rj.acrownofswords-第28部分

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hey；　thought　they　were；　anyway。　Why　was　Rand　just　standing　there？　He　knew　all　of　this。　〃Where　is　Berelain？〃
　　　Before　the　name　was　off　his　tongue　he　wanted　to　call　it　back。　Faile　only　glanced　at　him；　her　face　still　a　cool　mask　of　propriety；　but　that　glance　could　have　set　water　aflame。　〃A　jealous　wife　is　like　a　hornets'　nest　in　your　mattress；〃　the　saying　went。　No　matter　how　you　twitched；　you　got　stung。
　　　〃You　dare　accuse　me　of　so　vile　a　crime？〃　Colavaere　demanded。　〃There　is　no　proof。　There　can　be　no　proof！　Not　when　I　am　innocent。〃　Abruptly　she　seemed　to　bee　aware　of　where　she　was；　of　the　nobles　crowded　shoulder…to…shoulder　among　the　columns；　watching　and　listening。　Whatever　else　could　be　said　of　her；　she　did　have　courage。　Standing　straight；　she　did　her　best　to　stare　Rand　in　the　eye　without　tilting　her　head　too　far　back。　〃My　Lord　Dragon；　nine　days　ago　at　sunrise　I　was　crowned　Queen　of　Cairhien　according　to　the　laws　and　usages　of　Cairhien。　I　will　keep　my　oath　of　fealty　to　you；　but　I　am　Queen　of　Cairhien。〃　Rand　only　stared　at　her；　silent。　And　troubled；　Perrin　would　have　said。　〃My　Lord　Dragon；　I　am　Queen；　unless　you　would　rip　all　our　laws　away。〃　Still　silence　from　Rand；　and　an　unblinking　stare。
　　　Why　doesn't　he　end　it？　Perrin　wondered。
　　　〃These　charges　against　me　are　false。　They　are　mad！〃　Only　that　silent　stare　for　answer。　Colavaere　moved　her　head　uneasily。　〃Annoura；　advise　me。　e；　Annoura！　Advise　me！〃
　　　Perrin　thought　she　spoke　to　one　of　the　women　with　Faile；　but　the　woman　who　stepped　from　behind　the　throne　did　not　wear　the　striped　skirts　of　an　attendant。　A　broad　face　with　a　wide　mouth　and　a　beak　of　a　nose　regarded　Rand　from　beneath　dozens　of　long　thin　dark　braids。　An　ageless　face。　To　Perrin's　surprise；　Havien　made　a　sound　in　his　throat　and　began　grinning。　His　own　hackles　were　standing　straight。
　　　〃I　cannot　do　this；　Colavaere；〃　the　Aes　Sedai　said　in　a　Taraboner　accent；　shifting　her　gray…fringed　shawl。　〃I　fear　I　have　allowed　you　to　misperceive　my　relationship　to　you。〃　Drawing　a　deep　breath；　she　added；　〃There。。。　there　is　no　need　for　this；　Master　al'Thor。〃　Her　voice　became　slightly　unsteady　for　a　moment。　〃Or　my　Lord　Dragon；　if　you　prefer。　I　assure　you；　I　harbor　no　ill　intentions　toward　you。　If　I　did；　I　would　have　struck　before　you　knew　I　was　here。〃
　　　〃You　might　well　have　died　if　you　had；〃　Rand's　voice　was　icy　steel；　his　face　made　it　seem　soft。　〃I'm　not　who　has　you　shielded；　Aes　Sedai。　Who　are　you？　Why　are　you　here？　Answer　me！　I　don't　have　much　patience　with。。。　your　kind。　Unless　you　want　to　be　hauled　out　to　the　Aiel　camp？　I　wager　the　Wise　Ones　can　make　you　speak　freely。〃
　　　This　Annoura　was　not　slow…witted。　Her　eyes　darted　to　Aram；　then　to　the　aisle　where　the　Asha'man　stood。　And　she　knew。　They　had　to　be　who　he　meant；　in　their　black　coats；　grim　faces　dry　when　every　other　but　hers　and　Rand's　glistened。　Young　Jahar　was　watching　her　like　a　hawk　watching　a　rabbit。　Incongruously；　Loial　stood　in　the　midst　of　them　with　his　axe　propped　against　his　shoulder。　One　big　hand　managed　to　hold　an　ink　bottle　and　an　open　book；　pressed　awkwardly　against　his　chest；　while　the　other　scribbled　as　fast　as　he　could　dip　a　pen　fatter　than　Perrin's　thumb。　He　was　taking　notes。　Here！
　　　The　nobles　heard　Rand　as　well　as　Annoura　did。　They　had　been　watching　the　veiled　Maidens　uneasily；　now　they　crowded　back　from　the　Asha'man；　pressing　together　like　fish　in　a　barrel。　Here　and　there　someone　sagged　in　a　faint；　held　up　by　the　throng。
