rj.theshadowrising-第131部分

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the　river　with　three　arrows　in　him；　but　there　was　something　later；　a　fragment。　Seeing　Aedomon；　gray…bearded　now；　go　down　in　a　sharp　fight　in　a　forest；　toppling　from　his　rearing　horse；　the　spear　in　his　back　put　there　by　an　unarmored；　beardless　boy。　This　was　worse　than　the　holes　had　been。
　　　　　　　〃You　did　not　like　the　song？〃　Natael　said。
　　　　　　　It　took　Mat　a　moment　to　realize　the　man　was　speaking　to　Rand；　not　him。　Rand　rubbed　his　hands　together；　peering　into　the　small　fire；　before　answering。　〃I'm　not　certain　how　wise　it　is；　depending　on　an　enemy's　generosity。　What　do　you　think；　Kadere？〃
　　　　　　　The　peddler　hesitated；　glancing　at　the　woman　clinging　to　his　arm。　〃I　do　not　think　of　such　things；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃I　think　of　profits；　not　battles。〃　Keille　laughed　coarsely。　At　least；　until　she　saw　Isendre's　smile；　condescending　to　a　woman　who　could　make　three　of　her；　then　her　dark　eyes　glittered　dangerously　behind　those　rolls　of　fat。
　　　　　　　Suddenly　warning　cries　rose　in　the　dark　beyond　the　tents。　Aiel　snatched　veils　across　their　faces；　and　a　moment　later　Trollocs　poured　in　out　of　the　night；　snouted　faces　and　horned　heads；　towering　over　the　humans；　howling　and　swinging　scythe…curved　swords；　stabbing　with　hooked　spears　and　barbed　tridents；　hacking　with　spiked　axes。　Myrddraal　flowed　with　them；　like　deadly　eyeless　snakes。　A　heartbeat　it　took；　but　the　Aiel　fought　as　if　they　had　had　an　hour's　warning；　meeting　the　charge　with　their　own　flickering　spears。
　　　　　　　Mat　was　vaguely　aware　of　Rand　with　that　fiery　sword　suddenly　in　hand；　but　then　he　was　sucked　into　the　maelstrom　himself；　wielding　his　spear　as　spear　and　quarterstaff　both；　slash　and　thrust；　haft　whirling。　For　once　he　was　glad　of　those　dream　memories；　the　way　of　this　weapon　seemed　familiar；　and　he　needed　every　scrap　of　skill　he　could　find。　It　was　all　chaotic　madness。
　　　　　　　Trollocs　rose　up　in　front　of　him　and　went　down　to　his　spear；　or　an　Aiel　spear；　or　spun　away　into　the　confusion　of　shouts　and　howls　and　clanging　steel。　Myrddraal　faced　him；　black　blades　meeting　his　raven…marked　steel　with　flashes　of　blue　light　like　sheet　lightning；　faced　him　and　were　gone　in　the　tumult。　Twice　a　short　spear　streaking　by　his　head　took　Trollocs　about　to　run　him　through　the　back。　He　thrust　the　short…sword　blade　into　a　Myrddraal's　chest　and　knew　he　was　going　to　die　when　it　did　not　fall；　but　grinned　with　those　bloodless　lips；　eyeless　stare　shivering　fear　into　his　bones；　and　drew　back　its　black　sword。　An　instant　later　the　Halfman　jerked　as　Aiel　arrows　pincushioned　it；　jerked　for　the　moment　Mat　needed　to　leap　back　from　the　thing　as　it　fell　still　trying　to　stab　at　him；　stab　at　anything。
　　　　　　　A　dozen　times　the　spear's　iron…hard　black　haft　barely　deflected　a　Trolloc　thrust。　It　was　Aes　Sedai　work；　and　he　was　glad　of　it。　The　silver　foxhead　on　his　chest　seemed　to　pulse　with　cold　as　if　to　remind　him　that　it；　too；　bore　the　mark　of　Aes　Sedai。　Right　then；　he　did　not　care；　if　it　took　Aes　Sedai　work　to　keep　him　alive；　he　was　ready　to　follow　Moiraine　like　a　puppy。
　　　　　　　He　could　not　have　said　if　it　went　on　for　minutes　or　hours；　but　suddenly　there　was　not　a　Myrddraal　or　Trolloc　still　standing　in　sight；　though　cries　and　howls　from　the　darkness　spoke　of　pursuit。　Dead　and　dying　littered　the　ground；　Aiel　and　Shadowspawn；　the　Halfmen　still　thrashing。　Groans　filled　the　air　with　pain。　Suddenly　he　realized　his　muscles　felt　like　water；　and　his　lungs　were　afire。　Panting；　he　slid　down　to　his　knees；　leaning　on　his　spear。　Flames　made　bonfires　of　three　of　the　peddlers'　canvas…topped　wagons；　one　with　a　driver　pinned　to　the　side　by　a　Trolloc　spear；　and　some　of　the　tents　were　burning。　Shouts　from　the　direction　of　the　Shaido　camp；　and　glows　too　large　for　campfires；　said　they　had　been　attacked；　too。
