rj.acrownofswords-第37节

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with　a　letter。　Spinning。　Elayne。　Aviendha。　Perrin。　Faile。　Annoura。　Berelain。　Mat。　Light；　he　should　not　have　e。　Elayne　and　Aviendha。　Annoura　and　Berelain。　Faile　and　Perrin　and　Mat。　Flashes　of　color；　quick　motion　just　out　of　sight。　A　madman　muttering　angrily　in　the　distance。
　　　Slowly　he　became　aware　of　the　Maidens　talking　among　themselves。　About　the　smell。　Implying　that　it　came　from　the　Asha'man。　They　wanted　to　be　heard；　or　they　would　have　been　using　handtalk；　there　was　moonlight　enough　for　that。　Moonlight　enough　to　see　the　color　in　Eben's　face；　too；　and　how　Fedwin's　jaw　was　set。　Maybe　they　were　not　boys　any　longer；　not　since　Dumai's　Wells　certainly；　but　they　were　still　only　fifteen　or　sixteen。　Jonan's　eyebrows　had　drawn　down　so　far　they　seemed　to　be　sitting　on　his　cheeks。　At　least　nobody　had　seized　saidin　again。　Yet。
　　　He　started　to　step　over　to　the　three　men；　then　raised　his　voice　instead。　Let　them　all　hear。　〃If　I　can　put　up　with　foolishness　from　Maidens；　so　can　you。〃
　　　If　anything；　the　color　in　Eben's　face　deepened。　Jonan　grunted。　All　three　saluted　Rand　with　fist　to　chest；　then　they　turned　to　one　another。　Jonan　said　something　in　a　low　voice；　glancing　at　the　Maidens；　and　Fedwin　and　Eben　laughed。　The　first　time　they　saw　Maidens　they　had　stumbled　between　wanting　to　goggle　at　these　exotic　creatures　they　had　only　read　about　and　wanting　to　run　before　the　murderous　Aiel　of　the　stories　killed　them。　Nothing　much　frightened　them　anymore。　They　needed　to　relearn　fear。
　　　The　Maidens　stared　at　Rand；　and　began　talking　with　their　hands；　sometimes　laughing　softly。　Wary　of　the　Asha'man　they　might　be；　yet　Maidens　being　Maidens　…　Aiel　being　Aiel　…　risk　only　made　taunts　more　fun。　Somara　murmured　aloud　about　Aviendha　settling　him　down；　which　earned　firm　nods　of　approval。　Nobody's　life　was　ever　this　tangled　in　the　stories。
　　　As　soon　as　Nerilea　returned　saying　that　she　had　found　Davram　Bashere　and　Bael；　the　clan　chief　leading　the　Aiel　here　in　Caemlyn；　Rand　took　off　his　sword　belt；　and　so　did　Fedwin。　Jalani　produced　a　large　leather　bag　for　the　swords　and　the　Dragon　Scepter；　holding　it　as　if　the　swords　were　poisonous　snakes；　or　perhaps　long　dead　and　rotten。　Though　in　truth　she　would　not　have　held　it　so　gingerly　in　either　case。　Putting　on　a　hooded　cloak　that　Corana　handed　him；　Rand　held　his　wrists　together　behind　his　back；　and　Sulin　bound　them　with　a　cord。　Tightly；　muttering　to　herself。
　　　〃This　is　nonsense。　Even　wetlanders　would　call　it　nonsense。〃
　　　He　tried　not　to　wince。　She　was　strong；　and　using　every　ounce　of　it。　〃You　have　run　away　from　us　too　often；　Rand　al'Thor。　You　have　no　care　for　yourself。〃　She　considered　him　a　brother　of　an　age　with　herself；　but　irresponsible　at　times。　〃Far　Dareis　Mai　carries　your　honor；　and　you　have　no　care。〃
　　　Fedwin　glowered　while　his　own　wrists　were　tied；　though　the　Maiden　binding　him　hardly　put　out　much　effort。　Watching；　Jonan　and　Eben　frowned　deeply。　They　disliked　this　plan　as　much　as　Sulin　did。　And　understood　it　as　little。　The　Dragon　Reborn　did　not　have　to　explain　himself；　and　the　Car'a'carn　seldom　did。　No　one　said　anything；　though。　A　weapon　did　not　plain。
