rj.acrownofswords-第86节

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　on　him；　as　if　trying　to　pull　out　his　thoughts。　There　was　a　hint　of　impatience　about　her；　too。　He　had　told　her　to　stay　in　the　corner　unless　she　could　hear　voices。　Doubtless　she　saw　no　reason　why　she　should　not　e　out　now　the　clan　chiefs　were　gone。　e　out；　and　dig　out　what　had　been　said。
　　　〃Do　you　think　they　believe　I　dance　on　Aes　Sedai　strings？〃　he　said。
　　　Young　Narishma　gave　a　start。　In　truth；　he　was　a　little　older　than　Rand；　but　he　had　the　look　of　a　boy　five　or　six　years　younger。　He　glanced　at　Merana　as　though　she　had　the　answer；　and　shifted　his　shoulders　unfortably。　〃I。。。　do　not　know；　my　Lord　Dragon。〃
　　　Dashiva　blinked　and　stopped　murmuring　to　himself。　Tilting　his　head；　bird…like；　he　eyed　Rand　sideways。　〃Does　it　matter；　so　long　as　they　obey？〃
　　　〃It　matters；〃　Rand　said。　Dashiva　shrugged；　and　Narishma　frowned　thoughtfully；　neither　seemed　to　understand；　yet　maybe　Narishma　could　e　to。
　　　Maps　littered　the　stone　floor　behind　the　throne　on　its　dais；　rolled　or　folded　or　spread　out　where　he　had　left　them。　He　shifted　some　with　the　toe　of　his　boot。　So　much　to　be　juggled　at　once。　Northern　Cairhien　and　the　mountains　called　Kinslayer's　Dagger；　and　the　region　around　the　city。　Illian　and　the　Plains　of　Maredo　out　to　Far　Madding。　The　island　of　Tar　Valon　and　all　the　surrounding　towns　and　villages。　Ghealdan　and　part　of　Amadicia。　Movement　and　color　in　his　head。　Lews　Therin　moaned　and　laughed　in　the　distance；　faint　mad　mutters　of　killing　the　Asha'man；　killing　the　Forsaken。　Killing　himself。　Alanna　stopped　weeping；　cutting　anguish　subdued　beneath　a　thin　thread　of　anger。　Rand　scrubbed　his　hands　through　his　hair；　pressing　hard　against　his　temples。　What　had　it　been　like　to　be　alone　inside　his　own　skull？　He　could　not　recall。
　　　One　of　the　tall　doors　opened　to　admit　one　of　the　Maidens　who　were　standing　guard　in　the　corridor。　Riallin；　with　vivid　yellow…red　hair　and　a　grin　for　everything；　actually　managed　to　appear　plump。　For　a　Maiden；　anyway。　〃Berelain　sur　Paendrag　and　Annoura　Larisen　wish　to　see　the　Car'a'carn。〃　she　announced。　Her　voice　went　from　warm　and　friendly　on　the　first　name　to　cold　and　flat　on　the　second　without　disturbing　her　grin。
　　　Rand　sighed　and　opened　his　mouth　to　let　them　enter；　but　Berelain　did　not　wait。　She　stormed　in；　a　somewhat　calmer　Annoura　at　her　heels。　The　Aes　Sedai　shied　slightly　at　the　sight　of　Dashiva　and　Narishma；　and　stared　curiously　when　she　saw　Merana　standing　in　her　corner。　Not　so　Berelain。
　　　〃What　is　the　meaning　of　this；　my　Lord　Dragon？〃　she　demanded；　brandishing　the　letter　he　had　had　delivered　to　her　this　morning。　She　stalked　across　the　floor　to　shake　it　under　his　nose。　〃Why　am　I　to　return　to　Mayene？　I　have　governed　well　here　in　your　name；　and　you　know　it。　I　could　not　stop　Colavaere　having　herself　crowned；　but　at　least　I　stopped　her　changing　the　laws　you　made。　Why　am　I　to　be　sent　away？　And　why　am　I　told　by　letter？　Not　to　my　face。　By　letter！　Thanked　for　my　services　and　dismissed　like　a　clerk　who's　done　collecting　the　taxes！〃
