rj.theshadowrising-第6部分

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on　as　it　was　clear　Morgase　would　succeed　to　the　throne；　had　built　her　influence　year　by　patient　year。　And　now　all　her　effort；　all　her　sacrifice　…　she　might　have　been　Amyrlin　herself　had　she　not　concentrated　all　her　energies　on　Andor…　might　be　for　naught　because　Elayne　had　disappeared。
With　an　effort　she　forced　her　thoughts　back　to　what　was　important　now。　Egwene　and　Nynaeve　came　from　the　same　village　as　that　strange　young　man；　Rand　al'Thor。　And　Min　knew　him　as　well；　however　much　she　had　tried　to　hide　the　fact。　Rand　al'Thor　lay　at　the　heart　of　it。
Elaida　had　only　seen　him　once；　supposedly　a　shepherd　from　the　Two　Rivers；　in　Andor；　but　looking　every　inch　the　Aielman。　The　Foretelling　had　e　to　her　at　the　sight　of　him。　He　was　ta'veren；　one　of　those　rare　individuals　who；　instead　of　being　woven　into　the　Pattern　as　the　Wheel　of　Time　chose；　forced　the　Pattern　to　shape　itself　around　them；　for　a　time　at　least。　And　Elaida　had　seen　chaos　swirling　around　him；　division　and　strife　for　Andor；　perhaps　for　even　more　of　the　world。　But　Andor　must　be　kept　whole；　whatever　else　happened；　that　first　Foretelling　had　convinced　her　of　that。
There　were　more　threads；　enough　to　snare　Siuan　in　her　own　web。　If　the　rumors　were　to　be　believed；　there　were　three　ta'veren；　not　just　one。　All　three　from　the　same　village；　this　Emond's　Field；　and　all　three　near　the　same　age；　odd　enough　to　occasion　a　good　deal　of　talk　in　the　Tower。　And　on　Siuan's　journey　to　Shienar；　near　a　year　ago　now；　she　had　seen　them；　even　talked　with　them。　Rand　al'Thor。　Perrin　Aybara。　Matrim　Cauthon。　It　was　said　to　be　mere　happenstance。　Just　fortuitous　chance。　So　it　was　said。　Those　who　said　it　did　not　know　what　Elaida　knew。
When　Elaida　saw　the　young　al'Thor　man；　it　had　been　Moiraine　who　spirited　him　away。　Moiraine　who　had　acpanied　him；　and　the　other　two　ta'veren；　in　Shienar。　Moiraine　Damodred；　who　had　been　Siuan　Sanche's　closest　friend　when　they　were　novices　together。　Had　Elaida　been　one　to　make　wagers；　she　would　have　wagered　that　no　one　else　in　the　Tower　remembered　that　friendship。　On　the　day　they　were　raised　Aes　Sedai；　at　the　end　of　the　Aiel　War；　Siuan　and　Moiraine　had　walked　away　from　one　another　and　afterward　behaved　almost　like　strangers。　But　Elaida　had　been　one　of　the　Accepted　over　those　two　novices；　had　taught　their　lessons　and　chastised　them　for　slacking　at　chores；　and　she　remembered。　She　could　hardly　believe　that　their　plot　could　stretch　back　so　far　…　al'Thor　could　not　have　been　born　much　before　that　…　yet　it　was　the　last　link　to　tie　them　all　together。　For　her；　it　was　enough。　。
Whatever　Siuan　was　up　to；　she　had　to　be　stopped。　Turmoil　and　chaos　multiplied　on　every　side。　The　Dark　One　was　sure　to　break　free…　the　very　thought　made　Elaida　shiver　and　wrap　her　shawl　around　her　more　tightly　…　and　the　Tower　had　to　be　aloof　from　mundane　struggles　to　face　that。　The　Tower　had　to　be　free　to　pull　the　strings　to　make　the　nations　stand　together；　free　of　the　troubles　Rand　al'Thor　would　bring。　Somehow；　he　had　to　be　stopped　from　destroying　Andor。
She　had　told　no　one　what　she　knew　of　al'Thor。　She　meant　to　deal　with　him　quietly；　if　possible。　The　Hall　of　the　Tower　already　spoke　of　watching；　even　guiding；　these　ta'veren；　they　would　never　agree　to　dispose　of　them；　of　the　one　in　particular；　as　he　must　be　disposed　of。　For　the　good　of　the　Tower。　For　the　good　of　the　world。
She　made　a　sound　in　her　throat；　close　to　a　growl。　Siuan　had　always　been　headstrong；　even　as　a　novice　had　always　thought　much　of　herself　for　a　poor　fisherman's　daughter；　but　how　could　she　be　fool　enough　to　mix　the　Tower　in　this　without　telling　the　Hall？　She　knew　what　was　ing　as　well　as　anyone。　The　only　way　it　could　be　worse　was　if。。。。
