rj.theshadowrising-第116部分

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　　　　　　　Speaking　of　taking　care；　he　became　aware　of　Aviendha　studying　him；　her　shawl　wrapped　around　her　head　much　like　a　shoufa。　He　straightened　himself　again。　Moiraine　might　have　told　her　off　to　nurse　him；　but　he　had　the　impression　the　woman　was　waiting　to　see　him　fall。　Doubtless　she　would　find　that　funny；　Aiel　humor　being　what　it　was。　He　would　have　liked　to　think　she　simply　resented　being　stuffed　into　a　dress　and　set　to　watch　him；　but　the　glitter　in　her　eyes　seemed　too　personal　for　that。
　　　　　　　For　once　Moiraine　and　the　Wise　Ones　were　not　watching　him。　Halfway　between　the　Jindo　and　the　Shaido；　Moiraine　and　Egwene　were　walking　with　Amys　and　the　others；　all　six　women　looking　at　something　in　the　Aes　Sedai's　hands。　It　caught　the　light　of　the　falling　sun；　sparkling　like　a　gem；　they　certainly　seemed　as　intent　as　any　girl　on　a　pretty。　Lan　rode　back　among　the　gai'shain　and　packhorses；　as　though　they　had　sent　him　away。
　　　　　　　The　scene　made　Rand　uneasy。　He　was　used　to　being　the　center　of　attention　for　that　lot。　What　had　they　found　more　interesting？　Surely　nothing　he　could　be　happy　about；　not　with　Moiraine；　likely　not　with　Amys　or　the　others。　They　all　had　their　plans　for　him。　Egwene　was　the　only　one　of　them　he　really　trusted。　Light；　I　hope　I　can　still　trust　her。　The　only　one　he　could　really　trust　was　himself。　When　the　boar　breaks　cover；　there's　only　you　and　your　spear。　His　laugh　was　a　touch　bitter　this　time。
　　　　　　　〃You　find　the　Three…fold　Land　amusing；　Rand　al'Thor？〃　Aviendha's　smile　was　the　merest　flash　of　white　teeth。　〃Laugh　while　you　can；　wetlander。　When　this　land　begins　to　break　you；　it　will　be　a　fitting　punishment　for　your　treatment　of　Elayne。〃
　　　　　　　Why　would　the　woman　an　not　let　up？　〃You　didn't　show　any　respect　for　the　Dragon　Reborn；〃　he　snapped；　〃but　you　could　try　finding　a　little　for　the　Car'a'carn。〃
　　　　　　　Rhuarc　chuckled。　〃A　clan　chief　is　not　a　wetlander　king　Rand；　nor　is　the　Car'a'carn。　There　is　respect　…　though　women　generally　show　as　little　as　they　can　get　away　with　…　but　anyone　can　speak　to　a　chief。〃　Even　so；　he　sent　a　frown　in　the　direction　of　the　woman　on　the　other　side　of　Rand's　horse。　〃Some　do　push　the　bounds　of　honor。〃
　　　　　　　Aviendha　must　have　known　that　last　was　meant　for　her　ears；　her　face　went　stony。　But　she　strode　along　without　saying　another　word；　fists　clenched　at　her　sides。
　　　　　　　A　pair　of　the　scouting　Maidens　appeared；　ing　back　at　a　dead　run。　They　were　plainly　not　together；　one　headed　straight　for　the　Shaido；　the　other　for　the　Jindo。　Rand　recognized　her；　a　yellow…haired　woman　named　Adelin；　handsome　but　hard…faced；　with　a　scar　making　a　fine　white　line　across　her　sun…dark　cheek。　She　was　one　of　those　who　had　been　in　the　Stone；　though　older　than　most　of　the　Maidens　there；　perhaps　ten　years　more　than　he。　The　quick　look　she　gave　Aviendha　before　falling　in　beside　Rhuarc；　an　equal　blend　of　curiosity　and　sympathy；　made　Rand　bristle。　If　Aviendha　had　agreed　to　do　the　Wise　Ones'　spying；　she　certainly　did　not　deserve　sympathy。　His　pany　was　not　so　onerous　as　that。　Him；　Adelin　ignored　altogether。
　　　　　　　〃There　is　trouble　at　Imre　Stand；〃　she　told　Rhuarc；　her　speech　quick　and　clipped。　〃There　is　no　one　to　be　seen。　We　have　kept　hidden　and　not　gone　close。〃
　　　　　　　〃Good；〃　Rhuarc　replied。　〃Inform　the　Wise　Ones。〃　Unconsciously　hefting　his　spears；　he　dropped　back　to　the　main　body　of　Jindo。　Aviendha　muttered　to　herself；　plucking　at　her　skirts；　obviously　wanting　to　join　him。
　　　　　　　〃I　think　they　already　know；〃　Mat　said　as　Adelin　sped　toward　the　Wise　Ones'　party。
　　　　　　　From　the　agitation　among　the　women　around　Moiraine；　Rand　thought　he　was　right。　They　all　appeared　to　be　talking　at　once。　Egwene　was　shading　her　eyes；　staring　at　either　Adelin　or　him；　her　other　hand　to　her　mouth。　How　they　knew　had　to　be　a　question　for　later。
