rj.theshadowrising-第157部分

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es；　appeared　older　than　Amys　though　certainly　more　than　handsome；　with　a　few　fine　wrinkles　at　the　corners　of　her　gray　eyes。　She　was　dressed　the　same　as　Amys；　a　plain　brown　shawl　over　her　shoulders；　her　necklaces　and　bracelets　of　gold　and　carved　ivory　no　finer　or　richer；　but　this　was　Lian；　the　roofmistress　of　Cold　Rocks　Hold。
　　　　　　　The　wavering；　high…pitched　cries　dwindled　away　to　nothing　as　Rhuarc　halted　before　the　boulder；　a　step　closer　than　Heirn　and　Couladin。　〃I　ask　leave　enter　your　hold；　roofmistress；〃　he　announced　in　a　loud；　carrying　tone。
　　　　　　　〃You　have　my　leave；　clan　chief；〃　the　yellow…haired　woman　replied　formally；　and　just　as　loudly。　Smiling；　she　added　in　a　much　warmer　voice；　〃Shade　of　my　heart；　you　will　always　have　my　leave。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　give　thanks；　roofmistress　of　my　heart。〃　That　did　not　sound　particularly　formal；　either。
　　　　　　　Heirn　stepped　forward。　〃Roofmistress；　I　ask　leave　to　e　beneath　your　roof。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　have　my　leave；　Heirn；〃　Lian　told　the　stocky　man。　〃Beneath　my　roof；　there　is　water　and　shade　for　you。　The　Jindo　sept　is　always　wele　here。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　give　thanks；　roofmistress。〃　Heirn　clapped　Rhuarc　on　the　shoulder　and　left　to　rejoin　his　people；　Aiel　ceremony　was　short；　it　seemed；　and　to　the　point。
　　　　　　　Swaggering；　Couladin　joined　Rhuarc；　〃I　ask　leave　to　enter　your　hold；　roofmistress。〃
　　　　　　　Lian　blinked；　frowning　at　him。　A　murmur　rose　behind　Rand；　an　astonished　buzz　from　hundreds　of　throats。　A　sudden　feel　of　danger　hung　in　the　air。　Mat　certainly　felt　it；　too；　fingering　his　spear　and　half…turning　to　see　what　the　mass　of　Aiel　was　doing。
　　　　　　　〃What　is　the　matter？〃　Rand　asked　quietly　over　his　shoulder。　〃Why　doesn't　she　say　something？〃
　　　　　　　〃He　asked　as　if　he　were　a　clan　chief；〃　Aviendha　whispered　disbelievingly。　〃The　man　is　a　fool。　He　must　be　mad！　If　she　refuses　him；　it　will　mean　trouble　with　the　Shaido；　and　she　may；　for　such　an　insult。　Not　blood　feud　…　he　is　not　their　clan　chief；　however　swollen　his　head　…　but　trouble。〃　Between　one　breath　and　the　next　her　voice　sharpened。　〃You　did　not　listen；　did　you？　You　did　not　listen！　She　could　have　refused　permission　even　to　Rhuarc；　and　he　would　have　had　to　leave。　It　would　break　the　clan；　but　it　is　in　her　power。　She　can　refuse　even　He　Who　es　With　the　Dawn；　Rand　al'Thor。　Women　are　not　powerless　among　us；　not　like　your　wetlander　women　who　must　be　queens　or　nobles　or　else　dance　for　a　man　if　they　wish　to　eat！〃
