rj.theshadowrising-第17部分

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ilvered　her　voice。　〃You　go　on　to。。。　to　your　friend　and　tell　me　of　it　in　the　morning。　As　much　as　you　want　to。〃　She　pulled　his　head　down　to　brush　his　lips　with　a　kiss　and；　as　quick　as　the　kiss；　ran　back　down　the　hallway。
　　　　　　　Shaking　his　head；　he　watched　until　she　turned　in　to　the　stairs　with　no　sign　of　Torean。　Sometimes　it　was　as　if　she　spoke　another　language。　He　headed　toward　the　lights。
　　　　　　　The　anteroom　was　a　round　chamber　fifty　paces　or　more　across。　A　hundred　gilded　lamps　hung　on　golden　chains　from　its　high　ceiling。　Polished　redstone　columns　made　an　inner　ring；　and　the　floor　appeared　to　be　one　huge　slab　of　black　marble；　streaked　with　gold。　It　had　been　the　anteroom　of　the　king's　chambers；　in　the　days　when　Tear　had　kings；　before　Artur　Hawkwing　put　everything　from　the　Spine　of　the　World　to　the　Aryth　Ocean　under　one　king。　The　Tairen　kings　had　not　returned　when　Hawkwing's　empire　collapsed；　and　for　a　thousand　years　the　only　inhabitants　of　these　apartments　had　been　mice　tracking　through　dust。　No　High　Lord　had　ever　had　enough　power　to　dare　claim　them　for　his　own。
　　　　　　　A　ring　of　fifty　Defenders　stood　rigidly　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　breastplates　and　rimmed　helmets　gleaming；　spears　all　slanted　at　exactly　the　same　angle。　Facing　every　direction　as　they　did；　they　were　supposed　to　keep　all　intruders　from　the　current　lord　of　the　Stone。　Their　mander；　a　captain　distinguished　by　two　short　white　plumes　on　his　helmet；　held　himself　only　a　trifle　less　stiffly。　He　posed　with　one　hand　on　his　sword　hilt　and　the　other　on　his　hip；　self…important　with　his　duty。　They　all　smelled　of　fear　and　uncertainty；　like　men　who　lived　under　a　crumbling　cliff　and　had　almost　managed　to　convince　themselves　it　would　never　fall。　Or　at　least　not　tonight。　Not　in　the　next　hour。
　　　　　　　Perrin　walked　on　by　them；　his　bootheels　making　echoes。　The　officer　started　toward　him；　then　hesitated　when　Perrin　did　not　stop　to　be　challenged。　He　knew　who　Perrin　was；　of　course；　at　least；　he　knew　as　much　as　any　Tairen　knew。　Traveling　panion　of　Aes　Sedai；　friend　of　the　Lord　Dragon。　Not　a　man　to　be　interfered　with　by　a　mere　officer　of　the　Defenders　of　the　Stone。　There　was　his　apparent　task　of　guarding　the　Lord　Dragon's　rest；　of　course；　but　though　he　probably　did　not　admit　it　even　to　himself；　the　officer　had　to　know　that　he　and　his　brave　show　of　polished　armor　were　simply　that。　The　real　guards　were　those　Perrin　met　when　he　strode　beyond　the　columns　and　approached　the　doors　to　Rand's　chambers。
　　　　　　　They　had　been　sitting　so　still　behind　the　columns　that　they　seemed　to　fade　into　the　stone；　though　their　coats　and　breeches　…　in　shades　of　gray　and　brown；　made　to　hide　them　in　the　Waste　…　stood　out　here　as　soon　as　they　moved。　Six　Maidens　of　the　Spear；　Aiel　women　who　had　chosen　a　warrior's　life　over　the　hearth；　flowed　between　him　and　the　doors　on　soft；　laced　boots　that　reached　their　knees。　They　were　tall　for　women；　the　tallest　barely　a　hand　shorter　than　he；　sun…darkened；　with　short…cropped　hair；　yellow　or　red　or　something　in　between。　Two　held　curved　horn　bows　with　arrows　nocked；　if　not　drawn。　The　others　carried　small　hide　bucklers　and　three　or　four　short　spears　each　…　short；　but　with　spearheads　long　enough　to　stick　through　a　man's　body　with　inches　to　spare。
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　think　I　can　let　you　go　in；〃　a　woman　with　flame…colored　hair　said；　smiling　slightly　to　take　the　sting　out　of　the　words。　Aiel　did　not　go　about　grinning　as　much　as　other　folk；　or　show　a　great　deal　of　any　outward　emotion　for　that　matter。　〃I　think　he　does　not　want　to　see　anyone　tonight。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　going　in；　Bain。〃　Ignoring　her　spears；　he　took　her　by　the　upper　arms。　That　was　when　it　became　impossible　to　ignore　the　spears；　since　she　had　managed　to　get　a　spearpoint　hard　against　the　side　of　his　throat。　For　that　matter；　a　somewhat　blonder　woman　named　Chiad　suddenly　had　one　of　her　spears　at　the　other　side；　as　if　the　two　were　intended　to　meet　somewhere　in　the　middle　of　his　neck。　The　other　women　only　watched；　confident　that　Bain　and　Chiad　could　handle　whatever　had　to　be　done。　Still；　he　did　his　best。　〃I　don't　have　time　to　argue　with　you。　Not　that　you　listen　to　people　who　argue　with　you；　as　I　remember。　I　am　going　in。〃　As　gently　as　he　could；　he　picked　Bain　up　and　set　her　out　of　his　way：
