rj.acrownofswords-第30节

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　　　Hunters　for　the　Horn；　Perrin　thought。　Dobraine　had　said　that　every　noble　who　could　be　there　would；　and　most　Hunters　were　nobly　born；　or　claimed　to　be。　Whether　or　not　they　recognized　Rand；　they　sensed　something；　hands　feeling　for　swords　and　daggers　that　were　not　there　this　evening。　More　Hunters　than　not　sought　adventure　and　a　place　in　the　histories　along　with　the　Horn　of　Valere。　Even　if　they　did　not　know　the　Dragon　Reborn；　they　knew　danger　when　they　saw　it。
　　　The　others　in　the　Grand　Hall　were　less　attuned　to　danger；　or　rather；　more　to　intrigues　and　plots　than　to　open　hazard。　Perrin　was　a　third　of　the　way　down　the　long　center　aisle；　close　on　Rand's　heels；　before　gasps　ran　through　the　chamber　like　a　wind。　Pale　Cairhienin　lords　with　colorful　slashes　across　the　chests　of　their　dark　silk　coats；　some　with　the　front　of　their　heads　shaved　and　powdered；　Cairhienin　ladies　with　stripes　on　their　dark　high…necked　gowns　and　lace　falls　covering　their　hands；　their　hair　in　intricate　towers　that　often　added　a　good　foot　of　height。　Tairen　High　Lords　and　Lords　of　the　Land　with　oiled　beards　trimmed　to　points；　in　velvet　hats　and　coats　of　red　and　blue　and　every　color；　with　puffy；　satin…striped　sleeves；　Tairen　ladies　in　even　more　colorful　gowns；　with　wide　lace　ruffs　and　close　caps　studded　with　pearls　and　moonstones；　firedrops　and　rubies。　They　knew　Perrin；　and　they　knew　Dobraine　and　even　Havien　and　Min；　but　most　importantly；　they　knew　Rand。　A　ripple　of　knowing　that　kept　pace　up　the　Hall　with　him。　Eyes　widening；　jaws　dropping；　they　went　so　stiff　Perrin　almost　thought　the　Asha'man　had　bound　them　like　the　guards　outside　the　palace。　The　chamber　was　a　sea　of　sweet　perfumes；　and　beneath　that　undercurrents　of　salty　sweat；　but　through　it　oozed　fear；　a　quivering　sort　of　smell。
　　　His　attention　was　all　on　the　far　end　of　the　Hall；　though；　on　the　deep　blue　marble　dais　where　the　Sun　Throne　stood；　shining　like　its　namesake　with　gilt；　the　wavy…rayed　Rising　Sun　huge　atop　the　high　back。　Colavaere　rose　slowly；　peering　down　the　aisle　over　Rand's　head。　Her　nearly　black　dress　bore　not　a　single　stripe　of　nobility；　but　the　great　mass　of　curls　rising　above　her　head　had　to　have　been　dressed　around　the　crown　she　wore；　the　Rising　Sun　in　gold　and　yellow　diamonds。　Seven　young　women　flanked　the　Sun　Throne　in　dark…bodiced　gowns　with　lace　snugged　under　their　chins　and　skirts　striped　vertically　in　Colavaere's　yellow　and　red　and　silver。　It　seemed　that　Cairhienin　fashion　was　different　for　the　Queen；　and　for　the　Queen's　attendants。
　　　A　flicker　of　motion　behind　the　throne　picked　out　an　eighth　woman；　hidden；　but　Perrin　cared　about　neither　Colavaere　nor　anyone　else　except　the　woman　to　her　immediate　right。　Faile。　Her　slightly　tilted　eyes　fastened　on　him；　dark　liquid　moons；　yet　not　a　line　altered　of　her　coolly　decorous　expression。　If　anything；　her　face　grew　tighter。　His　nose　strained　for　the　scent　of　her；　but　the　perfume　was　too　strong；　and　the　fear。　She　had　a　reason　for　being　there　on　the　dais；　a　good　reason。　She　did。
