rj.thepathofdaggers-第97部分

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raveling；　and　it　seems　very　possible　that　they　will　e。〃
　　　　　　　He　heard　men　shifting　on　their　bellies　before　they　could　restrain　themselves。　Suroth　lost　control　of　her　emotions　and　babbled　of　legends？　〃Are　you　certain？〃　The　words　popped　out　of　his　mouth　before　he　could　stop　them。
　　　　　　　He　had　only　thought　she　had　lost　control　before。　Her　eyes　blazed。　She　gripped　the　edges　of　her　flower…worked　robe；　white…knuckled；　and　her　hands　shook。　〃Do　you　question　me？〃　she　snarled　incredulously。　〃Suffice　it　that　I　have　my　sources　of　information。〃　And　was　furious　with　them　as　much　as　with　him；　he　realized。　〃If　they　e；　there　will　be　perhaps　as　many　as　fifty　of　these　grandly　named　Asha'man；　but　no　more　than　five　or　six　thousand　soldiers。　It　seems　there　have　been　no　more　since　the　beginning；　whatever　the　fliers　say。〃
　　　　　　　Miraj　nodded　slowly。　Five　thousand　men；　moved　about　in　some　way　with　the　One　Power；　would　explain　a　great　deal。　What　were　her　sources；　that　she　knew　numbers　so　precisely？　He　was　not　fool　enough　to　ask。　She　certainly　had　Listeners　and　Seekers　in　her　service。　Watching　her；　too。　Fifty　Asha'man。　The　very　idea　of　a　man　channeling　made　him　want　to　spit　in　disgust。　Rumor　claimed　they　were　being　gathered　from　every　nation　by　the　Dragon　Reborn；　this　Rand　al'Thor；　but　he　had　never　expected　there　could　be　so　many。　The　Dragon　Reborn　could　channel；　it　was　said。　That　might　be　true；　but　he　was　the　Dragon　Reborn。
　　　　　　　The　Prophecies　of　the　Dragon　had　been　known　in　Seanchan　even　before　Luthair　Paendrag　began　the　Consolidation。　In　corrupted　form；　it　was　said；　much　different　from　the　pure　version　Luthair　Paendrag　brought。　Miraj　had　seen　several　volumes　of　The　Karaethon　Cycle　printed　in　these　lands；　and　they　were　corrupted　too　…　not　one　mentioned　him　serving　the　Crystal　Throne！　…　but　the　Prophecies　held　men's　minds　and　hearts　still。　More　than　a　few　hoped　the　Return　came　soon；　that　these　lands　could　be　reclaimed　before　Tarmon　Gai'don　so　the　Dragon　Reborn　could　win　the　Last　Battle　for　the　glory　of　the　Empress；　might　she　live　forever。　The　Empress　surely　would　want　al'Thor　sent　to　her；　so　she　could　see　what　sort　of　man　served　her。　There　would　be　no　difficulty　with　al'Thor　once　he　had　knelt　to　her。　Few　easily　shook　off　the　awe　they　felt；　kneeling　before　the　Crystal　Throne；　with　the　thirst　to　obey　drying　their　tongues。　But　it　seemed　obvious　that　bundling　the　fellow　onto　a　ship　would　be　easier　if　disposing　of　the　Asha'man　…　they　had　to　be　disposed　of；　certainly　…　waited　until　al'Thor　was　well　on　his　way　across　the　Aryth　Ocean　to　Seandar。
　　　　　　　Which　brought　him　back　to　the　problem　he　had　been　trying　to　avoid；　he　realized　with　an　inward　start。　He　was　not　a　man　to　shy　from　difficulties；　much　less　ignore　them　blindly；　but　this　was　different　from　any　he　had　faced　before。　He　had　fought　in　two　dozen　battles　with　damane　used　on　both　sides；　he　knew　the　way　of　them。　It　was　not　only　a　matter　of　striking　out　with　the　Power。　Experienced　sul'dam　could　somehow　see　what　damane　or　marath'damane　did　and　damane　would　tell　the　others；　so　they　could　defend　as　well。　Could　sul'dam　see　what　a　man　did；　too？　Worse。。。
　　　　　　　〃You　will　release　the　sul'dam　and　damane　to　me？〃　he　said。　Taking　a　deep　breath　in　spite　of　himself；　he　added；　〃If　they're　still　sick；　it　will　be　a　short　fight　and　bloody。　On　our　side。〃
