rj.theshadowrising-第160部分

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　　　　　　　〃Light！　Simple　enough　to　set　them　straight。　I　don't　…〃　He　cut　off　as　her　eyes　blazed　up。
　　　　　　　〃No！　You　accepted　their　approval；　and　now　you　would　reject　it？　That　would　dishonor　me！　Do　you　think　you　are　the　first　man　to　try　to　catch　my　eye？　They　must　think　as　they　think；　now。　It　means　nothing。〃　Grimacing；　she　gripped　the　woven　carpet　beater　with　both　hands。　〃Go　away。〃　With　a　glance　at　the　bracelet；　she　added；　〃You　truly　know　nothing；　do　you？　You　know　nothing。　It　is　not　your　fault。〃　She　seemed　to　be　repeating　something　she　had　been　told；　or　trying　to　convince　herself。　〃I　am　sorry　if　I　ruined　your　meal；　Rand　al'Thor。　Please　go。　Amys　says　I　must　clean　all　of　these　rugs　and　carpets　no　matter　how　long　it　takes。　It　will　take　all　night；　if　you　stand　here　talking。〃　Turning　her　back　to　him；　she　thwacked　the　striped　carpet　violently；　the　ivory　bracelet　jumping　on　her　wrist。
　　　　　　　He　did　not　know　whether　the　apology　sprang　from　his　gift　or　an　order　from　Amys　…　he　suspected　the　latter　…　yet　she　actually　sounded　as　if　she　meant　it。　She　was　certainly　not　pleased　…　judging　by　the　sharp　grunt　of　effort　that　acpanied　every　full…armed　swing　of　the　beater　…　but　she　had　not　looked　hateful　once。　Upset；　appalled；　even　furious；　but　not　hateful。　That　was　better　than　nothing。　She　might　bee　civil　eventually。
　　　　　　　As　he　stepped　into　the　brown…tiled　entry　chamber　of　Lian's　house；　the　Wise　Ones　were　talking　together；　all　four　with　shawls　draped　loosely　over　their　elbows。　They　fell　silent　at　his　appearance。
　　　　　　　〃I　will　have　you　shown　to　your　sleeping　room；〃　Amys　said。　〃The　others　have　seen　theirs。〃
　　　　　　　〃Thank　you。〃　He　glanced　〃back　at　the　door；　frowning　slightly。　〃Amys；　did　you　tell　Aviendha　to　apologize　to　me　for　dinner？〃
　　　　　　　〃No。　Did　she？〃　Her　blue　eyes　looked　thoughtful　for　a　moment；　he　thought　Bair　almost　smiled。　〃I　would　not　have　ordered　her　to；　Rand　al'Thor。　A　forced　apology　is　no　apology。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　girl　was　told　only　to　dust　carpets　until　she　had　sweated　out　some　of　her　temper；〃　Bair　said。　〃Anything　more　came　from　her。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　not　in　hopes　of　escaping　her　labors；〃　Seana　added。　〃She　must　learn　to　control　her　anger。　A　Wise　One　must　be　in　control　of　her　emotions；　not　they　in　control　of　her。〃　With　a　slight　smile；　she　glanced　sideways　at　Melaine。　The　sun…haired　woman　pressed　her　lips　and　sniffed。
　　　　　　　They　were　trying　to　convince　him　Aviendha　was　going　to　be　wonderful　pany　from　now　on。　Did　they　really　think　he　was　blind？　〃You　must　know　that　I　know。　About　her。　That　you　set　her　to　spy　on　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　do　not　know　as　much　as　you　think；〃　Amys　said；　for　all　the　world　like　an　Aes　Sedai　with　hidden　meanings　she　did　not　intend　to　let　him　see。
