rj.theshadowrising-第33部分

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was　certain　the　right　bait　would　pull　her；　without　him。
　　　　　　　Most　rumors　she　would　know　for　outdated　twistings　of　the　truth；　just　as　he　did。　The　war　that　burned　along　the　Aryth　Ocean　was　said　to　be　the　work　of　a　people　no　one　had　ever　heard　of　before　called　the　Sawchin；　or　something　like　it　…　he　heard　many　variations　from　many　tellers　…　a　strange　folk　who　might　be　Artur　Hawkwing's　armies　e　back　after　a　thousand　years。　One　fellow；　a　Taraboner　in　a　round；　red　hat　and　a　mustache　as　thick　as　a　bull's　horns；　solemnly　informed　him　that　Hawkwing　himself　led　these　people；　his　legendary　sword　Justice　in　hand。　There　were　rumors　that　the　fabled　Horn　of　Valere；　meant　to　call　dead　heroes　from　the　grave　to　fight　in　the　Last　Battle；　had　been　found。　In　Ghealdan；　riots　had　broken　out　all　over　the　country；　Illian　was　suffering　from　outbreaks　of　mass　madness；　in　Cairhien；　famine　was　slowing　the　killing；　someplace　in　the　Borderlands；　Trolloc　raids　were　on　the　increase。　Perrin　could　not　send　Faile　into　any　of　that；　not　even　to　get　her　away　from　Tear。
　　　　　　　Reports　of　trouble　in　Saldaea　seemed　promising　…　her　own　home　must　be　attractive　to　her；　and　he　had　heard　that　Mazrim　Taim；　the　false　Dragon；　was　safely　in　Aes　Sedai　hands　…　but　no　one　knew　what　sort　of　trouble。　Making　something　up　would　do　no　good；　whatever　he　found；　she　would　surely　ask　her　own　questions　before　chasing　after　it。　Besides；　any　turmoil　in　Saldaea　might　easily　be　as　bad　as　the　other　things　he　heard。
　　　　　　　He　could　not　tell　her　where　he　was　spending　his　time；　either；　because　she　would　inevitably　ask　why。　She　knew　he　was　not　Mat；　to　enjoy　lolling　about　taverns。　He　had　never　been　good　at　lying；　so　he　put　her　off　as　best　he　could；　and　she　began　to　give　him　long；　silent；　slanted　looks。　All　he　could　do　was　redouble　his　efforts　to　find　a　tale　to　lure　her　away。　He　had　to　send　her　away　from　him　before　he　got　her　killed。　He　had　to。
　　　　　　　Egwene　and　Nynaeve　spent　more　hours　with　Joiya　and　Amico；　to　no　avail。　Their　stories　never　wavered。　Over　Nynaeve's　protests；　Egwene　even　tried　telling　each　of　them　what　the　other　had　said；　to　see　if　anything　joggled　loose。　Amico　stared　at　them；　whining　that　she　had　never　heard　any　such　plan。　But　it　might　be　true；　she　added。　It　might。　She　sweated　with　eagerness　to　please。　Joiya　coolly　told　them　to　go　to　Tanchico　if　they　wished。　〃It　is　an　unfortable　city　now；　I　hear；〃　she　said　smoothly；　raven　eyes　glittering。　〃The　King　holds　little　more　than　the　city　itself；　and　I　understand　the　Panarch　has　ceased　keeping　civil　order。　Strong　arms　and　quick　knives　rule　Tanchico。　But　go；　if　it　pleases　you。〃
　　　　　　　No　word　came　from　Tar　Valon；　nothing　to　say　if　the　Amyrlin　was　dealing　with　the　possible　threat　to　free　Mazrim　Taim。　There　had　been　plenty　of　time　for　a　message　to　e；　by　quick　riverboat　or　a　man　changing　horses；　since　Moiraine　had　sent　the　pigeons　…　provided　she　had　sent　them。　Egwene　and　Nynaeve　argued　about　that；　Nynaeve　admitted　the　Aes　Sedai　could　not　lie；　but　she　tried　to　find　some　twist　in　Moiraine's　words。　Moiraine　did　not　seem　to　fret　over　the　lack　of　response　from　the　Amyrlin；　though　it　was　hard　to　tell　through　her　crystal　calm。
　　　　　　　Egwene　did　fret　over　it；　and　over　whether　Tanchico　was　a　false　trail；　or　a　real　one；　or　a　trap。　The　Stone's　library　held　books　about　Tarabon　and　Tanchico；　but　though　she　read　until　her　eyes　ached　she　found　no　clue　to　anything　dangerous　to　Rand。　Heat　and　worry　did　nothing　for　her　temper；　she　was　sometimes　as　snappish　as　Nynaeve。
　　　　　　　Some　things　were　going　well；　of　course。　Mat　was　still　in　the　Stone；　obviously　he　really　was　growing　up　and　learning　about　responsibility。　She　regretted　failing　him；　but　she　was　not　certain　any　woman　in　the　Tower　could　have　done　more。　She　understood　his　thirst　to　know；　because　she　thirsted；　too；　although　for　other　knowledge；　for　the　things　she　could　only　learn　in　the　Tower；　the　things　she　might　discover　that　no　one　else　had　known　how　to　do　before；　the　lost　things　she　might　relearn。
