rj.thegreathunt-第120节

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f　of　our　marriages　take　place　between　stedding；　groups　of　young　Ogier　visit　from　stedding　to　stedding　so　they　can　see；　and　be　seen。　If　they　discover　I'm　Outside　without　permission；　the　Elders　will　almost　certainly　decide　I　need　a　wife　to　settle　me　down。　Before　I　know　it；　they'll　have　sent　a　message　to　Stedding　Shangtai；　to　my　mother；　and　she　will　e　here　and　have　me　married　before　she　washes　off　the　dust　of　her　journey。　She's　always　said　I　am　too　hasty　and　need　a　wife。　I　think　she　was　looking　when　I　left。　Whatever　wife　she　chooses　for　me　。。。　well；　any　wife　at　all　won't　let　me　go　back　Outside　until　I　have　gray　in　my　beard。　Wives　always　say　no　man　should　be　allowed　Outside　until　he's　settled　enough　to　control　his　temper。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　gave　a　guffaw　loud　enough　to　draw　every　head；　but　at　Loial's　frantic　gesture　he　spoke　softly。　〃Among　us；　men　do　the　choosing；　and　no　wife　can　stop　a　man　doing　what　he　wants。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　frowned；　remembering　how　Egwene　had　begun　following　him　around　when　they　were　both　little。　It　was　then　that　Mistress　al'Vere　had　begun　taking　a　special　interest　in　him；　more　than　in　any　of　the　other　boys。　Later；　some　girls　would　dance　with　him　on　feastdays　and　some　would　not；　and　those　who　would　were　always　Egwene's　friends；　while　those　who　would　not　were　girls　Egwene　did　not　like。　He　also　seemed　to　remember　Mistress　al'Vere　taking　Tam　aside　…　And　she　was　muttering　about　Tam　not　having　a　wife　for　her　to　talk　to！　…　and　after　that；　Tam　and　everyone　else　had　acted　as　if　he　and　Egwene　were　promised；　even　though　they　had　not　knelt　before　the　Women's　Circle　to　say　the　words。　He　had　never　thought　about　it　this　way　before；　things　between　Egwene　and　him　had　always　just　seemed　to　be　the　way　they　were；　and　that　was　that。
　　　　　　　〃I　think　we　do　it　the　same　way；〃　he　muttered；　and　when　Mat　laughed；　he　added；　〃Do　you　remember　your　father　ever　doing　anything　your　mother　really　didn't　want　him　to？〃　Mat　opened　his　mouth　with　a　grin；　then　frowned　thoughtfully　and　closed　it　again。
　　　　　　　Juin　came　down　the　steps　from　outside。　〃If　you　please；　will　all　of　you　e　with　me？　The　Elders　would　see　you。〃　He　did　not　look　at　Loial；　but　Loial　still　almost　dropped　the　book。
　　　　　　　〃If　the　Elders　try　to　make　you　stay；〃　Rand　said；　〃we'll　say　we　need　you　to　go　with　us。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'll　bet　it　isn't　about　you　at　all；〃　Mat　said。　〃I'll　bet　they　are　just　going　to　say　we　can　use　the　Waygate。　〃　He　shook　himself；　and　his　voice　fell　even　lower。　〃We　really　have　to　do　it；　don't　we。〃　It　was　not　a　question。
　　　　　　　〃Stay　and　get　married；　or　travel　the　Ways。〃　Loial　grimaced　ruefully。　〃Life　is　very　unsettling　with　ta'veren　for　friends。〃


Chapter　36
（Leaf）
Among　the　Elders

　　　　　　　As　Juin　took　them　through　the　Ogier　town；　Rand　saw　that　Loial　was　growing　more　and　more　anxious。　Loial's　ears　were　as　stiff　as　his　back；　his　eyes　grew　bigger　every　time　he　saw　another　Ogier　looking　at　him；　especially　the　women　and　girls；　and　a　large　number　of　them　did　seem　to　take　notice　of　him。　He　looked　as　if　he　expected　his　own　execution。