　　　Even　furious；　the　First　of　Mayene　was　one　of　the　most　beautiful　women　Rand　had　ever　seen。　Black　hair　fell　in　shining　waves　to　her　shoulders；　framing　a　face　to　make　a　blind　man　stare。　A　man　could　easily　drown　in　her　dark　eyes。　Today　she　wore　shimmering　silver　silk；　thin　and　clinging　and　more　suited　to　entertaining　a　lover　in　private。　In　fact；　had　the　neckline　been　a　hair　lower；　she　would　not　have　been　able　to　wear　the　dress　in　public。　As　it　was；　he　was　not　sure　she　should。　He　had　told　himself　when　writing　that　letter　that　it　was　because　he　had　too　much　to　do　and　no　time　for　arguing　with　her。　The　truth　was；　he　enjoyed　looking　at　her　too　much；　for　some　reason；　he　had　begun　feeling　that　that　was　…　not　exactly　wrong；　but　almost。
　　　As　soon　as　she　appeared；　Lews　Therin　gave　over　ranting　to　hum　softly；　the　way　he　did　when　admiring　a　woman。　Abruptly　Rand　realized　he　was　thumbing　his　earlobe；　and　felt　a　shock。　Instinctively；　he　knew　that　was　something　else　Lews　Therin　did　without　thinking；　like　the　humming。　He　pushed　his　hand　to　his　side；　but　for　an　instant　it　wanted　to　rise　to　his　ear　again。
　　　Burn　you；　this　is　my　body！　The　thought　was　a　snarl。　Mine！　Lews　Therin's　hum　stopped　in　surprise；　and　confusion；　without　a　sound；　the　dead　man　fled；　back　into　the　deepest　shadows　of　Rand's　brain。
　　　Rand's　silence　had　an　effect。　Berelain　lowered　the　letter；　and　her　anger　receded。　A　little。　Eyes　fixed　on　his；　she　drew　a　deep　breath　that　heated　his　cheeks。　〃My　Lord　Dragon　…　〃
　　　〃You　know　why；〃　he　cut　in。　Looking　only　at　her　eyes　was　not　easy。　Oddly；　he　found　himself　wishing　Min　were　there。　Very　odd。　Her　viewings　would　be　no　help　now。　〃When　you　returned　from　that　Sea　Folk　ship　this　morning；　there　was　a　fellow　waiting　on　the　dock　with　a　knife。〃
　　　Berelain　tossed　her　head　contemptuously。　〃He　came　no　closer　than　three　steps。　I　was　acpanied　by　a　dozen　of　the　Winged　Guards　and　Lord　Captain　Gallenne。〃　Nurelle　had　led　some　of　the　Winged　Guards　to　Dumai's　Wells；　but　Gallenne　manded　the　Guards　as　a　whole。　She　had　eight　hundred　of　them　in　the　city　aside　from　those　who　returned　with　Nurelle。　〃You　expect　me　to　turn　tail　because　of　a　cutpurse？〃
　　　〃Don't　play　the　fool；〃　he　growled。　〃A　cutpurse；　with　a　dozen　soldiers　around　you？〃　Color　flared　in　her　cheeks；　she　knew；　all　right。　He　gave　her　no　chance　for　protests　or　explanations　or　any　other　foolishness。　〃Dobraine　tells　me　he's　already　heard　whispers　in　the　palace　that　you　betrayed　Colavaere。　Those　who　supported　her　might　be　afraid　to　say　boo　to　me；　but　they'll　pay　to　have　a　knife　stuck　into　you。〃　And　Faile；　too；　according　to　Dobraine；　that　was　being　taken　care　of。　〃But　they　won't　have　a　chance；　because　you　are　going　back　to　Mayene。　Dobraine　will　take　your　place　here　until　Elayne　claims　the　Sun　Throne。〃
　　　She　spluttered　as　if　he　had　dumped　cold　water　down　her　dress。　Her　eyes　grew　dangerously　large。　He　had　been　glad　when　she　stopped　being　afraid　of　him；　but　now　he　was　not　so　sure。　As　she　opened　her　mouth　to　explode；　Annoura　touched　her　arm；　and　her　head　whipped　around。　They　exchanged　a　long　look；　and　Berelain's　sputters　subsided。　She　smoothed　her　skirts　and　vigorously　squared　her　shoulders。　Rand　looked　away　hastily。
