rj.theshadowrising-第117部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


　like　shoufa　and　veil　provided　no　protection　from　the　sun；　and　certainly　did　nothing　to　hide　a　palely　beautiful　heart…shaped　face。　Clinging　to　the　peddler's　thick　arm；　she　swayed　enticingly　as　he　took　her　to　see　the　blood…splashed　room；　Moiraine　and　the　others　had　gone　off　to　where　the　gai'shain　were　erecting　the　Wise　Ones'　camp。　When　the　pair　came　back　out；　the　young　woman　shuddered　delicately。　Rand　was　sure　it　was　pretense；　just　as　he　was　sure　she　had　asked　to　view　that　butcher's　workroom。　Her　show　of　revulsion　lasted　all　of　two　seconds；　and　then　she　was　peering　about　interestedly　at　the　Aiel。
　　　　　　　It　appeared　that　Rand　himself　was　one　of　the　sights　she　wanted　to　see。　Kadere　seemed　ready　to　take　her　back　to　the　wagon；　but　she　guided　him　to　Rand　instead；　the　alluring　smile　on　her　full　lips　plain　behind　her　diaphanous　veil。　〃Hadnan　has　been　telling　me　of　you；〃　she　said　in　a　smoky　voice。　She　might　have　been　hanging　on　the　peddler；　but　her　dark　eyes　traced　Rand　boldly。　〃You　are　the　one　the　Aiel　talk　of。　He　Who　es　With　the　Dawn。〃　Keille　and　the　gleeman　came　out　of　the　second　wagon　and　stood　together　at　a　distance；　watching。
　　　　　　　〃It　seems　I　am；〃　he　said。
　　　　　　　〃Strange。〃　Her　smile　became　wickedly　mischievous。　〃I　thought　you　would　be　handsomer。〃　Patting　Kadere　on　the　cheek；　she　sighed。　〃This　dreadful　heat　is　so　wearing。　Do　not　be　too　long。〃
　　　　　　　Kadere　did　not　speak　until　she　had　climbed　the　steps　back　inside。　His　hat　had　been　replaced　by　a　long　white　scarf　tied　atop　his　head；　the　ends　handing　down　his　neck。　〃You　must　forgive　Isendre；　good　sir。　She　is。。。　too　forward；　sometimes。〃　His　voice　was　mollifying；　but　his　eyes　belonged　on　a　bird　of　prey。　He　hesitated；　then　went　on。　〃I　have　heard　other　things。　I　have　heard　that　you　took　Callandor　out　of　the　Heart　of　the　Stone。〃
　　　　　　　The　man's　eyed　never　changed。　If　he　knew　about　Callandor；　he　knew　Rand　was　the　Dragon　Reborn；　knew　he　could　wield　the　One　Power。　And　his　eyes　never　changed。　A　dangerous　man。　〃I　have　heard　it　said；〃　Rand　told　him；　〃that　you　should　believe　nothing　you　hear；　and　only　half　of　what　you　see。〃
　　　　　　　〃A　wise　rule；〃　Kadere　said　after　a　moment。　〃Yet　to　achieve　greatly；　a　man　must　believe　something。　Belief　and　knowledge　pave　the　road　to　greatness。　Knowledge　is　perhaps　the　most　valuable　of　all。　We　all　seek　the　coin　of　knowledge。　Your　pardon；　good　sir。　Isendre　is　not　a　patient　woman。　Perhaps　we　will　have　another　opportunity　to　talk。〃
　　　　　　　Before　the　man　had　taken　three　steps；　Aviendha　said　in　a　low；　hard　voice；　〃You　belong　to　Elayne；　Rand　al'Thor。　Do　you　stare　so　at　every　woman　who　es　in　front　of　your　eyes；　or　only　those　who　go　half…naked？　If　I　strip　off　my　clothes；　will　you　stare　so　at　me？　You　belong　to　Elayne！〃
