rj.acrownofswords-第152部分

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　　　〃None　did；〃　he　said　simply；　but　he　kept　rubbing　his　hands　together　and　staring　at　where　the　gateway　had　been。　Or　maybe　at　something　beyond。　He　still　held　the　Mask　of　Mirrors；　giving　him　the　illusion　of　added　height。　She　had　dropped　hers　as　soon　as　the　gateway　closed。
　　　〃Well；　you　certainly　managed　to　put　a　panic　into　them。〃　Around　them　lay　the　evidence：　a　few　low　tents　still　standing；　blankets；　a　cookpot；　a　rag　doll；　all　sorts　of　rubbish　lying　where　it　had　fallen。　〃Where　did　you　send　them？　Somewhere　ahead　of　al'Thor's　army；　I　suppose？〃
　　　〃Some；〃　he　said　absently。　〃Enough。〃　His　staring　introspection　vanished　abruptly；　and　his　disguise　as　well。　The　scar　across　his　face　seemed　especially　livid。　〃Enough　to　cause　trouble；　particularly　with　their　Wise　Ones　channeling；　but　not　so　many　that　anyone　will　suspect　me。　The　rest　are　scattered　from　Illian　to　Ghealdan。　As　to　how　or　why？　Maybe　al'Thor　did　it；　for　his　own　reasons；　but　I　certainly　wouldn't　have　wasted　most　of　them　if　it　was　my　work；　now　would　I？〃　He　laughed　again；　caught　up　in　his　own　brilliance。
　　　She　adjusted　the　bodice　of　her　dress　to　cover　a　start。　peting　that　way　was　remarkably　silly　…　she　had　told　herself　that　ten　thousand　times；　and　never　listened　once　…　remarkably　silly；　and　now　the　dress　felt　as　if　it　might　fall　off。　Which　had　nothing　to　do　with　her　start。　He　did　not　know　Sevanna　had　taken　every　Shaido　woman　who　could　channel　with　her。　Was　it　finally　time　to　abandon　him？　If　she　threw　herself　on　Demandred's　mercy。。。
　　　As　if　reading　her　thoughts；　he　said；　〃You're　tied　to　me　as　tightly　as　my　belt；　Graendal。〃　A　gateway　opened；　revealing　his　private　rooms　in　Illian。　〃The　truth　doesn't　matter　anymore；　if　it　ever　has。　You　rise　with　me；　or　fall　with　me。　The　Great　Lord　rewards　success；　and　he's　never　cared　how　it　was　achieved。〃
　　　〃As　you　say；〃　she　told　him。　Demandred　had　no　mercy。　And　Semirhage。。。　〃I　rise　or　fall　with　you。〃　Still；　something　would　have　to　be　worked　out。　The　Great　Lord　rewarded　success；　but　she　would　not　be　pulled　down　if　Sammael　failed。　She　opened　a　gateway　to　her　palace　in　Arad　Doman；　to　the　long　columned　room　where　she　could　see　her　pets　frolicking　in　the　pool。　〃But　what　if　al'Thor　es　after　you　himself？　What　then？〃
　　　〃Al'Thor　isn't　going　after　anyone；〃　Sammael　laughed。　〃All　I　have　to　do　is　wait。〃　Still　laughing；　he　stepped　into　his　gateway　and　let　it　close。
　　　
　　　The　Myrddraal　moved　from　the　deeper　shadows；　being　visible。　In　its　eyes；　the　gateways　had　left　a　residue　…　three　patches　of　glowing　mist。　It　could　not　tell　one　flow　from　another；　but　it　could　distinguish　saidin　from　saidar　by　the　smell。　Saidin　smelled　like　the　sharp　edge　of　a　knife；　the　point　of　a　thorn。　Saidar　smelled　soft；　but　like　something　that　would　grow　harder　the　harder　it　was　pressed。　No　other　Myrddraal　could　smell　that　difference。　Shaidar　Haran　was　like　no　other　Myrddraal。
　　　Picking　up　a　discarded　spear；　Shaidar　Haran　used　it　to　upend　the　bag　Sammael　had　discarded；　and　then　to　stir　the　bits　of　stone　that　fell　out。　Much　was　happening　outside　the　plan。　Would　these　events　churn　chaos；　or。。。
　　　Angry　black　flames　raced　down　the　spear　haft　from　Shaidar　Haran's　hand；　the　hand　of　the　Hand　of　the　Shadow。　In　an　instant　the　wooden　haft　was　charred　and　twisted；　the　spearhead　dropped　off。　The　Myrddraal　let　the　blackened　stick　fall　and　dusted　soot　from　its　palm。　If　Sammael　served　chaos；　then　all　was　well。　If　not。。。
