rj.thepathofdaggers-第62部分

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re　never　guards　here；　not　unless　Rand　was　meeting　with　the　nobles。　Anyone　trying　to　slip　in　would　have　been　seen　instantly　by　a　thousand　prying　eyes。　Three　banners　on　tall　poles　formed　a　triangle　around　the　tent；　the　Rising　Sun　of　Cairhien；　the　Three　Crescents　of　Tear；　and　the　Golden　Bees　of　Illian；　and　above　the　crimson　roof；　higher　than　the　rest；　stood　the　Dragon　Banner；　and　the　Banner　of　Light。　The　wind　made　them　all　stand　out；　rippling　and　snapping；　and　the　tent　walls　shivered　in　the　gusts。　Inside；　colorful；　fringed　carpets　made　a　floor；　and　the　only　furniture　was　a　huge　table；　thickly　carved　and　gilded；　inlaid　with　ivory　and　turquoise。　A　jumble　of　maps　almost　hid　the　tabletop。
　　　　　　　Torval　lifted　his　head　from　the　maps；　plainly　ready　to　give　the　rough　side　of　his　tongue　to　whoever　had　barged　in　on　him。　Close　to　his　middle　years　and　tall　beside　anyone　save　Rand　or　an　Aiel；　he　stared　coldly　down　a　sharp　nose　that　practically　quivered　with　indignation。　The　Dragon　and　the　Sword　glistened　on　his　coat　collar　in　the　light　of　the　stand…lamps。　A　silk　coat；　shining　black；　cut　fine　enough　for　a　lord。　His　sword　had　silver　mountings　washed　with　gold；　and　a　glittering　red　gem　capped　the　hilt。　Another　gleamed　darkly　on　a　finger　ring。　You　could　not　train　men　to　be　weapons　without　expecting　a　certain　amount　of　arrogance；　yet　Rand　did　not　like　Torval。　But　then；　he　had　no　need　of　Lews　Therin's　voice　to　be　suspicious　of　any　man　in　a　black　coat。　How　far　did　he　truly　trust　even　Flinn？　Yet　he　had　to　lead　them。　The　Asha'man　were　his　making；　his　responsibility。
　　　　　　　When　Torval　saw　Rand；　he　straightened　casually　and　saluted；　but　his　expression　barely　changed。　He　had　had　a　sneering　mouth　the　first　time　Rand　ever　saw　him。　〃My　Lord　Dragon；〃　he　said　in　the　accents　of　Tarabon；　and　he　might　have　been　greeting　an　equal。　Or　being　gracious　to　an　inferior。　His　swaggering　bow　took　in　Hopwil　and　Dashiva　as　well。　〃I　give　congratulations　on　the　conquest　of　Illian。　A　great　victory；　yes？　There　would　have　been　wine　to　greet　you；　but　this　young。。。　Dedicated。。。　does　not　seem　to　understand　orders。〃
　　　　　　　In　the　corner；　silver　bells　on　the　ends　of　Narishma's　two　long　dark　braids　made　a　faint　sound　as　he　shifted。　He　had　tanned　darkly　in　the　southern　sun；　but　some　things　about　him　had　not　changed。　Older　than　Rand；　his　face　made　him　seem　younger　than　Hopwil；　but　the　red　that　rose　in　his　cheeks　was　anger；　not　embarrassment。　His　pride　in　the　new…won　Sword　on　his　collar　was　quiet；　yet　deep。　Torval　smiled　at　him；　a　slow　smile　both　amused　and　dangerous。　Dashiva　laughed；　a　short　bark；　and　was　still。
　　　　　　　〃What　are　you　doing　here；　Torval？〃　Rand　asked　roughly。　He　tossed　the　Dragon　Scepter　and　his　gauntlets　down　atop　the　maps　and　followed　them　with　his　sword　belt　and　scabbarded　sword。　The　maps　that　Torval　had　no　reason　to　be　studying。　No　need　of　Lews　Therin's　voice。
　　　　　　　With　a　shrug；　Torval　produced　a　letter　from　his　coat　pocket　and　handed　it　to　Rand。　〃The　M'Hael；　he　sent　this。〃　The　paper　was　snowy　white　and　thick；　the　seal　a　dragon　impressed　in　a　large　oval　of　blue　wax　that　glittered　with　golden　flecks。　It　might　almost　have　been　thought　to　e　from　the　Dragon　Reborn。　Taim　did　think　well　of　himself。　〃The　M'Hael　said　to　tell　you　the　tales　of　Aes　Sedai　in　Murandy　with　an　army；　they　are　true。　Rumor　says　they　are　rebels　against　Tar　Valon〃　…　Torval's　sneer　thickened　with　disbelief　…　〃but　they　are　marching　toward　the　Black　Tower。　Soon；　they　may　bee　a　danger；　yes？〃
