rj.theshadowrising-第31部分

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　least　she　had　not　let　him　see　how　nervous　she　was。　And　it　occurred　to　her　that　she　had　not　once　thought　of　what　her　mother　would　say。　With　that；　the　flutterings　vanished。　She　did　not　care　what　her　mother　said。　Morgase　had　to　accept　her　daughter　as　a　woman；　that　was　all　there　was　to　it。
　　　　　　　The　Aiel　bowed　as　she　moved　away；　and　she　acknowledged　them　with　a　gracious　nod　that　would　have　done　Morgase　proud。　Even　the　Tairen　captain　looked　at　her　as　if　he　could　see　her　new　serenity。　She　did　not　think　she　would　be　troubled　by　butterflies　again。　For　the　Black　Ajah　perhaps；　but　not　for　Rand。
　
　　　　　　　Ignoring　the　High　Lords　in　their　anxious　semicircle；　Rand　watched　the　door　close　behind　Elayne　with　wonder　in　his　eyes。　Dreams　ing　true；　even　only　this　much；　made　him　uneasy。　A　swim　in　the　Waterwood　was　one　thing；　but　he　would　never　have　believed　a　dream　where　she　came　to　him　like　this。　She　had　been　so　cool　and　collected；　while　he　was　tripping　over　his　own　tongue。　And　Egwene；　giving　his　own　thoughts　back　to　him　and　only　concerned　she　might　hurt　him。　Why　was　it　women　could　go　to　pieces　or　fly　into　a　rage　at　the　smallest　thing；　yet　never　flicker　an　eyelash　at　what　left　you　gaping？
　　　　　　　〃My　Lord　Dragon？〃　Sunamon　murmured　even　more　diffidently　than　usual。　Word　of　this　morning　must　have　spread　through　the　Stone　already；　that　first　lot　had　nearly　run　on　their　way　out；　and　it　was　doubtful　Torean　would　show　his　face；　or　his　filthy　suggestions；　anywhere　Rand　was。
　　　　　　　Sunamon　essayed　an　ingratiating　smile；　then　smothered　it；　drywashing　his　plump　hands；　when　Rand　only　looked　at　him。　The　rest　pretended　they　did　not　see　the　burned　tables；　or　the　shattered　mattress　and　scattered　books；　or　the　half…melted　lumps　over　the　fireplace　that　had　been　the　stag　and　wolves。　High　Lords　were　good　at　seeing　only　what　they　wanted　to　see。　Carleon　and　Tedosian；　false　self…effacement　in　every　line　of　their　thick　bodies；　surely　never　realized　there　was　anything　suspicious　in　never　looking　at　one　another。　But　then；　Rand　might　never　have　noticed　if　not　for　Thom's　note；　found　in　the　pocket　of　a　coat　just　back　from　being　brushed。
　　　　　　　〃The　Lord　Dragon　wished　to　see　us？〃　Sunamon　managed。
　　　　　　　Could　Egwene　and　Elayne　have　worked　it　up　between　them？　Of　course　not。　Women　did　not　do　things　like　that　any　more　than　men。　Did　they？　It　had　to　be　coincidence。　Elayne　heard　that　he　was　free　and　decided　to　speak。　That　was　it。　〃Taxes；〃　he　barked。　The　Tairens　did　not　move；　but　they　gave　the　impression　of　stepping　back。　How　he　hated　dealing　with　these　men；　he　wanted　to　dive　back　into　the　books。
　　　　　　　〃It　is　a　bad　precedent；　my　Lord　Dragon；　lowering　taxes；〃　a　lean；　gray…haired　man　said　in　an　oily　voice。　Meilan　was　tall　for　a　Tairen；　only　a　hand　shorter　than　Rand；　and　hard　as　any　Defender。　He　held　himself　in　a　stoop　in　Rand's　presence；　his　dark　eyes　showed　how　he　hated　it。　But　he　had　hated　it　when　Rand　told　them　to　stop　crouching　around　him；　too。　None　of　them　straightened；　but　Meilan　especially　had　not　liked　being　reminded　of　what　he　did。　〃The　peasants　have　always　paid　easily；　but　if　we　lower　their　taxes；　when　the　day　es　that　we　raise　them　back　to　where　they　now　are；　the　fools　will　plain　as　bitterly　as　if　we　had　doubled　the　present　levy。　There　might　well　be　riots　when　that　day　es；　my　Lord　Dragon。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　strode　across　the　room　to　stand　before　Callandor；　the　crystal　sword　glittered；　outshining　the　gilt　and　gemstones　surrounding　it。　A　reminder　of　who　he　was；　of　the　power　he　could　wield。　Egwene。　It　was　foolish　to　feel　hurt　because　she　said　she　no　longer　loved　him。　Why　should　he　expect　her　to　have　feelings　for　him　that　he　did　not　have　for　her？　Yet　it　did　hurt。　A　relief；　but　not　a　pleasant　one。　〃You　will　have　riots　if　you　drive　men　off　their　farms。