rj.thegreathunt-第112节

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　and　the　cramping　in　his　stomach；　and　the　memory。　So　…　alive。
　　　　　　　〃You　saved　us；　Builder。〃　Hurin　had　his　back　pressed　against　the　wall；　and　his　voice　was　hoarse。　〃That　thing　…　that　was　the　Black　Wind？　…　it　was　worse　than　…　was　it　going　to　hurl　that　fire　at　us？　Lord　Rand！　Did　it　harm　you？　Did　it　touch　you？〃　He　came　running　as　Rand　got　to　his　feet；　helping　him　the　last　bit。　Loial　was　getting　up；　too；　dusting　his　hands　and　his　knees。
　　　　　　　〃We'll　never　follow　Fain　through　that。〃　Rand　touched　Loial's　arm。　〃Thank　you。　You　did　save　us。〃　You　saved　me；　at　least。　It　was　killing　me。　Killing　me；　and　it　felt　…　wonderful。　He　swallowed；　a　faint　trace　of　the　taste　still　coated　his　mouth。　〃I　want　something　to　drink。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　only　found　the　leaf　and　put　it　back；〃　Loial　said；　shrugging。　〃It　seemed　that　if　we　could　not　get　the　Waygate　closed；　it　would　kill　us。　I　am　afraid　I'm　not　a　very　good　hero；　Rand。　I　was　so　afraid　I　could　hardly　think。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　were　both　afraid；〃　Rand　said。　〃We　may　be　a　poor　pair　of　heroes；　but　we　are　what　there　is。　It's　a　good　thing　Ingtar　is　with　us。〃
　　　　　　　〃Lord　Rand；〃　Hurin　said　diffidently；　〃could　we　…　leave；　now？〃
　　　　　　　The　sniffer　made　a　fuss　about　Rand　going　over　the　wall　first；　with　not　knowing　who　was　waiting　outside；　until　Rand　pointed　out　that　he　had　the　only　weapon　among　them。　Even　then　Hurin　did　not　seem　to　like　letting　Loial　lift　Rand　to　catch　the　top　of　the　wall　and　pull　himself　over。
　　　　　　　Rand　landed　on　his　feet　with　a　thud；　listening　and　peering　into　the　night。　For　a　moment　he　thought　he　saw　something　move；　heard　a　boot　scrape　on　the　brick　walk；　but　neither　was　repeated；　and　he　dismissed　it　as　nervousness。　He　thought　that　he　had　a　right　to　be　nervous。　He　turned　to　help　Hurin　down。
　　　　　　　〃Lord　Rand；〃　the　sniffer　said　as　soon　as　his　feet　were　solidly　on　the　ground；　〃how　are　we　going　to　follow　them　now？　From　what　I've　heard　of　those　things；　the　whole　lot　of　them　could　be　halfway　across　the　world　by　now；　in　any　direction。〃
　　　　　　　〃Verin　will　know　a　way。〃　Rand　suddenly　wanted　to　laugh；　to　find　the　Horn　and　the　dagger　…　if　they　could　be　found；　now　…　he　had　to　go　back　to　the　Aes　Sedai。　They　had　let　him　loose；　and　now　he　had　to　go　back。　〃I　won't　let　Mat　die　without　trying。〃
　　　　　　　Loial　joined　them；　and　they　went　back　toward　the　manor；　to　be　met　at　the　small　door　by　Mat；　who　opened　it　just　as　Rand　reached　for　the　handle。　〃Verin　says　you're　not　to　do　anything。　If　Hurin's　found　where　the　Horn　is　kept；　then　she　says　that's　all　we　can　do；　now。　She　says　we'll　leave　as　soon　as　you　e　back；　and　make　a　plan。　And　I　say　this　is　the　last　time　I　go　running　back　and　forth　with　messages。　If　you　want　to　say　something　to　somebody；　you　can　talk　to　them　yourself　from　now　on。〃　Mat　peered　past　them　into　the　darkness。　〃Is　the　Horn　out　there　somewhere？　In　an　outbuilding？　Did　you　see　the　dagger？〃
　　　　　　　Rand　turned　him　around　and　got　him　back　inside。　〃It　isn't　in　an　outbuilding；　Mat。　I　hope　Verin　has　a　good　idea　of　what　to　do　now；　I　don't　have　any。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　looked　as　if　he　wanted　to　ask　questions；　but　he　let　himself　be　pushed　along　the　dimly　lit　corridor。　He　even　remembered　to　limp　as　they　started　upstairs。
