rj.theshadowrising-第66部分

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　　　　　　　The　crowd　gave　way　hurriedly；　more　than　eagerly；　those　in　front　ruthlessly　forcing　those　behind　farther　back；　opening　a　wide　passage　to　the　space　beneath　the　dome。　Rand　strode　down　that　corridor；　looking　straight　ahead；　imperious　in　a　red　coat　embroidered　with　golden　scrolls　up　his　sleeves；　cradling　Callandor　in　his　right　arm　like　a　scepter。　It　was　not　only　he　that　made　the　Tairens　give　way；　though。　Behind　him　came　perhaps　a　hundred　Aiel；　spears　and　arrow　nocked　bows　in　hand；　shoufa　wrapped　around　their　heads；　black　veils　hiding　everything　but　their　eyes。　Moiraine　thought　she　recognized　Rhuarc　at　the　front；　just　behind　Rand；　but　only　by　the　way　he　moved。　They　were　anonymous。　Ready　for　killing。　Plainly；　whatever　he　meant　to　say；　Rand　intended　to　quell　any　resistance　before　it　had　a　chance　to　coalesce。
　　　　　　　The　Aiel　halted；　but　Rand　kept　on　until　he　stood　centered　under　the　dome；　then　ran　his　eye　around　the　gathering。　He　seemed　surprised；　and　perhaps　upset；　at　the　sight　of　Egwene；　but　he　gave　Moiraine　an　infuriating　smile；　and　Mat　one　that　made　the　pair　of　them　look　like　boys　when　Mat　returned　it。　The　Tairens　were　white　faced；　not　knowing　whether　to　stare　at　Rand　and　Callandor　or　the　veiled　Aiel；　either　could　be　death　in　their　midst。
　　　　　　　〃The　High　Lord　Sunamon；〃　Rand　said　suddenly；　and　loudly；　making　that　plump　fellow　jump；　〃has　guaranteed　me　a　treaty　with　Mayene；　strictly　following　lines　I　gave　him。　He　has　guaranteed　this　with　his　life。〃　He　laughed　as　if　he　had　made　a　joke；　and　most　of　the　nobles　laughed　with　him。　Not　Sunamon；　who　looked　distinctly　ill。　〃If　he　fails；〃　Rand　announced；　〃he　has　agreed　to　be　hanged；　and　he　will　be　obliged。〃　The　laughter　stopped。　Sunamon's　face　took　on　a　sickly　tinge　of　green。　Egwene　gave　Moiraine　a　troubled　glance；　she　was　gripping　her　skirt　with　both　hands。　Moiraine　only　waited；　he　had　not　brought　every　noble　within　ten　miles　together　to　tell　them　of　a　treaty　or　threaten　a　fat　fool。　She　made　her　hands　let　go　of　her　own　skirts。
　　　　　　　Rand　turned　in　a　circle；　weighing　the　faces　he　saw。　〃Because　of　this　treaty；　ships　will　soon　be　available　to　carry　Tairen　grain　west；　to　find　new　markets。〃　There　were　a　few　appreciative　murmurs　at　that；　quickly　stifled。　〃But　there　is　more。　The　armies　of　Tear　are　to　march。〃
　　　　　　　A　cheer　rose；　tumultuous　shouts　ringing　from　the　ceilings。　Men　capered；　even　the　High　Lords；　and　shook　their　fists　over　their　heads；　and　tossed　up　peaked　velvet　hats。　Women；　smiling　as　rapturously　as　the　men；　bestowed　kisses　on　the　cheeks　of　those　who　would　go　to　war；　and　delicately　sniffed　the　tiny　porcelain　bottles　of　smelling　salts　no　Tairen　noblewoman　would　be　without；　pretending　to　be　made　faint　by　the　news。　〃Illian　shall　fall！〃　someone　cried；　and　hundreds　of　voices　seized　it　like　thunder。　〃Illian　shall　fall！　Illian　shall　fall！　Illian　shall　fall！〃
　　　　　　　Moiraine　saw　Egwene's　lips　moving；　the　words　crushed　beneath　the　jubilation。　She　could　read　them；　though。　〃No；　Rand。　Please；　no。　Please　don't。〃　On　the　far　side　of　Rand；　Mat　was　frowning　in　disapproving　silence。　They　and　she　were　the　only　ones　not　celebrating；　aside　from　the　ever　watchful　Aiel　and　Rand　himself。　Rand's　smile　was　twisted　contemptuously；　and　never　touched　his　eyes。　There　was　fresh　sweat　on　his　face。　She　met　his　sardonic　stare　and　waited。　There　would　be　more；　and　not；　she　suspected；　to　her　liking。
　　　　　　　Rand　raised　his　left　hand。　Slowly　quiet　fell；　those　in　front　anxiously　shushing　those　behind。　He　waited　for　absolute　silence。　〃The　armies　will　move　north；　into　Cairhien。　The　High　Lord　Meilan　will　mand；　and　under　him；　the　High　Lords　Gueyam；　Arae；　Hearne；　Maraconn　and　Simaan。　The　armies　will　be　generously　financed　by　the　High　Lord　Torean；　the　wealthiest　of　you；　who　will　acpany　the　armies　to　see　that　his　money　is　spent　wisely。〃
