rj.thegreathunt-第21部分

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　　　　　　　The　windows；　he　thought　desperately。　He　backed　away　from　the　door；　clutching　his　sword　before　him　in　both　hands。　Even　if　the　door　holds；　they　can　break　in　the　windows。　Why　aren't　they　trying　the　windows？
　　　　　　　With　a　deafening　metallic　screech；　one　of　the　brackets　pulled　partly　away　from　the　doorframe；　hanging　loose　on　nails　ripped　a　finger's　width　out　of　the　wood。　The　bar　quivered　from　another　blow；　and　the　nails　squealed　again。
　　　　　　　〃We　have　to　stop　them！〃　Rand　shouted。　Only　we　can't。　We　can't　stop　them。　He　looked　around　for　a　way　to　run；　but　there　was　only　the　one　door。　The　room　was　a　box。　Only　one　door；　and　so　many　windows。　〃We　have　to　do　something。　Something！〃
　　　　　　　〃It's　too　late；〃　Mat　said。　〃Don't　you　understand？〃　His　grin　looked　odd　on　a　bloodless　pale　face；　and　the　hilt　of　a　dagger　stood　out　from　his　chest；　the　ruby　that　capped　it　blazing　as　if　it　held　fire。　The　gem　had　more　life　than　his　face。　〃It's　too　late　for　us　to　change　anything。〃
　　　　　　　〃I've　finally　gotten　rid　of　them；〃　Perrin　said；　laughing。　Blood　streamed　down　his　face　like　a　flood　of　tears　from　his　empty　sockets。　He　held　out　red　hands；　trying　to　make　Rand　look　at　what　he　held。　〃I'm　free；　now。　It's　over。〃
　　　　　　　〃It's　never　over；　al'Thor；〃　Padan　Fain　cried；　capering　in　the　middle　of　the　floor。　〃The　battle's　never　done。〃
　　　　　　　The　door　exploded　in　splinters；　and　Rand　ducked　away　from　the　flying　shards　of　wood。　Two　red…clad　Aes　Sedai　stepped　through；　bowing　their　master　in。　A　mask　the　color　of　dried　blood　covered　Ba'alzamon's　face；　but　Rand　could　see　the　flames　of　his　eyes　through　the　eyeslits；　he　could　hear　the　roaring　fires　of　Ba'alzamon's　mouth。
　　　　　　　〃It　is　not　yet　done　between　us；　al'Thor；〃　Ba'alzamon　said；　and　he　and　Fain　spoke　together　as　one；　〃For　you；　the　battle　is　never　done。〃
　　　　　　　With　a　strangled　gasp　Rand　sat　up　on　the　floor；　clawing　his　way　awake。　It　seemed　he　could　still　hear　Fain's　voice；　as　sharp　as　if　the　peddler　were　standing　beside　him。　It's　never　over。　The　battle's　never　done。
　　　　　　　Bleary…eyed；　he　looked　around　to　convince　himself　that　he　was　still　hidden　away　where　Egwene　had　left　him；　bedded　down　on　a　pallet　in　a　corner　of　her　room。　The　dim　light　of　a　single　lamp　suffused　the　room；　and　he　was　surprised　to　see　Nynaeve；　knitting　in　a　rocking　chair　on　the　other　side　of　the　lone　bed；　its　covers　still　in　place。　It　was　night　outside。
　　　　　　　Dark…eyed　and　slender；　Nynaeve　wore　her　hair　in　a　fat　braid；　pulled　over　one　shoulder　and　hanging　almost　to　her　waist。　She　had　not　given　up　on　home。　Her　face　was　calm；　and　she　seemed　aware　of　nothing　except　her　knitting　as　she　rocked　gently。　The　steady　click…click　of　her　knitting　needles　was　the　only　sound。　The　rug　silenced　the　rocking　chair。
　　　　　　　There　had　been　nights　of　late　when　he　had　wished　for　a　carpet　on　the　cold　stone　floor　of　his　room；　but　in　Shienar　men's　rooms　were　always　bare　and　stark。　The　walls　here　had　two　tapestries；　mountain　scenes　with　waterfalls；　and　flower…embroidered　curtains　alongside　the　arrowslits。　Cut　flowers；　white　morningstars；　stood　in　a　flat；　round　vase　on　the　table　by　the　bed；　and　more　nodded　in　glazed　white　sconces　on　the　walls。　A　tall　mirror　stood　in　a　corner；　and　another　hung　over　the　washstand；　with　its　blue…striped　pitcher　and　bowl。　He　wondered　why　Egwene　needed　two　mirrors；　there　was　none　in　his　room；　and　he　did　not　miss　it。　There　was　only　one　lamp　lit；　but　four　more　stood　around　the　room；　which　was　nearly　as　large　as　the　one　he　shared　with　Mat　and　Perrin。　Egwene　had　it　alone。
