rj.eyeoftheworld-第147部分

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　　　　　　　〃The　beggar；〃　Rand　said；　suddenly　hoarse。　He　sat　back　at　the　sudden　hatred　that　flared　in　Fain's　eyes。　〃He's　the　man　who　was　asking　about　us　in　Caemlyn。　He　has　to　be。〃
　　　　　　　〃So　this　concerns　you　after　all；　Moiraine　Sedai；〃　Agelmar　said　slowly。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　nodded。　〃I　greatly　fear　that　it　does。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　didn't　want　to。〃　Fain　began　to　cry。　Fat　tears　cut　runnels　in　the　dirt　on　his　cheeks；　but　they　were　unable　to　reach　the　bottom　layer。　〃He　made　me！　Him　and　his　burning　eyes。〃　Rand　flinched。　Mat　had　his　hand　under　his　coat；　no　doubt　clutching　the　dagger　from　Shadar　Logoth　again。　〃He　made　me　his　hound！　His　hound；　to　hunt　and　follow　with　never　a　bit　of　rest。　Only　his　hound；　even　after　he　threw　me　away。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　does　concern　us　all；〃　Moiraine　said　grimly。　〃Is　there　a　place　where　I　can　talk　with　him　alone；　Lord　Agelmar？〃　Her　mouth　tightened　with　distaste。　〃And　wash　him　first。　I　may　need　to　touch　him。〃　Agelmar　nodded　and　spoke　softly　to　Ingtar；　who　bowed　and　disappeared　through　the　door。
　　　　　　　〃I　will　not　be　pelled！〃　The　voice　was　Fain's；　but　he　was　no　longer　crying；　and　an　arrogant　snap　had　replaced　the　whine。　He　stood　upright；　not　crouching　at　all。　Throwing　back　his　head；　he　shouted　at　the　ceiling。　〃Never　again！　I　…　will　…　not！〃　He　faced　Agelmar　as　if　the　men　flanking　him　were　his　own　bodyguard　and　the　Lord　of　Fal　Dara　his　equal　rather　than　his　captor。　His　tone　became　sleek　and　oily。　〃There　is　a　misunderstanding　here；　Great　Lord。　I　am　sometimes　taken　by　spells；　but　that　will　pass　soon。　Yes；　soon　I　will　be　rid　of　them。〃　Contemptuously　he　flicked　his　fingers　against　the　rags　he　wore。　〃Do　not　be　misled　by　these；　Great　Lord。　I　have　had　to　disguise　myself　against　those　who　have　tried　to　stop　me；　and　my　journey　has　been　long　and　hard。　But　at　last　I　have　reached　lands　where　men　still　know　the　dangers　of　Ba'alzamon；　where　men　still　fight　the　Dark　One。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　stared；　goggling。　It　was　Fain's　voice；　but　the　words　did　not　sound　like　the　peddler　at　all。
　　　　　　　〃So　you've　e　here　because　we　fight　Trollocs；〃　Agelmar　said。　〃And　you　are　so　important　that　someone　wants　to　stop　you。　These　people　say　you　are　a　peddler　called　Padan　Fain；　and　that　you　are　following　them。〃
　　　　　　　Fain　hesitated。　He　glanced　at　Moiraine　and　hurriedly　pulled　his　eyes　away　from　the　Aes　Sedai。　His　gaze　ran　across　the　Emond's　Fielders；　then　jerked　back　to　Agelmar。　Rand　felt　the　hate　in　that　look；　and　the　fear。　When　Fain　spoke　again；　though；　his　voice　was　unruffled。　〃Padan　Fain　is　simply　one　of　the　many　disguises　I　have　been　forced　to　wear　over　the　years。　Friends　of　the　Dark　pursue　me；　for　I　have　learned　how　to　defeat　the　Shadow。　I　can　show　you　how　to　defeat　him；　Great　Lord。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　do　as　well　as　men　can；〃　Agelmar　said　dryly。　〃The　Wheel　weaves　as　the　Wheel　wills；　but　we　have　fought　the　Dark　One　almost　since　the　Breaking　of　the　World　without　peddlers　to　teach　us　how。〃