　　　　　　　Aviendha　began　to　visit　with　Egwene；　apparently　of　her　own　choice。　If　the　woman　was　wary　at　first；　well；　she　was　Aiel；　after　all；　and　she　did　think　Egwene　was　full　Aes　Sedai。　Still；　her　pany　was　enjoyable；　although　Egwene　sometimes　thought　she　saw　unasked　questions　in　her　eyes。　If　Aviendha　kept　her　reserve；　it　soon　became　apparent　that　she　had　a　quick　wit；　and　a　sense　of　humor　akin　to　Egwene's；　they　sometimes　ended　up　giggling　together　like　girls。　Aiel　ways　were　nothing　Egwene　was　used　to；　though；　such　as　Aviendha's　disfort　at　sitting　in　a　chair；　and　her　shock　at　finding　Egwene　in　her　bath；　a　silver…plated　tub　the　majhere　had　had　brought　up。　Not　shock　at　walking　in　on　her　naked　…　in　fact；　when　she　saw　that　Egwene　was　unfortable；　she　peeled　off　her　own　clothes　and　sat　down　on　the　floor　to　talk　…　but　at　seeing　Egwene　sitting　chest…deep　in　water。　It　was　dirtying　so　much　water　that　made　her　eyes　pop。　For　another　thing；　Aviendha　refused　to　understand　why　she　and　Elayne　had　not　done　something　drastic　to　Berelain；　since　they　wanted　her　out　of　the　way。　It　was　all　but　forbidden　for　a　warrior　to　kill　a　woman　not　wed　to　the　spear；　but　since　neither　Elayne　nor　Berelain　were　Maidens　of　the　Spear；　it　was　apparently　quite　all　right　in　Aviendha's　view　for　Elayne　to　challenge　the　First　of　Mayene　to　fight　with　knives；　or　failing　that　with　fists　and　feet。　Knives　were　best；　as　she　saw　it。　Berelain　looked　the　sort　of　woman　who　could　be　beaten　several　times　without　giving　up。　Best　simply　to　challenge　and　kill　her。　Or　Egwene　could　do　it　for　her；　as　friend　and　near…sister。
　　　　　　　Even　with　that；　it　was　a　pleasure　to　have　someone　to　talk　and　laugh　with。　Elayne　was　occupied　most　of　the　time；　of　course；　and　Nynaeve；　seeming　to　feel　the　rush　of　time　as　keenly　as　Egwene；　gave　her　free　moments　over　to　moonlit　walks　on　the　battlements　with　Lan　and　to　preparing　foods　the　Warder　liked　with　her　own　hands；　not　to　mention　curses　that　sometimes　drove　the　cooks　from　the　kitchen；　Nynaeve　did　not　know　very　much　about　cooking。　If　not　for　Aviendha；　Egwene　was　not　sure　what　she　would　have　done　in　the　muggy　hours　between　questionings　of　the　Darkfriends；　sweated；　undoubtedly；　and　worried　that　she　might　have　to　do　something　that　gave　her　nightmares　thinking　of　it。
　　　　　　　By　agreement；　Elayne　was　never　present　at　those　questionings；　one　more　set　of　ears　listening　would　make　no　difference。　Instead；　whenever　Rand　had　a　moment　to　spare；　the　Daughter…Heir　just　happened　to　be　close　by；　to　talk；　or　simply　walk　holding　his　arm；　even　if　it　was　only　from　a　meeting　with　some　High　Lords　to　a　room　where　others　waited；　or　to　a　lightning　inspection　of　the　Defenders'　quarters。　She　became　quite　good　at　finding　secluded　corners　where　the　two　of　them　could　pause；　alone。　Of　course；　he　always　had　Aiel　trailing　after　him；　but　she　soon　cared　as　little　for　what　they　thought　as　for　what　her　mother　would。　She　even　entered　a　sort　of　conspiracy　with　the　Maidens　of　the　Spear；　they　seemed　to　know　every　hidden　nook　in　the　Stone；　and　they　let　her　know　whenever　Rand　was　alone。　They　seemed　to　think　the　game　great　sport。
