rj.theshadowrising-第65部分

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ng　them　and　known　he　could　not　be　very　far　from　the　Stone；　she　might　have　worried。
　　　　　　　He　fought　the　strings　Nynaeve　was　tying　to　him　as　hard　as　he　had　ever　fought　Trollocs　in　the　Blight；　but　much　as　he　might　deny　it；　that　young　woman　had　bound　him　as　tightly　as　she　herself　did；　though　in　other　ways。　He　might　as　well　try　tearing　steel　with　his　hands　as　those　ties。　She　was　not　jealous；　exactly；　but　Lan　had　been　her　sword　arm；　her　shield　and　panion　for　too　many　years　for　her　to　give　him　up　lightly。　I　have　done　what　had　to　be　done；　there。　She　will　have　him　if　I　die；　and　not　before。　Where　is　the　man？　What　is　he　doing？
　　　　　　　One　red　gowned　lace…ruffed　woman；　a　horse…faced　Lady　of　the　Land　called　Leitha；　drew　her　skirts　away　a　bit　too　assiduously；　and　Moiraine　looked　at　her。　Merely　looked；　without　slowing　her　step；　but　the　woman　shuddered　and　dropped　her　eyes。　Moiraine　nodded　to　herself。　She　could　accept　that　these　people　hated　Aes　Sedai；　but　she　would　not　endure　open　rudeness　on　top　of　veiled　slights。　Besides；　the　rest　shied　back　another　step　after　seeing　Leitha　faced　down。
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　certain　he　said　nothing　of　what　he　means　to　announce？〃　she　asked　quietly。　In　this　gabble；　no　one　three　paces　away　could　have　made　out　a　word。　The　Tairens　kept　about　that　distance　now。　She　did　not　like　being　overheard。
　　　　　　　〃Nothing；〃　Egwene　said　just　as　softly。　She　sounded　as　irritated　as　Moiraine　felt。
　　　　　　　〃There　have　been　rumors。〃
　　　　　　　〃Rumors？　What　sort　of　rumors？〃
　　　　　　　The　girl　was　not　that　good　at　controlling　her　face　and　voice；　clearly　she　had　not　heard　the　tales　of　doings　in　the　Two　Rivers。　Betting　that　Rand　had　not；　though；　might　be　putting　her　horse　at　a　ten　foot　fence。　〃You　should　bring　him　to　confide　in　you。　He　needs　an　attentive　ear。　It　will　help　him；　to　talk　out　his　troubles　with　someone　he　can　trust。〃　Egwene　gave　her　a　sidelong　glance。　She　was　being　too　sophisticated　for　such　simple　methods。　Still；　Moiraine　had　spoken　unadorned　truth　…　the　boy　did　need　someone　to　listen　and　by　listening　lighten　his　burdens　…　and　it　might　work。
　　　　　　　〃He　will　not　confide　in　anyone；　Moiraine。　He　hides　his　pains；　and　hopes　he　can　deal　with　them　before　anyone　notices。〃　Anger　flashed　across　Egwene's　face。　〃The　wool…brained　mule！〃
　　　　　　　Moiraine　felt　a　momentary　sympathy。　The　girl　could　not　be　expected　to　accept　Rand's　strolling　about　arm　in　arm　with　Elayne；　kissing　in　corners　where　they　thought　themselves　unseen。　And　Egwene　did　not　know　the　half；　yet。　miseration　did　not　last。　There　was　too　much　of　importance　to　deal　with　for　the　girl　to　be　fretting　over　what　she　could　not　have　in　any　case。
　　　　　　　Elayne　and　Nynaeve　should　be　aboard　the　raker　by　now；　out　of　the　way。　Their　voyage　might　eventually　tell　her　if　her　suspicions　about　the　Windfinders　were　correct。　That　was　a　minor　point；　though。　At　worst　the　pair　had　enough　gold　to　buy　a　ship　and　hire　a　crew　…　which　might　be　necessary　given　the　rumors　of　Tanchico　…　with　enough　left　for　the　bribes　so　often　necessary　with　Taraboner　officials。　Thom　Merrilin's　room　was　empty；　and　her　informants　had　reported　him　muttering　about　Tanchico　on　his　way　out　of　the　Stone；　he　would　see　they　got　a　good　crew　and　found　the　right　officials。　The　purported　plan　with　Mazrim　Taim　was　much　the　more　likely　of　the　two；　but　her　messages　to　the　Amyrlin　should　have　taken　care　of　that。　The　two　young　women　could　handle　the　much　less　likely　eventuality　of　a　mysterious　danger　hidden　in　Tanchico；　and　they　were　out　of　her　hair　and　away　from　Rand。　She　only　regretted　that　Egwene　had　refused　to　go　with　them。　Tar　Valon　would　have　been　best　for　all　three；　but　Tanchico　would　do。