　　　　　　　Fiery　sword　still　in　hand；　Rand　came　to　where　Mat　knelt。　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　Aviendha　shadowed　him。　Somewhere　she　had　found　a　spear　and　buckler；　had　tucked　up　a　corner　of　her　shawl　to　veil　her　face。　Even　in　skirts　she　looked　deadly。
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　I　am　fine；〃　Mat　muttered；　struggling　to　his　feet。　〃Nothing　like　a　little　dance　with　Trollocs　to　ready　you　for　sleep。　Right；　Aviendha？〃　Uncovering　her　face；　she　gave　him　a　tight　smile。　The　woman　had　probably　enjoyed　it。　He　was　sweat　all　over；　he　thought　it　might　freeze　on　him。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　and　Egwene　had　appeared　with　two　of　the　Wise　Ones；　Amys　and　Bair；　circulating　among　the　wounded。　The　convulsion　of　Healing　followed　the　Aes　Sedai；　though　sometimes　she　merely　shook　her　head　and　moved　on。
　　　　　　　Rhuarc　strode　up　with　a　grim　face。
　　　　　　　〃Bad　news？〃　Rand　said　quietly。
　　　　　　　The　clan　chief　grunted。　〃Aside　from　Trollocs　here　where　they　should　not　be；　not　by　two　hundred　leagues　or　more？　Perhaps。　Some　fifty　Trollocs　attacked　the　Wise　Ones'　camp。　Enough　to　overwhelm　it；　had　it　not　been　for　Moiraine　Sedai　and　luck。　However；　it　seems　the　Shaido　were　hit　by　fewer　than　struck　us；　though　since　they　are　the　larger　camp　the　reverse　should　have　been　true。　I　might　almost　think　they　were　attacked　only　to　keep　them　from　ing　to　our　aid。　Not　that　that　would　be　certain；　with　Shaido；　but　Trollocs　and　Nightrunners　might　not　know　that。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　if　they　knew　an　Aes　Sedai　was　with　the　Wise　Ones；〃　Rand　said；　〃that　attack　could　have　been　meant　to　keep　her　away；　too。　I　bring　enemies　with　me；　Rhuarc。　Remember　that。　Wherever　I　am；　my　enemies　are　never　far。〃
　　　　　　　Isendre　poked　her　head　out　of　the　lead　wagon。　A　moment　later　Kadere　climbed　down　past　her；　and　she　ducked　back　inside；　shutting　the　white…painted　door　behind　him。　He　stood　looking　around　at　the　carnage；　the　light　of　his　burning　wagons　painting　rippling　shadows　across　his　face。　The　group　around　Mat　held　his　attention　most。　The　wagons　seemed　to　interest　him　not　at　all。　Natael　got　down　from　Keille's　wagon；　too；　speaking　up　the　stairs　to　her　still　inside；　his　eyes　on　Mat　and　the　others。
　　　　　　　〃Fools；〃　Mat　muttered；　half　to　himself。　〃Hiding　inside　the　wagons；　as　if　that　would　make　any　difference　to　a　Trolloc。　They　could　all　have　roasted　alive；　easy　as　not。〃
　　　　　　　〃They　are　still　alive；〃　Rand　said；　and　Mat　realized　he　had　seen　them；　too。　〃That　is　always　important；　Mat；　who　stays　alive。　It's　like　dice。　You　can't　win　if　you　can't　play；　and　you　can't　play　if　you　are　dead。　Who　can　say　what　game　the　peddlers　play？〃　He　laughed　quietly；　and　the　fiery　sword　vanished　from　his　hands。
　　　　　　　〃I　am　going　to　get　some　sleep；〃　Mat　said；　already　turning　away。　〃Wake　me　if　the　Trollocs　show　up　again。　Or　better；　let　them　kill　me　in　my　blankets。　I　am　too　tired　to　wake　up　again。〃　Rand　was　definitely　going　over　the　edge。　Maybe　tonight　would　convince　Keille　and　Kadere　to　turn　back。　If　they　did；　he　intended　to　be　with　them。
　