Abruptly　Elaida　stopped；　staring　at　nothing。　Could　it　be　that　this　al'Thor　could　channel？　Or　one　of　the　others？　Most　likely　it　would　be　al'Thor。　No。　Surely　not。　Not　even　Siuan　would　touch　one　of　those。　She　could　not。　〃Who　knows　what　that　woman　could　do？〃　she　muttered。　〃She　was　never　fit　to　be　the　Amyrlin　Seat。〃
〃Talking　to　yourself；　Elaida？　I　know　you　Reds　never　have　friends　outside　your　own　Ajah；　but　surely　you　have　friends　to　talk　to　inside　it。〃
Elaida　turned　her　head　to　regard　Alviarin。　The　swan…necked　Aes　Sedai　stared　back　with　the　insufferable　coolness　that　was　a　hallmark　of　the　White　Ajah。　There　was　no　love　lost　between　Red　and　White；　they　had　stood　on　opposite　sides　in　the　Hall　of　the　Tower　for　a　thousand　years。　White　stood　with　Blue；　and　Siuan　had　been　a　Blue。　But　Whites　prided　themselves　on　dispassionate　logic。
〃Walk　with　me；〃　Elaida　said。　Alviarin　hesitated　before　falling　in　beside　her。
At　first　the　White　sister　arched　a　disparaging　eyebrow　at　what　Elaida　had　to　say　concerning　Siuan；　but　before　the　end　she　was　frowning　in　concentration。　〃You　have　no　proof　of　anything。。。　improper；〃　she　said　when　Elaida　finally　fell　silent。
〃Not　yet；〃　Elaida　said　firmly。　She　permitted　herself　a　tight　smile　when　Alviarin　nodded。　It　was　a　beginning。　One　way　or　another；　Siuan　would　be　stopped　before　she　could　destroy　the　Tower。
　
Well　hidden　in　a　stand　of　tall　leatherleaf　above　the　north　bank　of　the　River　Taren；　Dain　Bornhald　tossed　back　his　white　cloak；　with　its　flaring　golden　sun　on　the　breast；　and　raised　the　stiff　leather　tube　of　a　looking　glass　to　his　eye。　A　cloud　of　tiny　bitemes　buzzed　around　his　face；　but　he　ignored　them。　In　the　village　of　Taren　Ferry；　across　the　river；　tall　stone　houses　stood　on　high　foundations　against　the　floods　that　came　every　spring。　Villagers　hung　out　of　windows　or　waited　on　stoops　to　stare　at　the　thirty　white…cloaked　riders　sitting　their　horses　in　burnished　plate…and…mail。　A　delegation　of　village　men　and　women　were　meeting　with　the　horsemen。　Rather；　they　were　listening　to　Jaret　Byar；　from　what　Bornhald　could　see；　which　was　much　the　best。
Bornhald　could　almost　hear　his　father's　voice。　Let　them　think　there　is　a　chance；　and　some　fool　will　try　to　take　it。　Then　there's　killing　to　do；　and　another　fool　will　try　to　avenge　the　first；　so　there's　more　killing。　Put　the　fear　of　the　Light　into　them　from　the　first；　let　them　know　no　one　will　be　harmed　if　they　do　as　they're　told；　and　you'll　have　no　trouble。
His　jaw　tightened　at　the　thought　of　his　father；　dead　now。　He　was　going　to　do　something　about　that；　and　soon。　He　was　sure　only　Byar　knew　why　he　had　leaped　to　accept　this　mand；　aimed　at　an　all…but…forgotten　district　in　the　hinterlands　of　Andor；　and　Byar　would　hold　his　tongue。　Byar　had　been　as　dedicated　to　Dain's　father　as　a　hound；　and　he　had　transferred　all　that　loyalty　to　Dain。　Bornhald　had　had　no　hesitation　in　naming　Byar　second　under　him　when　Eamon　Valda　gave　him　the　mand。
Byar　turned　his　horse　and　rode　back　onto　the　ferry。　Immediately　the　ferrymen　cast　off　and　began　hauling　the　barge　across　by　means　of　a　heavy　rope　slung　over　the　swiftly　flowing　water。　Byar　glanced　at　the　men　at　the　rope；　they　eyed　him　nervously　as　they　tramped　the　length　of　the　barge；　then　trotted　back　to　take　up　the　cable　again。　It　all　looked　good。
〃Lord　Bornhald？〃
Bornhald　lowered　the　looking　glass　and　turned　his　head。　The　hard…faced　man　who　had　appeared　at　his　shoulder　stood　rigid；　staring　straight　ahead　from　under　a　conical　helmet。　Even　after　the　hard　journey　from　Tar　Valon　…　and　Bornhald　had　pressed　every　mile　…　his　armor　shone　as　brightly　as　his　snowy　cloak　with　its　golden　sunburst。
〃Yes；　Child　Ivon？〃
〃Hundredman　Farran　sent　me；　my　Lord。　It's　the　Tinkers。　Ordeith　was　talking　to　three　of　them；　my　Lord；　and　now　none　of　the　three　can　be　found。〃