　　　When　Sulin　stepped　around　in　front　of　Rand；　she　took　one　look　at　his　face；　and　her　breath　caught。　〃They　did　this　to　you；〃　she　said　softly；　and　reached　for　her　heavy…bladed　belt　knife。　A　foot　or　more　of　steel；　it　was　almost　a　short…sword；　though　none　but　a　fool　would　say　that　to　an　Aiel。
　　　〃Pull　up　the　hood；〃　Rand　told　her　roughly。　〃The　whole　point　of　this　is　that　no　one　recognize　me　before　I　reach　Bael　and　Bashere。〃　She　hesitated；　peering　into　his　eyes。　〃I　said；　pull　it　up；〃　he　growled。　Sulin　could　kill　most　men　with　her　bare　hands；　but　her　fingers　were　gentle　settling　the　hood　around　his　face。
　　　With　a　laugh　Jalani　snatched　the　hood　down　over　his　eyes。　〃Now　you　can　be　sure　no　one　will　know　you；　Rand　al'Thor。　You　must　trust　us　to　guide　your　feet。〃　Several　Maidens　laughed。
　　　Stiffening；　he　barely　stopped　short　of　seizing　saidin。　Barely。　Lews　Therin　snarled　and　gibbered。　Rand　forced　himself　to　breathe　normally。　It　was　not　total　darkness。　He　could　see　moonlight　below　the　edge　of　the　hood。　Even　so；　he　stumbled　when　Sulin　and　Enaila　took　his　arms　and　led　him　forward。
　　　〃I　thought　you　were　old　enough　to　walk　better　than　that；〃　Enaila　murmured　in　mock　surprise。　Sulin's　hand　moved。　It　took　him　a　moment　to　realize　she　was　stroking　his　arm。
　　　All　he　could　see　was　what　lay　just　before　him；　the　moonlit　flagstones　of　the　stableyard；　then　stone　steps；　floors　of　marble　by　lamplight；　sometimes　with　a　long　runner　of　carpet。　He　strained　his　eyes　at　the　movement　of　shadows；　felt　for　the　telltale　presence　of　saidin；　or　worse；　the　prickling　that　announced　a　woman　holding　saidar。　Blind　like　this；　he　might　not　know　he　was　under　attack　until　too　late。　He　could　hear　the　whisper　of　a　few　servants'　feet　as　they　hurried　on　nighttime　chores；　but　no　one　challenged　five　Maidens　apparently　escorting　two　hooded　prisoners。　With　Bael　and　Bashere　living　in　the　palace　and　policing　Caemlyn　with　their　men；　doubtless　stranger　sights　had　been　seen　in　these　corridors。　It　was　like　walking　a　maze。　But　then　he　had　been　in　one　maze　or　another　since　leaving　Emond's　Field；　even　when　he　had　thought　that　he　walked　a　clear　path。
　　　Would　I　know　a　clear　path　if　I　saw　one？　he　wondered。　Or　have　I　been　at　this　so　long　I'd　think　it　was　a　trap？
　　　There　are　no　clear　paths。　Only　pitfalls　and　tripwires　and　darkness。　Lews　Therin's　snarl　sounded　sweaty；　desperate。　The　way　Rand　felt。
　　　When　Sulin　finally　led　them　into　a　room　and　shut　the　door；　Rand　tossed　his　head　violently　to　throw　back　the　hood　…　and　stared。　Bael　and　Davram　he　had　expected；　but　not　Davram's　wife；　Deira；　nor　Melaine；　nor　Dorindha。
　　　〃I　see　you；　Car'a'carn。〃　Bael；　the　tallest　man　Rand　had　ever　seen；　sat　cross…legged　on　the　green…and…white　floor　tiles　in　his　cadin'sor；　an　air　about　him　even　at　ease　that　said　he　was　ready　to　move　in　a　heartbeat。　The　clan　chief　of　the　Goshien　Aiel　was　not　young　…　no　clan　chief　was　…　and　there　was　gray　in　his　dark　reddish　hair；　but　anyone　who　thought　him　soft　with　age　was　in　for　a　sad　surprise。　〃May　you　always　find　water　and　shade。　I　stand　with　the　Car'a'carn；　and　my　spears　stand　with　me。〃