　　　　　　　Chiad's　spear　only　needed　her　to　breathe　on　it　to　draw　blood；　but　after　one　startled　widening　of　dark　blue　eyes；　Bain　abruptly　took　hers　away　and　grinned。　〃Would　you　like　to　learn　a　game　called　Maidens'　Kiss；　Perrin？　You　might　play　well；　I　think。　At　the　very　least　you　would　learn　something。〃　One　of　the　others　laughed　aloud。　Chiad's　spearpoint　left　his　neck。
　　　　　　　He　took　a　deep　breath；　hoping　they　would　not　notice　it　was　his　first　since　the　spears　touched　him。　They　had　not　veiled　their　faces　…　their　shoufa　lay　coiled　around　their　necks　like　dark　scarves　…　but　he　did　not　know　if　Aiel　had　to　do　so　before　they　killed；　only　that　veiling　meant　they　were　ready　to。
　　　　　　　〃Another　time；　perhaps；〃　he　said　politely。　They　were　all　grinning　as　if　Bain　had　said　something　amusing；　and　his　not　understanding　was　part　of　the　humor。　Thom　was　right。　A　man　could　go　crazy　trying　to　understand　women；　of　any　nation　and　any　station　in　life；　that　was　what　Thom　said。
　　　　　　　As　he　reached　for　a　door　handle　in　the　shape　of　a　rearing　golden　lion；　Bain　added；　〃On　your　head　be　it。　He　has　already　chased　out　what　most　men　would　consider　better　pany　by　far　than　you。〃
　　　　　　　Of　course；　he　thought；　pulling　open　the　door；　Berelain。　She　was　ing　from　here。　Tonight；　everything　is　revolving　around　…
　　　　　　　The　First　of　Mayene　vanished　from　his　thoughts　as　he　got　a　look　into　the　room。　Broken　mirrors　hung　on　the　walls　and　broken　glass　covered　the　floor；　along　with　shards　of　shattered　porcelain　and　feathers　from　the　slashed　mattress。　Open　books　lay　tumbled　among　overturned　chairs　and　benches。　And　Rand　was　sitting　at　the　foot　of　his　bed；　slumped　against　one　of　the　bedposts　with　eyes　closed　and　hands　limp　atop　Callandor；　which　lay　across　his　knees。　He　looked　as　if　he　had　taken　a　bath　in　blood。
　　　　　　　〃Get　Moiraine！〃　Perrin　snapped　at　the　Aiel　women。　Was　Rand　still　alive？　If　he　was；　he　needed　Aes　Sedai　Healing　to　stay　that　way。　〃Tell　her　to　hurry！〃　He　heard　a　gasp　behind　him；　then　soft　boots　running。
　　　　　　　Rand　lifted　his　head。　His　face　was　a　smeared　mask。　〃Shut　the　door。〃
　　　　　　　〃Moiraine　will　be　here　soon；　Rand。　Rest　easy。　She　will　…〃
　　　　　　　〃Shut　the　door；　Perrin。〃
　　　　　　　Murmuring　among　themselves；　the　Aiel　women　frowned；　but　moved　back。　Perrin　pulled　the　door　to；　cutting　off　a　questioning　shout　from　the　white…plumed　officer。
　　　　　　　Glass　crunched　under　his　boots　as　he　crossed　the　carpet　to　Rand。　Tearing　a　strip　from　a　wildly　sliced　linen　sheet；　he　wadded　it　against　the　wound　in　Rand's　side。　Rand's　hands　tightened　on　the　transparent　sword　at　the　pressure；　then　relaxed。　Blood　soaked　through　almost　immediately。　Cuts　and　gashes　covered　him　from　the　soles　of　his　feet　to　his　head；　slivers　of　glass　glittered　in　many　of　them。　Perrin　rolled　his　shoulders　helplessly。　He　did　not　know　what　more　to　do；　other　than　wait　for　Moiraine。
　　　　　　　〃What　under　the　Light　did　you　try　to　do；　Rand？　You　look　as　though　you　tried　to　skin　yourself。　And　you　nearly　killed　me；　as　well。〃　For　a　moment　he　thought　Rand　was　not　going　to　answer。
　　　　　　　〃Not　me；〃　Rand　said　finally；　in　a　near　whisper。　〃One　of　the　Forsaken。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　tried　to　relax　muscles　he　did　not　remember　tensing。　The　effort　was　only　partly　successful。　He　had　mentioned　the　Forsaken　to　Faile；　not　exactly　casually；　but　by　and　large　he　had　been　trying　not　to　think　of　what　the　Forsaken　might　do　when　they　found　out　where　Rand　was。　If　one　of　them　could　bring　down　the　Dragon　Reborn；　he　or　she　would　stand　high　above　the　others　when　the　Dark　One　broke　free。　The　Dark　One　free；　and　the　Last　Battle　lost　before　it　was　fought。
