rj.theshadowrising-第140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！


I　can　remember　merchants　who　came　to　Emond's　Field　with　fewer　wagons。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　came　into　the　Waste；〃　Rand　chuckled。　Jeade'en　tossed　his　head　and　danced　a　few　steps。　〃I　wonder　if　he　will　leave　it　again？〃　Rand's　twisted　grin　did　not　reach　his　eyes。　Sometimes　Mat　almost　wished　Rand　would　decide　whether　he　was　mad　or　not　and　get；　it　over　with。　Almost。
　　　　　　　Three　hundred　paces　short　of　the　wagons；　Rhuarc　signaled　a　halt；　and　he　and　Heirn　went　on　alone。　At　least；　that　seemed　to　have　been　his　intention；　but　Rand　heeled　his　dapple　stallion　after　them；　and　the　inevitable　bodyguard　of　a　hundred　Jindo　followed。　And　Aviendha；　of　course；　keeping　close　as　though　tied　to　Rand's　horse。　Mat　rode　right　with　them。　If　Rhuarc　sent　this　fellow　packing；　he　did　not　mean　to　miss　his　chance　to　go　along。
　　　　　　　Couladin　came　trotting　out　from　the　Shaido。　Alone。　Perhaps　he　meant　to　do　as　Rhuarc　and　Heirn　had　intended；　but　Mat　suspected　the　man　was　pointing　out　that　he　went　alone　where　Rand　needed　a　hundred　guards。　At　first　it　seemed　Moiraine　was　ing；　too；　but　words　passed　between　the　Wise　Ones　and　her；　and　they　all　stayed　where　they　were。　Watching；　though。　The　Aes　Sedai　dismounted；　playing　with　something　small　that　sparkled；　and　Egwene　and　the　Wise　Ones　clustered　around　her。
　　　　　　　Despite　his　face　mopping；　the　big；　gray…coated　fellow　did　not　appear　uneasy　up　close；　although　he　jumped　when　Maidens　suddenly　rose　out　of　the　ground；　encircling　his　wagons。　The　wagon　drivers；　hard…faced　men　with　more　than　enough　scars　and　broken　noses　to　go　around；　looked　ready　to　crawl　under　their　seats；　they　were　tough　alley　dogs　pared　to　Aiel　wolves。　The　peddler　recovered　right　away。　He　was　not　fat　for　all　his　size；　that　heaviness　was　muscle。　Rand　and　Mat　on　their　horses　earned　his　curious　glances；　but　he　singled　out　Rhuarc　at　once。　His　hooked　beak　of　a　nose　and　dark；　tilted　eyes　gave　his　square　swarthy　face　a　predatory　look　not　lessened　when　he　put　on　a　wide　smile　and　swept　his　broad…brimmed　hat　off　in　a　bow。　〃I　am　Hadnan　Kadere；〃　he　said；　〃peddler。　I　seek　Cold　Rocks　Hold；　good　sirs；　but　I　will　trade　with　one　and　all。　I　have　many　fine…〃
　　　　　　　Rhuarc　cut　him　off　like　an　icy　knife。　〃You　head　well　away　from　Cold　Rocks；　or　any　hold。　How　is　it　you　have　e　this　far　from　the　Dragonwall　without　acquiring　a　guide？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　really　know；　good　sir。〃　Kadere　did　not　lose　his　smile；　but　the　corners　of　his　mouth　tightened　a　trifle。　〃I　have　traveled　openly。　This　is　my　first　visit　to　the　Threefold　Land　so　far　south。　I　thought　perhaps　here　there　are　no　guides。〃　
　　　　　　　Couladin　snorted　loudly；　twirled　one　of　his　spears　lazily。　Kadere　hunched　his　shoulders　as　if　he　felt　steel　sliding　into　his　thick　body　already。
　　　　　　　〃There　are　always　guides；〃　Rhuarc　said　coldly。　〃You　have　luck　to　have　e　so　far　without　one。　Luck　that　you　are　not　dead；　or　walking　back　to　the　Dragonwall　in　your　skin。〃　Kadere　flashed　an　uneasy；　toothy　smile；　and　the　clan　Chief　went　on。　〃Luck　to　meet　us。　Had　you　continued　this　way　another　day　or　two；　you　would　have　reached　Rhuidean。〃
