rj.acrownofswords-第27节

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；　as　he　well　knew；　though　it　might　have　happened　one　time　in　a　thousand；　or　a　thousand　times　a　thousand；　without　ta'veren　there。　Loial　knew　that　also；　and　the　fact　of　it　seemed　to　frighten　him　as　much　as　anything　Perrin　had　ever　seen。　Some　considerable　time　passed　before　the　Ogier's　ears　stopped　shaking。
　　　Faile　filled　Perrin's　mind；　but　he　was　not　blind；　not　pletely。　What　he　at　first　saw　without　seeing；　as　they　rode　south　and　west；　began　to　seep　in　at　the　eyes。　The　weather　had　been　hot　when　he　headed　north　from　Cairhien；　less　than　two　weeks　ago；　yet　it　seemed　the　Dark　One's　touch　had　gained　a　harder　hold；　grinding　the　land　more　desperately　than　before。　Brittle　grass　crackled　beneath　the　horses'　hooves；　shriveled　brown　creepers　spiderwebbed　rocks　on　the　hillsides；　and　naked　branches；　not　merely　leafless　but　dead；　cracked　when　the　arid　wind　gusted。　Evergreen　pine　and　leatherleaf　stood　brown　and　yellow　often　as　not。
　　　Farms　had　begun　appearing　after　a　few　miles；　plain　structures　of　dark　stone　laid　out　in　squares；　the　first　in　isolated　clearings　in　the　forest；　then　ing　more　thickly　as　the　woodland　thinned　to　trees　hardly　deserving　the　name。　A　cart　road　straggled　there；　running　over　the　shoulders　and　crests　of　hills；　acmodating　stone…walled　fields　more　than　the　terrain。　Most　of　those　early　farms　looked　deserted；　here　a　ladderback　chair　lying　on　its　side　in　front　of　a　farmhouse；　there　a　rag　doll　by　the　roadside。　Slat…ribbed　cattle　and　lethargic　sheep　dotted　pastures　where　frequently　ravens　squabbled　over　carcasses；　hardly　a　pasture　but　had　a　carcass　or　two。　Streams　ran　in　trickles　down　channels　of　dried　mud。　Cropland　that　should　have　been　blanketed　with　snow　looked　ready　to　crumble　to　dust；　where　it　was　not　dust　already；　blowing　away。
　　　A　tall　plume　of　dust　marked　the　passage　of　the　column；　until　the　narrow　dirt　way　joined　the　broad　stone…paved　road　that　led　from　Jangai　Pass。　Here　there　were　people；　though　few；　and　those　often　lethargic；　dull…eyed。　With　the　sinking　sun　almost　halfway　down　to　the　horizon　now；　the　air　was　an　oven。　The　occasional　ox…cart　or　horse…drawn　wagon　hurried　off　the　road；　down　narrow　tracks　or　even　into　fields；　out　of　the　way。　The　drivers；　and　the　handful　of　farm　folk　in　the　open；　stood　blank…faced　as　they　watched　the　three　banners　pass。
　　　Close　to　a　thousand　armed　men　was　reason　enough　to　stare。　A　thousand　armed　men；　heading　somewhere　in　a　hurry；　with　a　purpose。　Reason　enough　to　stare；　and　be　thankful　when　they　passed　out　of　sight。
　　　At　last；　when　the　sun　had　less　than　twice　its　own　height　yet　to　fall；　the　road　topped　a　rise；　and　there　two　or　three　miles　before　them　lay　Cairhien。　Rand　drew　rein；　and　the　Maidens；　all　together　now；　dropped　to　their　heels　where　they　were。　They　kept　those　sharp　eyes　out；　though。