　　　　　　　Melaine　shifted　her　shawl；　eyeing　him　up　and　down　in　a　considering　manner。　He　knew　a　little　about　Aes　Sedai；　if　she　were　Aes　Sedai；　she　would　be　Green　Ajah。　〃I　admit；〃　she　said；　〃that　at　first　we　thought　you　would　not　see　beyond　a　pretty　young　woman；　and　you　are　handsome　enough　that　she　should　have　found　your　pany　more　amusing　than　ours。　We　did　not　reckon　with　her　tongue。　Or　other　things。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　why　are　you　so　eager　for　her　to　stay　with　me？〃　There　was　more　heat　in　his　voice　than　he　wanted。　〃You　can't　think　I　will　reveal　anything　to　her　now　that　I　don't　want　you　to　know。〃
　　　　　　　〃Why　do　you　allow　her　to　remain？〃　Amys　asked　calmly。　〃If　you　refused　to　accept　her；　how　could　we　force　her　on　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃At　least　this　way　I　know　who　the　spy　is。〃　Having　Aviendha　under　his　eye　had　to　be　better　than　wondering　which　of　the　Aiel　were　watching　him。　Without　her；　he　would　probably　suspect　that　every　casual　ment　from　Rhuarc　was　an　attempt　to　pry。　Of　course；　there　was　no　way　to　say　it　was　not。　Rhuarc　was　married　to　one　of　these　women。　Suddenly　he　was　glad　he　had　not　confided　more　in　the　clan　chief。　And　sad　that　he　had　thought　of　it。　Why　had　he　ever　believed　the　Aiel　would　be　simpler　than　Tairen　High　Lords？　〃I'm　satisfied　to　leave　her　right　where　she　is。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　we　are　all　satisfied；〃　Bair　said。
　　　　　　　He　eyed　the　leathery…faced　woman　leerily。　There　had　been　a　note　of　something　in　her　voice；　as　if　she　knew　more　than　he　did。　〃She　will　not　find　out　what　you　want。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　we　want？〃　Melaine　snapped；　her　long　hair　swung　as　she　tossed　her　head。　〃The　prophecy　says　'a　remnant　of　a　remnant　shall　be　saved。'　What　we　want；　Rand　al'Thor；　Car'a'carn；　is　to　save　as　many　of　our　people　as　we　can。　Whatever　your　blood；　and　your　face；　you　have　no　feeling　for　us。　I　will　make　you　know　our　blood　for　yours　if　I　have　to　lay　the　…〃
　　　　　　　〃I　think；〃　Amys　cut　her　off　smoothly；　〃that　he　would　like　to　see　his　sleeping　room　now。　He　looks　tired。〃　She　clapped　her　hands　sharply；　and　a　willowy　gai'shain　woman　appeared。　〃Show　this　man　to　the　room　that　has　been　prepared　for　him。　Bring　him　whatever　he　needs。〃
　　　　　　　Leaving　him　standing　there；　the　Wise　Ones　headed　for　the　door；　Bair　and　Seana　looking　daggers　at　Melaine；　like　members　of　the　Women's　Circle　eyeing　someone　they　meant　to　call　to　account　sharply。　Melaine　ignored　them；　as　the　door　closed　behind　them　she　was　muttering　something　that　sounded　like　〃talk　sense　into　that　fool　girl。〃
　　　　　　　What　girl？　Aviendha？　She　was　already　doing　what　they　wanted。　Egwene　maybe？　He　knew　she　was　studying　something　with　the　Wise　Ones。　And　what　was　Melaine　willing　to　〃lay〃　in　order　to　make　him　〃know　their　blood　for　his〃？　How　could　laying　something　make　him　decide　he　was　Aiel？　Lay　a　trap；　maybe？　Fool！　She　wouldn't　say　right　out　she　means　to　lay　a　trap。　What　sorts　of　things　do　you　lay？　Hens　lay　eggs；　he　thought；　laughing　softly。　He　was　tired。　Too　tired　for　questions　now；　after　twelve　days　in　the　saddle　and　part　of　a　thirteenth；　all　of　them　oven…hot　and　dry；　he　did　not　want　to　think　of　how　he　would　feel　if　he　had　walked　that　distance　at　the　same　pace。　Aviendha　must　have　steel　legs。　He　wanted　a　bed。
