rj.acrownofswords-第22节

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g　to　marry　a　woman　I　saw　him　with；　only　he　was　already　married。　When　he　ran　off　with　her；　his　wife　brought　a　mob　to　my　aunts'　house　claiming　I　was　responsible；　that　I'd　used　the　One　Power　on　her　husband　or　given　the　two　of　them　some　kind　of　potion。〃　Min　shook　her　head。　〃She　wasn't　too　clear。　She　just　had　to　blame　somebody。　There　was　talk　of　me　being　a　Darkfriend；　too。　There　had　been　some　Whitecloaks　in　town　earlier；　trying　to　stir　people　up。　Anyway；　Aunt　Rana　convinced　me　to　say　I　had　just　overheard　them　talking；　and　Aunt　Miren　promised　to　spank　me　for　spreading　tales；　and　Aunt　Jan　said　she'd　dose　me。　They　didn't；　of　course　…　they　knew　the　truth　…　but　if　they　hadn't　been　so　matter…of…fact　about　it；　about　me　just　being　a　child；　I　could　have　been　hurt；　or　even　killed。　Most　people　don't　like　somebody　knowing　things　about　their　future；　most　people　don't　really　want　to　know　it　themselves；　not　unless　it's　good　anyway。　Even　my　aunts　didn't。　But　to　the　Aiel；　I　am　sort　of　a　Wise　One　by　courtesy。〃
　　　〃Some　can　do　things　others　cannot；〃　Nandera　said；　as　if　that　was　enough　explanation。
　　　Min　laughed　again　and　reached　out　to　touch　the　Maiden's　knee。　〃Thank　you。〃　Settling　her　feet　beneath　her；　she　looked　up　at　Rand。　Now　that　she　was　laughing　again；　she　seemed　radiant。　That　held　even　after　she　became　serious。　Serious；　and　not　very　pleased。　〃As　for　your　question；　nothing　of　any　use。　Taim　has　blood　in　his　past　and　blood　in　his　future；　but　you　could　guess　that。　He's　a　dangerous　man。　They　seem　to　be　gathering　images　like　Aes　Sedai。〃　A　sidelong　look　through　lowered　eyelashes　at　Dashiva　and　the　other　Asha'man　said　who　she　meant。　Most　people　had　few　images　around　them；　but　Min　said　Aes　Sedai　and　Warders　always　did。　〃The　problem　is；　what　I　can　see　is　all　blurry。　I　think　it's　because　they're　holding　the　Power。　That　often　seems　true　with　Aes　Sedai；　and　it's　worse　when　they're　actually　channeling。　Kiruna　and　that　lot　have　all　sorts　of　things　around　them；　but　they　stay　so　close　together　that　it　all。。。　well。。。　jumbles　together　most　of　the　time。　It's　even　muddier　with　the　prisoners。〃
　　　〃Never　mind　the　prisoners；〃　Rand　told　her。　〃That's　what　they'll　stay。〃
　　　〃But　Rand；　I　keep　feeling　there　is　something　important；　if　I　could　only　pick　it　out。　You　need　to　know。〃
　　　〃'If　you　don't　know　everything；　you　must　go　on　with　what　you　do　know；'〃　Rand　quoted　wryly。　〃It　seems　I　never　do　know　everything。　Hardly　enough；　most　of　the　time。　But　there's　no　choice　but　to　go　on；　is　there。〃　That　was　not　at　all　a　question。
　　　Loial　strode　up；　bubbling　with　energy　despite　his　obvious　weariness。　〃Rand；　they　say　they're　ready　to　go；　but　you　promised　to　talk　to　me　while　it's　fresh。〃　Abruptly　his　ears　twitched　with　embarrassment；　and　that　booming　voice　became　plaintive。　〃I　am　sorry；　I　know　it　can't　be　enjoyable。　But　I　must　know。　For　the　book。　For　the　Ages。〃