　　　Merana　hovered　at　the　edge　of　the　ward。　He　wondered　whether　she　had　stepped　across　and　dodged　back　…　how　else　could　she　stand　right　on　top　of　what　she　could　not　possibly　detect？　When　his　head　turned；　she　moved　backward　until　she　almost　touched　the　walls；　her　eyes　never　leaving　him。　By　her　face；　she　would　have　poured　his　tea　every　day　for　ten　years　to　hear　what　was　being　said。
　　　〃My　Lord　Dragon；〃　Berelain　said；　smiling；　〃there　is　still　the　matter　of　the　Atha'an　Miere。〃　Her　voice　was　warm　honey；　the　curve　of　her　lips　would　have　sparked　thoughts　of　kisses　in　a　stone。　〃The　Wavemistress　Harine　is　not　pleased　to　be　left　sitting　on　her　ship　so　long。　I　have　visited　with　her　a　number　of　times。　I　can　smooth　the　difficulties　there；　which　I　hardly　think　Lord　Dobraine　can。　I　believe　the　Sea　Folk　are　vital　to　you　whether　or　not　the　Prophecies　of　the　Dragon　mention　them。　You　are　crucial　in　their　prophecies；　though　they　seem　reluctant　to　say　exactly　how。〃
　　　Rand　stared。　Why　was　she　struggling　so　hard　to　keep　a　difficult　job　that　had　offered　few　thanks　from　Cairhienin　even　before　some　began　wanting　to　kill　her？　She　was　a　ruler；　used　to　dealing　with　rulers　and　embassies；　not　street　thugs　and　knives　in　the　dark。　Warm　honey　or　no　warm　honey；　it　was　not　for　any　desire　to　stay　near　Rand　al'Thor。　She　had。。。　well；　offered　herself　to　him。。。　once；　but　the　hard　fact　was　that　Mayene　was　a　small　country；　and　Berelain　used　her　beauty　as　a　man　would　a　sword；　to　keep　her　land　from　being　swallowed　by　its　more　powerful　neighbor；　Tear。　And　there；　simple　as　that；　he　had　it。　〃Berelain；　I　don't　know　what　else　I　can　do　to　guarantee　Mayene　for　you；　but　I　will　write　out　any　…　〃　Colors　swirled　so　strongly　in　his　head　that　his　tongue　froze。　Lews　Therin　cackled。　A　woman　who　knows　the　danger　and　isn't　afraid　is　a　treasure　only　a　madman　would　spurn。
　　　〃Guarantees。〃　Bleakness　engulfed　honey；　and　anger　bubbled　again；　cold　this　time。　Annoura　plucked　at　Berelain's　sleeve；　but　she　paid　the　Aes　Sedai　no　heed。　〃While　I　sit　in　Mayene　with　your　guarantees；　others　will　serve　you。　They　will　ask　then　rewards；　and　the　service　I　did　here　will　be　faded　and　old；　while　theirs　is　bright　and　new。　If　the　High　Lord　Weiramon　gives　you　Illian　and　asks　Mayene　in　return；　what　will　you　say？　If　he　gives　you　Murandy；　and　Altara；　and　everything　clear　to　the　Aryth　Ocean？〃
　　　〃Will　you　serve　if　it　still　means　leaving？〃　he　asked　quietly。　〃You　will　be　out　of　my　sight；　but　not　out　of　my　mind。〃　Lews　Therin　laughed　again；　in　such　a　way　that　Rand　nearly　blushed。　He　enjoyed　looking；　but　sometimes　the　things　Lews　Therin　thought。。。
　　　Berelain　considered　him　with　stubborn　eyes；　and　he　could　all　but　see　the　questions　being　toted　up　behind　Annoura's；　the　careful　choosing　of　which　to　ask。
　　　The　door　opened　again　for　Riallin。　〃An　Aes　Sedai　has　e　to　see　the　Car'a'carn。〃　She　managed　to　sound　cold　and　uncertain　at　the　same　time。　〃Her　name　is　Cadsuane　Melaidhrin。〃　A　strikingly　handsome　woman　swept　in　right　behind　her；　iron…gray　hair　gathered　in　a　bun　atop　her　head　and　dec