rj.thegreathunt-第37节

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tled；　he　looked　anything　but　gentle；　but　she　had　no　idea　what　a　man　looked　like　afterwards。
　　　　　　　He　gave　a　jerk。　〃No。　She　didn't　。。。　Egwene；　the　Amyrlin　。。。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃She　didn't　hurt　me。〃
　　　　　　　She　had　the　feeling　he　had　been　going　to　say　something　else　entirely。　Usually　she　could　ferret　out　whatever　he　wanted　to　hide　from　her；　but　when　he　really　wanted　to　be　stubborn；　she　could　more　easily　dig　a　brick　out　of　a　wall　with　her　fingernails。　By　the　set　of　his　jaw；　he　was　at　his　most　stubborn　right　now。
　　　　　　　〃What　did　she　want　with　you；　Rand？〃
　　　　　　　〃Nothing　important。　Ta'veren。　She　wanted　to　see　ta'veren。　〃　His　face　softened　as　he　looked　down　at　her。　〃What　about　you；　Egwene？　Are　you　all　right？　Moiraine　said　you　would　be；　but　you　were　so　still。　I　thought　you　were　dead；　at　first。〃
　　　　　　　〃Well；　I'm　not。〃　She　laughed。　She　could　not　remember　anything　that　had　happened　after　she　had　asked　Mat　to　go　to　the　dungeons　with　her；　not　until　waking　in　her　own　bed　that　morning。　From　what　she　had　heard　of　the　night；　she　was　almost　glad　she　could　not　remember。　〃Moiraine　said　she　would　have　left　me　a　headache　for　being　foolish　if　she　could　have　Healed　the　rest　and　not　that；　but　she　couldn't。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　told　you　Fain　was　dangerous；〃　he　muttered。　〃I　told　you；　but　you　wouldn't　listen。〃
　　　　　　　〃If　that's　the　way　you　are　going　to　talk；〃　she　said　firmly；　〃I　will　give　you　back　to　Nisura。　She　won't　talk　to　you　the　way　I　am。　The　last　man　who　tried　to　push　his　way　into　the　women's　apartments　spent　a　month　up　to　his　elbows　in　soapy　water；　helping　with　the　women's　laundry；　and　he　was　only　trying　to　find　his　betrothed　and　make　up　an　argument。　At　least　he　knew　enough　not　to　wear　his　sword。　The　Light　knows　what　they'd　do　to　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃Everybody　wants　to　do　something　to　me；〃　he　growled。　〃Everybody　wants　to　use　me　for　something。　Well；　I　won't　be　used。　Once　we　find　the　Horn；　and　Mat's　dagger；　I'll　never　be　used　again。〃
　　　　　　　With　an　exasperated　grunt；　she　caught　his　shoulders　and　made　him　face　her。　She　glared　up　at　him。　〃If　you　don't　start　talking　sense；　Rand　al'Thor；　I　swear　I　will　box　your　ears。〃
　　　　　　　〃Now　you　sound　like　Nynaeve。〃　He　laughed。　As　he　looked　down　at　her；　though；　his　laughter　faded。　〃I　suppose　…　I　suppose　I'll　never　see　you　again。　I　know　you　have　to　go　to　Tar　Valon。　I　know　that。　And　you'll　bee　an　Aes　Sedai。　I　am　done　with　Aes　Sedai；　Egwene。　I　won't　be　a　puppet　for　them；　not　for　Moiraine；　or　any　of　them。〃
　　　　　　　He　looked　so　lost　she　wanted　to　put　his　head　on　her　shoulder；　and　so　stubborn　she　really　did　want　to　box　his　ears。　〃Listen　to　me；　you　great　ox。　I　am　going　to　be　an　Aes　Sedai；　and　I'll　find　a　way　to　help　you。　I　will。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　next　time　you　see　me；　you　will　likely　want　to　gentle　me。〃
　　　　　　　She　looked　around　hastily；　they　were　alone　in　their　stretch　of　the　hall。　〃If　you　don't　watch　your　tongue；　I　will　not　be　able　to　help　you。　Do　you　want　everyone　to　know？〃