　　　　　　　〃Speaking　of　wool…brained；　do　you　mean　to　continue　with　this　plan　to　go　into　the　Waste？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　do；〃　the　girl　said；　firmly。　She　needed　to　be　back　in　the　Tower；　training　her　strength。　What　was　Siuan　thinking　of？　She　will　probably　give　me　one　of　those　sayings　about　boats　and　fish；　when　I　can　ask　her。
　　　　　　　At　least　Egwene　would　be　out　of　the　way；　too；　and　the　Aiel　girl　would　look　after　her。　Perhaps　the　Wise　Ones　really　could　teach　her　something　of　Dreaming。　That　had　been　the　most　astounding　letter　from　them；　not　that　she　could　afford　to　heed　most　of　it。　Egwene's　journey　into　the　Waste　might　be　useful　in　the　long　run。
　　　　　　　The　last　line　of　Tairens　gave　way；　making　a　little　hollow；　and　she　and　Egwene　faced　the　open　area　under　the　vast　dome。　The　nobles'　ill　ease　was　most　evident　here；　many　studied　their　feet　like　sulky　children；　and　others　stared　at　nothing；　looking　at　anything　but　where　they　were。　Here　was　where　Callandor　had　been　kept　before　Rand　took　it。　Here　beneath　this　dome；　untouched　by　any　hand　for　more　than　three　thousand　years；　untouchable　by　any　hand　but　that　of　the　Dragon　Reborn。　Tairens　did　not　like　admitting　that　the　Heart　of　the　Stone　existed。
　　　　　　　〃Poor　woman；〃　Egwene　murmured。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　followed　the　girl's　gaze。　The　High　Lady　Alteima；　already　gowned　and　ruffed　and　capped　in　shimmering　white　as　Tairen　widows　were　though　her　husband　still　lingered；　was　perhaps　the　most　posed　of　all　the　nobles。　She　was　a　slender；　lovely　woman；　made　more　so　by　her　small　sad　smile；　with　large　brown　eyes　and　long　black　hair　hanging　halfway　to　her　waist。　A　tall　woman；　though　Moiraine　admitted　she　did　tend　to　judge　such　things　by　her　own　height；　and　rather　too　full　bosomed。　Cairhienin　were　not　a　tall　people；　and　she　had　been　considered　short　even　among　them。
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　a　poor　woman；〃　she　said；　but　she　did　not　mean　it　for　sympathy。　It　was　good　to　see　Egwene　had　not　yet　grown　sophisticated　enough　to　see　beneath　the　surface　all　the　time。　The　girl　was　already　far　less　malleable　than　she　should　have　been　for　years　yet。　She　needed　to　be　shaped　before　she　was　hardened。
　　　　　　　Thom　had　missed；　with　Alteima。　Or　perhaps　he　had　not　wanted　to　see；　he　seemed　to　have　a　strange　reluctance　to　move　against　women。　The　High　Lady　Alteima　was　far　more　dangerous　than　her　husband　or　her　lover；　both　of　whom　she　had　manipulated　without　either　knowing　it。　Perhaps　more　dangerous　than　anyone　else　in　Tear；　man　or　woman。　She　would　find　others　to　use　soon　enough。　It　was　Alteima's　style　to　remain　in　the　background　and　pull　strings。　Something　would　have　to　be　done　about　her。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　shifted　her　gaze　along　the　rows　of　High　Lords　and　Ladies；　until　she　found　Estanda；　in　brocaded　yellow　silks　with　a　large　ivory　lace　ruff　and　a　tiny　matching　cap。　A　certain　sternness　marred　the　beauty　of　her　face；　and　the　occasional　glances　she　gave　Alteima　were　iron　hard。　Feelings　between　the　two　went　beyond　mere　rivalry；　had　they　been　men；　one　would　have　shed　the　other's　blood　in　a　duel　years　since。　If　that　antagonism　could　be　sharpened；　Alteima　would　be　too　busy　to　make　trouble　for　Rand。
　　　　　　　For　an　instant　she　regretted　sending　Thom　away。　She　did　not　like　having　to　waste　her　time　with　these　petty　affairs。　But　he　had　too　much　influence　with　Rand；　the　boy　had　to　depend　on　her　counsel。　Hers；　and　hers　alone。　The　Light　knew　he　was　difficult　enough　without　interference。　Thom　had　been　settling　the　boy　down　to　rule　Tear　when　he　needed　to　be　moving　on　to　greater　things。　But　that　was　dealt　with　for　now。　The　problem　of　bringing　Thom　Merrilin　to　heel　could　be　managed　later。　Rand　was　the　dilemma　now。　What　did　he　mean　to　announce？
　　　　　　　〃Where　is　he？　He　has　learned　the　first　art　of　kings；　it　seems。　Making　people　wait。〃