　　　　　　　Which　produced　another　stir　among　the　men　waiting　on　their　faces。　Every　second　rumor　in　the　camp　was　about　what　illness　had　confined　the　sul'dam　and　damane　to　their　tents。　Alwhin　reacted　quite　openly；　most　improper　in　a　so'jhin；　with　a　furious　glare。　The　damane　flinched　again；　and　began　to　shiver　where　she　lay。　Oddly；　the　honey…haired　da'covale　flinched；　as　well。
　　　　　　　Smiling；　Suroth　glided　to　where　the　da'covale　knelt。　Why　would　she　smile　at　a　poorly　trained　serving　girl？　She　began　stroking　the　kneeling　woman's　thin　braids；　and　a　sullen　pout　appeared　on　that　rosebud　mouth。　A　former　noblewoman　of　these　lands？　Suroth's　first　words　supported　that；　though　obviously　meant　for　him。　〃Small　failures　bring　small　costs；　great　failures　bring　painfully　great　costs。　You　will　have　the　damane　you　require；　Miraj。　And　you　will　teach　these　Asha'man　they　should　have　remained　in　the　north。　You　will　wipe　them　from　the　face　of　the　earth；　the　Asha'man；　the　soldiers；　all　of　them。　To　the　man。　Miraj。　I　have　spoken。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　will　be　as　you　say；　Suroth；〃　he　replied。　〃They　will　be　destroyed。　To　the　man。〃　There　was　nothing　else　he　could　say；　now。　He　wished；　though；　that　she　had　given　him　an　answer　about　whether　the　sul'dam　and　damane　were　still　sick。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　Rand　reined　Tai'daishar　around　near　the　crest　of　the　bare；　stony　hill　to　watch　most　of　his　small　army　spilling　out　of　other　holes　in　the　air。　He　held　hard　to　the　True　Source；　so　hard　it　seemed　to　tremble　in　his　grasp。　With　the　Power　in　him；　the　sharp　points　of　the　Crown　of　Swords　pricking　his　temples　felt　at　once　keener　than　ever　and　utterly　removed；　the　midmorning　chill　both　colder　and　beneath　notice。　The　never…healing　wounds　in　his　side　were　a　dull　and　distant　ache。　Lews　Therin　seemed　to　be　panting　in　uncertainty。　Or　perhaps　fear。　Maybe　after　ing　so　close　to　death　the　day　before；　he　did　not　want　so　much　to　die　anymore。　But　then；　he　did　not　always　want　to　die。　The　only　constant　in　the　man　was　the　desire　to　kill。　Which　just　happened　to　include　killing　himself；　often　enough。
　　　　　　　There'll　be　killing　enough　for　anybody；　soon；　Rand　thought。　Light；　the　last　six　days　were　enough　to　sicken　a　vulture。　Had　it　only　been　six　days？　The　disgust　did　not　touch　him；　though。　He　would　not　let　it。　Lews　Therin　did　not　answer。　Yes。　It　was　a　time　for　iron　hearts。　And　iron　stomachs；　too。　He　bent　a　moment　to　touch　the　long　cloth…wrapped　package　under　his　stirrup　leather。　No。　Not　time；　yet。　Maybe　not　at　all。　Uncertainty　shimmered　across　the　Void；　and　maybe　something　else。　Not　at　all；　he　hoped。　Uncertainty；　yes；　but　the　other　had　not　been　fear。　It　had　not！
　　　　　　　Half　the　surrounding　low　hills　were　covered　with　squat；　gnarled　olive　trees；　dappled　by　the　sunlight；　where　lancers　already　rode　along　the　rows　to　make　sure　they　were　clear。　There　was　no　sign　of　workers　in　those　orchards；　no　farmhouse；　no　structure　of　any　kind　in　sight。　A　few　miles　to　the　west；　the　hills　were　darker；　forested。　Legionmen；　emerging　in　trotting　files　below　Rand；　formed　up；　trailed　by　a　ragged　square　of　Illianer　volunteers；　now　enlisted　into　the　Legion。　As　soon　as　their　ranks　were　aligned；　they　marched　out　of　the　way　to　make　room　for　Defenders　and　panions。　The　ground　seemed　mostly　clay；　and　boots　and　hooves　alike　skidded　in　the　thin　skim　of　mud。　For　a　wonder；　though；　only　a　few　clouds　hung　in　the　sky；　white　and　clean。　The　sun　was　a　pale　yellow　ball。　And　nothing　flew　up　there　larger　than　a　sparrow。
