rj.acrownofswords-第21部分

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iva　did　not　seem　to　know　one　end　from　the　other。　〃I　don't　know　much　about　having　enemies。〃　Despite　his　awkwardness；　there　was　a　kind　of　insolence　to　him。　But　then；　the　whole　lot　seemed　weaned　on　arrogance。
　　　〃If　you　stay　near　me；〃　Rand　said　softly；　〃you　will。〃　His　smile　made　Perrin　shiver。　He　smiled　while　he　gave　orders　to　go　through　the　gateway　as　though　they　would　be　attacked　on　the　other　side。　There　were　enemies　everywhere；　he　told　them。　Always　remember　that。　There　were　enemies　everywhere；　and　you　never　knew　who。
　　　The　exodus　continued　unabated。　Wagons　rumbled　from　Dumai's　Wells　to　Cairhien；　the　sisters　in　the　first　like　statues　of　ice　being　lurched　about。　Their　Warders　trotted　alongside；　hands　gripping　sword　hilts　and　eyes　never　resting　on　one　spot；　clearly　they　thought　their　Aes　Sedai　needed　protection　as　much　from　those　already　on　the　hill　as　from　anyone　who　might　appear。　The　Wise　Ones　marched　through　herding　their　charges；　a　number　used　sticks　to　prod　the　Aes　Sedai　along；　though　the　sisters　made　a　good　job　pretending　there　were　neither　Wise　Ones　nor　prods。　The　Shaido　gai'shain　came；　trotting　in　a　column　four　wide　under　the　gaze　of　a　single　Maiden；　she　pointed　to　a　place　out　of　the　way　before　darting　to　join　the　other　Far　Dareis　Mai；　and　the　gai'shain　knelt　there　in　lines；　naked　as　jaybirds　and　proud　as　eagles。　The　remaining　Warders　followed　under　their　guard；　radiating　a　massed　fury　that　Perrin　could　smell　over　everything　else；　then　Rhuarc　with　the　rest　of　the　siswai'aman　and　Maidens；　and　four　more　Asha'man；　each　leading　a　second　horse　for　one　of　the　first　four；　and　Nurelle　and　his　Winged　Guards　with　their　red…streamered　lances。
　　　The　Mayeners　were　puffed　up　over　being　the　rear　guard；　laughing　and　shouting　boasts　to　the　Cairhienin　of　what　they　would　have　done　had　the　Shaido　returned；　though　in　fact　they　were　not　last。　Last　of　all　came　Rand　on　Kiruna's　gelding；　and　Min　on　her　mare。　Sorilea　and　Amys　strode　along　to　one　side　of　the　tall　black　horse；　Nandera　and　half　a　dozen　Maidens　to　the　other；　and　Dashiva　led　a　placid…looking　bay　mare　at　their　heels。　The　gateway　winked　out；　and　Dashiva　blinked　at　where　it　had　been；　smiling　faintly；　then　scrambled　clumsily　into　the　mare's　saddle。　He　seemed　to　be　talking　to　himself；　but　it　was　probably　because　his　sword　tangled　in　his　legs　and　he　nearly　fell。　Surely　he　was　not　mad　already。
　　　An　army　covered　the　hill；　all　arrayed　for　an　attack　that　plainly　was　not　ing。　A　small　army；　only　a　few　thousand；　though　it　would　have　seemed　fair…sized　before　the　Aiel　brought　their　numbers　across　the　Dragonwall。　Guiding　his　horse　slowly　toward　Perrin；　Rand　scanned　the　countryside。　The　two　Wise　Ones　followed　closely；　talking　softly　and　watching　him；　Nandera　and　the　Maidens　followed；　watching　everything　else。　Had　Rand　been　a　wolf；　Perrin　would　have　said　he　was　testing　the　air。　He　carried　the　Dragon　Scepter　across　his　high　saddlebow；　a　two…foot　length　of　spearhead　decorated　with　a　green…and…white　tassel　and　carved　with　Dragons；　and　now　and　then　he　weighed　it　lightly　in　his　hand　as　if　to　remind　himself　of　it。
　　　When　Rand　reined　in；　he　studied　Perrin　as　intently　as　he　had　the　surrounding　country。　〃I　trust　you；〃　he　said　finally；　nodding。　Min　stirred　in　her　saddle；　and　he　added；　〃And　you；　Min；　of　course。　And　you；　too；　Loial。〃　The　Ogier　shifted　uncertainly；　with　a　hesitant　glance　for　Perrin。　Rand　looked　around　the　hillside；　at　the　Aiel　and　the　Asha'man　and　all　the　rest。　〃So　few　I　can　trust；〃　he　whispered　tiredly。　His　scent　was　jumbled　enough　for　two　men；　anger　and　fear；　determination　and　despair。　And　woven　through　it　all；　weariness。
