rj.theshadowrising-第15部分

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　　　　　　　I　need　sleep。　The　High　Lords　would　be　back　in　the　morning；　maneuvering　for　his　favor。　For　the　Dragon　Reborn's　favor。　Maybe　I　won't　dream；　this　time。　He　started　to　roll　over；　searching　for　a　dry　place　on　the　sheets　…　and　froze；　listening　to　small　rustlings　in　the　darkness。　He　was　not　alone。
　　　　　　　The　Sword　That　Is　Not　a　Sword　lay　across　the　room；　beyond　his　reach；　on　a　throne…like　stand　the　High　Lords　had　given　him；　no　doubt　in　the　hopes　he　would　keep　Callandor　out　of　their　sight。　Someone　wanting　to　steal　Callandor。　A　second　thought　came。　Or　to　kill　the　Dragon　Reborn。　He　did　not　need　Thom's　whispered　warnings　to　know　that　the　High　Lord's　professions　of　undying　loyalty　were　only　words　of　necessity。
　　　　　　　He　emptied　himself　of　thought　and　emotions；　assuming　the　Void；　that　much　came　without　effort。　Floating　in　the　cold　emptiness　within　himself；　thought　and　emotion　outside；　he　reached　for　the　True　Source。　This　time　he　touched　it　easily；　which　was　not　always　the　case。
　　　　　　　Saidin　filled　him　like　a　torrent　of　white　heat　and　light；　exalting　him　with　life；　sickening　him　with　the　foulness　of　the　Dark　One's　taint；　like　a　skim　of　sewage　floating　on　pure；　sweet　water。　The　torrent　threatened　to　wash　him　away；　burn　him　up；　engulf　him。
　　　　　　　Fighting　the　flood；　he　mastered　it　by　bare　effort　of　will　and　rolled　from　the　bed；　channeling　the　Power　as　he　landed　on　his　feet　in　the　stance　to　begin　the　sword…form　called　Apple　Blossoms　in　the　Wind。　His　enemies　could　not　be　many　or　they　would　have　made　more　noise；　the　gently　named　form　was　meant　for　use　against　more　than　one　opponent。
　　　　　　　As　his　feet　hit　the　carpet；　a　sword　was　in　his　hands；　with　a　long　hilt　and　a　slightly　curved　blade　sharp　on　only　one　edge。　It　looked　to　have　been　wrought　from　flame　yet　it　did　not　feel　even　warm。　The　figure　of　a　heron　stood　black　against　the　yellow…red　of　the　blade。　In　the　same　instant　every　candle　and　gilded　lamp　burst　alight；　small　mirrors　behind　them　swelling　the　illumination。　Larger　mirrors　on　the　walls　and　two　stand…mirrors　reflected　it　further；　until　he　could　have　read　fortably　anywhere　in　the　large　room。
　　　　　　　Callandor　sat　undisturbed；　a　sword　seemingly　of　glass；　hilt　and　blade；　on　a　stand　as　tall　as　a　man　and　just　as　wide；　the　wood　ornately　carved　and　gilded　and　set　with　precious　stones。　The　furnishings；　too；　were　all　gilded　and　begemmed；　bed　and　chairs　and　benches；　wardrobes　and　chests　and　washstand。　The　pitcher　and　bowl　were　golden　Sea　Folk　porcelain；　as　thin　as　leaves。　The　broad　Tarabon　carpet；　in　scrolls　of　scarlet　and　gold　and　blue；　could　have　fed　an　entire　village　for　months。　Almost　every　flat　surface　held　more　delicate　Sea　Folk　porcelain；　or　else　goblets　and　bowls　and　ornaments　of　gold　worked　with　silver；　and　silver　chased　with　gold。　On　the　broad　marble　mantel　over　the　fireplace；　two　silver　wolves　with　ruby　eyes　tried　to　pull　down　a　golden　stag　a　good　three　feet　tall。　Draperies　of　scarlet　silk　embroidered　with　eagles　in　thread…of…gold　hung　at　the　narrow　windows；　stirring　slightly　in　a　failing　wind。　Books　lay　wherever　there　was　room；　leather…bound；　wood…bound；　some　tattered　and　still　dusty　from　the　deepest　shelves　of　the　Stone's　library。
　　　　　　　Now；　where　he　had　thought　to　see　assassins；　or　thieves；　one　beautiful　young　woman　stood　hesitant　and　surprised　in　the　middle　of　the　carpet；　black　hair　falling　in　shining　waves　to　her　shoulders。　Her　thin；　white　silk　robe　emphasized　more　than　it　hid。　Berelain；　ruler　of　the　city…state　of　Mayene；　was　the　last　person　he　had　expected。