　　　　　　　〃What　kind　of　trouble　might　it　be？〃　he　asked　Aviendha。　Still　muttering　to　herself；　she　did　not　answer。　〃Aviendha？　What　kind　of　trouble？〃　Nothing。　〃Burn　you；　woman；　you　can　answer　a　simple　question！　What　kind　of　trouble？〃
　　　　　　　She　flushed；　but　her　reply　came　in　a　level　tone。　〃It　is　most　likely　to　be　a　raid；　for　goats　or　sheep；　either　could　be　herded　at　Imre　for　pasture；　but　most　likely　goats；　because　of　the　water。　Probably　it　was　the　Chareen；　the　White　Mountain　sept　or　the　Jarra。　They　are　closest。　Or　it　might　be　a　sept　from　the　Goshien。　The　Tomanelle　are　too　far；　I　think。〃
　　　　　　　〃Will　there　be　fighting？〃　He　reached　out　for　saidin；　the　sweet　rush　of　the　Power　flooded　him。　The　rancid　taint　oozed　through　him；　and　fresh　sweat　burst　from　every　pore。　〃Aviendha？〃
　　　　　　　〃No。　Adelin　would　have　said　if　the　raiders　were　still　there。　The　herd　and　the　gai'shain　are　miles　gone　by　now。　We　cannot　recover　the　herd　because　we　must　acpany　you。　〃
　　　　　　　He　wondered　why　she　did　not　mention　recovering　the　captives；　the　gai'shain；　but　he　did　not　wonder　long。　The　effort　of　staying　upright　while　holding　on　to　saidin；　of　not　folding　up　and　being　swept　away；　left　little　room　for　thought。
　　　　　　　Rhuarc　and　the　Jindo　swept　ahead　at　a　run；　already　veiling　their　faces；　and　Rand　followed　more　slowly。　Aviendha　shot　him　impatient　frowns；　but　he　kept　Jeade'en　to　a　brisk　walk。　He　would　not　go　galloping　into　someone　else's　trap。　At　least　Mat　was　in　no　hurry；　he　hesitated；　looking　at　the　peddlers'　wagons；　before　cantering　Pips　up。　Rand　never　glanced　at　the　wagons。
　　　　　　　The　Shaido　fell　behind；　slowing　until　the　Wise　Ones　began　to　move　again。　Of　course。　This　was　Taardad　land。　Couladin　would　not　care　if　someone　raided　here。　Rand　hoped　the　clan　chiefs　could　be　gathered　at　Alcair　Dal　quickly。　How　could　he　unite　a　people　who　seemed　to　fight　each　other　all　the　time？　The　least　of　his　worries；　now。
　　　　　　　When　Imre　Stand　finally　came　in　sight；　it　was　something　of　a　surprise。　A　few　widely　scattered　clumps　of　long…haired　white　goats　browsed　on　patches　of　tough　grass　and　even　the　leaves　of　thorny　bushes。　At　first　he　did　not　see　the　crude　stone　building　set　against　the　base　of　a　tall　butte；　the　rough　stonework　blended　in　perfectly；　and　several　thornbushes　had　taken　root　on　the　dirt　covered　roof。　Not　very　big；　it　had　arrowslits　for　windows　and　only　one　door　that　he　could　see。　After　a　moment　he　spotted　another　building；　no　larger；　tucked　onto　a　ledge　some　twenty　paces　higher。　A　deep　crevice　ran　up　to　the　ledge　and　beyond　from　behind　the　stone　house　at　the　base；　there　was　no　other　evident　way　to　reach　the　ledge。
　　　　　　　Rhuarc；　standing　openly　four　hundred　or　so　paces　from　the　butte　with　his　veil　lowered；　was　the　only　Jindo　in　sight。　That　did　not　mean　the　others　were　not　there；　of　course。　Rand　reined　in　beside　him　and　dismounted。　The　clan　chief　continued　to　study　the　stone　buildings。
　　　　　　　〃The　goats；〃　Aviendha　said；　sounding　troubled。　〃Raiders　would　not　have　left　any　goats　behind。　Most　are　gone；　but　it　almost　looks　as　if　the　herd　has　just　been　allowed　to　wander。〃
　　　　　　　〃For　days；〃　Rhuarc　agreed；　not　taking　his　eyes　from　the　buildings；　〃or　more　would　remain。　Why　does　no　one　e　out？　They　should　be　able　to　see　my　face；　and　know　me。〃　He　started　forward；　and　made　no　objection　when　Rand　joined　him　leading　Jeade'en。　Aviendha　had　one　hand　on　her　belt　knife；　and　Mat；　riding　behind；　carried　that　black…hafted　spear　as　if　he　expected　to　need　it。
　　　　　　　The　door　was　rough　wood；　pieced　together　from　short；　narrow　planks。　Some　of　the　stout　bracing　was　broken；　hacked　by　axes。　Rhuarc　hesitated　a　moment　before　pushing　it　open。　He　hardly　glanced　inside　before　turning　to　run　his　eyes　over　the　surrounding　country。
