rj.acrownofswords-第24节

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d。　None　made　a　move　toward　him；　though。　They　waited；　hands　folded　at　their　waists　and　shawls　looped　over　their　arms；　inscrutable　as　any　Aes　Sedai；
　　　〃The　Car'a'carn；〃　Rand　muttered　dryly　under　his　breath。　Swinging　a　leg　over；　he　slid　from　his　saddle；　then　helped　Min　to　the　ground。
　　　Perrin　climbed　down　too；　and　led　Stepper　after　them　to　the　Wise　Ones。　Loial　trailed　along；　and　Aram　followed　on　his　horse；　not　dismounting　until　Perrin　motioned　him　to。　Aiel　did　not　ride；　not　unless　it　was　absolutely　necessary　anyway；　and　they　considered　it　rude　for　anyone　to　face　them　from　horseback。　Rhuarc　joined　them；　and　Gaul；　who　wore　a　scowl　for　some　reason。　It　went　without　saying　that　Nandera　and　Sulin　and　the　Maidens　came　too。
　　　The　red…haired　newer　began　as　soon　as　Rand　drew　near。　〃Bair　and　Megana　set　watches　every　way　you　might　possibly　e　back　to　the　treekillers'　city；　Car'a'carn；　but　in　truth；　no　one　thought　this　would　be　…　〃
　　　〃Feraighin；〃　Sorilea　said；　sharply　enough　to　draw　blood。　The　red…haired　woman's　teeth　clicked　as　she　snapped　her　mouth　shut；　and　she　stared　fixedly　at　Rand　with　brilliant　blue　eyes；　avoiding　Sorilea's　glare。
　　　Finally　Sorilea　took　a　breath　and　turned　her　attention　to　Rand。　〃There　is　trouble　in　the　tents；〃　she　said　in　a　flat　voice。　〃Rumors　began　among　the　treekillers　that　you　have　gone　to　the　White　Tower　with　the　Aes　Sedai　who　came；　gone　to　bend　knee　to　the　Amyrlin　Seat。　None　who　know　the　truth　dared　speak；　or　the　result　would　have　been　worse。〃
　　　〃And　what　is　the　result？〃　Rand　asked　quietly。　He　exuded　tension；　and　Min　began　stroking　his　shoulder　again。
　　　〃Many　believe　you　have　abandoned　the　Aiel；〃　Amys　told　him　just　as　quietly。　〃The　bleakness　has　returned。　Every　day　a　thousand　or　more　throw　down　their　spears　and　vanish；　unable　to　face　our　future；　or　our　past。　Some　may　be　going　to　the　Shaido。〃　For　a　moment　disgust　tinged　her　voice。　〃There　have　been　whispers　that　the　true　Car'a'carn　would　not　give　himself　to　the　Aes　Sedai。　Indirian　says　if　you　have　gone　to　the　White　Tower；　it　cannot　be　willingly。　He　is　ready　to　take　the　Codarra　north；　to　Tar　Valon；　and　dance　the　spears　with　any　Aes　Sedai　he　finds。　Or　any　wetlander；　he　says　you　mast　have　been　betrayed。　Timolan　mutters　that　if　the　tales　are　true；　you　have　betrayed　us；　and　he　will　take　the　Miagoma　back　to　the　Three…fold　Land。　After　he　sees　you　dead。　Mandelain　and　Janwin　hold　their　counsel；　but　they　listen　to　Indirian　and　Timolan　both。〃　Rhuarc　grimaced；　sucking　air　between　his　teeth；　for　an　Aiel；　that　was　as　much　as　tearing　his　hair　in　despair。
　　　〃It's　not　good　news；〃　Perrin　protested；　〃but　you　make　it　sound　a　death　sentence。　Once　Rand　shows　himself；　the　rumors　are　done。〃
　　　Rand　scrubbed　a　hand　through　his　hair。　〃If　that　was　so；　Sorilea　wouldn't　look　like　she　had　swallowed　a　lizard。〃　For　that　matter；　Nandera　and　Sulin　looked　as　though　their　lizards　were　still　alive　on　the　way　down。　〃What　haven't　you　told　me　yet；　Sorilea？〃
