rj.acrownofswords-第139节

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he　could　begin　to　form　an　apology；　she　smiled。　The　woman　smiled！
　　　〃At　least　you're　not　sulking　anymore；〃　she　said。　〃Don't　ever　whine；　Rand；　you　are　no　good　at　it。　Now；　then。　You　want　sense？　I　love　you；　and　I　will　not　go。　If　you　try　to　send　me　away；　I'll　tell　the　Maidens　you　ruined　me　and　cast　me　aside。　I'll　tell　everybody　who　will　listen。　I　will　…　〃
　　　He　raised　his　right　hand　and　studied　the　flat　of　his　palm；　where　the　branded　heron　stood　clear；　then　looked　at　her。　She　eyed　his　hand　warily　and　shifted　herself　on　his　knees；　then　conspicuously　ignored　everything　except　his　face。
　　　〃I　won't　go；　Rand；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃You　need　me。〃
　　　〃How　do　you　do　it？〃　he　sighed；　slumping　back　in　the　chair。　〃Even　when　you　stand　me　on　my　head；　you　make　all　my　troubles　shrink。〃
　　　Min　sniffed。　〃You　need　to　be　stood　on　your　head　more　often。　Tell　me。　This　Aviendha。　I　don't　suppose　there　is　any　chance　she's　bony　and　scarred；　like　Nandera。〃
　　　He　laughed　in　spite　of　himself。　Light；　how　long　since　he　had　laughed　with　pleasure？　〃Min；　I'd　say　she　is　as　pretty　as　you；　but　how　can　you　pare　two　sunrises？〃
　　　For　a　moment　she　stared　at　him　with　a　small　smile；　as　if　she　could　not　decide　whether　to　be　surprised　or　delighted。　〃You　are　a　very　dangerous　man；　Rand　al'Thor；〃　she　murmured；　leaning　toward　him　slowly。　He　thought　he　might　fall　into　her　eyes　and　be　lost。　All　those　times　before　when　she　sat　on　his　lap　and　kissed　him；　all　those　times　he　had　thought　she　was　only　teasing　a　country　boy；　he　had　nearly　crawled　out　of　his　skin　wanting　to　kiss　her　forever。　Now；　if　she　kissed　him　again　now。。。
　　　Taking　her　firmly　by　the　arms；　he　stood　and　set　her　on　her　feet。　He　loved　her；　and　she　loved　him；　but　he　had　to　remember　that　he　wanted　to　kiss　Elayne　forever　when　he　thought　about　her；　and　Aviendha。　Whatever　Min　said　about　Rhuarc　or　any　Aielman；　she　had　made　a　poor　bargain　the　day　she　fell　in　love　with　him。　〃You　said　half；　Min；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃What　viewings　haven't　you　told　me？〃
　　　She　looked　up　at　him　with　what　almost　might　have　been　frustration；　except　of　course　that　it　could　not　have　been。　〃You're　in　love　with　the　Dragon　Reborn；　Min　Farshaw；〃　she　grumbled；　〃and　best　you　remember　it。　Best　you　did；　too；　Rand；〃　she　added；　pulling　away。　He　let　her　go　reluctantly；　eagerly；　he　did　not　know　which。　〃You've　been　back　in　Cairhien　half　a　week；　and　you　still　have　done　nothing　about　the　Sea　Folk。　Berelain　thought　you　might　drag　your　feet　again。　She　left　me　a　letter；　asking　me　to　keep　reminding　you；　only　you　wouldn't　let　me　…　Well；　never　mind　that。　Berelain　thinks　they're　important　to　you　somehow；　she　says　you're　the　fulfillment　of　some　prophecy　of　theirs。〃
