rj.theshadowrising-第24部分

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ruff　of　the　neck　and　shake　them　…　but　her　mother　always　said　no　good　decision　was　ever　made　in　anger。　〃You　might　add　to　your　list　of　what　you　want　to　know；〃　she　said；　〃why　were　we　summoned　to　Rand？　That　is　where　Careen　took　us。　He　is　all　right；　now；　of　course。　Moiraine　Healed　him。〃　She　could　not　repress　a　shudder；　thinking　of　her　brief　glimpse　inside　his　chamber；　but　the　diversion　worked　a　charm。
　　　　　　　〃Healed！〃　Nynaeve　gasped。　〃What　happened　to　him？〃
　　　　　　　〃He　almost　died；〃　the　Aes　Sedai　said；　as　calmly　as　if　she　were　saying　he　had　a　pot　of　tea。
　　　　　　　Elayne　felt　Egwene　tremble　as　they　listened　to　Moiraine's　dispassionate　report；　but　perhaps　some　of　the　trembling　was　her　own。　Bubbles　of　evil　drifting　through　the　Pattern；　Reflections　leaping　out　of　mirrors。　Rand　a　mass　of　blood　and　wounds。　Almost　as　an　afterthought；　Moiraine　added　that　she　was　sure　Perrin　and　Mat　had　experienced　something　of　the　same；　but　escaped　unharmed。　The　woman　must　have　ice　instead　of　blood。　No；　she　was　heated　enough　about　Rand's　stubbornness。　And　she　wasn't　cold　when　she　spoke　of　marrying；　however　much　she　pretended　to　be。　But　now　she　could　have　been　discussing　whether　a　bolt　of　silk　was　the　right　color　for　a　dress。
　　　　　　　〃And　these。。。　these　things　will　keep　on？〃　Egwene　said　when　Moiraine　finished。　〃Is　there　nothing　you　can　do　to　stop　it？　Or　that　Rand　can　do？〃
　　　　　　　The　small　blue　stone　dangling　from　Moiraine's　hair　swung　as　she　shook　her　head。　〃Not　until　he　learns　to　control　his　abilities。　Perhaps　not　then。　I　do　not　know　if　even　he　will　be　strong　enough　to　push　the　miasma　away　from　himself。　At　the　least；　though；　he　will　be　better　able　to　defend　himself。〃
　　　　　　　〃Can't　you　do　something　to　help　him？〃　Nynaeve　demanded。　〃You　are　the　one　of　us　who　is　supposed　to　know　everything；　or　pretends　to。　Can't　you　teach　him？　Some　part　of　it；　anyway？　And　don't　quote　proverbs　about　birds　teaching　fish　to　fly。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　would　know　better；〃　Moiraine　replied；　〃if　you　had　taken　the　advantage　of　your　studies　that　you　should　have。　You　should　know　better。　You　want　to　know　how　to　use　the　Power；　Nynaeve；　but　you　do　not　care　to　learn　about　the　Power。　Saidin　is　not　saidar。　The　flows　are　different；　the　ways　of　weaving　are　different。　The　bird　has　a　better　chance。〃
　　　　　　　This　time　Egwene　took　a　turn　at　diffusing　tension。　〃What　is　Rand　being　stubborn　about；　now？〃　Nynaeve　opened　her　mouth；　and　she　added；　〃He　can　be　stubborn　as　a　stone；　sometimes。〃　Nynaeve　shut　her　mouth　with　a　snap；　they　all　knew　how　true　that　was。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　eyed　them；　considering。　At　times；　Elayne　was　not　sure　how　much　the　Aes　Sedai　trusted　them。　Or　anyone。　〃He　must　move；〃　the　Aes　Sedai　said　at　last。　〃Instead　he　sits　here；　and　the　Tairens　already　begin　to　lose　their　fear　of　him。　He　sits　here；　and　the　longer　he　sits；　doing　nothing；　the　more　the　Forsaken　will　see　his　inaction　as　a　sign　of　weakness。　The　Pattern　moves　and　flows；　only　the　dead　are　still。　He　must　act；　or　he　will　die。　From　a　crossbow　bolt　in　his　back；　or　poison　in　his　food；　or　the　Forsaken　banding　together　to　rip　his　soul　from　his　body。　He　must　act　or　die。〃　Elayne　winced　at　each　danger　on　her　list；　that　they　were　real　only　made　it　worse。
　　　　　　　〃And　you　know　what　he　must　do；　don't　you？〃　Nynaeve　said　tightly。　〃You　have　this　action　planned。〃
　　　　　　　Moiraine　nodded。　〃Would　you　rather　he　go　haring　off　alone　once　more？　I　dare　not　risk　it。　This　time　he　might　be　dead；　or　worse；　before　I　find　him。〃
　　　　　　　That　was　true　enough。　Rand　hardly　knew　what　he　was　doing。　And　Elayne　was　sure　Moiraine　had　no　wish　to　lose　the　little　guidance　she　still　gave　him。　The　little　he　allowed　her　to　give。
　　　　　　　〃Will　you　share　your　plan　for　him　with　us？〃　Egwene　demanded。　She　was　certainly　not　helping　soothe　the　air　now。