　　　　　　　Rand　cracked　the　magnificent　seal　to　bits　between　his　fingers。　〃They're　going　to　Caemlyn；　not　the　Black　Tower；　and　they're　no　threat。　My　orders　were　clear。　Leave　Aes　Sedai　alone　unless　they　e　after　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　how　can　you　be　sure　they　are　not　a　threat？〃　Torval　persisted。　〃Perhaps　they　are　going　to　Caemlyn；　as　you　say；　but　if　you　are　wrong；　we'll　not　know　before　they　attack　us。〃
　　　　　　　〃Torval　might　be　right；〃　Dashiva　put　in　thoughtfully。　〃I　can't　say　I'd　trust　women　who　put　me　in　a　box；　and　these　haven't　sworn　any　oaths。　Or　have　they？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　said　leave　them　alone！〃　Rand　slapped　the　tabletop；　hard；　and　Hopwil　jumped　in　surprise。　Dashiva　frowned　with　irritation　before　hurriedly　smoothing　it　over；　but　Rand　was　not　interested　in　Dashiva's　moods。　By　chance　…　he　was　sure　it　was　chance　…　his　hand　had　e　down　on　the　Dragon　Scepter。　His　arm　trembled　with　the　desire　to　take　it　up　and　stab　Torval　through　the　heart。　No　need　for　Lews　Therin　at　all。　〃The　Asha'man　are　a　weapon　to　be　aimed　where　I　say；　not　to　flutter　around　like　hens　every　time　Taim　gets　frightened　over　a　handful　of　Aes　Sedai　having　dinner　at　the　same　inn。　If　I　must；　I　can　e　back　to　make　myself　clearer。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　sure　there　is　no　need　of　that；〃　Torval　said　quickly。　At　last　something　had　wiped　the　wry　twist　from　his　mouth。　Eyes　tight；　he　spread　his　hands；　close　to　diffident；　very　nearly　apologetic。　And　plainly　frightened。　〃The　M'Hael；　he　merely　wanted　you　informed。　Your　orders　are　read　aloud　every　day　at　Morning　Directives；　after　the　Creed。〃
　　　　　　　〃That's　good；　then。〃　Rand　kept　his　voice　cool；　kept　a　scowl　from　his　face　by　main　effort。　It　was　his　precious　M'Hael　the　man　feared；　not　the　Dragon　Reborn。　Afraid　Taim　would　take　it　amiss　if　something　he　had　said　brought　Rand's　anger　on　Taim's　head。　〃Because　I'll　kill　any　one　of　you　who　goes　near　those　women　in　Murandy。　You　cut　where　I　direct。〃
　　　　　　　Torval　bowed　rigidly；　murmuring；　〃As　you　say；　my　Lord　Dragon。〃　His　teeth　were　bared　in　an　attempted　smile；　but　his　nose　was　pinched；　and　he　struggled　to　avoid　meeting　anyone's　eyes　while　seeming　to　avoid　nothing。　Dashiva　yelped　another　laugh；　and　Hopwil　wore　a　small　grin。
　　　　　　　Narishma　was　not　enjoying　Torval's　disfort；　though；　or　paying　it　attention。　He　looked　at　Rand　without　blinking；　as　though　he　sensed　deep　currents　that　the　rest　missed。　Most　women　and　no　few　men　thought　him　just　a　pretty　boy；　but　those　too…big　eyes　sometimes　seemed　more　knowing　than　any　others。
　　　　　　　Rand　pulled　his　hand　from　the　Dragon　Scepter　and　smoothed　open　the　letter。　His　hands　did　not　quite　shake。　Torval　smiled　weakly；　sourly；　noticing　nothing。　Against　the　tent　wall；　Narishma　shifted；　relaxing。
　　　　　　　The　refreshments　arrived；　then；　borne　by　a　stately　procession　following　Boreane；　a　line　of　Illianers　and　Cairhienin　and　Tairens　in　their　various　liveries。　There　was　a　servant　bearing　a　silver　tray　and　pitcher　for　each　kind　of　wine；　and　two　more　with　trays　of　silver　mugs　for　hot　punch　and　spiced　wines　and　fine　blown　goblets　for　the　others。　A　pink…faced　fellow　in　green…and…yellow　carried　a　tray　on　which　to　do　the　pouring；　and　a　dark　woman　in　black…and…gold　was　there　to　actually　handle　the　pitchers。　There　were　nuts　and　candied　fruits；　cheeses　and　olives；　each　sort　requiring　a　serving　man　or　woman。　Under　Boreane's　direction；　they　flowed　in　a　formal　dance；　bowing；　curtsying；　one　giving　way　to　another　as　they　made　their　offerings。
