rj.thepathofdaggers-第109部分

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　rescue　from　the　Shadow。　Screaming；　she　struggled　like　a　mad　beast。
　　　　　　　Dimly　she　was　aware　of　his　horse　plunging　and　dancing　as　her　heels　drummed　its　shoulder。　Dimly　she　heard　the　man　talking。　〃Easy；　you　lump…eared　sack　of　coal！　Calm　down；　sister。　I'm　not　going　to　…　Easy；　you　spavined　mule！　Light！　My　apologies；　sister；　but　this　is　how　we　learn　to　do　it。〃　And　then　he　kissed　her。
　　　　　　　She　had　only　a　heartbeat　to　realize　his　lips　were　touching　hers；　then　sight　vanished；　and　warmth　flooded　through　her。　More　than　warmth。　She　was　melted　honey　inside；　bubbling　honey；　rushing　toward　the　boil。　She　was　a　harpstring；　vibrating　faster　and　faster；　vibrating　to　invisibility　and　faster　still。　She　was　a　thin　crystal　vase；　quivering　on　the　brink　of　shattering。　The　harpstring　broke；　the　vase　shattered。
　　　　　　　〃Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah！〃
　　　　　　　At　first；　she　did　not　realize　that　sound　had　e　from　her　gaping　mouth。　For　a　moment；　she　could　not　think　coherently。　Panting；　she　stared　up　at　the　male　face　above　her；　wondering　who　it　belonged　to。　Yes。　The　tall　man。　The　man　who　could　…
　　　　　　　〃I　could　have　done　without　the　extra　bit；〃　he　sighed；　patting　the　horse's　neck；　the　animal　snorted；　but　it　no　longer　leaped　about；　〃yet　I　suppose　it　is　necessary。　You're　hardly　a　wife。　Be　calm。　Don't　try　to　escape；　don't　attack　anyone　in　a　black　coat；　and　don't　touch　the　Source　unless　I　give　you　permission。　Now；　what's　your　name？〃
　　　　　　　Unless　he　gave　permission？　The　effrontery　of　the　man！　〃Toveine　Gazal；〃　she　said；　and　blinked。　Now；　why　had　she　answered　him？
　　　　　　　〃There　you　are；〃　another　black…coated　man　said；　splashing　his　horse　through　the　snow　to　them。　This　one　would　be　much　more　to　her　liking　…　if　he　could　not　actually　channel；　at　least。　She　doubted　this　pink…cheeked　lad　shaved　more　than　twice　in　the　week。　〃Light；　Logain！〃　the　pretty　boy　exclaimed。　〃Did　you　take　a　second　one？　The　M'Hael　won't　like　that！　I　don't　think　he　likes　us　taking　any！　Maybe　it　won't　matter；　though；　you　two　being　so　close　and　all。〃
　　　　　　　〃Close；　Vinchova？〃　Logain　said　wryly。　〃If　the　M'Hael　had　his　way；　I'd　be　hoeing　turnips　with　the　new　boys。　Or　buried　under　the　field；〃　he　added　in　a　mutter　she　did　not　think　he　meant　to　be　heard。
　　　　　　　However　much　he　heard；　the　pretty　boy　laughed　with　incredulous　disbelief。　Toveine　barely　heard　him。　She　was　gazing　up　at　the　man　looming　over　her。　Logain。　The　false　Dragon。　But　he　was　dead！　Stilled　and　dead！　And　holding　her　before　his　saddle　with　a　casual　hand。　Why　was　she　not　screaming；　or　striking　at　him？　Even　her　belt　knife　would　do；　this　near。　Yet　she　had　no　desire　at　all　to　reach　for　the　ivory　haft。　She　could；　she　realized。　That　band　around　her　middle　was　gone。　She　could　at　least　slip　down　off　the　horse　and　try　to　…　She　had　no　desire　to　do　that；　either。
　　　　　　　〃What　did　you　do　to　me？〃　she　demanded。　Calmly。　At　least　she　had　managed　to　hold　on　to　that！
　　　　　　　Turning　his　horse　to　ride　back　to　the　road；　Logain　told　her　what　he　had　done；　and　she　put　her　head　against　that　wide　chest；　not　caring　at　all　how　big　he　was；　and　wept。　She　was　going　to　make　Elaida　pay　for　this；　she　vowed。　If　Logain　ever　let　her；　she　would。　That　last　was　an　especially　bitter　thought。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　
Chapter　27　
（Rising　Sun）　
The　Bargain　
