rj.theshadowrising-第155部分

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ng　nimbleness；　tying　the　mule's　reins　to　an　iron　ring　at　the　corner　of　the　big　wagonbox。　He　and　Isendre　disappeared　inside　and　did　not　emerge　again　until　they　stopped　for　the　night。
　　　　　　　He　returned　the　next　day；　and　other　days　when　he　saw　that　Rand　was　alone；　always　hinting　at　knowledge　he　might　sell　for　the　proper　price；　if　the　proper　safeguards　were　set。　Once　he　went　so　far　as　to　say　that　anything　…　murder；　treason；　anything　at　all　…　could　be　forgiven　in　return　for　knowledge；　and　seemed　increasingly　nervous　when　Rand　would　not　agree　with　him。　Whatever　he　wanted　to　sell；　he　apparently　wanted　Rand's　blanket　protection　for　every　misdeed　he　might　ever　have　done。
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know　that　I　want　to　buy　knowledge；〃　Rand　told　him　more　than　once。　〃There's　always　the　question　of　price；　isn't　there？　Some　prices　I　might　not　want　to　pay。〃
　　　　　　　Natael　drew　Rand　aside　that　first　evening；　after　the　fires　were　lit　and　cooking　smells　began　to　drift　among　the　low　tents。　The　gleeman　seemed　almost　as　nervous　as　Kadere。　〃I　have　thought　a　good　deal　about　you；〃　he　said；　peering　at　Rand　sideways；　head　tilted　to　one　side。　〃You　should　have　a　grand　epic　to　tell　your　tale。　The　Dragon　Reborn。　He　Who　es　With　the　Dawn。　Man　of　who　knows　how　many　prophecies；　in　this　Age　and　others。〃　He　drew　his　cloak　around　him；　the　colorful　patches　fluttering　in　the　breeze。　Twilight　was　short　in　the　Waste；　night　and　cold　came　on　quickly　and　together。　〃How　do　you　feel　about　your　prophesied　destiny？　I　must　know；　if　I　am　to　pose　this　epic。〃
　　　　　　　〃Feel？〃　Rand　looked　around　the　camp；　at　the　Jindo　moving　among　the　tents。　How　many　of　them　would　be　dead　before　he　was　done？　〃Tired。　I　feel　tired。〃
　　　　　　　〃Hardly　a　heroic　emotion；〃　Natael　murmured。　〃But　to　be　expected；　given　your　destiny。　The　world　riding　on　your　shoulders；　most　people　willing　to　kill　you　given　the　chance；　the　rest　fools　who　think　to　use　you；　ride　you　to　power　and　glory。〃
　　　　　　　〃Which　are　you；　Natael？〃
　　　　　　　〃I？　I　am　a　simple　gleeman。〃　The　man　lifted　an　edge　of　his　patch…covered　cloak　as　if　for　proof。　〃I　would　not　take　your　place　for　all　the　world；　not　with　the　fate　that　acpanies　it。　Death　or　madness；　or　both。　'His　blood　on　the　rocks　of　Shayol　Ghul。。。'　That　is　what　The　Karaethon　Cycle；　the　Prophecies　of　the　Dragon；　says；　is　it　not？　That　you　must　die　to　save　fools　who　will　heave　a　sigh　of　relief　at　your　death。　No；　I　would　not　accept　that　for　all　your　power　and　more。〃
　　　　　　　〃Rand；〃　Egwene　said；　stepping　out　of　the　deepening　darkness　with　her　pale　cloak　wrapped　around　her；　the　hood　well　up；　〃we　have　e　to　see　how　you　have　held　up　after　your　Healing；　and　a　day　in　that　heat。〃　Moiraine　was　with　her；　face　shrouded　in　the　deep　cowl　of　her　white　cloak；　and　Bair　and　Amys；　Melaine　and　Seana；　heads　swathed　in　dark　shawls；　all　watching　him；　calm　and　cold　as　the　night。　Even　Egwene。　She　did　not　have　the　Aes　Sedai　agelessness　yet；　but　she　had　Aes　Sedai　eyes。
　　　　　　　He　did　not　notice　Aviendha　at　first；　trailing　behind　the　others。　For　a　moment　he　thought　he　saw　passion　on　her　face；　but　if　it　was　there；　it　vanished　as　soon　as　she　saw　him　looking。　Imagination。　He　was　tired。
　　　　　　　〃Another　time；〃　Natael　said；　speaking　to　Rand　but　looking　at　the　women　in　that　peculiar　sidelong　manner。　〃We　will　talk　another　time。〃　With　the　slightest　of　bows　he　strode　away。
　　　　　　　〃Does　the　future　chafe　you；　Rand？〃　Moiraine　said　quietly　when　the　gleeman　was　gone。　〃Prophecies　speak　in　flowery；　hidden　language。　They　do　not　always　mean　what　they　seem　to　say。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Wheel　weaves　as　the　Wheel　wills；〃　he　told　her。　〃I　will　do　what　I　must。　Remember　that；　Moiraine。　I　will　do　what　I　must。〃　She　seemed　satisfied；　with　Aes　Sedai；　it　was　hard　to　tell。　She　would　not　be　satisfied　when　she　learned　everything。