　　　　　　　Dead　silence　greeted　this　pronouncement。　No　one　moved；　though　plain…faced　Torean　seemed　to　be　having　trouble　standing。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　had　to　give　Rand　a　mental　bow　for　his　choices。　Sending　those　seven　out　of　Tear　neatly　eviscerated　the　seven　most　dangerous　plots　against　him；　and　none　of　those　men　trusted　each　other　enough　to　scheme　among　themselves。　Thom　Merrilin　had　given　him　good　advice；　obviously　her　spies　had　missed　some　of　the　notes　he　had　had　slipped　into　Rand's　pockets。　But　the　rest？　It　was　madness。　He　could　not　have　had　this　for　an　answer　on　the　other　side　of　that　ter'angreal。　It　was　not　possible；　surely。
　　　　　　　Meilan　obviously　agreed　with　her；　if　not　for　the　same　reasons。　He　stepped　forward　hesitantly；　a　lean　hard　man　but　so　frightened　that　the　whites　of　his　eyes　showed　all　the　way　around。　〃My　Lord　Dragon。。。〃　He　stopped；　swallowed；　and　began　again　in　a　marginally　stronger　voice。　〃My　Lord　Dragon；　intervening　in　a　civil　war　is　stepping　into　a　bog。　A　dozen　factions　contend　for　the　Sun　Throne；　with　as　many　shifting　alliances；　each　one　betrayed　every　day。　Besides　that；　bandits　infest　Cairhien　as　fleas　on　a　wild　boar。　Starving　peasants　have　stripped　the　land　bare。　I　am　reliably　informed　that　they　eat　bark　and　leaves。　My　Lord　Dragon；　'a　quagmire'　barely　begins　to　describe…〃
　　　　　　　Rand　cut　him　off。　〃You　do　not　want　to　extend　Tear's　sway　all　the　way　to　Kinslayer's　Dagger；　Meilan？　That　is　all　right。　I　know　who　I　mean　to　sit　on　the　Sun　Throne。　You　do　not　go　to　conquer；　Meilan；　but　to　restore　order；　and　peace。　And　to　feed　the　hungry。　There　is　more　grain　in　the　granaries　now　than　Tear　could　sell；　and　the　farmers　will　harvest　as　much　more　this　year；　unless　you　disobey　me。　Wagons　will　carry　it　north　behind　the　armies；　and　those　peasants。。。　those　peasants　will　not　have　to　eat　bark　any　longer；　my　Lord　Meilan。〃　The　tall　High　Lord　opened　his　mouth　again；　and　Rand　swung　Callandor　down；　grounding　its　crystal　point　in　front　of　him。　〃You　have　a　question；　Meilan？〃　Shaking　his　head；　Meilan　backed　into　the　crowd　as　though　trying　to　hide。
　　　　　　　〃I　knew　he　would　not　start　a　war；〃　Egwene　said　fiercely。　〃I　knew　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　think　there　will　be　less　killing　in　this？〃　Moiraine　muttered。　What　was　the　boy　up　to？　At　least　he　was　not　running　off　to　save　his　village　while　the　Forsaken　had　their　way　with　the　rest　of　the　world。　〃The　corpses　will　be　piled　as　high；　girl。　You　will　not　know　the　difference　between　this　and　a　war。〃
　　　　　　　Attacking　Illian　and　Sammael　would　have　gained　him　time　even　if　it　grew　into　a　stalemate。　Time　to　learn　his　power；　and　perhaps　to　bring　down　one　of　his　strongest　enemies；　to　cow　the　rest。　What　did　he　gain　by　this？　Peace　for　the　land　of　her　birth；　starving　Cairhienin　fed；　she　would　have　applauded　another　time。　It　was　laudably　humane　…　and　utterly　senseless；　now。　Useless　bloodshed；　rather　than　confronting　an　enemy　who　would　destroy　him　given　the　slightest　opening。　Why？　Lanfear。　What　had　Lanfear　said　to　him？　What　had　she　done？　The　possibilities　chilled　Moiraine's　heart。　Rand　would　take　closer　watching　than　ever　now。　She　would　not　allow　him　to　turn　to　the　Shadow。
　　　　　　　〃Ah；　yes；〃　Rand　said　as　if　just　remembering　something。　〃Soldiers　don't　know　much　about　feeding　hungry　people；　do　they？　For　that；　I　think　a　kind；　woman's　heart　is　needed。　My　Lady　Alteima；　I　regret　intruding　on　your　grief；　but　will　you　undertake　to　oversee　distributing　the　food？　You　will　have　a　nation　to　feed。〃
　　　　　　　And　power　to　gain；　Moiraine　thought。　This　was　his　first　slip。　Aside　from　deciding　on　Cairhien　over　Illian；　of　course。　Alteima　would　certainly　return　to　Tear　on　an　equal　footing　with　Meilan　or　Gueyam；　ready　for　more　plotting。　She　would　have　Rand　assassinated　before　that；　if　he　was　not　careful。　Perhaps　an　accident　could　be　arranged　in　Cairhien。
