rj.theshadowrising-第26部分

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at　is　possible！〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　mean　to　let　her　have　him；　then？〃
　　　　　　　〃No！〃　Elayne　said　it　very　fiercely；　and　she　meant　it；　but　in　the　next　breath　she　was　full　of　despair。　〃Oh；　Egwene；　I　do　not　know　what　to　do。　I　love　him。　I　want　to　marry　him。　Light！　What　will　mother　say？　I　would　rather　spend　a　night　in　Joiya's　cell　than　listen　to　the　lectures　mother　will　give　me。〃　Andoran　nobles；　even　in　royal　families；　married　moners　often　enough　that　it　hardly　occasioned　ment　…　in　Andor；　at　least　…　but　Rand　was　not　exactly　the　usual　run　of　moner。　Her　mother　was　quite　capable　of　actually　sending　Lini　to　drag　her　home　by　her　ear。　。　。
　　　　　　　〃Morgase　can　hardly　say　much　if　Mat　is　to　be　believed；〃　Egwene　said　fortingly。　〃Or　even　half　believed。　This　Lord　Gaebril　your　mother　is　mooning　after　hardly　sounds　the　choice　of　a　woman　thinking　with　her　head。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　sure　Mat　exaggerated；〃　Elayne　replied　primly。　Her　mother　was　too　shrewd　to　make　herself　a　fool　over　any　man。　If　Lord　Gaebril　…　she　had　never　even　heard　of　him　before　Mat　spoke　his　name　…　if　this　fellow　dreamed　he　could　gain　power　through　Morgase；　she　would　give　him　a　rude　awakening。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　brought　three　goblets　of　spiced　wine　to　the　table；　beads　of　condensation　running　down　their　shining　sides；　and　small　green…and…gold　woven　straw　mats　to　put　them　on　so　the　damp　would　not　mar　the　table's　polish。　〃So；〃　she　said；　taking　a　chair；　〃you've　discovered　you　are　in　love　with　Rand；　Elayne；　and　Egwene　has　discovered　she　isn't。〃
　　　　　　　The　two　younger　women　gaped　at　her；　one　dark；　the　other　fair；　yet　a　near　mirror　image　of　astonishment。
　　　　　　　〃I　have　eyes；〃　Nynaeve　said　placently。　〃And　ears；　when　you　don't　take　the　trouble　to　whisper。〃　She　sipped　at　her　wine；　and　her　voice　grew　cold　when　she　continued。　〃What　do　you　mean　to　do　about　it？　If　that　chit　Berelain　has　her　claws　into　him；　it　will　not　be　easy　to　pry　them　loose。　Are　you　sure　you　want　to　go　to　the　effort？　You　know　what　he　is。　You　know　what　lies　ahead　of　him；　even　setting　the　Prophecies　aside。　Madness。　Death。　How　long　does　he　have？　A　year？　Two？　Or　will　it　begin　before　summer's　end？　He　is　a　man　who　can　channel。〃　She　bit　off　each　word　in　tones　of　iron。　〃Remember　what　you　were　taught。　Remember　what　he　is。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　held　her　head　high　and　met　Nynaeve　stare　for　stare。　〃It　does　not　matter。　Perhaps　it　should；　but　it　doesn't。　Perhaps　I　am　being　foolish。　I　do　not　care。　I　cannot　change　my　heart　to　order；　Nynaeve。〃