　　　Laughing；　Rand　got　to　his　feet　and　tugged　at　the　Ogier's　open　coat。　〃For　the　Ages？　Do　writers　all　talk　like　that？　Don't　worry；　Loial。　It　will　still　be　fresh　when　I　tell　you。　I　won't　forget。〃　A　grim；　sour　scent　flashed　from　him　despite　the　smile；　and　was　gone。　〃But　back　in　Cairhien；　after　we　all　have　a　bath　and　sleep　in　a　bed。〃　Rand　motioned　for　Dashiva　to　e　closer。
　　　The　man　was　not　skinny；　yet　he　moved　in　a　hesitant；　creeping　way；　hands　folded　at　his　waist；　that　made　him　seem　so。　〃My　Lord　Dragon？〃　he　said；　tilting　his　head。
　　　〃Can　you　make　a　gateway；　Dashiva？〃
　　　〃Of　course。〃　Dashiva　began　dry…washing　his　hands；　flicking　at　his　lips　with　the　tip　of　his　tongue；　and　Perrin　wondered　whether　the　man　was　always　this　jittery；　or　just　when　speaking　to　the　Dragon　Reborn。　〃That　is　to　say；　the　M'hael　teaches　Traveling　as　soon　as　a　student　shows　himself　strong　enough。〃
　　　〃The　M'Hael？〃　Rand　said；　blinking。
　　　〃The　Lord　Mazrim　Taim's　title；　my　Lord　Dragon。　It　means　'leader。'　In　the　Old　Tongue。〃　The　fellow's　smile　managed　to　be　nervous　and　patronizing　at　the　same　time。　〃I　read　a　great　deal　on　the　farm。　Every　book　the　peddlers　brought　by。〃
　　　〃The　M'Hael；〃　Rand　muttered　disapprovingly。　〃Well；　be　that　as　it　may。　Make　me　a　gateway　to　near　Cairhien；　Dashiva。　It's　time　to　see　what　the　world　has　been　up　to　while　I　was　away；　and　what　I　have　to　do　about　it。〃　He　laughed　then；　in　a　rueful　way；　but　the　sound　of　it　made　Perrin's　skin　prickle。
　　　
　　　
Chapter　3　
（Flame　of　Tar　Valon）　
Hill　of　the　Golden　Dawn　
　　　
　　　On　a　wide　low　hilltop　some　miles　north　and　east　of　the　city　of　Cairhien；　well　away　from　any　road　or　human　habitation；　a　thin　vertical　slash　of　pure　light　appeared；　taller　than　a　man　on　a　horse。　The　ground　sloped　away　in　every　direction；　undulating　gently；　nothing　more　than　occasional　brush　obscured　the　view　for　more　than　a　mile；　all　the　way　to　the　surrounding　forest。　Brown　grass　fell　as　the　light　seemed　to　rotate；　widening　into　a　square　opening　in　midair。　A　number　of　the　dead　stems　were　slit　lengthwise；　sliced　finer　than　any　razor　could　have。　By　a　hole　in　the　air。
　　　The　instant　the　gateway　was　fully　open；　veiled　Aiel　poured　out；　men　and　Maidens；　spreading　in　every　direction　to　encircle　the　hill。　Almost　hidden　in　the　torrent；　four　sharp…eyed　Asha'man　took　up　positions　around　the　gateway　itself；　peering　toward　the　encircling　woodland。　Nothing　stirred　except　with　the　wind；　dust；　tall　grass　and　branches　in　the　distance；　yet　each　Asha'man　studied　the　vista　with　the　fervor　of　a　starving　hawk　searching　for　a　rabbit。　A　rabbit　watching　for　a　hawk　might　have　been　as　intent；　but　never　with　that　air　of　menace。
　　　There　was　really　no　break　in　the　flow。　One　moment　it　was　a　flood　of　Aiel；　the　next；　mounted　Cairhienin　armsmen　galloping　out　two　by　two；　the　crimson　Banner　of　Light　going　up　at　their　head　as　soon　as　it　cleared　the　gateway。　Without　a　pause　Dobraine　drew　his　men　aside　and　began　forming　them　up　a　little　down　the　slope；　helmeted　and　gauntleted　in　precise　ranks；　lances　raised　to　the　same　angle。　Seasoned　campaigners；　they　were　ready　to　wheel　and　charge　in　any　direction　at　his　gesture。
