rj.acrownofswords-第130部分

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yes　less　than　large　dark　pools。　A　small　clear　green　stone　hung　on　her　forehead　from　a　fine　golden　chain　fastened　in　black　hair　that　fell　in　waves　to　her　shoulders。
　　　Min　gasped；　and　not　for　the　hunting　crossbow　the　woman　carried　casually　raised　in　one　green…gloved　hand。　For　a　moment；　she　was　sure　it　was　Moiraine。　But。。。
　　　〃I　do　not　recall　seeing　either　of　you　in　the　camp；〃　the　woman　said　in　a　throaty；　almost　sultry；　voice。　Moiraine's　voice　had　been　crystal。　The　crossbow　lowered；　still　quite　casually；　until　it　pointed　rock…steady　at　Rand's　chest。
　　　He　ignored　it。　〃I　thought　I　might　like　to　take　a　look　at　your　camp；〃　he　said　with　a　slight　bow。　〃I　believe　you　are　the　Lady　Caraline　Damodred？〃　The　slender　woman　inclined　her　head；　acknowledging　the　name。
　　　Min　sighed　regretfully；　but　it　was　not　as　if　she　had　really　expected　Moiraine　to　turn　up　alive。　Moiraine　was　the　only　viewing　of　hers　that　had　ever　failed。　But　Caraline　Damodred　herself；　one　of　the　leaders　of　the　rebellion　against　Rand　here　in　Cairhien；　and　a　claimant　to　the　Sun　Throne。。。　He　really　was　pulling　all　the　threads　of　the　Pattern　around　him；　to　have　her　appear。
　　　Lady　Caraline　slowly　raised　the　crossbow　to　one　side；　the　cord　made　a　loud　snap；　launching　the　broadhead　bolt　into　the　air。
　　　〃I　doubt　one　would　do　any　good　against　you；〃　she　said；　walking　her　gelding　slowly　toward　them；　〃and　I　would　not　like　you　to　think　I　was　threatening　you。〃　She　looked　once　at　Min　…　just　a　glance　that　ran　head　to　toe；　though　Min　was　sure　everything　about　her　was　filed　away　…　but　aside　from　that；　Lady　Caraline　kept　her　eyes　on　Rand。　She　drew　rein　three　paces　away；　just　far　enough　so　he　could　not　reach　her　afoot　before　she　could　dig　in　her　heels。　〃I　can　only　think　of　one　gray…eyed　man　with　your　height　who　might　suddenly　appear　out　of　nowhere；　unless　perhaps　you　are　an　Aiel　in　disguise；　but　perhaps　you　will　be　so　kind　as　to　supply　a　name？〃
　　　〃I　am　the　Dragon　Reborn；〃　Rand　said；　every　bit　as　arrogant　as　he　had　been　with　the　Sea　Folk；　yet　if　any　ta'veren　swirling　of　the　Pattern　was　at　work；　the　woman　on　the　horse　gave　no　evidence。
　　　Rather　than　leaping　down　to　fall　to　her　knees；　she　merely　nodded；　pursing　her　lips。　〃I　have　heard　so　very　much　about　you。　I　have　heard　you　went　to　the　Tower　to　submit　to　the　Amyrlin　Seat。　I　have　heard　you　mean　to　give　the　Sun　Throne　to　Elayne　Trakand。　I　have　also　heard　that　you　killed　Elayne；　and　her　mother。〃
　　　〃I　submit　to　no　one；〃　Rand　replied　sharply。　He　stared　up　at　her　with　eyes　fierce　enough　to　snatch　her　out　of　the　saddle　by　themselves。　〃Elayne　is　on　her　way　to　Caemlyn　as　we　speak；　to　take　the　throne　of　Andor。　After　which；　she　will　have　the　throne　of　Cairhien　as　well。〃　Min　winced。　Did　he　have　to　sound　like　a　pillow　stuffed　full　of　haughty？　She　had　hoped　he　had　calmed　down　a　bit　after　the　Sea　Folk。
　　　Lady　Caraline　laid　her　crossbow　across　the　saddle　in　front　of　her；　running　a　gloved　hand　along　it。　Perhaps　regretting　that　loosed　bolt？　〃I　could　accept　my　young　cousin　on　the　throne　…　better　she　than　some；　at　least　…　but。。。　〃　Those　big　dark　eyes　that　had　seemed　so　liquid　suddenly　became　stone。　〃But　I　am　not　sure　I　can　accept　you　in　Cairhien；　and　I　do　not　mean　only　your　changes　to　laws　and　customs。　You。。。　change　fate　by　your　very　presence。　Every　day　since　you　came；　people　die　in　accidents　so　bizarre　no　one　can　believe　them。　So　many　husbands　abandon　their　wives；　and　wives　their　husbands；　that　no　one　even　ments　upon　it　now。　You　will　tear　Cairhien　apart　just　by　remaining　here。〃