　　　　　　　Suddenly　Nynaeve　smiled。　〃I　had　to　be　sure；〃　she　said　warmly。　〃You　must　be　sure。　It　isn't　easy　loving　any　man；　but　loving　this　man　will　be　harder　yet。〃　Her　smile　faded　as　she　went　on。　〃My　first　question　still　has　to　be　answered。　What　do　you　mean　to　do　about　it？　Berelain　may　look　soft　…　she　certainly　makes　men　see　her　so！　…　but　I　do　not　think　she　is。　She　will　fight　for　what　she　wants。　And　she's　the　kind　to　hold　hard　to　something　she　doesn't　particularly　want；　just　because　someone　else　does　want　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　would　like　to　stuff　her　in　a　barrel；〃　Egwene　said；　gripping　her　goblet　as　if　it　were　the　First's　throat；　〃and　ship　her　back　to　Mayene。　In　the　bottom　of　the　hold。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve's　braid　swung　as　she　shook　her　head。　〃All　very　well；　but　try　to　offer　advice　that　helps。　If　you　cannot；　keep　silent　and　let　her　decide　what　she　must　do。〃　Egwene　stared　at　her；　and　she　added；　〃Rand　is　Elayne's　to　deal　with；　now；　not　yours。　You　have　stepped　aside；　remember。〃
　　　　　　　The　remark　should　have　made　Elayne　smile；　but　it　did　not。　〃This　was　all　supposed　to　be　different。〃　She　sighed。　〃I　thought　I　would　meet　a　man；　learn　to　know　him　over　months　or　years；　and　slowly　I　would　e　to　realize　I　loved　him。　That　is　the　way　I　always　thought　it　would　be。　I　hardly　know　Rand。　I've　talked　with　him　no　more　than　half　a　dozen　times　in　the　space　of　a　year。　But　I　knew　I　loved　him　five　minutes　after　I　first　set　eyes　on　him。〃　Now　that　was　foolish。　Only；　it　was　true；　and　she　did　not　care　if　it　was　foolish。　She　would　tell　her　mother　the　same　to　her　face；　and　Lini。　Well；　perhaps　not　Lini。　Lini　had　drastic　ways　of　dealing　with　foolishness；　and　she　seemed　to　think　Elayne　had　not　aged　beyond　ten。　〃As　matters　stand；　though；　I　don't　even　have　the　right　to　be　angry　with　him。　Or　Berelain。〃　But　she　was。　I　would　like　to　slap　his　face　till　his　ears　ring　for　a　year！　I'd　like　to　switch　her　all　the　way　to　the　ship　that　takes　her　back　to　Mayene！　Only；　she　did　not　have　the　right；　and　that　made　it　all　the　worse。　Infuriatingly；　a　plaintive　tone　touched　her　voice。　〃What　can　I　do？　He　has　never　looked　at　me　twice。〃
　　　　　　　〃In　the　Two　Rivers；〃　Egwene　said　slowly；　〃if　a　woman　wants　a　man　to　know　she　is　interested　in　him；　she　puts　flowers　in　his　hair　at　Bel　Tame　or　Sunday。　Or　she　might　embroider　a　feastday　shirt　for　him　any　time。　Or　make　a　point　of　asking　him　to　dance　and　no　one　else。〃　Elayne　gave　her　an　incredulous　look；　and　she　hastened　to　add；　〃I　am　not　suggesting　you　embroider　a　shirt；　but　there　are　ways　to　let　him　know　how　you　feel。〃
　　　　　　　〃Mayeners　believe　in　speaking　out。〃　Elayne's　voice　held　a　brittle　edge。　〃Perhaps　that　is　the　best　way。　Just　tell　him　right　out。　At　least　he'll　know　how　I　feel；　then。　At　least　I'll　have　some　right　to　…　〃
　　　　　　　She　snatched　her　spiced　wine　and　tilted　her　head　back；　drinking。　Speak　out？　Like　some　Mayener　hussy！　Setting　the　empty　goblet　back　on　the　small　mat；　she　drew　a　deep　breath　and　murmured；　〃What　will　Mother　say？〃
