rj.theshadowrising-第35部分

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ough　to　do　something　about　it。　But　he　could　not　force　himself　to　take　the　words　back。　Stubbornly；　he　plowed　ahead　and　made　it　worse。　〃I'll　destroy　you；　if　I　can。　You；　and　the　Dark　One；　and　every　last　Forsaken！〃
　　　　　　　A　dangerous　gleam　flashed　in　her　eyes　and　was　gone。　〃Do　you　know　why　some　of　us　fear　you？　Do　you　have　any　idea？　Because　they　are　afraid　the　Great　Lord　of　the　Dark　will　give　you　a　place　above　them。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　surprised　himself　by　managing　a　laugh。　〃Great　Lord　of　the　Dark？　Can't　you　say　his　true　name；　either？　Surely　you　don't　fear　to　attract　his　attention；　as　decent　people　do。　Or　do　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃It　would　be　blasphemy；〃　she　said　simply。　〃They　are　right　to　be　afraid；　Sammael　and　the　rest。　The　Great　Lord　does　want　you。　He　wants　to　exalt　you　above　all　other　men。　He　told　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃That's　ridiculous！　The　Dark　One　is　still　bound　in　Shayol　Ghul；　or　I　would　be　fighting　Tarmon　Gai'don　right　now。　And　if　he　knows　I　exist；　he'd　want　me　dead。　I　mean　to　fight　him。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　he　knows。　The　Great　Lord　knows　more　than　you　would　suspect。　It　is　possible　to　talk　with　him。　Go　to　Shayol　Ghul；　into　the　Pit　of　Doom；　and　you　can。。。　hear　him。　You　can。。。　bathe　in　his　presence。〃　A　different　light　shone　on　her　face；　now。　Ecstasy。　She　breathed　through　parted　lips；　and　for　a　moment　seemed　to　stare　at　something　distant　and　wondrous。　〃Words　cannot　even　begin　to　describe　it。　You　must　experience　it　to　know。　You　must。〃　She　was　seeing　his　face　again；　with　eyes　large　and　dark　and　insistent。　〃Kneel　to　the　Great　Lord；　and　he　will　set　you　above　all　others。　He　will　leave　you　free　to　reign　as　you　will；　so　long　as　you　bend　knee　to　him　only　once。　To　acknowledge　him。　No　more　than　that。　He　told　me　this。　Asmodean　will　teach　you　to　wield　the　Power　without　it　killing　you；　teach　what　you　can　do　with　it。　Let　me　help　you。　We　can　destroy　the　others。　The　Great　Lord　will　not　care。　We　can　destroy　all　of　them；　even　Asmodean；　once　he　has　taught　you　all　you　need　to　know。　You　and　I　can　rule　the　world　together　under　the　Great　Lord；　forever。〃　Her　voice　dropped　to　a　whisper；　equal　parts　eagerness　and　fear。　〃Two　great　sa'angreal　were　made　just　before　the　end；　one　that　you　can　use；　one　that　I　can。　Far　greater　than　that　sword。　Their　power　is　beyond　imagining。　With　those；　we　could　challenge　even。。。　the　Great　Lord　himself。　Even　the　Creator！〃
　　　　　　　〃You　are　mad；〃　he　said　raggedly。　〃The　Father　of　Lies　says　he　will　leave　me　free？　I　was　born　to　fight　him。　That　is　why　I　am　here；　to　fulfill　the　Prophecies。　I'll　fight　him；　and　all　of　you；　until　the　Last　Battle！　Until　my　last　breath！〃
　　　　　　　〃You　do　not　have　to。　Prophecy　is　no　more　than　the　sign　of　what　people　hope　for。　Fulfilling　the　Prophecies　will　only　bind　you　to　a　path　leading　to　Tarmon　Gai'don　and　your　death。　Moghedien　or　Sammael　can　destroy　your　body。　The　Great　Lord　of　the　Dark　can　destroy　your　soul。　An　end　utter　and　plete。　You　will　never　be　born　again　no　matter　how　long　the　Wheel　of　Time　turns！〃
　　　　　　　〃No！〃
　　　　　　　For　what　seemed　a　long　time　she　studied　him；　he　could　almost　see　the　scales　weighing　alternatives。　〃I　could　take　you　with　me；〃　she　said　finally。　〃I　could　have　you　turned　to　the　Great　Lord　whatever　you　want　or　believe。　There　are　ways。〃
　　　　　　　She　paused；　perhaps　to　see　if　her　words　had　had　any　effect。　Sweat　rolled　down　his　back；　but　he　kept　his　face　straight。　He　would　have　to　do　something；　whether　he　had　a　chance　or　not。　A　second　attempt　to　reach　saidin　battered　vainly　against　that　invisible　barrier。　He　let　his　eyes　wander　as　if　he　were　thinking。　Callandor　was　behind　him；　as　far　out　of　reach　as　the　other　side　of　the　Aryth　Ocean。　His　belt　knife　lay　on　a　table　by　the　bed；　together　with　a　half…made　fox　he　had　been　carving。　The　shapeless　lumps　of　metal　mocking　him　from　above　the　fireplace；　a　drably　clad　man　slipping　in　at　the　doors　with　a　knife　in　his　hand；　the　books　lying　everywhere。　He　turned　back　to　Lanfear；　tensing。