　　　Be　sane；　Perrin　wanted　to　tell　him。　Hold　on。　A　wash　of　guilt　held　his　tongue；　though。　Because　it　was　the　Dragon　Reborn　he　wanted　to　say　it　to；　not　his　friend　since　childhood。　He　wanted　his　friend　to　stay　sane；　the　Dragon　Reborn　had　to　stay　sane。
　　　〃My　Lord　Dragon；〃　one　of　the　Asha'man　called　abruptly。　He　looked　little　more　than　a　boy；　with　dark　eyes　as　big　as　any　girl's　and　neither　sword　nor　Dragon　on　his　collar；　but　pride　in　his　bearing。　Narishma；　Perrin　had　heard　him　called。　〃To　the　southwest。〃
　　　A　figure　had　appeared；　running　out　from　the　trees　a　mile　or　more　away；　a　woman　with　skirts　hiked　to　her　thighs。　To　Perrin's　eyes　she　was　clearly　Aiel。　A　Wise　One；　he　thought；　though　there　was　no　real　way　to　tell　at　sight。　He　was　just　certain。　The　sight　of　her　brought　back　all　his　edginess。　Somebody　out　here；　just　where　they　happened　to　e　out　of　the　gateway；　could　not　be　good　news。　The　Shaido　had　been　troubling　Cairhien　again　when　he　set　off　after　Rand；　but　to　the　Aiel；　a　Wise　One　was　a　Wise　One；　whatever　her　clan。　They　visited　like　neighbors　over　for　tea　while　their　clans　killed　one　another。　Two　Aiel　trying　to　kill　each　other　would　step　back　to　let　a　Wise　One　pass　between。　Maybe　yesterday　had　changed　that　and　maybe　not。　He　exhaled　wearily。　At　best　she　could　not　be　good　news。
　　　Nearly　everyone　on　the　hill　seemed　to　feel　the　same。　Ripples　of　motion　ran　everywhere；　spears　hefted；　arrows　nocked。　Cairhienin　and　Mayeners　shifted　in　their　saddles；　and　Aram　drew　his　sword；　eyes　shining　with　anticipation。　Loial　leaned　on　his　tall　axe　and　fingered　the　edge　regretfully。　The　head　was　shaped　like　that　of　a　huge　wood…axe；　but　engraved　with　leaves　and　scrolls　and　inlaid　with　gold。　The　inlay　was　a　trifle　scuffed　from　the　axe's　late　use。　If　he　had　to　use　it　again；　he　would；　but　with　as　much　reluctance　as　Perrin　used　his　and　for　many　of　the　same　reasons。
　　　Rand　simply　sat　his　horse　and　watched；　face　unreadable。　Min　edged　her　mare　close　enough　to　stroke　his　shoulder　like　someone　trying　to　soothe　a　mastiff　with　its　hackles　up。
　　　The　Wise　Ones　also　gave　no　sign　of　disturbance；　but　neither　did　they　stay　still。　Sorilea　gestured；　and　a　dozen　of　the　women　guarding　the　Aes　Sedai　broke　off　to　join　her　and　Amys；　well　away　from　Rand　and　out　of　even　Perrin's　hearing。　Few　had　any　gray　in　their　hair；　and　Sorilea's　was　the　only　lined　face；　but　then；　there　was　hardly　a　gray　hair　to　be　seen　on　any　of　the　Wise　Ones　here。　The　fact　was；　not　many　Aiel　lived　to　have　much　gray　hair。　These　women　had　position；　though；　or　influence；　however　Wise　Ones　decided　such　things。　Perrin　had　seen　Sorilea　and　Amys　confer　with　the　same　lot　before；　though　confer　was　not　quite　the　word。　Sorilea　spoke；　with　an　occasional　word　from　Amys；　and　the　others　listened。　Edarra　raised　a　protest；　but　Sorilea　smothered　it；　apparently　without　breaking　stride；　then　pointed　out　two　of　their　number；　Sotarin　and　Cosain。　Immediately；　they　gathered　their　skirts　over　their　arms　and　sped　off　toward　the　newer；　legs　flashing。
　　　Perrin　patted　Stepper's　neck。　No　more　killing。　Not　yet。
