rj.thepathofdaggers-第86部分

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　often　manded　the　panions　himself。　An　often　bitter　rivalry　had　grown　up　between　Defenders　and　panions；　centering　on　who　should　guard　Rand。　The　Tairens　claimed　the　right　because　he　had　ruled　longer　in　Tear；　the　Illianers　because　he　was；　after　all；　King　of　Illian。　Perhaps　Weiramon　had　heard　some　of　the　mutters　among　the　Defenders　that　it　was　time　Tear　had　a　king　of　its　own；　and　who　better　than　the　man　who　had　taken　the　Stone？　Weiramon　more　than　agreed　with　the　need；　but　not　with　the　choice　of　who　should　wear　the　crown。　He　was　not　the　only　one。
　　　　　　　The　man　smoothed　his　features　as　soon　as　he　saw　Rand　looking；　and　swung　down　from　his　gold…tooled　saddle　to　offer　a　bow　that　made　Tihera's　seem　simple。　Iron…spined　as　he　was；　he　could　puff　up　and　strut　in　his　sleep。　Though　he　did　grimace　slightly　at　putting　his　polished　boot　into　the　mud。　He　wore　a　rain　cape；　to　keep　the　mist　off　his　fine　clothes；　but　even　that　was　encrusted　with　gold　embroidery　and　had　a　collar　of　sapphires。　For　all　of　Rand's　coat　of　deep　green　silk；　with　golden　bees　climbing　the　sleeves　and　lapels；　anyone　might　have　been　forgiven　for　thinking　the　Crown　of　Swords　belonged　on　the　other's　head；　not　his。
　　　　　　　〃My　Lord　Dragon；〃　Weiramon　intoned。　〃I　cannot　express　how　happy　I　am　to　see　you　guarded　by　Tairens；　my　Lord　Dragon。　Surely　the　world　would　weep　if　anything　untoward　happened。〃　He　was　too　intelligent　to　e　out　and　call　the　panions　untrustworthy。　By　a　hair；　he　was。
　　　　　　　〃Sooner　or　later　it　would；〃　Rand　said　dryly。　After　a　good　part　of　it　finished　celebrating。　〃I　know　how　hard　you'd　cry；　Weiramon。〃
　　　　　　　The　fellow　actually　preened；　stroking　the　point　of　his　gray…streaked　beard。　He　heard　what　he　wanted　to　hear。　〃Yes；　my　Lord　Dragon；　you　can　be　assured　of　my　constancy。　Which　is　why　I'm　concerned　by　the　orders　your　man　brought　me　this　morning。〃　That　was　Adley；　many　of　the　nobles　thought　pretending　the　Asha'man　were　merely　Rand's　servants　would　somehow　make　them　less　dangerous。　〃Wise　of　you　to　send　away　most　of　the　Cairhienin。　And　the　Illianers；　of　course；　that　goes　without　saying。　I　can　even　understand　why　you　limit　Gueyam　and　the　others。〃　Weiramon's　boots　squelched　in　the　mud　as　he　stepped　nearer；　and　his　voice　took　on　a　confiding　tone。　〃I　do　believe　some　of　them　…　I　wouldn't　say　plotted　against　you；　but　I　think　perhaps　their　loyalty　has　not　always　been　without　question。　As　mine　is。　Without　question。〃　His　voice　shifted　again；　to　strong　and　confident；　a　man　concerned　only　with　the　needs　of　the　one　he　served。　The　one　who　surely　would　make　him　the　first　King　of　Tear。　〃Allow　me　to　bring　all　of　my　armsmen；　my　Lord　Dragon。　With　them；　and　the　Defenders；　I　can　assure　the　honor　of　the　Lord　of　the　Morning；　and　his　safety。〃
　　　　　　　In　all　of　the　individual　camps　across　the　heath；　wagons　and　carts　were　being　loaded；　horses　saddled。　Most　tents　were　already　down。　The　High　Lady　Rosana　was　riding　north；　her　banner　heading　a　column　large　enough　to　raise　havoc　among　the　bandits　and　at　least　give　the　Shaido　pause。　But　not　enough　to　plant　notions　in　her　head；　especially　not　when　half　were　Gueyam's　and　Maraconn's　retainers　mixed　with　Defenders　of　the　Stone。　Much　the　same　applied　to　Spiron　Narettin；　riding　eastward　over　the　tall　ridge　with　as　many　panions　and　men　sworn　to　others　of　the　Council　of　Nine　as　his　own　liegemen；　not　to　mention　a　hundred　more　tailing　behind　on　foot；　some　of　the　fellows　who　had　surrendered　in　the　woods　beyond　that　ridge　the　day　before。　