rj.acrownofswords-第32节

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rought　me　the　servant　who　put　poison　in　the　spiced　wine　Lord　Maringil　liked　to　drink　at　bedtime。　She　also　protests　her　true　innocence；　her　invalid　mother　would　have　died；　and　she　herself；　had　Lord　Maringil　not。　So　she　says；　and　in　her　case；　I　believe　she　speaks　truly。　Her　solace　at　confession　was　not　false；　I　think。　Both　the　men　and　the　woman　agree　in　this：　the　orders　for　their　actions　came　from　the　mouth　of　Lady　Colavaere　herself。〃
　　　Word　by　word　the　defiance　leached　out　of　Colavaere。　She　still　stood；　yet　it　seemed　a　wonder；　she　appeared　as　limp　as　a　damp　rag。　〃They　promised；〃　she　mumbled　to　Rand。　〃They　promised　you　would　never　return。〃　Too　late；　she　clamped　both　hands　over　her　mouth。　Her　eyes　bulged。　Perrin　wished　he　could　not　hear　the　sounds　ing　from　her　throat。　No　one　should　make　sounds　like　that。
　　　〃Treason　and　murder。〃　Dobraine　sounded　satisfied。　Those　whimpered　screams　did　not　touch　him。　〃The　penalty　is　the　same；　my　Lord　Dragon。　Death。　Except；　by　your　new　law；　it　is　hanging　for　murder。〃　For　some　reason；　Rand　looked　at　Min。　She　returned　his　gaze　with　profound　sadness。　Not　for　Colavaere。　For　Rand。　Perrin　wondered　whether　a　viewing　was　involved。
　　　〃I　…　I　demand　the　headsman；〃　Colavaere　managed　in　a　strangled　voice。　Her　face　sagged。　She　had　bee　old　on　the　spot；　and　her　eyes　were　mirrors　of　stark　terror。　But　with　nothing　left；　she　fought　on；　for　the　scraps。　〃It　is　…　it　is　my　right。　I　will　not　be。。。　hanged　like　some　moner！〃
　　　Rand　seemed　to　struggle　with　himself；　shaking　his　head　in　that　disturbing　way。　When　he　spoke　at　last；　his　words　were　winter　cold　and　anvil　hard。　〃Colavaere　Saighan；　I　strip　you　of　your　titles。〃　He　drove　the　words　like　nails。　〃I　strip　of　you　of　your　lands　and　estates　and　possessions；　of　everything　but　the　dress　you　stand　in。　Do　you　own　…　did　you　own　a　farm？　A　small　farm？〃
　　　Each　sentence　staggered　the　woman。　She　swayed　drunkenly　on　her　feet；　soundlessly　mouthing　the　word　〃farm〃　as　if　she　had　never　heard　it　before。　Annoura；　Faile；　everyone　stared　at　Rand　in　amazement　or　curiosity　or　both。　Perrin　not　least。　A　farm？　If　there　had　been　silence　in　the　Grand　Hall　before；　now　it　seemed　that　no　one　even　breathed。
　　　〃Dobraine；　did　she　own　a　small　farm？〃
　　　〃She　owns。。。　owned。。。　many　farms；　my　Lord　Dragon；〃　the　Cairhienin　replied　slowly。　Clearly　he　understood　no　more　than　Perrin　did。　〃Most　are　large。　But　the　lands　near　the　Dragonwall　have　always　been　divided　into　smallholdings；　less　than　fifty　hides。　All　of　the　tenants　abandoned　them　during　the　Aiel　War。〃
　　　Rand　nodded。　〃Time　to　change　that。　Too　much　land　has　lain　fallow　too　long。　I　want　to　move　people　back　there；　to　farm　again。　Dobraine；　you　will　find　out　which　farm　of　those　Colavaere　owned　near　the　Dragonwall　is　the　smallest。　Colavaere；　I　exile　you　to　that　farm。　Dobraine　will　see　you're　provided　with　what　is　needed　to　make　a　farm　work；　and　with　someone　to　teach　you　how　to　till　the　soil。　And　with　guards　to　see　that　you　never　go　farther　from　it　than　you　can　walk　in　a　day；　so　long　as　you　live。　See　to　it；　Dobraine。　In　a　week　I　want　her　on　her　way。〃　A　bewildered　Dobraine　hesitated　before　nodding。　Perrin　could　catch　murmurs　from　the　assembly　behind　him　now。　This　was　unheard　of。　None　understood　why　she　was　not　to　die。　And　the　rest！　Estates　had　been　confiscated　before；　but　never　all；　never　nobility　itself。　Nobles　had　been　exiled；　even　for　life；　but　never　to　a　farm。