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　do；〃　Elayne　said；　surprising　herself　with　a　cool　echo　of　Egwene's　tone。　Confrontation　was　not　her　way　when　it　could　be　avoided；　her　mother　always　said　it　was　better　to　guide　people　than　try　to　hammer　them　into　line。
　　　　　　　If　their　manner　irritated　Moiraine；　she　gave　no　sign　of　it。　〃As　long　as　you　understand　that　you　must　keep　it　to　yourselves。　A　plan　revealed　is　a　plan　doomed　to　fail。　Yes；　I　see　you　do　understand。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　certainly　did；　the　plan　was　dangerous；　and　Moiraine　was　not　sure　it　would　work。
　　　　　　　〃Sammael　is　in　Illian；〃　the　Aes　Sedai　went　on。　〃The　Tairens　are　always　as　ripe　for　war　with　Illian　as　the　other　way　around。　They　have　been　killing　each　other　off　and　on　for　a　thousand　years；　and　they　speak　of　their　chance　for　it　as　other　men　speak　of　the　next　feastday。　I　doubt　even　knowing　of　Sammael's　presence　would　change　that；　not　with　the　Dragon　Reborn　to　lead　them。　Tear　will　follow　Rand　eagerly　enough　in　that　enterprise；　and　if　he　brings　Sammael　down；　he　…〃
　　　　　　　〃Light！〃　Nynaeve　exclaimed。　〃You　not　only　want　him　to　start　a　war；　you　want　him　to　seek　out　one　of　the　Forsaken！　No　wonder　he　is　being　stubborn。　He　is　not　a　fool；　for　a　man。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　must　face　the　Dark　One　in　the　end；〃　Moiraine　said　calmly。　〃Do　you　truly　think　he　can　avoid　the　Forsaken　now？　As　for　war；　there　are　wars　enough　without　him；　and　every　one　worse　than　useless。〃
　　　　　　　〃Any　war　is　useless；〃　Elayne　began；　then　faltered　as　prehension　suddenly　filled　her。　Sadness　and　regret　had　to　show　on　her　face；　too；　but　certainly　prehension。　Her　mother　had　lectured　her　often　on　how　a　nation　was　led　as　well　as　how　it　was　governed；　two　very　different　things；　but　both　necessary。　And　sometimes　things　had　to　be　done　for　both　that　were　worse　than　unpleasant；　although　the　price　of　not　doing　them　was　worse　still。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　gave　her　sympathetic　look。　〃It　is　not　always　pleasant；　is　it？　Your　mother　began　when　you　were　just　old　enough　to　understand；　I　suppose；　teaching　you　what　you　will　need　to　rule　after　her。〃　Moiraine　had　grown　up　in　the　Royal　Palace　in　Cairhien；　not　destined　to　reign；　but　related　to　the　ruling　family　and　no　doubt　overhearing　the　same　lectures。　〃Yet　sometimes　it　seems　ignorance　would　be　better；　to　be　a　farm　woman　knowing　nothing　beyond　the　boundaries　of　her　fields。〃
　　　　　　　〃More　riddles？〃　Nynaeve　said　contemptuously。　〃War　used　to　be　something　I　heard　about　from　peddlers；　something　far　away　that　I　didn't　really　understand。　I　know　what　it　is；　now。　Men　killing　men。　Men　behaving　like　animals；　reduced　to　animals。　Villages　burned；　farms　and　fields　burned。　Hunger；　disease　and　death；　for　the　innocent　as　the　guilty。　What　makes　this　war　of　yours　better；　Moiraine？　What　makes　it　cleaner？〃
　　　　　　　〃Elayne？〃　Moiraine　said　quietly。
　　　　　　　She　shook　her　head　…　she　did　not　want　to　be　the　one　to　explain　this　…　but　she　was　not　sure　even　her　mother　sitting　on　the　Lion　Throne　could　have　kept　silent　under　Moiraine's　pelling；　dark…eyed　stare。　〃War　will　e　whether　Rand　begins　it　or　not；〃　she　said　reluctantly。　Egwene　stepped　back　a　pace；　staring　at　her　in　disbelief　no　sharper　than　that　on　Nynaeve's　face；　the　incredulity　faded　from　both　women　as　she　continued。　〃The　Forsaken　will　not　stand　idly　and　wait。　Sammael　cannot　be　the　only　one　to　have　seized　a　nation's　reins；　just　the　lone　one　we　know。　They　will　e　after　Rand　eventually；　in　their　own　persons　perhaps；　but　certainly　with　whatever　armies　they　mand。　And　the　nations　that　are　free　of　the　Forsaken？　How　many　will　cry　glory　to　the　Dragon　banner　and　follow　him　to　Tarmon　Gai'don；　and　how　many　will　convince　themselves　the　fall　of　the　Stone　is　a　lie　and　Rand　only　another　false　Dragon　who　must　be　put　down；　a　false　Dragon　perhaps　strong　enough　to　threaten　them　if　they　do　not　move　against　him　first？　One　way　or　another；　war　will　e。