A　surprising　number　had　chosen　to　follow　the　Dragon　Reborn；　but　Rand　did　not　trust　them　enough　to　leave　them　together。　Tolmeran　was　just　starting　south　with　the　same　kind　of　blend；　and　others　would　be　marching　off　as　soon　as　they　had　their　carts　and　wagons　loaded。　Each　in　a　different　direction；　and　none　able　to　trust　the　men　at　their　backs　far　enough　for　them　to　do　more　than　follow　the　orders　Rand　had　given。　Bringing　peace　to　Illian　was　an　important　task；　yet　every　last　lord　and　lady　regretted　being　sent　away　from　the　Dragon　Reborn；　plainly　wondering　whether　it　meant　they　had　slipped　in　his　trust。　Though　a　few　might　have　considered　why　he　chose　to　keep　those　he　did　under　his　eye。　Rosana　had　certainly　looked　thoughtful。
　　　　　　　〃Your　concern　touches　me；〃　Rand　told　Weiramon；　〃but　how　many　bodyguards　does　one　man　need？　I'm　not　off　to　start　a　war。〃　A　fine　point；　perhaps；　yet　this　war　was　well　under　way。　It　had　begun　at　Falme；　if　not　before。　〃Get　your　people　ready。〃
　　　　　　　How　many　have　died　for　my　pride？　Lews　Therin　moaned。　How　many　have　died　for　my　mistakes？
　　　　　　　〃May　I　at　least　ask　where　we　are　going？〃　Weiramon's　question；　not　quite　exasperated；　came　right　atop　the　voice　in　Rand's　head。
　　　　　　　〃The　City；〃　Rand　snapped。　He　did　not　know　how　many　had　died　for　his　mistakes；　but　none　for　his　pride。　He　was　sure　of　that。
　　　　　　　Weiramon　opened　his　mouth；　plainly　confused　as　to　whether　he　meant　Tear　or　Illian；　or　maybe　even　Cairhien；　but　Rand　gestured　him　away　with　the　Dragon　Scepter；　a　sharp　stabbing　motion　that　made　the　green…and…white　tassel　swing。　He　half　wished　he　could　stab　Lews　Therin　with　it。　〃I　don't　intend　to　sit　here　all　day；　Weiramon！　Go　to　your　men！〃
　　　　　　　Less　than　an　hour　later　he　took　hold　of　the　True　Source　and　prepared　to　make　a　gateway　for　Traveling。　He　had　to　fight　the　dizziness　that　gripped　him　lately　whenever　he　seized　or　loosed　the　Power；　he　did　not　quite　sway　in　Tai'daishar's　saddle。　What　with　the　molten　filth　floating　on　saidin；　the　frozen　slime；　touching　the　Source　came　close　to　emptying　his　stomach。　Seeing　double；　even　for　only　a　few　moments；　made　weaving　flows　difficult　if　not　impossible；　and　he　could　have　told　Dashiva　or　Flinn　or　one　of　the　others　to　do　it；　but　Gedwyn　and　Rochaid　were　holding　their　horses'　reins　in　front　of　a　dozen　or　so　black…coated　Soldiers；　all　who　had　not　been　out　to　search。　Just　standing　there　patiently。　And　watching　Rand。　Rochaid；　no　more　than　a　hand　shorter　than　Rand　and　maybe　two　years　younger；　was　also　full　Asha'man；　and　his　coat；　too；　was　silk。　A　small　smile　played　on　his　face；　as　if　he　knew　things　others　did　not　and　was　amused。　What　did　he　know？　About　the　Seanchan；　surely；　if　not　Rand's　plans　for　them。　What　else？　Maybe　nothing；　but　Rand　was　not　about　to　show　any　weakness　in　front　of　that　pair。　The　dizziness　faded　quickly；　the　twinned　sight　a　little　more　slowly；　as　it　always　did；　these　last　few　weeks；　and　he　pleted　the　weave；　then；　without　waiting；　dug　in　his　heels　and　rode　through　the　opening　that　unfolded　before　him。