〃Blood　and　ashes！〃　Bornhald　spun　on　his　bootheel　and　strode　back　into　the　trees；　Ivon　at　his　heels。
Out　of　sight　of　the　river；　white…cloaked　horsemen　clogged　the　spaces　between　leatherleafs　and　pines；　lances　held　with　casual　familiarity　or　bows　laid　across　their　pommels。　The　horses　stamped　their　hooves　impatiently　and　flicked　their　tails。　The　riders　waited　more　stolidly；　this　would　not　be　their　first　river　crossing　into　strange　territory；　and　this　time　no　one　would　be　trying　to　stop　them。
In　a　large　clearing　beyond　the　mounted　men　stood　a　caravan　of　the　Tuatha'an；　the　Traveling　People。　Tinkers。　Nearly　a　hundred　horse…drawn　wagons；　like　small；　boxy　houses　on　wheels；　made　an　eye…jarring　blend　of　colors；　red　and　green　and　yellow　and　every　hue　imaginable　in　binations　only　a　Tinker's　eye　could　like。　The　people　themselves　wore　clothes　that　made　their　wagons　look　dull。　They　sat　on　the　ground　in　a　large　cluster；　eyeing　the　mounted　men　with　an　oddly　calm　unease；　the　thin　crying　of　a　child　was　swiftly　forted　by　its　mother。　Nearby；　dead　mastiffs　made　a　mound　already　buzzing　with　flies。　Tinkers　would　not　raise　a　hand　even　to　defend　themselves；　and　the　dogs　had　been　mostly　show；　but　Bornhald　had　not　been　willing　to　take　a　chance。
Six　men　were　all　he　had　thought　necessary　to　watch　Tinkers。　Even　with　stiff　faces；　they　looked　embarrassed。　None　glanced　at　the　seventh　man　sitting　a　horse　near　the　wagons；　a　bony　little　man　with　a　big　nose；　in　a　dark　gray　coat　that　looked　too　big　for　him　despite　the　fineness　of　its　cut。　Farran；　a　bearded　boulder　of　a　man　yet　light　on　his　feet　for　all　his　height　and　width；　stood　glaring　at　all　seven　equally。　The　hundredman　pressed　a　gauntleted　hand　to　his　heart　in　salute　but　left　all　talking　to　Bornhald。
〃A　word　with　you；　Master　Ordeith；〃　Bornhald　said　quietly。　The　bony　man　cocked　his　head；　looking　at　Bornhald　for　a　long　moment　before　dismounting。　Farran　growled；　but　Bornhald　kept　his　voice　low。　〃Three　of　the　Tinkers　cannot　be　found；　Master　Ordeith。　Did　you　perhaps　put　your　own　suggestion　into　practice？〃　The　first　words　out　of　Ordeith's　mouth　when　he　saw　the　Tinkers　had　been　〃Kill　them。　They're　of　no　use。〃　Bornhald　had　killed　his　share　of　men；　but　he　had　never　matched　the　casualness　with　which　the　little　man　had　spoken。
Ordeith　rubbed　a　finger　along　the　side　of　his　large　nose。　〃Now；　why　would　I　be　killing　them？　And　after　you　ripped　me　so　for　just　suggesting　it。〃　His　Lugarder　accent　was　heavy　today；　it　came　and　went　without　him　seeming　to　notice；　another　thing　about　the　man　that　disturbed　Bornhald。
〃Then　you　allowed　them　to　escape；　yes？〃
〃Well；　as　to　that；　I　did　take　a　few　of　them　off　where　I　could　see　what　they　knew。　Undisturbed；　you　see。〃
〃What　they　knew？　What　under　the　Light　could　Tinkers　know　of　use　to　us？〃
〃There's　no　way　of　telling　until　you　ask；　now　is　there？〃　Ordeith　said。　〃I　didn't　hurt　any　of　them　much；　and　I　told　them　to　get　themselves　back　to　the　wagons。　Who　would　be　thinking　they'd　have　the　nerve　to　run　away　with　so　many　of　your　men　about？〃
Bornhald　realized　he　was　grinding　his　teeth。　His　orders　had　been　to　make　the　best　time　possible　to　meet　this　odd　fellow；　who　would　have　more　orders　for　him。　Bornhald　liked　none　of　it；　though　both　sets　of　orders　bore　the　seal　and　signature　of　Pedron　Niall；　Lord　Captain　mander　of　the　Children　of　the　Light。
Too　much　had　been　left　unsaid；　including　Ordeith's　exact　status。　The　little　man　was　there　to　advise　Bornhald；　and　Bornhald　was　to　cooperate　with　Ordeith。　Whether　Ordeith　was　under　his　mand　had　been　left　vague；　and　he　did　not　like　the　strong　implication　that　he　should　heed　the　fellow's　advice。　Even　the　reason　for　sending　so　many　of　the　Children　into　this　backwater　had　been　vague。　To　root　out　Darkfriends；　of　course；　and　spread　the　Light；　that　went　without　saying。　But　close　to　half　a　legion　on　Andor