rj.thegreathunt-第45部分

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he　villagers　were　bound。　Pleas　for　mercy　and　children's　screams　were　cut　off　by　solid　thuds　and　unpleasant　squishing　noises；　like　melons　being　broken。
　　　　　　　Fain　turned　his　back　on　the　cacophony　to　look　at　his　Darkfriends。　They　were　his；　too；　body　and　soul。　Such　souls　as　they　had　left。　Every　one　of　them　was　mired　as　deeply　as　he　had　been；　before　he　found　his　way　out。　Every　one　with　nowhere　to　go　except　to　follow　him。　Their　eyes　clung　to　him；　fearful；　pleading。　〃You　think　they　will　grow　hungry　again　before　we　find　another　village　or　a　farm？　They　may。　You　think　I　will　be　letting　them　have　some　more　of　you？　Well；　perhaps　one　or　two。　There　aren't　any　more　horses　to　spare。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　others　were　only　moners；〃　one　woman　managed　in　an　unsteady　voice。　Dirt　streaked　her　face　above　a　finely　cut　dress　that　marked　her　as　a　merchant；　and　wealthy。　Smears　stained　the　good　gray　cloth；　and　a　long　tear　marred　her　skirt。　〃They　were　peasants。　We　have　served　…　I　have　served　…　〃
　　　　　　　Fain　cut　her　off；　his　easy　tone　making　his　words　all　the　harder。　〃What　are　you；　to　me？　Less　than　peasants。　Herd　cattle　for　the　Trollocs；　perhaps？　If　you　want　to　live；　cattle；　you　must　be　useful。〃
　　　　　　　The　woman's　face　broke。　She　sobbed；　and　suddenly　all　the　rest　were　babbling；　telling　him　how　useful　they　were；　men　and　women　who　had　had　influence　and　position　before　they　were　called　to　fulfill　their　oaths　at　Fal　Dara。　They　spilled　out　the　names　of　important；　powerful　people　whom　they　knew　in　the　Borderlands；　in　Cairhien；　and　other　lands。　They　babbled　of　the　knowledge　they　alone　had　of　this　land　or　that；　of　political　situations；　alliances；　intrigues；　all　the　things　they　could　tell　him　if　he　let　them　serve　him。　The　noise　of　them　blended　with　the　sounds　of　the　Trollocs'　slaughter　and　fit　right　in。
　　　　　　　Fain　ignored　all　of　it　…　he　had　no　fear　of　turning　his　back　on　them；　not　since　they　had　seen　the　Fade　dealt　with　…　and　went　to　his　prize。　Kneeling；　he　ran　his　hands　over　the　ornate；　golden　chest；　feeling　the　power　locked　inside。　He　had　to　have　a　Trolloc　carry　it　…　he　did　not　trust　the　humans　enough　to　load　it　on　a　horse　and　packsaddle；　some　dreams　of　power　might　be　strong　enough　to　overe　even　fear　of　him；　but　Trollocs　never　dreamed　of　anything　except　killing　…　and　he　had　not　yet　puzzled　out　how　to　open　it。　But　that　would　e。　Everything　would　e。　Everything。
　　　　　　　Unsheathing　the　dagger；　he　laid　it　atop　the　chest　before　settling　himself　down　beside　the　fire。　That　blade　was　a　better　guard　than　Trolloc　or　human。　They　had　all　seen　what　happened　when　he　used　it；　once；　none　would　e　within　a　span　of　that　bared　blade　without　his　mand；　and　then　reluctantly。
　　　　　　　Lying　there　in　his　blankets；　he　stared　northward。　He　could　not　feel　al'Thor；　now；　the　distance　between　them　was　too　great。　Or　perhaps　al'Thor　was　doing　his　vanishing　trick。　Sometimes；　in　the　keep；　the　boy　had　suddenly　vanished　from　Fain's　senses。　He　did　not　know　how；　but　always　al'Thor　came　back；　just　as　suddenly　as　he　had　gone。　He　would　e　back　this　time；　too。
　　　　　　　〃This　time　you　e　to　me；　Rand　al'Thor。　Before；　I　followed　you　like　a　dog　driven　on　the　trail；　but　now　you　follow　me。〃　His　laughter　was　a　cackle　that　even　he　knew　was　mad；　but　he　did　not　care。　Madness　was　a　part　of　him；　too。　〃e　to　me；　al'Thor。　The　dance　is　not　even　begun　yet。　We'll　dance　on　Toman　Head；　and　I'll　be　free　of　you。　I'll　see　you　dead　at　last。〃