　　　Nothing　could　be　seen　moving　on　the　nearly　treeless　hills　around　the　city；　a　great　mass　of　gray　stone　sinking　toward　the　River　Alguenya　on　the　west；　square…walled；　square…towered　and　stark。　Ships　of　all　sizes　lay　anchored　in　the　river；　and　some　tied　to　the　docks　of　the　far　bank；　where　the　granaries　were；　a　few　vessels　moved　under　sail　or　long　sweeps。　They　gave　an　impression　of　peace　and　prosperity。　With　not　a　cloud　in　the　sky；　the　light　was　sharp；　and　the　huge　banners　flying　from　the　city's　towers　stood　plain　enough　to　Perrin　when　the　wind　unfurled　them。　The　scarlet　Banner　of　Light　and　the　white　Dragon　Banner　with　its　serpentine　creature　scaled　scarlet　and　gold；　the　wavy…rayed　Rising　Sun　of　Cairhien；　gold　on　blue。　And　a　fourth；　given　equal　prominence　with　the　rest。　A　silver　diamond　on　a　field　checked　yellow　and　red。
　　　Lowering　a　small　looking　glass　from　his　eye；　a　scowling　Dobraine　stuffed　it　into　a　worked…leather　tube　tied　to　his　saddle。　〃I　hoped　the　savages　had　it　wrong　somehow；　but　if　House　Saighan　flies　with　the　Rising　Sun；　Colavaere　has　the　throne。　She　will　have　been　distributing　gifts　in　the　city　every　day；　coin；　food；　finery。　It　is　traditional　for　the　Coronation　Festival。　A　ruler　is　never　more　popular　than　for　the　week　after　taking　the　throne。〃　He　eyed　Rand　sideways；　the　strain　of　speaking　straight　out　hollowed　his　face。　〃The　moners　could　riot　if　they　dislike　what　you　do。　The　streets　could　run　with　blood。〃
　　　Havien's　gray　gelding　danced　his　rider's　impatience；　and　the　man　himself　kept　looking　from　Rand　to　the　city　and　back。　It　was　not　his　city；　he　had　made　it　clear　earlier　that　he　cared　little　what　ran　in　the　streets；　so　long　as　his　own　ruler　was　safe。
　　　For　long　moments　Rand　studied　the　city。　Or　seemed　to；　anyway；　whatever　he　saw；　his　face　was　bleak。　Min　studied　him；　worriedly；　maybe　pityingly。　〃I　will　try　to　see　they　don't；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃Flinn；　remain　here　with　the　soldiers。　Min　…　〃
　　　She　broke　in　on　him　sharply。　〃No！　I　am　going　where　you　go；　Rand　al'Thor。　You　need　me；　and　you　know　it。〃　The　last　sounded　more　plea　than　demand；　but　when　a　woman　planted　her　fists　on　her　hips　that　way　and　fixed　her　eyes　to　you；　she　was　not　begging。
　　　〃I　am　going；　too；〃　Loial　added；　leaning　on　his　long…hafted　axe。　〃You　always　manage　to　do　things　when　I'm　somewhere　else。〃　His　voice　took　on　a　plaintive　edge。　〃It　won't　do；　Rand。　It　will　not　do　for　the　book。　How　can　I　write　about　things　if　I　am　not　there？〃
　　　Still　looking　at　Min；　Rand　half…raised　a　hand　toward　her；　then　let　it　fall。　She　met　his　gaze　levelly。
　　　〃This　is。。。　madness。〃　Holding　his　reins　stiffly；　Dashiva　booted　the　plump　mare　closer　to　Rand's　black。　Reluctance　twisted　his　features；　perhaps　even　Asha'man　worried　at　being　too　near　Rand。　〃All　it　needs　is　one　man　with　a。。。　a　bow；　or　a　knife；　and　you　don't　see　him　in　time。　Send　one　of　the　Asha'man　to　do　what　needs　doing；　or　more；　if　you　think　it's　necessary。　A　gateway　to　the　palace；　and　it　can　be　done　before　anyone　knows　what　has　happened。〃
