rj.eyeoftheworld-第141节

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behind　them。
　　　　　　　Suddenly　Elayne　dropped　into　a　deep　curtsy；　simultaneously　bowing　from　the　waist；　and　stayed　there；　holding　her　skirt　wide。　Rand　gave　a　start；　then　hastily　emulated　Gawyn　and　the　other　men；　shifting　awkwardly　until　he　had　it　right。　Down　on　his　right　knee；　head　bowed；　bending　forward　to　press　the　knuckles　of　his　right　hand　against　the　marble　tiles；　his　left　hand　resting　on　the　end　of　his　sword　hilt。　Gawyn；　without　a　sword；　put　his　hand　on　his　dagger　the　same　way。
　　　　　　　Rand　was　just　congratulating　himself　on　getting　it　right　when　he　noticed　Tallanvor；　his　head　still　bent；　glaring　sideways　at　him　from　behind　his　face…guard。　Was　I　supposed　to　do　something　else？　He　was　suddenly　angry　that　Tallanvor　expected　him　to　know　what　to　do　when　no　one　had　told　him。　And　angry　over　being　afraid　of　the　guards。　He　had　done　nothing　to　be　fearful　for。　He　knew　his　fear　was　not　Tallanvor's　fault；　but　he　was　angry　at　him　anyway。
　　　　　　　Everyone　held　their　positions；　frozen　as　if　waiting　for　the　spring　thaw。　He　did　not　know　what　they　were　waiting　for；　but　he　took　the　opportunity　to　study　the　place　to　which　he　had　been　brought。　He　kept　his　head　down；　just　turning　it　enough　to　see。　Tallanvor's　scowl　deepened；　but　he　ignored　it。
　　　　　　　The　square　chamber　was　about　the　size　of　the　mon　room　at　The　Queen's　Blessing；　its　walls　presenting　hunting　scenes　carved　in　relief　in　stone　of　the　purest　white。　The　tapestries　between　the　carvings　were　gentle　images　of　bright　flowers　and　brilliantly　plumaged　hummingbirds；　except　for　the　two　at　the　far　end　of　the　room；　where　the　White　Lion　of　Andor　stood　taller　than　a　man　on　scarlet　fields。　Those　two　hangings　flanked　a　dais；　and　on　the　dais　a　carved　and　gilded　throne　where　sat　the　Queen。
　　　　　　　A　bluff；　blocky　man　stood　bareheaded　by　the　Queen's　right　hand　in　the　red　of　the　Queen's　Guards；　with　four　golden　knots　on　the　shoulder　of　his　cloak　and　wide　golden　bands　breaking　the　white　of　his　cuffs。　His　temples　were　heavy　with　gray；　but　he　looked　as　strong　and　immovable　as　a　rock。　That　had　to　be　the　Captain…General；　Gareth　Bryne。　Behind　the　throne　and　to　the　other　side　a　woman　in　deep　green　silk　sat　on　a　low　stool；　knitting　something　out　of　dark；　almost　black；　wool。　At　first　the　knitting　made　Rand　think　she　was　old；　but　at　second　glance　he　could　not　put　an　age　to　her　at　all。　Young；　old；　he　did　not　know。　Her　attention　seemed　to　be　entirely　on　her　needles　and　yarn；　just　as　if　there　were　not　a　Queen　within　arm's　reach　of　her。　She　was　a　handsome　woman；　outwardly　placid；　yet　there　was　something　terrible　in　her　concentration。　There　was　no　sound　in　the　room　except　for　the　click　of　her　needles。
　　　　　　　He　tried　to　look　at　everything；　yet　his　eyes　kept　going　back　to　the　woman　with　the　gleaming　wreath　of　finely　wrought　roses　on　her　brow；　the　Rose　Crown　of　Andor。　A　long　red　stole；　the　Lion　of　Andor　marching　along　its　length；　hung　over　her　silken　dress　of　red　and　white　pleats；　and　when　she　touched　the　Captain…General's　arm　with　her　left　hand；　a　ring　in　the　shape　of　the　Great　Serpent；　eating　its　own　tail；　glittered。　Yet　it　was　not　the　grandeur　of　clothes　or　jewelry　or　even　crown　that　drew　Rand's　eyes　again　and　again：　it　was　the　woman　who　wore　them。
