rj.thegreathunt-第24部分

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　　　　　　　〃The　least　even　here；〃　Moiraine　said　sharply。　She　directed　the　men　putting　Egwene　and　Mat　on　the　litters。　〃The　girl　is　to　be　taken　to　her　room。　She　needs　a　woman　to　watch　in　case　she　wakes　in　the　night。　She　may　be　frightened；　but　more　than　anything　else　she　needs　sleep；　now。　The　boy　。。。〃　She　touched　Mat　as　two　men　lifted　his　litter；　and　pulled　her　hand　back　quickly。　〃Take　him　to　the　Amyrlin　Seat's　chambers。　Find　the　Amyrlin　wherever　she　is；　and　tell　her　he　is　there。　Tell　her　his　name　is　Matrim　Cauthon。　I　will　join　her　as　soon　as　I　am　able。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Amyrlin！〃　Liandrin　exclaimed。　〃You　think　to　have　the　Amyrlin　as　Healer　for　your…your　pet？　You　are　mad；　Moiraine。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Amyrlin　Seat；〃　Moiraine　said　calmly；　〃does　not　share　your　Red　Ajah　prejudices；　Liandrin。　She　will　Heal　a　man　without　need　of　a　special　use　for　him。　Go　ahead；〃　she　told　the　litter　bearers。
　　　　　　　Liandrin　watched　them　leave；　Moiraine　and　the　men　carrying　Mat　and　Egwene；　then　turned　to　stare　at　Rand。　He　tried　to　ignore　her。　He　concentrated　on　scabbarding　his　sword　and　brushing　off　the　straw　that　clung　to　his　shirt　and　breeches。　When　he　raised　his　head；　though；　she　was　still　studying　him；　her　face　as　blank　as　ice。　Saying　nothing；　she　turned　to　consider　the　other　men　thoughtfully。　One　held　the　body　of　the　hanged　man　up　while　another　worked　to　unfasten　the　belt。　Ingtar　and　the　others　waited　respectfully。　With　a　last　glance　at　Rand；　she　left；　head　held　like　a　queen。
　　　　　　　〃A　hard　woman；〃　Ingtar　muttered；　then　seemed　surprised　that　he　had　spoken。　〃What　happened　here；　Rand　al'Thor？〃
　　　　　　　Rand　shook　his　head。　〃I　don't　know；　except　that　Fain　escaped　somehow。　And　hurt　Egwene　and　Mat　doing　it。　I　saw　the　guardroom〃　…　he　shuddered　…　〃but　in　here。。。　Whatever　it　was；　Ingtar；　it　scared　that　fellow　bad　enough　that　he　hung　himself。　I　think　the　other　one's　gone　mad　from　seeing　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　are　all　going　mad　tonight。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Fade　。。。　you　killed　it？〃
　　　　　　　〃No！〃　Ingtar　slammed　his　sword　into　its　sheath；　the　hilt　stuck　up　above　his　right　shoulder。　He　seemed　angry　and　ashamed　at　the　same　time。　〃It's　out　of　the　keep　by　now；　along　with　the　rest　of　what　we　could　not　kill。〃
　　　　　　　〃At　least　you're　alive；　Ingtar。　That　Fade　killed　seven　men！〃
　　　　　　　〃Alive？　Is　that　so　important？〃　Suddenly　Ingtar's　face　was　no　longer　angry；　but　tired　and　full　of　pain。　〃We　had　it　in　our　hands。　In　our　hands！　And　we　lost　it；　Rand。　Lost　it！〃　He　sounded　as　if　he　could　not　believe　what　he　was　saying。
　　　　　　　〃Lost　what？〃　Rand　asked。
　　　　　　　〃The　Horn！　The　Horn　of　Valere。　It's　gone；　chest　and　all。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　it　was　in　the　strongroom。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　strongroom　was　looted；〃　Ingtar　said　wearily。　〃They　did　not　take　much；　except　for　the　Horn。　What　they　could　stuff　in　their　pockets。　I　wish　they　had　taken　everything　else　and　left　that。　Ronan　is　dead；　and　the　watchmen　he　had　guarding　the　strongroom。〃　His　voice　became　quiet。　〃When　I　was　a　boy；　Ronan　held　Jehaan　Tower　with　twenty　men　against　a　thousand　Trollocs。　He　did　not　go　down　easily；　though。　The　old　man　had　blood　on　his　dagger。　No　man　can　ask　more　than　that。〃　He　was　silent　for　a　moment。　〃They　came　in　through　the　Dog　Gate；　and　left　the　same　way。　We　put　an　end　to　fifty　or　more；　but　too　many　escaped。　Trollocs！　We've　never　before　had　Trollocs　inside　the　keep。　Never！〃
