rj.acrownofswords-第134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！


an　cut　these。。。　creatures。〃
　　　The　thicker　chunks　of　fog　oozed　together；　began　to　rise　once　more。
　　　Cadsuane　stretched　out　a　hand；　droplets　of　fire　falling　from　her　fingertips；　one　bright　flash　of　flame　seared　the　solidifying　fog　from　existence。　〃But　no　more　than　cut；　so　it　seems；〃　she　murmured。
　　　Ahead　to　their　right；　a　woman　suddenly　appeared　in　the　swirling　gray；　silk　skirts　held　high　as　she　half　ran；　half　fell　down　the　slope　toward　them。　〃Thank　the　Light！〃　she　screamed。　〃Thank　the　Light！　I　thought　I　was　alone！〃　Right　behind　her　the　fog　drew　together；　a　nightmare　all　teeth　and　claws；　looming　above　her。　Had　it　been　a　man；　Min　was　sure　Rand　would　have　waited。
　　　His　hand　rose　before　Cadsuane　could　move；　and　a　bar　of。。。　something。。。　liquid　white　fire　brighter　than　the　sun。。。　shot　out　over　the　running　woman's　head。　The　creature　simply　vanished。　For　a　moment　there　was　clear　air　where　it　had　been；　and　along　the　line　that　the　bar　had　burned；　until　the　fog　began　closing　in。　A　moment　while　the　woman　froze　where　she　stood。　Then；　shrieking　at　the　top　of　her　lungs；　she　turned　and　ran　from　them；　still　downslope；　fleeing　what　she　feared　more　than　nightmares　in　these　mists。
　　　〃You！〃　Toram　roared；　so　loudly　that　Min　spun　to　face　him　with　her　knives　raised。　He　stood　pointing　his　sword　at　Rand。　〃You　are　him！　I　was　right！　This　is　your　work！　You　will　not　trap　me；　al'Thor！〃　Suddenly　he　broke　away　at　an　angle；　scrambling　wildly　up　the　slope。　〃You　will　not　trap　me！〃
　　　〃e　back！〃　Darlin　shouted　after　him。　〃We　must　stick　together！　We　must。。。　〃　He　trailed　off；　staring　at　Rand。　〃You　are　him。　The　Light　burn　me；　you　are！〃　He　half…moved　as　if　to　place　himself　between　Rand　and　Caraline；　but　at　least　he　did　not　run。
　　　Calmly；　Cadsuane　picked　her　way　across　the　slope　to　Rand。　And　slapped　his　face　so　hard　his　head　jerked。　Min's　breath　caught　in　shock。　〃You　will　not　do　that　again；〃　Cadsuane　said。　There　was　no　heat　in　her　voice；　just　iron。　〃Do　you　hear　me？　Not　balefire。　Not　ever。〃
　　　Surprisingly；　Rand　only　rubbed　his　cheek。　〃You　were　wrong；　Cadsuane。　He's　real。　I'm　certain　of　it。　I　know　he　is。〃　Even　more　surprisingly；　he　sounded　as　if　he　very　much　wanted　her　to　believe。
　　　Min's　heart　went　out　to　him。　He　had　mentioned　hearing　voices；　he　must　mean　that。　She　raised　her　right　hand　toward　him；　forgetting　for　the　moment　that　it　held　a　knife；　and　opened　her　mouth　to　say　something　forting。　Though　she　was　not　entirely　sure　she　would　ever　be　able　to　use　that　particular　word　innocuously　again。　She　opened　her　mouth　…　and　Padan　Fain　seemed　to　leap　out　of　the　mists　behind　Rand；　steel　gleaming　in　his　fist。
　　　〃Behind　you！〃　Min　screamed；　pointing　with　the　knife　in　her　outstretched　right　hand　as　she　threw　the　one　in　her　left。　Everything　seemed　to　happen　at　once；　half…seen　in　wintery　fog。
　　　Rand　began　to　turn；　twisting　aside；　and　Fain　also　twisted；　to　lunge　for　him。　For　that　twist；　her　knife　missed；　but　Fain's　dagger　scored　along　Rand's　left　side。　It　hardly　seemed　to　more　than　slice　his　coat；　yet　he　screamed。　He　screamed；　a　sound　to　make　Min's　heart　clench；　and　clutching　his　side；　he　fell　against　Cadsuane；　catching　at　her　to　hold　himself　up；　pulling　both　of　them　down。
　　　〃Move　out　of　my　way！〃　one　of　the　other　sisters　shouted　…　Samitsu；　Min　thought　…　and　suddenly；　Min's　feet　jerked　out　from　under　her。　She　landed　heavily；　grunting　as　she　hit　the　slope　together　with　Caraline；　who　snapped　a　breathless；　〃Blood　and　fire！〃