　　　On　the　heels　of　the　last　Cairhienin；　Perrin　rode　Stepper　through；　the　dun　passing　in　one　stride　from　the　hill　below　Dumai's　Wells　to　the　hill　in　Cairhien；　and　ducked　in　spite　of　himself。　The　upper　edge　of　the　thing　stood　well　above　his　head；　but　he　had　seen　the　damage　a　gateway　could　do　and　had　no　wish　to　test　whether　they　were　safer　standing　still。　Loial　and　Aram　followed　close　behind　…　the　Ogier；　afoot　with　his　long…hafted　axe　on　his　shoulder；　bent　his　knees　…　and　then　the　Two　Rivers　men；　crouching　on　their　saddles　well　beyond　the　gateway。　Rad　al'Dai　carried　the　Red　Wolfhead　banner；　Perrin's　because　everyone　said　it　was；　and　Tell　Lewin　the　Red　Eagle。
　　　Perrin　tried　not　to　look　at　those；　especially　the　Red　Eagle。　The　Two　Rivers　men　wanted　things　both　ways。　He　was　a　lord；　so　he　had　to　have　banners。　He　was　a　lord；　but　when　he　told　them　to　get　rid　of　those　bloody　banners；　they　never　vanished　for　long。　The　Red　Wolfhead　named　him　something　he　was　not　and　did　not　want　to　be；　while　the　Red　Eagle。。。　More　than　two　thousand　years　after　Manetheren　died　in　the　Trolloc　Wars；　close　to　a　thousand　after　Andor　swallowed　part　of　what　once　had　been　Manetheren；　that　banner　was　still　as　good　as　an　act　of　rebellion　for　an　Andorman。　Legends　still　walked　in　some　men's　minds。　Of　course　it　had　been　a　few　generations　since　Two　Rivers　folk　had　had　any　notion　that　they　were　Andormen；　but　Queens'　minds　did　not　change　so　easily。
　　　He　had　met　the　new　Queen　of　Andor　what　seemed　a　long　time　ago；　in　the　Stone　of　Tear。　She　had　not　been　Queen　then　…　and　was　not　yet；　really；　until　she　was　crowned　in　Caemlyn　…　but　Elayne　seemed　a　pleasant　young　woman；　and　pretty；　though　he　was　not　partial　to　fair…haired　women。　A　bit　taken　with　herself；　of　course；　as　Daughter…Heir。　Taken　with　Rand；　too；　if　snuggling　in　corners　meant　anything。　Rand　meant　to　give　her　not　only　the　Lion　Throne　of　Andor；　but　the　Sun　Throne　of　Cairhien。　Surely　she　would　be　grateful　enough　to　let　the　flying　of　a　flag　pass　when　it　did　not　really　mean　anything。　Watching　the　Two　Rivers　men　deploy　behind　those　banners；　Perrin　shook　his　head。　It　was　a　worry　for　another　day；　in　any　case。
　　　There　was　nothing　like　armsmen's　precision　in　the　Two　Rivers　men；　most　boys　like　Tod；　farmers'　sons　and　shepherds；　yet　they　knew　what　to　do。　Every　fifth　man　took　the　reins　of　four　more　horses　while　the　other　riders　hurriedly　dismounted；　longbows　already　strung　and　in　hand。　Those　on　the　ground　straggled　together　in　rough　lines；　looking　around　with　more　interest　than　anything　else；　but　they　checked　their　quivers　with　practiced　gestures　and　handled　their　bows　with　familiarity；　the　great　Two　Rivers　bows；　even　when　strung　nearly　as　tall　as　the　men　who　drew　them。　With　those　bows；　not　a　man　of　them　but　could　shoot　farther　than　anyone　outside　the　Two　Rivers　would　believe。　And　hit　what　he　aimed　at。
　　　Perrin　hoped　there　would　be　none　of　that　today。　Sometimes　he　dreamed　of　a　world　where　there　never　was。　And　Rand。。。
　　　〃Do　you　believe　my　enemies　have　been　asleep　while　I　was。。。　away？〃　Rand　had　said　suddenly　as　they　stood　waiting　for　Dashiva　to　open　the　gateway。　He　had　on　a　coat　rooted　out　of　the　wagons；　well…cut　green　wool；　but　hardly　what　he　usually　wore　now。　Short　of　taking　the