　　　　　　　After　one　wide…eyed　start；　she　made　a　deep；　graceful　curtsy　that　drew　her　garments　tight。　〃I　am　unarmed；　my　Lord　Dragon。　I　submit　myself　to　your　search；　if　you　doubt　me。〃　Her　smile　suddenly　made　him　unfortably　aware　that　he　wore　nothing　but　his　smallclothes。
　　　　　　　I'll　be　burned　if　she　makes　me　scramble　around　trying　to　cover　myself。　The　thought　floated　beyond　the　Void。　I　didn't　ask　her　to　walk　in　on　me。　To　sneak　in！　Anger　and　embarrassment　drifted　along　the　borders　of　emptiness　too；　but　his　face　reddened　all　the　same；　dimly　he　was　aware　of　it；　aware　of　the　knowledge　deepening　the　flush　in　his　cheeks。　So　coldly　calm　within　the　Void；　outside。。。　He　could　feel　each　individual　droplet　of　sweat　sliding　down　his　chest　and　back。　It　took　a　real　effort　of　stubborn　will　to　stand　there　under　her　eyes。　Search　her？　The　Light　help　me！
　　　　　　　Relaxing　his　stance；　he　let　the　sword　vanish　but　held　the　narrow　flow　connecting　him　to　saidin。　It　was　like　drinking　from　a　hole　in　a　dike　when　the　whole　long　mound　of　earth　wanted　to　give　way；　the　water　sweet　as　honeyed　wine　and　sickening　as　a　rivulet　through　a　midden。
　　　　　　　He　did　not　know　much　of　this　woman；　except　that　she　walked　through　the　Stone　as　if　it　were　her　palace　in　Mayene。　Thom　said　the　First　of　Mayene　asked　questions　constantly；　of　everyone。　Questions　about　Rand。　Which　might　have　been　natural；　given　what　he　was；　but　they　made　him　no　easier　in　his　mind。　And　she　had　not　returned　to　Mayene。　That　was　not　natural。　She　had　been　held　captive　in　all　but　name　for　months；　until　his　arrival；　cut　off　from　her　throne　and　the　ruling　of　her　small　nation。　Most　people　would　have　taken　the　first　opportunity　to　get　away　from　a　man　who　could　channel。
　　　　　　　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　He　knew　he　sounded　harsh；　and　did　not　care。　〃There　were　Aiel　guarding　that　door　when　I　went　to　sleep。　How　did　you　e　past　them？〃
　　　　　　　Berelain's　lips　curved　up　a　trifle　more；　to　Rand　it　seemed　the　room　had　gotten　suddenly　even　hotter。　〃They　passed　me　through　immediately；　when　I　said　I　had　been　summoned　by　the　Lord　Dragon。〃
　　　　　　　〃Summoned？　I　didn't　summon　anybody。〃　Stop　this；　he　told　himself。　She's　a　queen；　or　the　next　thing　to　it。　You　know　as　much　about　the　ways　of　queens　as　you　do　about　flying。　He　tried　to　make　himself　be　civil；　only　he　did　not　know　what　to　call　the　First　of　Mayene。　〃My　Lady。。。〃　That　would　have　to　do。　〃。　。　。　why　would　I　summon　you　at　this　time　of　night？〃
　　　　　　　She　gave　a　low；　rich　laugh；　deep　in　her　throat；　even　wrapped　in　emotionless　emptiness　it　seemed　to　tickle　his　skin；　make　the　hairs　stir　on　his　arms　and　legs。　Suddenly　he　took　in　her　clinging　garb　as　if　for　the　first　time；　and　felt　himself　go　red　all　over　again。　She　can't　mean。。。。　Can　she？　Light；　I've　never　said　two　words　to　her　before。
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　I　wish　to　talk；　my　Lord　Dragon。〃　She　let　the　pale　robe　fall　to　the　floor；　revealing　an　even　thinner　white　silk　garment　he　could　only　call　a　nightgown。　It　left　her　smooth　shoulders　pletely　bare；　and　exposed　a　considerable　expanse　of　pale　bosom。　He　found　himself　wondering　distantly　what　held　it　up。　It　was　difficult　not　to　stare。　〃You　are　a　long　way　from　your　home；　like　me。　The　nights　especially　seem　lonely。〃