　　　　　　　Natael　returned　the　next　evening；　and　the　next；　and　the　next；　always　talking　about　the　epic　he　would　pose；　but　he　displayed　a　morbid　streak；　digging　for　how　Rand　meant　to　face　madness　and　death。　His　tale　was　meant　to　be　a　tragedy；　it　appeared。　Rand　certainly　had　no　desire　to　root　his　fears　out　into　the　open；　what　was　in　his　heart　and　head　could　remain　buried　there。　Finally　the　gleeman　seemed　to　tire　of　hearing　him　say　〃I　will　do　what　I　must；〃　and　stopped　ing。　It　seemed　that　he　did　not　want　to　pose　his　epic　unless　it　could　be　full　of　pained　emotion。　The　man　looked　frustrated　when　he　stalked　off　for　the　last　time；　cloak　fluttering　furiously　behind　him。
　　　　　　　The　fellow　was　odd；　but　going　by　Thom　Merrilin；　so　were　all　gleemen。　Natael　certainly　demonstrated　other　gleeman's　traits。　For　instance；　he　certainly　had　a　fine　opinion　of　himself。　Rand　did　not　care　whether　the　man　called　him　by　titles；　but　Natael　addressed　Rhuarc；　and　Moiraine；　the　few　times　he　was　around　her；　as　if　he　was　plainly　their　equal。　That　was　Thom　to　perfection。　And　he　gave　up　performing　for　the　Jindo　at　all；　beginning　to　spend　most　of　every　night　at　the　Shaido　camp。　There　were　more　of　the　Shaido；　he　explained　to　Rhuarc　as　if　it　were　the　most　obvious　thing　in　the　world。　A　larger　audience。　None　of　the　Jindo　liked　it；　but　there　was　nothing　even　Rhuarc　could　do。　In　the　Three…fold　Land；　a　gleeman　was　allowed　anything　short　of　murder　without　being　called　down　for　it。
　　　　　　　Aviendha　spent　her　nights　among　the　Wise　Ones；　and　sometimes　walked　with　them　for　an　hour　or　so　during　the　day；　all　of　them　gathered　around　her；　even　Moiraine　and　Egwene。　At　first　Rand　thought　they　must　be　advising　her　on　how　to　handle　him；　how　to　pull　what　they　wanted　to　know　out　of　his　head。　Then　one　day；　with　the　sun　molten　overhead；　a　ball　of　fire　as　big　as　a　horse　suddenly　burst　into　being　ahead　of　the　Wise　Ones'　party　and　went　spinning　and　tumbling　away；　blazing　a　furrow　across　the　sere　land；　until　it　finally　dwindled　and　winked　out。
　　　　　　　Some　of　the　wagon　drivers　pulled　their　startled；　snorting　teams　to　a　halt　and　stood　to　watch；　calling　to　each　other　in　a　blend　of　fear；　confusion　and　coarse　curses。　Murmurs　rippled　through　the　Jindo；　and　they　stared；　as　did　the　Shaido；　but　the　two　columns　of　Aiel　kept　moving　with　barely　a　pause。　It　was　among　the　Wise　Ones　that　real　excitement　was　evident。　The　four　of　them　clustered　around　Aviendha；　all　apparently　talking　at　once；　with　considerable　arm…waving。　Moiraine　and　Egwene；　leading　their　horses；　tried　to　get　in　a　word；　even　without　hearing；　Rand　knew　that　Amys　told　them　in　no　uncertain　terms；　shaking　a　furiously　admonishing　finger；　to　stay　out　of　it。
　　　　　　　Staring　at　the　blackened　gouge　stretching　arrow…straight　for　half　a　mile；　Rand　sat　back　down　in　his　saddle。　Teaching　Aviendha　to　channel。　Of　course。　That　was　what　they　were　doing。　He　scrubbed　sweat　from　his　forehead　with　the　back　of　his　hand；　the　sun　had　nothing　to　do　with　it。　When　that　fireball　leaped　out　into　existence；　he　had　instinctively　reached　for　the　True　Source。　It　had　been　like　trying　to　dip　water　with　a　torn　sieve。　All　his　clawing　at　saidin　might　as　well　have　been　clawing　at　air。　One　day　that　could　happen　when　he　needed　the　Power　desperately。　He　had　to　learn；　too；　and　he　had　no　teacher。　He　had　to　learn　not　just　because　the　Power　would　kill　him　before　he　had　to　worry　about　going　mad　if　he　did　not；　he　had　to　learn　because　he　had　to　use　it。　Learn　to　use　it；　use　it　to　learn。　He　began　laughing　so　hard　that　some　of　the　Jindo　looked　at　him　uneasily。
　　　　　　　He　would　have　enjoyed　Mat's　pany　any　time　during　those　eleven　days　and　nights；　but　Mat　never　came　near　for　more　than　a　minute　or　two；　the　broad　brim　of　his　flat…crowned　hat　pulled　down　to　shade　his　eyes；　the　black…hafted　spear　lying　across　the　pommel　of　Pips's　saddle；　with　its　odd　raven…marked；　Power…wrought　point；　like　a　short；　curving　sword　blade。
