rj.thegreathunt-第70部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


p　of　a　girl　just　raised　to　sisterhood　…　was　that　not　what　you　said？　…　who　needs　a　Warder　hardened　in　battle　and　wise　in　the　ways　of　the　world；　a　slip　of　a　girl　who　may　need　someone　who　will　throw　her　into　a　pond。　You　have　much　to　offer；　Lan；　and　to　see　it　wasted　in　an　unmarked　grave；　or　left　to　the　ravens；　when　it　could　go　to　a　woman　who　needs　it　would　be　worse　than　the　sin　of　which　the　Whitecloaks　prate。　Yes；　I　think　she　will　have　need　of　you。〃
　　　　　　　Lan's　eyes　widened　slightly；　for　him　it　was　the　same　as　another　man　gasping　in　shocked　surmise。　She　had　seldom　seen　him　so　off　balance。　He　opened　his　mouth　twice　before　he　spoke。　〃And　who　do　you　have　in　mind　for　this　…　〃
　　　　　　　She　cut　him　off。　〃Are　you　sure　the　bond　does　not　chafe；　Lan　Gaidin？　Do　you　realize　for　the　first　time；　only　now；　the　strength　of　that　bond；　the　depth　of　it？　You　could　end　with　some　budding　White；　all　logic　and　no　heart；　or　with　a　young　Brown　who　sees　you　as　nothing　more　than　a　pair　of　hands　to　carry　her　books　and　sketches。　I　can　hand　you　where　I　will；　like　a　parcel　…　or　a　lapdog　…　and　you　can　do　no　more　than　go。　Are　you　sure　it　does　not　chafe？〃
　　　　　　　〃Is　that　what　this　has　been　for？〃　he　grated。　His　eyes　burned　like　blue　fire；　and　his　mouth　twisted。　Anger；　for　the　first　time　ever　that　she　had　seen；　open　anger　etched　his　face。　〃Has　all　this　talk　been　a　test　…　a　test！　…　to　see　if　you　could　make　my　bond　rub？　After　all　this　time？　From　the　day　I　pledged　to　you；　I　have　ridden　where　you　said　ride；　even　when　I　thought　it　foolish；　even　when　I　had　reason　to　ride　another　way。　Never　did　you　need　my　bond　to　force　me。　On　your　word　I　have　watched　you　walk　into　danger　and　kept　my　hands　at　my　sides　when　I　wanted　nothing　more　than　to　out　sword　and　carve　a　path　to　safety　for　you。　After　this；　you　test　me？〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　a　test；　Lan。　I　spoke　plainly；　not　twisting；　and　I　have　done　as　I　said。　But　at　Fal　Dara；　I　began　to　wonder　if　you　were　still　wholly　with　me。〃　A　wariness　entered　his　eyes。　Lan；　forgive　me。　I　would　not　have　cracked　the　walls　you　hold　so　hard；　but　I　must　know。　〃Why　did　you　do　as　you　did　with　Rand？〃　He　blinked；　it　was　obviously　not　what　he　expected。　She　knew　what　he　had　thought　was　ing；　and　she　would　not　let　up　now　that　he　was　off　balance。　〃You　brought　him　to　the　Amyrlin　speaking　and　acting　as　a　Border　lord　and　a　soldier　born。　It　fit；　in　a　way；　with　what　I　planned　for　him；　but　you　and　I　never　spoke　of　teaching　him　any　of　that。　Why；　Lan？〃
　　　　　　　〃It　seemed　。。。　right。　A　young　wolfhound　must　meet　his　first　wolf　someday；　but　if　the　wolf　sees　him　as　a　puppy；　if　he　acts　the　puppy；　the　wolf　will　surely　kill　him。　The　wolfhound　must　be　a　wolfhound　in　the　wolf's　eyes　even　more　than　in　his　own；　if　he　is　to　survive。〃
　　　　　　　〃Is　that　how　you　see　Aes　Sedai？　The　Amyrlin？　Me？　Wolves　out　to　pull　down　your　young　wolfhound？〃　Lan　shook　his　head。　〃You　know　what　he　is；　Lan。　You　know　what　he　must　bee。　Must。　What　I　have　worked　for　since　the　day　you　and　I　met；　and　before。　Do　you　now　doubt　what　I　do？〃
　　　　　　　〃No。　No；　but　。。。〃　He　was　recovering　himself；　building　his　walls　again。　But　they　were　not　rebuilt　yet。　〃How　many　times　have　you　said　that　ta'veren　pull　those　around　them　like　twigs　in　a　whirlpool？　Perhaps　I　was　pulled；　too。　I　only　know　that　it　felt　right。　Those　farm　folk　needed　someone　on　their　side。　Rand　did；　at　least。　Moiraine；　I　believe　in　what　you　do；　even　as　now；　when　I　know　not　half　of　it；　believe　as　I　believe　in　you。　I　have　not　asked　to　be　released　from　my　bond；　nor　will　I。　Whatever　your　plans　for　dying　and　seeing　me　safely　…　disposed　of　…　I　will　take　great　pleasure　in　keeping　you　alive　and　seeing　those　plans；　at　least；　go　for　nothing。〃