〃　Three　books　stood　in　a　stack　almost　by　Meilan's　feet。　The　Treasures　of　the　Stone　of　Tear；　Travels　in　the　Waste；　and　Dealings　with　the　Territory　of　Mayene。　The　keys　lay　in　those；　and　in　the　various　translations　of　The　Karaethon　Cycle；　if　he　could　only　find　them　and　fit　them　to　the　proper　locks。　He　pushed　his　mind　back　to　the　High　Lords。　〃Do　you　think　they　will　watch　their　families　starve　and　do　nothing？〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Defenders　of　the　Stone　have　put　down　riots　before；　my　Lord　Dragon；〃　Sunamon　said　soothingly。　〃Our　own　guards　can　keep　peace　in　the　countryside。　The　peasants　will　not　disturb　you；　I　give　you　my　assurance。〃
　　　　　　　〃There　are　too　many　farmers　as　it　is。〃　Carleon　flinched　at　Rand's　glare。　〃It　is　the　civil　war　in　Cairhien；　my　Lord　Dragon；〃　he　explained　hurriedly。　〃The　Cairhienin　can　buy　no　grain；　and　the　granaries　are　bursting。　This　year's　harvest　will　go　to　waste　as　it　is。　And　next　year。。。　？　Burn　my　soul；　my　Lord　Dragon；　but　what　we　need　is　for　some　of　those　peasants　to　stop　their　eternal　digging　and　planting。〃　He　seemed　to　realize　he　had　said　too　much；　though　he　clearly　did　not　understand　why。　Rand　wondered　whether　he　had　any　idea　how　food　got　to　his　table。　Did　he　see　anything　but　gold；　and　power？
　　　　　　　〃What　will　you　do　when　Cairhien　is　buying　grain　again？〃　Rand　said　coolly。　〃For　that　matter；　is　Cairhien　the　only　land　that　needs　grain？〃　Why　had　Elayne　spoken　up　like　that？　What　did　she　expect　of　him？　Fond；　she　said。　Women　could　play　games　with　words　like　Aes　Sedai。　Did　she　mean　she　loved　him？　No；　that　was　plain　foolishness。　Overproud　to　a　degree。
　　　　　　　〃My　Lord　Dragon；〃　Meilan　said；　half　subservient；　half　as　if　explaining　something　to　a　child；　〃if　the　civil　wars　stopped　today；　Cairhien　still　could　not　buy　more　than　a　few　bargeloads　for　two；　even　three　years。　We　have　always　sold　our　grain　to　Cairhien。〃
　　　　　　　Always　…　for　the　twenty　years　since　the　Aiel　War。　They　were　so　bound　up　in　what　they　had　always　done　that　they　could　not　see　what　was　so　simple。　Or　would　not　see　it。　When　the　cabbages　sprouted　like　weeds　around　Emond's　Field；　it　was　a　near　certainty　that　bad　rain　or　whiteworm　had　struck　Deven　Ride　or　Watch　Hill。　When　Watch　Hill　had　too　many　turnips；　Emond's　Field　would　have　a　shortage；　or　Deven　Ride。
　　　　　　　〃Offer　it　in　Illian；〃　he　told　them。　What　did　Elayne　expect？　〃Or　Altara。〃　He　did　like　her；　but　he　liked　Min　as　much。　Or　thought　he　did。　It　was　impossible　to　sort　out　his　feelings　for　either　of　them。　〃You　have　ships　for　the　sea　as　well　as　riverboats　and　barges；　and　if　you　don't　have　enough；　hire　them　from　Mayene。〃　He　liked　both　women；　but　beyond　that。。。　He　had　spent　very　nearly　his　whole　life　mooning　after　Egwene；　he　was　not　about　to　dive　into　that　again　until　he　was　sure。　Sure　of　something。　Sure。　If　Dealings　with　the　Territory　of　Mayene　was　to　be　believed。。。。　Stop　this；　he　told　himself。　Keep　your　mind　on　these　weasels；　or　they'll　find　cracks　to　slip　through；　and　bite　you　on　the　way。　〃Pay　with　grain；　I'm　sure　the　First　will　be　amenable；　for　a　good　price。　And　maybe　a　signed　agreement；　a　treaty。。。。〃　That　was　a　good　word；　the　sort　they　used。　〃。。。　pledging　to　leave　Mayene　alone　in　return　for　ships。〃　He　owed　her　that。
　　　　　　　〃We　trade　little　with　Illian；　my　Lord　Dragon。　They　are　vultures；　and　scum。〃　Tedosian　sounded　scandalized；　and　so　did　Meilan　when　he　said；　〃We　have　always　dealt　with　Mayene　from　strength；　my　Lord　Dragon。　Never　with　bent　knee。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　took　a　deep　breath。　The　High　Lords　tensed。　It　always　came　to　this。　He　always　tried　to　reason　with　them；　and　it　always　failed。　Thom　said　the　High　Lords　had　heads　as　hard　as　the　Stone；　and　he　was　right。　What　do　I　feel　for　her？　Dreaming　about　her。　She's　certainly　pretty。　He　was　not　sure　if　he　meant　Elayne　or　Min。　Stop　this！　A　kiss　means　no　more　than　a　kiss。　Stop　it！　Putting　women　firmly　out　of　his　head；　he　set　himself　to　telling　these　stone…brained　fools　what　they　were　going　to　do。　〃First；　you　will　cut　taxes　on　farmers　by　three…quarters；　and　on　everyone　else　by　half。　Don't　argue！　Just　do　it！　Second；　you　go　to　Berelain　and　ask　…　ask！　…　her　price　for　hiring。。。。〃