　　　　　　　Accepting　spiced　wine；　Rand　hoisted　himself　onto　the　edge　of　the　table　and　sat　the　steaming　mug　beside　him　untouched　as　he　busied　himself　with　the　letter。　There　was　no　address；　no　preamble　of　any　kind。　Taim　hated　giving　Rand　any　sort　of　title；　though　he　tried　to　hide　the　fact。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　I　have　the　honor　to　report　that　twenty…nine　Asha'man；　ninety…seven　Dedicated　and　three　hundred　twenty…two　Soldiers　are　now　enrolled　at　the　Black　Tower。　There　have　been　a　handful　of　deserters；　unfortunately；　whose　names　have　been　stricken；　but　losses　in　training　remain　acceptable。
　　　　　　　I　now　have　as　many　as　fifty　recruiting　parties　in　the　field　at　any　given　time；　with　the　result　that　three　or　four　men　are　added　to　the　rolls　almost　every　day。　In　a　few　months；　the　Black　Tower　will　equal　the　White；　as　I　said　it　would。　In　a　year；　Tar　Valon　will　tremble　at　our　numbers。
　　　　　　　I　harvested　that　blackberry　bush　myself。　A　small　bush；　and　thorny；　but　a　surprising　number　of　berries　for　the　size。
　　　　　　　Mazrim　Taim
M'Hael
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　Rand　grimaced；　putting　the。。。　the　blackberry　bush。。。　out　of　his　mind。　What　had　to　be　done；　had　to　be　done。　The　whole　world　paid　a　price　for　his　existence。　He　would　die　for　it；　but　the　whole　world　paid。
　　　　　　　There　were　other　things　to　grimace　over；　anyway。　Three　or　four　new　men　a　day？　Taim　was　optimistic。　In　a　few　months；　at　that　rate；　there　would　be　more　men　who　could　channel　than　Aes　Sedai；　true；　but　the　newest　sister　had　years　of　training　behind　her。　And　part　of　that　specifically　taught　how　to　deal　with　a　man　who　could　channel。　He　did　not　want　to　contemplate　any　encounter　between　Asha'man　and　Aes　Sedai　who　knew　what　they　were　facing；　blood　and　regret　could　be　the　only　oute；　whatever　happened。　The　Asha'man　were　not　aimed　at　the　White　Tower；　though；　no　matter　what　Taim　thought。　It　was　a　convenient　belief；　however；　if　it　made　Tar　Valon　step　warily。　An　Asha'man　only　needed　to　know　how　to　kill。　If　there　were　enough　to　do　that　at　the　right　place　and　time；　if　they　lived　long　enough　to；　that　was　all　they　had　been　created　for。
　　　　　　　〃How　many　deserters；　Torval？〃　he　said　quietly。　He　picked　up　the　wine　mug　and　took　a　swallow；　as　if　the　answer　were　unimportant。　The　wine　should　have　been　warming；　but　the　ginger　and　sweet　serrel　and　mace　tasted　bitter　on　his　tongue。　〃How　many　losses　in　training？〃
　　　　　　　Torval　was　recovering　himself　over　the　refreshments；　rubbing　his　hands　and　arching　an　eyebrow　at　the　choice　of　wines；　making　a　great　show　of　knowing　the　best；　making　a　show　of　lording　it。　Dashiva　had　accepted　the　first　offered；　and　stood　glowering　into　his　twist…stemmed　goblet　as　though　it　held　swill。　Pointing　to　one　of　the　trays；　Torval　cocked　his　head　thoughtfully；　but　he　had　the　words　ready　on　his　tongue。　〃Nineteen　deserters；　so　far。　The　M'Hael；　he　has　ordered　them　killed　whenever　they　are　found；　and　their　heads　brought　back　for　examples。〃　Plucking　a　bit　of　glazed　pear　from　the　proffered　tray；　he　popped　it　into　his　mouth　and　smiled　brightly。　〃Three　heads　hang　like　fruit　on　the　Traitor's　Tree　at　this　moment。〃
　　　　　　　〃Good；〃　Rand　said　levelly。　Men　who　ran　now　could　not　be　trusted　not　to　run　later；　when　lives　depended　on　them　standing。　And　these　men　could　not　be　allowed　to　go　their　own　way；　those　fellows　back　on　the　hills；　if　they　escaped　in　a　body；　were　less　dangerous　than　one　man　trained　in　the　Black　Tower。　The　Traitor's　Tree？　Taim　was　a