rj.theshadowrising-第191部分

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ury　vanished　with　startling　abruptness；　buried　behind　a　seductive　smile。　〃No；　I　mustn't　kill　him。　Not　after　we　have　gone　to　so　much　effort。〃　Moving　closer；　she　reached　up　to　stroke　the　side　of　his　neck；　where　her　bite　from　the　dream　was　just　healing；　he　had　not　let　Moiraine　know　of　it。　〃You　still　bear　my　mark。　Shall　I　make　it　permanent？〃
　　　　　　　〃Did　you　harm　anyone　at　Alcair　Dal；　or　in　the　camps？〃
　　　　　　　Her　face　never　stopped　smiling；　but　her　caress　changed；　fingers　suddenly　poised　as　if　to　rip　out　his　throat。　〃Such　as　who？　I　thought　you　had　realized　you　did　not　love　that　little　farmgirl。　Or　is　it　the　Aiel　jade？〃　A　viper。　A　deadly　viper　who　loved　him　…　The　Light　help　me！　…　and　he　did　not　know　how　to　stop　her　if　she　decided　to　bite；　whether　him　or　someone　else。
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　want　anyone　hurt。　I　need　them　yet。　I　can　use　them。〃　It　was　painful　saying　that；　painful　for　the　amount　of　truth　in　it。　But　keeping　Lanfear's　fangs　out　of　Egwene　and　Moiraine；　away　from　Aviendha　and　anyone　else　close　to　him；　that　was　worth　a　little　pain。
　　　　　　　Throwing　back　her　beautiful　head；　she　laughed　like　chiming　bells。　〃I　can　remember　when　you　were　too　softhearted　to　use　anyone。　Devious　in　battle；　hard　as　stone　and　arrogant　as　the　mountains；　but　open　and　softhearted　as　a　girl！　No；　I　did　not　harm　any　of　your　precious　Aes　Sedai；　or　your　precious　Aiel。　I　do　not　kill　without　cause；　Lews　Therin。　I　do　not　even　hurt　without　cause。〃　He　was　careful　not　to　look　at　Asmodean；　white…faced；　drawing　jagged　breaths；　the　man　had　pushed　up　on　one　hand；　using　the　other　to　wipe　blood　from　his　mouth　and　chin。
　　　　　　　Turning　slowly；　Lanfear　surveyed　the　great　square。　〃You　have　destroyed　this　city　as　well　as　any　army　could　have。〃　But　it　was　not　the　ruined　palaces　she　stared　at；　though　she　pretended；　it　was　the　broken　square　with　its　jumbled　litter　of　ter'angreal　and　who　knew　what　else。　The　corners　of　her　mouth　were　tight　when　she　turned　back　to　Rand；　her　dark　eyes　held　a　spark　of　suppressed　anger。　〃Use　his　teachings　well；　Lews　Therin。　The　others　are　still　out　there；　Sammael　with　his　envy　of　you；　Demandred　with　his　hate；　Rahvin　with　his　thirst　for　power。　They　will　be　more　eager　to　bring　you　down；　not　less；　if　…　when　…　they　discover　you　hold　that。〃
　　　　　　　Her　gaze　flickered　to　the　foot…tall　figure　in　his　hands；　and　for　an　instant　he　thought　she　was　considering　taking　it　from　him。　Not　to　keep　the　others　from　his　back；　but　because　with　it　he　might　be　too　powerful　for　her　to　handle。　Right　then　he　was　not　certain　he　could　stop　her　if　she　used　nothing　but　her　hands。　One　instant　she　was　weighing　whether　to　leave　the　ter'angreal　in　his　possession；　the　next　measuring　his　tiredness。　However　much　she　talked　of　loving　him；　she　would　want　to　be　far　from　him　when　he　regained　enough　strength　to　use　the　thing。　Briefly　she　scanned　the　plaza　again；　lips　pursed；　then　abruptly　a　door　opened　beside　her；　not　a　door　to　blackness；　but　into　what　seemed　a　palace　chamber；　all　carved　white　marble　and　white　silk　hangings。
　　　　　　　〃Which　one　were　you？〃　he　said　as　she　stepped　toward　it；　and　she　paused；　looking　over　a　shoulder　at　him　with　an　almost　coy　smile。
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　think　I　could　stand　to　be　fat；　ugly　Keille？〃　She　ran　hands　down　her　rounded　slimness　for　emphasis。　〃Isendre；　now。　Slim；　beautiful　Isendre。　I　thought　if　you　suspected；　you　would　suspect　her。　My　pride　is　strong　enough　to　support　a　little　fat；　when　it　must。〃　The　smile　became　a　baring　of　teeth。　〃Isendre　thought　she　was　dealing　with　simple　Friends　of　the　Dark。　I　would　not　be　surprised　if　right　now　she　is　frantically　trying　to　explain　to　some　angry　Aiel　women　why　a　large　quantity　of　their　gold　necklaces　and　bracelets　are　in　the　bottom　of　her　chest。　She　actually　did　steal　some　of　them　herself。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　thought　you　said　you　didn't　harm　anyone！〃
