rj.acrownofswords-第135部分

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g　golden　high　overhead　in　a　blue　sky；　all　so　bright　she　had　to　shade　her　eyes。　And　there；　perhaps　five　miles　across　all　but　treeless　hills；　Cairhien　rose　solid　and　square　on　its　own　prominences。　Somehow；　it　did　not　look　quite　real　anymore。
　　　Staring　back　at　the　edge　of　the　fog；　she　shivered。　It　was　an　edge；　a　billowing　wall；　stretching　though　the　trees　on　this　hilltop；　and　far　too　straight；　with　no　eddies　or　thinning。　Just　clear　air　here；　and　there；　thick　gray。　A　little　more　of　a　tree　right　in　front　of　her　became　visible；　and　she　realized　the　mist　was　creeping　back；　perhaps　being　burned　off　by　the　sun。　But　far　too　slowly　to　make　the　retreat　natural。　The　others　stared　at　it　just　as　hard　as　she；　even　the　Aes　Sedai。
　　　Twenty　paces　off　to　their　left；　a　man　suddenly　scrambled　into　the　clear　air　on　all　fours。　The　front　of　his　head　was　shaved；　and　by　the　battered　black　breastplate　he　wore；　he　was　a　mon　soldier。　Staring　about　wildly；　he　did　not　appear　to　see　them；　and　went　scrambling　on　down　the　hillside；　still　on　hands　and　knees。　Farther　to　the　right；　two　men　and　a　woman　appeared；　all　running。　She　had　stripes　of　color　across　the　front　of　her　dress；　but　how　many　was　hard　to　say　since　she　had　gathered　her　skirts　as　high　as　she　could　to　run　faster；　and　she　matched　the　men　stride　for　stride。　None　of　them　looked　to　either　side；　only　launched　themselves　down　the　hill；　falling；　tumbling　and　ing　back　to　their　feet　running　again。
　　　Caraline　studied　the　slim　blade　of　her　dagger　for　a　moment；　then　thrust　it　hard　into　it　sheath。　〃So　vanishes　my　army；〃　she　sighed。
　　　Darlin；　with　Rand　still　unconscious　across　his　shoulders；　looked　at　her。　〃There　is　an　army　in　Tear；　if　you　call。〃
　　　She　glanced　at　Rand；　hanging　like　a　sack。　〃Perhaps；〃　she　said。　Darlin　turned　his　head　toward　Rand's　face　with　a　troubled　frown。
　　　Cadsuane　was　all　practicality。　〃The　road　lies　that　way；〃　she　said　pointing　west。　〃It　will　be　faster　than　walking　cross…country。　An　easy　stroll。〃
　　　Easy　was　not　what　Min　would　have　called　it。　The　air　seemed　twice　as　hot　after　the　fog's　cold；　sweat　rolled　out　of　her；　and　seemed　to　drain　her　strength。　Her　legs　wobbled。　She　tripped　over　exposed　roots　and　fell　flat　on　her　face。　She　tripped　over　rocks　and　fell。　She　tripped　over　her　own　heeled　boots　and　fell。　Once　her　feet　just　went　out　from　under；　and　she　slid　a　good　forty　paces　down　the　hillside　on　the　seat　of　her　breeches；　arms　flailing　until　she　managed　to　snag　a　sapling。　Caraline　went　sprawling　as　many　times；　and　maybe　more；　dresses　were　not　made　for　this　sort　of　travel；　and　before　long　…　after　a　tumble　head　over　heels　ended　with　her　skirts　around　her　ears　…　she　was　asking　Min　the　name　of　the　seamstress　who　made　her　coat　and　breeches。　Darlin　did　not　fall。　Oh；　he　stumbled　and　tripped　and　skidded　every　bit　as　much　as　they；　but　whenever　he　started　to　fall；　something　seemed　to　catch　him；　to　steady　him　on　his　feet。　In　the　beginning　he　glared　at　the　Aes　Sedai；　all　proud　Tairen　High　Lord　who　would　carry　Rand　out　without　any　help。　Cadsuane　and　the　others　affected　not　to　see。　They　never　fell；　they　simply　walked　along；　chatting　quietly　among　themselves；　and　caught　Darlin　before　he　could。　By　the　time　they　reached　the　road；　he　looked　both　grateful　and　hunted。