　　　　　　　He　shook　his　head　slightly。　Every　time　he　was　on　the　point　of　berating　himself　for　how　little　he　had　learned　about　the　Aiel；　Aviendha　reminded　him　how　little　she　knew　about　anyone　not　Aiel。　〃Someday　I　would　like　to　introduce　you　to　the　Women's　Circle　in　Emond's　Field。　It　will　be。。。　interesting。。。　to　hear　you　explain　to　them　how　powerless　they　are。〃　He　felt　her　shifting　against　his　back；　trying　to　get　a　good　look　at　his　face；　and　carefully　kept　his　expression　smooth。　〃Maybe　they'll　explain　a　few　things　to　you；　too。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　have　my　leave；〃　Lian　began　…　Couladin　smiled；　swelling　up　where　he　stood　…〃to　step　beneath　my　roof。　Water　and　shade　will　be　found　for　you。〃　Soft　gasps　from　hundreds　of　mouths　made　quite　a　loud　sound。
　　　　　　　The　fire…haired　man　quivered　as　if　struck；　face　red　with　rage。　He　did　not　seem　to　know　what　to　do。　He　took　a　challenging　step　forward；　staring　up　at　Lian　and　Amys；　clutching　his　own　forearms　as　though　to　keep　his　hands　from　his　spears；　then　whirled　and　strode　back　toward　the　gathering；　glaring　this　way　and　that；　daring　anyone　to　speak。　Finally　he　stopped　not　far　from　where　he　had　begun；　staring　at　Rand。　Coals　could　not　have　been　hotter　than　his　blue　eyes。
　　　　　　　〃As　one　friendless　and　alone；〃　Aviendha　whispered。　〃She　has　weled　him　as　a　beggar。　The　gravest　insult　to　him；　and　none　to　the　Shaido。〃　Suddenly　she　fisted　Rand　so　hard　in　the　ribs　that　he　grunted。　〃Move；　wetlander。　You　hold　such　honor　as　I　have　left　in　your　hands；　all　will　know　I　have　taught　you！　Move！〃
　　　　　　　Swinging　a　leg　over；　he　slid　from　Jeade'en's　back　and　strode　up　beside　Rhuarc。　I　am　not　Aiel；　he　thought。　I　do　not　understand　them；　and　I　cannot　let　myself　e　to　like　them　too　much。　I　cannot。
　　　　　　　None　of　the　other　men　had　done　so；　but　he　bowed　to　Lian；　that　was　how　he　had　been　brought　up。　〃Roofmistress；　I　ask　leave　to　e　beneath　your　roof。〃　He　heard　Aviendha's　breath　catch。　He　had　been　supposed　to　say　the　other　thing；　what　Rhuarc　had。　The　clan　chief's　eyes　narrowed　worriedly；　watching　his　wife；　and　Couladin's　flushed　face　twisted　in　a　scornful　smile。　The　soft　murmurs　from　the　crowd　sounded　puzzled。
　　　　　　　The　roofmistress　stared　at　Rand　even　harder　than　she　had　at　Couladin；　taking　him　in　from　hair　to　boots　and　back　again；　the　shoufa　lying　on　the　shoulders　of　a　red　coat　that　would　surely　never　be　worn　by　an　Aiel。　She　looked　questioningly　at　Amys；　who　nodded。
　　　　　　　〃Such　modesty；〃　Lian　said　slowly；　〃is　being　in　a　man。　Men　seldom　know　where　to　find　it。〃　Spreading　her　dark　skirts；　she　curtsied；　awkwardly　…　it　was　not　a　thing　Aiel　women　did　…　but　still　a　curtsy；　in　return　of　his　bow。　〃The　Car'a'carn　has　leave　to　enter　my　hold。　For　the　chief　of　chiefs；　there　is　ever　water　and　shade　at　Cold　Rocks。〃
　　　　　　　Another　great　ululation　rose　from　the　women　in　the　crowd；　but　whether　for　him　or　for　the　ceremony；　Rand　did　not　know。　Couladin　paused　to　stare　implacable　hatred　at　him；　then　stalked　off；　brushing　roughly　past　Aviendha　as　she　slid　ungracefully　from　the　dapple　stallion。　He　melded　quickly　into　the　dispersing　crowd。
