rj.acrownofswords-第128部分

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ed　him　away　even　more　impatiently。　〃As　it　please　you；　Rand　al'Thor；〃　she　said。
　　　〃And　of　course；〃　Rand　added；　as　though　an　afterthought；　〃I　must　have　Merana；　and　Rafela。〃　He　was　not　certain　why　he　chose　the　second　name　…　perhaps　because　the　plump　Tairen　sister　was　the　only　one　not　Green　except　Merana　…　but　to　his　surprise；　Merana　smiled　in　approval。　For　that　matter；　Bera　nodded；　and　so　did　Faeldrin；　and　Alanna。
　　　Harine　did　not　approve。　Her　mouth　tightened　before　she　could　control　it。　〃As　it　pleases　you；〃　she　said；　not　quite　so　pleasantly　as　before。
　　　Once　he　was　inside　the　stern　cabin；　where　everything　except　a　few　brass…bound　chests　seemed　built　into　the　walls；　Rand　was　not　so　sure　the　woman　had　not　gained　whatever　she　wanted　just　bringing　him　there。　For　one　thing；　he　was　forced　to　stand　hunched　over；　even　between　the　roof　beams；　or　whatever　they　were　called　on　a　ship。　He　had　read　several　books　about　ships；　but　none　mentioned　that。　The　chair　he　was　offered　at　the　foot　of　the　narrow　table　would　not　pull　out；　being　fastened　to　the　deck；　and　once　Min　showed　him　how　to　unlatch　the　chair　arm　and　swing　it　out　so　he　could　sit；　his　knees　hit　the　bottom　of　the　table。　There　were　only　eight　chairs。　Harine　sat　at　the　far　end；　her　back　to　the　stern's　red…shuttered　windows；　with　her　Windfinder　to　her　left　and　the　Sailmistress　to　her　right　and　Taval　below　her。　Merana　and　Rafela　took　the　chairs　below　Shalon；　while　Min　sat　to　Rand's　left。　Dashiva；　with　no　chair；　took　a　place　beside　the　door；　standing　upright　quite　easily；　though　the　roof　beams　almost　brushed　his　head；　too。　A　young　woman　in　a　bright　blue　blouse；　with　one　thin　earring　in　each　ear；　brought　thick　cups　of　tea；　brewed　black　and　bitter。
　　　〃Let's　be　done　with　this；〃　Rand　said　testily　as　soon　as　the　woman　left　with　her　tray。　He　left　his　cup　on　the　table　after　one　sip。　He　could　not　stretch　out　his　legs。　He　hated　being　confined。　Thoughts　of　being　doubled　inside　the　chest　flashed　in　his　head；　and　it　was　all　he　could　do　to　rein　his　temper。　〃The　Stone　of　Tear　has　fallen；　the　Aiel　have　e　over　the　Dragonwall；　all　the　parts　of　your　Jendai　Prophecy　have　e　to　pass。　I　am　the　Coramoor。〃
　　　Harine　smiled　across　her　cup；　a　cool　smile　with　no　amusement　in　it。　〃That　may　be　so；　as　it　pleases　the　Light；　but　…　〃
　　　〃It　is　so；〃　Rand　snapped　despite　a　warning　glance　from　Merana。　She　went　so　far　to　nudge　his　leg　with　her　foot。　He　ignored　that；　too。　The　cabin　walls　seemed　closer；　somehow。　〃What　is　it　that　you　don't　believe；　Wavemistress？　That　Aes　Sedai　serve　me？　Rafela；　Merana。〃　He　gestured　sharply。
　　　All　he　wanted　was　for　them　to　e　to　him　and　be　seen　to　e；　but　they　set　down　their　cups　and　rose　gracefully；　glided　to　either　side　of　him　…　and　knelt。　Each　took　one　of　his　hands　in　both　of　hers　and　pressed　her　lips　to　the　back　of　it；　right　on　the　shining　golden…maned　head　of　the　Dragon　that　wound　around　his　forearm。　He　just　managed　to　conceal　his　shock；　not　taking　his　eyes　from　Harine。　Her　face　went　a　little　gray。
　　　〃Aes　Sedai　serve　me；　and　so　will　the　Sea　Folk。〃　He　motioned　the　sisters　back　to　their　seats。　Oddly；　they　looked　a　touch　surprised。　〃That　is　what　the　Jendai　Prophecy　says。　The　Sea　Folk　will　serve　the　Coramoor。　I　am　the　Coramoor。〃