　　　　　　　Morgase　had　her　daughter's　beauty；　matured　and　ripened。　Her　face　and　figure；　her　presence；　filled　the　room　like　a　light　that　dimmed　the　other　two　with　her。　If　she　had　been　a　widow　in　Emond's　Field；　she　would　have　had　a　line　of　suitors　outside　her　door　even　if　she　was　the　worst　cook　and　most　slovenly　housekeeper　in　the　Two　Rivers。　He　saw　her　studying　him　and　ducked　his　head；　afraid　she　might　be　able　to　tell　his　thoughts　from　his　face。　Light；　thinking　about　the　Queen　like　she　was　a　village　woman！　You　fool！
　　　　　　　〃You　may　rise；〃　Morgase　said　in　a　rich；　warm　voice　that　held　Elayne's　assurance　of　obedience　a　hundred　times　over。
　　　　　　　Rand　stood　with　the　rest。
　　　　　　　〃Mother　…　〃　Elayne　began；　but　Morgase　cut　her　off。
　　　　　　　〃You　have　been　climbing　trees；　it　seems；　daughter。〃　Elayne　plucked　a　stray　fragment　of　bark　from　her　dress　and；　finding　there　was　no　place　to　put　it；　held　it　clenched　in　her　hand。　〃In　fact；〃　Morgase　went　on　calmly；　〃it　would　seem　that　despite　my　orders　to　the　contrary　you　have　contrived　to　take　your　look　at　this　Logain。　Gawyn；　I　have　thought　better　of　you。　You　must　learn　not　only　to　obey　your　sister；　but　at　the　same　time　to　be　counterweight　for　her　against　disaster。〃　The　Queen's　eyes　swung　to　the　blocky　man　beside　her；　then　quickly　away　again。　Bryne　remained　impassive；　as　if　he　had　not　noticed；　but　Rand　thought　those　eyes　noticed　everything。　〃That；　Gawyn；　is　as　much　the　duty　of　the　First　Prince　as　is　leading　the　armies　of　Andor。　Perhaps　if　your　training　is　intensified；　you　will　find　less　time　for　letting　your　sister　lead　you　into　trouble。　I　will　ask　the　Captain…General　to　see　that　you　do　not　lack　for　things　to　do　on　the　journey　north。〃
　　　　　　　Gawyn　shifted　his　feet　as　if　about　to　protest；　then　bowed　his　head　instead。　〃As　you　mand；　mother。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　grimaced。　〃Mother；　Gawyn　cannot　keep　me　out　of　trouble　if　he　is　not　with　me。　It　was　for　that　reason　alone　he　left　his　rooms。　Mother；　surely　there　could　be　no　harm　in　just　looking　at　Logain。　Almost　everyone　in　the　city　was　closer　to　him　than　we。〃
　　　　　　　〃Everyone　in　the　city　is　not　the　Daughter…Heir。〃　Sharpness　underlay　the　Queen's　voice。　〃I　have　seen　this　fellow　Logain　from　close；　and　he　is　dangerous；　child。　Caged；　with　Aes　Sedai　to　guard　him　every　minute；　he　is　still　as　dangerous　as　a　wolf。　I　wish　he　had　never　been　brought　near　Caemlyn。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　will　be　dealt　with　in　Tar　Valon。〃　The　woman　on　the　stool　did　not　take　her　eyes　from　her　knitting　as　she　spoke。　〃What　is　important　is　that　the　people　see　that　the　Light　has　once　again　vanquished　the　Dark。　And　that　they　see　you　are　part　of　that　victory；　Morgase。〃
　　　　　　　Morgase　waved　a　dismissive　hand。　〃I　would　still　rather　he　had　never　e　near　Caemlyn。　Elayne；　I　know　your　mind。〃
