rj.thegreathunt-第62部分

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elves。
　　　　　　　〃Fair　takes　the　breath　at　first　sight；〃　said　a　woman's　voice　behind　them。　〃At　tenth　sight；　for　that。　And　at　hundredth。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　turned。　The　woman　was　Aes　Sedai；　Egwene　was　sure　of　it；　though　she　wore　no　shawl。　No　one　else　had　that　ageless　look；　and　she　held　herself　with　an　assurance；　a　confidence　that　seemed　to　confirm　it。　A　glance　at　her　hand　showed　the　golden　ring；　the　serpent　biting　its　own　tail。　The　Aes　Sedai　was　a　little　plump；　with　a　warm　smile；　and　one　of　the　oddest…appearing　women　Egwene　had　ever　seen。　Her　plumpness　could　not　hide　high　cheekbones；　her　eyes　had　a　tilt　to　them　and　were　the　clearest；　palest　green；　and　her　hair　was　almost　the　color　of　fire。　Egwene　barely　stopped　herself　from　goggling　at　that　hair；　those　slightly　slanted　eyes。
　　　　　　　〃Ogier　built；　of　course；〃　the　Aes　Sedai　went　on；　〃and　their　best　work　ever；　some　say。　One　of　the　first　cities　built　after　the　Breaking。　There　weren't　half　a　thousand　people　here　altogether　then　…　no　more　than　twenty　sisters　…　but　they　built　for　what　would　be　needed。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　a　lovely　city；〃　Nynaeve　said。　〃We　are　supposed　to　go　to　the　White　Tower。　We　came　here　for　training；　but　no　one　seems　to　care　if　we　go　or　stay。〃
　　　　　　　〃They　care；〃　the　woman　said；　smiling。　〃I　came　here　to　meet　you；　but　I　was　delayed　speaking　with　the　Amyrlin。　I　am　Sheriam；　the　Mistress　of　Novices。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　not　to　be　a　novice；〃　Nynaeve　said　in　a　firm　voice；　but　a　little　too　quickly。　〃The　Amyrlin　herself　said　I　was　to　be　one　of　the　Accepted。〃
　　　　　　　〃So　I　was　told。〃　Sheriam　sounded　amused。　〃I　have　never　heard　of　it　being　done　so　before；　but　they　say　you　are　。。。　exceptional。　Remember；　though；　even　one　of　the　Accepted　can　be　called　to　my　study。　It　requires　more　breaking　of　the　rules　than　for　a　novice；　but　it　has　been　known　to　happen。〃　She　turned　to　Egwene　as　if　she　had　not　seen　Nynaeve　frown。　〃And　you　are　our　new　novice。　It　is　always　good　to　see　a　novice　e。　We　have　too　few；　these　days。　You　will　make　forty　。。。　Only　forty。　And　no　more　than　eight　or　nine　of　those　will　be　raised　to　the　Accepted。　Though　I　don't　think　you　will　have　to　worry　about　that　too　much；　if　you　work　hard　and　apply　yourself。　The　work　is　hard；　and　even　for　one　with　the　potential　they　tell　me　you　have；　it　will　not　be　made　any　easier。　If　you　cannot　stick　to　it；　no　matter　how　hard　it　is；　or　if　you　will　break　under　the　strain；　better　we　find　it　out　now；　and　let　you　go　on　your　way；　than　wait　until　you　are　a　full　sister　and　others　are　depending　on　you。　An　Aes　Sedai's　life　is　not　easy。　Here；　we　will　prepare　you　for　it；　if　you　have　in　you　what　is　required。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　swallowed。　Break　under　the　strain？　〃I　will　try；　Sheriam　Sedai；〃　she　said　faintly。　And　I　will　not　break。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　looked　at　her　worriedly。　〃Sheriam　。。。〃　She　stopped　and　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Sheriam　Sedai〃　…　she　seemed　to　force　the　honorific　out　…　〃does　it　have　to　be　so　hard　on　her？　Flesh　and　blood　can　only　take　so　much。　I　know　。。。　something　。。。　of　what　novices　must　go　through。　Surely　there's　no　need　to　try　to　break　her　just　to　find　out　how　strong　she　is。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　mean　what　the　Amyrlin　did　to　you　today？〃　Nynaeve's　back　stiffened；　Sheriam　looked　as　though　she　were　trying　to　keep　amusement　from　her　face。　〃I　told　you　I　spoke　with　the　Amyrlin。　Rest　your　worries　for　your　friend。　