　　　　　　　〃Now　your　soft　heart　shows。　I　can　show　a　tender；　woman's　heart　when　I　choose。　You'll　not　be　able　to　save　her　being　welted；　I　think　…　she　deserves　that　for　the　least　of　the　looks　she　gave　me　…　but　if　you　return　quickly；　you　can　prevent　them　sending　her　off　with　one　waterskin　to　walk　out　of　this　blighted　land。　They　are　quite　hard　on　thieves；　it　seems；　these　Aiel。〃　She　gave　an　amused　laugh；　shaking　her　head　in　wonder。　〃So　different　from　what　they　were。　You　could　slap　a　Da'shain's　face；　and　all　he　did　was　ask　what　he　had　done。　Slap　again；　and　he　asked　if　he　had　offended。　He　would　not　change　if　you　continued　all　day。〃　Giving　Asmodean　a　contemptuous　sidelong　look；　she　added；　〃Learn　well　and　quickly；　Lews　Therin。　I　mean　us　to　rule　together；　not　to　watch　Sammael　kill　you　or　Graendal　add　you　to　her　collection　of　handsome　young　men。　Learn　well　and　quickly。〃　She　stepped　into　the　chamber　of　white　marble　and　silk；　and　the　doorway　seemed　to　turn　sideways；　narrowed；　vanished。
　　　　　　　Rand　drew　the　first　deep　breath　he　had　taken　since　her　appearance。　Mierin。　A　name　remembered　from　the　glass　columns。　The　woman　who　had　found　the　Dark　One's　prison　in　the　Age　of　Legends；　who　had　bored　into　it。　Had　she　known　what　it　was？　How　had　she　escaped　that　fiery　doom　he　had　seen？　Had　she　given　herself　to　the　Dark　One　even　then？
　　　　　　　Asmodean　was　struggling　to　his　feet；　unsteady　and　nearly　falling　again。　He　no　longer　bled；　but　blood　still　traced　thin　lines　from　his　ears　down　the　sides　of　his　neck；　made　a　smear　across　his　mouth　and　chin。　His　filthy　red　coat　was　torn；　his　white　lace　ripped　and　snagged。　〃It　was　my　link　to　the　Great　Lord　that　allowed　me　to　touch　saidin　without　going　mad；〃　he　said　hoarsely。　〃All　you　have　done　is　make　me　as　vulnerable　as　you。　You　might　as　well　let　me　go。　I　am　not　a　very　good　teacher。　She　only　chose　me　because　…〃　His　lips　writhed；　trying　to　pull　the　words　back。
　　　　　　　〃Because　there　isn't　anyone　else；〃　Rand　finished　for　him　and　turned　away。On　tottering　legs　Rand　crossed　the　broad　square；　picking　his　way　through　the　litter。　He　and　Asmodean　had　been　flung　halfway　around　the　forest　of　glass　columns　from　Avendesora。　Crystal　plinths　lay　against　fallen　statues　of　men　and　women；　some　broken　in　chunks；　some　not　even　chipped。　A　great　flat　ring　of　silvery　metal　had　been　flipped　up　on　chairs　of　metal　and　stone；　strange　shapes　in　metal　and　crystal　and　glass；　all　mixed　in　a　heap　with　shattered　bits；　a　black　metal　shaft　like　a　spear　standing　upright；　improbably　balanced　on　the　pile。　The　entire　plaza　was　like　that。
　　　　　　　Out　from　the　great　tree；　a　little　searching　among　the　jumble　found　what　he　sought。　Kicking　aside　pieces　of　what　seemed　to　be　spiraled　glass　tubes；　he　shoved　a　plain…carved　chair　of　red　crystal　aside　and　picked　up　a　foot…tall　figurine；　a　robed　woman　with　a　serene　face；　worked　in　white　stone；　holding　up　a　clear　sphere　in　one　hand。　Unbroken。　As　useless　to　him；　or　to　any　man；　as　its　male　twin　was　to　Lanfear。　He　considered　breaking　it。　One　swing　of　his　arm　could　shatter　that　crystal　globe　on　the　paving　stones；　surely。
　　　　　　　〃She　was　looking　for　that。〃　He　had　not　realized　Asmodean　had　followed　him。　Wavering；　the　man　scrubbed　at　his　bloody　mouth。　〃She　will　rip　your　heart　out　to　put　her　hands　on　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃Or　yours；　for　keeping　it　secret　from　her。　She　loves　me。〃　Light　help　me。　Like　being　loved　by　a　rabid　wolf！　After　a　moment　he　put　the　female　statue　in　the　crook　of　his　arm　with　the　male。　There　might　be　a　use　for　it。　And　I　don't　want　to　destroy　anything　else。