　　　　　　　Without　looking　up；　Nynaeve　said；　〃If　you　sleep　in　the　afternoon；　you　can't　expect　to　sleep　at　night。〃
　　　　　　　He　frowned；　though　she　could　not　see　it。　At　least；　he　thought　she　could　not。　She　was　only　a　few　years　older　than　he；　but　being　Wisdom　added　fifty　years　of　authority。　〃I　needed　a　place　to　hide；　and　I　was　tired；〃　he　said；　then　quickly　added；　〃I　didn't　just　e　here。　Egwene　invited　me　into　the　women's　apartments。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　lowered　her　knitting　and　gave　him　an　amused　smile。　She　was　a　pretty　woman。　That　was　something　he　would　never　have　noticed　back　home；　one　just　did　not　think　of　a　Wisdom　that　way。　〃The　Light　help　me；　Rand；　you　are　being　more　Shienaran　every　day。　Invited　into　the　women's　apartments；　indeed。〃　She　sniffed。　〃Any　day　now；　you'll　start　talking　about　your　honor；　and　asking　peace　to　favor　your　sword。〃　He　colored；　and　hoped　she　did　not　notice　in　the　dim　light。　She　eyed　his　sword；　its　hilt　sticking　out　of　the　long　bundle　beside　him　on　the　floor。　He　knew　she　did　not　approve　of　the　sword；　of　any　sword；　but　she　said　nothing　about　it　for　once。　〃Egwene　told　me　why　you　need　a　place　to　hide。　Don't　worry。　We　will　keep　you　hidden　from　the　Amyrlin；　or　from　any　other　Aes　Sedai；　if　that　is　what　you　want。〃
　　　　　　　She　met　his　eyes　and　jerked　hers　away；　but　not　before　he　saw　her　uneasiness。　Her　doubt。　That's　right；　I　can　channel　the　Power。　A　man　wielding　the　One　Power！　You　ought　to　be　helping　the　Aes　Sedai　hunt　me　down　and　gentle　me。
　　　　　　　Scowling；　he　straightened　the　leather　jerkin　Egwene　had　found　for　him　and　twisted　around　so　he　could　lean　back　against　the　wall。　〃As　soon　as　I　can；　I　will　hide　in　a　cart；　or　sneak　out。　You　won't　have　to　hide　me　long。〃　Nynaeve　did　not　say　anything；　she　fixed　on　her　knitting；　making　an　angry　sound　when　she　dropped　a　stitch。　〃Where　is　Egwene？〃
　　　　　　　She　let　the　knitting　fall　onto　her　lap。　〃I　don't　know　why　I　am　even　trying　tonight。　I　can't　keep　track　of　my　stitches　for　some　reason。　She　has　gone　down　to　see　Padan　Fain。　She　thinks　seeing　faces　he　knows　might　help　him。〃
　　　　　　　〃Mine　certainly　did　not。　She　ought　to　stay　away　from　him。　He's　dangerous。〃
　　　　　　　〃She　wants　to　help　him；〃　Nynaeve　said　calmly。　〃Remember；　she　was　training　to　be　my　assistant；　and　being　a　Wisdom　is　not　all　predicting　the　weather。　Healing　is　part　of　it；　too。　Egwene　has　the　desire　to　heal；　the　need　to。　And　if　Padan　Fain　is　so　dangerous；　Moiraine　would　have　said　something　…　〃
　　　　　　　He　barked　a　laugh。　〃You　didn't　ask　her。　Egwene　admitted　it；　and　I　can　just　see　you　asking　permission　for　anything。〃　Her　raised　eyebrow　wiped　the　laugh　off　his　face。　He　refused　to　apologize；　though。　They　were　a　long　way　from　home；　and　he　did　not　see　how　she　could　go　on　being　Wisdom　of　Emond's　Field　if　she　was　going　to　Tar　Valon。　〃Have　they　started　to　search　for　me；　yet？　Egwene　is　not　sure　they　will；　but　Lan　says　the　Amyrlin　Seat　is　here　because　of　me；　and　I　think　I'll　take　his　opinion　over　hers。〃
　　　　　　　For　a　moment　Nynaeve　did　not　answer。　Instead　she　fussed　with　her　skeins　of　yarn。　Finally　she　said；　〃I　am　not　sure。　One　of　the　serving　women　came　a　little　while　ago。　To　turn　down　the　bed；　she　said。　As　if　Egwene　would　be　going　to　sleep　already；　with　the　feast　for　the　Amyrlin　tonight。　I　sent　her　away；　she　didn't　see　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃Nobody　turns　your　bed　down　for　you　in　the　men's　quarters。〃　She　gave　him　a　level　look；　one　that　would　have　set　him　stammering　a　year　ago。　He　shook　his　head。　〃They　wouldn't　use　the　maids　to　look　for　me；　Nynaeve。〃