　　　　　　　〃Too　many　know　already；〃　he　said。　〃Egwene；　I　wish　things　were　different；　but　they　aren't。　I　wish　。。。　Take　care　of　yourself。　And　promise　me　you　won't　choose　the　Red　Ajah。〃
　　　　　　　Tears　blurred　her　vision　as　she　threw　her　arms　around　him。　〃You　take　care　of　yourself；〃　she　said　fiercely　into　his　chest。　〃If　you　don't；　I'll　…　I'll。。。〃　She　thought　she　heard　him　murmur；　〃I　love　you；〃　and　then　he　was　firmly　unwrapping　her　arms；　gently　moving　her　away　from　him。　He　turned　and　strode　away　from　her；　almost　running。
　　　　　　　She　jumped　when　Nisura　touched　her　arm。　〃He　looks　as　if　you　set　him　a　task　he　won't　enjoy。　But　you　mustn't　let　him　see　you　cry　over　it。　That　negates　the　purpose。　e。　Nynaeve　wants　you。〃
　　　　　　　Scrubbing　her　cheeks；　Egwene　followed　the　other　woman。　Take　care　of　yourself；　you　wool…headed　lummox。　Light；　take　care　of　him。


Chapter　9
（Flame　of　Tar　Valon）
Leavetakings

　　　　　　　The　outer　courtyard　was　in　ordered　turmoil　when　Rand　finally　reached　it　with　his　saddlebags　and　the　bundle　containing　the　harp　and　flute。　The　sun　climbed　toward　midday。　Men　hurried　around　the　horses；　tugging　at　saddle　girths　and　pack　harness；　voices　raised。　Others　darted　with　last…minute　additions　to　the　pack…saddles；　or　water　for　the　men　working；　or　dashed　off　to　fetch　something　just　remembered。　But　everyone　seemed　to　know　exactly　what　they　were　doing　and　where　they　were　going。　The　guardwalks　and　archers'　balconies　were　crowded　again；　and　excitement　crackled　in　the　morning　air。　Hooves　clattered　on　the　paving　stones。　One　of　the　packhorses　began　kicking；　and　stablemen　ran　to　calm　it。　The　smell　of　horses　hung　thick。　Rand's　cloak　tried　to　flap　in　the　breeze　that　rippled　the　swooping…hawk　banners　on　the　towers；　but　his　bow；　slung　across　his　back；　held　it　down。
　　　　　　　From　outside　the　open　gates　came　the　sounds　of　the　Amyrlin's　pikemen　and　archers　forming　up　in　the　square。　They　had　marched　around　from　a　side　gate。　One　of　the　trumpeters　tested　his　horn。
　　　　　　　Some　of　the　Warders　glanced　at　Rand　as　he　walked　across　the　courtyard；　a　few　raised　eyebrows　when　they　saw　the　heron…mark　sword；　but　none　spoke。　Half　wore　the　cloaks　that　were　so　queasy…making　to　look　at。　Mandarb；　Lan's　stallion；　was　there；　tall；　and　black；　and　fierce…eyed；　but　the　man　himself　was　not；　and　none　of　the　Aes　Sedai；　none　of　the　women；　were　in　evidence　yet　either。　Moiraine's　white　mare；　Aldieb；　stepped　daintily　beside　the　stallion。
　　　　　　　Rand's　bay　stallion　was　with　the　other　group　on　the　far　side　of　the　courtyard；　with　Ingtar；　and　a　bannerman　holding　Ingtar's　Gray　Owl　banner；　and　twenty　other　armored　men　with　lances　tipped　with　two　feet　of　steel；　all　mounted　already。　The　bars　of　their　helmets　covered　their　faces；　and　golden　surcoats　with　the　Black　Hawk　on　the　chest　hid　their　plate…and…mail。　Only　Ingtar's　helmet　had　a　crest；　a　crescent　moon　above　his　brow；　points　up。　Rand　recognized　some　of　the　men。　Rough…tongued　Uno；　with　a　long　scar　down　his　face　and　only　one　eye。　Ragan　and　Masema。　Others　who　had　exchanged　a　word；　or　played　a　game　of　stones。　Ragan　waved　to　him；　and　Uno　nodded；　but　Masema　was　not　the　only　one　who　gave　him　a　cold　stare　and　turned　away。　Their　packhorses　stood　placidly；　tails　swishing。