Chapter　12
（Flame　of　Tar　Valon）
Woven　in　the　Pattern
　　　　　　　Egwene　hurried　after　Nynaeve　toward　the　knot　of　Aes　Sedai　around　the　Amyrlin　Seat's　horse…borne　palanquin；　her　desire　to　know　what　had　caused　the　turmoil　in　Fal　Dara　keep　outweighing　even　her　worry　over　Rand。　He　was　beyond　her　reach；　for　the　moment。　Beta；　her　shaggy　mare；　was　with　the　Aes　Sedai's　horses；　and　Nynaeve's　mount；　too。
　　　　　　　The　Warders；　hands　on　sword　hilts　and　eyes　searching　everywhere；　made　a　steel　circle　around　the　Aes　Sedai　and　the　palanquin。　They　were　an　island　of　relative　calm　in　the　courtyard；　where　Shienaran　soldiers　still　ran　amid　the　keep's　horrified　inhabitants。　Egwene　pushed　in　beside　Nynaeve　…　the　two　of　them　all　but　ignored　after　a　single　sharp　glance　from　the　Warders；　all　knew　they　would　be　leaving　with　the　Amyrlin　…　and　caught　enough　in　the　crowd's　murmurs　to　learn　of　an　arrow　that　had　flashed　seemingly　from　nowhere　and　a　bowman　yet　uncaught。
　　　　　　　Egwene　stopped；　wide…eyed；　too　shocked　even　to　think　that　she　was　surrounded　by　Aes　Sedai。　An　attempt　on　the　life　of　the　Amyrlin　Seat。　It　went　beyond　thinking　of。
　　　　　　　The　Amyrlin　sat　in　her　palanquin　with　the　curtains　drawn　back；　the　bloodstained　rip　in　her　sleeve　drawing　all　eyes；　and　faced　down　Lord　Agelmar。　〃You　will　find　the　bowman　or　you　will　not；　my　son。　Either　way；　my　business　in　Tar　Valon　is　as　urgent　as　that　of　Ingtar　on　his　quest。　I　leave　now。〃
　　　　　　　〃But；　Mother；〃　Agelmar　protested；　〃this　attempt　on　your　life　changes　everything。　We　still　do　not　know　who　sent　the　man；　or　why。　An　hour　more；　and　I　will　have　the　bowman　and　the　answers　for　you。〃
　　　　　　　The　Amyrlin　barked　a　laugh　with　no　amusement　in　it。　〃You'll　need　slyer　bait　or　finer　nets　to　catch　this　fish；　my　son。　By　the　time　you　have　the　man；　it　will　be　too　late　in　the　day　for　leaving。　There　are　too　many　who　would　cheer　to　see　me　dead　for　me　to　worry　overmuch　about　this　one。　You　may　send　me　news　of　what　you　find；　if　you　find　anything　at　all。〃　Her　eyes　traveled　around　the　towers　overlooking　the　courtyard；　and　the　ramparts　and　archers'　balconies；　still　jammed　with　people；　though　silent　now。　The　arrow　had　to　have　e　from　one　of　those　places。　〃I　think　this　bowman　is　already　fled　from　Fal　Dara。〃
　　　　　　　〃But；　Mother　…〃
　　　　　　　The　woman　in　the　palanquin　cut　him　off　with　a　sharp　gesture　of　finality。　Not　even　the　Lord　of　Fal　Dara　could　press　the　Amyrlin　Seat　too　far。　Her　eyes　came　to　rest　on　Egwene　and　Nynaeve；　piercing　eyes　that　seemed　to　Egwene　to　be　seeing　everything　about　herself　that　she　wanted　to　keep　secret。　Egwene　took　a　step　back；　then　caught　herself　and　dropped　a　curtsy；　wondering　if　that　were　proper；　no　one　had　ever　explained　to　her　the　protocol　of　meeting　the　Amyrlin　Seat。　Nynaeve　kept　her　back　straight　and　returned　the　Amyrlin's　stare；　but　she　fumbled　for　Egwene's　hand　and　gripped　as　hard　as　Egwene　did。
　　　　　　　〃So　these　are　your　two；　Moiraine；〃　the　Amyrlin　said。　Moiraine　gave　the　barest　nod；　and　the　other　Aes　Sedai　turned　to　stare　at　the　two　women　from　Emond's　Field。　Egwene　swallowed。　They　all　looked　as　if　they　knew　things；　things　other　people　did　not；　and　it　was　no　help　at　all　to　know　that　they　truly　did。　〃Yes；　I　sense　a　fine　spark　in　each　of　them。　But　what　will　kindle　from　it？　That's　the　question；　isn't　it？〃
　　　　　　　Egwene's　mouth　felt　dry　as　dust。　She　had　seen　Master　Padwhin；　the　carpenter　back　home；　look　at　his　tools　much　the　same　way　as　the　Amyrlin　was　looking　at　the　two　of　them。　This　one　for　this　purpose；　that　one　for　that。
