　a　heartbeat；　every　line　of　them　focused　on　the　sisters。　Nothing　said　they　had　taken　hold　of　saidin；　the　male　half　of　the　True　Source；　but　Perrin　would　have　wagered　Stepper　they　had。　By　Gedwyn's　angry　sneer；　he　was　ready　to　use　it；　too。
　　　Whatever　obstruction　the　Aes　Sedai　had　raised；　they　must　have　dropped　it。　They　folded　their　hands；　turning　to　look　down　the　slope　in　silence。　Glances　passed　among　the　Asha'man；　and　finally　Gedwyn　waved　them　back　to　apparent　indolence。　He　looked　disappointed。　Growling　irritably；　Perrin　turned　back　to　look　beyond　the　wagons。
　　　Rand　was　strolling　up　the　slope　with　Min　on　his　arm；　patting　her　hand　and　talking　with　her。　Once　he　threw　back　his　head　and　laughed；　and　she　ducked　hers　to　do　the　same；　brushing　back　dark　ringlets　that　hung　to　her　shoulders。　You　might　have　thought　him　a　countryman　out　with　his　girl。　Except　that　he　had　belted　on　his　sword；　and　sometimes　he　ran　his　hand　down　the　long　hilt。　And　except　for　Taim　right　at　his　other　shoulder。　And　the　Wise　Ones　following　almost　as　close　behind。　And　the　rings　of　Maidens　and　siswai'aman；　Cairhienin　and　Mayeners　that　pleted　the　procession。
　　　What　a　relief　that　he　would　not　have　to　ride　down　into　that　shambles　after　all；　but　he　needed　to　warn　Rand　about　all　the　tangled　enmities　he　had　seen　this　morning。　What　would　he　do　if　Rand　did　not　listen？　Rand　had　changed　since　leaving　the　Two　Rivers；　most　of　all　since　being　kidnapped　by　Coiren　and　that　lot。　No。　He　had　to　be　sane。
　　　When　Rand　and　Min　entered　the　wagon　circle；　most　of　the　procession　remained　outside；　though　they　hardly　came　alone；　but　with　quite　an　assembly　in　its　own　right。
　　　Taim　shadowed　Rand；　of　course；　dark　and　slightly　hook…nosed　and　what　Perrin　supposed　most　women　would　consider　good…looking。　A　number　of　the　Maidens　had　certainly　given　him　second　looks；　and　third；　they　were　forward　about　that　sort　of　thing。　As　Taim　stepped　inside；　he　glanced　to　Gedwyn；　who　shook　his　head　just　a　hair。　A　grimace　flashed　across　Taim's　face；　gone　as　soon　as　it　appeared。
　　　Nandera　and　Sulin　were　right　at　Rand's　heels；　equally　of　course；　and　Perrin　wondered　they　did　not　bring　twenty　more　Maidens。　They　hardly　seemed　to　let　Rand　bathe　without　Maidens　guarding　the　tub；　that　Perrin　could　see。　He　did　not　understand　why　Rand　put　up　with　it。　Each　had　her　shoufa　draped　around　her　shoulders；　baring　short　hair　cut　with　a　tail　at　the　back。　Nandera　was　a　sinewy　woman；　hair　more　gray　than　yellow；　but　her　tough　features　managed　to　be　handsome　if　not　beautiful。　Sulin　…　wiry；　scarred；　leathery　and　white…haired　…　made　Nandera　look　pretty　and　almost　soft。　They　glanced　at　the　Asha'man；　too；　without　exactly　seeming　to；　then　scanned　both　groups　of　Aes　Sedai　just　as　circumspectly。　Nandera's　fingers　flashed　Maiden　handtalk。　Not　for　the　first　time；　Perrin　wished　he　could　understand　it；　but　a　Maiden　would　give　up　the　spear　to　marry　a　toad　before　teaching　their　handtalk　to　a　man。　A　Maiden　Perrin　had　not　noticed；　sitting　on　her　heels　against　a　wagon　a　few　paces　from　Gedwyn；　answered　the　same　way；　and　so　did　another　who　until　that　moment　had　been　playing　at　cat's　cradle　with　a　spear…sister　near　the　prisoners。
　　　Amys　brought　the　Wise　Ones　in　and　took　them　aside　to　confer　with　Sor