　　　　　　　When　Rand　and　the　others　reentered　the　rooms　filled　with　nobles；　they　received　a　number　of　looks。　Rand　wondered　if　they　somehow　knew　something　of　what　had　happened　outside；　or　if　he　should　have　sent　Hurin　and　Mat　to　the　front　hall　to　wait；　but　then　he　realized　the　looks　were　no　different　from　what　they　had　been　before；　curious　and　calculating；　wondering　what　the　lord　and　the　Ogier　had　been　up　to。　Servants　were　invisible　to　these　people。　No　one　tried　to　approach　them；　since　they　were　together。　It　seemed　there　were　protocols　to　conspiracy　in　the　Great　Game；　anyone　might　try　to　listen　to　a　private　conversation；　but　they　would　not　intrude　on　it。
　　　　　　　Verin　and　Ingtar　were　standing　together；　and　thus　also　alone。　Ingtar　looked　a　little　dazed。　Verin　gave　Rand　and　the　other　three　a　brief　glance；　frowned　at　their　expressions；　then　resettled　her　shawl　and　started　for　the　entry　hall。
　　　　　　　As　they　reached　it；　Barthanes　appeared　as　if　someone　had　told　him　they　were　leaving。　〃You　go　so　soon？　Verin　Sedai；　can　I　not　entreat　you　to　stay　longer？〃
　　　　　　　Verin　shook　her　head。　〃We　must　go；　Lord　Barthanes。　I've　not　been　in　Cairhien　in　some　years。　I　was　glad　of　your　invitation　to　young　Rand。　It　has　been　。。。　interesting。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　Grace　see　you　safely　to　your　inn。　The　Great　Tree；　is　it　not？　Perhaps　you　will　favor　me　with　your　presence　again？　You　would　honor　me；　Verin　Sedai；　and　you；　Lord　Rand；　and　you；　Lord　Ingtar；　not　to　mention　you；　Loial；　son　of　Arent　son　of　Halan。〃　His　bow　was　a　little　deeper　for　the　Aes　Sedai　than　for　the　others；　but　still　no　more　than　a　slight　inclination。
　　　　　　　Verin　nodded　in　acknowledgment。　〃Perhaps。　The　Light　illumine　you；　Lord　Barthanes。〃　She　turned　for　the　doors。
　　　　　　　As　Rand　moved　to　follow　the　others；　Barthanes　caught　his　sleeve　with　two　fingers；　holding　him　back。　Mat　looked　as　if　he　might　stay；　too；　until　Hurin　pulled　him　to　join　Verin　and　the　rest。
　　　　　　　〃You　wade　even　deeper　in　the　Game　than　I　thought；〃　Barthanes　said　softly。　〃When　I　heard　your　name；　I　could　not　believe　it；　yet　you　came；　and　you　fit　the　description；　and　。。。　I　was　given　a　message　for　you。　I　think　I　will　deliver　it　after　all。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　had　felt　a　prickling　along　his　backbone　as　Barthanes　spoke；　but　at　the　last；　he　stared。　〃A　message？　From　whom？　Lady　Selene？〃
　　　　　　　〃A　man。　Not　the　sort　for　whom　I　would　usually　carry　messages；　but　he　has　。。。　certain　。。。　claims　on　me　that　I　cannot　ignore。　He　gave　no　name；　but　he　was　a　Lugarder。　Aaah！　You　know　him。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know　him。〃　Fain　left　a　message？　Rand　looked　around　the　wide　hall。　Mat　and　Verin　and　the　others　were　waiting　by　the　doors。　Liveried　servants　stood　stiffly　along　the　walls；　ready　to　leap　at　a　mand　yet　appearing　neither　to　hear　nor　see。　The　sounds　of　the　gathering　floated　from　deeper　in　the　manor。　It　did　not　look　like　a　place　where　Darkfriends　might　attack。　〃What　message？〃