　　　　　　　Mat　slowed　in　the　act　of　dismounting　to　stare　after　the　man。　〃Watch　your　back　with　that　one；　Rand；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃I　mean　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃Everybody　tells　me　that；〃　Rand　said。　The　peddlers　were　already　setting　up　to　trade　in　the　center　of　the　canyon；　and　at　the　entrance；　Moiraine　and　the　rest　of　the　Wise　Ones'　pany　were　arriving　to　a　few　shouts　and　the　drumming　of　pots；　but　nothing　like　the　cries　that　had　weled　Rhuarc。　〃He　isn't　who　I　have　to　worry　about。〃　His　dangers　were　not　Aiel。　Moiraine　to　one　side　and　Lanfear　to　the　other。　How　could　I　have　more　danger　than　that？　It　was　nearly　enough　to　make　him　laugh。
　　　　　　　Amys　and　Lian　had　climbed　down；　and　to　Rand's　surprise；　Rhuarc　put　an　arm　around　each　of　them。　They　were　both　tall；　as　most　Aiel　women　seemed　to　be；　but　neither　came　higher　than　the　clan　chief's　shoulder。　〃You　have　met　my　wife　Amys；〃　he　said　to　Rand。　〃Now　you　must　meet　my　wife　Lian。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　realized　his　mouth　was　hanging　open　and　closed　it　quickly。　After　Aviendha　had　told　him　the　roofmistress　of　Cold　Rocks　was　Rhuarc's　wife　and　named　Lian；　he　was　sure　he　had　misunderstood　back　at　Chaendaer；　all　that　〃shade　of　my　heart〃　between　the　man　and　Amys。　He　had　had　other　things　on　his　mind　then　anyway。　But　this。。。
　　　　　　　〃Both　of　them？〃　Mat　spluttered。　〃Light！　Two！　Oh；　burn　me！　He's　the　luckiest　man　in　the　world　or　the　biggest　fool　since　creation！〃
　　　　　　　〃I　had　thought；〃　Rhuarc　said；　frowning；　〃that　Aviendha　was　teaching　you　our　customs。　She　leaves　out　much；　it　appears。〃
　　　　　　　Leaning　to　look　around　her　husband　…　their　husband　…　Lian　raised　an　eyebrow　at　Amys；　who　said　dryly；　〃She　seemed　ideal　to　tell　him　what　he　needs　to　know。　Something　to　keep　her　from　trying　to　run　back　to　the　Maidens　whenever　our　backs　were　turned；　too。　Now　it　seems　I　must　have　a　long　talk　with　her　in　a　quiet　place。　No　doubt　she　has　been　teaching　him　Maiden　hand　talk；　or　how　to　milk　a　gara。〃
　　　　　　　Flushing　slightly；　Aviendha　tossed　her　head　irritably；　her　dark　reddish　hair　had　grown　over　her　ears；　long　enough　to　sway　in　a　fringe　below　her　head　scarf。　〃There　were　more　important　matters　to　speak　of　than　marriages。　Anyway；　the　man　does　not　listen。〃
　　　　　　　〃She　has　been　a　good　teacher；〃　Rand　put　in　quickly。　〃I　have　learned　a　great　deal　about　your　customs；　and　the　Threefold　Land；　from　her。〃　Hand　talk？　〃Any　mistakes　I　make　are　mine；　not　hers。〃　How　did　you　milk　a　venomous　two…foot　lizard？　Why？　〃She　has　been　a　good　teacher；　and　I'd　like　to　keep　her　as　such；　if　that　is　all　right。〃　Why　in　the　Light　did　I　say　that？　The　woman　could　be　pleasant　enough　sometimes；　when　she　forget　herself；　anyway；　the　rest　of　the　time　she　was　a　burr　under　his　coat。　Yet　at　least　he　knew　who　the　Wise　Ones　had　set　to　watch　him　as　long　as　she　was　there。