　　　〃Yes；　but　there　is　the　matter　of　the　Bargain。〃　That　word　was　plainly　capitalized　in　Harine's　tone。　〃The　Jendai　Prophecy　says　you　will　bring　us　to　glory；　and　all　the　seas　of　the　world　will　be　ours。　As　we　give　to　you；　you　must　give　to　us。　If　I　do　not　make　the　Bargain　well；　Nesta　will　hang　me　naked　in　the　rigging　by　my　ankles　and　call　the　First　Twelve　of　Clan　Shodein　to　name　a　new　Wavemistress。〃　A　look　of　utter　horror　stole　across　her　face　as　those　words　came　out　of　her　mouth；　and　her　black　eyes　went　wider　and　wider　by　the　word　with　disbelief。　Her　Windfinder　goggled　at　her；　and　Derah　and　Taval　tried　so　hard　not　to；　their　eyes　fastened　to　the　table；　that　it　seemed　their　faces　might　break。
　　　And　suddenly；　Rand　understood。　Ta'veren。　He　had　seen　the　effects；　the　sudden　moments　when　the　least　likely　thing　happened　because　he　was　near；　but　he　had　never　known　what　was　going　on　before　until　it　was　finished。　Easing　his　legs　as　best　he　could；　he　leaned　his　arms　on　the　table。　〃The　Atha'an　Miere　will　serve　me；　Harine。　That　is　given。〃
　　　〃Yes；　we　will　serve　you；　but　…　〃　Harine　half…reared　out　her　chair；　spilling　her　tea。　〃What　are　you　doing　to　me；　Aes　Sedai？〃　she　cried；　trembling。　〃This　is　not　fair　bargaining！〃
　　　〃We　do　nothing；〃　Merana　said　calmly。　She　actually　managed　to　drink　a　swallow　of　that　tea　without　wincing。
　　　〃You　are　in　the　presence　of　the　Dragon　Reborn；〃　Rafela　added。　〃The　Coramoor　your　prophecy　calls　you　to　serve；　as　I　believe。〃　She　laid　a　finger　to　one　round　cheek。　〃You　said　you　speak　for　the　Mistress　of　the　Ships。　Does　that　mean　your　word　is　binding　on　the　Atha'an　Miere？〃
　　　〃Yes；〃　Harine　whispered　hoarsely；　falling　back　in　her　seat。　〃What　I　say　binds　every　ship；　and　all　to　the　Mistress　of　the　Ships　herself。〃　It　was　impossible　for　one　of　the　Sea　Folk　to　go　white　in　the　face；　yet　staring　at　Rand；　she　came　as　near　as　she　could。
　　　He　smiled　at　Min；　to　share　the　moment。　At　last　a　people　would　e　to　him　without　fighting　every　step　of　the　way；　or　splitting　apart　like　the　Aiel。　Maybe　Min　thought　he　wanted　her　help　to　clinch　matters；　or　maybe　it　was　ta'veren。　She　leaned　toward　the　Wavemistress。　〃You　will　be　punished　for　what　happens　here　today；　Harine；　but　not　so　much　as　you　fear；　I　think。　At　least；　one　day　you　will　be　the　Mistress　of　the　Ships。〃
　　　Harine　frowned　at　her；　then　glanced　to　her　Windfinder。
　　　〃She　is　not　Aes　Sedai；〃　Shalon　said；　and　Harine　seemed　caught　between　relief　and　disappointment。　Until　Rafela　spoke。
　　　〃Several　years　ago；　I　heard　reports　of　a　girl　with　a　remarkable　ability　to　see　things。　Are　you　she；　Min？〃
　　　Min　grimaced　into　her　cup；　then　nodded　reluctantly；　she　always　said　that　the　more　people　knew　what　she　could　do；　the　less　good　came　of　it。　Glancing　across　the　table　at　the　Aes　Sedai；　she　sighed。　Rafela　only　nodded；　but　Merana　was　staring　at　her；　hazel　eyes　avid　in　a　mask　of　serenity。　No　doubt　she　expected　to　corner　Min　as　soon　as　possible　and　find　out　what　this　talent　was　and　how　it　worked；　and　no　doubt　Min　expected　it　too。　Rand　felt　a　prickle　of　irritation；　she　should　have　known　he　would　protect　her　from　being　bothered。　A　prickle　of　irritation；　and　a　warmth　that　he　could　protect　her　from　that；　at　least。
　　　〃You　may　trust　what　Min　says；　Harine；〃　Rafela　said。　〃The　reports　I　heard　say　that　what　she　sees　always　seems　to　e　true。　And　even　if　she　does　not　realize　it；　she　has　seen　something　else。〃　Her　round　face　tilted　to　one　side；　and　a　smile　curved　her　mouth。　〃If　you　will　be　punished　for　what　happens　here；　then　it　must　mean　you　will　agree　to　whatever　your　Coramoor　wants。〃