　　　〃Water　and　shade　may　be　all　very　well；〃　Davram　Bashere　said；　hooking　a　leg　over　the　gilded　arm　of　his　chair；　〃but　myself　I　would　settle　for　chilled　wine。〃　Little　taller　than　Enaila；　he　had　his　short　blue　coat　undone；　and　sweat　glistened　on　his　dark　face。　Despite　his　apparent　indolence；　he　looked　even　harder　than　Bael；　with　his　fierce　tilted　eyes；　and　his　eagle's　beak　of　a　nose　above　thick　gray…streaked　mustaches。　〃I　offer　congratulations　on　your　escape；　and　your　victory。　But　why　do　you　e　disguised　as　a　prisoner？〃
　　　〃I　prefer　to　know　whether　he　is　bringing　Aes　Sedai　down　on　us；〃　Deira　put　in。　A　large　woman　gowned　in　gold…worked　green　silk；　Faile's　mother　stood　as　tall　as　any　Maiden　there　except　Somara；　long　black　hair　slashed　with　white　at　the　temples；　her　nose　only　a　little　less　bold　than　her　husband's。　Truth；　she　could　give　him　lessons　in　looking　fierce；　and　she　was　very　like　her　daughter　in　one　respect。　Her　loyalty　was　to　her　husband；　not　Rand。　〃You've　taken　Aes　Sedai　prisoner！　Are　we　now　to　expect　the　entire　White　Tower　to　descend　upon　our　heads？〃
　　　〃If　they　do；〃　Melaine　said　sharply；　adjusting　her　shawl；　〃they　will　be　dealt　with　as　they　deserve。〃　Sun…haired；　green…eyed　and　beautiful；　no　more　than　a　handful　of　years　older　than　Rand　by　her　face；　she　was　a　Wise　One；　and　married　to　Bael。　Whatever　had　caused　the　Wise　Ones　to　change　their　view　of　Aes　Sedai；　Melaine；　Amys　and　Bair　had　changed　the　most。
　　　〃What　I　wish　to　know；〃　the　third　woman　said；　〃is　what　you　will　do　about　Colavaere　Saighan。〃　While　Deira　and　Melaine　had　presence；　great　presence；　Dorindha　outshone　both；　though　it　was　difficult　to　see　how　exactly。　The　roof…mistress　of　Smoke　Springs　Hold　was　a　solid；　motherly　woman；　much　nearer　handsome　than　pretty；　with　creases　at　the　corners　of　her　blue　eyes　and　as　much　white　in　her　pale　red　hair　as　Bael　had　gray；　yet　of　the　three　women；　any　eye　with　a　brain　behind　it　would　have　said　she　held　sway。　〃Melaine　says　that　Bair　considers　Colavaere　Saighan　of　little　importance；〃　Dorindha　went　on；　〃but　Wise　Ones　can　be　as　blind　as　any　man　when　it　es　to　seeing　the　battle　ahead　and　missing　the　scorpion　underfoot。〃　A　smile　for　Melaine　robbed　the　words　of　their　sting；　Melaine's　answering　smile　certainly　said　she　took　none。；　〃A　roofmistress's　work　is　finding　those　scorpions　before　anyone　is　stung。〃　She　also　was　Bael's　wife；　a　fact　that　still　disconcerted　Rand；　for　all　it　had　been　her　choice　and　Melaine's。　Perhaps　partly　because　it　had　been　theirs；　among　Aiel；　a　man　had　little　say　if　his　wife　chose　a　sister…wife。　It　was　not　a　mon　arrangement　even　among　them。
　　　〃Colavaere　has　taken　up　farming；〃　Rand　growled。　They　blinked　at　him；　wondering　whether　that　was　a　joke。　〃The　Sun　Throne　is　empty　again；　and　waiting　for　Elayne。〃　He　had　considered　weaving　a　ward　against　listeners；　but　a　ward　could　be　detected　by　anyone　searching；　man　or　woman；　and　its　presence　would　announce　that　something　interesting　was　being　said。　Well；　everything　said　here　would　be　known　from　the　Drag