rj.acrownofswords-第104部分

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；　it　looked　down　twenty　feet　or　more　to　the　stone　paving　of　the　courtyard。　A　dispirited　column　of　bareheaded；　disheveled　men；　some　with　blood…stained　bandages；　shambled　across　the　courtyard　under　the　watchful　gaze　of　Taraboners　carrying　spears。　Several　Seanchan　stood　atop　a　nearby　tower；　peering　into　the　distance　between　the　crenellations。　One　wore　a　helmet　decorated　with　three　slender　plumes。　A　woman　appeared　in　a　window　across　the　court；　the　lightning…embroidered　red　panel　plain　on　her　breast；　frowning　down　at　the　Whitecloak　prisoners。　Those　stumbling　men　looked　stunned；　unable　to　believe　what　had　happened。
　　　What　were　they　to　do？　A　decision　Morgase　dreaded。　It　seemed　that　she　had　not　made　so　much　as　a　decision　on　fruit　for　breakfast　in　months　without　it　leading　to　disaster。　A　choice；　Suroth　had　said。　Aid　these　Seanchan　in　taking　Andor；　or。。。　One　last　service　she　could　do　for　Andor。　The　tail　end　of　the　column　appeared；　followed　by　more　Taraboners；　who　were　joined　by　their　countrymen　they　passed。　A　twenty…foot　fall；　and　Suroth　lost　her　lever。　Maybe　it　was　the　coward's　way　out；　but　she　had　already　proved　herself　that。　Still；　the　Queen　of　Andor　should　not　die　so。
　　　Under　her　breath；　she　spoke　the　irrevocable　words　that　had　been　used　only　twice　before　in　the　thousand…year　history　of　Andor。　〃Under　the　Light；　I　relinquish　the　High　Seat　of　House　Trakand　to　Elayne　Trakand。　Under　the　Light；　I　renounce　the　Rose　Crown　and　abdicate　the　Lion　Throne　to　Elayne；　High　Seat　of　House　Trakand。　Under　the　Light；　I　submit　myself　to　the　will　of　Elayne　of　Andor；　her　obedient　subject。〃　None　of　that　made　Elayne　Queen；　true；　but　it　cleared　the　way。
　　　〃What　are　you　smiling　at？〃　Lini　asked。
　　　Morgase　turned　slowly。　〃I　was　thinking　of　Elayne。〃　She　did　not　think　her　old　nurse　had　been　close　enough　to　hear　what　no　one　really　needed　to。
　　　Lini's　eyes　widened；　though；　and　her　breath　caught。　〃You　e　away　from　there　now！〃　she　snapped；　and　suiting　actions　to　words；　seized　her　arm　and　physically　pulled　her　from　the　window。
　　　〃Lini；　you　forget　yourself！　You　stopped　being　my　nurse　a　long　…！〃　Morgase　drew　a　deep　breath　and　softened　her　tone。　Meeting　those　frightened　eyes　was　not　easy；　nothing　frightened　Lini。　〃What　I　do　is　for　the　best；　believe　me；〃　she　told　her　gently。　〃There's　no　other　way　…　〃
　　　〃No　other　way？〃　Breane　broke　in　angrily；　gripping　her　skirts　till　her　hands　shook。　Clearly　she　would　rather　have　had　them　wrapped　around　Morgase's　throat。　〃What　fool　nonsense　are　you　spouting　now？　What　if　these　Seanchan　think　we　killed　you？〃　Morgase　pressed　her　lips；　had　she　bee　so　transparent？
　　　〃Shut　up；　woman！〃　Lini　never　got　angry；　either；　or　raised　her　voice；　but　she　did　both　now；　her　withered　cheeks　red。　She　raised　a　bony　hand。　〃You　hold　your　mouth；　or　I'll　slap　you　sillier　than　you　are！〃
　　　〃Slap　her　if　you　want　to　slap　someone！〃　Breane　shouted　back　so　fiercely　that　spittle　flew。　〃Queen　Morgase！　She　will　send　you　and　me　and　my　Lamgwin　to　the　gallows；　and　her　precious　Tallanvor　too；　because　she　lacks　the　belly　of　a　mouse！〃
　　　The　door　opened　to　admit　Tallanvor　and　put　an　abrupt　end　to　it。　No　one　was　about　to　shout　in　front　of　him。　Lini　pretended　to　examine　Morgase's　sleeve　as　though　it　might　need　mending　as　Master　Gill　and　Lamgwin　followed　Tallanvor　in。　Breane　put　on　a　bright　smile　and　smoothed　her　skirts。　The　men　noticed　nothing；　of　course。