　　　　　　　〃He　says　he　will　wait　for　you　on　Toman　Head。　He　has　what　you　seek；　and　if　you　want　it；　you　must　follow。　If　you　refuse　to　follow　him；　he　says　he　will　hound　your　blood；　and　your　people；　and　those　you　love　until　you　will　face　him。　It　sounds　mad；　of　course；　a　man　like　that　saying　he　will　hound　a　lord；　and　yet；　there　was　something　about　him。　I　think　he　it　mad　…　he　even　denied　you　are　a　lord；　as　any　eye　can　plainly　see　…　but　there　is　still　something。　What　is　it　he　carries　with　him；　with　Trollocs　to　guard　it？　What　is　it　you　seek？〃　Barthanes　seemed　shocked　at　the　directness　of　his　own　questions。
　　　　　　　〃The　Light　illumine　you；　Lord　Barthanes。〃　Rand　managed　a　bow；　but　his　legs　wobbled　as　he　joined　Verin　and　the　others。　He　wants　me　to　follow？　And　he'll　hurt　Emond's　Field；　Tam；　if　I　don't。　He　had　no　doubt　Fain　could　do　it；　would　do　it。　At　least　Egwene　is　safe；　in　the　White　Tower。　He　had　sickening　images　of　Trollocs　descending　in　hordes　on　Emond's　Field；　of　eyeless　Fades　stalking　Egwene。　But　how　can　I　follow　him？　How？
　　　　　　　Then　he　was　out　in　the　night；　mounting　Red。　Verin　and　Ingtar　and　the　others　were　all　already　on　their　horses；　and　the　escort　of　Shienarans　was　closing　round　them。
　　　　　　　〃What　did　you　find？〃　Verin　demanded。　〃Where　does　he　keep　it？〃　Hurin　cleared　his　throat　loudly；　and　Loial　shifted　in　his　high　saddle。　The　Aes　Sedai　peered　at　them。
　　　　　　　〃Fain　has　taken　the　Horn　to　Toman　Head　through　a　Waygate；〃　Rand　said　dully。　〃By　this　time；　he's　probably　already　waiting　there　for　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　will　speak　of　this　later；〃　Verin　said；　so　firmly　that　no　one　spoke　at　all　on　the　ride　back　to　the　city；　to　The　Great　Tree。
　　　　　　　Uno　left　them　there；　after　a　quiet　word　from　Ingtar；　taking　the　soldiers　back　to　their　inn　in　the　Foregate。　Hurin　took　one　look　at　Verin's　set　face　by　the　light　of　the　mon　room；　muttered　something　about　ale；　and　scurried　to　a　table　in　a　corner；　alone。　The　Aes　Sedai　brushed　aside　the　innkeeper's　solicitous　hopes　that　she　had　enjoyed　herself；　and　silently　led　Rand　and　the　rest　to　the　private　dining　room。
　　　　　　　Perrin　looked　up　from　The　Travels　of　Jain　Farstrider　when　they　walked　in；　and　frowned　when　he　saw　their　faces。　〃It　didn't　go　well；　did　it？〃　he　said；　closing　the　leatherbound　book。　Lamps　and　beeswax　candles　around　the　room　gave　a　good　light；　Mistress　Tiedra　charged　heavily；　but　she　did　not　stint。
　　　　　　　Verin　carefully　folded　her　shawl　and　laid　it　across　the　back　of　a　chair。　〃Tell　me　again。　The　Darkfriends　took　the　Horn　through　a　Waygate？　At　Barthanes's　manor？〃
　　　　　　　〃The　ground　under　the　manor　used　to　be　an　Ogier　grove；〃　Loial　explained。　〃When　we　built　。。。〃　His　voice　trailed　off　and　his　ears　wilted　under　her　look。
　　　　　　　〃Hurin　followed　them　right　to　it。〃　Rand　wearily　threw　himself　into　a　chair。　I　have　to　follow　more　than　ever；　now。　But　how？　〃I　opened　it　to　show　him　he　could　still　follow　the　trail　wherever　they　went；　and　the　Black　Wind　was　there。　It　tried　to　reach　us；　but　Loial　managed　to　close　the　gates　before　it　could　e　all　the　way　out。〃　He　colored　a　little　at　that；　but　Loial　had　closed　the　gates；　and　for　all　he　knew　Machin　Shin　might　have　made　it　out　without　that。　〃It　was　standing　guard。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Black　Wind；〃　Mat　breathed；　frozen　halfway　into　a　ch