rj.theshadowrising-第8部分

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d　not　try　to　control　the　false　Dragon；　High　Lady；〃　Pura　said　breathily。　〃They　would　capture　him；　and　gentle　him。〃
Taisa　looked　an　indignant　question　at　the　High　Lady。　The　answer　had　avoided　Suroth's　query；　had　perhaps　even　implied　that　one　of　the　Blood　had　spoken　untruth。　Suroth　gave　a　slight　shake　of　her　head；　the　merest　sideways　motion　…　she　had　no　wish　to　wait　while　the　damane　recovered　from　punishment　…　and　Taisa　bowed　her　head　in　acquiescence。
〃Once　again；　Pura；　what　do　you　know　of　Aes　Sedai。。。〃　Suroth's　mouth　twisted　at　being　defiled　with　that　name；　Alwhin　gave　a　grunt　of　distaste　〃。。。　Aes　Sedai　aiding　this　man？　I　warn　you。　Our　soldiers　fought　women　of　the　Tower；　women　channeling　the　Power；　at　Falme；　so　do　not　attempt　to　deny　it。〃
〃Pura。。。。　Pura　does　not　know；　High　Lady。〃　There　was　urgency　in　the　damane's　voice；　and　uncertainty；　she　darted　another　wide…eyed　glance　at　Taisa。　It　was　clear　that　she　wanted　desperately　to　be　believed。　〃Perhaps。。。。　Perhaps　the　Amyrlin；　or　the　Hall　of　the　Tower。。。。　No；　they　would　not。　Pura　does　not　know；　High　Lady。〃
〃The　man　can　channel；〃　Suroth　said　curtly。　The　woman　on　the　floor　moaned；　though　she　had　heard　the　same　words　from　Suroth　before。　Saying　it　again　made　Suroth's　stomach　knot；　but　she　allowed　nothing　to　show　on　her　face。　Little　of　what　had　happened　at　Falme　had　been　the　work　of　women　channeling；　damane　could　sense　that；　and　the　sul'dam　wearing　the　bracelet　always　knew　what　her　damane　felt。　That　meant　it　had　to　have　been　the　work　of　the　man。　It　also　meant　he　was　incredibly　powerful。　So　powerful　that　Suroth　had　once　or　twice　found　herself　wondering；　growing　queasy；　whether　he　might　really　be　the　Dragon　Reborn。　That　cannot　be；　she　told　herself　firmly。　In　any　case；　it　made　no　difference　to　her　plans。　〃It　is　impossible　to　believe　that　even　the　White　Tower　would　allow　such　a　man　to　walk　free。　How　do　they　control　him？〃
The　damane　lay　there　silently；　face　to　the　floor；　shoulders　shaking；　weeping。
〃Answer　the　High　Lady！〃　Taisa　said　sharply。　Taisa　did　not　move；　but　Pura　gasped；　flinching　as　if　struck　across　the　hips。　A　blow　delivered　through　the　a'dam。
〃P…Pura　does　not　kn…know。〃　The　damane　stretched　out　a　hesitant　hand　as　though　to　touch　Suroth's　foot。　〃Please。　Pura　has　learned　to　obey。　Pura　speaks　only　the　truth。　Please　do　not　punish　Pura。〃
Suroth　stepped　back　smoothly；　letting　none　of　her　irritation　show。　That　she　should　be　forced　to　move　by　a　damane。　That　she　could　almost　be　touched　by　one　who　could　channel。　She　felt　a　need　to　bathe；　as　if　the　touch　had　actually　landed。
Taisa's　dark　eyes　bulged　in　outrage　at　the　damane's　effrontery；　her　cheeks　were　scarlet　with　shame　that　this　should　happen　while　she　wore　the　woman's　bracelet。　She　seemed　torn　between　prostrating　herself　beside　the　damane　to　beg　forgiveness　and　punishing　the　woman　then　and　there。　Alwhin　stared　a　thin…lipped　contempt；　every　line　of　her　face　saying　that　such　things　did　not　happen　when　she　wore　a　bracelet。
Suroth　raised　one　finger　a　fraction；　making　a　small　gesture　every　so'jhin　knew　from　childhood；　a　simple　dismissal。
Alwhin　hesitated　before　interpreting　it；　then　tried　to　cover　her　slip　by　rounding　harshly　on　Taisa。　〃Take　this。。。　creature　from　the　presence　of　the　High　Lady　Suroth。　And　when　you　have　punished　her；　go　to　Surela　and　tell　her　that　you　control　your　charges　as　if　you　had　never　worn　the　bracelet　before。　Tell　her　that　you　are　to　be　…〃