　　　　　　　Rand　put　his　head　in。　There　was　no　one　there。　The　interior；　light　streaming　in　bars　through　the　arrowslits；　was　all　one　room　and　plainly　not　a　dwelling；　just　a　place　for　herdsmen　to　shelter；　and　defend　themselves　if　attacked。　There　were　no　furnishings；　no　tables　or　chairs。　A　raised　open　hearth　stood　beneath　a　sooty　smoke　hole　in　the　roof。　The　wide　crevice　at　the　back　had　steps　chiseled　into　the　gray　rock。　The　place　had　been　ransacked。　Bedding；　blankets；　pots；　all　lay　scattered　across　the　stone　floor　amid　slashed　cushions　and　pillows。　Some　liquid　had　been　splashed　over　everything；　the　walls；　even　the　ceiling；　and　had　dried　black。
　　　　　　　When　he　realized　what　it　was；　he　jerked　back；　the　Power…wrought　sword　ing　into　his　hands　before　he　even　thought。　Blood。　So　much　blood。　There　had　been　slaughter　done　here；　as　savage　as　anything　he　could　imagine。　Nothing　moved　out　there　except　the　goats。
　　　　　　　Aviendha　backed　out　as　fast　as　she　went　in。　〃Who？〃　she　demanded　incredulously；　her　large　blue…green　eyes　filled　with　outrage。　〃Who　would　do　this？　Where　are　the　dead？〃
　　　　　　　〃Trollocs；〃　Mat　muttered。　〃It　looks　like　Trolloc　work　to　me。〃
　　　　　　　She　snorted　contemptuously。　〃Trollocs　do　not　e　into　the　Three…fold　Land；　wetlander。　No　more　than　a　few　miles　below　the　Blight；　at　least；　and　then　seldom。　I　have　heard　they　call　the　Three…fold　Land　the　Dying　Ground。　We　hunt　Trollocs；　wetlander；　they　do　not　hunt　us。〃
　　　　　　　Nothing　moved。　Rand　let　the　sword　go；　pushed　saidin　away。　It　was　hard。　The　sweetness　of　the　Power　was　nearly　enough　to　overe　the　feel　of　filth　from　the　taint；　the　sheer　exhilaration　almost　enough　to　make　him　not　care。　Mat　was　right　whatever　Aviendha　said；　but　this　was　old；　the　Trollocs　gone。　Trollocs　in　the　Waste；　at　a　place　he　had　e　to。　He　was　not　fool　enough　to　think　it　coincidence。　But　if　they　think　I　am；　maybe　they'll　grow　careless。
　　　　　　　Rhuarc　signaled　the　Jindo　to　e　in　…　they　seemed　to　rise　out　of　the　ground　…　and　some　time　later　the　others　appeared；　the　Shaido　and　the　peddlers'　wagons　and　the　Wise　Ones'　party。　Word　spread　quickly　of　what　had　been　found；　and　among　the　Aiel；　tension　became　palpable。　They　moved　as　if　they　expected　momentary　attack；　perhaps　from　each　other。　Scouts　fanned　out　in　every　direction。　Unharnessing　their　mules；　the　wagon　drivers　looked　around　jerkily；　and　seemed　ready　to　dive　under　their　wagons　at　the　first　shout。
　　　　　　　For　a　time　all　was　a　stirred　hive　of　ants。　Rhuarc　made　sure　the　peddlers　lined　their　wagons　up　on　the　edge　of　the　Jindo　camp。　Couladin　glowered；　since　it　meant　any　Shaido　who　wanted　to　trade　had　to　go　to　the　Jindo；　but　he　did　not　argue。　Perhaps　even　he　could　see　that　might　lead　to　dancing　the　spears；　now。　The　Shaido　tents　went　up　a　scant　quarter…mile　away；　with　the　Wise　Ones；　as　usual；　in　between。　The　Wise　Ones　examined　the　inside　of　the　building；　and　Moiraine　and　Lan　did；　as　well；　but　if　they　reached　any　conclusions；　they　told　no　one。
　　　　　　　The　water　at　Imre　Stand　turned　out　to　be　a　tiny　spring　at　the　back　of　the　crevice；　feeding　a　deep；　roughly　round　pool　…　what　Rhuarc　called　a　tank　…　less　than　two　paces　across。　Enough　for　herdsmen；　enough　for　the　Jindo　to　fill　some　of　their　waterskins。　No　Shaido　went　near；　in　Taardad　land；　the　Jindo　had　first　claim　on　water。　It　seemed　the　goats　got　their　moisture　purely　from　the　thick　leaves　of　the　thorny　bushes。　Rhuarc　assured　Rand　there　would　be　much　more　water　at　the　next　night's　stop。
　　　　　　　Kadere　produced　a　surprise　while　the　wagon　drivers　were　unhitching　their　teams　and　fetching　buckets　from　the　water…wagons。　When　he　came　out　of　his　wagon；　a　dark…haired　young　woman　acpanied　him；　in　a　red　silk　gown　and　red　velvet　slippers　more　suited　to　a　palace　than　to　the　Waste。　A　filmy　red　scarf　wound　almost　like　shoufa　and　veil　provided　no　protection　from　the　sun；　and　certai