rj.thepathofdaggers-第126节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


always　enjoyed　watching　gleemen　eat　fire。〃
　　　　　　　Flinn　barked　a　laugh　before　catching　himself；　and　even　then　raked　a　hand　through　his　fringe　of　hair　and　seemed　to　be　struggling　with　amusement。　Morr　and　Hopwil　exchanged　looks　both　puzzled　and　more　than　a　little　outraged。　Dashiva　smiled　unpleasantly；　and　the　weave　he　was　holding　grew　stronger；　until　Rand　felt　as　if　he　wanted　to　look　over　his　shoulder　to　see　what　was　rushing　toward　him。
　　　　　　　〃It　is　enough　that　you　know　I　am　who　I　am；〃　Rand　told　her。　〃Dashiva；　all　of　you；　wait　outside。〃
　　　　　　　Dashiva　opened　his　mouth　as　if　to　protest。　That　had　not　been　part　of　Rand's　instructions；　but　they　were　not　going　to　overawe　the　woman；　not　this　way。　The　man　went；　though；　muttering　to　himself。　Hopwil　and　Morr　actually　stepped　out　eagerly；　with　sidelong　glances　at　Cadsuane。　Flinn　was　the　only　one　to　make　a　dignified　withdrawal；　in　spite　of　his　limp。　And　he　still　seemed　amused！
　　　　　　　Rand　channeled；　and　a　heavy；　leopard…carved　chair　floated　into　the　air　from　its　place　by　the　wall；　spinning　end　over　end　in　somersaults　before　settling　like　a　feather　in　front　of　Cadsuane。　At　the　same　time；　a　heavy　silver　pitcher　drifted　up　from　a　long；　draped　table　across　the　room；　making　a　loud　ping　as　it　was　suddenly　heated；　steam　gushed　from　the　top；　and　it　tipped　over；　whirling　round　and　round　like　a　slow　top；　as　a　silver　cup　darted　up　to　neatly　catch　the　dark　pouring。
　　　　　　　〃Too　hot；　I　think；〃　Rand　said；　and　the　glassed　casements　leaped　from　the　tall；　narrow　windows。　Snowflakes　billowed　in　on　an　icy　blast；　and　the　cup　soared　out　through　one　of　the　windows；　soared　back　again；　straight　to　his　hand　as　he　sat　himself。　Let　her　see　how　calm　she　could　stay　with　a　madman　staring　at　her。　The　dark　liquid　was　tea；　too　strong　after　his　boiling；　and　bitter　enough　to　set　his　teeth　on　edge。　But　the　warmth　was　just　right。　His　skin　pebbled　in　the　gusts　howling　into　the　room　and　flapping　tapestries　against　the　walls；　but　in　the　Void；　that　was　far　away；　someone　else's　skin。
　　　　　　　〃The　Laurel　Crown　is　prettier　than　some；〃　Cadsuane　said　with　a　faint　smile。　Her　hair　ornaments　swayed　whenever　the　wind　rose；　and　small　wisps　flailed　about　her　bun；　but　the　only　notice　she　took　was　to　catch　her　embroidery　hoop　just　before　it　was　blown　from　the　table。　〃I　prefer　that　name。　But　you　can't　expect　me　to　be　impressed　by　crowns。　I've　paddled　the　bottoms　of　two　reigning　kings　and　three　queens。　Not　sitting　rulers；　you　understand；　once　I　was　done　with　them；　not　for　a　day　or　so；　but　it　did　get　their　attention。　You　can　see　why　crowns　don't　impress　me；　though。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　eased　his　jaw。　Grinding　his　teeth　would　not　help。　He　widened　his　eyes；　hoping　he　looked　insane　instead　of　simply　furious。　〃Most　Aes　Sedai　avoid　the　Sun　Palace；〃　he　told　her。　〃Except　for　those　who　have　sworn　fealty　to　me。　And　those　I　hold　prisoner。〃　Light；　what　was　he　to　do　with　those？　As　long　as　the　Wise　Ones　kept　them　out　of　his　hair；　all　was　well　enough。