　　　　　　　He　had　forgotten　she　was　there。　〃I　don't　belong　to　anyone；　Aviendha。　Elayne？　She　cannot　seem　to　make　up　her　mind　what　she　thinks。〃
　　　　　　　〃Elayne　laid　her　heart　bare　to　you；　Rand　al'Thor。　If　she　did　not　show　you　in　the　Stone　of　Tear；　did　her　two　letters　not　tell　you　what　she　feels？　You　are　hers；　and　no　other's。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　threw　up　his　hands　and　stalked　away　from　her。　At　least；　he　tried。　She　followed　on　his　heels；　a　disapproving　shadow　in　the　sun's　glare。
　　　　　　　Swords。　The　Aiel　might　have　forgotten　why　they　did　not　carry　swords；　but　they　had　kept　the　contempt　for　them。　Swords　might　make　her　leave　him　alone。　Seeking　out　Lan　in　the　Wise　Ones'　camp；　he　asked　the　Warder　to　watch　him　work　the　forms。　Bair　was　the　only　one　of　the　four　in　view；　and　a　scowl　surely　deepened　the　creases　on　her　face。　Egwene　was　not　to　be　seen　either。　Moiraine　wore　calm　like　a　mask；　dark　eyes　cool；　he　could　not　say　whether　she　approved。
　　　　　　　He　was　not　out　to　offend　the　Aiel；　so　he　set　up　with　Lan　between　the　Wise　Ones'　tents　and　the　Jindo's。　He　used　one　of　the　practice　swords　Lan　carried　in　his　baggage；　a　bundle　of　loosely　tied　lathes　in　place　of　a　blade。　The　weight　and　balance　were　right；　though；　and　he　could　forget　himself　in　the　dance…like　flow　from　form　to　form；　the　practice　sword　alive　in　his　hands；　a　part　of　him。　Usually　it　was　that　way。　Today　the　sun　was　a　furnace　in　the　sky　baking　out　moisture　and　strength。　Aviendha　squatted　off　to　one　side；　hugging　her　knees　to　her　chest　and　staring　at　him。
　　　　　　　Finally；　panting；　he　let　his　arms　drop。
　　　　　　　〃You　lost　concentration；〃　Lan　told　him。　〃You　must　hold　on　to　that　even　when　your　muscles　turn　to　water。　Lose　it；　and　that　is　the　day　you　die。　And　it　will　probably　be　a　farmboy　who　has　his　hands　on　a　sword　for　the　first　time　who　does　it。〃　His　smile　was　sudden；　odd　on　that　stony　face。
　　　　　　　〃Yes。　Well；　I'm　not　a　farmboy　any　longer；　am　I？〃　They　had　gained　an　audience；　if　at　a　distance。　Aiel　lined　the　edge　of　both　the　Shaido　and　Jindo　camps。　Keille's　cream…wrapped　bulk　stood　out　among　the　Jindo；　the　gleeman　beside　her　in　his　cloak　of　colored　patches。　Which　one　did　he　choose？　He　did　not　want　them　to　see　him　watching　them。　〃How　do　Aiel　fight；　Lan？〃
　　　　　　　〃Hard；〃　the　Warder　said　dryly。　〃They　never　lose　concentration。　Look　here。〃　With　his　sword　he　drew　on　the　hard；　cracked　clay；　a　circle　and　arrows。　〃Aiel　change　tactics　according　to　circumstances；　but　here　is　one　they　favor。　They　move　in　a　column；　divided　into　quarters。　When　they　meet　an　enemy；　the　first　quarter　rushes　in　to　pin　them。　The　second　and　third　sweep　wide　to　either　side；　hitting　the　flanks　and　rear。　The　last　quarter　waits　in　reserve；　often　not　even　watching　the　battle；　except　for　their　leader。　When　a　weakness　opens　…　a　hole；　anything　…　the　reserve　strikes　there。　Finish！〃　His　sword　stabbed　into　a　circle　already　pierced　with　arrows。
　　　　　　　〃How　do　you　beat　that？〃　Rand　asked。