　　　The　leather…faced　woman　gave　him　a　thin；　approving　smile。　〃You　see　beyond　what　is　said。　Good。〃　Her　tone　stayed　flat　as　worked　stone；　though。　〃You　return　with　Aes　Sedai。　Some　will　believe　that　means　you　did　bend　knee。　Whatever　you　say　or　do；　they　will　believe　you　wear　an　Aes　Sedai　halter。　And　that　is　before　it　is　known　you　were　a　prisoner。　Secrets　find　crevices　a　flea　could　not　slip　through；　and　a　secret　known　by　so　many　has　wings。〃
　　　Perrin　eyed　Dobraine　and　Nurelle；　watching　with　their　men；　and　swallowed　queasily。　How　many　of　those　who　followed　Rand　did　so　because　he　had　the　weight　of　the　Aiel　massed　behind　him？　Not　all；　certainly；　but　for　every　man　who　had　chosen　because　Rand　was　the　Dragon　Reborn；　five　or　even　ten　had　e　because　the　Light　shone　brightest　on　the　strongest　ranks。　If　the　Aiel　broke　away；　or　splintered。。。
　　　He　did　not　want　to　think　about　that　possibility。　Defending　the　Two　Rivers　had　stretched　his　abilities　as　far　as　they　would　go；　maybe　farther。　Ta'veren　or　not；　he　had　no　illusions　he　was　one　of　those　men　who　ended　up　in　the　histories；　that　was　for　Rand。　Village…sized　problems　were　his　limit。　Yet　he　could　not　help　himself。　His　mind　churned。　What　to　do　if　the　worst　came？　Lists　ran　up　in　his　head：　who　would　remain　loyal　and　who　might　try　to　slip　away。　The　first　list　was　sufficiently　short　and　the　second　sufficiently　long　to　dry　his　throat。　Too　many　people　still　schemed　for　advantage　as　if　they　had　never　heard　of　the　Prophecies　of　the　Dragon　or　the　Last　Battle。　He　suspected　some　still　would　the　day　after　Tarmon　Gai'don　began。　The　worst　of　it　was；　most　would　not　be　Darkfriends；　just　people　looking　out　for　their　own　interests　first。　Loial's　ears　hung　limp；　he　saw　it；　too。
　　　No　sooner　did　Sorilea　finish　speaking　to　Rand　than　her　eyes　whipped　to　one　side　in　a　glare　to　bore　holes　in　iron。　〃You　were　told　to　remain　in　the　wagon。〃　Bera　and　Kiruna　came　to　an　abrupt　halt；　and　Alanna　nearly　stumbled　into　them。　〃You　were　told　not　to　touch　the　One　Power　without　permission；　but　you　listened　to　what　was　said　here。　You　will　learn　that　I　mean　what　I　say。〃
　　　Despite　Sorilea's　auguring　stare；　the　three　held　their　ground；　Bera　and　Kiruna　with　icy　dignity；　Alanna　with　smoldering　defiance。　Loial's　huge　eyes　rolled　toward　them；　then　toward　the　Wise　One；　if　his　ears　had　been　limp　before；　now　they　wilted　pletely；　and　his　long　eyebrows　dropped　to　his　cheeks。　Poring　uneasily　over　his　mental　lists；　Perrin　wondered　absently　how　far　the　Aes　Sedai　intended　to　push。　Eavesdropping　with　the　Power！　They　might　find　a　reaction　from　the　Wise　Ones　worse　than　Sorilea's　bark。　From　Rand；　too。
　　　Not　this　time；　however。　Rand　seemed　unaware　of　them。　He　looked　right　through　Sorilea。　Or　maybe　listened　to　something　nobody　else　could　hear　again。　〃What　of　the　wetlanders？〃　he　said　finally。　〃Colavaere　has　been　crowned　queen；　hasn't　she？〃　It　was　not　really　a　question。
　　　Sorilea　nodded；　thumb　tapping　the　hilt　of　her　belt　knife；　but　her　attention　never　left　the　Aes　Sedai。　Who　was　chosen　king　or　queen　among　the　wetlanders　was　of　small　concern　to　Aiel；　especially　among　the　treekilling　Cairhienin。