　　　　　　　The　High　Lords　listened　with　false　smiles　and　grinding　teeth；　but　they　listened。
　　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　Egwene　was　considering　Joiya　and　Amico　when　Mat　fell　in　beside　her；　just　walking　down　the　hallway　as　if　he　merely　happened　to　be　going　the　same　way。　He　was　frowning　to　himself；　and　his　hair　needed　brushing；　as　if　he　had　been　scrubbing　his　fingers　through　it。　Once　or　twice　he　glanced　at　her　but　did　not　speak。　The　servants　they　passed　bowed　or　curtsied；　and　so　did　the　occasional　High　Lords　and　Ladies；　if　with　markedly　less　enthusiasm。　Mat's　lip…curling　stares　at　the　nobles　would　have　brought　trouble　if　she　had　not　been　there；　friend　of　the　Lord　Dragon　or　not。
　　　　　　　This　silence　was　not　like　him；　not　like　the　Mat　she　knew。　Except　for　his　fine　red　coat　…　wrinkled　as　if　he　had　slept　in　it　…　he　seemed　no　different　than　the　old　Mat；　yet　they　were　surely　all　different　now。　His　quiet　was　unsettling。　〃Is　last　night　troubling　you？〃　she　asked　at　last。
　　　　　　　He　missed　a　step。　〃You　know　about　that？　Well；　you　would；　wouldn't　you。　Doesn't　bother　me。　Wasn't　much　to　it。　Over　and　done　with　now；　anyway。〃
　　　　　　　She　pretended　to　believe　him。　〃Nynaeve　and　I　do　not　see　much　of　you。〃　That　was　a　rank　understatement。
　　　　　　　〃I　have　been　busy；〃　he　muttered　with　an　unfortable　shrug；　looking　everywhere　but　at　her　again。
　　　　　　　〃Dicing？〃　she　asked　dismissively。
　　　　　　　〃Cards。〃　A　plump　maid；　curtsying　with　her　arms　full　of　folded　towels；　glanced　at　Egwene　and；　apparently　thinking　she　was　not　looking；　winked　at　Mat。　He　grinned　at　her。　〃I've　been　busy　playing　cards。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene's　eyebrows　rose　sharply。　That　woman　had　to　be　ten　years　older　than　Nynaeve。　〃I　see。　It　must　use　up　a　great　deal　of　time。　Playing　cards。　Too　much　to　spare　a　few　moments　for　old　friends。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　last　time　I　spared　you　a　moment；　you　and　Nynaeve　tied　me　up　with　the　Power　like　a　pig　for　market　so　you　could　rummage　through　my　room。　Friends　don't　steal　from　friends。〃　He　grimaced。　〃Besides；　you're　always　with　that　Elayne；　with　her　nose　in　the　air。　Or　Moiraine。　I　do　not　like　…〃　Clearing　his　throat；　he　shot　her　a　sideways　glance。　〃I　don't　like　taking　up　your　time。　You　are　busy；　from　what　I　hear。　Questioning　Darkfriends。　Doing　all　sorts　of　important　things；　I　should　imagine。　You　know　these　Tairens　think　you　are　Aes　Sedai；　don't　you？〃
　　　　　　　She　shook　her　head　ruefully。　It　was　Aes　Sedai　he　did　not　like。　However　much　of　the　world　Mat　saw；　nothing　would　ever　change　him。　〃It　is　not　stealing　to　take　back　what　was　supposed　to　be　a　loan；〃　she　told　him。
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　remember　you　saying　anything　about　a　loan。　Aaah；　what　use　do　I　have　for　a　letter　from　the　Amyrlin？　Just　get　me　in　trouble。　You　could　have　asked；　though。〃
　　　　　　　She　refrained　from　pointing　out　that　they　had　asked。　She　wanted　neither　an　argument　nor　a　sulky　departure。　He　would　not　call　it　that；　of　course。　This　time　she　would　let　him　get　away　with　his　version。　〃Well；　I　am　glad　you　are　still　willing　to　talk　to　me。　Was　there　a　special　reason　for　it　today？〃
　　　　　　　He　shoved　his　fingers　through　his　hair　and　muttered　to　himself。　What　he　needed　was　his　mother　to　haul　him　off　by　his　ear　for　a　long　talking　to。　Egwene　counseled　herself　to　patience。　She　could　be　patient　when　she　wanted　to。　She　would　not　say　a　word　before　he　did；　if　she　burst　for　it。
　　　　　　　The　corridor　opened　into　a　railed　colonnade　of　white　marble；　looking　down　on　one　of　the　Stone's　few　gardens。　Large　white　blossoms　covered　a　few　small；　waxy…leafed　tre