　　　　　　　〃Great　Lord；　your　might　is　unquestioned；　but　can　it　stand　against　the　Dark　One　forever？　Do　you　not　often　find　yourself　pressed　to　hold？　Forgive　my　temerity；　Great　Lord；　he　will　crush　you　in　the　end；　as　you　are。　I　know；　believe　me；　I　do。　But　I　can　show　you　how　to　scour　the　Shadow　from　the　land；　Great　Lord。〃　His　tone　became　even　more　unctuous；　though　still　haughty。　〃If　you　but　try　what　I　advise；　you　will　see；　Great　Lord。　You　will　cleanse　the　land。　You；　Great　Lord；　can　do　it；　if　you　direct　your　might　in　the　right　direction。　Avoid　letting　Tar　Valon　entangle　you　in　its　snares；　and　you　can　save　the　world。　Great　Lord；　you　will　be　the　man　remembered　through　history　for　bringing　final　victory　to　the　Light。〃　The　guards　held　their　places；　but　their　hands　shifted　on　the　long　shafts　of　the　bills　as　if　they　thought　they　might　have　to　use　them。
　　　　　　　〃He　thinks　a　great　deal　of　himself　for　a　peddler；〃　Agelmar　said　to　Lan　over　his　shoulder。　〃I　think　Ingtar　is　right。　He　is　mad。〃
　　　　　　　Fain's　eyes　tightened　angrily；　but　his　voice　remained　smooth。　〃Great　Lord；　I　know　my　words　must　appear　grandiose；　but　if　you　will　only　…　〃　He　cut　off　abruptly；　stepping　back；　as　Moiraine　rose　and　started　slowly　around　the　table。　Only　the　guards'　lowered　bills　kept　Fain　from　backing　right　out　of　the　room。
　　　　　　　Stopping　behind　Mat's　chair；　Moiraine　put　a　hand　on　his　shoulder　and　bent　to　whisper　in　his　ear。　Whatever　she　said；　the　tension　went　out　of　his　face；　and　he　took　his　hand　from　under　his　coat。　The　Aes　Sedai　went　on　until　she　stood　beside　Agelmar；　confronting　Fain。　As　she　came　to　a　halt；　the　peddler　sank　into　a　crouch　once　more。
　　　　　　　〃I　hate　him；〃　he　whimpered。　〃I　want　to　be　free　of　him。　I　want　to　walk　in　the　Light　again。〃　His　shoulders　began　to　shake；　and　tears　streamed　down　his　face　even　more　heavily　than　before。　〃He　made　me　do　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　afraid　he　is　more　than　a　peddler；　Lord　Agelmar；〃　Moiraine　said。　〃Less　than　human；　worse　than　vile；　more　dangerous　than　you　can　imagine。　He　can　be　bathed　after　I　have　spoken　with　him。　I　dare　not　waste　a　minute。　e；　Lan。〃

Chapter　47
More　Tales　of　the　Wheel
　
　　　　　　　An　itchy　restlessness　had　Rand　pacing　beside　the　dining　table。　Twelve　strides。　The　table　was　exactly　twelve　strides　long　no　matter　how　many　times　he　stepped　it　off。　Irritably　he　made　himself　stop　keeping　tally。　Stupid　thing　to　be　doing。　I　don't　care　how　long　the　bloody　table　is。　A　few　minutes　later　he　discovered　that　he　was　counting　the　number　of　trips　he　made　up　the　table　and　back。　What　is　he　saying　to　Moiraine　and　Lan？　Does　he　know　why　the　Dark　One　is　after　us？　Does　he　know　which　of　us　the　Dark　One　wants？
　　　　　　　He　glanced　at　his　friends。　Perrin　had　crumbled　a　piece　of　bread　and　was　idly　pushing　the　crumbs　around　on　the　table　with　one　finger。　His　yellow　eyes　stared　unblinking　at　the　crumbs；　but　they　seemed　to　see　something　far　off。　Mat　slouched　in　his　chair；　eyes　half　closed　and　the　beginnings　of　a　grin　on　his　face。　It　was　a　nervous　grin；　not　amusement。　Outwardly　he　looked　like　the　old　Mat；　but　from　time　to　time　he　unconsciously　touched　the　Shadar　Logoth　dagger　through　his　coat。　What　is　Fain　telling　her？　What　does　he　know？
　　　　　　　Loial；　at　least；　did　not　look　worried。　The　Ogier　was　studying　the　walls。　First　he　had　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　room　and　stared；　turning　slowly　in　a　circle；　now　he　was　almost　pressing　his　broad　nose　against　the　stone　while　he　gently　traced　a　particular　join　with　fingers　thicker　than　most　men's　thumbs。　Sometimes　he　closed　his　eyes；　as　if　the　feeling　was　more　important　than　seeing。　His　ears　gave　an　occasional　twitch；　and　he　muttered　to　himself　in　Ogier；　appearing　to　have　forgotten　anyone　else　was　in　the　room　with　him。
　　　　　　　Lord　Agelmar　stood　talking　quietly　with　Nynaeve　and　Egwene　in　front　of　the　long　fireplace　at　the　end　of　the　room。　He　was　a　good　host；　adept　at　making　people　forget　their　troubles；　several　of　his　stories　had　Egwene　in　giggles。　Once　even　Nynaeve　threw　back　her　head　and　roared　with　laughter。　Rand　gave　a　start　at　the　unexpected　sound；　and　jumped　again　when　Mat's　chair　crashed　to　the　floor。