　　　　　　　〃What's　more　important；〃　Nynaeve　said　gently；　〃is　what　you　will　do　when　we　have　to　leave　here。　Whether　it's　Tanchico；　or　the　Tower；　or　somewhere　else；　we　will　have　to　go。　What　will　you　do　when　you've　just　told　him　you　love　him；　and　you　must　leave　him　behind？　If　he　asks　you　to　stay　with　him？　If　you　want　to？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　go。〃　There　was　no　hesitation　in　Elayne's　reply；　but　a　touch　of　asperity。　The　other　woman　should　not　have　had　to　ask。　〃If　I　must　accept　him　being　the　Dragon　Reborn；　he　must　accept　that　I　am　what　I　am；　that　I　have　duties。　I　want　to　be　Aes　Sedai；　Nynaeve。　It　isn't　some　idle　amusement。　Neither　is　the　work　we　three　have　to　do。　Could　you　really　think　I　would　abandon　you　and　Egwene？〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　hurried　to　assure　her　that　the　thought　had　never　crossed　her　mind；　Nynaeve　did　the　same；　but　slowly　enough　to　give　herself　the　lie。
　　　　　　　Elayne　looked　from　one　to　the　other　of　them。　〃In　truth；　I　feared　you　might　tell　me　I　was　foolish；　fretting　over　a　thing　like　this　when　we　have　the　Black　Ajah　to　worry　about。〃
　　　　　　　A　slight　flicker　of　Egwene's　eyes　said　the　thought　had　occurred　to　her；　but　Nynaeve　said；　〃Rand　is　not　the　only　one　who　might　die　next　year；　or　next　month；　We　might；　too。　Times　are　not　what　they　were；　and　we　cannot　be；　either。　If　you　sit　and　wish　for　what　you　want；　you　may　not　see　it　this　side　of　the　grave。〃
　　　　　　　It　was　a　chilling　sort　of　reassurance；　but　Elayne　nodded。　She　was　not　being　silly。　If　only　the　Black　Ajah　could　be　settled　so　easily。　She　pressed　her　empty　silver　goblet　to　her　forehead　for　the　coolness。　What　were　they　to　do？


Chapter　7
（Serpent　and　Wheel）
Playing　With　Fire

　　　　　　　With　the　sun　barely　above　the　horizon　the　next　morning；　Egwene　presented　herself　at　the　doors　to　Rand's　chambers；　followed　by　a　foot…dragging　Elayne。　The　Daughter…Heir　wore　a　long…sleeved　dress　of　pale　blue　silk；　cut　in　the　Tairen　fashion；　and　pulled　low　after　some　little　discussion。　A　necklace　of　sapphires　like　a　deep　morning　sky；　and　another　strand　woven　into　her　red…gold　curls；　showed　up　the　blue　of　her　eyes。　Despite　the　damp　warmth；　Egwene　wore　a　plain；　deep　red　scarf；　as　large　as　a　shawl；　around　her　shoulders。　Aviendha　had　supplied　the　scarf；　and　the　sapphires　too。　Surprisingly；　the　Aiel　woman　had　a　tidy　store　of　such　things　somehow。
　　　　　　　For　all　she　had　known　they　were　there；　Egwene　gave　a　start　when　the　Aiel　guards　glided　to　their　feet　with　startling　suddenness。　Elayne　let　out　a　small　gasp；　but　quickly　eyed　them　with　that　regal　bearing　she　managed　so　well。　It　seemed　to　have　no　effect　on　these　sun…dark　men。　The　six　were　Shae'en　M'taal；　Stone　Dogs；　and　appeared　relaxed　for　Aiel；　meaning　they　seemed　to　be　looking　everywhere；　seemed　ready　to　move　in　any　direction。
　　　　　　　Egwene　drew　herself　up　in　imitation　of　Elayne　…　she　did　wish　she　could　do　that　as　well　as　the　Daughter…Heir　…　and　announced；　〃I。　。　。　we。。。　want　to　see　how　the　Lord　Dragon's　wounds　are。〃