　　　　　　　〃When　I　went　to　the　buttery　for　a　cup　of　milk　earlier；　there　were　too　many　women　in　the　halls。　Those　who　are　attending　the　feast　should　have　been　getting　dressed；　and　the　others　should　either　have　been　helping　them　or　getting　ready　to　serve；　or　to　。。。　〃　She　frowned　worriedly。　〃There's　more　than　enough　work　for　everybody　with　the　Amyrlin　here。　And　they　were　not　just　here　in　the　women's　apartments。　I　saw　the　Lady　Amalisa　herself　ing　out　of　a　storeroom　near　the　buttery　with　her　face　all　over　dust。〃
　　　　　　　〃That's　ridiculous。　Why　would　she　be　part　of　a　search？　Or　any　of　the　women；　for　that　matter。　They'd　be　using　Lord　Agelmar's　soldiers；　and　the　Warders。　And　the　Aes　Sedai。　They　must　just　be　doing　something　for　the　feast。　Burn　me　if　I　know　what　a　Shienaran　feast　takes。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　are　a　woolhead；　sometimes；　Rand。　The　men　I　saw　didn't　know　what　the　women　were　doing　either。　I　heard　some　of　them　plaining　about　having　to　do　all　the　work　by　themselves。　I　know　it　makes　no　sense　that　they　were　looking　for　you。　None　of　the　Aes　Sedai　seemed　to　be　taking　any　interest。　But　Amalisa　was　not　readying　herself　for　the　feast　by　dirtying　her　dress　in　a　storeroom。　They　were　looking　for　something；　something　important。　Even　if　she　began　right　after　I　saw　her；　she　would　barely　have　time　to　bathe　and　change。　Speaking　of　which；　if　Egwene　doesn't　e　back　soon；　she'll　have　to　choose　between　changing　and　being　late。〃
　　　　　　　For　the　first　time；　he　realized　that　Nynaeve　was　not　wearing　the　Two　Rivers　woolens　he　was　used　to。　Her　dress　was　pale　blue　silk；　embroidered　in　snowdrop　blossoms　around　the　neck　and　down　the　sleeves。　Each　blossom　centered　on　a　small　pearl；　and　her　belt　was　tooled　in　silver；　with　a　silver　buckle　set　with　pearls。　He　had　never　seen　her　in　anything　like　that。　Even　feastday　clothes　back　home　might　not　match　it。
　　　　　　　〃You're　going　to　the　feast？〃
　　　　　　　〃Of　course。　Even　if　Moiraine　had　not　said　I　should；　I　would　never　let　her　think　I　was　。。。〃　Her　eyes　lit　up　fiercely　for　a　moment；　and　he　knew　what　she　meant。　Nynaeve　would　never　let　anyone　think　she　was　afraid；　even　if　she　was。　Certainly　not　Moiraine；　and　especially　not　Lan。　He　hoped　she　did　not　know　he　was　aware　of　her　feelings　for　the　Warder。
　　　　　　　After　a　moment　her　gaze　softened　as　it　fell　on　the　sleeve　of　her　dress。　〃The　Lady　Amalisa　gave　me　this；〃　she　said　so　softly　he　wondered　if　she　was　speaking　to　herself。　She　stroked　the　silk　with　her　fingers；　outlining　the　embroidered　flowers；　smiling；　lost　in　thought。
　　　　　　　〃It's　very　pretty　on　you；　Nynaeve。　You're　pretty　tonight。〃　He　winced　as　soon　as　he　said　it。　Any　Wisdom　was　touchy　about　her　authority；　but　Nynaeve　was　touchier　than　most。　The　Women's　Circle　back　home　had　always　looked　over　her　shoulder　because　she　was　young；　and　maybe　because　she　was　pretty；　and　her　fights　with　the　Mayor　and　the　Village　Council　had　been　the　stuff　of　stories。
　　　　　　　She　jerked　her　hand　away　from　the　embroidery　and　glared　at　him；　brows　lowering。　He　spoke　quickly　to　forestall　her。
　　　　　　　〃They　can't　keep　the　gates　barred　forever。　Once　they　are　opened；　I　will　be　gone；　and　the　Aes　Sedai　will　never　find　me。　Perrin　says　there　are　places　in　the　Black　Hills　and　the　Caralain　Grass　you　can　go　for　days　without　seeing　a　soul。　Maybe…maybe　I　can　figure　out　what　to　do　about　。。。〃　He　shrugged　u