　　　　　　　The　surprise　was　that　he　asked　her　about　the　governing　of　nations　and　listened　to　what　she　said。　That；　she　wished　her　mother　could　see。　More　than　once　Morgase　had　laughed；　half…despairingly；　and　told　her　she　had　to　learn　to　concentrate。　Which　crafts　to　protect　and　how；　and　which　not　and　why；　might　be　dry　decisions；　but　as　important　as　how　to　care　for　the　sick。　It　might　be　fun　to　guide　a　stubborn　lord　or　merchant　into　doing　what　he　did　not　want　to　while　thinking　it　was　his　own　idea；　it　might　be　warming　to　feed　the　hungry；　but　if　the　hungry　were　to　be　fed　it　was　necessary　to　decide　how　many　clerks　and　drivers　and　wagons　were　needed。　Others　might　arrange　it；　but　then　you　would　never　know　until　it　was　too　late　whether　they　had　made　a　mistake。　He　listened　to　her；　and　often　took　her　advice。　She　thought　she　could　have　loved　him　for　those　two　things　alone。　Berelain　was　not　setting　foot　outside　her　chambers；　Rand　had　begun　smiling　as　soon　as　he　saw　her；　nothing　could　be　finer　about　the　world。　Unless　the　days　could　stop　passing。
　　　　　　　Three　short　days；　slipping　away　like　water　through　her　fingers。　Joiya　and　Amico　would　be　sent　north　and　the　reason　for　staying　in　Tear　would　vanish；　it　would　be　time　for　her　and　Egwene　and　Nynaeve　to　leave；　too。　She　would　go；　when　that　time　came；　she　had　never　considered　not。　Knowing　that　made　her　proud　of　behaving　like　a　woman；　not　a　girl；　knowing　it　made　her　want　to　cry。
　　　　　　　And　Rand？　He　met　with　High　Lords　in　his　chambers　and　issued　orders。　He　startled　them　by　appearing　at　secret　gatherings　of　three　or　four　that　Thom　had　ferreted　out；　just　to　reiterate　some　point　from　his　last　mands。　They　smiled　and　bowed　and　sweated　and　wondered　how　much　he　knew。　A　use　had　to　be　found　for　their　energy　before　one　of　them　decided　that　if　Rand　could　not　be　manipulated；　he　must　be　killed。　Whatever　it　took　to　divert　them；　he　would　not　start　a　war。　If　he　had　to　confront　Sammael；　so　be　it；　but　he　would　not　start　a　war。
　　　　　　　Forming　his　plan　of　action　occupied　most　of　his　time　not　given　over　to　hounding　the　High　Lords。　Bits　and　pieces　came　from　the　books　he　had　the　librarians　bring　to　his　rooms　by　armloads；　and　from　his　talks　with　Elayne。　Her　advice　was　certainly　useful　with　the　High　Lords；　he　could　see　them　hastily　reassessing　him　when　he　displayed　knowledge　of　things　they　themselves　only　half…knew。　She　stopped　him　when　he　wanted　to　give　her　the　credit。
　　　　　　　〃A　wise　ruler　takes　advice；〃　she　told　him；　smiling；　〃but　should　never　be　seen　to　take　it。　Let　them　think　you　know　more　than　you　do。　It　will　not　harm　them；　and　it　will　help　you。〃　She　seemed　pleased　he　had　suggested　it；　though。
　　　　　　　He　was　not　entirely　sure　that　he　was　not　still　putting　off　some　decision；　at　least；　because　of　her。　Three　days　of　planning；　of　trying　to　puzzle　out　what　was　still　missing。　Something　was。　He　could　not　react　to　the　Forsaken；　he　had　to　make　them　react　to　him。　Three　days；　and　on　the　fourth　she　would　go　…　back　to　Tar　Valon；　he　hoped　…　but　once　he　moved；　he　suspected　even　their　brief　moments　together　would　end。　Three　days　of　stolen　kisses；　when　he　could　forget　he　was　anything　but　a　man　with　his　arms　around　a　woman。　He　knew　it　for　a　foolish　reason；　if　true。　He　was　relieved　she　did　not　seem　to　want　more　than　his　pany；　but　in　those　moments　alone　he　could　forget　decisions；　forget　the　fate　awaiting　the　Dragon　Reborn。　More　than　once　he　considered　asking　her　to　stay；　but　it　would　not　be　fair　to　raise　her　expectations　when　he　had　no　idea　what　he　wanted　from　her　beyond　her　presence。　If　she　had　any　expectations；　of　course。　Much　better　just　to　think　of　them　as　a　man　and　a　young　woman　walking　out　together　of　a　feastday　evening。　That　became　easier；　sometimes　he　forgot　she　was　the　Daughter…Heir；　and　he　a　shepherd。　But　he　wished　she　were　not　going。　Three　days。　He　had　to　decide。　He　had　to　move。　In　a　direction　no　one　expected。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　The　sun　slid　slowly　toward　the　horizon　on　the　evening　of　the　third　day。　The　half…drawn　draperies　of　Rand's　bedchamber　lessened　the　reddish　yellow　glare。　Callandor　glittered　on　its　ornate　stand　like　the　purest　crystal。
　　　　　　　Rand　stared　at　Meilan　and　Sunamon；　then　tossed　the　thick　bundle　of　large　vellum　sheets　at　them。　A　treaty；　all　neatly　scribed；　lacking　only