　　　Everything　at　once。
　　　〃Move！〃　Samitsu　shouted　again；　as　Darlin　lunged　for　Fain　with　his　sword。　The　bony　man　moved　with　shocking　speed；　throwing　himself　down　and　rolling　beyond　Darlin's　reach。　Strangely；　he　cackled　with　laughter　as　he　scampered　to　his　feet　and　ran　off；　swallowed　in　the　murk　almost　immediately。
　　　Min　pushed　herself　up　shaking。
　　　Caraline　was　much　more　vigorous。　〃I　will　tell　you　now；　Aes　Sedai；〃　she　said　in　a　cold　voice；　brushing　at　her　skirts　violently；　〃I　will　not　be　treated　so。　I　am　Caraline　Damodred；　High　Seat　of　House。。。　〃
　　　Min　stopped　listening。　Cadsuane　was　sitting　on　the　slope　above；　holding　Rand's　head　in　her　lap。　It　had　only　been　a　cut。　Pain's　dagger　could　not　have　more　than　touched。。。　With　a　cry；　Min　threw　herself　forward。　Aes　Sedai　or　no；　she　pushed　the　woman　away　from　Rand　and　cradled　his　head　in　her　arms。　His　eyes　were　closed；　his　breathing　ragged。　His　face　felt　hot。
　　　〃Help　him！〃　she　screamed　at　Cadsuane；　like　an　echo　of　the　distant　screams　in　the　mist。　〃Help　him！〃　A　part　of　her　said　that　did　not　make　much　sense　after　pushing　her　away；　but　his　face　seemed　to　burn　her　hands；　to　burn　sense。
　　　〃Samitsu；　quickly；〃　Cadsuane　said；　standing　and　rearranging　her　shawl。　〃He's　beyond　my　Talent　for　Healing。〃　She　laid　a　hand　on　the　top　of　Min's　head。　〃Girl；　I　will　hardly　let　the　boy　die　when　I　haven't　taught　him　manners；　yet。　Stop　crying；　now。〃
　　　It　was　very　strange。　Min　was　fairly　sure　the　woman　had　done　nothing　to　her　with　the　Power；　yet　she　believed。　Teach　him　manners？　A　fine　tussle　that　would　be。　Unfolding　her　arms　from　around　his　head；　not　without　reluctance；　Min　backed　away　on　her　knees。　Very　strange。　She　had　not　even　realized　that　she　was　crying；　yet　Cadsuane's　reassurance　was　enough　to　stop　the　flow　of　tears。　Sniffing；　she　scrubbed　at　her　cheeks　with　the　heel　of　her　hand　as　Samitsu　knelt　beside　him；　placing　fingertips　on　his　forehead。　Min　wondered　why　she　did　not　take　his　head　in　both　hands；　the　way　Moiraine　did。
　　　Abruptly　Rand　convulsed；　gasping　and　thrashing　so　hard　that　a　flailing　arm　knocked　the　Yellow　over　on　her　back。　As　soon　as　her　fingers　left　him；　he　subsided。　Min　crawled　nearer。　He　breathed　more　easily；　but　his　eyes　were　still　closed。　She　touched　his　cheek。　Cooler　than　it　had　been；　but　still　too　warm。　And　pale。
　　　〃Something　is　amiss；〃　Samitsu　said　peevishly　as　she　sat　up。　Pulling　Rand's　coat　aside；　she　gripped　the　slice　in　his　bloodstained　shirt　and　ripped　a　wide　gap　in　the　linen。
　　　The　cut　from　Fain's　dagger；　no　longer　than　her　hand　and　not　deep；　ran　right　across　the　old　round　scar。　Even　in　the　dim　light；　Min　could　see　that　the　edges　of　the　gash　looked　swollen　and　angry；　as　if　the　wound　had　gone　untended　for　days。　It　was　no　longer　bleeding；　but　it　should　have　been　gone。　That　was　what　Healing　did：　wounds　knitted　themselves　up　right　before　your　eyes。
　　　〃This；〃　Samitsu　said　in　a　lecturing　tone；　lightly　touching　the　scar；　〃seems　like　a　cyst；　but　full　of　evil　instead　of　pus。　And　this。。。　〃　She　drew　the　finger　down　the　gash。　〃。。。　seems　full　of　a　different　evil。〃　Suddenly　she　frowned　at　the　Green　standing　over　her；　and　her　voice　became　sullen　and　defensive。　〃If　I　had　the　words；　Cadsuane；　I　would　use　them。　I　have　never　seen　the　like。　Never。　But　I　will　tell　you　this。　I　think　if　I　had　been　one　moment　slower；　perhaps　if　you　had　not　tried　first；　he　would　be　dead　now。　As　it　is。。。　〃　With　a　sigh；　the　Yellow　sister　seemed　to　deflate；　her　face　sagging。　〃As　it　is；　I　believe　he　will　die。〃
