rj.thegreathunt-第104部分

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　　　　　　　Women　went　in　and　out　of　a　house　across　the　street；　women　linked　by　silver　leashes；　but　he　ignored　them。　He　knew　about　damane　from　the　villagers。　They　might　be　of　some　use　later；　but　not　now。
　　　　　　　The　soldiers　were　looking　at　him；　especially　the　officer；　whose　armor　was　all　gold　and　red　and　green。
　　　　　　　Forcing　an　ingratiating　smile　onto　his　face；　Fain　made　himself　bow　deeply。　〃My　lords；　I　have　something　here　that　will　interest　your　Great　Lord。　I　assure　you；　he　will　want　to　see　it；　and　me；　personally。〃　He　gestured　to　the　squarish　shape　on　his　packhorse；　still　wrapped　in　the　huge；　striped　blanket　in　which　his　people　had　found　it。
　　　　　　　The　officer　stared　him　up　and　down。　〃You　sound　a　foreigner　to　this　land。　Have　you　taken　the　oaths？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　obey；　await；　and　will　serve；〃　Fain　replied　smoothly。　Everyone　he　had　questioned　spoke　of　the　oaths；　though　none　had　understood　what　they　meant。　If　these　people　wanted　oaths；　he　was　prepared　to　swear　anything。　He　had　long　since　lost　count　of　the　oaths　he　had　taken。
　　　　　　　The　officer　motioned　two　of　his　men　to　see　what　was　under　the　blanket。　Surprised　grunts　at　the　weight　as　they　lifted　it　down　from　the　packsaddle　turned　to　gasps　when　they　stripped　the　blanket　away。　The　officer　stared　with　no　expression　on　his　face　at　the　silver…worked　golden　chest　resting　on　the　cobblestones；　then　looked　at　Fain。　〃A　gift　fit　for　the　Empress　herself。　You　will　e　with　me。〃
　　　　　　　One　of　the　soldiers　searched　Fain　roughly；　but　he　endured　it　in　silence；　noting　that　the　officer　and　the　two　soldiers　who　took　up　the　chest　surrendered　their　swords　and　daggers　before　going　inside。　Anything　he　could　learn　of　these　people；　however　small；　might　help；　though　he　was　confident　of　his　plan　already。　He　was　always　confident；　but　never　more　than　where　lords　feared　an　assassin's　knife　from　their　own　followers。
　　　　　　　As　they　went　through　the　door；　the　officer　frowned　at　him；　and　for　a　moment　Fain　wondered　why。　Of　course。　The　beasts。　Whatever　they　were；　they　were　certainly　no　worse　than　Trollocs；　nothing　at　all　beside　a　Myrddraal；　and　he　had　not　given　them　a　second　look。　It　was　too　late　to　pretend　to　be　afraid　of　them　now。　But　the　Seanchan　said　nothing；　only　led　him　deeper　into　the　house。
　　　　　　　And　so　Fain　found　himself　on　his　face；　in　a　room　bare　of　furnishings　except　for　folding　screens　that　hid　its　walls；　while　the　officer　told　the　High　Lord　Turak　of　him　and　his　offering。　Servants　brought　a　table　on　which　to　set　the　chest　so　the　High　Lord　would　have　no　need　to　stoop；　all　Fain　saw　of　them　were　scurrying　slippers。　He　bided　his　time　impatiently。　Eventually　there　would　e　a　time　when　he　was　not　the　one　to　bow。
　　　　　　　Then　the　soldiers　were　dismissed；　and　Fain　told　to　rise。　He　did　so　slowly；　studying　both　the　High　Lord；　with　his　shaven　head　and　his　long　fingernails　and　his　blue　silk　robe　brocaded　with　blossoms；　and　the　man　who　stood　beside　him　with　the　unshaven　half　of　his　pale　hair　in　a　long　braid。　Fain　was　sure　the　fellow　in　green　was　only　a　servant；　however　great；　but　servants　could　be　useful；　especially　if　they　stood　high　in　their　master's　sight。
　　　　　　　〃A　marvelous　gift。〃　Turak's　eyes　lifted　from　the　chest　to　Fain。　A　scent　of　roses　wafted　from　the　High　Lord。　〃Yet　the　question　asks　itself；　how　did　one　like　you　e　by　a　chest　many　lesser　lords　could　not　afford？　Are　you　a　thief？〃