　　　Morgase　noticed　a　great　deal。　For　one　thing；　Tallanvor　had　a　sword　belted　on；　and　so　did　Master　Gill；　and　even　Lamgwin；　though　his　was　a　short…sword。　She　had　always　had　the　feeling　he　was　more　fortable　with　his　fists　than　any　other　weapons。　Before　she　could　ask　how；　the　skinny　little　man　who　brought　up　the　rear　closed　the　door　carefully　behind　him。
　　　〃Majesty；〃　Sebban　Balwer　said；　〃forgive　the　intrusion。〃　Even　his　bow　and　his　smile　seemed　dry　and　precise；　but　as　his　eyes　flicked　from　her　to　the　other　women；　Morgase　decided　that　whether　the　other　men　noticed　the　atmosphere　in　the　room　or　not；　Pedron　Niall's　onetime　secretary　did。
　　　〃I　am　surprised　to　see　you；　Master　Balwer；〃　she　said。　〃I　heard　there　was　some　unpleasantness　with　Eamon　Valda。〃　What　she　had　heard　was　that　Valda　had　said　if　he　laid　eyes　on　Balwer；　he　would　kick　him　over　one　of　the　Fortress　walls。　Balwer's　smile　tightened；　he　knew　what　Valda　had　said。
　　　〃He　has　a　plan　to　take　us　all　out　of　here；〃　Tallanvor　broke　in。　〃Today。　Now。〃　He　gave　her　a　look　not　that　of　subject　to　queen。　〃We　are　accepting　his　offer。〃
　　　〃How？〃　she　said　slowly；　forcing　her　legs　to　remain　straight。　What　help　could　this　prissy　little　stick　of　a　man　offer？　Escape。　She　wanted　very　much　to　sit　down；　but　she　was　not　going　to；　not　with　Tallanvor　looking　at　her　in　that　fashion。　Of　course；　she　was　not　his　Queen；　now；　but　he　did　not　know　that。　Another　question　occurred。　〃Why？　Master　Balwer；　I'll　not　shun　any　true　offer　of　help；　but　why　would　you　risk　yourself？　These　Seanchan　will　make　you　regret　it；　should　they　find　out。〃
　　　〃I　laid　my　plans　before　they　came；〃　he　said　carefully。　〃It　seemed。。。　imprudent。。。　to　leave　the　Queen　of　Andor　in　Valda's　hands。　Consider　it　my　way　of　repaying　him。　I　know　I　am　not　much　to　look　at；　Majesty。。。　〃　He　hid　a　self…deprecating　cough　behind　his　hand。　〃。。。　but　the　plan　will　work。　These　Seanchan　actually　make　it　easier；　I　would　not　have　been　ready　for　days　yet　without　them。　For　a　newly　conquered　city；　they　allow　remarkable　freedom　to　anyone　willing　to　say　their　Oath。　Not　an　hour　after　sunrise；　I　obtained　a　pass　allowing　myself　and　up　to　ten　more　who　have　taken　the　Oath　to　depart　Amador。　They　believe　I　intend　to　buy　wine；　and　wagons　to　carry　it；　in　the　east。〃
　　　〃It　must　be　a　trap。〃　The　words　tasted　bitter。　Better　the　window　than　falling　into　some　snare。　〃They　won't　allow　you　to　carry　word　of　them　ahead　of　their　army。〃
　　　Balwer's　head　tilted　to　one　side；　and　he　began　dry…washing　his　hands；　then　stopped　abruptly。　〃In　truth；　Majesty；　I　considered　that。　The　officer　who　gave　me　the　pass　said　it　did　not　matter。　His　exact　words：　'Tell　who　you　will　what　you　have　seen；　and　let　them　know　they　cannot　stand　against　us。　Your　lands　will　know　soon　enough　anyway。'　I　have　seen　several　merchants　take　the　Oath　this　morning　and　depart　with　their　wagons。〃
　　　Tallanvor　moved　close　to　her。　Too　close。　She　could　almost　feel　his　breath。　She　could　feel　his　eyes。　〃We　are　accepting　his　offer；〃　he　said　for　her　ears　alone。　〃If　I　must　bind　and　gag　you；　I　think　he　can　find　a　way　even　so。　He　seems　a　very　resourceful　little　fellow。〃
　　　She　met　him　stare　for　stare。　The　window　or。。。　a　chance。　If　Tallanvor　had　only　held　his　tongue　it　would　have　been　much　easier　to　say；　〃I　accept　with　gratitude；　Master　Balwer；〃　but　she　said　it。　She　stepped　away　as　if　to　see　Balwer　without　having　to　crane　past　Tallanvor。　It　was　always　disturbing　being　so　near　to　him。　He　was　too　young。　〃What　is　to　do　first？　I　doubt　those　guards　at　the　door　will　accept　your　pass　for　us。〃