　　　　　　　Alteima　swept　a　graceful　curtsy；　spreading　her　full　white　skirts；　only　a　touch　of　her　surprise　showing。　〃As　my　Lord　Dragon　mands；　so　do　I　obey。　It　will　please　me　greatly　to　serve　the　Lord　Dragon。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　was　sure　it　would；〃　Rand　said　wryly。　〃As　much　as　you　love　your　husband；　you'll　not　want　him　with　you　in　Cairhien。　Conditions　will　be　hard；　for　a　sick　man。　I　took　the　liberty　of　having　him　moved　to　the　High　Lady　Estanda's　apartments。　She　will　care　for　him　while　you　are　away；　and　send　him　to　meet　you　in　Cairhien　when　he　is　well。〃　Estanda　smiled；　a　tight　smile　of　triumph。　Alteima's　eyes　rolled　back　in　her　head；　and　she　crumpled　in　a　heap。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　shook　her　head　slightly。　He　truly　was　harder　than　he　had　been。　More　dangerous。　Egwene　started　toward　the　fallen　woman；　but　Moiraine　put　a　hand　on　her　arm。　〃I　think　she　was　only　overe　by　emotion。　I　can　recognize　it；　you　see。　The　ladies　are　tending　her。〃　Several　of　them　had　clustered　around；　patting　Alteima's　wrists　and　passing　smelling　salts　under　her　nose。　She　coughed　and　opened　her　eyes；　and　looked　ready　to　faint　again　when　she　saw　Estanda　standing　over　her。
　　　　　　　〃Rand　just　did　something　very　clever；　I　think；〃　Egwene　said　in　a　flat　voice。　〃And　very　cruel。　He　has　a　right　to　look　ashamed。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　did　look　it　at　that；　grimacing　at　the　floorstones　under　his　boots。　Perhaps　he　was　not　as　hard　as　he　was　trying　to　be。
　　　　　　　〃Not　undeserved；　however；〃　Moiraine　observed。　The　girl　showed　promise；　picking　up　on　what　she　did　not　understand。　But　she　still　needed　to　learn　to　control　her　emotions；　to　see　what　had　to　be　done　as　well　as　she　saw　what　she　wished　could　be　done。　〃Let　us　hope　he　is　finished　with　being　clever　for　today。〃
　　　　　　　Very　few　in　the　great　chamber　understood　exactly　what　had　happened；　only　that　Alteima's　fainting　had　upset　the　Lord　Dragon。　A　few　in　the　back　raised　shouts　of　〃Cairhien　shall　fall！〃　but　the　cry　did　not　take　hold。
　　　　　　　〃With　you　to　lead　us；　my　Lord　Dragon；　we　shall　conquer　the　world！〃　a　lumpy　faced　young　man　shouted；　half…supporting　Torean。　Estean；　Torean's　eldest　son；　the　lumpy…faced　resemblance　was　clear；　though　the　father　was　still　mumbling　to　himself。
　　　　　　　Jerking　his　head　up；　Rand　appeared　startled。　Or　perhaps　angry。　〃I　will　not　be　with　you。　I　am。。。　going　away　for　a　time。〃　That　certainly　brought　silence　again。　Every　eye　was　on　him；　but　his　attentions　were　all　on　Callandor。　The　crowd　flinched　as　he　lifted　the　crystal　blade　before　his　face。　Sweat　rolled　down　his　face；　much　more　sweat　than　before。　〃The　Stone　held　Callandor　before　I　came。　The　Stone　should　hold　it　again；　until　I　return。〃
　　　　　　　Suddenly　the　transparent　sword　blazed　in　his　hands。　Whirling　it　hilt　uppermost；　he　drove　it　down。　Into　the　stone　floor。　Bluish　lightning　arced　wildly　toward　the　dome　above。　The　stone　rumbled　loudly；　and　the　Stone　shook；　dancing；　heaving　screaming　people　from　their　feet。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　pushed　Egwene　off　of　her　while　tremors　still　reverberated　through　the　chamber；　and　scrambled　erect。　What　had　he　done？　And　why？　Going　away？　It　was　the　worst　of　all　her　nightmares。
　　　　　　　The　Aiel　had　already　regained　their　feet。　Everyone　else　lay　stunned　or　huddled　on　hands　and　knees。　Except　for　Rand。　He　was　on　one　knee；　both　hands　holding　Callandor's　hilt；　with　the　blade　driven　halfway　into　the　floorstones。　The　sword　was　clear　crystal　again。　Sweat　glistened　on　his　face。　He　pried　his　hands　away　one　finger　at　a　time；　held　them　cupped　around　the　hilt　yet　not　touching　it。　For　a　moment　Moiraine　thought　he　was　going　to　take　hold　of　it　again；　but　instead　he　forced　himself　to　his　feet。　He　did　have　to　force　himself；　she　was　certain　of　it。
　　　　　　　〃Look　at　this　while　I　am　gone。〃　His　voice　was　lighter；　more　the　way