　　　〃Unless　I　agree　to　nothing；〃　Harine　blustered。　〃If　I　make　no　Bargain。。。　〃　Her　fists　clenched　on　the　tabletop。　She　had　already　admitted　she　had　to　make　the　Bargain。　She　had　admitted　the　Sea　Folk　would　serve。
　　　〃What　I　require　of　you　is　not　onerous；〃　Rand　said。　He　had　thought　about　this　since　deciding　to　e。　〃When　I　want　ships　to　carry　men　or　supplies；　the　Sea　Folk　will　give　them。　I　want　to　know　what　is　happening　in　Tarabon　and　Arad　Doman；　and　in　the　lands　between。　Your　ships　can　learn　…　will　learn　…　what　I　want　to　know；　they　call　in　Tanchico　and　Bandar　Eban　and　a　hundred　fishing　villages　and　towns　between。　Your　ships　can　travel　farther　out　to　sea　than　anyone　else's。　The　Sea　Folk　will　keep　watch　as　far　west　in　the　Aryth　Ocean　as　they　can　sail。　There　is　a　people；　the　Seanchan；　who　live　beyond　the　Aryth　Ocean；　and　one　day；　they　will　e　to　try　to　conquer　us。　The　Sea　Folk　will　let　me　know　when　they　e。〃
　　　〃You　require　much；〃　Harine　muttered　bitterly。　〃We　know　of　these　Seanchan；　who　e　from　the　Islands　of　the　Dead；　it　seems；　from　which　no　ship　returns。　Some　of　our　ships　have　encountered　theirs；　they　use　the　One　Power　as　a　weapon。　You　require　more　than　you　know；　Coramoor。〃　For　once；　she　did　not　pause　at　the　title。　〃Some　dark　evil　has　descended　upon　the　Aryth　Ocean。　No　ship　of　ours　has　e　from　there　in　many　months。　Ships　that　sail　west；　vanish。〃
　　　Rand　felt　a　chill。　He　turned　the　Dragon　Scepter；　made　from　part　of　a　Seanchan　spear；　in　his　hands。　Could　they　have　returned　already？　They　had　been　driven　back　once；　at　Falme。　He　carried　the　spearhead　to　remind　him　that　there　were　more　enemies　in　the　world　than　those　he　could　see；　but　he　had　been　sure　it　would　take　the　Seanchan　years　to　recover　from　their　defeat；　driven　into　the　sea　by　the　Dragon　Reborn　and　the　dead　heroes　called　back　by　the　Horn　of　Valere。　Was　the　Horn　still　in　the　White　Tower？　He　knew　it　had　been　taken　there。
　　　Suddenly　he　could　not　bear　the　confines　of　the　cabin　any　longer。　He　fumbled　with　the　latch　on　the　chair　arm。　It　would　not　open。　Gripping　the　smooth　wood；　he　tore　the　arm　off　in　splinters　with　one　convulsive　heave。　〃We've　agreed　the　Sea　Folk　will　serve　me；〃　he　said；　pushing　himself　up。　The　low　ceiling　made　him　hunch　over　the　table　threateningly。　The　cabin　did　feel　smaller。　〃If　there　is　any　more　to　your　Bargain；　Merana　and　Rafela　here　will　see　to　it　with　you。〃　Without　waiting　for　an　answer；　he　spun　for　the　door；　where　Dashiva　appeared　to　be　muttering　to　himself　again。
　　　Merana　caught　him　there；　caught　his　sleeve　and　spoke　swiftly　and　low。　〃My　Lord　Dragon；　it　would　be　for　the　best　if　you　remained。　You　have　seen　what　your　being　ta'veren　has　done　already。　With　you　here；　I　believe　she　will　continue　to　reveal　what　she　wants　to　hide　and　give　agreement　before　we　give　anything。〃
　　　〃You　are　Gray　Ajah；〃　he　told　her　harshly。　〃Negotiate！　Dashiva；　e　with　me。〃
　　　On　deck；　he　drew　deep　breaths。　The　cloudless　sky　was　open　overhead。　Open。
　　　It　took　him　a　moment　to　notice　Bera　and　the　other　two　sisters；　watching　him　expectantly；　Flinn　and　Narishma　kept　to　what　they　were　supposed　to　do；　a　quarter　of　an　eye　on　the　ship　and　the　rest　on　the　riverbanks；　the　city　on　one　side　and　the　half…rebuilt　granaries　on　the　other。　A　ship　in　mid…river　was　a　vulnerable　place　to　be　if　one　of　the　Forsaken　decided　to　strike。　For　that　matter；　anywhere　was　a　dangerous　place　then。　Rand　could　not　understand　why　one　of　them　had　not　at　least　tried　to　destroy　the　Sun　Pa