　　　　　　　〃With　difficulty。　When　you　make　first　contact　…　you'll　not　spot　Aiel　before　they　strike　unless　you　are　lucky　…　immediately　send　out　horsemen　to　break　up；　or　at　least　delay；　their　flanking　attacks。　If　you　keep　most　of　your　strength　back　and　defeat　the　holding　attack；　then　you　can　wheel　on　the　others　in　turn　and　defeat　them；　too。〃
　　　　　　　〃Why　do　you　want　to　learn　how　to　fight　Aiel？〃　Aviendha　burst　out。　〃Are　you　not　He　Who　es　With　the　Dawn；　meant　to　bind　us　together　and　return　us　all　to　old　glories？　Besides；　if　you　want　to　know　how　to　fight　Aiel；　ask　Aiel；　not　a　wetlander。　His　way　will　not　work。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　has　worked　well　enough　with　Bordermen　from　time　to　time。〃　Rhuarc's　soft　boots　made　very　little　sound　on　the　hard　ground。　He　had　a　waterskin　under　his　arm。　〃Allowances　are　always　made　when　someone　suffers　a　disappointment；　Aviendha；　but　there　is　a　limit　to　sulking。　You　gave　up　the　spear　for　your　obligation　to　the　people　and　the　blood　One　day　no　doubt　you　will　be　making　a　clan　chief　do　what　you　want　instead　of　what　he　wants；　but　if　instead　you　are　Wise　One　to　the　smallest　hold　of　the　smallest　sept　of　the　Taardad；　the　obligation　remains；　and　it　cannot　be　met　by　tantrums。〃
　　　　　　　A　Wise　One。　Rand　felt　a　fool。　Of　course　that　was　why　she　had　gone　to　Rhuidean。　But　he　would　never　have　thought　Aviendha　would　choose　to　give　up　the　spear。　It　certainly　explained　why　she　had　been　chosen　to　spy　on　him；　though。　Suddenly　he　found　himself　wondering　if　she　could　channel。　It　seemed　Min　had　been　the　only　woman　in　his　life　since　that　Winternight　who　could　not。
　　　　　　　Rhuarc　tossed　him　the　sloshing　waterskin。　The　lukewarm　water　slid　down　his　throat　like　chilled　wine。　He　tried　not　to　splash　any　over　his　face；　not　to　waste　it；　but　it　was　hard。
　　　　　　　〃I　thought　you　might　like　to　learn　the　spear；〃　Rhuarc　said　when　Rand　finally　lowered　the　half…empty　skin。　For　the　first　time　Rand　realized　the　clan　chief　was　carrying　only　two　spears；　and　a　pair　of　bucklers。　Not　practice　spears　if　there　were　any　such；　a　foot　of　sharp　steel　tipped　each。
　　　　　　　Steel　or　wood；　his　muscles　cried　out　for　rest。　His　legs　wanted　him　to　sit　down；　and　his　head　wanted　to　lie　down。　Keille　and　the　gleeman　were　gone；　but　Aiel　were　still　watching　from　both　camps。　They　had　seen　him　practicing　with　a　despised　sword；　if　a　wooden　one。　They　were　his　people。　He　did　not　know　them；　but　they　were　his；　in　more　senses　than　one。　Aviendha　was　still　watching　him；　too；　glowering　as　though　blaming　him　for　Rhuarc　having　set　her　down。　Not　that　she　had　anything　to　do　with　his　decision；　of　course。　The　Jindo　and　Shaido　were　watching；　that　was　it。
　　　　　　　〃That　mountain　can　grow　awfully　heavy　sometimes；〃　he　sighed；　taking　a　spear　and　buckler　from　Rhuarc。　〃When　do　you　find　a　chance　to　put　it　down　awhile？〃
　　　　　　　〃When　you　die；〃　Lan　said　simply。