　　　　　　　The　gai'shain　was　pretty；　despite　a　thin　scar　slanting　just　above　one　pale　blue　eye　into　hair　so　light　as　to　look　almost　silver。　Another　Maiden；　only　not　for　the　moment。　〃If　it　pleases　you　to　follow　me？〃　she　murmured；　lowering　her　eyes。
　　　　　　　The　sleeping　room　was　not　a　bedchamber；　of　course。　Unsurprisingly；　the　〃bed〃　consisted　of　a　thick　pallet　unfolded　atop　layered；　brightly　colored　rugs。　The　gai'shain　…　her　name　was　Chion　…　looked　shocked　when　he　asked　for　wash　water；　but　he　was　tired　of　sweat　baths。　He　was　willing　to　bet　Moiraine　and　Egwene　had　not　had　to　sit　in　a　tent　full　of　steam　to　get　clean。　Chion　brought　the　water；　though；　hot　in　a　large　brown　pitcher　meant　for　watering　the　garden；　and　a　big　white　bowl　for　a　washbasin。　He　chased　her　out　when　she　offered　to　wash　him。　Strange　people；　all　of　them！
　　　　　　　The　room　was　windowless；　lit　by　silver　lamps　hanging　from　brackets　on　the　walls；　but　he　knew　it　could　not　yet　be　full　dark　outside　when　he　finished　washing。　He　did　not　care。　Only　two　blankets　lay　on　the　pallet；　neither　particularly　thick。　No　doubt　a　sign　of　Aiel　hardiness。　Remembering　the　cold　nights　in　the　tents；　he　dressed　again　except　for　his　coat　and　boots　before　blowing　out　the　lamps　and　crawling　beneath　the　blankets　in　pitch　darkness。
　　　　　　　Tired　as　he　was；　he　could　not　stop　tossing　and　thinking。　What　did　Melaine　mean　to　lay？　Why　did　the　Wise　Ones　not　care　that　he　knew　Aviendha　was　their　spy？　Aviendha。　A　pretty　woman；　if　surlier　than　a　mule　with　four　stone…bruised　hooves。　His　breathing　slowed；　his　thoughts　became　misty。　A　month。
　　　　　　　Too　long。　No　choice。　Sooner。　Isendre　smiling。　Kadere　watching。　Trap。　Lay　a　trap。　Whose　trap？　Which　trap？　Traps。　If　only　he　could　trust　Moiraine。　Perrin。　Home。　Perrin　was　probably　swimming　in。。。
　
　　　　　　　Eyes　closed；　Rand　stroked　through　the　water。　Nicely　cool。　And　so　wet。　It　seemed　that　he　had　never　before　realized　how　good　wet　felt。　Lifting　his　head；　he　looked　around　at　the　willows　lining　one　end　of　the　pond；　the　big　oak　at　the　other；　stretching　thick；　shading　limbs　over　the　water。　The　Waterwood。　It　was　good　to　be　home。　He　had　the　feeling　he　had　been　away；　where　was　not　exactly　clear；　but　not　important；　either。　Up　to　Watch　Hill。　Yes。　He　had　never　been　farther　than　that。　Cool　and　wet。　And　alone。
　　　　　　　Suddenly　two　bodies　hurtled　through　the　air；　knees　clutched　to　chest；　landing　with　great　splashes　that　blinded　him。　Shaking　the　water　out　of　his　eyes；　he　found　Elayne　and　Min　smiling　at　him　from　either　side；　just　their　heads　showing　above　the　pale　green　surface。　Two　strokes　would　take　him　to　either　woman。　Away　from　the　other。　He　could　not　love　both　of　them。　Love？　Why　had　that　popped　into　his　head？