　　　　　　　The　big　bay　danced　as　Rand　tied　his　saddlebags　and　bundle　behind　the　high…cantled　saddle。　He　put　his　foot　in　the　stirrup　and　murmured；　〃Easy；　Red；〃　as　he　swung　into　the　saddle；　but　he　let　the　stallion　frisk　away　some　of　his　stable…bound　energy。
　　　　　　　To　Rand's　surprise；　Loial　appeared　from　the　direction　of　the　stables；　riding　to　join　them。　The　Ogier's　hairy…fetlocked　mount　was　as　big　and　heavy　as　a　prime　Dhurran　stallion。　Beside　it；　all　the　other　animals　looked　the　size　of　Bela；　but　with　Loial　in　the　saddle；　the　horse　seemed　almost　a　pony。
　　　　　　　Loial　carried　no　weapon　that　Rand　could　see；　he　had　never　heard　of　any　Ogier　using　a　weapon。　Their　stedding　were　protection　enough。　And　Loial　had　his　own　priorities；　his　own　ideas　of　what　was　needed　for　a　journey。　The　pockets　of　his　long　coat　had　a　telltale　bulge；　and　his　saddlebags　showed　the　square　imprints　of　books。
　　　　　　　The　Ogier　stopped　his　horse　a　little　way　off　and　looked　at　Rand；　his　tufted　ears　twitching　uncertainly。
　　　　　　　〃I　didn't　know　you　were　ing；〃　Rand　said。　〃I'd　think　you　would　have　had　enough　of　traveling　with　us。　This　time　there's　no　telling　how　long　it　will　be；　or　where　we　will　end　up。〃
　　　　　　　Loial's　ears　lifted　a　little。　〃There　was　no　telling　when　I　first　met　you；　either。　Besides；　what　held　then；　holds　now。　I　can't　let　the　chance　pass　to　see　history　actually　weave　itself　around　ta'veren。　And　to　help　find　the　Horn　。。。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　and　Perrin　rode　up　behind　Loial　and　paused。　Mat　looked　a　little　tired　around　the　eyes；　but　his　face　wore　a　bloom　of　health。
　　　　　　　〃Mat；〃　Rand　said；　〃I'm　sorry　for　what　I　said。　Perrin；　I　didn't　mean　it。　I　was　being　stupid。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　only　glanced　at　him；　then　shook　his　head　and　mouthed　something　to　Perrin　that　Rand　could　not　hear。　Mat　had　only　his　bow　and　quiver；　but　Perrin　also　wore　his　axe　at　his　belt；　with　its　big　half…moon　blade　balanced　by　a　thick　spike。
　　　　　　　〃Mat？　Perrin？　Really；　I　didn't　…　〃　They　rode　on　toward　Ingtar。
　　　　　　　〃That　is　not　a　coat　for　traveling；　Rand；〃　Loial　said。
　　　　　　　Rand　glanced　down　at　the　golden　thorns　climbing　his　crimson　sleeve　and　grimaced。　Small　wonder　Mat　and　Perrin　still　think　I'm　putting　on　airs。　On　returning　to　his　room　he　had　found　everything　already　packed　and　sent　on。　All　of　the　plain　coats　he　had　been　given　were　on　the　packhorses；　so　the　servants　said；　every　coat　left　in　the　wardrobe　was　at　least　as　ornate　as　the　one　he　wore。　His　saddlebags　held　nothing　in　the　way　of　clothes　but　a　few　shirts；　some　wool　stockings；　and　a　spare　pair　of　breeches。　At　least　he　had　removed　the　golden　cord　from　his　sleeve；　though　he　had　the　red　eagle　pin　in　his　pocket。　Lan　had　meant　it　for　a　gift；　after　all。
　　　　　　　〃I'll　change　when　we　stop　tonight；〃　he　muttered。　He　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Loial；　I　said　things　to　you　I　should　not　have；　and　I　hope　you'll　forgive　me。　You　have　every　right　to　hold　them　against　me；　but　I　hope　you　won't。〃
　　　　　　　Loial　grinned；　and　his　ears　stood　up。　He　moved　his　horse　closer。　〃I　say　things　I　should　not　all　the　time。　The　Elders　always　said　I　spoke　an　hour　before　I　thought。〃
　　　　　　　Suddenly　Lan　was　at　Rand's　stirrup；　in　his　gray…green　scaled　armor　that　would　make