rj.thepathofdaggers-第8节
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pride。 He called himself Moridin； and surely no one had ever had more right to name himself Death。
From time to time he idly stroked one of the two mindtraps that hung on plain silken cords around his neck。 At his touch； the blood…red crystal of the cour'souvra pulsed； swirls moving in endless depths like the beating of a heart。 His real attention was on the game laid out before him on the table； thirty…three red pieces and thirty…three green arrayed across a playing surface of thirteen squares by thirteen。 A re…creation of the early stages of a famous game。 The most important piece； the Fisher； black…and…white like the playing surface； still waited in its starting place on the central square。 A plex game； sha'rah； ancient long before the War of Power。 Sha'rah； tcheran； and no'ri； the game now called simply 〃stones；〃 each had adherents who claimed it enpassed all the subtleties of life； but Moridin had always favored sha'rah。 Only nine people living even remembered the game。 He had been a master of it。 Much more plex than tcheran or no'ri。 The first object was capture of the Fisher。 Only then did the game truly begin。
A servant approached； a slim graceful young man clad all in white； impossibly handsome； bowing as he presented a crystal goblet on a silver tray。 He smiled； but it did not touch his black eyes； eyes more lifeless than simply dead。 Most men would have felt unfortable having that gaze on them。 Moridin merely took the goblet and motioned the servant away。 The vintners of this time produced some excellent wines。 He did not drink； though。
The Fisher held his attention； baiting him。 Several pieces had varying moves； but only the Fisher's attributes altered according to where it stood； on a white square； weak in attack yet agile and far…ranging in escape； on black； strong in attack but slow and vulnerable。 When masters played； the Fisher changed sides many times before the end。 The green…and…red goal…row that surrounded the playing surface could be threatened by any piece； but only the Fisher could move onto it。 Not that he was safe； even there； the Fisher was never safe。 When the Fisher was yours； you tried to move him to a square of your color behind your opponent's end of the board。 That was victory； the easiest way； but not the only one。 When your opponent held the Fisher； you attempted to leave him no choice for the Fisher but to move onto your color。 Anywhere at all along the goal…row would do； holding the Fisher could be more dangerous than not。 Of course； there was a third path to victory in sha'rah； if you took it before letting yourself be trapped。 The game always degenerated in a bloody melee； then； victory ing only with plete annihilation of your enemy。 He had tried that； once； in desperation； but the attempt had failed。 Painfully。
Fury boiled suddenly in Moridin's head； and black flecks swam across his eyes as he seized the True Power。 Ecstasy that amounted to pain thundered through him。 His hand closed around the two mindtraps； and the True Power closed around the Fisher； snatching it into the air； a hair from crushing it to powder； crushing the powder out of existence。 The goblet shattered in his hand。 His grip bordered on crushing the cour'souvra。 The saa were a blizzard of black； but they did not hinder his sight。 The Fisher was always worked as a man； a bandage blinding his eyes and one hand pressed to his side； a few drops of blood dripping through his fingers。 The reasons； like the source of the name； were lost in the mist of time。 That troubled him sometimes； enraged him； what knowledge might be lost in the turnings of the Wheel； knowledge he needed； knowledge he had a right to。 A right！
Slowly he set the Fisher back on the board。 Slowly his fingers uncurled from around the cour'souvra。 There was no need for destruction。 Yet。 Icy calm replaced rage in the blink of an eye。 Blood and wine dripped from his gashed hand； unnoticed。 Perhaps the Fisher did e from some dim remnant of a memory of Rand al'Thor； the shadow of a shadow。 It did not matter。 He realized he was laughing； and made no effort to stop。 On the board； the Fisher stood waiting； but in the greater game； al'Thor moved already to his wishes。 And soon； now。。。 It was very hard to lose a game when you played both sides of the board。 Moridin laughed so hard that tears rolled down his face； but he was not aware of them。
Chapter 1
（Star and Birds）
To Keep the Bargain