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　sure？〃　he　said；　just　as　quietly。
　　　　　　　〃It　had　to　be；　Perrin。　It　had　to　be。〃
　　　　　　　〃If　one　of　them　came　after　me　as　well　as　you。。。　？　Where's　Mat；　Rand？　If　he　was　alive；　and　went　through　what　I　did；　he'd　be　thinking　what　I　did。　That　it　was　you。　He'd　be　here　by　now　to　bless　you　out。〃
　　　　　　　〃Or　on　a　horse　and　halfway　to　the　city　gates。〃　Rand　struggled　to　sit　erect。　
　　　　　　　Drying　blood　smears　cracked；　and　fresh　trickles　started　on　his　chest　and　shoulders。　〃If　he　is　dead；　Perrin；　you　had　best　get　as　far　from　me　as　you　can。　I　think　you　and　Loial　are　right　about　that。〃　He　paused；　studying　Perrin。　〃You　and　Mat　must　wish　I　had　never　been　born。　Or　at　least　that　you'd　never　seen　me。〃
　　　　　　　There　was　no　point　in　going　to　check；　if　anything　had　happened　to　Mat；　it　was　over　and　done　now。　And　he　had　a　feeling　that　his　makeshift　bandage　pressed　against　Rand's　side　might　be　what　would　keep　him　alive　long　enough　for　Moiraine　to　get　there。　〃You　don't　seem　to　care　if　he　has　gone　off。　Burn　me；　he's　important；　too。　What　are　you　going　to　do　if　he's　gone？　Or　dead；　the　Light　send　it　not　so。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　they　least　expect。〃　Rand's　eyes　looked　like　morning　mist　covering　the　dawn；　blue…gray　with　a　feverish　glow　seeping　through。　His　voice　had　a　knife　edge。　〃That　is　what　I　have　to　do　in　any　case。　What　everyone　least　expects。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　took　a　slow　breath。　Rand　had　a　right　to　taut　nerves。　It　was　not　a　sign　of　incipient　madness。　He　had　to　stop　watching　for　signs　of　madness。　Those　signs　would　e　soon　enough；　and　watching　would　do　nothing　but　keep　his　stomach　tied　in　knots。　〃What's　that？〃　he　asked　quietly。
　　　　　　　Rand　closed　his　eyes。　〃I　only　know　I　have　to　catch　them　by　surprise。　Catch　everyone　by　surprise；〃　he　muttered　fiercely。
　　　　　　　One　of　the　doors　opened　to　admit　a　tall　Aielman；　his　dark　red　hair　touched　with　gray。　Behind　him　the　Tairen　officer's　plumes　bobbed　as　he　argued　with　the　Maidens；　he　was　still　arguing　when　Bain　pushed　the　door　shut。
　　　　　　　Rhuarc　surveyed　the　room　with　sharp　blue　eyes；　as　if　he　suspected　enemies　hiding　behind　a　drape　or　an　overturned　chair。　The　clan　chief　of　the　Taardad　Aiel　had　no　visible　weapon　except　the　heavy…bladed　knife　at　his　waist；　but　he　carried　authority　and　confidence　like　weapons；　quietly；　yet　as　surely　as　if　they　were　sheathed　alongside　the　knife。　And　his　shoufa　hung　about　his　shoulders；　no　one　who　knew　the　slightest　about　Aiel　took　one　for　less　than　dangerous　when　he　wore　the　means　to　veil　his　face。
　　　　　　　〃That　Tairen　fool　outside　sent　word　to　his　mander　that　something　had　happened　in　here；〃　Rhuarc　said；　〃and　rumors　are　already　sprouting　like　corpse　moss　in　a　deep　cave。　Everything　from　the　White　Tower　trying　to　kill　you　to　the　Last　Battle　fought　here　in　this　room。〃　Perrin　opened　his　mouth；　Rhuarc　raised　a　forestalling　hand。　〃I　happened　to　meet　Berelain；　looking　as　if　she　had　been　told　the　day　she　would　die；　and　she　told　me　the　truth　of　it。　And　it　does　look　to　be　the　truth；　though　I　doubted　her。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　sent　for　Moiraine；〃　Perrin　said。　Rhuarc　nodded。　Of　course；　the　Maidens　would　have　told　him　everything　they　knew。
　　　　　　　Rand　gave　a　painful　bark　of　a　laugh。　〃I　told　her　to　keep　quiet。　It　seems　the　Lord　Dragon　doesn't　rule　Mayene。〃　He　sounded　more　wryly　amused　than　anything　else。
　　　　　　　〃I　have　daughters　older　than　that　young　woman；〃　Rhuarc　said。　〃I　do　not　believe　she　will　tell　anyone　else。　I　think　she　would　like　to　forget　everything　that　happened　tonight。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　I　would　like　to