　　　Min　shook　her　head；　trying　to　say　no；　but　she　could　not　seem　to　make　her　tongue　move。　She　heard　Caraline　murmuring　a　prayer。　The　woman　stood　gripping　one　of　Darlin's　coatsleeves　with　both　hands。　Darlin　himself　frowned　down　at　Rand　as　though　trying　to　make　sense　of　what　he　saw。
　　　Cadsuane　bent　to　pat　Samitsu's　shoulder。　〃You　are　the　best　living；　perhaps　the　best　ever；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃No　one　has　the　Healing　to　pare　with　you。〃　With　a　nod；　Samitsu　stood；　and　before　she　was　on　her　feet；　she　was　all　Aes　Sedai　serenity　once　more。　Cadsuane；　scowling　down　at　Rand　with　her　hands　on　her　hips；　was　not。　〃Phaw！　I　will　not　allow　you　to　die　on　me；　boy；〃　she　growled；　sounding　as　though　it　were　his　fault。　This　time；　instead　of　touching　the　top　of　Min's　head；　she　rapped　it　with　a　knuckle。　〃Get　to　your　feet；　girl。　You're　no　milksop　…　any　fool　can　see　that　…　so　stop　pretending。　Darlin；　you　will　carry　him。　Bandages　must　wait。　This　fog　is　not　leaving　us；　so　we　had　better　leave　it。〃
　　　Darlin　hesitated。　Maybe　it　was　Cadsuane's　peremptory　frown；　and　maybe　the　hand　Caraline　half…raised　to　his　face；　but　abruptly　he　sheathed　his　sword；　muttering　under　his　breath；　and　hoisted　Rand　across　his　shoulders　with　arms　and　legs　dangling。
　　　Min　took　up　the　heron…mark　blade　and　carefully　slid　it　into　the　scabbard　hanging　from　Rand's　waist。　〃He　will　need　it；〃　she　told　Darlin；　and　after　a　moment；　he　nodded。　A　lucky　thing　for　him　he　did；　she　had　bundled　all　her　confidence　into　the　Green　sister；　and　she　was　not　about　to　let　anyone　think　differently。
　　　〃Now　be　careful；　Darlin；〃　Caraline　said　in　that　throaty　voice　once　Cadsuane　made　their　marching　order　clear。　〃Be　sure　to　stay　behind　me；　and　I　will　protect　you。〃
　　　Darlin　laughed　till　he　wheezed；　and　was　still　chuckling　when　they　began　climbing　through　the　cold　fog　and　the　distant　shrieks　once　more；　with　him　carrying　Rand　in　the　center　and　the　women　in　a　circle　around　him。
　　　Min　knew　she　was　only　another　pair　of　eyes；　just　like　Caraline　on　the　other　side　of　Cadsuane；　and　she　knew　the　knife　she　carried　unsheathed　was　no　use　against　the　mist…shapes；　but　Padan　Fain　might　still　be　alive　out　there。　She　would　not　miss　again。　Caraline　carried　her　dagger　too；　and　by　the　looks　she　cast　over　her　shoulder　at　Darlin　staggering　uphill　under　Rand's　weight；　maybe　she　also　intended　to　protect　the　Dragon　Reborn。　And　then　again；　maybe　it　was　not　him。　A　woman　could　forgive　any　amount　of　nose　for　that　laugh。
　　　Shapes　still　formed　in　the　mist　and　died　by　fire；　and　once　a　huge　something　tore　a　shrieking　horse　in　two　off　to　their　right　before　any　Aes　Sedai　could　slay　it。　Min　was　quite　noisily　sick　after　that；　and　not　a　bit　ashamed；　people　were　dying；　but　at　least　the　people　had　e　here　by　their　own　choice。　The　meanest　soldier　could　have　run　away　yesterday　had　he　chosen；　but　not　that　horse。　Shapes　formed　and　died；　and　people　died；　screaming　always　in　the　distance；　it　seemed；　though　they　still　stumbled　past　torn　carrion　that　had　been　human　an　hour　gone。　Min　began　to　wonder　whether　they　would　ever　see　daylight　again。
　　　With　shocking　suddenness　and　no　warning；　she　stumbled　into　it；　one　moment　surrounded　by　gray；　the　next　with　the　sun　burning　golden　high　overhead　in　a　blue　sky；　all　so　bright　she　had　to　shade　her　eyes。　And　there；　perhaps　fi