rj.theshadowrising-第78部分

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　　　　　　　〃I　don't　take　chances；　Moiraine。　Mat's　the　fellow　for　chances。〃　Rand　forced　his　right　hand　open；　the　angreal；　the　fat　little　man；　had　driven　the　point　of　its　sword　into　his　flesh；　right　into　the　branded　heron。　〃Maybe　you're　right。　Maybe　I　did　need　one　a　little　stronger。　A　little　bit；　maybe。。。〃　He　gave　a　huffing　laugh。　〃It　worked；　Moiraine。　That　is　what's　important。　I've　outrun　them　all。　It　worked。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　is　what　matters；〃　Lan　said；　nodding。
　　　　　　　Egwene　made　a　vexed　tsk。　Men。　One　almost　killed　himself；　then　tried　to　make　a　joke　of　it；　and　another　told　him　he　had　done　the　right　thing。　Did　they　never　grow　up？
　　　　　　　〃The　fatigue　of　channeling　is　not　like　other　tiredness；〃　Moiraine　said。　〃I　cannot　rid　you　of　it　pletely；　not　when　you　have　channeled　as　much　as　you　did；　but　I　will　do　what　I　can。　Perhaps　what　remains　will　remind　you　to　be　more　careful　in　future。〃　She　was　angry；　there　was　a　definite　hint　of　satisfaction　in　her　voice。
　　　　　　　The　glow　of　saidar　surrounded　the　Aes　Sedai　as　she　reached　up　to　take　Rand's　head　in　her　hands。　A　shuddering　gasp　burst　out　of　him；　and　he　shivered　uncontrollably；　then　jerked　back　from　her；　pulling　free　of　Lan　as　well。
　　　　　　　〃Ask；　Moiraine；〃　Rand　said　coldly；　stuffing　the　angreal　into　his　belt　pouch。　〃Ask；　first。　I'm　not　your　pet　dog　that　you　can　do　whatever　you　want　to　whenever　you　want。〃　He　scrubbed　his　hands　together　to　rub　away　the　tiny　trickle　of　blood。
　　　　　　　Egwene　made　that　vexed　sound　again。　Childish；　and　ungrateful　to　boot。　He　could　stand　by　himself　now；　though　his　eyes　still　looked　weary；　and　she　did　not　have　to　see　his　palm　to　know　the　tiny　puncture　was　gone　as　if　it　had　never　been。　Purely　ungrateful。　Surprisingly；　Lan　did　not　call　him　down　for　speaking　to　Moiraine　in　that　fashion。
　　　　　　　It　came　to　her　that　the　Aiel　had　gone　absolutely　still　now　that　they　had　the　mules　quieted。　They　stared　outward　warily；　not　toward　the　valley　and　the　fog　shrouded　city　that　must　be　Rhuidean；　but　at　two　camps；　one　to　either　side　of　them　perhaps　half　a　mile　away。　The　two　clusters　of　dozens　upon　dozens　of　low；　open…sided　tents；　one　twice　as　large　as　the　other；　clung　to　the　mountain　slope　and　very　nearly　disappeared　against　it；　but　the　gray…brown　Aiel　in　each　camp　were　clearly　visible；　short　spears　and　arrow…nocked　horn　bows　in　hand；　veiling　themselves　if　they　were　not　already。　They　seemed　poised　on　the　balls　of　their　feet；　ready　to　attack。
　　　　　　　〃The　peace　of　Rhuidean；〃　a　woman's　voice　called　from　upslope；　and　Egwene　could　feel　the　tension　leaving　the　Aiel　surrounding　her。　Those　among　the　tents　began　lowering　their　veils；　though　they　still　watched　cautiously。
　　　　　　　There　was　a　third；　much　smaller　encampment　farther　up　the　mountain；　she　realized；　a　few　of　the　low　tents　on　a　small　level　patch。　Four　women　were　walking　down　from　that　camp；　sedate　and　dignified　in　dark　bulky　skirts　and　loose　white　blouses；　with　brown　or　gray　shawls　around　their　shoulders　despite　heat　that　was　beginning　to　make　Egwene　feel　light　headed；　and　many　necklaces　and　bracelets　of　ivory　and　gold。　Two　had　white　hair；　one　hair　the　color　of　the　sun；　flowing　down　their　backs　to　the　waist　and　held　back　from　their　faces　by　folded　kerchiefs　tied　around　the　forehead。