　　　〃Balance；〃　Min　broke　in　hastily。　Rand's　face　was　so　dark；　he　looked　ready　to　burst。　Maybe　he　had　been　right　to　e　after　all。　Certainly　there　was　no　point　letting　him　throw　this　meeting　away　in　a　tantrum。　She　gave　no　one　a　chance　to　speak。　〃There　is　always　a　balance　of　good　against　bad。　That's　how　the　Pattern　works。　Even　he　doesn't　change　that。　As　night　balances　day；　good　balances　harm。　Since　he　came；　there　hasn't　been　a　single　stillbirth　in　the　city；　not　one　child　born　deformed。　There　are　more　marriages　some　days　than　used　to　be　in　a　week；　and　for　every　man　who　chokes　to　death　on　a　feather；　a　woman　tumbles　head　over　heels　down　three　flights　of　stairs　and；　instead　of　breaking　her　neck；　stands　up　without　a　bruise。　Name　the　evil；　and　you　can　point　to　the　good。　The　turning　of　the　Wheel　requires　balance；　and　he　only　increases　the　chances　of　what　might　have　happened　anyway　in　nature。〃　Suddenly　she　colored；　realizing　they　were　both　looking　at　her。　Staring；　more　like。
　　　〃Balance？〃　Rand　murmured；　eyebrows　lifting。
　　　〃I've　been　reading　some　of　Master　Fel's　books；〃　she　said　faintly。　She　did　not　want　anyone　to　think　she　was　pretending　to　be　a　philosopher。　Lady　Caraline　smiled　at　her　tall　saddlebow　and　toyed　with　her　reins。　The　woman　was　laughing　at　her。　She　would　show　this　woman　what　she　could　laugh　at！
　　　Abruptly　a　tall　black　gelding　with　the　look　of　a　warhorse　came　crashing　through　the　undergrowth；　ridden　by　a　man　well　into　his　middle　years；　with　close…cropped　hair　and　a　pointed　beard。　Despite　his　yellow　Tairen　coat；　the　fat　sleeves　striped　with　green　satin；　eyes　of　a　startling　pretty　blue　looked　out　of　his　damp；　dark　face；　like　pale　polished　sapphires。　Not　a　particularly　pretty　man；　but　those　eyes　made　up　for　a　too…long　nose。　He　carried　a　crossbow　in　one　leather…gauntleted　hand；　and　brandished　a　broadhead　bolt　in　the　other。
　　　〃This　came　down　inches　from　my　face；　Caraline；　and　it　has　your　markings！　Just　because　there's　no　game　is　no　reason　…　〃　He　became　aware　of　Rand　and　Min　just　then；　and　his　drawn　crossbow　lowered　toward　them。　〃Are　these　strays；　Caraline；　or　did　you　find　spies　from　the　city？　I've　never　believed　al'Thor　would　continue　to　let　us　sit　here　unhindered。〃
　　　Half　a　dozen　more　riders　appeared　behind　him；　sweating　men　in　fat…sleeved　coats　with　satin　stripes　and　perspiring　women　in　riding　dresses　with　wide；　thick　lace　collars。　All　carrying　crossbows。　The　last　of　those　riders　had　not　halted；　horses　stamping　and　tossing　heads；　before　twice　as　many　came　struggling　through　the　brush　from　another　direction　and　pulled　up　near　Caraline；　slight；　pale　men　and　women　in　dark　clothes　with　stripes　of　color　sometimes　to　below　the　waist。　All　with　crossbows。　Servants　afoot　came　after；　laboring　and　panting　with　the　heat；　the　men　who　would　dress　and　carry　any　downed　game。　It　hardly　seemed　to　matter　that　none　had　more　than　a　skinning　knife　at　his　belt。　Min　swallowed；　and　unconsciously　began　patting　her　cheeks　with　her　handkerchief　a　little　more　vigorously。　If　even　one　person　recognized　Rand　before　he　knew　it。。。