　　　　　　　The　peddler's　face　went　gray。　〃I　have　heard。　。　。〃　He　stopped　to　swallow。　〃I　did　not　know；　good　sirs。　You　must　believe；　I　would　not　do　such　a　thing　deliberately。　Nor　by　accident；〃　he　added　hastily。　〃The　Light　illumine　my　words　for　truth；　good　sirs；　I　would　not！〃
　　　　　　　〃That　is　well；〃　Rhuarc　told　him。　〃The　penalties　are　severe。　You　may　travel　with　me　to　Cold　Rocks。　It　would　not　do　for　you　to　bee　lost　again。　The　Three…fold　Land　can　be　a　dangerous　place　for　those　who　do　not　know　it。〃
　　　　　　　Couladin's　head　came　up　defiantly。　〃Why　not　with　me？〃　he　said　in　a　sharp　voice。　〃The　Shaido　are　the　more　numerous　here；　Rhuarc。　By　custom；　he　travels　with　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃Have　you　bee　a　clan　chief　when　I　did　not　see？〃　The　fire…haired　Shaido　flushed；　but　Rhuarc　showed　no　hint　of　satisfaction；　only　went　on　in　that　level　voice。　〃The　peddler　seeks　Cold　Rocks。　He　will　journey　with　me。　The　Shaido　with　you　may　trade　with　him　as　we　travel。　The　Taardad　are　not　so　starved　for　peddlers　that　we　try　to　keep　them　to　ourselves。〃
　　　　　　　Couladin's　face　went　even　darker；　yet　he　moderated　his　tone；　even　if　it　did　creak　with　the　effort。　〃I　will　camp　near　Cold　Rocks；　Rhuarc。　He　Who　es　With　the　Dawn　concerns　all　Aiel；　not　only　the　Taardad。　The　Shaido　will　have　their　proper　place。　The　Shaido；　too；　will　follow　He　Who　es　With　the　Dawn。〃　He　had　not；　Mat　realized；　acknowledged　that　that　was　Rand。　Peering　at　the　wagons；　Rand　did　not　seem　to　be　listening。
　　　　　　　Rhuarc　was　silent　a　moment。　〃The　Shaido　will　be　wele　guests　in　the　lands　of　the　Taardad；　if　they　e　to　follow　He　Who　es　With　the　Dawn。〃　And　that　could　be　taken　two　ways；　as　well。
　　　　　　　Kadere　had　been　mopping　his　face　all　this　time；　likely　seeing　himself　in　the　middle　of　a　battle　between　Aiel。　He　punctuated　Rhuarc's　invitation　with　a　heavy　sigh　of　relief。　〃Thank　you；　good　sirs。　Thank　you。〃　Probably　for　not　killing　him。　〃Perhaps　you　would　care　to　see　what　my　wagons　have　to　offer？　Some　special　thing　you　might　like？〃
　　　　　　　〃Later；〃　Rhuarc　said。　〃We　will　stop　at　Imre　Stand　for　the　night；　and　you　may　show　your　wares　then。〃　Couladin　was　already　striding　away；　having　heard　the　name　of　Imre　Stand；　whatever　that　was。　Kadere　started　to　put　his　hat　back　on。〃A　hat；〃　Mat　said；　reining　Pips　closer　to　the　peddler。　If　he　had　to　remain　in　the　Waste　a　bit　longer；　at　least　he　could　keep　that　bloody　sun　out　of　his　eyes。　〃I'll　give　a　gold　mark　for　a　hat　like　that。〃
　　　　　　　〃Done！〃　called　a　woman's　huskily　melodious　voice。
　　　　　　　Mat　looked　around；　and　gave　a　start。　The　only　woman　in　sight　beside　Aviendha　and　the　Maidens　was　walking　up　from　the　second　wagon；　but　she　certainly　did　not　match　that　voice；　one　of　the　loveliest　he　had　ever　heard。　Rand　frowned　at　her　and　shook　his　head；　and　he　had　cause。　A　foot　shorter　than　Kadere；　she　must　have　weighed　as　much　or　more。　Rolls　of　fat　nearly　hid　her　dark　eyes；　disguising　whether　they　were　tilted　or　not；　but　her　nose　was　a　hatchet　that　dwarfed　the　peddler's。　In　a　dress　of　pale…cream　silk　stretched　tight　around　her　bulk；　with　a　white　lace　shawl　held　above　her　bead　on　elaborate　ivory　bs　thrust　into　long；　coarse　black　hair；　she　moved　with　incongruous　lightness；　almost　like　one　of　the　Maidens。