　　　　　　　Egwene　recognized　one　of　the　white　haired　women：　Amys；　the　Wise　One　she　had　met　in　Tel'aran'rhiod。　Again　she　was　struck　by　the　contrast　between　Amys's　sun…darkened　features　and　her　snowy　hair；　the　Wise　One　just　did　not　look　old　enough。　The　second　white…haired　woman　had　a　creased　grandmotherly　face；　and　one　of　the　others；　with　gray…streaked　dark　hair；　seemed　almost　as　old。　She　was　sure　all　four　were　Wise　Ones；　very　likely　the　same　who　had　signed　that　letter　to　Moiraine。
　　　　　　　The　Aiel　women　stopped　ten　paces　upslope　from　the　gathering　around　the　Portal　Stone　and　the　grandmotherly　woman　spread　her　open　hands；　speaking　in　an　aged　yet　powerful　voice。　〃The　peace　of　Rhuidean　be　on　you。　Who　es　to　Chaendaer　may　return　to　their　holds　in　peace。　There　shall　be　no　blood　on　the　ground。〃
　　　　　　　With　that　the　Aiel　from　Tear　began　to　separate；　quickly　apportioning　the　pack　animals　and　the　contents　of　the　hampers。　They　were　not　dividing　by　societies　now；　Egwene　saw　Maidens　going　with　several　groups；　some　of　which　immediately　began　making　their　way　around　the　mountain；　avoiding　each　other　and　the　camps；　peace　of　Rhuidean　or　no。　Others　strode　toward　one　or　the　other　large　cluster　of　tents；　where　finally　weapons　were　being　put　down。
　　　　　　　Not　everyone　had　been　sure　of　the　peace　of　Rhuidean。　Lan　released　the　hilt　of　his　still…sheathed　sword；　although　Egwene　had　not　seen　him　put　his　hands　on　it；　and　Mat　hastily　slipped　a　pair　of　knives　back　into　his　sleeves。　Rand　stood　with　his　thumbs　tucked　behind　his　belt；　but　there　was　clear　relief　in　his　eyes。
　　　　　　　Egwene　looked　for　Aviendha；　to　ask　a　few　questions　before　she　approached　Amys。　Surely　the　Aiel　woman　would　be　a　little　more　forthing　about　the　Wise　Ones　here；　in　her　own　land。　She　spotted　the　Maiden；　carrying　a　large　clinking　jute　sack；　and　two　rolled　wall　hangings　over　her　shoulder；　as　she　started　briskly　for　one　of　the　big　encampments。
　　　　　　　〃You　will　stay；　Aviendha；〃　the　Wise　One　with　gray　streaks　in　her　hair　said　loudly。　Aviendha　stopped　in　her　tracks；　not　looking　at　anyone。
　　　　　　　Egwene　started　to　go　to　her；　but　Moiraine　murmured；　〃Best　not　to　interfere。　I　doubt　she　will　want　sympathy；　or　see　anything　else　if　you　offer　it。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　nodded　in　spite　of　herself。　Aviendha　did　look　as　if　she　wanted　to　be　left　alone。　What　did　the　Wise　Ones　want　with　her？　Had　she　broken　some　rule；　some　law？
　　　　　　　She　herself　would　not　have　minded　some　more　pany。　She　felt　very　exposed　standing　there　with　no　Aiel　around　her；　and　all　those　among　the　tents　watching。　The　Aiel　who　had　e　from　the　Stone　had　been　courteous　even　when　not　exactly　friendly；　the　watchers　looked　neither。　It　was　a　temptation　to　embrace　saidar。　Only　Moiraine；　serene　and　cool　as　ever　despite　perspiration　on　her　face；　and　Lan；　as　unperturbed　as　the　rocks　around　them；　kept　her　from　it。　They　would　know　if　there　was　danger。　As　long　as　they　accepted　the　situation；　she　would。　But　she　did　wish　those　Aiel　would　stop　staring。
　　　　　　　Rhuarc　climbed　the　slope　with　a　smile。　〃I　am　e　back；　Amys；　though　not　by　the　way　you　expected；　I　will　wager。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　knew　you　would　be　here　today；　shade　of　my　heart。〃　She　reached　up　to　touch　his　cheek；　letting　her　brown　shawl　fall　down　onto　her　arms。　〃My　sister…wife　sends　her　heart　to　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃That's　what　you　meant　about　Dreaming；〃　Egwene　said　softly　to　Moiraine。　Lan　was　the　only　other　close　enough　to　hear。　〃That's　why　you　were　willing　to　let　Rand　try　to　bring　us　here　by　Portal　Stone。　They　knew　about　it；　and　told　you　in　that　letter。　No；　that　doesn't　make　sense。　If　they　had　mentioned　a　Portal　Stone；　you　wouldn't　have　tried　talking　him　out　of　it。　They　knew　we'd　be　here；　though。〃
