rj.thegreathunt-第6部分

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leared　his　throat；　when　he　spoke；　his　voice　grated。　〃Why　so　many；　Lan？　Why　any　at　all？　And　with　drums　and　trumpets　and　a　banner　to　announce　them。〃
　　　　　　　Aes　Sedai　were　respected　in　Shienar；　at　least　by　most　people；　and　the　rest　respectfully　feared　them；　but　Rand　had　been　in　places　where　it　was　different；　where　there　was　only　the　fear；　and　often　hate。　Where　he　had　grown　up；　some　men；　at　least；　spoke　of　〃Tar　Valon　witches〃　as　they　would　speak　of　the　Dark　One。　He　tried　to　count　the　women；　but　they　kept　no　ranks　or　order；　moving　their　horses　around　to　converse　with　one　another　or　with　whoever　was　in　the　palanquin。　Goose　bumps　covered　him。　He　had　traveled　with　Moiraine；　and　met　another　Aes　Sedai；　and　he　had　begun　to　think　of　himself　as　worldly。　Nobody　ever　left　the　Two　Rivers；　or　almost　nobody；　but　he　had。　He　had　seen　things　no　one　back　in　the　Two　Rivers　had　ever　laid　eyes　on；　done　things　they　had　only　dreamed　of；　if　they　had　dreamed　so　far。　He　had　seen　a　queen　and　met　the　Daughter…Heir　of　Andor；　faced　a　Myrddraal　and　traveled　the　Ways；　and　none　of　it　had　prepared　him　for　this　moment。
　　　　　　　〃Why　so　many？〃　he　whispered　again。
　　　　　　　〃The　Amyrlin　Seat's　e　in　person。〃　Lan　looked　at　him；　his　expression　as　hard　and　unreadable　as　a　rock。　〃Your　lessons　are　done；　sheepherder。〃　He　paused　then；　and　Rand　almost　thought　there　was　sympathy　on　his　face。　That　could　not　be；　of　course。　〃Better　for　you　if　you　were　a　week　gone。〃　With　that　the　Warder　snatched　up　his　shirt　and　disappeared　down　the　ladder　into　the　tower。
　　　　　　　Rand　worked　his　mouth；　trying　to　get　a　little　moisture。　He　stared　at　the　column　approaching　Fal　Dara　as　if　it　really　were　a　snake；　a　deadly　viper。　The　drums　and　trumpets　sang；　loud　in　his　ears。　The　Amyrlin　Seat；　who　ordered　the　Aes　Sedai。　She's　e　because　of　me。　He　could　think　of　no　other　reason。
　　　　　　　They　knew　things；　had　knowledge　that　could　help　him；　he　was　sure。　And　he　did　not　dare　ask　any　of　them。　He　was　afraid　they　had　e　to　gentle　him。　And　afraid　they　haven't；　too；　he　admitted　reluctantly。　Light；　I　don't　know　which　scares　me　more。
　　　　　　　〃I　didn't　mean　to　channel　the　Power；〃　he　whispered。　〃It　was　an　accident！　Light；　I　don't　want　anything　to　do　with　it。　I　swear　I'll　never　touch　it　again！　I　swear　it！〃
　　　　　　　With　a　start；　he　realized　that　the　Aes　Sedai　party　was　entering　the　city　gates。　The　wind　swirled　up　fiercely；　chilling　his　sweat　like　droplets　of　ice；　making　the　trumpets　sound　like　sly　laughter；　he　thought　he　could　smell　an　opened　grave；　strong　in　the　air。　My　grave；　if　I　keep　standing　here。
　　　　　　　Grabbing　his　shirt；　he　scrambled　down　the　ladder　and　began　to　run。
　
Chapter　2
（Flame　of　Tar　Valon）
The　Wele

　　　　　　　The　halls　of　Fal　Dara　keep；　their　smooth　stone　walls　sparsely　decorated　with　elegantly　simple　tapestries　and　painted　screens；　bustled　with　news　of　the　Amyrlin　Seat's　imminent　arrival。　Servants　in　black…and…gold　darted　about　their　tasks；　running　to　prepare　rooms　or　carry　orders　to　the　kitchens；　moaning　that　they　could　not　have　everything　ready　for　so　great　a　personage　when　they　had　had　no　warning。　Dark…eyed　warriors；　their　heads　shaven　except　for　a　topknot　bound　with　a　leather　cord；　did　not　run；　but　haste　filled　their　steps　and　their　faces　shone　with　an　excitement　normally　reserved　for　battle。　Some　of　the　men　spoke　as　Rand　hurried　past。