　　　〃I　know　all　about　that；　Min。　I　…　〃　He　had　thought　to　leave　the　Sea　Folk　out　of　being　tangled　with　him；　they　were　not　mentioned　in　the　Prophecies　of　the　Dragon　that　he　could　find。　But　if　he　was　going　to　let　Min　stay　near　him；　let　her　risk　the　dangers。。。　She　had　won；　he　realized。　He　had　watched　Elayne　walk　away　with　his　heart　sinking；　watched　Aviendha　go　with　his　stomach　in　knots。　He　could　not　do　it　again。　Min　stood　there　waiting。　〃I'll　go　to　their　ship。　I'll　go　today。　The　Sea　Folk　can　kneel　to　the　Dragon　Reborn　in　all　his　splendor。　I　don't　suppose　there　was　ever　any　hope　for　anything　else。　Either　they're　mine；　or　they're　my　enemies。　That　is　how　it　always　seems　to　be。　Will　you　tell　me　about　those　viewings；　now？〃
　　　〃Rand；　you　should　study　what　they're　like　before　you　…　〃
　　　〃The　viewings？〃
　　　She　folded　her　arms　and　frowned　up　at　him　through　her　lashes。　She　chewed　her　lip　and　frowned　at　the　door。　She　shook　her　head　and　muttered　under　her　breath。　At　last　she　said；　〃There　is　only　one；　really。　I　was　exaggerating。　I　saw　you　and　another　man。　I　couldn't　make　out　either　face；　but　I　knew　one　was　you。　You　touched；　and　seemed　to　merge　into　one　another；　and。。。　〃　Her　mouth　tightened　worriedly；　and　she　went　on　in　a　very　small　voice。　〃I　don't　know　what　it　means；　Rand；　except　that　one　of　you　dies；　and　one　doesn't。　I　…　Why　are　you　grinning？　This　isn't　a　joke；　Rand。　I　do　not　know　which　of　you　dies。〃
　　　〃I'm　grinning　because　you've　given　me　very　good　news；〃　he　said；　touching　her　cheek。　The　other　man　had　to　be　Lews　Therin。　I'm　not　just　insane　and　hearing　voices；　he　thought；　jubilant。　One　lived　and　one　died；　but　he　had　known　for　a　long　time　that　he　was　going　to　die。　At　least　he　was　not　mad。　Or　not　as　far　mad　as　he　had　feared。　There　was　still　the　temper　he　could　barely　control。　〃You　see；　I　…　〃
　　　Suddenly　he　realized　that　he　had　gone　from　touching　her　cheek　to　cupping　her　face　in　both　hands。　He　pulled　them　away　as　if　burned。　Min　pursed　her　lips　and　gave　him　a　reproving　look；　but　he　was　not　going　to　take　advantage　of　her。　It　would　not　be　fair　to　her。　Luckily；　his　stomach　rumbled　loudly。
　　　〃I　need　something　to　eat；　if　I'm　going　to　see　the　Sea　Folk。　I　saw　a　tray。。。　〃
　　　Min　made　a　sound　more　snort　than　sniff　as　he　turned　away；　but　the　next　moment　she　was　sailing　toward　the　tall　doors。　〃You　need　a　bath；　if　we're　going　to　the　Sea　Folk。〃
　　　Nandera　was　delighted；　nodding　enthusiastically　and　sending　Maidens　running。　Though　she　did　lean　close　to　Min　and　say；　〃I　should　have　let　you　in　the　first　day。　I　wanted　to　kick　him；　but　it　is　not　done；　kicking　the　Car'a'carn。〃　By　her　tone；　it　should　have　been　done。　She　spoke　softly；　yet　not　so　softly　he　could　not　hear。　He　was　sure　that　was　deliberate；　she　directed　too　sharp　a　glare　at　him　for　it　not　to　be。
　　　Maidens　lugged　in　the　big　copper　tub　themselves；　flashing　handtalk　once　they　set　it　down；　laughing　and　too　excited　to　let　the　Sun　Palace　servants　do　the　work；　or　bring　in　the　stream　of　buckets　filled　with　hot　water；　either。　Rand　had　a　hard　time　taking　his　own　clothes　off。　For　that　matter；　he　had　a　hard　time　washing　himself；　and　he　could　not　escape　Nandera　lathering　his　hair。　Flaxen…haired　Somara　and　fiery…haired　Enaila　insisted　on　shaving　him　as　he　sat　chest…deep　in　the　tub；　concentrating　so　intently　they　seemed　afraid　they　might　cut　his　throat。　He　was　used　to　that　from　other　times　they　had　refused　to　let　him　handle　brush　and　razor　himself。　He　was　used　to　the　Maidens　who　stood　around　watching；　offering　to　scrub　his　back　or　his　feet；　hands　flickering　in　silent　chatter　and　still　more　than　half…scandalized　at　the　sight　of　someone　sitting　in　water。　Besides；　he　managed　to　get　rid　of　some；　at　least；　by　sending　them　off　carrying　orders。