　　　　　　　Moiraine　nodded　without　taking　her　eyes　from　the　Wise　Ones。　〃They　wrote　that　they　would　meet　us　here；　on　Chaendaer；　today。　I　thought　it。。。　unlikely。。。　until　Rand　mentioned　the　Stones。　When　he　was　sure　…　certain　beyond　my　dissuading　…　that　one　existed　here。。。　Let　us　just　say　it　suddenly　seemed　very　likely　we　would　reach　Chaendaer　today。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　took　a　deep　breath　of　hot　air。　So　that　was　one　of　the　things　Dreamers　could　do。　She　could　not　wait　to　start　learning。　She　wanted　to　go　after　Rhuarc　and　introduce　herself　to　Amys　…　reintroduce　herself　…　but　Rhuarc　and　Amys　were　looking　into　one　another's　eyes　in　a　way　that　excluded　intruders。
　　　　　　　A　man　had　e　out　from　each　of　the　camps；　one　tall　and　broad…shouldered；　flame…haired　and　still　short　of　his　middle　years；　the　other　older　and　darker；　no　less　tall　but　more　slender。　They　stopped　a　few　paces　to　either　side　of　Rhuarc　and　the　Wise　Ones。　The　older；　leathery…faced　man　carried　no　visible　weapon　except　his　heavy　bladed　belt　knife；　but　the　other　carried　spears　and　hide　buckler；　and　held　his　head　high　with　a　fiercely　prideful　scowl　directed　at　Rhuarc。
　　　　　　　Rhuarc　ignored　him；　turning　to　the　older　man。　〃I　see　you；　Heirn。　Has　one　of　the　sept　chiefs　decided　I　am　already　dead？　Who　seeks　to　take　my　place？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　see　you；　Rhuarc。　No　one　of　the　Taardad　has　entered　Rhuidean　or　seeks　to。　Amys　said　she　would　e　meet　you　here　today；　and　these　other　Wise　Ones　traveled　with　her。　I　brought　these　men　of　the　Jindo　sept　to　see　they　arrived　safely。〃
　　　　　　　Rhuarc　nodded　solemnly。　Egwene　had　the　feeling　something　important　had　just　been　said；　or　hinted　at。　The　Wise　Ones　did　not　look　at　the　fiery…haired　man；　and　neither　did　Rhuarc　or　Heirn；　but　from　the　color　rising　in　the　fellow's　cheeks；　they　might　as　well　have　been　staring　at　him。　She　glanced　at　Moiraine　and　got　a　tiny　shake　of　the　head；　the　Aes　Sedai　did　not　understand　either。
　　　　　　　Lan　leaned　down　between　them；　speaking　quietly。　〃A　Wise　One　can　go　anywhere　safely；　into　any　hold　regardless　of　clan。　I　think　not　even　blood　feud　touches　a　Wise　One。　This　Heirn　came　to　protect　Rhuarc　from　whoever　the　other　camp　is；　but　it　would　not　be　honorable　to　say　it。〃　Moiraine　lifted　one　eyebrow　a　trifle；　and　he　added；　〃I　don't　know　much　of　them；　but　I　fought　them　often　before　I　met　you。　You　have　never　asked　me　about　them。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　remedy　that；〃　the　Aes　Sedai　said　dryly。
　　　　　　　Turning　back　to　the　Wise　Ones　and　the　three　men　made　Egwene's　head　swim。　Lan　pushed　an　unstoppered　leather　water　bottle　into　her　hands；　and　she　tilted　her　head　back　to　drink　gratefully。　The　water　was　lukewarm　and　smelled　of　leather；　but　in　the　heat　it　tasted　fresh　from　the　spring。　She　offered　the　half　empty　bottle　to　Moiraine；　who　drank　sparingly　and　handed　it　back。　Egwene　was　glad　to　gulp　down　the　rest；　closing　her　eyes；　water　splashed　over　her　head；　and　she　opened　them　again　quickly。　Lan　was　emptying　another　water　bottle　over　her；　and　Moiraine's　hair　already　dripped。
　　　　　　　〃This　heat　can　kill　if　you　are　not　used　to　it；〃　the　Warder　explained　as　he　wet　down　a　pair　of　plain　white　linen　scarves　pulled　from　his　coat。　At　his　instructions；　she　and　Moiraine　tied　the　soaked　cloths　around　their　foreheads。　Rand　and　Mat　were　doing　the　same。　Lan　left　his　own　head　unprotected　to　the　sun；　nothing　seemed　to　faze　the　man。
　　　　　　　The　silence　between　Rhuarc　and　the　Aielmen　with　him　had　stretched　out；　but　the　cla