　　　　　　　〃The　Aiel　seem　to　think　I　should　e　and　go　as　I　please；〃　she　said　absently；　eyeing　the　hoop　in　her　hand　as　if　thinking　of　taking　up　her　needle　again。　〃A　matter　of　some　trifling　help　I　gave　some　boy　or　other。　Though　why　anyone　but　his　mother　should　think　him　worth　it；　I　can　hardly　say。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　made　another　effort　not　to　grind　his　teeth。　The　woman　had　saved　his　life。　Her　and　Damer　Flinn　between　them；　and　plenty　of　others　in　the　bargain；　Min　among　them。　But　he　still　owed　Cadsuane　something　for　that。　Burn　her。　〃I　want　you　to　be　my　advisor。　I'm　King　of　Illian　now；　and　kings　have　Aes　Sedai　advisors。〃
　　　　　　　She　gave　his　crown　a　dismissive　glance。　〃Certainly　not。　An　advisor　has　to　stand　and　watch　her　charge　make　a　muddle　much　too　often　to　suit　me。　She　also　has　to　take　orders；　something　I　am　particularly　bad　at。　Won't　someone　else　do？　Alanna；　perhaps？〃
　　　　　　　Despite　himself；　Rand　sat　up　straight。　Did　she　know　about　the　bond？　Merana　had　said　it　was　hard　to　keep　anything　from　her。　No；　he　could　worry　later　about　how　much　his　〃faithful〃　Aes　Sedai　were　telling　Cadsuane。　Light；　he　wished　Min　could　be　wrong　for　once。　But　he　would　believe　himself　breathing　water；　first。　〃I。。。　〃　He　could　not　make　himself　tell　her　that　he　needed　her。　No　halter！　〃What　if　you　didn't　have　to　swear　any　oaths？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　suppose　that　might　work；〃　she　said　doubtfully；　peering　at　her　cursed　stitchery。　Her　eyes　rose　to　his。　Considering。　〃You　sound。。。　uneasy。　I　don't　like　to　tell　a　man　he's　afraid　even　when　he　has　reason　to　be。　Uneasy　over　a　sister　you　haven't　turned　into　a　tame　lapdog　snaring　you　in　some　fashion？　Let　me　see。　I　can　make　you　a　few　promises；　perhaps　they　will　set　your　mind　at　rest。　I　expect　you　to　listen；　of　course　…　make　me　waste　my　breath；　and　you'll　yelp　for　it　…　but　I　won't　make　you　do　what　I　want。　I　won't　tolerate　anyone　lying　to　me；　certainly　…　that's　another　thing　you'll　find　decidedly　unfortable　…　but　I　don't　expect　you　to　tell　me　the　deepest　yearnings　of　your　heart；　either。　Oh；　yes。　Whatever　I　do；　it　will　be　for　your　own　good；　not　mine；　not　the　good　of　the　White　Tower；　yours。　Now；　does　that　ease　your　fears？　Pardon　me。　Your　unease。〃
　　　　　　　Wondering　whether　he　was　supposed　to　laugh；　Rand　stared　at　her。　〃Do　they　teach　you　how　to　do　that？〃　he　demanded。　〃Make　a　promise　sound　a　threat；　I　mean。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　I　see。　You　want　rules。　Most　boys　do；　whatever　they　say。　Very　well。　Let　me　see。　I　cannot　abide　incivility。　So　you　will　be　properly　civil　to　me；　to　my　friends；　and　my　guests。　That　includes　not　channeling　at　them；　in　case　you　haven't　guessed；　and　holding　your　temper；　which　I　understand　is　memorable。　It　also　takes　in　your。。。　panions　in　those　black　coats。　A　pity　if　I　had　to　spank　you　for　something　one　of　them　did。　Does　that　suffice？　I　can　make　more；　if　you　need　them。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　set　his　cup　down　beside　the　chair。　The　tea　had　gone　cold　as　well　as　bitter。　Snow　was　beginning　to　pile　up　in　drifts　beneath　the　windows。　〃I'm　the　one　who's　supposed　to　go　mad；　Aes　Sedai；　but　you　already　are。〃　Rising；　he　strode　for　the　door。
　　　　　　　〃I　do　hope　you　haven't　tried　to　use　Callandor；〃　she　said　placently　behind　him。　〃I　have　heard　it's　vanished　from　the　Stone。　You　managed　to　escape　once；　but　you　might　not　twice。〃