　　　　　　　Dashiva　and　Flinn　were　among　the　men　holding　gateways；　as　were　Adley　and　Hopwil；　Morr　and　Narishma。　Some　of　the　gateways　lay　out　of　Rand's　sight　behind　the　folded　hills。　He　wanted　everyone　through　as　quickly　as　possible；　and　except　for　a　few　Soldiers　scanning　the　sky；　every　man　in　a　black　coat　who　was　not　already　out　scouting　held　a　weave。　Even　Gedwyn　and　Rochaid；　though　both　grimaced　over　it；　at　each　other　and　in　his　direction。　Rand　thought　them　no　longer　used　to　doing　anything　so　mon　as　holding　a　gateway　for　others　to　use。
　　　　　　　Bashere　cantered　up　the　slope；　very　much　at　ease　with　himself；　and　with　his　short　bay。　His　cloak　was　flung　back　despite　the　morning's　coolness；　not　so　cold　as　the　mountains；　but　still　wintery。　He　nodded　casually　to　Anaiyella　and　Ailil；　who　gave　bleak　stares　in　return。　Bashere　smiled　through　those　thick　mustaches；　like　down…curving　horns；　a　not　entirely　pleasant　smile。　He　had　as　many　doubts　of　the　women　as　Rand　did。　The　women　knew；　about　Bashere's　reservations　at　least。　Turning　her　head　quickly　from　the　Saldaean；　Anaiyella　returned　to　stroking　her　gelding's　mane；　Ailil　held　her　reins　too　rigidly。
　　　　　　　That　pair　had　not　strayed　far　from　Rand　since　the　incident　on　the　ridge；　even　having　their　tents　pitched　in　earshot　of　his　the　night　before。　On　a　brown…grass　hillside　opposite；　Denharad　shifted　to　study　the　two　noblewomen's　retainers；　arrayed　together　behind　him；　then　quickly　returned　to　watching　Rand。　Very　likely　he　watched　Ailil；　and　maybe　Anaiyella　as　well；　but　he　watched　Rand　without　doubt。　Rand　was　unsure　whether　they　still　feared　to　take　the　blame　if　he　was　killed　or　simply　wanted　to　see　it　happen。　The　one　thing　he　was　certain　of　was　that　if　they　did　want　him　dead；　he　would　give　them　no　opportunity。
　　　　　　　Who　knows　a　woman's　heart？　Lews　Therin　chuckled　wryly。　He　sounded　in　one　of　his　saner　moods。　Most　women　will　shrug　off　what　a　man　would　kill　you　for；　and　kill　you　for　what　a　man　would　shrug　off。　Rand　ignored　him。　The　last　gateway　in　Rand's　sight　winked　out。　The　Asha'man　mounting　their　horses　were　too　far　for　him　to　say　for　sure　whether　any　still　held　on　to　saidin；　but　it　did　not　matter　so　long　as　he　did。　Clumsy　Dashiva　tried　to　mount　quickly　and　nearly　fell　off　twice　before　successfully　reaching　his　saddle。　Most　of　the　black…coated　men　in　view　began　riding　north　or　south。
　　　　　　　The　rest　of　the　nobles　gathered　quickly　with　Bashere　on　the　slope　just　below　Rand；　the　highest　ranking　and　those　with　the　most　power　in　front　after　a　little　jostling　here　and　there；　where　precedence　remained　uncertain。　Tihera　and　Marcolin　kept　their　horses　on　the　fringes；　on　opposite　sides　of　the　mass　of　nobles；　faces　carefully　blank；　they　might　be　asked　for　advice；　but　both　knew　the　final　decisions　rested　with　others。　Weiramon　opened　his　mouth　with　a　grand　gesture；　doubtless　to　begin　another　splendid　peroration　on　the　glories　of　following　the　Dragon　Reborn。　Sunamon　and　Torean；　accustomed　to　his　speeches　and　powerful　enough　to　take　no　care　around　him；　reined　their　horses　together　and　began　talking　quietly。　Sunamon's　face　wore　an　unaccustomed　hardness；　and　Torean　seemed　ready　to　squabble　over　a　boundary　line　despite　the　red　satin　stripes　on　his　coatsleeves。　Square…jawed　Bertome　and　some　of　the　other　Cairhienin　were　not　quiet　at　all；　laughing　at　each　other's　jokes。　Everyone　had　had　a　bellyful　of　Weiramon's　grand　declamations。　Though　Semaradrid's　scowl　deepened　every　time　he　looked　at　Ailil　and　Anaiyella　…　he　did　not　like　them　remaining　close　to　Rand；　especially　his　cou