　　　　　　　〃Ta'veren；〃　Moiraine　sighed。　〃Perhaps　it　was　that。　Rather　than　guiding　a　chip　floating　down　a　stream；　I　am　trying　to　guide　a　log　through　rapids。　Every　time　I　push　at　it；　it　pushes　at　me；　and　the　log　grows　larger　the　farther　we　go。　Yet　I　must　see　it　through　to　the　end。〃　She　gave　a　little　laugh。　〃I　will　not　be　unhappy；　my　old　friend；　if　you　manage　to　put　those　plans　awry。　Now；　please　leave　me。　I　need　to　be　alone　to　think。〃　He　hesitated　only　a　moment　before　turning　for　the　door。　At　the　last　moment；　though；　she　could　not　let　him　go　without　one　more　question。　〃Do　you　ever　dream　of　something　different；　Lan？〃
　　　　　　　〃All　men　dream。　But　I　know　dreams　for　dreams。　This〃　…　he　touched　his　sword　hilt　…　〃is　reality。〃　The　walls　were　back；　as　high　and　hard　as　ever。
　　　　　　　For　a　time　after　he　left；　Moiraine　leaned　back　in　her　chair；　looking　into　the　fire。　She　thought　of　Nynaeve　and　cracks　in　a　wall。　Without　trying；　without　thinking　what　she　was　doing；　that　young　woman　had　put　cracks　in　Lan's　walls　and　seeded　the　cracks　with　creepers。　Lan　thought　he　was　secure；　imprisoned　in　his　fortress　by　fate　and　his　own　wishes；　but　slowly；　patiently；　the　creepers　were　tearing　down　the　walls　to　bare　the　man　within。　Already　he　was　sharing　some　of　Nynaeve's　loyalties；　in　the　beginning　he　had　been　indifferent　to　the　Emond's　Field　folk；　except　as　people　in　whom　Moiraine　had　some　interest。　Nynaeve　had　changed　that　as　she　had　changed　Lan。
　　　　　　　To　her　surprise；　Moiraine　felt　a　flash　of　jealousy。　She　had　never　felt　that　before；　certainly　not　for　any　of　the　women　who　had　thrown　their　hearts　at　his　feet；　or　those　who　had　shared　his　bed。　Indeed；　she　had　never　thought　of　him　as　an　object　of　jealousy；　had　never　thought　so　of　any　man。　She　was　married　to　her　battle；　as　he　was　married　to　his。　But　they　had　been　panions　in　those　battles　for　so　long。　He　had　ridden　a　horse　to　death；　then　run　himself　nearly　to　death；　carrying　her　in　his　arms　at　the　last；　to　Anaiya　for　Healing。　She　had　tended　his　wounds　more　than　once；　keeping　with　her　arts　a　life　he　had　been　ready　to　throw　away　to　save　hers。　He　had　always　said　he　was　wedded　with　death。　Now　a　new　bride　had　captured　his　eyes；　though　he　was　blind　to　it。　He　thought　he　still　stood　strong　behind　his　walls；　but　Nynaeve　had　laced　bridal　flowers　in　his　hair。　Would　he　still　find　himself　able　to　court　death　so　blithely？　Moiraine　wondered　when　he　would　ask　her　to　release　him　from　his　bond。　And　what　she　would　do　when　he　did。
　　　　　　　With　a　grimace；　she　got　to　her　feet。　There　were　more　important　matters。　Far　more　important。　Her　eyes　ran　over　the　open　books　and　papers　crowding　the　room。　So　many　hints；　but　no　answers。
　　　　　　　Vandene　came　in　with　a　teapot　and　cups　on　a　tray。　She　was　slender　and　graceful；　with　a　straight　back；　and　the　hair　gathered　neatly　at　the　nape　of　her　neck　was　almost　white。　The　agelessness　of　her　smooth　face　was　that　of　long；　long　years。　〃I　would　have　had　Jaem　bring　this；　and　not　disturb　you　myself；　but　he's　out　in　the　barn　practicing　with　his　sword。〃　She　made　a　clucking　sound　as　she　pushed　a　battered　manuscript　aside　to　set　the　tray　on　the　table。　〃Lan　being　here　has　him　remembering　he's　more　than　a　gardener　and　handyman。　Gaidin　are　so　stiff…necked。　I　thought　Lan　would　still　be　here；　that's　why　I　brought　an　extra　cup。　Have　you　found　what　you　were　seeking？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　not　even　sure　what　it　is　I　am　seeking。〃　Moiraine　frowned；　studying　the　other　woman。　Vandene　was　of　the　Green　Ajah；　not　Brown　like　her　sister；　yet　the　two　of　them　had　studied　so　long　together　that　she　knew　as　much　of　history　as　Adeleas。