　　　　　　　Forcing　his　legs　to　move　…　and　trying　to　ignore　Aviendha　…　Rand　squared　off　with　Rhuarc。　He　did　not　mean　to　die　just　yet。　No；　not　for　a　long　time　yet。
　
　　　　　　　Leaning　against　a　tall　wheel　in　the　shade　of　one　of　the　peddlers'　wagons；　Mat　glanced　at　the　line　of　Jindo　watching　Rand。　All　he　could　see　now　was　their　backs。　The　man　was　a　pure　fool；　leaping　about　in　this　heat。　Any　sensible　man　would　find　a　bit　of　protection　from　the　sun；　something　to　drink。　Shifting　his　seat　in　the　shade；　he　peered　into　the　mug　of　ale　he　had　bought　from　one　of　the　drivers　and　grimaced。　Ale　just　did　not　taste　right　when　it　was　as　warm　as　soup。　At　least　it　was　wet。　The　only　other　thing　he　had　bought；　aside　from　the　hat；　was　a　short…stemmed　pipe　with　a　silver…worked　bowl；　snuggled　now　in　his　coat　pocket　with　his　tabac　pouch。　Trading　was　not　on　his　mind。　Unless　it　was　for　passage　out　of　the　Waste；　a　modity　the　peddlers'　wagons　did　not　seem　to　be　offering　at　the　moment。
　　　　　　　They　were　doing　a　steady　business；　if　not　for　ale。　The　Aiel　did　not　mind　the　temperature；　but　they　seemed　to　think　it　too　weak。　Most　were　Jindo；　but　there　was　a　steady　stream　of　Shaido　from　the　other　camp。　Couladin　and　Kadere　had　their　heads　together　for　a　long　time；　though　they　came　to　no　agreement；　since　Couladin　left　empty…handed。　Kadere　must　not　have　liked　losing　the　trade；　he　stared　after　Couladin　with　those　hawk's　eyes；　and　a　Jindo　who　wanted　his　attention　had　to　speak　three　times　before　he　was　heard。
　　　　　　　The　Aiel　did　not　show　much　in　the　way　of　coin；　but　the　peddlers　and　their　people　were　quick　to　accept　silver　bowls　or　gold　figurines　or　fine　wall　hangings　looted　from　Tear；　and　Aiel　pouches　produced　raw　nuggets　of　gold　and　silver　that　made　Mat　sit　up。　But　an　Aiel　who　lost　at　dice　might　well　reach　for　his　spears。　He　wondered　where　the　mines　were。　Where　one　man　could　find　gold；　another　could。　It　was　probably　a　lot　of　work；　though；　mining　gold。　Taking　a　long　drink　of　warm　ale；　he　settled　back　against　the　wagon　wheel。
　　　　　　　What　sold　and　what　did　not；　and　at　what　price；　was　interesting。　The　Aiel　were　no　simple　fools　to　hand　over　a　gold　saltcellar；　say；　for　a　bolt　of　cloth。　They　knew　the　value　of　things　and　bargained　hard；　though　they　had　their　own　wants。　Books　went　immediately；　not　everyone　wanted　them；　but　those　who　did　took　every　last　one　the　wagons　held。　Laces　and　velvets　vanished　as　soon　as　they　were　brought　out；　for　astonishing　quantities　of　silver　and　gold；　and　ribbons　for　not　much　less；　but　the　finest　silks　just　lay　there。　Silk　was　cheaper　in　trade　to　the　east；　he　overheard　a　Shaido　tell　Kadere。　A　heavy…set；　broken…nosed　driver　tried　to　talk　a　Jindo　Maiden　into　a　carved　ivory　bracelet。　She　pulled　one　wider；　thicker　and　more　ornate　from　her　pouch　and　offered　to　wrestle　him　for　the　pair。　He　hesitated　before　refusing；　which　showed　Mat　he　was　even　dumber　than　he　l