rj.acrownofswords-第18部分

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　avoided　us；　and　you　said　to　let　them　go　unless　they　gave　trouble。　I　think　they　were　hunting　any　Aes　Sedai　who　escaped。　There　were　several　women　with　them。〃　Cold　blue　eyes　glanced　at　the　two　Aes　Sedai；　anvil　flat　and　anvil　hard。　Once；　Rhuarc　had　walked　lightly　around　Aes　Sedai　…　any　Aiel　had　…　but　that　had　ended　yesterday；　if　not　before。
　　　〃Good　news。　I'd　give　almost　anything　to　have　Galina；　but　still；　good　news。〃　Rand　touched　the　hilt　of　his　sword　again；　eased　the　blade　in　its　dark　scabbard。　The　action　seemed　unconscious。　Galina；　a　Red；　had　been　in　charge　of　the　sisters　who　held　him　prisoner；　and　if　he　was　calm　about　her　today；　yesterday　he　had　been　in　a　fury　that　she　had　gotten　away。　Even　now　his　calm　was　icy；　the　sort　that　could　hide　smoldering　rage；　and　his　scent　made　Perrin's　skin　crawl。　〃They　are　going　to　pay。　Every　one　of　them。〃　There　was　nothing　to　say　whether　Rand　meant　the　Shaido　or　the　Aes　Sedai　who　had　escaped　or　both。
　　　Bera　moved　her　head　uneasily；　and　he　turned　his　attention　back　to　her　and　Kiruna。　〃You　swore　fealty；　and　I　trust　that。〃　He　held　up　his　hand；　thumb　and　forefinger　nearly　touching　to　show　how　far。　〃Aes　Sedai　always　know　better　than　anybody　else；　or　so　they　think。　So　I　trust　you　to　do　what　I　say；　but　you　won't　so　much　as　take　a　bath　without　my　permission。　Or　a　Wise　One's。〃
　　　This　time　it　was　Bera　who　looked　as　though　she　had　been　struck。　Her　light　brown　eyes　swiveled　to　Amys　and　Sorilea　with　astonished　indignation；　and　Kiruna　quivered　with　the　effort　of　not　doing　the　same。　The　two　Wise　Ones　merely　shifted　their　shawls；　but　once　again　their　aromas　were　identical。　Contentment　rolled　off　of　them　in　waves；　a　very　grim　contentment。　Perrin　thought　it　a　good　thing　the　Aes　Sedai　did　not　have　his　nose；　or　they　would　have　been　ready　to　go　to　war　right　then　and　there。　Or　maybe　run；　and　dignity　be　hanged。　That　was　what　he　would　have　done。
　　　Rhuarc　stood　there　idly　examining　the　point　of　one　of　his　short　spears。　This　was　Wise　Ones'　business；　and　he　always　said　he　did　not　care　what　the　Wise　Ones　did　so　long　as　they　kept　their　fingers　out　of　clan　chiefs'　business。　But　Taim。。。　He　made　a　show　of　not　caring；　folding　his　arms　and　looking　around　the　camp　with　a　bored　expression；　yet　his　scent　was　strange；　plex。　Perrin　would　have　said　the　man　was　amused；　definitely　in　a　better　humor　than　before。
　　　〃The　oath　we　took；〃　Bera　said　at　last；　planting　her　hands；　on　her　ample　hips；　〃is　sufficient　to　hold　anyone　but　a　Darkfriend。〃　The　twist　she　gave　to　〃oath〃　was　almost　as　bleak　as　the　one　she　gave　〃Darkfriend。〃　No；　they　did　not　like　what　they　had　sworn　to。　〃Do　you　dare　to　accuse　us　…？〃
　　　〃If　I　thought　that；〃　Rand　snapped；　〃you　would　be　on　your　way　to　the　Black　Tower　with　Taim。　You　swore　to　obey。　Well；　obey！〃
　　　For　a　long　moment　Bera　hesitated；　then　in　an　instant　was　as　regal　from　head　to　toe　as　any　Aes　Sedai　could　be。　Which　was　saying　something。　An　Aes　Sedai　could　make　a　queen　on　her　throne　look　a　slattern。　She　curtsied　slightly；　stiffly　inclining　her　head　a　fraction。