　　　　　　　〃How　could　they　get　in　through　the　Dog　Gate；　Ingtar？　One　man　could　stop　a　hundred　there。　And　all　the　gates　were　barred。〃　He　shifted　uneasily；　remembering　why。　〃The　guards　would　not　have　opened　it　to　let　anybody　in。〃
　　　　　　　〃Their　throats　were　cut；〃　Ingtar　said。　〃Both　good　men；　and　yet　they　were　butchered　like　pigs。　It　was　done　from　inside。　Someone　killed　them；　then　opened　the　gate。　Someone　who　could　get　close　to　them　without　suspicion。　Someone　they　knew。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　looked　at　the　empty　cell　where　Padan　Fain　had　been。　〃But　that　means　。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes。　There　are　Darkfriends　inside　Fal　Dara。　Or　were。　We　will　soon　know　if　that's　the　case。　Kajin　is　checking　now　to　see　if　anyone　is　missing。　Peace！　Treachery　in　Fal　Dara　keep！〃　Scowling；　he　looked　around　the　dungeon；　at　the　men　waiting　for　him。　They　all　had　swords；　worn　over　feastday　clothes；　and　some　had　helmets。　〃We　aren't　doing　any　good　here。　Out！　Everyone！〃　Rand　joined　the　withdrawal。　Ingtar　tapped　Rand's　jerkin。　〃What　is　this？　Have　you　decided　to　bee　a　stableman？〃
　　　　　　　〃It's　a　long　story；〃　Rand　said。　〃Too　long　to　tell　here。　Maybe　some　other　time。〃　Maybe　never；　if　I'm　lucky。　Maybe　I　can　escape　in　all　this　confusion。　No；　I　can't。　Not　until　I　know　Egwene's　all　right。　And　Mat。　Light；　what　will　happen　to　him　without　the　dagger？　〃I　suppose　Lord　Agelmar's　doubled　the　guard　on　all　the　gates。〃
　　　　　　　〃Tripled；〃　Ingtar　said　in　tones　of　satisfaction。　〃No　one　will　pass　those　gates；　from　inside　or　out。　As　soon　as　Lord　Agelmar　heard　what　had　happened；　he　ordered　that　no　one　was　to　be　allowed　to　leave　the　keep　without　his　personal　permission。〃
　　　　　　　As　soon　as　he　heard　。。。？　〃Ingtar；　what　about　before？　What　about　the　earlier　order　keeping　everyone　in？〃
　　　　　　　〃Earlier　order？　What　earlier　order？　Rand；　the　keep　was　not　closed　until　Lord　Agelmar　heard　of　this。　Someone　told　you　wrong。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　shook　his　head　slowly。　Neither　Ragan　nor　Tema　would　have　made　up　something　like　that。　And　even　if　the　Amyrlin　Seat　had　given　the　order；　Ingtar　would　have　to　know　of　it。　So　who？　And　how？　He　glanced　sideways　at　Ingtar；　wondering　if　the　Shienaran　was　lying。　You　really　are　going　mad　if　you　suspect　Ingtar。
　　　　　　　They　were　in　the　dungeon　guardroom；　now。　The　severed　heads　and　the　pieces　of　the　guards　had　been　removed；　though　there　were　still　red　smears　on　the　table　and　damp　patches　in　the　straw　to　show　where　they　had　been。　Two　Aes　Sedai　were　there；　placid…looking　women　with　brown…fringed　shawls；　studying　the　words　scrawled　on　the　walls；　careless　of　what　their　skirts　dragged　through　in　the　straw。　Each　had　an　inkpot　in　a　writing…case　hung　at　her　belt　and　was　making　notes　in　a　small　book　with　a　pen。　They　never　even　glanced　at　the　men　trooping　through。
　　　　　　　〃Look　here；　Verin；〃　one　of　them　said；　pointing　to　a　section　of　stone　covered　with　lines　of　Trolloc　script。　〃This　looks　interesting。〃
　　　　　　　The　other　hurried　over；　picking　up　reddish　stains　on　her　skirt。　〃Yes；　I　see。　A　much　better　hand　than　the　rest。　Not　a　Trolloc。　Very　interesting。〃　She　began　writing　in　her　book；　looking　up　every　so　often　to　read　the　angular　letters　on　the　wall。
　　　　　　　Rand　hurried　out。　Even　if　they　had　not　been　Aes　Sedai；　he　would　not　have　wanted　to　remain　in　the　same　room　with　anyone　who　thought　reading　Trolloc　script　written　in　human　blood　was　〃interesting。〃
　　　　　　　Ingtar　and　his　men　stalked　on　ahead；　intent　on　their　duties。　Rand　dawdled；　wondering　where　he　could　go　now。　Getting　back　into　the　women's　apartments　would　not　be　easy　without　Egwene　to　help。　Light；　let　her　be　all　right。　Moiraine　said　she'd　be　all　right。