〃　She　cut　off　sharply。　There　was　more　to　it；　but　she　could　not；　would　not；　tell　them　that　part。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　was　not　so　reticent。　〃Very　good；〃　she　said；　nodding；　〃yet　inplete。〃　The　look　she　gave　Elayne　said　she　knew　Elayne　had　left　out　what　she　had　on　purpose。　Hands　folded　calmly　at　her　waist；　she　addressed　Nynaeve　and　Egwene。　〃Nothing　makes　this　war　better；　or　cleaner。　Except　that　it　will　cement　the　Tairens　to　him；　and　the　Illianers　will　end　up　following　him　just　as　the　Tairens　do　now。　How　could　they　not；　once　the　Dragon　banner　flies　over　Illian？　Just　the　news　of　his　victory　might　decide　the　wars　in　Tarabon　and　Arad　Doman　in　his　favor；　there　are　wars　ended　for　you。
　　　　　　　〃In　one　stroke　he　will　make　himself　so　strong　in　terms　of　men　and　swords　that　only　a　coalition　of　every　remaining　nation　from　here　to　the　Blight　can　defeat　him；　and　with　the　same　blow　he　shows　the　Forsaken　that　he　is　not　a　plump　partridge　on　a　limb　for　the　netting。　That　will　make　them　wary；　and　buy　him　time　to　learn　to　use　his　strength。　He　must　move　first；　be　the　hammer；　not　the　nail。〃　The　Aes　Sedai　grimaced　slightly；　a　hint　of　her　earlier　anger　marring　her　calm。　〃He　must　move　first。　And　what　does　he　do？　He　reads。　Reads　himself　into　deeper　trouble。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　looked　shaken；　as　if　she　could　see　all　the　battles　and　death；　Egwene's　dark　eyes　were　large　with　horrified　understanding。　Their　faces　made　Elayne　shiver。　One　had　watched　Rand　grow　up；　the　other　had　grown　up　with　him。　And　now　they　saw　him　starting　wars。　Not　the　Dragon　Reborn；　but　Rand　al'Thor。
　　　　　　　Egwene　struggled　visibly；　latching　onto　the　smallest　part；　the　most　inconsequential；　of　what　Moiraine　had　said。　〃How　can　reading　put　him　in　trouble？〃
　　　　　　　〃He　has　decided　to　find　out　for　himself　what　the　Prophecies　of　the　Dragon　say。〃　Moiraine's　face　remained　cool　and　smooth；　but　suddenly　she　sounded　almost　as　tired　as　Elayne　felt。　〃They　may　have　been　proscribed　in　Tear；　but　the　Chief　Librarian　had　nine　different　translations　in　a　locked　chest。　Rand　has　them　all；　now。　I　pointed　out　the　verse　that　applies　here；　and　he　quoted　it　to　me；　from　an　old　Kandori　translation。

〃'Power　of　the　Shadow　made　human　flesh；
wakened　to　turmoil；　strife　and　ruin。
The　Reborn　One；　marked　and　bleeding；
dances　the　sword　in　dreams　and　mist；
chains　the　Shadowsworn　to　his　will；
from　the　city；　lost　and　forsaken；
leads　the　spears　to　war　once　more；
breaks　the　spears　and　makes　them　see；
truth　long　hidden　in　the　ancient　dream。'〃

　　　　　　　She　grimaced。　〃It　applies　to　this　as　well　as　it　does　to　anything。　Illian　under　Sammael　is　surely　a　forsaken　city。　Lead　the　Tairen　spears　to　war；　chain　Sammael；　and　he　has　fulfilled　the　verse。　The　ancient　dream　of　the　Dragon　Reborn。　But　he　will　not　see　it。　He　even　has　a　copy　in　the　Old　Tongue；　as　if　he　understood　two　words。　He　runs　after　shadows；　and　Sammael；　or　Rahvin；　or　Lanfear　may　have　him　by　the　throat　before　I　can　convince　him　of　his　mistake。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　is　desperate。〃　Nynaeve's　gentle　tone　was　not　for　Moiraine；　Elayne　was　sure；　but　for　Rand。　〃Desperate　and　trying　to　find　his　way。〃
　　　　　　　〃So　am　I　desperate；〃　Moiraine　said　firmly。　〃I　have　dedicated　my　life　to　finding　him；　and　I　will　not　let　him　fail　if　I　can　prevent　it。　I　am　almost　desperate　enough　to　…〃　She　broke　off；　pursing　her　lips。　〃Let　it　be　enough　that　I　will　do　what　I　must。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　it　isn't　enough；〃　Egwene　said　sharply。　〃What　is　it　you'll　do？〃
　　　　　　　〃You　have　other　matters　to　concern　you；〃　the　Aes　Sedai　said。　〃The　Black　Ajah　…〃
　　　　　　　〃No！〃　Elayne's　voice　was　knife…edged　and　manding；　her　knuckles　a　hard　white　where　she　gripped　her　soft　blue　skirts。　〃You　keep　many　secrets；　Moiraine；　but　tell　us　this。　What　do　you　mean　to　do　to　him？〃　An　image　flashed　in　her　mind　of　seizing　Moiraine　and　shaking　the　tr