　　　Rand　touched　Sulin's　sleeve。　〃Wait　here；〃　he　said。　Scowling；　the　scar　on　her　leathery　face　standing　out　as　white　as　her　hair；　she　scanned　his　face；　then　nodded　with　obvious　reluctance。　Her　free　hand　gestured　anyway；　and　another　gasp　ran　through　the　chamber　as　the　Maidens　veiled。　It　was　almost　laughable；　the　eight　men　in　black　coats；　trying　to　watch　everywhere　at　once；　could　probably　kill　them　all　before　the　first　Maiden　drove　home　a　spear；　but　no　one　knew　who　or　what　they　were。　No　one　looked　at　them　twice；　a　handful　of　men　with　their　swords　sheathed。　Only　at　the　Maidens。　And　Rand。　Hadn't　they　noticed　that　not　a　one　of　those　men　sweated　a　drop　more　than　Rand？　Perrin　felt　as　if　he　were　bathing　in　his。
　　　Stepping　past　the　Maidens　with　Min　still　close　beside　him；　Rand　stopped　as　first　Perrin；　then　Dobraine　and　Havien　joined　him。　And　Aram；　of　course；　like　Perrin's　shadow。　Rand　studied　them　each　in　turn；　nodding　slowly。　He　studied　Perrin　longest；　and　took　the　longest　time　to　nod。　The　gray…haired　Cairhienin　and　the　young　Mayener　wore　faces　like　death。　Perrin　did　not　know　how　his　own　looked；　but　his　jaw　was　locked　tight。　No　one　was　going　to　harm　Faile；　no　matter　what　she　had　done；　no　matter　why。　No　matter　what　he　had　to　do　to　stop　it。
　　　Their　boots　drummed　loud　in　the　silence　as　they　crossed　the　huge　golden　mosaic　of　the　Rising　Sun　in　the　blue…tiled　floor　and　approached　the　throne。　Hands　gripping　her　skirts；　Colavaere　wet　her　lips；　and　her　eyes　darted　between　Rand　and　the　doors　behind　him。
　　　〃Looking　for　Aes　Sedai？〃　Rand's　voice　echoed。　He　smiled　unpleasantly。　〃I　sent　them　to　the　Aiel　camp。　If　the　Aiel　can't　teach　them　manners；　no　one　can。〃　A　shocked　murmur　rose；　and　fell　raggedly。　Fear　became　stronger　than　the　perfumes　in　Perrin's　nose。
　　　Colavaere　gave　a　start。　〃Why　would　I　…？〃　Drawing　a　deep　breath；　she　gathered　dignity。　A　more　than　handsome　woman　in　her　middle　years；　without　a　touch　of　gray　in　her　dark　hair；　she　bore　a　regal　presence　that　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　crown。　She　had　been　born　to　mand；　to　reign；　so　she　thought。　And　her　eyes；　weighing　and　measuring；　betrayed　a　hard　intelligence。　〃My　Lord　Dragon；〃　she　said；　making　a　curtsy　so　deep　it　nearly　mocked　itself；　〃I　wele　you　back。　Cairhien　weles　you　back。〃　The　way　she　said　it；　she　seemed　to　be　repeating　herself。
　　　Slowly　Rand　climbed　the　steps　of　the　dais。　Min　half…made　to　follow　him；　then　folded　her　arms。　Perrin　did　follow；　to　be　nearer　Faile；　but　only　partway。　It　was　her　gaze　that　stopped　him。　A　gaze　that　probed　every　bit　as　much　as　Colavaere's。　At　him　as　much　as　at　Rand。　Perrin　wished　he　could　smell　her。　Not　to　try　discovering　why　or　what；　just　for　the　smell　of　her。　The　wash　of　perfumes　and　fright　was　too　great　Why　did　she　not　speak？　Why　did　she　not　e　to　him？　Or　smile？　Just　a　smile。
　　　Colavaere　stiffened　a　splinter's　worth；　but　only　that。　Her　head　came　no　more　than　level　with　Rand's　chest；　though　her　towered　hair　rose　almost　as　tall　as　he。　His　eyes　slid　from　her　face　and　along　the　women　lined　up　on　either　side　of　the　throne。　He　might　have　paused　on　Faile。　Perrin　could　not　be　sure。