　　　Shivering；　Annoura　adjusted　her　shawl；　and　regained　all　the　vaunted　Aes　Sedai　posure。　〃I　am　Annoura　Larisen；　my　Lord　Dragon。　Of　the　Gray　Ajah。〃　Nothing　about　her　said　that　she　was　shielded；　and　in　the　presence　of　men　who　could　channel。　She　seemed　to　answer　as　a　favor。　〃I　am　the　advisor　to　Berelain；　First　of　Mayene。〃　So　that　was　why　Havien　was　grinning　like　a　madman；　he　had　recognized　the　woman。　Perrin　did　not　feel　like　grinning　at　all。　〃This　has　been　kept　secret；　you　understand；〃　she　went　on；　〃because　of　the　attitude　of　Tear　both　toward　Mayene　and　toward　Aes　Sedai；　but　I　think　me　the　time　for　secrets；　it　is　past；　yes？〃　Annoura　turned　to　Colavaere；　and　her　mouth　firmed。　〃I　let　you　think　what　you　would　think；　but　Aes　Sedai　do　not　bee　advisors　simply　because　someone　tells　them　they　are。　Most　especially　when　they　already　advise　someone　else。〃
　　　〃If　Berelain　confirms　your　story；〃　Rand　said；　〃I　will　parole　you　to　her　custody。〃　Looking　at　the　crown；　he　seemed　to　realize　for　the　first　time　that　the　spray　of　gold　and　gems　was　still　in　his　hand。　Very　gently　he　set　it　on　the　silk…covered　seat　of　the　Sun　Throne。　〃I　don't　think　every　Aes　Sedai　is　my　enemy；　not　entirely；　but　I　won't　be　schemed　against；　and　I　won't　be　manipulated；　not　anymore。　It's　your　choice；　Annoura；　but　if　you　make　the　wrong　one；　you　will　go　to　the　Wise　Ones。　If　you　live　long　enough。　I　won't　hobble　the　Asha'man；　and　a　mistake　could　cost　you。〃
　　　〃The　Asha'man；〃　Annoura　said　calmly。　〃I　quite　understand。〃　But　she　touched　her　lips　with　her　tongue。
　　　〃My　Lord　Dragon；　Colavaere　plotted　to　break　her　oath　of　fealty。〃　Perrin　had　wished　so　hard　for　Faile　to　speak　that　he　jumped　when　she　did；　stepping　out　of　the　line　of　attendants。　Choosing　her　words　carefully；　she　confronted　the　would…be　queen　like　a　stooping　eagle。　Light；　but　she　was　beautiful！　〃Colavaere　swore　to　obey　you　in　all　things　and　uphold　your　laws；　but　she　has　made　plans　to　rid　Cairhien　of　the　Aiel；　to　send　them　south　and　return　all　to　as　it　was　before　you　came。　She　also　said　that　if　you　ever　returned；　you　would　not　dare　change　anything　she　had　done。　The　woman　she　told　these　things；　Maire；　was　one　of　her　attendants。　Maire　vanished　soon　after　telling　me。　I　have　no　proof；　but　I　believe　she　is　dead。　I　believe　Colavaere　regretted　revealing　too　much　of　her　mind；　too　soon。〃
　　　Dobraine　strode　up　the　steps　to　the　dais；　his　helmet　under　his　arm。　His　face　might　have　been　cold　iron。　〃Colavaere　Saighan；〃　he　announced　in　a　formal　voice　that　carried　to　every　corner　of　the　Grand　Hall；　〃by　my　immortal　soul；　under　the　Light；　I；　Dobraine；　High　Seat　of　House　Taborwin；　do　arraign　and　censure　you　of　treason；　the　penalty　for　which　is　death。〃
　　　Rand's　head　went　back；　eyes　closed。　His　mouth　moved　slightly；　but　Perrin　knew　that　only　he　and　Rand　heard　what　was　said。　〃No。　I　cannot。　I　will　not。〃　Perrin　understood　the　delay　now。　Rand　was　searching　for　a　way　out。　Perrin　wished　he　could　see　one。
　　　Colavaere　certainly　did　not　hear；　but　she　wanted　a　way　out；　too。　She　looked　around　wildly；　to　the　Sun　Throne；　to　her　other　attendants；　to　the　assembled　nobility；　as　though　they　might　step　forward　to　defend　her。　Their　feet　could　as　well　have　been　set　in　cement；　a　sea　of　carefully　blank；　sweaty　faces　confronted　her；　and　eyes　that　avoided　hers。　Some　of　those　eyes　rolled　toward　the　Asha'man；　but　not　too　openly。　The　already　considerable　space　between　nobles　and　Asha'man　widened　noticeably。