Suroth　shut　Alwhin's　voice　from　her　mind。　None　of　that　had　been　her　mand　except　the　dismissal；　but　quarrels　between　sul'dam　were　beneath　her　notice。　She　wished　she　knew　whether　Pura　was　managing　to　hide　something。　Her　agents　reported　claims　that　the　women　of　the　White　Tower　could　not　lie。　It　had　not　been　possible　to　force　Pura　to　tell　even　a　simple　lie；　to　say　that　a　white　scarf　was　black；　yet　that　was　not　enough　to　be　conclusive。　Some　might　accept　the　tears　of　the　damane；　her　protests　of　inability　whatever　the　sul'dam　did；　but　none　who　did　would　have　risen　to　lead　the　Return。　Pura　might　have　some　reservoir　of　will　left；　might　be　clever　enough　to　try　using　the　belief　that　she　was　incapable　of　lying。　None　of　the　women　collared　on　the　mainland　were　fully　obedient；　trustworthy；　not　like　the　damane　brought　from　Seanchan。　None　of　them　truly　accepted　what　they　were；　as　Seanchan　damane　did。　Who　could　say　what　secrets　might　hide　in　one　who　had　called　herself　Aes　Sedai？
Not　for　the　first　time　Suroth　wished　she　had　the　other　Aes　Sedai　who　had　been　captured　on　Toman　Head。　With　two　to　question；　there　would　have　been　a　better　chance　to　catch　lies　and　evasions。　It　was　a　useless　wish。　The　other　could　be　dead；　drowned　at　sea；　or　on　display　at　the　Court　of　the　Nine　Moons。　Some　of　the　ships　Suroth　had　failed　to　gather　in　must　have　managed　the　journey　back　across　the　ocean；　and　one　might　well　have　carried　the　woman。
She　herself　had　sent　a　ship　carrying　carefully　crafted　reports；　nearly　half　a　year　ago　now；　as　soon　as　she　had　solidified　her　control　of　the　Forerunners；　with　a　captain　and　crew　from　families　that　had　served　hers　since　Luthair　Paendrag　had　proclaimed　himself　Emperor；　nearly　a　thousand　years　ago。　Dispatching　the　ship　had　been　a　gamble；　for　the　Empress　might　send　back　someone　to　take　Suroth's　place。　Not　sending　the　vessel　would　have　been　a　greater；　though；　only　utter　and　crushing　victory　could　have　saved　her　then。　Perhaps　not　even　that。　So　the　Empress　knew　of　Falme；　knew　of　Turak's　disaster　and　Suroth's　intention　to　go　on。　But　what　did　she　think　of　that　knowledge；　and　what　was　she　doing　about　it？　That　was　a　greater　concern　than　any　damane；　whatever　she　had　been　before　collaring。
Yet　the　Empress　did　not　know　everything。　The　worst　could　not　be　entrusted　to　any　messenger；　no　matter　how　loyal。　It　would　only　be　passed　from　Suroth's　lips　directly　to　the　ear　of　the　Empress；　and　Suroth　had　taken　pains　to　keep　it　so。　Only　four　still　lived　who　knew　the　secret；　and　two　of　those　would　never　speak　of　it　to　anyone；　not　of　their　own　volition。　Only　three　deaths　can　hold　it　more　tightly。
Suroth　did　not　realize　she　had　murmured　the　last　aloud　until　Alwhin　said；　〃And　yet　the　High　Lady　needs　all　three　alive。〃　The　woman　had　a　properly　humble　suppleness　to　her　stance；　even　to　the　trick　of　downcast　eyes　that　still　managed　to　watch　for　any　sign　from　Suroth。　Her　voice　was　humble；　too。　〃Who　can　say；　High　Lady；　what　the　Empress　…　may　she　live　forever！　…　might　do　if　she　learned　of　an　attempt　to　keep　such　knowledge　from　her？〃
Instead　of　answering；　Suroth　made　the　tiny　dismissing　gesture　once　more。　Again　Alwhin　hesitated　…　this　time　it　had　to　be　simple　reluctance　to　leave；　the　woman　rose　above　herself！　…　before　bowing　deeply　and　backing　out　of　Suroth's　presence。
With　an　effort　Suroth　found　calmness。　The　sul'dam　and　the　other　two　were　a　problem　she　could　not　solve　now；　but　patience　was　a　necessity　for　the　Blood。　Those　who　lacked　it　were　likely　to　end　in　the　Tower　of　Ravens。
On　the　terrace；　kneeling　servants　leaned　forward　a　hair　in　readiness　as　she　appeared　again。　The　soldiers　maintained　their　watch　to　see　she　was　undisturbed。　Suroth　took　up　her　place　before　the　balustrade；　this　time　staring　out　to　sea；　toward　the　mainland　hundreds　of　miles　to　the　east。
To　be　the　one　who　successfully　led　the　Forerunners；　who　began　the　Return；　would　bring　much　honor。　Perhaps　even　adoption　into　the　family　of　the　Empress；　though　that　was　an　honor　not　without　plications。　To　also　be　the　one　who　captured　this　Dragon；　whether　false　or　real；　along　with　the　means　of　controlling　his　incredible　power。。。。