Novice　training　is　hard；　but　not　that　hard。　That　is　for　the　first　few　weeks　of　being　one　of　the　Accepted。〃　Nynaeve's　mouth　fell　open；　Egwene　thought　the　Wisdom's　eyes　were　going　to　e　right　out　of　her　head。　〃To　catch　the　few　who　might　have　slipped　through　novice　training　when　they　should　not　have。　We　cannot　risk　having　one　of　our　number　…　a　full　Aes　Sedai　…　who　will　break　under　the　stress　of　the　world　outside。〃　The　Aes　Sedai　gathered　them　both　up；　an　arm　around　the　shoulders　of　each。　Nynaeve　hardly　seemed　to　realize　where　she　was　going。　〃e；〃　Sheriam　said；　〃I　will　see　you　settled　in　your　rooms。　The　White　Tower　awaits。〃
　　　　　　　
Chapter　19
（Horn）
Beneath　the　Dagger

　　　　　　　Night　on　the　edge　of　Kinslayer's　Dagger　was　cold；　as　nights　in　the　mountains　are　always　cold。　The　wind　whipped　down　from　the　high　peaks　carrying　the　iciness　of　the　snowcaps。　Rand　shifted　on　the　hard　ground；　tugging　at　his　cloak　and　blanket；　and　only　half　asleep。　His　hand　went　to　his　sword；　lying　beside　him。　One　more　day；　he　thought　drowsily。　Just　one　more；　and　then　we　go。　If　no　one　es　tomorrow；　Ingtar　or　Darkfriends　one；　I'll　take　Selene　to　Cairhien。
　　　　　　　He　had　told　himself　that　before。　Every　day　they　had　been　there　on　the　mountainside；　watching　the　place　where　Hurin　said　the　trail　had　been；　in　that　other　world　…　where　Selene　said　the　Darkfriends　would　surely　appear　in　this　world　…　he　told　himself　it　was　time　to　leave。　And　Selene　talked　of　the　Horn　of　Valere；　and　touched　his　arm；　and　looked　into　his　eyes；　and　before　he　knew　it　he　had　agreed　to　yet　another　day　before　they　went　on。
　　　　　　　He　shrugged　against　the　chill　of　the　wind；　thinking　of　Selene　touching　his　arm　and　looking　into　his　eyes。　If　Egwene　saw　that；　she'd　shear　me　for　a　sheep；　and　Selene；　too。　Egwene　could　already　be　in　Tar　Valon　by　now；　learning　to　be　an　Aes　Sedai。　The　next　time　she　sees　me；　she'll　probably　try　to　gentle　me。
　　　　　　　As　he　shifted　over；　his　hand　slid　past　the　sword　and　touched　the　bundle　holding　Thom　Merrilin's　harp　and　flute。　Unconsciously；　his　fingers　tightened　on　the　gleeman's　cloak。　I　was　happy　then；　I　think；　even　running　for　my　life。　Playing　the　flute　for　my　supper。　I　was　too　ignorant　to　know　what　was　going　on。　There's　no　turning　back。
　　　　　　　Shivering；　he　opened　his　eyes。　The　only　light　came　from　the　waning　moon；　not　far　past　full　and　low　in　the　sky。　A　fire　would　give　them　away　to　those　for　whom　they　watched。　Loial　muttered　in　his　sleep；　a　low　rumble。　One　of　the　horses　stamped　a　hoof。　Hurin　had　the　first　watch；　from　a　stone　outcrop　a　little　way　up　the　mountain；　he　would　be　ing　to　wake　Rand　for　his　turn；　soon。
　　　　　　　Rand　rolled　over　。。。　and　stopped。　In　the　moonlight　he　could　see　the　shape　of　Selene；　bending　over　his　saddlebags；　her　hands　on　the　buckles。　Her　white　dress　gathered　the　faint　light。　〃Do　you　need　something？〃
　　　　　　　She　gave　a　jump；　and　stared　toward　him。　〃You　…　you　startled　me。〃
　　　　　　　He　rolled　to　his　feet；　shedding　the　blanket　and　wrapping　the　cloak　around　himself；　and　went　to　her。　He　was　sure　he　had　left　the　saddlebags　right　by　his　side　when　he　lay　down；　he　always　kept　them　close。　He　took　them　from　her。　All　the　buckles　were　fastened；　even　those　on　the　side　that　held　the　damning　banner。　How　can　my　life　depend　on　keeping　it？　If　anybody　sees　it　and　knows　what　it　is；　I'll　die　for　having　it。　He　peered　at　her　suspiciously。