　　　　　　　The　Amyrlin　said　abruptly；　〃It　is　time　we　were　gone。　To　horse。　Lord　Agelmar　and　I　can　say　what　needs　be　said　without　you　all　gawking　like　novices　on　a　freeday。　To　horse！〃
　　　　　　　At　her　mand　the　Warders　scattered　to　their　mounts；　still　wary；　and　the　Aes　Sedai；　all　but　Leane；　glided　away　from　the　palanquin　to　their　own　horses。　As　Egwene　and　Nynaeve　turned　to　obey；　a　servant　appeared　at　Lord　Agelmar's　shoulder　with　a　silver　chalice。　Agelmar　took　it　with　a　dissatisfied　twist　to　his　mouth。
　　　　　　　〃With　this　cup　from　my　hand；　Mother；　take　my　wish　that　you　fare　well　on　this　day；　and　every　。。。〃
　　　　　　　Whatever　else　they　said　was　lost　to　Egwene　as　she　scrambled　onto　Bela。　By　the　time　she　had　given　the　shaggy　mare　a　pat；　and　arranged　her　skirts；　the　palanquin　was　already　moving　toward　the　open　gates；　its　horses　stepping　without　rein　or　lead。　Leane　rode　beside　the　palanquin；　her　staff　propped　at　her　stirrup。　Egwene　and　Nynaeve　brought　their　horses　along　behind　with　the　rest　of　the　Aes　Sedai。
　　　　　　　Roars　and　cheers　from　the　crowds　lining　the　town　streets　greeted　the　procession；　all　but　drowning　the　thunder　of　the　drummers　and　the　blare　of　the　trumpeters。　Warders　led　the　column；　with　the　banner　bearing　the　White　Flame　waving　in　ripples；　and　rode　guard　around　the　Aes　Sedai；　keeping　the　mass　of　people　back；　archers　and　pikemen；　the　Flame　blazoned　on　their　chests；　followed　behind　in　precise　ranks。　The　trumpets　fell　silent　as　the　column　wound　its　way　out　of　the　town　and　turned　southward；　yet　the　sounds　of　cheering　from　within　the　town　followed　still。　Egwene　glanced　back　often；　until　trees　and　hills　hid　Fal　Dara's　walls　and　towers。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve；　riding　alongside；　shook　her　head。　〃Rand　will　be　all　right。　He　has　Lord　Ingtar　and　twenty　lances　with　him。　In　any　case；　there　is　nothing　you　can　do　about　it。　Nothing　either　of　us　can　do。〃　She　glanced　toward　Moiraine；　the　Aes　Sedai's　trim　white　mare　and　Lan's　tall　black　stallion　made　an　odd　pair　off　to　one　side　by　themselves。　〃Not　yet。〃
　　　　　　　The　column　angled　westward　as　it　traveled；　and　it　did　not　cover　the　ground　quickly。　Even　footmen　in　half　armor　could　not　move　fast　through　the　Shienaran　hills；　not　and　maintain　the　pace　for　long。　Still；　they　pushed　as　hard　as　they　could。
　　　　　　　Camps　came　late　each　night；　the　Amyrlin　allowing　no　stop　until　barely　enough　light　remained　to　pitch　the　tents；　flattened　white　domes　just　tall　enough　to　stand　in。　Each　pair　of　Aes　Sedai　from　the　same　Ajah　had　one；　while　the　Amyrlin　and　the　Keeper　had　tents　to　themselves。　Moiraine　shared　the　tent　of　her　two　sisters　of　the　Blue。　The　soldiers　slept　on　the　ground　in　their　own　encampment；　and　the　Warders　wrapped　themselves　in　their　cloaks　near　the　tents　of　the　Aes　Sedai　to　whom　they　were　bonded。　The　tent　shared　by　the　Red　sisters　looked　oddly　lonely　without　any　Warders；　while　that　of　the　Greens　seemed　almost　festive；　the　two　Aes　Sedai　often　sitting　outside　long　past　dark　to　talk　with　the　four　Warders　they　had　brought　between　them。
　　　　　　　Lan　came　once　to　the　tent　Egwene　shared　with　Nynaeve；　taking　the　Wisdom　into　the　night　a　little　distance　away。　Egwene　peered　around　the　tent　flap　to　watch。　She　could　not　hear　what　they　said；　except　that　Nynaeve　eventually　erupted　in　anger　and　came　stalking　back　to　wrap　herself　in　her　blankets　and　refuse　to　talk　at　all。　Egwene　thought　her　cheeks　were　wet；　though　she　hid　her　face　with　a　corner　of　her　blanket。　Lan　stood　watc