　　　　　　　〃Ah；　there　you　are；　Rand　al'Thor。　Peace　favor　your　sword。　On　your　way　to　clean　up？　You'll　want　to　look　your　best　when　you　are　presented　to　the　Amyrlin　Seat。　She'll　want　to　see　you　and　your　two　friends　as　well　as　the　women；　you　can　count　on　it。〃
　　　　　　　He　trotted　toward　the　broad　stairs；　wide　enough　for　twenty　men　abreast；　that　led　up　to　the　men's　apartments。
　　　　　　　〃The　Amyrlin　herself；　e　with　no　more　warning　than　a　pack　peddler。　Must　be　because　of　Moiraine　Sedai　and　you　southerners；　eh？　What　else？〃
　　　　　　　The　wide；　iron…bound　doors　of　the　men's　apartments　stood　open；　and　half　jammed　with　top…knotted　men　buzzing　with　the　Amyrlin's　arrival。
〃Ho；　southlander！　The　Amyrlin's　here。　e　for　you　and　your　friends；　I　suppose。　Peace；　what　honor　for　you！　She　seldom　leaves　Tar　Valon；　and　she's　never　e　to　the　Borderlands　in　my　memory。〃
　　　　　　　He　fended　them　all　off　with　a　few　words。　He　had　to　wash。　Find　a　clean　shirt。　No　time　to　talk。　They　thought　they　understood；　and　let　him　go。　Not　a　one　of　them　knew　a　thing　except　that　he　and　his　friends　traveled　in　pany　with　an　Aes　Sedai；　that　two　of　his　friends　were　women　who　were　going　to　Tar　Valon　to　train　as　Aes　Sedai；　but　their　words　stabbed　at　him　as　if　they　knew　everything。　She's　e　for　me。
　　　　　　　He　dashed　through　the　men's　apartments；　darted　into　the　room　he　shared　with　Mat　and　Perrin　。。。　and　froze；　his　jaw　dropping　in　astonishment。　The　room　was　filled　with　women　wearing　the　black…and…gold；　all　working　purposefully。　It　was　not　a　big　room；　and　its　windows；　a　pair　of　tall；　narrow　arrowslits　looking　down　on　one　of　the　inner　courtyards；　did　nothing　to　make　it　seem　larger。　Three　beds　on　black…and…white　tiled　platforms；　each　with　a　chest　at　the　foot；　three　plain　chairs；　a　washstand　by　the　door；　and　a　tall；　wide　wardrobe　crowded　the　room。　The　eight　women　in　there　seemed　like　fish　in　a　basket。
　　　　　　　The　women　barely　glanced　at　him；　and　went　right　on　clearing　his　clothes…and　Mat's　and　Perrin's…out　of　the　wardrobe　and　replacing　them　with　new。　Anything　found　in　the　pockets　was　put　atop　the　chests；　and　the　old　clothes　were　bundled　up　carelessly；　like　rags。
　　　　　　　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　he　demanded　when　he　caught　his　breath。　〃Those　are　my　clothes！〃　One　of　the　women　sniffed　and　poked　a　finger　through　a　tear　in　the　sleeve　of　his　only　coat；　then　added　it　to　the　pile　on　the　floor。
　　　　　　　Another；　a　black…haired　woman　with　a　big　ring　of　keys　at　her　waist；　set　her　eyes　on　him。　That　was　Elansu；　shatayan　of　the　keep。　He　thought　of　the　sharp…faced　woman　as　a　housekeeper；　though　the　house　she　kept　was　a　fortress　and　scores　of　servants　did　her　bidding。　〃Moiraine　Sedai　said　all　of　your　clothes　are　worn　out；　and　the　Lady　Amalisa　had　new　made　to　give　you。　Just　keep　out　of　our　way；〃　she　added　firmly；　〃and　we　will　be　done　the　quicker。〃　There　were　few　men　the　shatayan　could　not　bully　into　doing　as　she　wished　…　some　said　even　Lord　Agelmar　…　and　she　plainly　did　not　expect　any　trouble　with　one　man　young　enough　to　be　her　son。
　　　　　　　He　swallowed　what　he　had　been　going　to　say；　there　was　no　time　for　arguing。　The　Amyrlin　Seat　could　be　sending　for　him　at　any　minute。　〃Honor　to　the　Lady　Amalisa　for　her　gift；〃　he　managed；　after　the　Shienaran　way；　〃and　honor　to　you；　Elansu　Shatayan。　Please；　convey　my　words　to　the　Lady　Amalisa；　and　tell　her　I　said；　heart　and　soul　to　serve。〃　That　ought　to　satisfy　the　Shienaran　love　of　ceremony　for　both　women。　〃But　now　if　you'll　pardon　me；　I　want　to　change。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　is　well；〃　Elansu　said　fortably。　〃Moiraine　Sedai　said　to　remove　all　the　old。　Every　stitch。　Smallclothes；　too。〃　Several　of　the　women　eyed　him　sideways。　None　of　them　made　a　move　toward　the　door。