　　　　　　　The　bearded　Ogier　gestured　to　wide　steps　leading　down　into　a　grassy　mound　that　was　bigger　by　far　than　any　other；　it　was　a　hill；　for　all　practical　purposes；　almost　at　the　base　of　one　of　the　Great　Trees。
　　　　　　　〃Why　don't　you　wait　out　here；　Loial？〃　Rand　said。
　　　　　　　〃The　Elders　…〃　Juin　began。
　　　　　　　〃…　Probably　just　want　to　see　the　rest　of　us；〃　Rand　finished　for　him。
　　　　　　　〃Why　don't　they　leave　him　alone；〃　Mat　put　in。
　　　　　　　Loial　nodded　vigorously。　〃Yes。　Yes；　I　think　。。。〃　A　number　of　Ogier　women　were　watching　him；　from　white…haired　grandmothers　to　daughters　Erith's　age；　a　knot　of　them　talking　among　themselves　but　with　all　eyes　on　him。　His　ears　jerked；　but　he　looked　at　the　broad　door　to　which　the　stone　steps　led　down；　and　nodded　again。　〃Yes；　I　will　sit　out　here；　and　I'll　read。　That　is　it。　I　will　read。〃　Fumbling　in　his　coat　pocket；　he　produced　a　book。　He　settled　himself　on　the　mound　beside　the　steps；　the　book　small　in　his　hands；　and　fixed　his　eyes　on　the　pages。　〃I　will　just　sit　here　and　read　until　you　e　out。〃　His　ears　twitched　as　if　he　could　feel　the　women's　eyes。
　　　　　　　Juin　shook　his　head；　then　shrugged　and　motioned　to　the　steps　again。　〃If　you　please。　The　Elders　are　waiting。〃
　　　　　　　The　huge；　windowless　room　inside　the　mound　was　scaled　for　Ogier；　with　a　thick…beamed　ceiling　more　than　four　spans　up；　it　could　have　fit　in　any　palace；　for　size　at　least。　The　seven　Ogier　seated　on　the　dais　directly　in　front　of　the　door　made　it　shrink　a　little　by　their　size；　but　Rand　still　felt　as　if　he　were　in　a　cavern。　The　somber　floorstones　were　smooth；　if　large　and　irregular　in　shape；　but　the　gray　walls　could　have　been　the　rough　side　of　a　cliff。　The　ceiling　beams；　rough…hewn　as　they　were；　looked　like　great　roots。
　　　　　　　Except　for　a　high…backed　chair　where　Verin　sat　facing　the　dais；　the　only　furnishings　were　the　heavy；　vine…carved　chairs　of　the　Elders。　The　Ogier　woman　in　the　middle　of　the　dais　sat　in　a　chair　raised　a　little　higher　than　those　of　the　others；　three　bearded　men　to　her　left　in　long；　flaring　coats；　three　women　to　her　right　in　dresses　like　her　own；　embroidered　in　vines　and　flowers　from　neckline　to　hem。　All　had　aged　faces　and　pure　white　hair；　even　to　the　tufts　on　their　ears；　and　an　air　of　massive　dignity。
　　　　　　　Hurin　gaped　at　them　openly；　and　Rand　felt　like　staring　himself。　Not　even　Verin　had　the　appearance　of　wisdom　that　was　in　the　Elders'　huge　eyes；　nor　Morgase　in　her　crown　their　authority；　nor　Moiraine　their　calm　serenity。　Ingtar　was　the　first　to　bow；　as　formally　as　Rand　had　ever　seen　from　him；　while　the　others　still　stood　rooted。
　　　　　　　〃I　am　Alar；〃　the　Ogier　woman　on　the　highest　chair　said　when　they　had　finally　taken　their　places　beside　Verin；　〃Eldest　of　the　Elders　of　Stedding　Tsofu。　Verin　has　told　us　that　you　have　need　to　use　the　Waygate　here。　To　recover　the　Horn　of　Valere　from　Darkfriends　is　a　great　need；　indeed；　but　we　have　allowed　none　to　travel　the　Ways　in　more　than　one　hundred　years。　Neither　us；　nor　the　Elders　of　any　other　stedding。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　find　the　Horn；〃　Ingtar　said　angrily。　〃I　must。　If　you　will　not　permit　us　to　use　the　Waygate　。。。〃　He　fell　silent　as　Verin　looked　at　him；　but　the　scowl　remained　on　his　face。