　　　　　　　Fain　tugged　at　his　worn；　none　too　clean　coat。　〃It　is　sometimes　necessary　for　a　man　to　appear　less　than　he　is；　High　Lord。　My　present　shabbiness　allowed　me　to　bring　this　to　you　unmolested。　This　chest　is　old；　High　Lord　…　as　old　as　the　Age　of　Legends　…　and　within　it　lies　a　treasure　such　as　few　eyes　have　ever　seen。　Soon　…　very　soon；　High　Lord　…　I　will　be　able　to　open　it；　and　give　you　that　which　will　enable　you　to　take　this　land　as　far　as　you　wish；　to　the　Spine　of　the　World；　the　Aiel　Waste；　the　lands　beyond。　Nothing　will　stand　against　you；　High　Lord；　once　I　…　〃　He　cut　off　as　Turak　began　running　his　long…nailed　fingers　over　the　chest。
　　　　　　　〃I　have　seen　chests　such　as　this；　chests　from　the　Age　of　Legends；〃　the　High　Lord　said；　〃though　none　so　fine。　They　are　meant　to　be　opened　only　by　those　who　know　the　pattern；　but　I　…　ah！〃　He　pressed　among　the　ornate　whorls　and　bosses；　there　was　a　sharp　click；　and　he　lifted　back　the　lid。　A　flicker　of　what　might　have　been　disappointment　passed　across　his　face。
　　　　　　　Fain　bit　the　inside　of　his　mouth　till　blood　came　to　keep　from　snarling。　It　lessened　his　bargaining　position　that　he　was　not　the　one　who　had　opened　the　chest。　Still；　all　the　rest　could　go　as　he　had　planned　if　he　could　only　make　himself　be　patient。　But　he　had　been　patient　so　long。
　　　　　　　〃These　are　treasure　from　the　Age　of　Legends？〃　Turak　said；　lifting　out　the　curled　Horn　in　one　hand　and　the　curved　dagger　with　the　ruby　in　its　golden　hilt　in　the　other。　Fain　clutched　his　hands　in　fists　at　his　sides　so　he　would　not　grab　the　dagger。　〃The　Age　of　Legends；〃　Turak　repeated　softly；　tracing　the　silver　script　inlaid　around　the　golden　bell　of　the　Horn　with　the　tip　of　the　dagger's　blade。　His　brows　rose　in　startlement；　the　first　open　expression　Fain　had　seen　from　him；　but　in　the　next　instant　Turak's　face　was　as　smooth　as　ever。　〃Do　you　have　any　idea　what　this　is？〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Horn　of　Valere；　High　Lord；〃　Fain　said　smoothly；　pleased　to　see　the　mouth　of　the　man　with　the　braid　drop　open。　Turak　only　nodded　as　if　to　himself。
　　　　　　　The　High　Lord　turned　away。　Fain　blinked　and　opened　his　mouth；　then；　at　a　sharp　gesture　from　the　yellow…haired　man；　followed　without　speaking。
　　　　　　　It　was　another　room　with　all　the　original　furnishings　gone；　replaced　by　folding　screens　and　a　single　chair　facing　a　tall　round　cabinet。　Still　holding　the　Horn　and　the　dagger；　Turak　looked　at　the　cabinet；　then　away。　He　said　nothing；　but　the　other　Seanchan　snapped　quick　orders；　and　in　moments　men　in　plain　woolen　robes　appeared　through　a　door　behind　the　screens　bearing　another　small　table。　A　young　woman　with　hair　so　pale　it　was　almost　white　came　behind　them；　her　arms　full　of　small　stands　of　polished　wood　in　various　sizes　and　shapes。　Her　garment　was　white　silk；　and　so　thin　that　Fain　could　see　her　body　clearly　through　it；　but　he　had　eyes　only　for　the　dagger。　The　Horn　was　a　means　to　an　end；　but　the　dagger　was　a　part　of　him。
　　　　　　　Turak　briefly　touched　one　of　the　wooden　stands　the　girl　held；　and　she　placed　it　on　the　center　of　the　table。　The　men　turned　the　chair　to　face　it　under　the　direction　of　the　man　with　the　braid。　The　lower　servants'　hair　hung　to　their　shoulders。　They　scurried　out　with　bows　that　almost　put　their　heads　on　their　knees。
　　　　　　　Placing　the　Horn　on　the　stand　so　that　it　stood　upright；　Turak　laid　the　dagger　on　the　table　in　front　of　it　and　went　to　sit　in　the　chair。
　　　　　　　Fain　could　stand　it　no　longer。　He　reached　for　the　dagger。