　　　　　　　〃Mother；〃　Elayne　protested；　〃I　do　mean　to　obey　you。　Truly　I　do。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　do？〃　Morgase　asked　in　mock　surprise；　then　chuckled。　〃Yes；　you　do　try　to　be　a　dutiful　daughter。　But　you　constantly　test　how　far　you　may　go。　Well；　I　did　the　same　with　my　mother。　That　spirit　will　stand　you　in　good　stead　when　you　ascend　to　the　throne；　but　you　are　not　Queen　yet；　child。　You　have　disobeyed　me　and　had　your　look　at　Logain。　Be　satisfied　with　that。　On　the　journey　north　you　will　not　be　allowed　within　one　hundred　paces　of　him；　neither　you　nor　Gawyn。　If　I　did　not　know　just　how　hard　your　lessons　will　be　in　Tar　Valon；　I　would　send　Lini　along　to　see　that　you　obey。　She；　at　least；　seems　able　to　make　you　do　as　you　must。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　bowed　her　head　sullenly。
　　　　　　　The　woman　behind　the　throne　seemed　occupied　with　counting　her　stitches。　〃In　one　week；〃　she　said　suddenly；　〃you　will　be　wanting　to　e　home　to　your　mother。　In　a　month　you　will　be　wanting　to　run　away　with　the　Traveling　People。　But　my　sisters　will　keep　you　away　from　the　unbeliever。　That　sort　of　thing　is　not　for　you；　not　yet。〃　Abruptly　she　turned　on　the　stool　to　look　intently　at　Elayne；　all　her　placidity　gone　as　if　it　had　never　been。　〃You　have　it　in　you　to　be　the　greatest　Queen　that　Andor　has　ever　seen；　that　any　land　has　seen　in　more　than　a　thousand　years。　It　is　for　that　we　will　shape　you；　if　you　have　the　strength　for　it。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　stared　at　her。　She　had　to　be　Elaida；　the　Aes　Sedai。　Suddenly　he　was　glad　he　had　not　e　to　her　for　help；　no　matter　what　her　Ajah。　A　sternness　far　beyond　Moiraine's　radiated　from　her。　He　had　sometimes　thought　of　Moiraine　as　steel　covered　with　velvet；　with　Elaida　the　velvet　was　only　an　illusion。
　　　　　　　〃Enough；　Elaida；〃　Morgase　said；　frowning　uneasily。　〃She　has　heard　that　more　than　enough。　The　Wheel　weaves　as　the　Wheel　wills。〃　For　a　moment　she　was　silent；　looking　at　her　daughter。　〃Now　there　is　the　problem　of　this　young　man〃　…　she　gestured　to　Rand　without　taking　her　eyes　off　Elayne's　face　…　〃and　how　and　why　he　came　here；　and　why　you　claimed　guest…right　for　him　to　your　brother。〃
　　　　　　　〃May　I　speak；　mother？〃　When　Morgase　nodded　her　assent；　Elayne　told　of　events　simply；　from　the　time　she　first　saw　Rand　climbing　up　the　slope　to　the　wall。　He　expected　her　to　finish　by　proclaiming　the　innocence　of　what　he　had　done；　but　instead　she　said；　〃Mother；　often　you　tell　me　I　must　know　our　people；　from　the　highest　to　the　lowest；　but　whenever　I　meet　any　of　them　it　is　with　a　dozen　attendants。　How　can　I　e　to　know　anything　real　or　true　under　such　circumstances？　In　speaking　with　this　young　man　I　have　already　learned　more　about　the　people　of　the　Two　Rivers；　what　kind　of　people　they　are；　than　I　ever　could　from　books。　It　says　something　that　he　has　e　so　far　and　has　put　on　the　red；　when　so　many　iners　wear　the　white　from　fear。　Mother；　I　beg　you　not　to　misuse　a　loyal　subject；　and　one　who　has　taught　me　much　about　the　people　you　rule。〃
　　　　　　　〃A　loyal　subject　from　the　Two　Rivers。〃　Morgase　sighed。　〃My　child；　you　should　pay　more　heed　to　those　books。　The　Two　Rivers　has　not　seen　a　tax　collector　in　six　generations；　nor　the　Queen's　Guards　in　seven。　I　daresay　they　seldom　even　think　to　remember　they　are　part　of　the　Realm。〃　Rand　shrugged　unfortably；　recalling　his　surprise　when　he　was　told　the　Two　Rivers　was　part　of　the　Realm　of　Andor。　The　Queen　saw　him；