But　if…when　I　take　him；　do　I　give　him　to　the　Empress？　That　is　the　question。
Her　long　nails　began　to　click　again　on　the　wide　stone　rail。


　
Chapter　2
（Dragon）
Whirlpools　in　the　Pattern

　　　　　　　Inland　the　hot　night　wind　blew；　north　across　the　vast　delta　called　the　Fingers　of　the　Dragon；　a　winding　maze　of　waterways　broad　and　narrow；　some　choked　with　knifegrass。　Vast　plains　of　reeds　separated　clusters　of　low　islands　forested　with　spider…rooted　trees　seen　nowhere　else。　Eventually　the　delta　gave　way　to　its　source；　the　River　Erinin；　the　river's　great　width　spotted　with　the　lights　of　small　boats　lantern…fishing。　Boats　and　lights　bobbed　wildly；　sudden　and　unexpected；　and　some　older　men　muttered　of　evil　things　passing　in　the　night。　Young　men　laughed；　but　they　hauled　the　nets　more　vigorously；　too；　eager　to　be　home　and　out　of　the　dark。　The　stories　said　evil　could　not　cross　your　threshold　unless　you　invited　it　in。　That　was　what　the　stories　said。　But　out　in　the　darkness。。。。
　　　　　　　The　last　tang　of　salt　had　vanished　by　the　time　the　wind　reached　the　great　city　of　Tear；　hard　by　the　river；　where　tile…roofed　inns　and　shops　shouldered　against　tall；　towered　palaces　gleaming　in　the　moonlight。　Yet　no　place　was　half　so　tall　as　the　massive　bulk；　almost　a　mountain；　that　stretched　from　city's　heart　to　water's　edge。　The　Stone　of　Tear；　fortress　of　legend；　the　oldest　stronghold　of　mankind；　erected　in　the　last　days　of　the　Breaking　of　the　World。　While　nations　and　empires　rose　and　fell；　were　replaced　and　fell　anew；　the　Stone　stood。　It　was　the　rock　on　which　armies　had　broken　spears　and　swords　and　hearts　for　three　thousand　years。　And　in　all　that　time　it　had　never　fallen　to　invading　arms。　Until　now。
　　　　　　　The　streets　of　the　city；　the　taverns　and　inns；　were　all　but　empty　in　the　muggy　darkness；　people　keeping　cautiously　within　their　own　walls。　Who　held　the　Stone　was　lord　of　Tear；　city　and　nation。　That　was　the　way　it　had　always　been；　and　the　people　of　Tear　accepted　it　always。　By　daylight　they　would　cheer　their　new　lord　with　enthusiasm　as　they　had　cheered　the　old；　by　night　they　huddled　together；　shivering　despite　the　heat　when　the　wind　howled　across　their　rooftops　like　a　thousand　keening　mourners。　Strange　new　hopes　danced　in　their　heads；　hopes　none　in　Tear　had　dared　for　a　hundred　generations；　hopes　mixed　with　fears　as　old　as　the　Breaking。
　　　　　　　The　wind　lashed　the　long；　white　banner　catching　the　moon　above　the　Stone　as　if　trying　to　rip　it　away。　Along　its　length　marched　a　sinuous　figure　like　a　legged　serpent；　golden…maned　like　a　lion；　scaled　in　scarlet　and　gold；　seeming　to　ride　the　wind。　Banner　of　prophecy；　hoped　for　and　dreaded。　Banner　of　the　Dragon。　The　Dragon　Reborn。　Harbinger　of　the　world's　salvation；　and　herald　of　a　new　Breaking　to　e。　As　if　outraged　at　such　defiance；　the　wind　dashed　itself　against　the　hard　walls　of　the　Stone。　The　Dragon　banner　floated；　unheeding　in　the　night；　awaiting　greater　storms。
　　　　　　　In　a　room　more　than　halfway　up　the　Stone's　southern　face；　Perrin　sat　on　the　chest　at　the　foot　of　his　canopied　bed　and　watched　the　dark…haired　young　woman　pacing　up　and　down。　There　was　a　trace　of　wariness　in　his　golden　eyes。　Usually　Faile　bantered　with　him；　maybe　poked　a　little　gentle　fun　at　his　deliberate　ways；　tonight　she　had　not　said　ten　words　since　ing　through　the　door。　He　could　smell　the　rose　petals　that　had　been　folded　into　her　clothes　after　cleaning；　and　the　scent　that　was　just　her。　And　in　the　hint　of　clean　perspiration；　he　smelled　nervousness。　Faile　almost　never　showed　nerves。　Wondering　why　she　did　now　set　an　itch　between　his　shoulders　that　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　night's　heat。　Her　narrow；　divided　skirts　made　a　soft　whisk…whisk…whisk　with　her　strides。
　　　　　　　He　scratched　his　two…week　growth　of　beard　irritably。　It　was　even　curlier　than　the