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　Seated　cross…legged　in　a　heavily　gilded；　high…backed　chair；　Min　tried　to　lose　herself　in　the　leather…bound　copy　of　Herid　Fel's　Reason　and　Unreason　lying　open　on　her　knees。　It　was　not　easy。　Oh；　the　book　itself　was　mesmerizing；　Master　Fel's　writings　always　swept　her　into　worlds　of　thought　she　had　not　dreamed　of　while　working　in　stables。　She　very　much　regretted　the　sweet　old　man's　death。　She　hoped　to　find　a　clue　in　his　books　to　why　he　had　been　killed。　Her　dark　ringlets　swung　as　she　shook　her　head　and　tried　to　apply　herself。
　　　　　　　The　book　was　fascinating；　but　the　room　was　oppressive。　Rand's　small　throne　room　in　the　Sun　Palace　was　thick　with　gilt　from　the　wide　cornices　to　the　tall　mirrors　on　the　walls　replacing　those　Rand　had　smashed；　from　the　two　rows　of　chairs　like　the　one　she　sat　in　to　the　dais　at　the　head　of　the　rows　and　the　Dragon　Throne　atop　the　dais。　That　was　a　monstrosity；　in　the　style　of　Tear　as　imagined　by　Cairhienin　craftsmen；　resting　on　the　backs　of　a　pair　of　Dragons　with　two　more　Dragons　for　the　arms　and　others　climbing　the　back；　all　with　large　sunstones　for　eyes；　the　whole　glittering　with　gilt　and　red　enamel。　A　huge　golden；　wavy…rayed　Rising　Sun　set　in　the　polished　stone　floor　only　added　to　the　sense　of　heaviness。　At　least　the　fires　blazing　in　two　great　fireplaces；　tall　enough　for　her　to　walk　into；　gave　a　pleasing　warmth；　especially　with　snow　spilling　down　outside。　And　these　were　Rand's　rooms；　the　fort　of　that　alone　outweighed　any　amount　of　oppression。　An　irritating　thought。　This　was　Rand's　room　if　he　ever　deigned　to　return。　A　very　irritating　thought。　Being　in　love　with　a　man　seemed　to　consist　largely　of　a　great　many　irritating　admissions　to　yourself！
　　　　　　　Shifting　in　a　vain　attempt　to　make　the　hard　chair　fortable；　she　tried　to　read；　but　her　eyes　kept　swinging　to　the　tall　doors；　each　climbed　by　its　own　line　of　gilded　Rising　Suns。　She　hoped　to　see　Rand　walk　in；　she　feared　to　see　Sorilea；　or　Cadsuane。　Unconsciously；　she　adjusted　her　pale　blue　coat；　fingering　the　tiny　snow…flowers　embroidered　on　the　lapels。　More　twined　around　the　sleeves；　and　the　legs　of　breeches　made　as　snug　as　she　could　manage　to　wriggle　herself　into。　Not　that　great　a　change　from　what　she　had　always　worn。　Not　really。　So　far；　she　had　avoided　dresses；　however　much　embroidery　she　wore；　but　she　very　much　feared　that　Sorilea　meant　to　stuff　her　into　a　dress　if　the　Wise　One　had　to　peel　her　out　of　what　she　was　wearing　with　her　own　hands。
　　　　　　　The　woman　knew　all　about　her　and　Rand。　All　about。　She　felt　her　cheeks　heating。　Sorilea　seemed　to　be　trying　to　decide　whether　Min　Farshaw　was　a　suitable。。。　lover。。。　for　Rand　al'Thor。　That　word　made　her　feel　foolishly　giddy；　she　was　not　a　fluff…brained　girl！　That　word　made　her　want　to　look　over　her　shoulder　guiltily　for　the　aunts　who　had　raised　her。　No；　she　thought　wryly；　you're　not　fluff…brained。　Fluff　has　its　wits　about　it　pared　to　you！
　　　　　　　Or　maybe　Sorilea　wanted　to　know　whether　Rand　was　suitable　for　Min；　it　seemed　that　way；　at　times。　The　Wise　Ones　accepted　Min　as　one　of　them；　or　very　nearly；　but　these　past　weeks；　Sorilea　had　wrung　her　out　like　a　laundress's　mangle。　The　leather…faced；　white…haired　Wise　One　wanted　to　know　every　scrap　about　Min；　and　every　shred　about　Rand。　She　wanted　the　dust　from　the　bottoms　of　his　pockets！　Twice　Min　had　tried　balking　at　the　incessant　interrogation；　and　twice　Sorilea　had　produced　a　switch！　That　terrible　old　woman　simply　bundled　her　over　the　side　of　the　nearest　table；　and　afterward　told　her　that　maybe　that　would　loosen　another　scrap　in　her　head。　None　of　the　other　Wise　Ones　gave　the　slightest　miseration；　either！　Light；　the　things　you　had　to　put　up　with　for　a　man！　And　she　could　not　have　him　for　herself　alone；　at　that！