　　　　　　　Yet　as　he　looked　around；　he　saw　something　besides　destruction。　The　fog　was　almost　gone　from　the　ruined　city；　only　a　few　wispy　sheets　remained　to　drift　among　the　buildings　still　standing　beneath　the　sinking　sun。　The　valley　floor　tilted　sharply　to　the　south　now；　and　water　spilled　out　of　the　great　rent　across　the　city；　the　gash　that　went　all　the　way　down　to　where　that　deep　hidden　ocean　of　water　lay。　Already　the　lower　end　of　the　valley　was　filling。　A　lake。　It　might　reach　nearly　to　the　city　eventually；　a　lake　maybe　three　miles　long　in　a　land　where　a　pool　ten　feet　across　drew　people。　People　would　e　to　this　valley　to　live。　He　could　almost　see　the　surrounding　mountains　already　terraced　with　crops　growing　green。　They　would　tend　Avendesora；　the　last　chora　tree。　Perhaps　they　would　even　rebuild　Rhuidean。　The　Waste　would　have　a　city。　Perhaps　he　would　even　live　to　see　it。
　　　　　　　With　the　angreal；　the　round　little　man　with　his　sword；　he　was　able　to　open　a　doorway　to　blackness。　Asmodean　stepped　through　with　him　reluctantly；　sneering　faintly　when　a　single　carved　stone　step　appeared；　just　wide　enough　for　the　two　of　them。　Still　the　same　man　who　had　given　himself　to　the　Dark　One。　His　calculating；　sideways　glances　were　reminder　enough　of　that；　if　Rand　needed　any。
　　　　　　　They　only　spoke　twice　as　the：　step　soared　through　the　darkness。
　　　　　　　Once　Rand　said；　〃I　cannot　call　you　Asmodean。〃
　　　　　　　The　man　shivered。　〃My　name　was　Joar　Addam　Nesossin；〃　he　said　at　last。　He　sounded　as　if　he　had　stripped　himself　bare；　or　lost　something。
　　　　　　　〃I　can't　use　that　either。　Who　knows　what　scrap　holds　that　name　somewhere？　The　idea　is　to　keep　someone　from　killing　you　for　a　Forsaken。〃　And　to　keep　anyone　from　knowing　he　had　a　Forsaken　for　teacher。　〃You　will　have　to　go　on　being　Jasin　Natael；　I　think。　Gleeman　to　the　Dragon　Reborn。　Excuse　enough　for　keeping　you　close。〃　Natael　grimaced；　but　said　nothing。
　　　　　　　A　little　later；　Rand　said；　〃The　first　thing　you'll　show　me　is　how　to　guard　my　dreams。〃　The　man　only　nodded；　sullenly。　He　would　cause　problems；　but　they　could　not　be　as　large　as　the　problems　of　ignorance。
　　　　　　　The　step　slowed；　stopped；　and　Rand　folded　again。　The　doorway　opened　on　the　ledge　in　Alcair　Dal。
　　　　　　　The　rain　had　stopped；　though　the　evening…shadowed　floor　of　the　canyon　was　still　sodden；　churned　to　mud　by　Aiel　feet。　Fewer　Aiel　than　before；　perhaps　as　many　as　a　fourth　fewer。　But　not　fighting。　Staring　at　the　ledge；　where　Moiraine　and　Egwene；　Aviendha　and　the　Wise　Ones　had　joined　the　clan　chiefs；　who　stood　talking　with　Lan。　Mat　was　squatting　a　little　distance　from　them；　hat　brim　pulled　down　and　black…hafted　spear　propped　on　his　shoulder；　Adelin　and　her　Maidens　standing　around　him。　They　gaped　as　Rand　stepped　out　of　the　doorway；　stared　more　when　Natael　followed　in　his　tattered　shiny　red　coat　and　white　lace。　Mat　jumped　to　his　feet　with　a　grin；　and　Aviendha　half…raised　a　hand　toward　him。　The　Aiel　in　the　canyon　watched　silently。
　　　　　　　Before　anyone　could　speak；　Rand　said；　〃Adelin；　would　you　send　someone　out　to　the　fair　and　tell　them　to　stop　beating　Isendre？　She　is　not　as　big　a　thief　as　they　think。〃　The　yellow…haired　woman　looked　startled；　but　immediately　spoke　to　one　of　the　Maidens；　who　dashed　off。
　　　　　　　〃How　did　you　know　about　that？〃　Egwene　exclaimed；　at　the　same　time　Moiraine　demanded；　〃Where　have　you　been？　How？〃　Her　wide　dark　eyes　darted　from　him　to　Natael；　her　Aes　Sedai　calm　nowhere　in　evidence。　And　the　Wise　Ones。。。？　Sun…haired　Melaine　looked　ready　to　drag　answers　out　of　him　with　her　bare　hands。　Bair　scowled　as　though　she　meant　to　switch　them　out。　Amys　shifted　her　shawl　and　ran　fingers　through　her　pale　hair；　unable　to　decide　whether　she　was　worried　or　relieved。
　　　　　　　Adelin　handed　him　his　coat；　still　damp。　He　wrapped　it　around　the　two　stone　figures。　Moiraine　was　considering　those；　too。　He　did　not　know　if　she　even　suspected　what　they　were；　but　he　intended　to　hide　them　as　best　he　could　from　anyone。　If　he　could　not　trust　himself　with　Callandor's　power；　how　much　l