　　　Balwer　bowed　his　head　as　if　acknowledging　her　foresight。　〃I　fear　they　must　meet　with　accidents；　Majesty。〃　Tallanvor　eased　his　dagger　in　its　scabbard；　and　Lamgwin　flexed　his　hands　like　the　lopar　flexing　its　claws。
　　　She　did　not　believe　it　could　be　so　easy；　even　after　they　had　packed　up　what　they　could　carry　and　the　two　Taraboners　had　been　stuffed　beneath　her　bed。　At　the　main　gates；　holding　her　linen　dust…cloak　close　awkwardly　because　of　the　bundle　on　her　back；　she　bowed；　hands　on　her　knees　the　way　Balwer　had　shown　her；　while　he　told　the　guards　that　they　had　all　sworn　to　obey；　await　and　serve。　She　thought　of　how　to　make　sure　she　was　not　taken　alive。　It　was　not　until　they　were　actually　riding　out　of　Amador；　past　the　last　guards；　on　the　horses　Balwer　had　had　waiting；　that　she　began　to　believe。　Of　course；　Balwer　probably　expected　some　fine　reward　for　rescuing　the　Queen　of　Andor。　She　had　not　told　anyone　that　that　was　done　with　beyond　going　back；　she　knew　she　had　spoken　the　words；　and　no　one　else　needed　to　know。　Regretting　them　was　useless。　Now　she　would　see　what　sort　of　life　she　could　find　without　a　throne。　A　life　far　from　a　man　who　was　much　too　young　and　much　too　disturbing。
　　　〃Why　is　your　smile　so　sad？〃　Lini　asked；　reining　her　slab…sided　brown　mare　closer。　The　animal　looked　moth…eaten。　Morgase's　bay　was　no　better；　none　of　the　horses　were。　The　Seanchan　might　have　been　willing　to　let　Balwer　go　with　his　pass；　but　not　with　decent　mounts。
　　　〃There　is　a　long　road　ahead；　yet；〃　Morgase　told　her；　and　thumped　her　mare　into　some　semblance　of　a　trot　after　Tallanvor。
　　　
　　　
Chapter　27　
（Wolf）　
To　Be　Alone　
　　　
　　　Slipping　the　haft　of　his　axe　through　the　loop　on　his　belt　opposite　his　quiver；　Perrin　took　his　unstrung　longbow　from　the　corner；　slung　his　saddlebags　over　his　shoulder　and　left　the　rooms　he　had　shared　with　Faile　without　a　backward　look。　They　had　been　happy　there　…　most　of　the　time。　He　did　not　think　he　would　ever　be　back。　Sometimes　he　wondered　whether　being　happy　somewhere　with　Faile　meant　he　would　never　return　there。　He　hoped　not。
　　　The　servants　he　saw　in　the　palace　corridors　wore　unrelieved　black　livery；　perhaps　Rand　had　ordered　it；　and　perhaps　the　servants　themselves　had　simply　adopted　it。　They　had　been　uneasy　without　livery；　as　though　they　did　not　know　where　they　belonged；　and　black　seemed　safe　as　Rand's　color　because　of　the　Asha'man。　Those　who　saw　Perrin　scampered　away　as　fast　as　they　could；　not　waiting　for　any　bows　or　curtsies。　Fear　scent　drifted　behind　them。
　　　For　once　his　yellow　eyes　had　nothing　to　do　with　anyone　being　afraid。　It　might　not　be　safe　to　loiter　near　a　man　at　whom　the　Dragon　Reborn　had　unleashed　his　rage　so　publicly　this　very　morning。　Perrin　eased　the　shoulder　under　his　saddlebags。　A　long　while　had　passed　since　anyone　had　been　able　to　pick　him　up　and　throw　him。　Of　course；　no　one　had　ever　used　the　Power　to　try；　before。　One　moment　in　particular　stuck　with　him。
　　　He　pushed　himself　up　holding　his　shoulder；　sliding　his　back　up　the　square　column　that　had　stopped　his　flight。　He　thought　a　few　ribs　might　have　cracked。　Around　the　Grand　Hall　of　the　Sun；　a　scattering　of　nobles　who　had　e　to　appeal　one　thing　or　another　to　Rand　tried　to　look　anywhere　else；　tried　to　pretend　they　were　anywhere　else。　Only　Dobraine　watched；　shaking　his　gray　head；