　　　〃Lies！〃　she　hissed；　hands　knotted　in　her　skirts。　〃All　lies！　You　sneaking　little　…！〃　She　took　a　step　toward　Faile。　Rand　stretched　his　arm　between　them；　though　Colavaere　appeared　not　to　see　it；　and　Faile　looked　as　though　she　wished　he　had　not。　Anyone　who　attacked　her　was　in　for　a　surprise。
　　　〃Faile　does　not　lie！〃　Perrin　growled。　Well；　not　about　something　like　this。
　　　Once　again　Colavaere　recovered　herself。　Slight　as　her　height　was；　she　drew　up　every　inch　of　it。　Perrin　almost　admired　her。　Except　for　Meilan；　and　Maringil；　and　this　Maire；　and　the　Light　alone　knew　how　many　others。　〃I　demand　justice；　my　Lord　Dragon。〃　Her　voice　was　calm；　stately。　Royal。　〃There　is　no　proof　of　any　of　this。。。　this　filth。　A　claim　that　someone　who　is　no　longer　in　Cairhien　says　I　spoke　words　I　never　did？　I　demand　the　Lord　Dragon's　justice。　By　your　own　laws；　there　must　be　proof。〃
　　　〃How　do　you　know　she　is　no　longer　in　Cairhien？〃　Dobraine　demanded。　〃Where　is　she？〃
　　　〃I　assume　she　has　gone；〃　She　addressed　her　answer　to　Rand。　〃Maire　left　my　service；　and　I　replaced　her　with　Reale；　there。〃　She　gestured　toward　the　third　attendant　on　the　left：　〃I　have　no　idea　where　she　is。　Bring　her　forward　if　she　is　in　the　city；　and　let　her　make　these　ridiculous　charges　to　my　face。　I　will　fling　her　lies　in　her　face。〃　Faile　looked　murder　at　her。　Perrin　hoped　she　would　not　produce　one　of　those　knives　she　kept　hidden　about　her；　she　had　a　habit　of　doing　that　when　she　became　angry　enough。
　　　Annoura　cleared　her　throat。　She　had　been　studying　Rand　much　too　closely　for　Perrin's　fort。　She　reminded　him　of　Verin　suddenly；　that　look　of　a　bird　examining　a　worm。　〃May　I　speak；　Master。。。　ah。。。　my　Lord　Dragon？〃　At　his　curt　nod；　she　went　on；　adjusting　her　shawl。　〃Of　young　Maire；　I　know　nothing　except　that　one　morning　she　was　here；　and　before　nightfall；　she　was　nowhere　to　be　found　and　none　knew　where　she　had　gone。　But　Lord　Maringil　and　High　Lord　Meilan；　they　are　a　different　matter。　The　First　of　Mayene；　she　brought　with　her　two　most　excellent　thief…catchers；　men　experienced　in　ferreting　out　crimes。　They　have　brought　before　me　two　of　the　men　who　waylaid　the　High　Lord　Meilan　in　the　streets；　though　both　insist　they　only　held　his　arms　while　others　did　the　stabbing。　Also　they　brought　me　the　servant　who　put　poison　in　the　spiced　wine　Lord　Maringil　liked　to　drink　at　bedtime。　She　also　protests　her　true　innocence；　her　invalid　mother　would　have　died；　and　she　herself；　had　Lord　Maringil　not。　So　she　says；　and　in　her　case；　I　believe　she　speaks　truly。　Her　solace　at　confession　was　not　false；　I　think。　Both　the　men　and　the　woman　agree　in　this：　the　orders　for　their　actions　came　from　the　mouth　of　Lady　Colavaere　herself。〃
　　　Word　by　word　the　defiance　leached　out　of　Colavaere。　She　still　stood；　yet　it　seemed　a　wonder；　she　appeared　as　limp　as　a　damp　rag。　〃They　promised；〃　she　mumbled　to　Rand。　〃They　promised　you　would　never　return。〃　Too　late；　she　clamped　both　hands　over　her　mouth。　Her　eyes　bulged。　Perrin　wished　he　could　not　hear　the　sounds　ing　from　her　throat。　No　one　should　make　sounds　like　that。
　　　〃Treason　and　murder。〃　Dobraine　sounded　satisfied。　Those　whimpered　screams　did　not　touch　him。　〃The　penalty　is　the　same；　my　Lord　Dragon。　Death。　Except；　by　your　new　law；　it　is　hanging　for　murder。〃　For　some　reason；　Rand　looked　at　Min。　She　returned　his　gaze　with　profound　sadness。　Not　for　Colavaere。　For