　　　A　sudden　ache　climbed　the　back　of　its　neck；　a　faint　weakness　washed　along　its　limbs。　Too　long　away　from　Shayol　Ghul。　That　tie　had　to　be　severed　somehow。　With　a　snarl；　it　turned　to　find　the　edge　of　shadow　that　it　needed。　The　day　was　ing。　It　would　e。
　　　
　　　
Chapter　41　
（Serpent　and　Wheel）　
A　Crown　of　Swords　
　　　
　　　Tossing；　Rand　dreamed；　wild　dreams　where　he　argued　with　Perrin　and　begged　Mat　to　find　Elayne；　where　colors　flashed　just　beyond　sight　and　Padan　Fain　leaped　at　him　with　a　flashing　blade；　and　sometimes　he　thought　he　heard　a　voice　moaning　for　a　dead　woman　in　the　heart　of　a　fog；　dreams　where　he　tried　to　explain　himself　to　Elayne；　to　Aviendha；　to　Min；　to　all　three　at　once；　and　even　Min　looked　at　him　with　scorn。
　　　〃。。。　not　to　be　disturbed！〃　Cadsuane's　voice。　Part　of　his　dreams？
　　　The　voice　frightened　him；　in　his　dream　he　shouted　for　Lews　Therin；　and　the　sound　echoed　through　a　thick　mist　where　shapes　moved　and　people　and　horses　died　screaming；　a　fog　where　Cadsuane　followed　him　implacably　while　he　ran；　panting。　Alanna　tried　to　soothe　him；　but　she　was　afraid　of　Cadsuane；　too；　he　could　feel　her　fear　as　strongly　as　his　own。　His　head　hurt。　And　his　side；　the　old　scar　was　fire。　He　felt　saidin。　Someone　held　saidin。　Was　it　him？　He　did　not　know。　He　struggled　to　wake。
　　　〃You'll　kill　him！〃　Min　shouted。　〃I　won't　let　you　kill　him！〃
　　　His　eyes　opened；　staring　up　at　her　face。　Not　looking　at　him；　she　had　his　head　wrapped　in　her　arms　and　was　glaring　at　someone　away　from　the　bed。　Her　eyes　were　red。　She　had　been　crying；　but　no　longer。　Yes；　he　was　in　his　own　bed；　in　his　rooms　in　the　Sun　Palace。　He　could　see　a　heavy　square　blackwood　bedpost　set　with　wedges　of　ivory。　Coatless　in　a　cream　silk　blouse；　Min　lay　curled　around　him　protectively；　atop　the　linen　sheet　that　covered　him　to　the　neck。　Alanna　was　afraid；　that　lay　shivering　in　the　back　of　his　head。　Afraid　for　him。　For　some　reason；　he　was　sure　of　that。
　　　〃I　think　he　is　awake；　Min；〃　Amys　said　gently。
　　　Min　looked　down；　and　her　face；　framed　in　dark　ringlets；　beamed　with　a　sudden　smile。
　　　Carefully　…　because　he　felt　weak　…　he　removed　her　arms　and　sat　up。　His　head　whirled　dizzily；　but　he　forced　himself　not　to　lie　back　again。　His　bed　was　ringed。
　　　To　one　side　stood　Amys；　flanked　by　Bera　and　Kiruna。　Amys'　too…youthful　features　bore　no　expression　at　all；　but　she　brushed　back　her　long　white　hair　and　shifted　her　dark　shawl　as　though　tidying　herself　after　a　struggle。　Outwardly　the　two　Aes　Sedai　were　serene；　yet　with　determined　serenity；　a　queen　ready　to　fight　for　her　throne；　a　country　woman　ready　to　fight　for　her　farm。　Oddly；　if　he　had　ever　seen　three　people　stand　together　…　and　not　just　physically　…　it　was　those　three；　shoulder…to…shoulder　as　one。
　　　On　the　opposite　side　of　the　bed；　Samitsu；　with　those　silver　bells　in　her　hair；　and　a　slender　sister　with　thick　black　eyebrows　and　a　wild　look　to　her　raven　hair　stood　with　Cadsuane；　who　had　her　fists　planted　on　her　hips。　Samitsu　and　the　raven…haired　Aes　Sedai　wore　yellow…fringed　shawls　and　had　jaws　set　every　bit　as　firmly　as　Bera　or　Kiruna；　yet　Cadsuane's　stern　stare　made　all　four　appear　hesitant。　The　two　groups　of　women　were　not　staring　at　one　another；　but　at　the　men。