　　　An　icicle　stabbed　into　Perrin's　chest。　That　Colavaere　of　House　Saighan　wanted　the　Sun　Throne　was　no　secret；　she　had　schemed　for　it　from　the　day　Galldrian　Riatin　was　assassinated；　before　Rand　had　even　declared　himself　the　Dragon　Reborn；　and　kept　scheming　after　it　became　public　knowledge　that　Rand　meant　the　throne　for　Elayne。　Few　knew　she　was　a　cold…blooded　murderer；　however。　And　Faile　was　in　the　city。　At　least　she　was　not　alone。　Bain　and　Chiad　would　be　close　to　her。　They　were　Maidens　and　her　friends；　maybe　almost　what　the　Aiel　called　near…sisters；　they　would　not　let　her　be　harmed。　The　icicle　would　not　go　away；　though。　Colavaere　hated　Rand；　and　by　extension　anyone　close　to　Rand。　Such　as；　perhaps；　the　wife　of　a　man　who　was　Rand's　friend。　No。　Bain　and　Chiad　would　keep　her　safe。
　　　〃This　is　a　delicate　situation。〃　Moving　closer　to　Rand；　remarkably；　Kiruna　ignored　Sorilea。　For　such　a　scrawny　woman；　the　Wise　One　had　eyes　like　hammers。　〃Whatever　you　do　can　have　serious　repercussions。　I　…　〃
　　　〃What　has　Colavaere　said　about　me？〃　Rand　asked　Sorilea　in　a　too…casual　tone。　〃Has　she　harmed　Berelain？〃　Berelain；　the　First　of　Mayene；　was　who　Rand　had　left　in　charge　of　Cairhien。　Why　did　he　not　ask　about　Faile？
　　　〃Berelain　sur　Paendrag　is　well；〃　Sorilea　murmured；　without　stopping　her　study　of　the　Aes　Sedai。　Outwardly　Kiruna　stayed　calm　despite　being　interrupted　and　ignored；　but　the　gaze　she　fixed　on　Rand　could　have　frozen　a　forge…fire　solid　with　the　bellows　pumping。　For　the　rest；　Sorilea　gestured　to　Feraighin。
　　　The　red…haired　woman　gave　a　start　and　cleared　her　throat；　plainly　she　had　not　expected　to　be　allowed　a　word。　She　put　dignity　back　on　like　a　hastily　donned　garment。　〃Colavaere　Saighan　says　you　have　gone　to　Caemlyn；　Car'a'carn；　or　maybe　to　Tear；　but　wherever　you　have　gone；　all　must　remember　that　you　are　the　Dragon　Reborn　and　must　be　obeyed。〃　Feraighin　sniffed；　the　Dragon　Reborn　was　no　part　of　Aiel　prophecies；　only　the　Car'a'carn。　〃She　says　you　will　return　and　confirm　her　on　the　throne。　She　speaks　often　to　the　chiefs；　encouraging　them　to　move　the　spears　south。　In　obedience　to　you；　she　says。　She　does　not　see　the　Wise　Ones；　and　hears　only　the　wind　when　we　speak。〃　This　time　her　sniff　was　a　fair　approximation　of　Sorilea's。　No　one　told　the　clan　chiefs　what　to　do；　but　angering　the　Wise　Ones　was　a　bad　way　to　start　convincing　the　chiefs　of　anything。
　　　It　made　sense　to　Perrin；　though；　to　the　part　of　him　that　could　think　of　anything　besides　Faile。　Colavaere　probably　had　never　paid　enough　attention　to　the　〃savages〃　to　realize　the　Wise　Ones　did　more　than　dispense　herbs；　but　she　would　want　every　last　Aiel　out　of　Cairhien。　The　question　was；　given　the　circumstances；　had　any　of　the　chiefs　listened　to　her？　But　the　question　Rand　asked　was　not　the　obvious。
　　　〃What　else　has　happened　in　the　city？　Anything　you've　heard；　Feraighin。　Maybe　something　that　might　only　seem　important　to　a　wetlander。〃
　　　She　tossed　her　red　mane　contemptuously。　〃Wetlanders　are　like　sandflies；　Car'a'carn：　who　can　know　what　they　find　important？　Strange　things　sometimes　happen　in　the　city；　so　I　have　heard；　as　they　do　among　the　tents。　People　sometimes　see　things