　　　　　　　〃Tomorrow；　I　will　be　happy　to　talk　with　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　during　the　day；　people　surround　you。　Petitioners。　High　Lords。　Aiel。〃　She　gave　a　shiver；　he　told　himself　he　really　ought　to　look　away；　but　he　could　as　easily　have　stopped　breathing。　He　had　never　before　been　so　aware　of　his　own　reactions　when　wrapped　in　the　Void。　〃The　Aiel　frighten　me；　and　I　do　not　like　Tairen　lords　of　any　sort。〃
　　　　　　　About　the　Tairens　he　could　believe　her；　but　he　did　not　think　anything　frightened　this　woman。　Burn　me；　she's　in　a　strange　man's　bedchamber　in　the　middle　of　the　night；　only　half…dressed；　and　I'm　the　one　who's　jumpy　as　a　cat　in　a　dog　run；　Void　or　no。　It　was　time　to　put　an　end　to　things　before　they　went　too　far。
　　　　　　　〃It　would　be　better　if　you　return　to　your　own　bedchamber；　my　Lady。〃　Part　of　him　wanted　to　tell　her　to　put　on　a　cloak；　too。　A　thick　cloak。　Part　of　him　did。　〃It。。。　it　is　really　too　late　for　talking。　Tomorrow。　In　daylight。〃
　　　　　　　She　gave　him　a　slanted；　quizzical　look。　〃Have　you　absorbed　stuffy　Tairen　ways　already；　my　Lord　Dragon？　Or　is　this　reticence　something　from　your　Two　Rivers？　We　are　not　so。。。　formal。。。　in　Mayene。〃
　　　　　　　〃My　Lady。。。。〃　He　tried　to　sound　formal；　if　she　did　not　like　formality；　that　was　what　he　wanted。　〃I　am　promised　to　Egwene　al'Vere；　my　Lady。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　mean　the　Aes　Sedai；　my　Lord　Dragon？　If　she　really　is　Aes　Sedai。　She　is　quite　young　…　perhaps　too　young　…　to　wear　the　ring　and　the　shawl。〃　Berelain　spoke　as　if　Egwene　were　a　child；　though　she　herself　could　not　be　more　than　a　year　older　than　Rand；　if　that；　and　he　had　only　a　little　over　two　years　on　Egwene。　〃My　Lord　Dragon；　I　do　not　mean　to　e　between　you。　Marry　her；　if　she　is　Green　Ajah。　I　would　never　aspire　to　wed　the　Dragon　Reborn　himself。　Forgive　me　if　I　overstep　myself；　but　I　told　you　we　are　not　so。。。　formal　in　Mayene。　May　I　call　you　Rand？〃
　　　　　　　Rand　surprised　himself　by　sighing　regretfully。　There　had　been　a　glint　in　her　eye；　a　slight　shift　of　expression；　gone　quickly；　when　she　mentioned　marrying　the　Dragon　Reborn。　If　she　had　not　considered　it　before；　she　had　now。　The　Dragon　Reborn；　not　Rand　al'Thor；　the　man　of　prophecy；　not　the　shepherd　from　the　Two　Rivers。　He　was　not　shocked；　exactly；　some　girls　back　home　mooned　over　whoever　proved　himself　fastest　or　strongest　in　the　games　at　Bel　Tine　and　Sunday；　and　now　and　again　a　woman　set　her　eyes　on　the　man　with　the　richest　fields　or　the　largest　flocks。　It　would　have　been　good　to　think　she　wanted　Rand　al'Thor。　〃It　is　time　for　you　to　go；　my　Lady；〃　he　said　quietly。
　　　　　　　She　stepped　closer。　〃I　can　feel　your　eyes　on　me；　Rand。〃　Her　voice　was　smoky　heat。　〃I　am　no　village　girl　tied　to　her　mother's　apron；　and　I　know　you　want…〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　think　I'm　made　of　stone；　woman？〃　She　jumped　at　his　roar；　but　the　next　instant　she　was　crossing　the　carpet；　reaching　for　him；　her　eyes　dark　pools　that　could　pull　a　man　into　their　depths。
　　　　　　　〃Your　arms　look　as　strong　as　stone。　If　you　think　you　must　be　harsh　with　me；　then　be　harsh；　so　long　as　you　hold　me。〃　Her　hands　touched　his　face；　sparks　seemed　to　leap　from　her　fingers。
　　　　　　　Without　thinking　he　channeled　the　flows　still　linked　to　him；　and　suddenly　she　was　staggering　back；　eyes　wide　with　startlement；　as　if　a　wall　of　air　pushed　her。　It　was　air；　he　realized；　he　did　things　without　knowing　what　he　was　doing　more　often　than　he　did　know。　At　least；　once　done；　he　could　usually　remember　how　to　do　them　again。
　　　　　　　The　unseen；　moving　wall　scraped　ripples　along　the　carpet；　sweeping　along　Berelain's　discarded　robe；　a　boot　he　had　tossed　aside　undressing；　and　a　red　leather　footstool　s