　　　　　　　Her　remark　was　plainly　foolish；　if　they　knew　much　about　Healing；　but　that　likelihood　was　small；　few　people　did；　and　Aiel　probably　less　than　most。　She　had　not　intended　to　give　any　reason　for　being　there　…　it　was　enough　that　they　thought　her　Aes　Sedai　…　but　when　the　Aiel　appeared　almost　to　spring　out　of　the　black　marble　floor；　it　suddenly　seemed　a　good　idea。　Not　that　they　were　making　any　move　to　stop　Elayne　and　her；　of　course。　But　these　men　were　all　so　tall；　so　stone…faced；　and　they　carried　those　short　spears　and　horn　bows　as　if　using　them　would　be　as　natural　as　breathing；　and　as　easy。　With　those　light…colored　eyes　regarding　her　so　intently；　it　was　all　too　easy　to　remember　stories　of　black…veiled　Aiel；　without　mercy　or　pity；　of　the　Aiel　War　and　the　men　like　these　who　had　destroyed　every　army　sent　against　them　until　the　last；　who　had　only　turned　back　to　the　Waste　after　fighting　the　allied　nations　to　a　standstill　during　three　blood…soaked　days　and　nights　before　Tar　Valon　itself。　She　very　nearly　embraced　saidar。
　　　　　　　Gaul；　the　Stone　Dogs'　leader；　nodded；　looking　down　at　Elayne　and　her　with　a　touch　of　respect。　He　was　a　handsome　man；　in　a　rugged　way；　a　little　older　than　Nynaeve；　with　eyes　as　green　and　clear　as　polished　gems　and　long　eyelashes　so　dark　they　seemed　to　outline　his　eyes　in　black。　〃They　may　be　troubling　him。　He　is　in　a　foul　mood　this　morning。〃　Gaul　grinned；　just　a　quick　flash　of　white　teeth；　in　understanding　of　a　temper　when　wounded。　〃He　has　chased　off　a　group　of　these　High　Lords　already；　and　threw　one　of　them　out　himself。　What　was　his　name？〃
　　　　　　　〃Torean；〃　another；　even　taller　man　replied。　He　had　an　arrow　nocked；　the　short；　curved　bow　held　almost　casually。　His　gray　eyes　rested　on　the　two　women　for　an　instant；　then　went　back　to　searching　among　the　anteroom's　columns。
　　　　　　　〃Torean；〃　Gaul　agreed。　〃I　thought　he　would　slide　as　far　as　those　pretty　carvings。。。〃　He　pointed　a　spear　to　the　ring　of　stiff…standing　Defenders。　〃。。。　but　he　came　short　by　three　paces。　I　lost　a　good　Tairen　hanging；　all　hawks　in　gold　thread；　to　Mangin。〃　The　taller　man　gave　a　brief；　contented　smile。
　　　　　　　Egwene　blinked　at　the　image　of　Rand　physically　pitching　a　High　Lord　across　the　floor。　He　had　never　been　violent；　far　from　it。　How　much　had　he　changed？　She　had　been　too　busy　with　Joiya　and　Amico；　and　he　too　busy　with　Moiraine　or　Lan　or　the　High　Lords；　to　do　more　than　speak　in　passing；　a　few　words　about　home　here　and　there；　about　how　the　Bel　Tine　festival　might　have　gone　this　year　and　what　Sunday　would　be　like。　It　had　all　been　so　brief。　How　much　had　he　changed？
　　　　　　　〃We　have　to　see　him；〃　Elayne　said；　a　slight　tremor　in　her　voice。
　　　　　　　Gaul　made　a　bow；　grounding　the　point　of　one　spear　on　the　black　marble。　〃Of　course；　Aes　Sedai。〃
　　　　　　　It　was　with　some　trepidation　that　Egwene　entered　Rand's　chambers；　and　Elayne's　face　spoke　volumes　of　the　effort　those　few　steps　took。
　　　　　　　No　evidence　of　last　night's　horror　remained；　unless　it　was　the　absence　of　mirrors；　ligh