　　　Standing　in　the　middle　of　the　broad　road　of　hard…packed　earth；　in　sight　of　the　river；　Cadsuane　flung　up　a　hand　to　stop　the　first　conveyance　that　appeared；　a　rickety　wagon　drawn　by　two　moth…eaten　mules　and　driven　by　a　skinny　farmer　in　a　patched　coat　who　hauled　on　his　reins　with　alacrity。　What　did　the　toothless　fellow　think　he　had　run　into？　Three　ageless　Aes　Sedai；　plete　with　shawls；　who　might　have　stepped　down　from　a　coach　a　moment　before。　A　sweat…soaked　Cairhienin　woman；　of　high　rank　by　the　stripes　on　her　dress；　or　maybe　a　beggar　who　had　clothed　herself　from　a　noblewoman's　rag　closet；　by　the　state　of　that　dress。　An　obvious　Tairen　nobleman；　with　sweat　dripping　from　his　nose　and　pointed　beard　and　carrying　another　man　across　his　shoulders　like　a　sack　of　grain。　And　herself。　Both　knees　out　of　her　breeches；　and　another　tear　in　the　seat　that　her　coat　covered；　thank　the　Light；　though　one　sleeve　hung　by　a　few　threads。　More　stains　and　dust　than　she　wanted　to　think　about。
　　　Not　waiting　for　anyone　else；　she　drew　a　knife　from　her　sleeve　…　popping　most　of　those　few　threads　…　and　gave　it　a　flourish　the　way　Thom　Merrilin　had　taught　her；　hilt　snaking　through　her　fingers　so　the　blade　flashed　in　the　sun。　〃We　require　a　ride　to　the　Sun　Palace；〃　she　announced；　and　Rand　himself　could　not　have　done　better。　There　were　times　when　being　peremptory　saved　argument。
　　　〃Child；〃　Cadsuane　said　chidingly；　〃I'm　sure　Kiruna　and　her　friends　would　do　everything　they　could；　but　there　isn't　a　Yellow　among　them。　Samitsu　and　Corele　really　are　two　of　the　best　ever。　Lady　Arilyn　has　very　kindly　lent　us　her　palace　in　the　city；　so　we　will　take　him　…　〃
　　　〃No。〃　Min　had　no　idea　where　she　found　the　courage　to　say　that　word　to　this　woman。　Except。。。　It　was　Rand；　they　were　talking　about。　〃If　he　wakes。。。　〃　She　stopped　to　swallow；　he　would　wake。　〃If　he　wakes　in　a　strange　place　surrounded　by　strange　Aes　Sedai　again；　I　can't　imagine　what　he　might　do。　You　don't　want　to　imagine　it。〃　For　a　long　moment　she　met　that　cool　gaze；　and　then　the　Aes　Sedai　nodded。
　　　〃The　Sun　Palace；〃　Cadsuane　told　the　farmer。　〃And　as　fast　as　you　make　these　fleabags　move。〃
　　　Of　course；　it　was　not　quite　so　simple；　even　for　Aes　Sedai。　Ander　Tol　had　a　wagonload　of　scraggly　turnips　he　intended　to　sell　in　the　city；　and　no　intention　of　going　anywhere　near　the　Sun　Palace；　where；　he　told　them；　the　Dragon　Reborn　ate　people；　who　were　cooked　on　spits　by　Aiel　women　ten　feet　tall。　Not　for　any　number　of　Aes　Sedai　would　he　venture　within　a　mile　of　the　palace。　On　the　other　hand；　Cadsuane　tossed　him　a　purse　that　made　his　eyes　pop　when　he　looked　inside；　then　told　him　she　had　just　bought　his　turnips　and　hired　him　and　his　wagon。　If　he　did　not　like　the　notion；　he　could　give　the　purse　back。　That　with　her　fists　on　her　hips　and　a　look　of　her　face　that　said　he　might　just　eat　his　wagon　on　the　spot　if　he　tried　giving　the　purse　back。　Ander　Tol　was　a　reasonable　man；　it　turned　out。　Samitsu　and　Niande　unloaded　the　wagon；　turnips　simply　flying　into　the　air　to　land　in　a　tidy　pile　by　the　roadside。　By　their　icy　expressions；　this　was　in　no　way　a　use　to　which　they　had　ever　expected　to　put　the　One　Power。　By　Darlin's　expression；　standing　there　with　Rand　still　on　his　shoulders；　he　was　relieved　they　had　not　called　on　him　to　do　it。　Ander　Tol　sat　the　wagon　seat　with　his　jaw　trying　to　reach　his　knees；　fingering　the　purse　as　though　wondering　whether　it　was　enough　after　all。