　　　What　he　was　not　used　to　was　Min；　sitting　cross…legged　on　the　bed　with　her　chin　on　her　hands；　watching　the　whole　thing　in　very　evident　fascination。　In　all　the　crowd　of　Maidens；　he　had　not　realized　she　was　there　until　he　was　naked；　and　all　there　was　to　do　then　was　sit　down　as　fast　as　he　could；　splashing　water　over　the　sides　of　the　tub。　The　woman　would　have　done　very　well　as　a　Maiden　herself。　She　discussed　him　with　the　Maidens　quite　openly；　with　never　a　blush！　He　was　the　one　who　blushed。
　　　〃Yes；　he　is　very　modest；〃　she　said；　agreeing　with　Malindare；　a　woman　more　rounded　than　most　Maidens；　with　the　darkest　hair　Rand　had　seen　on　any　Aiel。　〃Modesty　is　a　man's　crowning　glory。〃　Malindare　nodded　soberly；　but　Min　wore　a　grin　that　nearly　split　her　cheeks。
　　　And；　〃Oh；　no；　Domeille；　it　would　be　a　shame　to　spoil　such　a　pretty　face　with　a　scar。〃　Domeille；　grayer　than　Nandera；　leaner；　and　with　a　thrusting　chin；　insisted　that　he　was　not　pretty　enough　to　do　without　a　scar　to　set　off　what　beauty　he　had。　Her　words。　The　rest　was　worse。　The　Maidens　had　always　seemed　to　enjoy　making　his　face　red。　Min　certainly　did。
　　　〃You　have　to　dry　off　sooner　or　later；　Rand；〃　she　said；　holding　up　a　long　piece　of　white　toweling　with　both　hands。　She　stood　a　good　three　paces　from　the　tub；　and　the　Maidens　had　all　backed　into　a　watching　ring。　Min's　smile　was　so　innocent　any　magistrate　would　have　found　her　guilty　on　that　alone。　〃e　and　get　dry；　Rand。〃
　　　He　had　never　been　so　relieved　to　pull　on　clothes　in　his　life。
　　　By　that　time；　all　his　orders　had　been　carried　out；　and　everything　was　in　readiness。　Rand　al'Thor　might　have　been　routed　in　a　bathtub；　but　the　Dragon　Reborn　was　going　to　the　Sea　Folk　in　a　style　that　would　send　them　plummeting　to　their　knees　with　awe。
　　　
　　　
Chapter　34　
（Star　and　Birds）　
Ta'veren　
　　　
　　　All　was　ready　as　Rand　had　ordered　in　the　courtyard　at　the　front　of　the　Sun　Palace。　Or　almost　all。　The　morning　sun　slanted　shadows　from　the　stepped　towers；　so　only　ten　paces　in　front　of　the　tall　bronze　gates　lay　in　full　light。　Dashiva　and　Flinn　and　Narishma；　the　three　Asha'man　he　had　retained；　waited　beside　their　horses；　even　Dashiva　resplendent　with　the　silver　sword　and　red…and…gold　Dragon　on　his　black　collar；　though　he　still　touched　the　sword　at　his　hip　as　if　constantly　surprised　to　find　it　there。　A　hundred　of　Dobraine's　armsmen　sat　their　mounts　behind　Dobraine　himself　with　two　long　banners　that　hung　down　in　the　still　air；　their　dark　armor　newly　lacquered　so　it　glistened　in　the　sun；　and　silk　streamers　of　red　and　white　and　black　tied　below　the　heads　of　their　lances。　They　raised　a　cheer　when　Rand　appeared；　his　sword　belt　with　its　gilded　Dragon　buckle　strapped　over　a　red　coat　heavy　with　gold。
　　　〃Al'Thor！　Al'Thor！　Al'Thor！〃　filled　the　courtyard。　People　crowding　the　archers'　balconies　joined　in；