rj.theshadowrising-第113部分

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aine　suggesting　that　instead　of　sleep　Aviendha　should　perhaps　spend　the　night　digging　holes　and　filling　them　in　to　clear　her　head。　The　threats　were　not　intended　to　coerce　her；　Egwene　realized；　these　women　expected　and　intended　to　be　obeyed。　Any　useless　labor　Aviendha　earned　herself　would　be　for　being　stubborn。　That　stubbornness　seemed　to　be　shrinking；　with　four　sets　of　Wise　Ones'　eyes　boring　at　her　…　she　settled　into　more　of　a　defensive　crouch；　on　her　knees　…　but　she　was　holding　on。
　　　　　　　Egwene　leaned　over　to　put　a　hand　on　Aviendha's　shoulder。　〃You've　told　me　we　are　near…sisters；　and　I　think　we　are。　Will　you　do　it　for　me？　Think　of　it　as　looking　after　him　for　Elayne。　You　like　her；　too；　I　know。　You　can　tell　him　she　says　she　meant　what　she　said　in　her　letters。　He　will　like　hearing　that。〃
　　　　　　　Aviendha's　face　spasmed。　〃I　will　do　it；〃　she　said；　slumping。　〃I　will　watch　him　for　Elayne。　For　Elayne。〃
　　　　　　　Amys　shook　herself。　〃Foolishness。　You　will　watch　him　because　we　told　you　to；　girt。　If　you　think　you　have　another　reason；　you　will　find　you　are　painfully　mistaken。　More　water。　The　steam　is　fading。〃
　　　　　　　Aviendha　hurled　another　handful　onto　the　rocks　as　though　hurling　a　spear。　Egwene　was　glad　to　see　her　spirit　returning；　but　she　thought　she　would　caution　her　when　they　were　alone。　Spirit　was　all　very　well；　but　there　were　some　women　…　these　four　Wise　Ones；　for　example；　and　Siuan　Sanche　…　with　whom　it　was　mon　sense　to　keep　a　check　on　your　spirit。　You　could　shout　at　the　Women's　Circle　all　day；　and　you　still　ended　up　doing　what　they　wanted　anyway；　wishing　you　had　kept　your　mouth　shut。
　　　　　　　〃Now　that　that　is　settled；〃　Bair　said；　〃let　us　enjoy　the　steam　in　silence　while　we　can。　There　is　much　for　some　of　us　yet　to　do　tonight；　and　for　nights　to　e；　if　we　are　to　bring　a　gathering　to　Alcair　Dal　for　Rand　al'Thor。〃
　　　　　　　〃Men　always　find　ways　to　make　work　for　women；〃　Amys　said。　〃Why　should　Rand　al'Thor　be　different？〃
　　　　　　　Quiet　settled　over　the　tent　except　for　the　hiss　when　Aviendha　tossed　more　water　on　the　hot　rocks。　The　Wise　Ones　sat　with　hands　on　knees；　breathing　deeply。　It　was　really　quite　pleasant；　even　relaxing；　the　damp　heat；　the　slick；　cleansing　feel　of　sweat　on　the　skin。　Egwene　thought　it　was　worth　missing　a　little　sleep。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　did　not　look　relaxed；　though。　She　stared　at　the　steaming　kettle　as　if　seeing　something　else；　far　off。
　　　　　　　〃Was　it　bad？〃　Egwene　said　softly　so　as　not　to　disturb　the　Wise　Ones。　〃Rhuidean；　I　mean？〃　Aviendha　looked　up　quickly；　but　said　nothing。
　　　　　　　〃The　memories　fade；〃　Moiraine　said；　just　as　quietly。　She　did　not　look　away　from　her　distant　vision；　and　her　voice　was　almost　chill　enough　to　take　away　the　heat　in　the　air。　〃Most　are　already　gone。　Some；　I　knew　already。　Others。。。　The　Wheel　weaves　as　the　Wheel　wills；　and　we　are　only　the　thread　of　the　Pattern。　I　have　given　my　life　to　finding　the　Dragon　Reborn；　finding　Rand；　and　seeing　him　ready　to　face　the　Last　Battle。　I　will　see　that　done；　whatever　it　requires。　Nothing　and　no　one　can　be　more　important　than　that。〃
　　　　　　　Shivering　despite　her　sweat；　Egwene　closed　her　eyes。　The　Aes　Sedai　did　not　want　forting。　She　was　a　lump　of　ice；　not　a　woman。　Egwene　settled　herself　to　trying　to　recapture　that　pleasant　feeling。　She　suspected　such　would　be　few　and　far　between　in　the　days　to　e。


Chapter　36
（Crescent　Moon　and　Stars）
Misdirections