　　　　　　　〃Blood　and　ashes！〃　Mat　growled；　ignoring　the　way　Nynaeve's　mouth　tightened　at　his　language。　〃What's　taking　her　so　long？〃　He　righted　his　chair　and　sat　back　down　without　looking　at　anyone。　His　hand　strayed　to　his　coat。
　　　　　　　The　Lord　of　Fal　Dara　looked　at　Mat　disapprovingly　…　his　gaze　took　in　Rand　and　Perrin　without　any　improvement　…　then　turned　back　to　the　women。　Rand's　pacing　had　taken　him　close　to　them。
　　　　　　　〃My　Lord；〃　Egwene　was　saying；　as　glibly　as　if　she　had　been　using　titles　all　of　her　life；　〃I　thought　he　was　a　Warder；　but　you　call　him　Dai　Shan；　and　talk　about　a　Golden　Crane　banner；　and　so　did　those　other　men。　Sometimes　you　sound　almost　as　if　he's　a　king。　I　remember　once　Moiraine　called　him　the　last　Lord　of　the　Seven　Towers。　Who　is　he？〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　began　studying　her　cup　intently；　but　it　was　obvious　to　Rand　that　abruptly　she　was　listening　even　more　closely　than　was　Egwene。　Rand　stopped　and　tried　to　overhear　without　seeming　to　eavesdrop。
　　　　　　　〃Lord　of　the　Seven　Towers；〃　Agelmar　said　with　a　frown。　〃An　ancient　title；　Lady　Egwene。　Not　even　the　High　Lords　of　Tear　have　older；　though　the　Queen　of　Andor　es　close。〃　He　heaved　a　sigh；　and　shook　his　head。　〃He　will　not　speak　of　it；　yet　the　story　is　well　known　along　the　Border。　He　is　a　king；　or　should　have　been；　al'Lan　Mandragoran；　Lord　of　the　Seven　Towers；　Lord　of　the　Lakes；　crownless　King　of　the　Malkieri。〃　His　shaven　head　lifted　high；　and　there　was　a　light　in　his　eye　as　if　he　felt　a　father's　pride。　His　voice　grew　stronger；　filled　with　the　force　of　his　feeling。　The　whole　room　could　hear　without　straining。　〃We　of　Shienar　call　ourselves　Bordermen；　but　fewer　than　fifty　years　ago；　Shienar　was　not　truly　of　the　Borderlands。　North　of　us；　and　of　Arafel；　was　Malkier。　The　lances　of　Shienar　rode　north；　but　it　was　Malkier　that　held　back　the　Blight。　Malkier；　Peace　favor　her　memory；　and　the　Light　illumine　her　name。〃
　　　　　　　〃Lan　is　from　Malkier；〃　the　Wisdom　said　softly；　looking　up。　She　seemed　troubled。
　　　　　　　It　was　not　a　question；　but　Agelmar　nodded。　〃Yes；　Lady　Nynaeve；　he　is　the　son　of　al'Akir　Mandragoran；　last　crowned　King　of　the　Malkieri。　How　did　he　bee　as　he　is？　The　beginning；　perhaps；　was　Lain。　On　a　dare；　Lain　Mandragoran；　the　King's　brother；　led　his　lances　through　the　Blight　to　the　Blasted　Lands；　perhaps　to　Shayol　Ghul　itself。　Lain's　wife；　Breyan；　made　that　dare　for　the　envy　that　burned　her　heart　that　al'Akir　had　been　raised　to　the　throne　instead　of　Lain。　The　King　and　Lain　were　as　close　as　brothers　could　be；　as　close　as　twins　even　after　the　royal　'al'　was　added　to　Akir's　name；　but　jealousy　wracked　Breyan。　Lain　was　acclaimed　for　his　deeds；　and　rightfully　so；　but　not　even　he　could　outshine　al'Akir。　He　was；　man　and　king；　such　as　es　once　in　a　hundred　years；　if　that。　Peace　favor　him；　and　el'Leanna。
　　　　　　　〃Lain　died　in　the　Blasted　Lands　with　most　of　those　who　followed　him；　men　Malkier　could　ill　afford　to　lose；　and　Breyan　blamed　the　King；　saying　that　Shayol　Ghul　itself　would　have　fallen　if　al'Akir　had　led　the　rest　of　the　Malkieri　north　with　her　husband。　For　revenge；　she　plotted　with　Cowin　Gemallan；　called　Cowin　Fairheart；　to　seize　the　throne　for　her　son；　Isam。　Now　Fairheart　was　a　hero　almost　as　well　loved　as　al'Akir　himself；　and　one　of　the　Great　Lords；　but　when　the　Great　Lords　had　cast　the　rods　for　king；　only　two　separated　h