　　　　　　　The　City　he　had　meant　was　Illian；　though　the　gateway　opened　to　the　north　of　that　city。　Despite　Weiramon's　supposed　concerns；　he　hardly　went　unprotected　and　alone。　Nearly　three　thousand　men　rode　through　that　tall　square　hole　in　the　air；　into　rolling　meadowland　not　far　from　the　broad　muddy　road　that　led　down　to　the　Causeway　of　the　Northern　Star。　Even　when　every　lord　had　only　been　allowed　a　handful　of　armsmen　…　to　men　accustomed　to　leading　a　thousand　if　not　thousands；　a　hundred　or　so　were　a　handful　…　they　added　up。　Tairens　and　Cairhienin　and　Illianers；　Defenders　of　the　Stone　under　Tihera　and　panions　under　Marcolin；　Asha'man　heeling　Gedwyn。　The　Asha'man　who　had　e　with　him；　anyway。　Dashiva　and　Flinn　and　the　rest　kept　their　horses　close　behind　Rand。　All　but　Narishma。　Narishma　had　not　e　back　yet。　The　man　knew　where　to　find　him；　but　Rand　did　not　like　it。
　　　　　　　Each　kind　kept　to　themselves　as　much　as　possible。　Gueyam　and　Maraconn　and　Arae　rode　with　Weiramon；　all　eyeing　Rand　more　than　where　they　were　going；　and　Gregorin　Panar　with　three　others　of　the　Council　of　Nine；　leaning　in　their　saddles　to　speak　softly　and　uneasily　among　themselves。　Semaradrid；　with　a　knot　of　tight…faced　Cairhienin　lords　behind　him；　watched　Rand　almost　as　closely　as　the　Tairens　did。　Rand　had　chosen　those　who　came　with　him　as　carefully　as　those　he　sent　away；　not　always　for　the　reasons　others　might　have　used。
　　　　　　　Had　there　been　any　onlookers；　it　would　have　been　a　brave　display；　with　all　their　bright　banners　and　pennants；　and　small　con　rising　from　some　of　the　Cairhienin's　backs。　Bright　and　brave　and　very　dangerous。　Some　had　plotted　against　him；　and　he　had　learned　that　Semaradrid's　House　Maravin　had　old　alliances　with　House　Riatin；　which　stood　in　open　rebellion　against　him　in　Cairhien。　Semaradrid　did　not　deny　the　connection；　but　he　had　not　mentioned　it　before　Rand　heard；　either。　The　Council　of　Nine　were　just　too　new　to　him　to　risk　leaving　them　all　behind。　And　Weiramon　was　a　fool。　Left　to　his　own　devices；　he　might　well　try　to　gain　the　Lord　Dragon's　favor　by　marching　an　army　against　the　Seanchan；　or　Murandy；　or　the　Light　alone　knew　who　or　where。　Too　stupid　to　leave　behind；　too　powerful　to　shove　aside；　so　he　rode　with　Rand　and　thought　himself　honored。　It　was　almost　a　pity　he　was　not　stupid　enough　to　do　something　that　would　get　him　executed。
　　　　　　　Behind　came　the　servants　and　carts　…　no　one　understood　why　Rand　had　sent　all　of　the　wagons　with　the　others；　and　he　was　not　about　to　explain；　who　owned　the　next　pair　of　ears　that　would　hear？　…　and　then　the　long　strings　of　spare　mounts　led　by　horse　handlers；　and　straggling　files　of　men　in　battered　breastplates　that　did　not　quite　fit　or　leather　jerkins　sewn　with　rusty　steel　discs；　carrying　bows　or　crossbows　or　spears；　and　even　a　few　pikes；　more　of　the　fellows　who　had　obeyed　〃Lord　Brend's〃　summons　and　decided　against　going　home　unarmed。　Their　leader　was　the　runny…nosed　man　Rand　had　spoken　to　on　the　edge　of　the　woods；　Eagan　Padros　by　name　and　much　brighter　than　he　looked。　It　was　difficult　for　a　moner　to　rise　very　far；　most　places；　but　Rand　had　marked　Padros　out。　The　fellow　gathered　his　men　off　to　one　side；　but　the　whole　lot　of　them　milled　about；　elbowing　one　another　aside　for　a　better　view　southward。
　　　　　　　The　Causeway　of　the　Northern　Star　stretched　arrow…straight　through　the　miles　of　brown　marsh　that　surrounded　Illian；　a　wide　road　of　hard…packed　dirt　broken　by　flat　stone　bridges。　A　wind　from　the　south　carried　sea　salt　and　a　hint　of　tanneries。　Illian　was　a　sprawling　city；　easily　as　large　as　Caemlyn　or　Cairhien。　Brightly　colored　roof　tiles　and　hundreds　of　thrusting　towers；　gleaming　in　the　sun；　were　just　visible　across　that　sea　of　grass　where　long…legged　cranes　waded　and　flocks　of　white　birds　flew　low　uttering　shrill　cries。　Illian　had　never　needed　walls。　Not　that　w