rj.acrownofswords-第26部分

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　　　Perrin　shrugged　unfortably。　The　Asha'man　had　spread　out　behind；　taking　up　most　of　the　width　of　the　ramp；　they　must　be　using　the　Power。　Very　likely　the　eight　of　them　could　tear　the　whole　palace　apart。　Maybe　Rand　could　have　by　himself。　But　if　those　towers　began　spewing　crossbow　bolts；　they　would　die　with　everyone　else；　caught　in　the　open　on　this　ramp　that　no　longer　seemed　so　wide。
　　　Nobody　sped　up。　Any　eyes　at　the　tall　narrow　windows　of　the　palace；　on　the　colonnaded　walks　high　above；　must　see　nothing　out　of　the　ordinary。　Sulin　flashed　Maiden　hand…talk；　and　the　one　who　had　veiled　lowered　the　black　cloth　hurriedly；　face　flushing。　A　slow　walk；　up　the　stone　ramp。　Some　of　the　guards'　helmeted　heads　shook　wildly；　eyes　rolling；　one　seemed　to　have　fainted；　slumping　upright　with　his　chin　on　his　chest。　Their　mouths　strained；　open；　but　no　sound　came　out。　Perrin　tried　not　to　think　about　what　had　gagged　them。　A　slow　walk；　through　the　open　bronze　gates；　into　the　main　courtyard。
　　　There　were　no　soldiers　here。　The　stone　balconies　around　the　courtyard　stood　empty。　Liveried　servants　rushed　out　with　downcast　eyes　to　take　the　horses'　reins　and　hold　stirrups。　Stripes　of　red　and　yellow　and　silver　ran　down　the　sleeves　of　otherwise　dark　coats　and　dresses；　and　each　had　the　Rising　Sun　small　oh　the　left　breast。　That　was　more　color　than　Perrin　had　seen　on　a　Cairhienin　servant　before。　They　could　not　see　the　guards　outside；　and　likely　would　have　done　little　different　if　they　had。　In　Cairhien；　servants　played　their　own　version　of　Daes　Dae'mar；　the　Game　of　Houses；　but　they　pretended　to　ignore　the　doings　of　those　above　them。　Taking　too　much　notice　of　what　happened　among　your　betters　…　or　at　least；　being　seen　to　take　notice　…　might　mean　being　caught　up　in　it。　In　Cairhien；　maybe　in　most　lands；　ordinary　folk　could　be　crushed　unnoticed　where　the　mighty　walked。
　　　A　blocky　woman　led　Stepper　and　Swallow　away　without　really　looking　at　him。　Swallow　was　inside　the　Sun　Palace；　and　it　made　no　difference。　He　still　did　not　know　whether　Faile　was　alive　or　dead。　A　fool　boy's　fool　fancy。
　　　Shifting　his　axe　at　his　hip；　he　followed　Rand　up　the　broad　gray　stairs　at　the　far　end　of　the　courtyard；　and　nodded　when　Aram　reached　over　his　shoulder　again　to　ease　his　sword。　Liveried　men　swung　open　the　great　doors　at　the　head　of　the　stairs；　bronze　like　the　outer　gates　and　marked　large　with　the　Rising　Sun　of　Cairhien。
　　　Once；　the　entry　hall　would　have　stunned　Perrin　with　its　grandeur。　Thick　square　columns　of　dark　marble　held　a　square…vaulted　ceiling　ten　paces　above　floor　tiles　that　alternated　dark　blue　and　deep　gold。　Gilded　Rising　Suns　marched　around　the　cornices；　and　friezes　carved　in　the　walls　showed　Cairhienin　triumphs　in　battle。　The　hall　was　empty；　save　for　a　handful　of　young　men　clustered　beneath　one　of　the　friezes　who　fell　silent　when　Perrin　and　the　rest　entered。
　　　Not　all　men；　he　realized。　All　wore　swords；　but　four　of　the　seven　were　women；　in　coats　and　snug　breeches　much　like　Min's；　their　hair　cut　short　as　the　men's。　Not　that　that　was　particularly　short；　men　and　women　alike　had　it　gathered　in　a　kind　of　tail　that　reached　their　shoulders；　tied　with　a　dark　ribbon。　One　of　the　women　wore　green　a　little　paler　than　normal　for　Cairhienin；　and　another　bright　blue；　all　the　rest　were　in　dark　colors；　with　a　few　bright　stripes　across　their　chests。　They　studied　Rand's　party　…　with　an　especial　view　for　himself；　Perrin　realized；　his　yellow　eyes　took　people　aback；　although　he　hardly　noticed　it　anymore　unless　somebody　jumped；　or　made　a　motion　…　studied　in　silence　until　the　last　of　the　Asha'man　was　in　and　the　doors　swung　shut。　The　boom　of　the　closing　covered　a　moment　of　fierce　whispering；　then　they　came　swaggering　closer；　the　women　strutting　even　more　arrogantly　than　the　men；　which　took　some　doing。　Even　the　way　they　knelt　was　arrogant。