　　　　　　　Amys　studied　him；　those　clear　blue　eyes　as　sharp　as　an　Aes　Sedai's。　But　then；　she　could　channel；　her　face　merely　looked　younger　than　it　should；　not　ageless；　but　maybe　she　was　as　much　Aes　Sedai　as　an　Aes　Sedai。　〃That　sounds　a　fine　arrangement　to　me；〃　she　said。　Aviendha　opened　her　mouth；　all　bristling　indignation　…　and　closed　it　again；　sullenly；　when　the　Wise　One　shifted　that　stare　to　her。　Perhaps　the　woman　had　thought　her　time　with　him　was　done；　now　they　had　reached　Cold　Rocks。
　　　　　　　〃You　must　be　tired　after　your　journey；〃　Lian　said　to　Rand；　her　gray　eyes　motherly；　〃and　hungry　as　well。　e。〃　Her　warm　smile　included　Mat；　who　was　hanging　back　and　beginning　to　look　to　the　peddlers'　wagons。　〃e　beneath　my　roof。〃
　　　　　　　Fetching　his　saddlebags；　Rand　left　Jeade'en　to　the　care　of　a　gai'shain　woman；　who　took　Pips　as　well。　Mat　gave　the　wagons　a　final　stare　before　tossing　his　saddlebags　over　his　shoulder　and　following。
　　　　　　　Lian's　roof；　her　house；　sat　on　the　highest　level　on　the　west　side；　with　the　steep　canyon　wall　rising　a　good　hundred　paces　above。　Dwelling　of　the　clan　chief　and　roofmistress　or　no；　from　the　outside　it　appeared　to　be　a　modest　rectangle　of　large　yellow…clay　bricks　with　narrow；　glassless　windows　covered　by　plain　white　curtains；　a　vegetable　garden　on　its　flat　roof　and　another　in　front　on　a　small　terrace　separated　from　the　house　by　a　narrow　path　paved　with　flat　gray　stones。　Big　enough　for　two　rooms；　maybe。　Except　perhaps　for　the　square　bronze　gong　hanging　beside　the　door；　it　looked　much　like　the　other　structures　Rand　could　see；　and　from　that　vantage　point　the　entire　length　of　the　valley　was　laid　out　below　him。　A　small；　simple　house。　Inside；　it　was　something　else。
　　　　　　　The　brick　part　was　one　large　room；　floored　with　reddish　brown　tiles；　but　it　was　only　part。　Carved　into　the　stone　behind　were　more　rooms；　high…ceilinged　and　surprisingly　cool；　with　wide；　arched　doorways　and　silver　lamps　giving　off　a　scent　that　hinted　of　green　places。　Rand　saw　only　one　chair；　tall…backed　and　lacquered　red　and　gold；　with　a　look　of　not　much　use；　the　chief's　chair；　Aviendha　called　it。　There　was　little　more　wood　to　be　seen；　beyond　a　few　polished　or　lacquered　boxes　and　chests；　and　low　reading　stands　holding　open　books；　the　reader　would　need　to　lie　on　the　floor。　Intricately　woven　carpets　covered　the　floors；　and　bright　rugs　in　layers；　he　recognized　some　patterns　from　Tear　and　Cairhien　and　Andor；　even　Illian　and　Tarabon；　while　other　designs　were　unfamiliar；　broad　jagged　stripes　and　no　two　colors　alike；　or　linked　hollow　squares　in　grays　and　browns　and　blacks。　In　sharp　contrast　to　the　harsh　sameness　outside　this　valley；　there　was　vivid　color　everywhere；　wall　hangings　he　was　sure　had　e　from　the　other　side　of　the　Spine　of　the　World　…　perhaps　in　the　same　way　wall　hangings　had　left　the　Stone　of　Tear　…　and　cushions　of　all　sizes　and　hues；　often　tasseled　or　fringed　or　both　in　silk　of　red　or　gold。　Here　and　there；　in　niches　carved　into　the　walls；　stood　a　thin　porcelain　vase　or　a　silver　bowl　or　an　ivory　carving；　often　of　some　strange　animal　or　other。　So　these　were　the　〃caves〃　the　T