　　　〃And　sit　here　past　dark；〃　Rand　cut　in；　reining　his　gelding　around　to　face　Dashiva；　〃until　they　know　this　place　well　enough　to　open　one？　That　way　brings　bloodshed　for　sure。　They've　seen　us　from　the　walls；　unless　they're　blind。　Sooner　or　later　they　will　send　somebody　to　find　out　who　we　are；　and　how　many。〃　The　rest　of　the　column　remained　hidden　behind　the　rise；　and　the　banners　were　down　there；　too；　but　men　sitting　their　horses　on　a　ridge　with　Maidens　for　pany　would　indeed　attract　curiosity。　〃I　will　do　this　my　way。〃　His　voice　rose　in　anger；　and　he　smelled　of　cold　fury。　〃Nobody　dies　unless　it　can't　be　avoided；　Dashiva。　I've　had　a　bellyful　of　death。　Do　you　understand　me？　Nobody！〃
　　　〃As　my　Lord　Dragon　mands。〃　The　fellow　inclined　his　head；　but　he　sounded　sour；　and　he　smelled。。。
　　　Perrin　rubbed　his　nose。　The　smell。。。　skittered；　dodging　wildly　through　fear　and　hate　and　anger　and　a　dozen　more　emotions　almost　too　quickly　to　make　out。　He　no　longer　doubted　the　man　was　mad；　however　good　a　face　the　fellow　put　on。　Perrin　no　longer　really　cared；　either。　This　close。。。
　　　Digging　his　heels　into　Stepper's　flanks；　he　started　for　the　city　and　Faile；　not　waiting　for　the　rest；　barely　noticing　Aram　close　behind。　He　did　not　have　to　see　Aram　to　know　he　would　be　there。　All　he　could　think　of　was　Faile。　If　he　got　Swallow　safely　into　the　city。。。　He　made　himself　keep　Stepper　at　no　more　than　a　quick　walk。　A　galloping　rider　drew　eyes；　and　questions；　and　delays。
　　　At　that　pace；　the　others　caught　up　with　Aram　and　him　fast　enough；　those　who　were　ing。　Min　had　gotten　her　way；　it　seemed；　and　so　had　Loial。　The　Maidens　fanned　out　ahead；　some　giving　Perrin　sympathetic　looks　as　they　trotted　by。　Chiad　studied　the　ground　until　she　was　beyond　him。
　　　〃I　still　don't　like　this　plan；〃　Havien　muttered　on　one　side　of　Rand。　〃Forgive　me；　my　Lord　Dragon；　but　I　do　not。〃
　　　Dobraine；　on　Rand's　other　side；　grunted。　〃We　have　been　over　that；　Mayener。　If　we　did　as　you　want；　they　would　close　the　gates　on　us　before　we　covered　a　mile。〃　Havien　growled　something　under　his　breath　and　danced　his　horse　a　few　paces。　He　had　wanted　every　man　to　follow　Rand　into　the　city。
　　　Perrin　glanced　over　his　shoulder；　past　the　Asha'man。　Damer　Flinn；　recognizable　by　his　coat；　and　a　few　of　the　Two　Rivers　men　were　visible　on　the　ridge；　standing　and　holding　their　horses。　Perrin　sighed。　He　would　not　have　minded　haying　the　Two　Rivers　men　along。　But　Rand　was　probably　right；　and　Dobraine　had　backed　him　up。
　　　A　few　men　could　enter　where　a　small　army　could　not。　If　the　gates　were　shut；　the　Aiel　would　have　to　besiege　the　city；　if　they　still　would；　and　then　the　killing　began　anew。　Rand　had　stuffed　the　Dragon　Scepter　into　one　of　the　geldings'　saddlebags　so　just　the　carved　butt　stuck　out；　and　that　plain　coat　looked　like　nothing　the　Dragon　Reborn　would　wear。　For　the　Asha'man；　nobody　in　the　city　had　any　idea　what　a　black　coat　meant。　A　few　men　were　easier　to　kill　than　a　small　army；　too；　even　if　most　of　them　could　channel。　Perrin　had　seen　an　Asha'man　take　a　Shaido　spear　through　his　belly；　and　the　man　had　died　no　harder　than　any　other。
　　　Dashiva　grumbled　under　his　breath；　Perrin　caught　〃hero〃　and　〃fool〃　in　equally　disparaging　tones。　Without　Faile；　he　might　have　agreed。　Once　Rand　peered　toward　the　Aiel　encampment　sprawled　over　the　hills　two　or　three　miles　east　of　the　city；　and　Perrin　held　his　breath；　but　whatever　thoughts　Rand　had；　he　kept　on　the　road。　Nothing　mattered　more　t