　　　　　　　〃You　were　always　stubborn；〃　she　muttered。　〃I　won't　take　you；　this　time。　I　want　you　to　e　to　me　of　your　own　will。　And　I　will　have　it。　What　is　the　matter？　You're　frowning。〃
　　　　　　　A　man　slipping　in　at　the　doors　with　a　knife；　his　eyes　had　slid　past　the　fellow　almost　without　seeing。　Instinctively　he　pushed　Lanfear　out　of　the　way　and　reached　for　the　True　Source；　the　shield　blocking　him　vanished　as　he　touched　it；　and　his　sword　was　in　his　hands　like　a　red…gold　flame。　The　man　rushed　at　him；　knife　held　low　and　point　up　for　a　killing　stroke。　Even　then　it　was　difficult　to　keep　his　eyes　on　the　fellow；　but　Rand　pivoted　smoothly；　and　The　Wind　Blows　Over　the　Wall　took　off　the　hand　holding　the　knife　and　finished　by　driving　through　his　assailant's　heart。　For　an　instant　he　stared　into　dull　eyes　…　lifeless　while　that　heart　still　pumped　…　then　pulled　his　blade　free。
　　　　　　　〃A　Gray　Man。〃　Rand　took　what　felt　like　his　first　breath　in　hours。　The　corpse　at　his　feet　was　messy；　bleeding　onto　the　scroll…worked　carpet；　but　there　was　no　difficulty　in　fixing　an　eye　on　him　now。　It　was　always　that　way　with　the　Shadow's　assassins；　when　they　were　noticed；　it　was　usually　too　late。　〃This　makes　no　sense。　You　could　have　killed　me　easily。　Why　distract　me　for　a　Gray　Man　to　sneak　up　on　me？〃
　　　　　　　Lanfear　was　watching　him　warily。　〃I　make　no　use　of　the　Soulless。　I　told　you　there　are。。。　differences　among　the　Chosen。　It　seems　I　was　a　day　late　in　my　judgment；　but　there　is　still　time　for　you　to　e　with　me。　To　learn。　To　live。　That　sword；〃　she　all　but　sneered。　〃You　do　not　do　the　tenth　part　of　what　you　can。　e　with　me；　and　learn。　Or　do　you　mean　to　try　to　kill　me；　now？　I　loosed　you　to　defend　yourself。〃
　　　　　　　Her　voice；　her　stance；　said　she　expected　an　attack；　or　at　the　very　least　was　ready　to　counter　it；　but　that　was　not　what　stopped　him；　any　more　than　her　loosing　the　bonds　in　the　first　place。　She　was　one　of　the　Forsaken；　she　had　served　evil　so　long　she　made　a　Black　sister　look　like　a　newborn　babe。　Yet　he　saw　a　woman。　He　called　himself　nine　kinds　of　fool；　but　he　could　not　do　it。　Maybe　if　she　tried　to　kill　him。　Maybe。　But　all　she　did　was　stand　there；　watching；　waiting。　No　doubt　ready　to　do　things　with　the　Power　he　did　not　even　know　were　possible；　if　he　attempted　to　hold　her。　He　had　managed　to　block　Elayne　and　Egwene；　but　that　had　been　one　of　those　things　he　did　without　thinking；　the　way　of　it　buried　somewhere　in　his　head。　He　could　only　remember　that　he　had　done　it；　no　how。　At　least　he　had　a　firm　grip　on　saidin；　she　would　not　surprise　him　that　way　again。　The　stomach…wrenching　taint　was　nothing；　saidin　was　life；　perhaps　in　more　ways　than　one。
　　　　　　　A　sudden　thought　boiled　up　in　his　head　like　a　hot　spring。　The　Aiel。　Even　a　Gray　Man　should　have　found　it　impossible　to　sneak　through　doors　watched　by　half　a　dozen　Aiel。
　　　　　　　〃What　did　you　do　to　them？〃　His　voice　grated　as　he　backed　toward　the　doors；　keeping　his　eyes　on　her。　If　she　used　the　Power；　maybe　he　would　have　some　warning。　〃What　did　you　do　to　the　Aiel　outside？〃
　　　　　　　〃Nothing；〃　she　replied　coolly。　〃Do　not　go　out　there。　This　may　be　only　a　testing　to　see　how　vulnerable　you　are；　but　even　a　testing　may　kill　you　if　you　are　a　fool。〃
　　　　　　　He　flung　open　the　left…hand　door　onto　a　scene　of　madness。

Chapter　10
（Dragon）
The　Stone　Stands

　　　　　　　Dead　Aielmen　lay　at　Rand's　feet；　tangled　with　the　bodies　of　three　very　ordinary　men　in　very　ordinary　coats　and　breeches。　Ordinary…looking　men；　except　that　six　Aiel；　the　entire　guard；　had　been　slain；　some　obviously　before　they　knew　what　was　happening；　and　each　of　those　ordinary　men　had　at　least　two　Aiel　spears　through　him。