　　　The　green…clad　woman　glanced　at　the　one　in　blue；　who　had　her　head　down；　and　said；　〃My　Lord　Dragon；　I　am　Camaille　Nolaisen。　Selande　Darengil　leads　our　society。。。　〃　She　blinked　at　a　fierce　look　from　the　woman　in　blue。　Despite　the　glare；　Selande　smelled　afraid　to　her　bones；　if　Perrin　was　making　out　who　was　who　properly。　Clearing　her　throat；　Camaille　went　on；　〃We　did　not　think　…　We　did　not　expect　you　to　return　…　so　soon。〃
　　　〃Yes；〃　Rand　said　softly。　〃I　doubt　anyone　thought　I　would　return　…　so　soon。　None　of　you　has　any　reason　to　be　afraid　of　me。　None　at　all。　If　you　believe　anything；　believe　that。〃　Surprisingly；　he　looked　right　at　Selande　when　he　said　that。　Her　head　whipped　up；　and　as　she　stared　at　him；　the　fear　smell　faded。　Not　pletely；　but　down　to　a　tatter。　How　had　Rand　known　it　was　there？　〃Where　is　Colavaere？〃　Rand　asked。
　　　Camaille　opened　her　mouth；　but　it　was　Selande　who　answered。　〃In　the　Grand　Hall　of　the　Sun。〃　Her　voice　grew　stronger　as　she　spoke；　the　scent　of　her　fear　growing　weaker。　Oddly；　a　slight　tinge　of　jealousy　touched　it　once；　just　for　an　instant；　when　she　glanced　at　Min。　Sometimes　his　sense　of　smell　was　more　confusing　than　enlightening。　〃It　is　the　third　Sunset　Convocation；〃　she　went　on。　〃We　are　not　important　enough　to　attend。　Besides；　I　think　we　of　the　societies　make　her　uneasy。〃
　　　〃The　third；〃　Dobraine　muttered。　〃The　ninth　sunset　after　her　coronation　already。　She　wasted　no　time。　At　least　they　will　all　be　together。　No　one　of　any　rank　or　pretension　will　miss　it；　Cairhienin　or　Tairen。〃
　　　Drawing　herself　up　on　her　knees；　Selande　managed　to　make　it　seem　she　was　meeting　Rand　eye…to…eye。　〃We　are　ready　to　dance　the　blades　for　you；　my　Lord　Dragon。〃　Sulin　shook　her　head；　wincing；　and　another　Maiden　groaned　audibly；　several　looked　and　smelled　ready　to　do　some　violence　then　and　there。　The　Aiel　could　not　decide　what　to　make　of　these　young　wetlanders。　The　problem　in　Aiel　eyes　were　that　they　were　trying　to　be　Aiel；　in　a　way；　to　follow　ji'e'toh；　their　version　of　it；　anyway。　These　seven　were　not　the　lot；　hundreds　of　the　idiots；　at　least；　could　be　found　all　over　the　city；　organized　into　societies　in　imitation　of　the　Aiel。　Half　the　Aiel　Perrin　had　heard　mention　them　wanted　to　help；　the　other　half　wanted　to　strangle　them。
　　　For　himself；　he　did　not　care　whether　they　mangled　ji'e'toh　to　mincemeat。　〃Where　is　my　wife？〃　he　demanded。　〃Where　is　Faile？〃　The　young　fools　exchanged　guarded　looks。　Guarded！
　　　〃She　is　in　the　Grand　Hall　of　the　Sun；〃　Selande　said　slowly。　〃She　…　she　is　one　of　Queen　…　of　Colavaere's　lady　attendants。〃
　　　〃Put　your　eyes　back　in　your　head；　Perrin；〃　Min　whispered。　〃She　must　have　a　good　reason。　You　know　she　must。〃
　　　Shrugging　inside　his　coat；　Perrin　tried　to　gather　himself。　One　of　Colavaere's　attendants？　Whatever　her　reason；　it　must　be　good。　That　much　he　was　sure　of。　But　what　could　it　be？
　　　Selande　and　the　others　were　passing　those　guarded　looks　about　again。　One　of　the　men；　a　young　fellow　with　a　pointed　nose；　whispered　fierce　and　low；　〃We　swore　not　to　tell　anyone！　Not　anyone！　On　water　oath！〃