　　　Once　they　were　settled　in　the　wagon　bed；　with　the　straw　that　had　been　beneath　the　turnips　all　gathered　to　make　a　bed　for　Rand；　Cadsuane　faced　Min　across　him。　Master　Tol　was　flapping　his　reins　and　finding　a　surprising　turn　of　speed　in　those　mules。　The　wagon　lurched　and　jounced　horribly；　the　wheels　not　only　shaking　but　apparently　out　of　round。　Wishing　she　had　kept　just　a　little　of　the　straw　for　herself；　Min　was　amused　to　see　Samitsu　and　Niande　growing　tighter　in　the　face　as　they　were　bounced　up　and　down。　Caraline　smiled　at　them　quite　openly；　the　High　Seat　of　House　Damodred　not　bothering　to　hide　her　pleasure　that　the　Aes　Sedai　were　for　once　riding　rough。　Though　in　truth；　slight　as　she　was；　she　bounced　higher　and　came　down　with　harder　thumps　than　they。　Darlin；　holding　on　to　the　side　of　the　wagon；　appeared　unaffected　however　hard　he　was　shaken；　he　kept　frowning　and　looking　from　Caraline　to　Rand。
　　　Cadsuane　was　another　who　apparently　did　not　care　whether　her　teeth　rattled。　〃I　expect　to　be　there　before　nightfall；　Master　Tol；〃　she　called；　producing　more　flapping　if　no　more　speed。　〃Now　tell　me；〃　she　said；　turning　to　Min。　〃Exactly　what　happened　the　last　time　this　boy　woke　surrounded　by　strange　Aes　Sedai？〃　Her　eyes　caught　Min's　and　held　them。
　　　He　wanted　it　kept　secret；　if　it　could　be；　for　as　long　as　it　could　be。　But　he　was　dying；　and　the　only　chance　he　had　that　Min　saw　rested　in　these　three　women。　Maybe　knowing　could　not　help。　Maybe　knowing　could　at　least　make　them　understand　something　of　him。　〃They　put　him　in　a　box；〃　she　began。
　　　She　was　not　sure　how　she　went　on　…　except　that　she　had　to　…　or　how　she　kept　from　bursting　into　tears　…　except　that　she　was　not　going　to　break　down　again　when　Rand　needed　her　…　but　somehow　she　continued　through　the　confinement　and　the　beatings　without　a　tremor　in　her　voice；　right　to　Kiruna　and　the　rest　kneeling　to　swear　fealty。　Darlin　and　Caraline　looked　stunned。　Samitsu　and　Niande　looked　horrified。　Though　not　for　the　reason　she　would　have　supposed；　it　turned　out。
　　　〃He。。。　stilled　three　sisters？〃　Samitsu　said　shrilly。　Suddenly　she　slapped　a　hand　over　her　mouth　and　twisted　around　to　lean　over　the　side　of　the　swaying　wagon　and　retch　loudly。　Niande　joined　her　almost　before　she　began；　the　pair　of　them　hanging　there；　emptying　their　bellies。
　　　And　Cadsuane。。。　Cadsuane　touched　Rand's　pale　face；　brushed　strands　of　hair　from　his　forehead。　〃Do　not　be　afraid；　boy；〃　she　said　softly。　〃They　made　my　task　harder；　and　yours；　but　I　will　not　hurt　you　more　than　I　must。〃　Min　turned　to　ice　inside。
　　　Guards　at　the　city　gates　shouted　at　the　racing　wagon；　but　Cadsuane　told　Master　Tol　not　to　stop；　and　he　flailed　at　his　mules　all　the　harder。　People　in　the　streets　leaped　out　of　the　way　to　avoid　being　run　down；　and　the　wagon's　progress　left　behind　shouts　and　curses；　overturned　sedan　chairs；　and　coaches　run　into　street　vendors'　stalls。　Through　the　streets　and　up　the　broad　ramp　to　the　Sun　Palace；　where　guards　in　Lord　Dobraine's　colors　spilled　out　as　though　preparing　to　fight　off　hordes。　While　Master　Tol　was　squealing　at　the　top　of　lungs　that　Aes　Sedai　made　him　do　it；　the　soldiers　saw　Min。　Then　they　saw　Rand。　Min　had　thought　she　was　in　a　whirlwind　before；　but　she　had　been　wrong。
　　　Two　dozen　men　tried　to　reach　into　the　wagon　at　once　to　lift　Rand　out；　and　those　who　managed　to　lay　hands　on　him；　handled　him　as　gently　as　a　babe；　four　to　either　side　with　their　arms　beneath。　Cadsuane　must　have　repeated　a　thousand　times　that　he　was　not　dead　as　they　hurried　into　the　palace　and　along　corridors　that　seemed　longer　than　Min　remembered；　with　more　Cair