　　　　　　　Cadsuane　was　a　different　proposition　altogether。　The　immensely　dignified　Aes　Sedai；　as　gray…haired　as　Sorilea　was　white；　did　not　seem　to　care　two　figs　for　Min　or　Rand　either　one；　but　she　spent　a　great　deal　of　time　in　the　Sun　Palace。　Avoiding　her　entirely　was　impossible；　she　seemed　to　wander　wherever　she　wanted。　And　when　Cadsuane　looked　at　Min；　however　briefly；　Min　could　not　help　seeing　a　woman　who　could　teach　bulls　to　dance　and　bears　to　sing。　She　kept　expecting　the　woman　to　point　at　her　and　announce　that　it　was　time　Min　Farshaw　learned　to　balance　a　ball　on　her　nose。　Sooner　or　later；　Rand　had　to　face　Cadsuane　again；　and　the　thought　tied　Min's　stomach　in　knots。
　　　　　　　She　made　herself　bend　back　over　her　book。　One　of　the　doors　swung　open；　and　Rand　strolled　in　with　the　Dragon　Scepter　nestled　in　the　crook　his　arm。　He　wore　a　golden　crown；　a　broad　circlet　of　laurel　leaves　…　that　must　be　this　Crown　of　Swords　everyone　was　talking　about　…　snug　breeches　that　showed　his　legs　to　advantage；　and　a　gold…worked　green　silk　coat　that　fit　him　beautifully。　He　was　beautiful。
　　　　　　　Marking　her　place　with　the　note　Master　Fel　had　written　saying　she　was　〃too　pretty；〃　she　carefully　closed　the　book　and　carefully　set　it　on　the　floor　beside　her　chair。　Then　she　folded　her　arms　and　waited。　Had　she　been　standing；　she　would　have　tapped　her　foot；　but　she　would　not　have　the　man　thinking　she　was　springing　up　just　because　he　finally　appeared。
　　　　　　　For　a　moment　he　stood　smiling　at　her；　and　tugging　his　ear…lobe　for　some　reason　…　he　seemed　to　be　humming！　…　then　abruptly　he　swung　round　to　frown　at　the　doors。　〃The　Maidens　out　there　didn't　tell　me　you　were　in　here。　They　hardly　said　a　word　at　all。　Light；　they　looked　ready　to　veil　at　the　sight　of　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃Maybe　they　are　upset；〃　she　said　calmly。　〃Maybe　they　wondered　where　you　were。　The　way　I　did。　Maybe　they　wondered　whether　you　were　hurt；　or　sick；　or　cold。〃　The　way　I　did；　she　thought　bitterly。　The　man　looked　confused！
　　　　　　　〃I　wrote　to　you；〃　he　said　slowly；　and　she　sniffed。
　　　　　　　〃Twice！　With　Asha'man　to　deliver　your　letters；　you　wrote　twice；　Rand　al'Thor。　If　you　call　it　writing！〃
　　　　　　　He　staggered　as　if　she　had　slapped　him　…　no；　as　if　she　had　kicked　him　in　the　belly！　…　and　blinked。　She　took　a　firm　hold　on　herself　and　settled　against　the　chairback。　Give　a　man　sympathy　at　the　wrong　moment；　and　you　never　regained　the　ground　lost。　A　part　of　her　wanted　to　throw　her　arms　around　him；　fort　him；　draw　out　all　his　pains；　soothe　all　his　hurts。　He　had　so　many；　and　refused　to　admit　a　one。　She　was　not　going　to　spring　up　and　rush　to　him；　gushing　to　know　what　was　wrong　or。。。　Light；　he　had　to　be　all　right。
　　　　　　　Something　took　her　gently　beneath　the　elbows　and　lifted　her　out　of　the　chair。　Blue　boots　dangling；　she　floated　toward　him　through　the　air。　The　Dragon　Scepter　floated　away　from　him。　So；　he　thought　he　could　smile；　did　he？　He　thought　a　pretty　smile　could　turn　her　around？　She　opened　her　mouth　to　give　him　a　piece　of　her　mind。　A　very　sharp　piece！　Folding　his　arms　around　her；　he　kissed　her。
　　　　　　　When　she　could　breathe　again；　she　peered　up　at　him　through　her　lashes。　〃The　first　time。。。　〃　She　swallowed　to　clear　her　voice。　〃First；　Jahar　Narishma　stalked　in　trying　to　stare　inside　everybody's　skull　the　way　he　does；　and　vanished　after　handing　me　a　scrap　of