　　　　　　　〃A　good　offer；〃　she　said　in　those　musical　tones。　〃I　am　Keille　Shaogi；　peddler。〃　She　snatched　the　hat　away　from　Kadere　and　thrust　it　up　at　Mat。　〃Stout；　good　sir；　and　nearly　new。　You　will　need　its　like　to　survive　the　Three…fold　Land。　Here；　a　man　can　die。。。　〃　Fat　fingers　made　a　whip…crack。　〃。　。　。　like　so。〃　Her　sudden　laugh　had　the　same　throaty；　caressing　quality　as　her　voice。　〃Or　a　woman。　A　gold　mark；　you　said。〃　When　he　hesitated；　her　half…buried　eyes　glittered　raven　black。　〃I　seldom　offer　any　man　a　bargain　twice。〃
　　　　　　　A　peculiar　woman　to　say　the　least。　Kadere　made　no　protest　beyond　the　slightest　grimace。　If　Keille　was　his　partner；　there　was　no　doubt　who　was　the　senior。　And　if　the　hat　kept　Mat's　head　from　broiling；　it　really　was　worth　the　price　so　far　as　he　was　concerned。　She　bit　the　Tairen　mark　he　handed　her　before　releasing　the　hat。　For　a　wonder；　it　fit。　And　if　it　was　no　cooler　under　that　wide　brim；　at　least　it　was　blessedly　shady。　The　kerchief　went　into　his　coat　pocket。
　　　　　　　〃Anything　for　the　rest　of　you？〃　The　stout　woman　ran　her　eye　over　the　Aiel；　murmuring；　〃What　a　pretty　child〃　to　Aviendha　with　a　baring　of　teeth　that　might　have　been　a　smile。　To　Rand；　she　said　sweetly；　〃And　you；　good　sir？〃　That　voice　ing　out　of　that　face　was　truly　jarring；　especially　when　it　took　on　this　honeyed　tone。　〃Something　to　shelter　you　from　this　desperate　land？〃　Turning　Jeade'en　so　he　could　peer　at　the　wagon　drivers；　Rand　only　shook　his　head。　With　that　shoufa　around　his　face；　be　really　did　look　like　an　Aiel。
　　　　　　　〃Tonight；　Keille；〃　Kadere　said。　〃We　open　trade　tonight；　at　a　place　called　Imre　Stand。〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　we；　now。〃　For　a　long　moment　she　peered　at　the　Shaido　column；　and　at　the　Wise　Ones'　party　for　a　longer。　Abruptly　she　turned　for　her　own　wagon；　saying　over　her　shoulder　to　the　other　peddler；　〃Then　why　are　you　keeping　these　good　sirs　standing　here？　Move；　Kadere。　Move。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　stared　after　her；　shaking　his　head　again。
　　　　　　　There　was　a　gleeman　back　by　her　wagon。　Mat　blinked；　thinking　the　heat　had　gotten　to　him；　but　the　fellow　did　not　vanish；　a　dark…haired　man　in　his　middle　years　wearing　a　patch…covered　cloak。　He　watched　the　gathering　apprehensively　until　Keille　shoved　him　up　the　wagon's　step　ahead　of　her。　Kadere　looked　at　her　white　wagon　with　less　expression　than　one　of　the　Aiel　before　stalking　off　to　his　own。　Truly　an　odd　lot。
　　　　　　　〃Did　you　see　the　gleeman？〃　Mat　asked　Rand；　who　nodded　vaguely；　eyeing　the　line　of　wagons　as　if　he　had　never　seen　a　wagon　before。　Rhuarc　and　Heirn　were　already　on　their　way　back　to　the　rest　of　the　Jindo。　The　hundred　surrounding　Rand　waited　patiently；　dividing　their　gaze　between　him　and　anything　that　might　hide　even　a　mouse。　The　drivers　began　gathering　their　reins；　but　Rand　did　not　move。　〃Strange　people　these　peddlers；　wouldn't　you　say；　Rand？　But　I　suppose　you　have　to　be　strange　to　e　to　the　Waste。　Look　at　us。〃　That　brought　a　grimace　from　Aviendha；　but　Rand　seemed　not　to　have　heard。　Mat　wanted　him　to　say　something。　Anything。　This　silence　was　unnerving。　〃Would　you　have　thoug