　　　　　　　Selene　stayed　where　she　was；　looking　up　at　him。　The　moon　glistened　in　her　dark　eyes。　〃It　came　to　me；〃　she　said；　〃that　I've　been　wearing　this　dress　too　long。　I　could　brush　it；　at　least；　if　I　had　something　else　to　wear　while　I　did。　One　of　your　shirts；　perhaps。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　nodded；　feeling　a　sudden　relief。　Her　dress　looked　as　clean　to　him　as　when　he　first　saw　her；　but　he　knew　that　if　a　spot　appeared　on　Egwene's　dress；　nothing　would　do　but　that　she　cleaned　it　immediately。　〃Of　course。〃　He　opened　the　capacious　pocket　into　which　he　had　stuffed　everything　except　the　banner　and　pulled　out　one　of　the　white　silk　shirts。
　　　　　　　〃Thank　you。〃　Her　hands　went　behind　her　back。　To　the　buttons；　he　realized。
　　　　　　　Eyes　wide；　he　spun　away　from　her。
　　　　　　　〃If　you　could　help　me　with　these；　it　would　be　much　easier。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　cleared　his　throat。　〃It　would　not　be　proper。　It　isn't　as　if　we　were　promised；　or　。。。〃　Stop　thinking　about　that！　You　can　never　marry　anyone。　〃It　just　wouldn't　be　proper。〃
　　　　　　　Her　soft　laugh　sent　a　shiver　down　his　back；　as　if　she　had　run　a　finger　along　his　spine。　He　tried　not　to　listen　to　the　rustlings　behind　him。　He　said；　〃Ah　。。。　tomorrow　。。。　tomorrow；　we'll　leave　for　Cairhien。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　what　of　the　Horn　of　Valere？〃
　　　　　　　〃Maybe　we　were　wrong。　Maybe　they　are　not　ing　here　at　all。　Hurin　says　there　are　a　number　of　passes　through　Kinslayer's　Dagger。　If　they　went　only　a　little　further　west；　they　do　not　have　to　e　into　the　mountains　at　all。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　the　trail　we　followed　came　here。　They　will　e　here。　The　Horn　will　e　here。　You　may　turn　around；　now。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　say　that；　but　we　don't　know　。。。〃　He　turned；　and　the　words　died　in　his　mouth。　Her　dress　lay　across　her　arm；　and　she　wore　his　shirt；　hanging　in　baggy　folds　on　her。　It　was　a　long…tailed　shirt；　made　for　his　height；　but　she　was　tall　for　a　woman。　The　bottom　of　it　came　little　more　than　halfway　down　her　thighs。　It　was　not　as　if　he　had　never　seen　a　girl's　legs　before；　girls　in　the　Two　Rivers　always　tied　up　their　skirts　to　go　wading　in　Waterwood　ponds。　But　they　stopped　doing　it　well　before　they　were　old　enough　to　braid　their　hair；　and　this　was　in　the　dark；　besides。　The　moonlight　seemed　to　make　her　skin　glow。
　　　　　　　〃What　is　it　you　don't　know；　Rand？〃
　　　　　　　The　sound　of　her　voice　unfroze　his　joints。　With　a　loud　cough；　he　whirled　to　face　the　other　way。　〃Ah　。。。　I　think　。。。　ah　。。。　I　。。。　ah　。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃Think　of　the　glory；　Rand。〃　Her　hand　touched　his　back；　and　he　almost　shamed　himself　with　a　squeak。　〃Think　of　the　glory　that　will　e　to　the　one　who　finds　the　Horn　of　Valere。　How　proud　I'll　be　to　stand　beside　him　who　holds　the　Horn。　You　have　no　idea　the　heights　we　will　scale　together；　you　and　I。　With　the　Horn　of　Valere　in　your　hand；　you　can　be　a　king。　You　can　be　another　Artur　Hawkwing。　You。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃Lord　Rand！〃　Hurin　panted　into　the　campsite。　〃My　Lord；　they　。。。〃　He　skidded　to　a　halt；　suddenly　making　a　gurgling　sound。　His　eyes　dropped　to　the　ground；　and　he　stood　wringing　his　hands。　〃Forgive　me；　my　Lady。　I　didn't　mean　to　。。。　I　。。。　Forgive　me。〃
　　　　　　　Loial　sat　up；　his　blanket　and　cloak　falling　away。　〃What's　happening？　Is　it　my　turn　to　watch　already？〃　He　looked　toward　Rand　and　Selene；　and　even　in　the　moonlight　the　widening　of　his　eyes　was　plain。
　　　　　　　Rand　heard　Selene　sigh　behind　him。　He　stepped　away　from　her；　still　not　looking　at　her。　Her　legs　are　so　white；　so　smooth。　〃What　is　it；　Hurin？〃　He　made　his　voice　more　moderate；　was　he　angry　with　Hurin；　himself；　or　Selene？　No　reason　to　be　angry　with　her。　〃Did　you　see　something；　Hurin？〃
　　　　　　　The　sniffer　spoke　without　raising　his　eyes。　〃A　fire；　my　Lord；　down　in　the　hills。　I　didn't　see　i