　　　　　　　〃You　do　not　know　who　you　love。〃
　　　　　　　He　spun　about　in　a　swirl　of　water。　Aviendha　stood　on　the　bank；　in　cadin'sor　rather　than　skirt　and　blouse。　Not　glaring；　though；　just　looking。　〃e　into　the　water；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　teach　you　how　to　swim。〃
　　　　　　　Musical　laughter　pulled　his　head　around　to　the　opposite　bank。　The　woman　who　stood　there；　palely　naked；　was　the　most　beautiful　he　had　ever　seen；　with　big；　dark　eyes　that　made　his　head　whirl。　He　thought　he　knew　her。
　　　　　　　〃Should　I　allow　you　to　be　unfaithful　to　me；　even　in　your　dreams？〃　she　said。　Somehow　he　was　aware　without　looking　that　Elayne　and　Min　and　Aviendha　were　not　there　anymore。；　This　was　beginning　to　feel　very　odd。
　　　　　　　For　a　long　moment　she　considered　him；　pletely　unconscious　of　her　nudity。　Slowly　she　posed　on　toe　tips；　arms　swept　back；　then　dove　cleanly　into　the　pond。　When　her　head　popped　above　the　surface；　her　shining　black　hair　was　not　wet。　That　seemed　surprising；　for　a　moment。　Then　she　had　reached　him　…　had　she　swum；　or　was　she　just　there？　…　tangling　arms　and　legs　around　him。　The　water　was　cool；　her　flesh　hot。
　　　　　　　〃You　cannot　escape　me；〃　she　murmured。　Those　dark　eyes　seemed　far　deeper　than　the　pond。　〃I　will　make　you　enjoy　this　so　you　never　forget；　asleep　or　awake。〃
　　　　　　　Asleep　or。。。　？　Everything　shifted；　blurred。　She　wrapped　herself　around　him　tighter；　and　the　blur　went　away。　Everything　was　as　it　had　been。　Rushes　filled　one　end　of　the　pond；　leatherleaf　and　pine　grew　almost　to　the　water's　edge　at　the　other。
　　　　　　　〃I　know　you；〃　he　said　slowly。　He　thought　he　must；　or　why　would　he　be　letting　her　do　this？　〃But　I　don't。。。　This　is　not　right。〃　He　tried　to　pull　her　loose；　but　as　fast　as　he　pried　an　arm　away；　she　had　it　back　again。
　　　　　　　〃I　ought　to　mark　you。〃　There　was　a　fierce　edge　in　her　voice。　〃First　that　milk…hearted　Ilyena　and　now。。。　How　many　women　do　you　hold　in　your　thoughts？〃　Suddenly　her　small　white　teeth　burrowed　at　his　neck。
　　　　　　　Bellowing；　he　hurled　her　away　and　slapped　a　hand　to　his　neck。　She　had　broken　the　skin；　he　was　bleeding。
　　　　　　　〃Is　this　how　you　amuse　yourself　when　I　wonder　where　you　have　gone？〃　a　man's　voice　said　contemptuously。　〃Why　should　I　hold　to　anything　when　you　risk　our　plan　this　way？〃
　　　　　　　Abruptly　the　woman　was　on　the　bank；　clothed　in　white；　narrow　waist　belted　in　wide　woven　silver；　silver　stars　and　crescents　in　her　midnight　hair。　The　land　rose　slightly　behind　her　to　an　ash　grove　on　a　mound。　He　did　not　remember　seeing　ash　before。　She　was　facing　…　a　blur。　A　thick；　gray；　man…sized　fuzzing　of　the　air。　This　was　all。。。　wrong；　somehow。
　　　　　　　〃Risk；〃　she　sneered。　〃You　fear　risk　as　much　as　Moghedien；　don't　you？　You　would　creep　about　like　the　Spider　herself。　Had　I　not　hauled　you　out　of　your　hole；　you'd　still　be　hiding；　and　waiting　to　s