　　　Before　Perrin　could　demand　to　be　told　Rand　spoke。　〃Selande；　lead　the　way　to　the　Grand　Hall。　There　will　be　no　blades。　I　am　here　to　see　justice　done；　to　all　who　deserve　it。〃
　　　Something　in　his　voice　made　Perrin's　hackles　rise。　A　hardness　grim　as　a　hammer's　face。　Faile　did　have　a　good　reason。　She　had　to。
　　　
　　　
Chapter　5　
（Dragon）　
A　Broken　Crown　
　　　
　　　Wide　and　tall　as　the　corridors　were；　they　felt　close；　and　dim　despite　tall　gilded　stand…lamps　with　mirrors　on　every　branch；　lit　wherever　daylight　could　not　penetrate。　Tapestries　hung　few　and　far　between　on　the　walls；　scenes　of　hunt　or　battle　with　people　and　animals　arranged　more　precisely　than　ever　nature　had。　Scattered　niches　held　bowls　and　vases　and　now　and　then　a　small　statue；　in　gold　or　silver　or　alabaster；　but　even　the　statues　seemed　to　emphasize　that　they　were　stone　or　metal；　as　if　the　sculptors　had　tried　to　banish　curves。
　　　The　city's　hush　was　magnified　here。　The　sound　of　their　boots　on　the　floor　tiles　echoed；　a　hollow　foreboding　march；　and　Perrin　did　not　think　it　was　so　to　his　ears　alone。　Loial's　quivered　at　every　other　step；　and　he　peered　down　crossing　corridors　as　though　wondering　what　might　leap　out。　Min　held　herself　stiffly　and　took　ginger　steps；　grimacing　ruefully　when　she　glanced　at　Rand；　she　seemed　to　make　an　effort　not　to　walk　closer　to　him；　and　not　particularly　pleased　with　herself　over　it。　The　young　Cairhienin　started　off　swaggering　like　peacocks；　but　that　arrogance　faded　as　the　drumming　of　their　heels　reverberated。　Even　the　Maidens　felt　it；　Sulin　was　the　only　one　whose　hand　did　not　sometimes　rise　toward　the　veil　hanging　down　her　chest。
　　　There　were　servants　everywhere；　of　course；　pale；　narrow…faced　men　and　women　in　dark　coats　and　dresses　with　the　Rising　Sun　on　the　left　breast　and　sleeves　striped　in　Colavaere's　colors。　Some　gaped　in　recognition　as　Rand　passed　by；　a　handful　dropped　to　their　knees；　heads　bowed。　Most　went　on　about　their　tasks　after　a　small　pause　for　deep　bow　or　curtsy。　It　was　just　as　in　the　courtyard。　Show　proper　respect　to　your　betters；　whoever　they　are；　obey　them　and　otherwise　ignore　what　they　do；　and　perhaps　you　will　not　be　entangled　in　it。　It　was　a　way　of　thinking　that　set　Perrin's　teeth　on　edge。　Nobody　should　have　to　live　that　way。
　　　Two　fellows　in　Colavaere's　livery；　standing　before　the　gilt…covered　doors　to　the　Grand　Hall　of　the　Sun；　frowned　at　sight　of　the　Maidens；　and　maybe　at　the　young　Cairhienin。　Older　folk　usually　looked　askance　at　the　younglings'　carrying　on　every　bit　as　much　as　the　Aiel　did。　More　than　one　parent　had　tried　to　put　an　end　to　it；　had　ordered　sons　or　daughters　to　give　over；　instructed　armsmen　and　servants　to　chase　off　others'　like…minded　sons　and　daughters　like　mon　vagrants　or　street　ruffians。　Perrin　would　not　have　been　surprised　if　these　doormen　slanted　their　gilded　staffs　to　stop　Selande　and　her　friends　from　going　through　the　open　doorways；　nobility　or　not；　and　perhaps　even　the　Maidens。　Few　Cairhienin　still　dared　call　Aiel　savages；　not　where　they　could　be　heard；　but　most　thought　it。　The　pair　gathered　themselves；　drew　deep　breaths　…　and　saw　Rand　over　the　Maidens'　heads。　Their　eyes　nearly　popped　out　of　their　faces。　Each　man　glanced　sideways　at　the　other；　and　then　they　were　on　their　knees。　One　stared　fixedly　at　the　floor；　the　other　squeezed　his　eyes　shut；　and　Perri