　　　　　　　He　bit　his　cheek　to　keep　from　laughing　hysterically。　Many　ways　were　different　in　Shienar　from　what　he　was　used　to；　and　there　were　some　to　which　he　would　never　bee　accustomed　if　he　lived　forever。　He　had　taken　to　bathing　in　the　small　hours　of　the　morning；　when　the　big；　tiled　pools　were　empty　of　people；　after　he　discovered　that　at　any　other　time　a　woman　might　well　climb　into　the　water　with　him。　It　could　be　a　scullion　or　the　Lady　Amalisa；　Lord　Agelmar's　sister　herself　…　the　baths　were　one　place　in　Shienar　where　there　was　no　rank　…　expecting　him　to　scrub　her　back　in　return　for　the　same　favor；　asking　him　why　his　face　was　so　red；　had　he　taken　too　much　sun？　They　had　soon　learned　to　recognize　his　blushes　for　what　they　were；　and　not　a　woman　in　the　keep　but　seemed　fascinated　by　them。
　　　　　　　I　might　be　dead　or　worse　in　another　hour；　and　they're　waiting　to　see　me　blush！　He　cleared　his　throat。　〃If　you'll　wait　outside；　I　will　pass　the　rest　out　to　you。　On　my　honor。〃
　　　　　　　One　of　the　women　gave　a　soft　chortle；　and　even　Elansu's　lips　twitched；　but　the　shatayan　nodded　and　directed　the　other　women　to　gather　up　the　bundles　they　had　made。　She　was　the　last　to　leave；　and　she　paused　in　the　doorway　to　add；　〃The　boots；　too。　Moiraine　Sedai　said　everything。〃
　　　　　　　He　opened　his　mouth；　then　closed　it　again。　His　boots；　at　least；　were　certainly　still　good；　made　by　Alwyn　al'Van；　the　cobbler　back　in　Emond's　Field；　and　well　broken　in　and　fortable。　But　if　giving　up　his　boots　would　make　the　shatayan　leave　him　alone　so　he　could　go；　he　would　give　her　the　boots；　and　anything　else　she　wanted。　He　had　no　time。　〃Yes。　Yes；　of　course。　On　my　honor。〃　He　pushed　on　the　door；　forcing　her　out。
　　　　　　　Alone；　he　dropped　onto　his　bed　to　tug　off　his　boots…they　were　still　good；　a　little　worn；　the　leather　cracked　here　and　there；　but　still　wearable　and　well　broken…in　to　fit　his　feet…then　hastily　stripped　off；　piling　everything　atop　the　boots；　and　washed　at　the　basin　just　as　quickly。　The　water　was　cold；　the　water　was　always　cold　in　the　men's　apartments。
　　　　　　　The　wardrobe　had　three　wide　doors　carved　in　the　simple　Shienaran　manner；　suggesting　more　than　showing　a　series　of　waterfalls　and　rocky　pools。　Pulling　open　the　center　door；　he　stared　for　a　moment　at　what　had　replaced　the　few　garments　he　had　brought　with　him。　A　dozen　high…collared　coats　of　the　finest　wool　and　as　well　cut　as　any　he　had　ever　seen　on　a　merchant's　back　or　a　lord's；　most　embroidered　like　feastday　clothes。　A　dozen！　Three　shirts　for　every　coat；　both　linen　and　silk；　with　wide　sleeves　and　tight　cuffs。　Two　cloaks。　Two；　when　he　had　made　do　with　one　at　a　time　all　his　life。　One　cloak　was　plain；　stout　wool　and　dark　green；　the　other　deep　blue　with　a　stiff　standing　collar　embroidered　in　gold　with　herons。。。　and　high　on　the　left　breast；　where　a　lord　would　wear　his　sign。。。
　　　　　　　His　hand　drifted　to　the　cloak　of　its　own　accord。　As　if　uncertain　what　they　would　feel；　his　fingers　brushed　the　stitching　of　a　serpent　curled　almost　into　a　circle；　but　a　serpent　with　four　legs　and　a　lion's　golden　mane；　scaled　in　crimson　and　gold；　its　feet　each　tipped　with　five　golden　claws。　His　hand　jerked　back　as　if　burned。　Light　help　me！　Was　it　Amalisa　had　this　made；　or　Moiraine？　How　many　saw　it？　How　many　know　what　it　is；　what　it　means？　Even　one　is　too　many。　Burn　me；　she's　trying　to　get　me　killed。　Bloo