　　　At　the　foot　of　the　bed　were　Dashiva　with　the　silver　sword　and　red…and…gold　Dragon　glittering　his　collar；　and　Flinn　and　Narishma；　all　grim…faced；　trying　to　watch　the　women　on　both　sides　of　the　bed　at　once。　Jonan　Adley　stood　beside　them；　his　black　coat　looking　singed　on　one　sleeve。　Saidin　filled　all　four　men；　to　overflowing　it　seemed。　Dashiva　held　almost　as　much　as　Rand　could　have。　Rand　looked　to　Adley；　who　nodded　slightly。
　　　Abruptly；　Rand　realized　that　he　was　not　wearing　anything　beneath　the　sheet　that　had　fallen　to　his　waist；　and　nothing　above　except　a　bandage　wound　around　his　middle。　〃How　long　have　I　been　asleep？〃　he　asked。　〃How　is　it　I'm　alive？〃　He　touched　the　pale　bandage　gingerly。　〃Fain's　dagger　came　from　Shadar　Logoth。　Once　I　saw　it　kill　a　man　in　moments　with　a　scratch。　He　died　fast；　and　he　died　hard。〃　Dashiva　muttered　a　curse　with　Padan　Fain's　name　in　it。
　　　Samitsu　and　the　other　Yellow　exchanged　startled　looks；　but　Cadsuane　merely　nodded；　the　golden　ornaments　around　her　iron…gray　bun　swaying。　〃Yes；　Shadar　Logoth；　that　would　explain　several　matters。　You　can　thank　Samitsu　that　you're　alive；　and　Master　Flinn。〃　She　did　not　glance　toward　the　grizzled　man　with　his　fringe　of　white　hair；　but　he　grinned　as　though　she　had　given　him　a　bow；　in　truth；　surprisingly；　the　Yellows　did　nod　to　him。　〃And　Corele；　here；　of　course；〃　Cadsuane　went　on。　〃Each　has　done　a　part；　including　some　things　I　think　have　not　been　done　since　the　Breaking。〃　Her　voice　turned　grim。　〃Without　all　three；　you　would　be　dead　by　now。　You　still　may　die　unless　you　let　yourself　be　guided。　You　must　rest；　without　exertion。〃　His　stomach　rumbled　suddenly；　loudly；　and　she　added；　〃We've　only　been　able　to　get　a　little　water　and　broth　down　you　since　you　were　hurt。　Two　days　is　a　long　time　without　food　for　a　sick　man。〃
　　　Two　days。　Only　two。　He　avoided　looking　at　Adley。　〃I'm　getting　up；〃　he　said。
　　　〃I　won't　let　them　kill　you；　sheepherder；〃　Min　said　with　an　obstinate　glint　in　her　eyes；　〃and　I　won't　let　you　kill　you；　either。〃　She　put　her　arms　around　his　shoulders　as　if　to　hold　him　where　he　was。
　　　〃If　the　Car'a'carn　wishes　to　rise；〃　Amys　said　flatly；　〃I　will　have　Nandera　bring　in　the　Maidens　from　the　corridor。　Somara　and　Enaila　will　be　especially　happy　to　give　him　just　the　assistance　he　needs。〃　The　corners　of　her　mouth　twitched　toward　a　smile。　Once　a　Maiden　herself；　she　knew　close　enough　to　everything　of　that　situation。　Neither　Kiruna　nor　Bera　smiled；　they　frowned　at　him　as　at　an　absolute　fool。
　　　〃Boy；〃　Cadsuane　said　dryly；　〃I've　already　seen　more　of　your　hairless　bottomcheeks　than　I　wish　to；　but　if　you　want　to　flaunt　them　in　front　of　all　six　of　us；　perhaps　someone　will　enjoy　the　show。　If　you　fall　on　your　face；　though；　I　may　just　spank　you　before　I　put　you　back　to　bed。〃　By　Samitsu's　face；　and　Corele's；　they　would　be　happy　to　assist　her。
　　　Narishma　and　Adley　stared　at　Cadsuane　in　shock；　while　Flinn　tugged　at　his　coat　as　though　arguing　with　himself。　Dashiva；　though；　barked　a　rough　laugh。　〃If　you　want　us　to　clear　the　women　out。。。　〃　The　plain…faced　man　began　preparing　flows；　not　shields；　but　plex　weaves　of　Spirit　and　Fire　that　Rand　suspected　would　put　anyone　they　were　laid　on　in　too　much　pain　to　think　of　channeling。
　　　〃No；〃　he　said　quickly。　Bera　and　Kiruna　would　obey　a　simple　order　to　go；　and　if　Corele　and　Samitsu　had　helped　keep　him　alive；　he　owed　them　more　than　pain。　But　if　Cadsuane　thought　nakedness　would　hold　him　where　he　was；　she　was　in　for　a　surprise。　He　was　not　sure　the　Maidens　had　left　him　any　modesty　at　all。　With　a　smile　for　Min；　he　unwound　her　arms；　tossed　back　t