　　　　　　　The　Aiel　broke　camp　early　and　were　away　from　Rhuidean　while　the　not…yet…risen　sun　still　sharply　silhouetted　the　far　mountains。　In　three　parties　they　wound　around　Chaendaer；　down　onto　rough　flats　broken　by　hills　and　tall　stone　spires　and　flat…topped　buttes；　gray　and　brown　and　every　hue　between；　some　streaked　with　long　swirls　in　shades　of　red　and　ocher。　Occasionally　a　great　natural　arch　loomed　as　they　moved　north　and　west；　or　strange；　huge　slabs　of　rock　balanced　improbably；　forever　on　the　brink　of　falling。　Every　way　Rand　looked；　jagged　mountains　reared　in　the　distance。　All　the　wreckage　of　the　Breaking　of　the　World　seemed　gathered　here　in　the　place　called　the　Aiel　Waste。　Where　the　hard　ground　was　not　cracked　clay；　yellow　or　brown　or　something　between；　it　was　stony　and　stark；　and　everywhere　split　by　dry　gulleys　and　hollows。　The　scattered　vegetation　was　sparse　and　low；　thorny　bushes　and　leafless　things　with　spines；　the　few　blossoms；　white　or　red　or；　yellow；　were　startling　in　their　isolation。　Occasionally　stretches　of　tough　grass　covered　the　ground；　and　rarely；　there　was　a　stunted　tree　also　likely　to　have　thorns　or　spines。　pared　to　Chaendaer　and　the　valley　of　Rhuidean；　it　almost　looked　lush。　The　air　was　so　clear；　the　land　so　barren；　it　seemed　Rand　could　see　for　miles　and　miles。
　　　　　　　That　air　was　no　less　dry；　though；　the　heat　no　less　relentless；　with　the　sun　a　lump　of　molten　gold　high　in　a　cloudless　sky。　Rand　had　wrapped　a　shoufa　around　his　head　in　an　effort　to　keep　the　sun　off；　and　drank　from　the　waterbag　on　Jeade'en's　saddle　frequently。　Oddly；　wearing　his　coat　seemed　to　help；　he　did　not　sweat　any　less；　but　his　shirt　stayed　damp　beneath　the　red　wool；　cooling　him　somewhat。　Mat　used　a　strip　of　cloth　to　tie　a　large　white　kerchief　atop　his　head；　like　some　odd　cap　that　hung　down　the　back　of　his　neck；　and　he　kept　shading　his　eyes　against　the　glare。　He　carried　the　raven…marked　sword…spear　like　a　lance；　the　butt　tucked　into　his　stirrup。
　　　　　　　Four　hundred　or　so　Jindo　prised　their　party；　Rand　and　Mat　rode　at　the　front　alongside　Rhuarc　and　Heirn。　The　Aiel　walked；　of　course；　their　tents　and　some　of　the　booty　from　Tear　on　pack　mules　and　horses。　A　number　of　the　Jindo　Maidens　fanned　ahead　as　scouts；　and　Stone　Dogs　trailed　behind　as　a　rear　guard；　with　the　main　column　hedged　by　watchful　eyes；　ready　spears；　and　bows　with　arrows　nocked。　Supposedly　the　Peace　of　Rhuidean　extended　until　those　who　had　gone　to　Chaendaer　returned　to　their　own　holds；　but　as　Rhuarc　explained　to　Rand；　mistakes　had　been　known　to　happen；　and　apologies　and　bloodprice　did　not　bring　the　dead　out　of　their　graves。　Rhuarc　seemed　to　think　a　mistake　especially　likely　this　time；　certainly　in　part　because　of　the　Shaido　party。
　　　　　　　The　lands　of　the　Shaido　clan　lay　beyond　those　of　the　Jindo's　Taardad；　in　the　same　direction　from　Chaendaer；　and　they　paralleled　the　Jindo　some　quarter　of　a　mile　distant。　According　to　Rhuarc；　Couladin　should　have　waited　another　day　for　his　brother　to　return。　That　Rand　had　seen　Muradin　after　he　had　plucked　out　his　own　eyes　made　no　difference；　ten　days　was　the　time　allotted。　To　leave　sooner　was　to　abandon　whoever　had　entered　Rhuidean。　Yet　Couladin　had　set　the　Shaido　to　folding　their　tents　as　soon　as　he　saw　the　Jindo　pack　animals　being　loaded。　The　Shaido　moved　along　now　with　their　own　scouts　and　rear　guard；　seemingly　ignoring　the　Jindo；　but　the　space　between　never　widened　much　beyond　three　hundred　paces。　It　was　usual　to　have　witnesses　from　perhaps　half　a　dozen　of　the　larger　septs　when　a　man　sought　the　marking　of　a　clan　chief。　Couladin's　people　outnumbered　the　Jindo　by　at　least　two　to　one。　Rand　suspected　that　the　third　party；　halfway　between　Shaido　and　Taardad；　was　the　reason　the　interval　did　not　narrow　suddenly　and　violently。