　　　Colavaere's　response　was　immediate。　Eyes　rolling　up　in　her　head；　she　collapsed；　crumpling　backward　toward　the　steps。
　　　Perrin　darted　to　catch　her；　but　someone　was　ahead　of　him。　Before　he　had　taken　a　full　step；　her　fall　simply　stopped。　She　slumped　in　midair；　slanting　over　the　steps　to　the　dais；　head　dangling。　Slowly；　her　unconscious　form　rose；　swung　around　and　settled　gently　in　front　of　the　Sun　Throne。　Rand。　Perrin　was　sure　the　Asha'man　would　have　let　her　fall。
　　　Annoura　tsked。　She　did　not　appear　surprised；　or　perturbed；　except　that　her　thumbs　rubbed　her　forefingers　nervously。　〃I　suspect　she　would　have　preferred　the　headsman。　I　will　see　to　her　if　you　have　your　man；　your。。。　Asha'man。。。　〃
　　　〃She's　not　your　concern；〃　Rand　said　roughly。　〃She　is　alive；　and。。。　She　is　alive。〃　He　drew　a　long；　ragged　breath。　Min　was　there　before　he　let　it　out；　she　only　stood　near　him；　yet　she　looked　as　if　she　wanted　to　do　something　more。　Slowly　his　face　firmed。　〃Annoura；　you　will　take　me　to　Berelain。　Release　her；　Jahar；　she'll　be　no　trouble。　Not　with　one　of　her　and　nine　of　us。　I　want　to　find　out　what　has　been　going　on　while　I　was　away；　Annoura。　And　what　Berelain　means　bringing　you　here　behind　my　back。　No；　don't　speak。　I'll　hear　it　from　her。　Perrin；　I　know　you　want　some　time　with　Faile。　I　…　〃
　　　Rand's　gaze　swept　slowly　around　the　hall；　over　all　the　nobles　waiting　silently。　Under　his　stare；　none　dared　move　a　muscle。　The　scent　of　fear　far　outweighed　any　other；　convulsing　sharply。　Except　for　the　Hunters；　everyone　there　had　given　him　the　same　oath　as　had　Colavaere。　Perhaps　just　being　in　this　gathering　was　treason；　too？　Perrin　did　not　know。
　　　〃This　audience　is　at　an。　end；〃　Rand　said。　〃I　will　forget　every　face　that　departs　now。〃
　　　Those　at　the　front；　the　highest…ranking；　the　most　powerful；　began　their　progress　toward　the　doors　without　too　much　haste；　avoiding　the　Maidens　and　the　Asha'man　standing　in　the　aisle；　while　the　rest　waited　their　turn。　Every　mind　must　have　been　turning　over　what　Rand　had　said；　though。　What　precisely　did　he　mean　by　〃now〃？　Purposeful　strides　quickened；　skirts　were　lifted。　Hunters；　nearest　the　doors；　began　slipping　out；　first　one　at　a　time；　then　in　a　flood；　and　seeing　them；　lesser　nobles　among　the　Cairhienin　and　Tairens　darted　ahead　of　the　higher。　In　moments　it　was　a　milling　mass　at　the　doors；　men　and　women　pushing　and　elbowing　to　get　out。　Not　one　looked　back　at　the　woman　stretched　out　before　the　throne　she　had　held　so　briefly。
　　　
　　　
Chapter　6　
（Wolf）　
Old　Fear；　and　New　Fear　
　　　