　　　The　three　Wise　Ones　met　nearly　half　a　mile　from　the　hill　and　stopped。　They　spoke；　just　for　a　moment；　and　then　all　came　on　at　a　run；　back　to　the　hill。　And　straight　to　Sorilea。　The　newer；　a　youngish；　long…nosed　woman　with　a　mass　of　incredibly　red　hair；　spoke　hurriedly。　Sorilea's　face　grew　stonier　by　the　word。　Finally　the　red…haired　woman　finished　…　or　rather　Sorilea　cut　her　short　with　a　few　words　…　and　the　lot　turned　to　face　Rand。　None　made　a　move　toward　him；　though。　They　waited；　hands　folded　at　their　waists　and　shawls　looped　over　their　arms；　inscrutable　as　any　Aes　Sedai；
　　　〃The　Car'a'carn；〃　Rand　muttered　dryly　under　his　breath。　Swinging　a　leg　over；　he　slid　from　his　saddle；　then　helped　Min　to　the　ground。
　　　Perrin　climbed　down　too；　and　led　Stepper　after　them　to　the　Wise　Ones。　Loial　trailed　along；　and　Aram　followed　on　his　horse；　not　dismounting　until　Perrin　motioned　him　to。　Aiel　did　not　ride；　not　unless　it　was　absolutely　necessary　anyway；　and　they　considered　it　rude　for　anyone　to　face　them　from　horseback。　Rhuarc　joined　them；　and　Gaul；　who　wore　a　scowl　for　some　reason。　It　went　without　saying　that　Nandera　and　Sulin　and　the　Maidens　came　too。
　　　The　red…haired　newer　began　as　soon　as　Rand　drew　near。　〃Bair　and　Megana　set　watches　every　way　you　might　possibly　e　back　to　the　treekillers'　city；　Car'a'carn；　but　in　truth；　no　one　thought　this　would　be　…　〃
　　　〃Feraighin；〃　Sorilea　said；　sharply　enough　to　draw　blood。　The　red…haired　woman's　teeth　clicked　as　she　snapped　her　mouth　shut；　and　she　stared　fixedly　at　Rand　with　brilliant　blue　eyes；　avoiding　Sorilea's　glare。
　　　Finally　Sorilea　took　a　breath　and　turned　her　attention　to　Rand。　〃There　is　trouble　in　the　tents；〃　she　said　in　a　flat　voice。　〃Rumors　began　among　the　treekillers　that　you　have　gone　to　the　White　Tower　with　the　Aes　Sedai　who　came；　gone　to　bend　knee　to　the　Amyrlin　Seat。　None　who　know　the　truth　dared　speak；　or　the　result　would　have　been　worse。〃
　　　〃And　what　is　the　result？〃　Rand　asked　quietly。　He　exuded　tension；　and　Min　began　stroking　his　shoulder　again。
　　　〃Many　believe　you　have　abandoned　the　Aiel；〃　Amys　told　him　just　as　quietly。　〃The　bleakness　has　returned。　Every　day　a　thousand　or　more　throw　down　their　spears　and　vanish；　unable　to　face　our　future；　or　our　past。　Some　may　be　going　to　the　Shaido。〃　For　a　moment　disgust　tinged　her　voice。　〃There　have　been　whispers　that　the　true　Car'a'carn　would　not　give　himself　to　the　Aes　Sedai。　Indirian　says　if　you　have　gone　to　the　White　Tower；　it　cannot　be　willingly。　He　is　ready　to　take　the　Codarra　north；　to　Tar　Valon；　and　dance　the　spears　with　any　Aes　Sedai　he　finds。　Or　any　wetlander；　he　says　you　mast　have　been　betrayed。　Timolan　mutters　that　if　the　tales　are　true；　you　have　betrayed　us；　and　he　will　take　the　Miagoma　back　to　the　Three…fold　Land。　After　he　sees　you　dead。　Mandelain　and　Janwin　hold　their　counsel；　but　they　listen　to　Indirian　and　Timolan　both。〃　Rhuarc　grimaced；　sucking　air　between　his　teeth；　for　an　Aiel；　that　was　as　much　as　tearing　his　hair　in　despair。
　　　〃It's　not　good　news；〃　Perrin　protested；　〃but　you　make　it　sound　a　death　sentence。　Once　Rand　shows　himself；　the　rumors　are　done。〃
　　　Rand　scrubbed　a　hand　through　his　hair。　〃If　that　was　so；　Sorilea　wouldn't　look　like　she　had　swallowed　a　lizard。〃　For　that　matter；　Nandera　and　Sulin　looked　as　though　their　lizards　were　still　alive　on　the　way　down。　〃What　haven't　you　told　me　yet；　Sorilea？〃
　　　The　leather…faced　woman　gave　him　a　thin；　approving　smile。　〃You　see　beyond　what　is　said。　Good。〃　Her　tone　stayed　flat　as　worked　stone；　though。　〃You　return　with　Aes　Sedai。　Some　will　believe　th