　　　　　　　He　stopped　short；　looking　over　his　shoulder。　The　woman　was　pushing　that　bloody　needle　through　the　cloth　stretched　on　her　hoop！　The　wind　gusted；　swirling　snow　around　her；　and　she　did　not　even　lift　her　head。　〃What　do　you　mean；　escape？〃
　　　　　　　〃What？〃　She　did　not　look　up。　〃Oh。　Very　few　even　in　the　Tower　knew　what　Callandor　is　before　you　drew　it；　but　there　are　surprising　things　hidden　in　musty　corners　of　the　Tower　Library。　I　went　rummaging　some　years　ago；　when　I　first　had　the　suspicion　you　might　be　suckling　at　your　mother's　breast。　Just　before　I　decided　to　go　back　into　retirement。　Babes　are　messy　things；　and　I　could　not　see　how　to　find　you　before　you　stopped　dripping　at　one　end　or　the　other。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　he　demanded　roughly。
　　　　　　　Cadsuane　looked　up　then；　and　with　her　hair　flung　about　and　snow　settling　on　her　dress；　she　looked　a　queen。　〃I　told　you　I　cannot　abide　incivility。　If　you　ask　for　my　help　again；　I　expect　you　to　ask　politely。　And　I　will　expect　an　apology　for　your　behavior　today！〃
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　mean　about　Callandor？〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　flawed；〃　she　replied　curtly；　〃lacking　the　buffer　that　makes　other　sa'angreal　safe　to　use。　And　it　apparently　magnifies　the　taint；　inducing　wildness　of　the　mind。　So　long　as　a　man　is　using　it；　anyway。　The　only　safe　way　for　you　to　use　The　Sword　That　Is　Not　a　Sword；　the　only　way　to　use　it　without　the　risk　of　killing　yourself；　or　trying　to　do　the　Light　alone　knows　what　insanity；　is　linked　with　two　women；　and　one　of　them　guiding　the　flows。〃
　　　　　　　Trying　not　to　hunch　his　shoulders；　he　strode　away　from　her。　So　it　had　been　not　just　the　wildness　of　saidin　around　Ebou　Dar　that　had　killed　Adley。　He　had　murdered　the　man　the　moment　he　sent　Narishma　for　the　thing。
　　　　　　　Cadsuane's　voice　pursued　him。　〃Remember；　boy。　You　must　ask　very　nicely；　and　apologize。　I　might　even　agree；　if　your　apology　sounds　truly　sincere。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　barely　heard　her。　He　had　hoped　to　use　Callandor　again；　hoped　it　would　be　strong　enough。　Now　only　one　chance　remained；　and　it　terrified　him。　He　seemed　to　hear　another　woman's　voice；　a　dead　woman's　voice。　You　could　challenge　the　Creator。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　
Chapter　28　
（Snakey　Square）　
Crimsonthorn　
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　It　hardly　seemed　the　setting　for　the　explosion　Elayne　feared。　Harlon　Bridge　was　a　village　of　moderate　size；　with　three　inns　and　enough　houses　that　no　one　had　to　sleep　in　a　hayloft。　When　Elayne　and　Birgitte　went　downstairs　to　the　mon　room　that　morning；　Mistress　Dill；　the　round　innkeeper；　smiled　warmly　and　offered　as　much　of　a　curtsy　as　her　size　allowed。　It　was　not　just　that　Elayne　was　Aes　Sedai。　Mistress　Dill　was　so　pleased　that　her　inn　was　full；　what　with　the　roads　snowpacked；　that　she　bobbed　at　nearly　everyone。　At　their　entrance；　Aviendha　hastily　gulped　the　last　of　her　breakfast　bread　and　cheese；　brushed　a　few　crumbs　from　her　green　dress；　and　snatched　up　her　dark　cloak　to　join　them。
　　　　　　　Outside；　the　sun　was　just　peeking　over　the　horizon；　a　low　dome　of　pale　yellow。　Only　a　few　clouds　marred　a　beautiful　blue　sky；　and　they　were　white　and　fluffy；　not　the　so