　　　　　　　Alar　smiled。　〃Be　not　so　hasty；　Shienaran。　You　humans　never　take　time　for　thought。　Only　decisions　reached　in　calm　can　be　sure。〃　Her　smile　faded　to　seriousness；　but　her　voice　kept　its　own　measured　calm。　〃The　dangers　of　the　Ways　are　not　to　be　faced　with　a　sword　in　your　hand；　not　charging　Aiel　or　ravening　Trollocs。　I　must　tell　you　that　to　enter　the　Ways　is　to　risk　not　only　death　and　madness；　but　perhaps　your　very　souls。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　have　seen　Machin　Shin；〃　Rand　said；　and　Mat　and　Perrin　agreed。　They　could　not　manage　to　sound　eager　to　do　it　again。
　　　　　　　〃I　will　follow　the　Horn　to　Shayol　Ghul　itself；　if　need　be；〃　Ingtar　said　firmly。　Hurin　only　nodded　as　if　including　himself　in　Ingtar's　words。
　　　　　　　〃Bring　Trayal；〃　Alar　manded；　and　Juin；　who　had　remained　by　the　door；　bowed　and　left。　〃It　is　not　enough；〃　she　told　Verin；　〃to　hear　what　can　happen。　You　must　see　it；　know　it　in　your　heart。〃
　　　　　　　There　was　an　unfortable　silence　until　Juin　returned；　and　it　became　more　unfortable　still　as　two　Ogier　women　followed　him；　guiding　a　dark…bearded　Ogier　of　middle　years；　who　shambled　between　them　as　if　he　did　not　quite　know　how　his　legs　worked。　His　face　sagged；　without　any　expression　at　all；　and　his　big　eyes　were　vacant　and　unblinking；　not　staring；　not　looking；　not　even　seeming　to　see。　One　of　the　women　gently　wiped　drool　from　the　corner　of　his　mouth。　They　took　his　arms　to　stop　him；　his　foot　went　forward；　hesitated；　then　fell　back　with　a　thump。　He　seemed　as　content　to　stand　as　to　walk；　or　at　least　as　uncaring。
　　　　　　　〃Trayal　was　one　of　the　last　among　us　to　go　along　the　'Ways；〃　Alar　said　softly。　〃He　came　out　as　you　see　him。　Will　you　touch　him；　Verin？〃
　　　　　　　Verin　gave　her　a　long　look；　then　rose　and　strode　to　Trayal。　He　did　not　move　as　she　laid　her　hands　on　his　wide　chest；　not　even　a　flicker　of　an　eye　to　acknowledge　her　touch。　With　a　sharp　hiss；　she　jerked　back；　staring　up　at　him；　then　whirled　to　face　the　Elders。　〃He　is　。。。　empty。　This　body　lives；　but　there　is　nothing　inside　it。　Nothing。〃　Every　Elder　wore　a　look　of　unbearable　sadness。
　　　　　　　〃Nothing；〃　one　of　the　Elders　to　Alar's　right　said　softly。　Her　eyes　seemed　to　hold　all　the　pain　Trayal's　no　longer　could。　〃No　mind。　No　soul。　Nothing　of　Trayal　remains　but　his　body。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　was　a　fine　Treesinger；〃　one　of　the　men　sighed。
　　　　　　　Alar　motioned；　and　the　two　women　turned　Trayal　to　lead　him　out；　they　had　to　move　him　before　he　began　to　walk。
　　　　　　　〃We　know　the　risks；〃　Verin　said。　〃But　whatever　the　risks；　we　must　follow　the　Horn　of　Valere。〃
　　　　　　　The　Eldest　nodded。　〃The　Horn　of　Valere。　I　do　not　know　whether　it　is　worse　news　that　it　is　in　Darkfriend　hands；　or　that　it　has　been　found　at　all。〃　She　looked　down　the　row　of　Elders；　each　nodded　in　turn；　one　of　the　men　tugging　his　beard　doubtfully　first。　〃Very　well。　Verin　tells　me　time　is　urgent。　I　will　show　you　to　the　Waygate　myself。〃　Rand　was　feeling　half　relieved　and　half　afraid；　when　she　added；　〃You　have　with　you　a　young　Ogier。　Loial；　son　of　Arent　son　of　Halan；　from　Stedding　Shangtai。　He　is　far　from　his　home。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　need　him；〃　Ran