The Wheel of Time turns； and Ages e and pass； leaving memories that bee legend。 Legend fades to myth； and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth es again。 In one Age； called the Third Age by some； an Age yet to e； an Age long past； a wind rose above the great mountainous island of Tremalking。 The wind was not the beginning。 There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time。 But it was a beginning。
East the wind blew across Tremalking； where the fair…skinned Amayar farmed their fields； and made fine glass and porcelain； and followed the peace of the Water Way。 The Amayar ignored the world beyond their scattered islands； for the Water Way taught that this world was only illusion； a mirrored reflection of belief； yet some watched the wind carry dust and deep summer heat where cold winter rains should be falling； and they remembered tales heard from the Atha'an Miere。 Tales of the world beyond； and what prophecy said was to e。 Some looked to a hill where a massive stone hand rose from the earth； holding a clear crystal sphere larger than many houses。 The Amayar had their own prophecies； and some of those spoke of the hand and the sphere。 And the end of illusions。
Onward the wind blew into the Sea of Storms； eastward beneath a searing sun in a sky abandoned by clouds； whipping the tops of green sea swells； battling winds from the south and westward winds； shearing and swirling as the waters below heaved。 Not yet the storms of winter's heart； though winter should have been half gone； much less the greater storms of a dying summer； but winds and currents that could be used by ocean…faring folk to coast around the continent from World's End to Mayene and beyond； then back again。 Eastward the wind howled； over rolling ocean where the great whales rose and sounded； and flying fish soared on outstretched fins two paces and more across； eastward； now whirling north； east and north； over small fleets of fishing ships dragging their nets in the shallower seas。 Some of those fishermen stood gaping； hands idle on the lines； staring at a huge array of tall vessels and smaller that purposefully rode the wind's hard breath； shattering swells with bluff bows； slicing swells with narrow； their banner a golden hawk with talons clutching lightning； a multitude of streaming banners like portents of storm。 East and north and on； and the wind reached the broad； ship…filled harbor of Ebou Dar； where hundreds of Sea Folk vessels rode as they did in many ports； awaiting word of the Coramoor； the Chosen One。
Across the harbor the wind roared； tossing small ships and large； across the city itself； gleaming white beneath the unfettered sun； spires and walls and color…ringed domes； streets and canals bustling with the storied southern industry。 Around the shining domes and slender towers of the Tarasin Palace the wind swirled； carrying the tang of salt； lifting the flag of Altara； two golden leopards on a field of red and blue； and the banners of ruling House Mitsobar； the Sword and Anchor； green on white。 Not yet the storm； but a harbinger of storms。
Skin prickled between Aviendha's shoulder blades as she strode ahead of her panions through palace hallways tiled in dozens of pleasing bright hues。 A sense of being watched that she had last felt while still wed to the spear。 Imagination； she told herself。 Imagination and knowing there are enemies about I cannot face！ Not so long ago that crawling sensation had meant someone might be intending to kill her。 Death was nothing to fear … everyone died； today or on another … but she did not want to die like a rabbit kicking in a snare。 She had toh to meet。
Servants scurried by close along the walls； bobbing bows and curtsies； dropping their eyes almost as if they understood the shame of the lives they lived； yet surely it could not be them that made her want to twist her shoulders。 She had tried schooling herself to see servants； but even now； with the skin creeping on her back； her gaze slid around them。 It had to be imagination； and nerves。 This was a day for imagination and nerves。
Unlike the servants； rich silk tapestries snagged at her eye； and the gilded stand…lamps and ceiling lamps lining the corridors。 Paper…thin porcelain in reds and yellows and greens and blues stood in wall niches and tall openwork cabinets alongside ornaments of gold and silver； ivory and crystal； scores upon scores of bowls and vases and caskets and statuettes。 Only the most beautiful truly caught her gaze； whatever wetlanders thought； beauty held more worth than gold。 There was much beauty here。 She would not have minded taking her share of the fifth from this place。
Vexed with herself； she frowned。 That was not an honora