　　　　　　　Rand　let　Moiraine　look　at　him；　muttering　to　herself；　though　he　had　taken　no　wound。　With　so　many　who　had；　she　could　not　spare　the　strength　to　wash　away　his　fatigue　with　the　One　Power。
　　　　　　　〃This　was　aimed　at　you；〃　she　told　him；　surrounded　by　the　moans　of　the　injured。　The　Trollocs　were　being　dragged　away　into　the　night；　by　packhorses　and　the　peddlers'　mules。　The　Aiel　apparently　intended　to　leave　the　Myrddraal　where　they　lay　until　they　stopped　moving；　to　make　sure　they　were　really　dead。　The　wind　gusted　up；　like　ice　with　no　moisture　in　it。
　　　　　　　〃Was　it？〃　he　said。　Her　eyes　glittered　in　the　firelight　before　she　turned　back　to　the　wounded。
　　　　　　　Egwene　came　to　him；　too；　but　only　to　say　in　a　low；　fierce　whisper；　〃Whatever　you　are　doing　to　upset　her；　stop　it！〃　The　glance　she　shot　past　him　at　Aviendha　left　no　doubt　who　she　meant；　and　she　went　off　to　help　Bair　and　Amys　before　he　could　say　he　had　done　nothing。　She　looked　ridiculous　with　those　two　braids　twined　with　ribbons。　The　Aiel　seemed　to　think　so；　too；　some　of　them　grinned　at　her　back。
　　　　　　　Stumbling；　shivering；　he　sought　his　tent。　He　had　never　been　this　tired　before。　The　sword　had　almost　not　e。　He　hoped　that　was　the　tiredness。　Sometimes　there　was　nothing　there　when　he　reached　for　the　Source；　and　sometimes　the　Power　would　not　do　what　he　wanted；　but　almost　from　the　first　the　sword　had　e　practically　without　thought。　Now　of　all　times。。。　It　had　to　be　the　tiredness。
　　　　　　　Aviendha　insisted　on　following　him　as　far　as　the　tent；　and　when　he　woke　the　next　morning　she　was　sitting　outside　cross…legged；　though　without　the　spear　and　buckler。　Spy　or　not；　he　was　glad　to　see　her。　At　least　he　knew　who　and　what　she　was；　and　what　she　felt　for　him。


Chapter　38
（Female　Silhouettes）
Hidden　Faces

　　　　　　　The　Garden　of　Silver　Breezes　was　not　a　garden　at　all　but　a　huge　wineshop；　much　too　large　to　be　called　a　shop　really；　atop　a　hill　centered　on　the　Calpene；　the　westernmost　of　Tanchico's　three　peninsulas　below　the　Great　Circle。　A　part　of　the　name；　at　least；　came　from　the　breezes　that　wafted　in　where　polished　green…streaked　marble　columns　and　balustrades　replaced　one　wall　except　on　the　topmost　floor。　Golden　oiled…silk　curtains　could　be　lowered　in　case　of　rain。　The　hill　fell　away　sharply　on　that　side；　and　the　tables　along　the　balustrades　gave　a　clear　view；　across　white　domes　and　spires；　of　the　great　harbor；　crowded　with　more　ships　than　ever。　Tanchico　needed　everything；　desperately；　and　there　was　gold　to　be　made　…　until　the　gold　and　time　ran　out。
　　　　　　　With　its　gilded　lamps　and　ceilings　inlaid　with　brass　fretwork　polished　to　a　golden　gleam；　its　serving　women　and　men　chosen　for　grace　and　beauty　and　discretion；　the　Garden　of　the　Silver　Breezes　had　been　the　most　expensive　wineshop　in　the　city　even　before　the　troubles。　Now　it　was　outrageous。　But　those　who　dealt　in　huge　sums　still　came；　those　who　dealt　in　power　and　influence；　or　thought　they　did。　In　some　ways　there　was　less　to　deal　in　than　before；　in　others；　more。
　　　　　　　Low　walls　surrounded　each　table　making　islands　dotted　across　the　green　and　golden　floor　tiles。　Each　wall；　pierced　with　lacy　carving　so　no　eavesdropper　could　listen　unseen；　stood　just　high　enough　to　hide　who　met　whom　from　the　casual　glances　of　passersby。　Even　so；　patrons　usually　went　masked；　especially　of　late；　and　some　had　a　bodyguard　beside　their　table；　also　masked　to　avoid　recognition　if　the　patron　was　prudent。　And　tongueless；　rumor　said；　for　the　most　prudent。　No　guard　was　visibly　armed；　the　proprietress　of　the　Garden　of　Silver　Breezes；　a　sleek　woman　of　indeterminate　age　named　Selindrin；　allowed　no