　　　　　　　〃If　your　face　darkens　from　the　sun　any　more；　you　will　turn　into　an　Aielman；〃　he　might　say；　laughing　or；　〃Do　you　mean　to　spend　the　rest　of　your　life　here？　There's　a　whole　world　the　other　side　of　the　Dragonwall。　Wine？　Women？　You　remember　these　things？〃
　　　　　　　But　Mat　looked　plainly　uneasy；　and　he　was　even　more　reluctant　than　the　Wise　Ones　to　speak　of　Rhuidean；　or　what　had　happened　to　them　there。　His　hand　tightened　on　that　black　haft　at　the　very　mention　of　the　fog…domed　city；　and　he　claimed　not　to　remember　anything　of　his　journey　through　the　ter'angreal　…　then　proceeded　to　contradict　himself　by　saying；　〃You　stay　out　of　that　thing；　Rand。　It　isn't　like　the　one　in　the　Stone　at　all。　They　cheat。　Burn　me；　I　wish　I'd　never　seen　it！〃
　　　　　　　The　one　time　Rand　mentioned　the　Old　Tongue；　he　snapped；　〃Burn　you；　I　don't　know　anything　about　the　bloody　Old　Tongue！〃　and　galloped　straight　back　to　the　peddlers'　wagons。
　　　　　　　That　was　where　Mat　spent　most　of　his　time；　dicing　with　the　drivers　…　until　they　realized　he　won　a　very　great　deal　more　often　than　he　lost；　no　matter　whose　dice　he　used　…　engaging　Kadere　or　Natael　in　long　talks　at　every　opportunity；　pursuing　Isendre。　It　was　clear　what　was　on　his　mind　from　the　first　time　he　grinned　at　her　and　straightened　his　hat；　the　morning　after　the　Trolloc　attack。　He　spoke　to　her　nearly　every　evening　for　as　long　as　he　could；　and　pricked　himself　so　badly　plucking　white　blossoms　from　a　spiky…thorned　bush　that　he　could　barely　handle　his　reins　for　two　days；　though　he　refused　to　allow　Moiraine　to　Heal　him。　Isendre　did　not　precisely　encourage　him；　but　her　slow；　sultry　smile　was　hardly　calculated　to　drive　him　away；　either。　Kadere　saw　…　and　said　not　a　word；　though　sometimes　his　eyes　followed　Mat　like　a　vulture's。　Others　did　ment。
　　　　　　　Late　one　afternoon　as　the　mules　were　being　unhitched　and　the　tents　going　up；　and　Rand　was　unsaddling　Jeade'en；　Mat　was　standing　with　Isendre　in　the　meager　shade　of　one　of　the　canvas…topped　wagons。　Standing　very　close。　Shaking　his　head；　Rand　watched　as　he　wiped　the　dapple　down。　The　sun　burned　low　on　the　horizon；　and　tall　spires　stretched　long　shadows　across　the　camp。
　　　　　　　Isendre　fiddled　with　her　diaphanous　scarf　as　if　idly　thinking　of　removing　it；　smiling；　full　lips　half　pouting；　ready　for　a　kiss。　Encouraged；　Mat　grinned　confidently　and　moved　closer　still。　She　dropped　her　hand；　and　slowly　shook　her　head；　but　that　inviting　smile　never　faded。　Neither　of　them　heard　Keille　approach；　so　light　on　her　feet　despite　her　size。
　　　　　　　〃Is　that　what　you　want；　good　sir？　Her？〃　The　pair　jumped　apart　at　the　sound　of　her　mellifluous　voice；　and　she　laughed　just　as　musically；　just　as　oddly　out　of　that　face。　〃A　bargain　for　you；　Matrim　Cauthon。　A　Tar　Valon　mark；　and　she　is　yours。　A　chit　like　that　cannot　be　worth　more　than　two；　so　it　is　a　clear　bargain。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　grimaced；　looking　as　though　he　wished　he　were　anywhere　else　but　there。
　　　　　　　Isendre；　however；　turned　slowly　to　face　Keille；　a　mountain　cat　facing　a　bear。　〃You　go　too　far；　old　woman；〃　she　said　softly；　eyes　hard　above　the　veiling　scarf。　〃I　will　put　up　with　your　tongue　no　longer。　Have　a　care。　Or　perhaps　you　would　like　to　remain　here　in　the　Waste。〃
　　　　　　　Keille　smiled　broadly；　yet　mirth　never　touched　the　obsidian　eyes　glittering　behind　her　fat　cheeks。　〃Would　you？〃
　　　　　　　Nodding　decisively；　Isendre　said；　〃A　Tar　Valon　mark。〃　Her　voice　was　iron。　〃I　will　see　you　have　a　Tar　Valon　mark　when　we　leave　you。　I　only　wish　I　could　see　you　trying　to　drink　it。〃　Turning　her　back；　she　strode　to　the　lead　wagon；　not　swaying　seductively　at　all；　and　vanished　inside。
　　　　　　　Keille　watched；　round　face　unreadable；　until　the　white　door　clo