　　　Rand　rested　his　hand　on　one　heavy　arm　of　the　Sun　Throne。　〃You　know　I　mean　this　for　Elayne　Trakand。〃　His　voice　was　emotionless。
　　　〃My　Lord　Dragon；〃　Colavaere　replied　smoothly；　〃Cairhien　had　been　too　long　without　a　ruler。　A　Cairhienin　ruler。　You　yourself　said　you　have　no　interest　in　the　Sun　Throne　for　yourself。　Elayne　Trakand　would　have　had　some　claim；〃　a　small；　quick　gesture　dismissed　such　a　claim；　〃if　she　were　alive。　Rumor　says　she　is　dead；　like　her　mother。〃　A　dangerous　thing　to　say。　A　good　many　rumors　said　Rand　had　killed　both　mother　and　daughter。　The　woman　was　no　coward。
　　　〃Elayne　is　alive。〃　The　words　were　still　flat　as　a　planed　board；　but　Rand's　eyes　burned。　Perrin　could　not　pick　out　his　smell　any　more　than　Faile's；　but　he　did　not　need　his　nose　to　know　rage　bottled　right　in　front　of　him。　〃She　will　have　the　crowns　of　Andor；　and　of　Cairhien。〃
　　　〃My　Lord　Dragon；　what　is　done　cannot　be　undone。　If　anything　has　offended　you　…　〃
　　　For　all　her　dignity；　all　her　courage；　Colavaere　made　a　visible　effort　not　to　flinch　as　Rand　reached　out　and　took　hold　of　the　Sun　Crown。　There　was　a　loud　crack　of　metal　snapping；　and　the　crown　flexed；　hardly　disarraying　her　tower　of　curls　as　it　pulled　away；　slowly　straightening。　A　few　of　the　brilliant　yellow　stones　popped　from　their　settings　and　fell。　He　held　up　the　stretched　arc　of　metal；　and　slowly　it　bent　back　on　itself　until　the　ends　met；　and。。。　Maybe　the　Asha'man　could　see　what　happened；　could　understand；　but　to　Perrin；　one　moment　the　crown　was　broken；　the　next　it　was　whole　again。　No　one　among　the　nobles　made　a　sound；　not　even　a　shuffling　of　boots；　Perrin　thought　they　might　be　afraid　to。　To　his　nose；　stark　terror　was　stronger　than　any　other　scent　now。　It　did　not　quiver；　it　spasmed　wildly；
　　　〃Whatever　can　be　done；〃　Rand　said　softly；　〃can　be　undone。〃
　　　Colavaere's　face　drained　of　blood。　The　few　wisps　of　hair　that　had　escaped　her　coiffure　made　her　seem　wild；　at　bay。　Swallowing；　she　opened　her　mouth　twice　before　any　words　came　out。　〃My　Lord　Dragon。。。　〃　It　was　a　breathy　whisper；　but　as　she　went　on；　her　voice　became　stronger。　And　edged　with　desperation。　She　seemed　to　forget　anyone　else　was　present。　〃I　have　kept　the　laws　you　made；　maintained　your　policies。　Even　those　that　go　against　the　ancient　laws　of　Cairhien；　against　all　custom。〃　She　probably　meant　the　laws　that　had　let　a　noble　kill　a　farmer　or　craftsman　and　walk　away。　〃My　Lord　Dragon；　the　Sun　Throne　is　yours　to　give。　I。。。　know　that。　I　…　I　was　wrong　to　take　it　without　your　leave。　But　I　have　the　right　to　it；　by　birth　and　blood。　If　I　must　have　it　from　your　hand；　then　give　it　to　me；　by　your　hand。　I　have　the　right！〃　Rand　only　looked　at　her；　he　said　nothing。　He　seemed　to　be　listening；　but　not　to　her。
　　　Perrin　cleared　his　throat。　Why　was　Rand　dragging　this　out？　It　was　done；　or　nearly。　Let　whatever　else　had　to　be　done；　be　done。　Then　he　could　take　Faile　away；　where　they　could　talk。　〃Did　you　have　the　right　to　murder　Lord　Maringil　and　High　Lord　Meilan？〃　Perrin　demanded。　There　was　no　doubt　in　his　mind　she　had　had　it　done；　they　had　been　her　biggest　rivals　for　the　throne。　Or　she；　and　they；　thought　they　we