　　　　　　　The　Wise　Ones　walked　just　like　all　the　other　Aiel；　including　those　strange；　white…robed　men　and　women　Rhuarc　called　gai'shain；　who　led　their　packhorses。　Not　servants；　exactly；　but　Rand　was　unsure　he　really　understood　Rhuarc's　explanation　about　honor　and　obligation　and　captives；　Heirn　had　been　even　more　confusing；　as　though　making　an　effort　to　explain　why　water　was　wet。　Moiraine；　Egwene　and　Lan　rode　with　the　Wise　Ones；　or　at　least　the　two　women　did。　The　Warder　had　his　warhorse　a　little　off　on　the　side　of　the　Shaido；　watching　them　as　closely　as　he　did　the　rugged　landscape。　Sometimes　Moiraine　or　Egwene　or　both　got　down　to　walk　awhile；　talking　with　the　Wise　Ones。　Rand　would　have　given　his　last　penny　to　hear　what　they　said。　They　looked　in　his　direction　often；　quick　glances　that　he　was　doubtless　not　supposed　to　notice。　For　some　reason；　Egwene　was　wearing　her　hair　in　two　braids；　plaited　with　lengths　of　red　ribbon；　like　a　bride's。　He　did　not　know　why。　He　had　mented　on　them　before　leaving　Chaendaer　…　just　mentioned　them　…　and　she　nearly　took　his　head　off。
　　　　　　　〃Elayne　is　the　woman　for　you。〃
　　　　　　　He　looked　down　at　Aviendha　in　confusion。　The　challenging　look　was　back　in　her　blue…green　eyes；　but　still　layered　atop　stark　dislike。　She　had　been　waiting　outside　the　tent　when　he　awoke　that　morning；　and　had　not　strayed　more　than　three　paces　from　him　since。　Clearly　the　Wise　Ones　had　set　her　to　spy；　and　clearly　he　was　not　supposed　to　realize　it。　She　was　pretty；　and　he　was　assumed　to　be　fool　enough　not　to　see　beyond　that。　No　doubt　that　was　the　real　reason　she　wore　skirts　now；　and　carried　no　weapon　beyond　a　small　beltknife。　Women　seemed　to　think　men　were　simple…minded。　e　to　think　of　it；　none　of　the　other　Aiel　had　mented　at　her　change　of　clothing；　but　even　Rhuarc　avoided　looking　at　her　for　too　long。　Probably　they　knew　why　she　was　there；　or　had　some　inkling　of　the　Wise　Ones'　plan；　and　did　not　want　to　speak　of　it。
　　　　　　　Rhuidean。　He　still　did　not　know　why　she　had　gone；　Rhuarc　muttered　about　〃women's　business；〃　plainly　reluctant　to　discuss　it　around　her。　Considering　the　way　she　clung　to　Rand's　side；　that　meant　not　discussing　it　at　all。　The　clan　chief　was　certainly　listening　now；　and　Heirn；　and　every　Jindo　in　earshot。　It　was　hard　to　tell　with　Aiel；　sometimes；　but　he　thought　they　looked　amused。　Mat　was　whistling　softly；　ostentatiously　looking　at　anything　but　the　two　of　them。　Even　so；　this　was　the　first　time　all　day　she　had　spoken　to　him。
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　he　asked。
　　　　　　　Her　bulky　skirts　did　not　hinder　her；　walking　along　beside　Jeade'en。　No；　not　walking。　Stalking。　If　she　were　a　cat；　she　would　be　lashing　her　tail。　〃Elayne　is　a　wetlander；　your　own　kind。〃　She　tossed　her　head　arrogantly。　The　short　tail　that　Aiel　warriors　wore　at　the　nape　of　the　neck　was　missing。　The　folded　scarf　around　her　temples　nearly　enveloped　her　hair。　〃Exactly　the　woman　for　you。　Is　she　not　beautiful？　Her　back　is　straight；　her　limbs　supple　and　strong；　her　lips　like　plump　love…apples。　Her　hair　is　spun　gold；　her　eyes　blue　sapphires。　Her　skin　is　smoother　than　the　finest　silk；　her　bosom　fine　and　well…rounded。　Her　hips　are　…〃
　　　　　　　He　cut　her　off　frantically；　his　cheeks　heating。　〃I　know　she's　pretty。　What　are　you　doing？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　describing　her。〃　Aviendha　frowned　up　him。　〃Have　you　seen　her　in　her　bath？　There　is　no　need　for　me　to　describe　her　if　you　have　seen　…〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　not　seen！〃　He　wished　he　did　not　sound　strangled。　Rhuarc　and　the　others　were　listening；　faces　too　blank　for　anything　but　amusement。　Mat　rolled　his　eyes　with　an　open；　roguish　grin。
　　　　　　　The　woman　only　shrugged　and　rearranged　her　shawl。　〃She　should　have　arranged　it。　But　I　have　seen　her；　and　I　will　act　as　her　near　sister。〃　The　emphasis　seemed　to　say　his　〃near　sister〃　might　have　done　the　same；　Aiel　customs　were　strange；　but　this　was　mad！　〃Her　hips　…〃
　　　　　　　〃Stop　that！〃
　　　　　　　She　gave　him　a　sideways　glare。　〃She　is　the　woman　for　you。　Elayne　has　laid　her　heart　at　your　feet　for　a　bridal　wreath。　Do　you　think　there　was　anyone　in　the　Stone　of　Tear　who　does　not　know？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　want　to　talk　about　Elayne；〃　he　told　her　firmly。　Certainly　not　if　she　meant　to　go　on　as　she　had　begun。　The　though