　　　　　　　Lan　found　him　before　he　reached　the　first　stairs　leading　up。　〃You　can　go　back　to　your　room；　if　you　want；　sheepherder。　Moiraine　had　your　things　fetched　from　Egwene's　room　and　taken　to　yours。〃
　　　　　　　〃How　did　she　know　。。。？〃
　　　　　　　〃Moiraine　knows　a　great　many　things；　sheepherder。　You　should　understand　that　by　now。　You　had　better　watch　yourself。　The　women　are　all　talking　about　you　running　through　the　halls；　waving　a　sword。　Staring　down　the　Amyrlin；　so　they　say。〃
　　　　　　　〃Light！　I　am　sorry　they're　angry；　Lan；　but　I　was　invited　in。　And　when　I　heard　the　alarm　。。。　burn　me；　Egwene　was　down　here！〃
　　　　　　　Lan　pursed　his　lips　thoughtfully；　it　was　the　only　expression　on　his　face。　〃Oh；　they're　not　angry；　exactly。　Though　most　of　them　think　you　need　a　strong　hand　to　settle　you　down　some。　Fascinated　is　more　like　it。　Even　the　Lady　Amalisa　can't　stop　asking　questions　about　you。　Some　of　them　are　starting　to　believe　the　servants'　tales。　They　think　you're　a　prince　in　disguise；　sheepherder。　Not　a　bad　thing。　There　is　an　old　saying　here　in　the　Borderlands：　'Better　to　have　one　woman　on　your　side　than　ten　men。'　The　way　they　are　talking　among　themselves；　they're　trying　to　decide　whose　daughter　is　strong　enough　to　handle　you。　If　you　don't　watch　your　step；　sheepherder；　you　will　find　yourself　married　into　a　Shienaran　House　before　you　realize　what　has　happened。〃　Suddenly　he　burst　out　laughing；　it　looked　odd；　like　a　rock　laughing。　〃Running　through　the　halls　of　the　women's　apartments　in　the　middle　of　the　night；　wearing　a　laborer's　jerkin　and　waving　a　sword。　If　they　don't　have　you　flogged；　at　the　very　least　they'll　talk　about　you　for　years。　They　have　never　seen　a　male　as　peculiar　as　you。　Whatever　wife　they　chose　for　you；　she'd　probably　have　you　the　head　of　your　own　House　in　ten　years；　and　have　you　thinking　you　had　done　it　yourself；　besides。　It　is　too　bad　you　have　to　leave。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　had　been　gaping　at　the　Warder；　but　now　he　growled；　〃I　have　been　trying。　The　gates　are　guarded；　and　no　one　can　leave。　I　tried　while　it　was　still　daylight。　I　couldn't　even　take　Red　out　of　the　stable。〃
　　　　　　　〃No　matter；　now。　Moiraine　sent　me　to　tell　you。　You　can　leave　anytime　you　want　to。　Even　right　now。　Moiraine　had　Agelmar　exempt　you　from　the　order。〃
　　　　　　　〃Why　now；　and　not　earlier？　Why　couldn't　I　leave　before？　Was　she　the　one　who　had　the　gates　barred　then？　Ingtar　said　he　knew　nothing　about　any　order　to　keep　people　in　before　tonight。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　thought　the　Warder　looked　troubled；　but　all　he　said　was；　〃When　someone　gives　you　a　horse；　sheepherder；　don't　plain　that　it　isn't　as　fast　as　you'd　like。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　about　Egwene？　And　Mat？　Are　they　really　all　right？　I　can't　leave　until　I　know　they're　all　right。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　girl　is　fine。　She'll　wake　in　the　morning；　and　probably　not　even　remember　what　happened。　Blows　to　the　head　are　like　that。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　about　Mat？〃
　　　　　　　〃The　choice　is　up　to　you；　sheepherder。　You　can　leave　now；　or　tomorrow；　or　next　week。　It's　up　to　you。〃　He　walked　away；　leaving　Rand　standing　there　in　the　corridor　deep　under　Fal　Dara　keep。


Chapter　7
（Serpent　and　Wheel）
Blood　Calls　Blood

　　　　　　　As　the　litter　carrying　Mat　left　the　Amyrlin　Seat's　chambers；　Moiraine　carefully　rewrapped　the　angreal　…　a　small；　age…darkened　ivory　carving　of　a　woman　in　flowing　robes　…　in　a　square　of　silk　and　put　it　back　into　her　pouch。　Working　together　with　other　Aes　Sedai；　merging　their　abilities；　channe