　　　Lady　Caraline　did　not　hesitate。　〃Not　spies；　Darlin；〃　she　said；　turning　her　horse　to　face　the　Tairen　newers。　The　High　Lord　Darlin　Sisnera！　All　that　was　needed　now　was　Lord　Toram　Riatin。　Min　wished　Rand's　ta'veren　tugging　at　the　Pattern　could　be　just　a　little　less　plete。　〃A　cousin　and　his　wife；〃　Caraline　went　on；　〃e　from　Andor　to　see　me。　May　I　present　Tomas　Trakand　…　from　a　minor　branch　of　the　House　…　and　his　wife　Jaisi。〃　Min　almost　glared　at　her；　the　only　Jaisi　she　had　ever　known　had　been　a　dusty　prune　before　she　was　twenty；　and　sour　and　bad…tempered　to　boot。
　　　Darlin's　gaze　swept　over　Rand　again；　lingered　a　moment　on　Min。　He　lowered　his　crossbow　and　bowed　his　head　just　a　hair；　a　High　Lord　of　Tear　to　a　minor　noble。　〃You　are　wele；　Lord　Tomas。　It　takes　a　brave　man　to　join　us　in　our　present　circumstances。　Al'Thor　may　loose　the　savages　on　us　any　day。〃　The　Lady　Caraline　gave　him　an　exasperated　look　that　he　made　a　show　of　not　seeing。
　　　He　noted　that　Rand's　return　bow　was　no　more　than　his；　however；　noted；　and　frowned。　A　darkly　handsome　woman　in　his　retinue　muttered　angrily　under　her　breath　…　she　had　a　long　hard　face；　well…practiced　in　anger　…　and　a　stout　fellow；　scowling　and　sweating　in　a　red…striped　coat　of　pale　green；　heeled　his　horse　forward　a　few　steps　as　if　thinking　to　ride　Rand　down。
　　　〃The　Wheel　weaves　as　the　Wheel　wills；〃　Rand　said　coolly；　as　though　he　noticed　nothing。　The　Dragon　Reborn　to。。。　The　Dragon　Reborn　to　just　about　anybody；　was　what　it　was。　Arrogance　on　a　mountaintop。　〃Not　much　happens　as　we　expect。　For　instance；　I　heard　you　were　in　Tear；　in　Haddon　Mirk。〃
　　　Min　wished　she　dared　speak　up；　dared　say　something　to　soothe　him。　She　settled　for　stroking　his　arm。　Casually。　A　wife　…　now　there　was　a　word　that　suddenly　sounded　fine　…　a　wife　idly　patting　her　husband。　Another　fine　word。　Light；　it　was　hard　being　fair！　It　was　hardly　fair；　having　to　be　fair。
　　　〃The　High　Lord　Darlin　is　but　lately　e　by　longboat　with　a　few　of　his　close　friends；　Tomas。〃　Caraline's　throaty　tone　never　changed；　but　her　gelding　suddenly　pranced；　no　doubt　at　a　sharp　heel；　and　under　cover　of　regaining　control　she　turned　her　back　to　Darlin　and　shot　Rand　a　brief　warning　frown。　〃Do　not　trouble　the　High　Lord；　Tomas。〃
　　　〃I　do　not　mind；　Caraline；〃　Darlin　said；　slinging　his　crossbow　from　his　saddle　by　a　loop。　He　rode　a　little　closer　and　rested　an　arm　on　his　tall　saddlebow。　〃A　man　should　know　what　he　is　stepping　into。　You　may　have　heard　the　tales　about　al'Thor　going　to　the　Tower；　Tomas。　I　came　because　Aes　Sedai　approached　me　months　ago　with　suggestions　that　might　happen；　and　your　cousin　informed　me　she　had　received　the　same。　We　thought　we　might　put　her　on　the　Sun　Throne　before　Colavaere　could　take　it。　Well；　al'Thor　is　no　fool；　never　believe　he　is。　Myself；　I　think　he　played　the　Tower　like　a　harp。　Colavaere　is　hanged；　he　sits　secure　behind　Cairhien's　walls　…　without　an　Aes　Sedai　halter；　I'll　wager；　no　matter　what　rumor　says　…　and　until　we　find　some　way　to　extricate　ourselves；　we　sit　in　his　hand；　waiting　for　him　to　make　a　fist。〃
　　　〃A　ship　brought　you；〃　Rand　said　simply。　〃A　ship　could　take　you　away。〃　Abruptly　Min　realized　he　was　gently　patting　her　hand　on　his　arm。　Trying　to　soothe　her！
　　　Startlingly；　Darlin　threw　back　his　head　and　laughed。　A　great　many　women　would　forget　his　nose　for　those　eyes　and　that　laugh。　〃So　it　would；　Tomas；　but　I've　asked　your　cousin　to　marry　me。　She　will　not　say　yes　or　no；　but　a　man　cannot　abandon　even　a　possible　wife　to　the　mercies　of　the　Aiel；　and　she　will　not　leave。〃
　　　Caraline　Damodred　drew　herself　up　on　her　saddle；　face　cold　enough　to　shame　an　Aes　Sedai；　but　suddenly　auras　of　red　and　white　flashed　around　her　a