　　　　　　　The　yellow…haired　man　caught　his　wrist　in　a　crushing　grip。　〃Unshaven　dog！　Know　that　the　hand　that　touches　the　property　of　the　High　Lord　unbidden　is　cut　off。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　mine；〃　Fain　growled。　Patience！　So　long。
　　　　　　　Turak；　lounging　back　in　the　chair；　lifted　one　blue…lacquered　fingernail；　and　Fain　was　pulled　out　of　the　way　so　the　High　Lord　could　view　the　Horn　unobstructed。
　　　　　　　〃Yours？〃　Turak　said。　〃Inside　a　chest　you　could　not　open？　If　you　interest　me　sufficiently；　I　may　give　you　the　dagger。　Even　if　it　is　from　the　Age　of　Legends；　I　have　no　interest　in　such　as　that。　Before　all　else；　you　will　answer　me　a　question。　Why　have　you　brought　the　Horn　of　Valere　to　me？〃
　　　　　　　Fain　eyed　the　dagger　longingly　a　moment　more；　then　jerked　his　wrist　free　and　rubbed　it　as　he　bowed。　〃That　you　may　sound　it；　High　Lord。　Then　you　may　take　all　of　this　land；　if　you　wish。　All　of　the　world。　You　may　break　the　White　Tower　and　grind　the　Aes　Sedai　to　dust；　for　even　their　powers　cannot　stop　heroes　e　back　from　the　dead。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　to　sound　it。〃　Turak's　tone　was　flat。　〃And　break　the　White　Tower。　Again；　why？　You　claim　to　obey；　await；　and　serve；　but　this　is　a　land　of　oath…breakers。　Why　do　you　give　your　land　to　me？　Do　you　have　some　private　quarrel　with　these。。。　women？〃
　　　　　　　Fain　tried　to　make　his　voice　convincing。　Patient；　like　a　worm　boring　from　within。　〃High　Lord；　my　family　has　passed　down　a　tradition；　generation　upon　generation。　We　served　the　High　King；　Artur　Paendrag　Tanreall；　and　when　he　was　murdered　by　the　witches　of　Tar　Valon；　we　did　not　abandon　our　oaths。　When　others　warred　and　tore　apart　what　Artur　Hawkwing　had　made；　we　held　to　our　swearing；　and　suffered　for　it；　but　held　to　it　still。　This　is　our　tradition；　High　Lord；　handed　father　to　son；　and　mother　to　daughter；　down　all　the　years　since　the　High　King　was　murdered。　That　we　await　the　return　of　the　armies　Artur　Hawkwing　sent　across　the　Aryth　Ocean；　that　we　await　the　return　of　Artur　Hawkwing's　blood　to　destroy　the　White　Tower　and　take　back　what　was　the　High　King's。　And　when　the　Hawkwing's　blood　returns；　we　will　serve　and　advise；　as　we　did　for　the　High　King。　High　Lord；　except　for　its　border；　the　banner　that　flies　over　this　roof　is　the　banner　of　Luthair；　the　son　Artur　Paendrag　Tanreall　sent　with　his　armies　across　the　ocean。〃　
　　　　　　　Fain　dropped　to　his　knees；　giving　a　good　imitation　of　being　overwhelmed。　〃High　Lord；　I　wish　only　to　serve　and　advise　the　blood　of　the　High　King。〃
　　　　　　　Turak　was　silent　so　long　that　Fain　began　to　wonder　if　he　needed　further　convincing；　he　was　ready　with　more；　as　much　as　was　required。　Finally；　though；　the　High　Lord　spoke。　〃You　seem　to　know　what　none；　neither　the　high　nor　the　low；　has　spoken　since　sighting　this　land。　The　people　here　speak　it　as　one　rumor　among　ten；　but　you　know。　I　can　see　it　in　your　eyes；　hear　it　in　your　voice。　I　could　almost　think　you　were　sent　to　entangle　me　in　a　trap。　But　who；　possessing　the　Horn　of　Valere；　would　use　it　so？　None　of　those　of　the　Blood　who　came　with　the　Hailene　could　have　had　the　Horn；　for　the　legend　says　it　was　hidden　in　this　land。　And　surely　any　lord　of　this　land　would　use　it　against　me　rather　than　put　it　in　my　hands。　How　did　you　e　to　possess　the　Horn　of　Valere？　Do　you　claim　to　be　a　hero；　as　in　the　legend？　Have　you　done　valorous　deeds？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　no　hero；　High　Lord。〃　Fain　ventured　a　self…deprecating　smile；　but　Turak's　face　did　not　alter；　and　he　let　it　go。　〃The　Horn　was　found　by　an　ancestor　of　mine　during　the　turmoil　after　the　High　King's　death。　He　kn