　　　　　　　That　was　not　the　half　of　it；　though。　As　soon　as　he　pulled　the　door　open；　a　roar　of　battle　had　washed　over　him：　shouting；　howling；　steel　clashing　on　steel　among　the　redstone　columns。　The　Defenders　in　the　anteroom　were　fighting　for　their　lives　beneath　the　gilded　lamps；　against　bulky；　black…mailed　shapes　head…and…shoulders　taller　than　they；　shapes　like　huge　men；　but　with　heads　and　faces　distorted　by　horns　or　feathers；　by　muzzle　or　beak　where　mouth　and　nose　should　be。　Trollocs。　They　strode　on　paws　or　hooves　as　often　as　on　booted　feet；　cutting　men　down　with　oddly　spiked　axes　and　hooked　spears　and　scythelike　swords　that　curved　the　wrong　way。　And　with　them；　a　Myrddraal；　like　a　sleek…moving　man　with　maggot…white　skin　in　black　armor；　like　death　made　bloodless　flesh。
　　　　　　　Somewhere　in　the　Stone　an　alarm　gong　sounded；　then　stopped　with　lethal　suddenness。　Another　took　it　up；　and　another；　in　brazen　tolls。
　　　　　　　The　Defenders　fought；　and　they　still　outnumbered　the　Trollocs；　but　there　were　more　men　down　than　Trollocs。　Even　as　Rand's　eyes　found　them；　the　Myrddraal　tore　off　half　the　Tairen　captain's　face　with　one　bare　hand　while　the　other　drove　a　dead　black　blade　through　a　Defender's　throat；　slipping　Defenders'　spear　thrusts　like　a　snake。　The　Defenders　faced　what　they　had　thought　were　only　travelers'　tales　to　frighten　children；　their　nerve　was　frayed　to　snapping。　One　man　who　had　lost　his　rimmed　helmet　threw　down　his　spear　and　tried　to　flee；　only　to　have　his　head　split　like　a　melon　by　a　Trolloc's　massive　axe。　Yet　another　man　looked　at　the　Myrddraal　and　fled　screaming。　The　Myrddraal　darted　sinuously　to　intercept。　In　a　moment　the　humans　would　all　be　running。
　　　　　　　〃Fade！〃　Rand　shouted。　〃Try　me；　Fade！〃　The　Myrddraal　stopped　as　if　it　had　never　moved；　its　pale；　eyeless　face　turning　to　him。　Fear　rippled　through　Rand　at　that　stare；　sliding　over　the　bubble　of　cold　calm　that　encased　him　when　he　held　saidin；　in　the　Borderlands　they　said；　〃The　look　of　the　Eyeless　is　fear。〃　Once　he　had　believed　Fades　rode　shadows　like　horses　and　disappeared　when　they　turned　sideways。　Those　old　beliefs　were　not　so　very　far　wrong。
　　　　　　　The　Myrddraal　flowed　toward　him；　and　Rand　leaped　the　dead　men　in　front　of　the　doorway　to　meet　it；　his　boots　skidding　on　bloody　black　marble　as　he　landed。　〃Rally　to　the　Stone！〃　he　shouted　as　he　leaped。　〃The　Stone　stands！〃　Those　were　the　battle　cries　he　had　heard　on　the　night　the　Stone　had　not　stood。
　　　　　　　He　thought　he　heard　a　vexed　shout　of　〃Fool！〃　from　the　room　he　had　left；　but　he　had　no　time　for　Lanfear　or　what　she　might　do。　That　skid　very　nearly　cost　him　his　life；　his　red…gold　blade　barely　turned　the　Myrddraal's　black　one　as　he　fought　for　balance。　〃Rally　to　the　Stone！　The　Stone　stands！〃　He　had　to　keep　the　Defenders　together；　or　face　the　Myrddraal　and　twenty　Trollocs　alone。　〃The　Stone　stands！〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Stone　stands！〃　he　heard　someone　echo　him；　then　another。　〃The　Stone　stands！〃
　　　　　　　The　Fade　moved　as　fluidly　as　a　serpent；　the　snakelike　illusion　heightened　by　the　overlapping　plates　of　black　armor　down　its　chest。　Yet　not　even　a　blacklance　ever　struck　so　quickly。　For　a　time　it　was　all　Rand　could　do　to　keep　its　blade　from　his　own　unarmored　flesh。　That　black　metal　could　make　wounds　that　festered；　almost　as　hard　to　Heal　as　the　one　that　ached　in　his　side　now。　Each　time　dark　steel　forged　in　Thakan'dar；　below　the　slopes　of　Shayol　Ghul；　met　red…gold　Power…wrought　blade；　light　flashed　like　sheet　lightning　in　the　room；　a　sharp　bluish　white　that　hurt　the　eyes。　〃You　will　die　this　time；〃　the　Myrddraal　rasped　at　him　in　a　voice　like　the　crumbling　of　dead　leaves。　〃I　will　give　your　flesh　to　the　Trollocs　and　take　your　women　for　my　own。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　fought　as　coldly　as　he　ever　had；　and　as　desperately。　The　Fade　knew　the　use　of　a　sword。　Then　an　instant　c