　　　Rand　passed　through　the　struggling　mob　without　any　difficulty；　of　course。　Maybe　it　was　the　presence　of　the　Maidens　and　the　Asha'man；　or　maybe　Rand　or　one　of　the　black…coated　fellows　did　something　with　the　Power；　but　the　crowd　parted　for　him；　with　Min　holding　to　his　arm；　and　a　very　subdued　Annoura　attempting　to　speak　to　him；　and　Loial；　who　was　still　trying　with　some　difficulty　to　write　in　his　book　and　carry　his　axe。　Staring　at　one　another；　Perrin　and　Faile　missed　their　chance　to　join　them　before　the　crowd　closed　up　again。
　　　She　said　nothing　for　a　time；　and　neither　did　he；　not　what　he　wanted　to　say；　not　with　Aram　there；　staring　at　them　like　some　worshipful　hound。　And　Dobraine；　frowning　down　at　the　unconscious　woman　put　in　his　charge。　No　one　else　remained　on　the　dais。　Havien　had　gone　with　Rand；　to　find　Berelain；　and　as　soon　as　Rand　went；　the　other　attendants　had　darted　away　toward　the　doors　without　a　second　glance　at　Perrin　or　Faile。　Or　Colavaere。　Without　the　first　glance；　for　that　matter。　They　just　lifted　their　striped　skirts　and　ran。　Grunts　and　curses　drifted　from　the　pack；　not　all　in　men's　voices。　Even　with　Rand　gone　those　people　wanted　to　be　elsewhere；　and　now。　Perhaps　they　thought　Perrin　stayed　to　watch　and　report；　though　had　any　glanced　back；　they　would　have　seen　his　eyes　were　not　on　them。
　　　Climbing　the　rest　of　the　way；　he　took　Faile's　hand　and　breathed　in　the　scent　of　her。　This　close；　the　lingering　perfumes　did　not　matter。　Anything　else　could　wait。　She　produced　a　red　lace　fan　from　somewhere；　and　before　spreading　it　to　cool　herself；　touched　first　her　cheek；　then　his。　There　was　a　whole　language　of　fans　in　her　native　Saldaea。　She　had　taught　him　a　little。　He　wished　he　knew　what　the　cheek…touching　meant；　it　must　be　something　good。　On　the　other　hand；　her　scent　carried　a　spiky　shading　he　knew　too　well。
　　　〃He　should　have　sent　her　to　the　block；〃　Dobraine　muttered；　and　Perrin　shrugged　unfortably。　From　the　man's　tone；　it　was　not　clear　whether　he　meant　that　that　was　what　the　law　called　for　or　that　it　would　have　been　more　merciful。　Dobraine　did　not　understand。　Rand　could　have　sprouted　wings　first。
　　　Faile's　fan　slowed　to　barely　moving；　and　she　eyed　Dobraine　sideways　over　the　crimson　lace。　〃Her　death　might　be　best　for　everyone。　That　is　the　prescribed　penalty。　What　will　you　do；　Lord　Dobraine？〃　Sidelong　or　not；　it　still　managed　to　be　very　direct；　a　very　meaningful　gaze。
　　　Perrin　frowned。　Not　a　word　for　him；　but　questions　for　Dobraine？　And　there　was　that　undertone　of　jealousy　in　her　aroma；　making　him　sigh。
　　　The　Cairhienin　gave　her　a　level　look　in　return　while　thrusting　his　gauntlets　behind　his　sword　belt。　〃What　I　was　manded　to　do。　I　keep　my　oaths；　Lady　Faile。〃
　　　The　fan　snapped　open　and　shut；　faster　than　thought。　〃He　actually　sent　Aes　Sedai　to　the　Aiel？　As　prisoners？〃　Disbelief　tinged　her　voice。
　　　〃Some；　Lady　Faile。〃　Dobraine　hesitated。　〃Some　swore　fealty　on　their　knees。　This　I　saw　with　my　own　eyes。　They　went　to　the　Aiel；　too；　but　I　do　not　think　they　can　be　called　prisoners。〃
　　　〃I　saw　it；　too；　my　Lady；〃　Aram　put　in　from　his　place　on　the　steps；　and　a　wide　smile　split　his　face　when　she　glanced　at　him。
　　　Red　lace　described　a　fluttering　hitch。　What　she　did　with　the　fan　seemed　almost　unconscious。　〃You　both　saw。〃　The　relief　in　h