　　　　　　　She　did　not　realize　she　had　spoken　aloud　until　Egwene　gave　her　a　startled　look。　She　smoothed　the　irritation　from　her　face　immediately。　Rand　would　appear　eventually；　and　she　would　learn　what　he　meant　to　do。　Learn　along　with　everyone　else。　She　nearly　ground　her　teeth。　That　blind　fool　of　a　boy；　running　headlong　through　the　night　with　never　a　care　for　cliffs；　never　thinking　he　could　carry　the　world　over　as　well　as　himself。　If　only　she　could　keep　him　from　rushing　back　to　save　his　village。　He　would　want　to；　but　he　could　not　afford　to　do　so　now。　Perhaps　he　did　not　know；　it　could　be　hoped。
　　　　　　　Mat　stood　across　from　them；　unbed　and　slouching　with　his　hands　in　the　pockets　of　his　high　collared　green　coat。　It　was　half…unbuttoned；　as　usual；　and　his　boots　were　scuffed；　in　sharp　contrast　to　the　precise　elegance　around　him。　He　shifted　nervously　as　he　saw　her　looking　at　him；　then　gave　one　of　his　rudely　defiant　grins。　At　least　he　was　here；　under　her　eye。　Mat　Cauthon　was　an　exhausting　young　man　to　keep　track　of；　avoiding　her　spies　with　ease；　he　never　gave　any　sign　that　he　knew　they　were　there；　but　her　eyes　and　ears　reported　that　he　seemed　to　slide　out　of　sight　whenever　they　got　too　close。
　　　　　　　〃I　think　he　sleeps　in　his　coats；〃　Egwene　said　disapprovingly。　〃On　purpose。　I　wonder　where　Perrin　is。〃　She　went　on　tiptoes；　trying　to　search　over　the　heads　of　the　assemblage。　〃I　don't　see　him。〃
　　　　　　　Frowning；　Moiraine　scanned　the　crowd；　not　that　she　could　make　out　much　beyond　the　front　row。　Lan　could　have　been　back　among　the　columns。　She　would　not　strain；　though；　or　jump　up　on　her　toes　like　an　anxious　child。　Lan　was　due　a　talking　to　he　would　not　soon　forget　when　she　laid　hands　on　him。　With　Nynaeve　tugging　at　him　one　way　and　ta'veren　…　Rand；　at　least　…　seemingly　pulling　another；　she　sometimes　wondered　how　well　their　bond　still　held。　At　least　his　time　with　Rand　was　useful；　it　gave　her　another　string　to　the　young　man。
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　he　is　with　Faile；〃　Egwene　said。　〃He　won't　have　run　away；　Moiraine。　Perrin　has　a　strong　sense　of　duty。〃
　　　　　　　Almost　as　strong　as　a　Warder's；　Moiraine　knew；　which　was　why　she　did　not　keep　eyes　and　ears　on　him　as　she　tried　to　with　Mat。　〃Faile　has　been　trying　to　talk　him　into　leaving；　girl。〃　Quite　possibly　he　was　with　her；　he　usually　was。　〃Do　not　look　so　surprised。　They　often　talk　…　and　argue　…　where　they　can　be　overheard。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　not　surprised　you　know；〃　Egwene　said　dryly；　〃only　that　Faile　would　try　to　talk　him　out　of　what　he　knows　he　has　to　do。〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　she　does　not　believe　it　as　he　does。〃　Moiraine　had　not　believed　it　herself；　at　first；　had　not　seen　it。　Three　ta'veren；　all　the　same　age；　ing　out　of　one　village；　she　must　have　been　blind　not　to　realize　they　had　to　be　connected。　Everything　had　bee　much　more　plicated　with　that　knowledge。　Like　trying　to　juggle　three　of　Thom's　colored　balls　one　handed　and　blindfolded；　she　had　seen　Thom　do　that；　but　she　would　not　want　to　try。　There　was　no　guide　to　how　they　were　connected；　or　what　they　were　supposed　to　do；　the　Prophecies　never　mentioned　panions。
　　　　　　　〃I　like　her；〃　Egwene　said。　〃She　is　good　for　him；　just　what　he　needs。　And　she　cares　for　him　deeply。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　suppose　she　does。〃　If　Faile　became　too　troublesome；　Moiraine　would　have　to　have　a　talk　with　her；　about　the　secrets　Faile　had　been　keeping　from　Perrin。　Or　have　one　of　her　eyes　and　ears　do　it。　That　should　settle　her　down。
　　　　　　　〃You　say　it　as　if　you　don't　believe　it。　They　love　each　other；　Moiraine。　Can't　you　see　that？　Can't　you　even　recognize　a　human　emotion　when　you　see　one？〃
　　　　　　　Moiraine　gave　her　a　firm　look；　one　that　settled　her　on　her　heels　in　a　satisfactory　manner。　The　girl　knew　so　little　and　thought　she　knew　so　much。　Moiraine　was　about　to　tell　her　so　in　withering　fashion　when　startled；　even　fearful；　gasps　rose　from　among　the　Tairens。
　　　　　　　The　crowd　gave　way　hurriedly；　more　than　eagerly；　those　in　front　ruthlessly　forcing　those　behind　farther　back；