　　　　　　　〃Whatever　it　is；　you　don't　even　seem　to　know　where　to　look。〃　Vandene　shifted　some　of　the　books　and　manuscripts　on　the　table；　shaking　her　head。　〃So　many　subjects。　The　Trolloc　Wars。　The　Watchers　Over　the　Waves。　The　legend　of　the　Return。　Two　treatises　on　the　Horn　of　Valere。　Three　on　dark　prophecy；　and　…　Light；　here's　Santhra's　book　on　the　Forsaken。　Nasty；　that。　As　nasty　as　this　on　Shadar　Logoth。　And　the　Prophecies　of　the　Dragon；　in　three　translations　and　the　original。　Moiraine；　whatever　are　you　after？　The　Prophecies；　I　can　understand　…　we　hear　some　news　here；　remote　as　we　are。　We　hear　some　of　what's　happening　in　Illian。　There's　even　a　rumor　in　the　village　that　someone　has　already　found　the　Horn。〃　She　gestured　with　a　manuscript　on　the　Horn；　and　coughed　in　the　dust　that　rose　from　it。　〃I　discount　that；　of　course。　There　would　be　rumors。　But　what　…？　No。　You　said　you　wanted　privacy；　and　I'll　give　it　to　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃Stop　a　moment；〃　Moiraine　said；　halting　the　other　Aes　Sedai　short　of　the　door。　〃Perhaps　you　can　answer　some　questions　for　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　try。〃　Vandene　smiled　suddenly。　〃Adeleas　claims　I　should　have　chosen　Brown。　Ask。〃　She　poured　two　cups　of　tea　and　handed　one　to　Moiraine；　then　took　a　chair　by　the　fire。
　　　　　　　Steam　curled　over　the　cups　while　Moiraine　chose　her　questions　carefully。　To　find　the　answers；　and　not　reveal　too　much。　〃The　Horn　of　Valere　is　not　mentioned　in　the　Prophecies；　but　is　it　linked　to　the　Dragon　anywhere？〃
　　　　　　　〃No。　Except　for　the　fact　that　the　Horn　must　be　found　before　Tarmon　Gai'don　and　that　the　Dragon　Reborn　is　supposed　to　fight　the　Last　Battle；　there　is　no　link　between　them　at　all。〃　The　white…haired　woman　sipped　her　tea　and　waited。
　　　　　　　〃Does　anything　link　the　Dragon　with　Toman　Head？〃
　　　　　　　Vandene　hesitated。　〃Yes；　and　no。　This　is　a　bone　between　Adeleas　and　me。〃　Her　voice　took　on　a　lecturing　tone；　and　for　a　time　she　did　sound　like　a　Brown。　〃There　is　a　verse　in　the　original　that　translates　literally　as　'Five　ride　forth；　and　four　return。　Above　the　watchers　shall　he　proclaim　himself；　bannered　cross　the　sky　in　fire　。。。'　Well；　it　goes　on。　The　point　is；　the　word　ma'vron。　I　say　it　should　be　translated　not　simply　as　'watchers；'　which　is　a'vron。　Ma'vron　has　more　importance　to　it。　I　say　it　means　the　Watchers　Over　the　Waves；　though　they　call　themselves　Do　Miere　A'vron；　of　course；　not　Ma'vron。　Adeleas　tells　me　I　am　quibbling。　But　I　believe　it　means　the　Dragon　Reborn　will　appear　somewhere　above　Toman　Head；　in　Arad　Doman；　or　Saldaea。　Adeleas　may　think　I'm　foolish；　but　I　listen　to　every　scrap　I　hear　ing　from　Saldaea　these　days。　Mazrim　Taim　can　channel；　so　I　hear；　and　our　sisters　haven't　managed　to　corner　him　yet。　If　the　Dragon　is　Reborn；　and　the　Horn　of　Valere　found；　then　the　Last　Battle　is　ing　soon。　We　may　never　finish　our　history。〃　She　gave　a　shiver；　then　abruptly　laughed。　〃Odd　thing　to　worry　about。　I　suppose　I　am　being　more　a　Brown。　Horrible　thing　to　contemplate。　Ask　your　next　question。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　think　you　need　worry　about　Taim；〃　Moiraine　said　absently。　It　was　a　link　with　Toman　Head；　however　small　and