　　　Kiruna；　on　the　other　hand；　made　a　visible　effort　to　take　hold　of　herself；　the　calm　she　assumed　hard　and　brittle　as　her　voice。　〃Must　we　then　request　permission　of　these　worthy　Aiel　women　to　ask　whether　you　are　willing　to　be　Healed　yet？　I　know　Galina　treated　you　harshly。　I　know　you　are　welts　from　shoulders　to　knees。　Accept　Healing。　Please。〃　Even　〃please〃　sounded　part　of　an　order。
　　　Min　stirred　at　Rand's　side。　〃You　should　be　grateful　for　it；　as　I　was；　sheepherder。　You　don't　like　hurting。　Somebody　has　to　do　it；　or　else。。。〃　She　grinned　mischievously；　very　nearly　the　Min　Perrin　remembered　from　before　she　was　kidnapped。　〃。。。　or　else　you　won't　be　able　to　sit　a　saddle。〃
　　　〃Young　men　and　fools；〃　Nandera　said　suddenly　to　no　one　in　particular；　〃sometimes　bear　pain　they　do　not　have　to　as　a　badge　of　their　pride。　And　their　foolishness。〃
　　　〃The　Car'a'carn；〃　Sulin　added　dryly；　also　to　the　air；　〃is　not　a　fool。　I　think。〃
　　　Rand　smiled　back　at　Min　fondly；　and　gave　Nandera　and　Sulin　wry　looks；　but　when　he　raised　his　eyes　to　Kiruna　again；　they　were　stone　once　more。　〃Very　well。〃　As　she　started　forward；　he　added；　〃But　not　from　you。〃　Her　face　grew　so　stiff　it　appeared　ready　to　crack。　Taim's　mouth　quirked　in　a　wry　almost…smile；　and　he　stepped　toward　Rand；　but　without　taking　his　eyes　from　Kiruna；　Rand　flung　out　a　hand　behind　him。　〃From　her。　e　here；　Alanna。〃
　　　Perrin　gave　a　start。　Rand　had　pointed　straight　to　Alanna　with　never　so　much　as　a　glance。　That　prickled　something　in　the　back　of　his　head；　but　he　could　not　make　out　what。　It　seemed　to　catch　Taim；　as　well。　The　man's　face　became　a　bland　mask；　yet　dark　eyes　flickered　between　Rand　and　Alanna；　and　the　only　name　Perrin　could　put　to　the　scent　that　writhed　in　his　nose　was　〃puzzled。〃
　　　Alanna　gave　a　start；　too。　For　whatever　reason；　she　had　been　on　edge　ever　since　joining　Perrin　on　his　way　here；　her　serenity　at　best　a　thin　veneer。　Now　she　smoothed　her　skirts；　shot　a　defiant　stare　at　Kiruna　and　Bera　of　all　people；　and　glided　around　in　front　of　Rand。　The　other　two　sisters　watched　her；　like　teachers　intending　to　make　sure　a　pupil　performed　well　and　still　not　convinced　she　would。　Which　made　no　sense。　One　of　them　might　be　the　leader；　yet　Alanna　was　Aes　Sedai；　the　same　as　they。　It　all　deepened　Perrin's　suspicion。　Mixing　with　Aes　Sedai　was　too　much　like　wading　the　streams　in　the　Waterwood　near　to　the　Mire。　However　peaceful　the　surface；　currents　beneath　could　snatch　you　off　your　feet。　More　undercurrents　seemed　to　appear　here　every　moment；　and　not　all　from　the　sisters。
　　　Shockingly；　Rand　cupped　Alanna's　chin；　turning　her　face　up。　There　was　a　hiss　of　indrawn　breath　from　Bera；　and　for　once；　Perrin　agreed。　Rand　would　not　have　been　so　forward　with　a　girl　at　a　dance　back　home；　and　Alanna　was　no　girl　at　a　dance。　Just　as　surprising；　her　reaction　was　to　blush　and　smell　of　uncertainty。　Aes　Sedai　did　not　blush；　in　Perrin's　experience；　and　they　were　never　uncertain。
　　　〃Heal　me；〃　Rand　said；　a　mand；　not　a　request。　The　red　in　Alanna's　face　deepened；　and　anger　touched　her　scent。　Her　hands　trembled　as　she　reached　up　to　take　his　head　between　them。
　　　Unconsciously　Perrin　rubbed　the　palm　of　his　hand；　the　one　a　Shaido　spear　had　laid　open　yesterday。　Kiruna　had　Healed　several　gashes　in　him；　and　he　had　had　Healing　before；　too。　It　felt　like　being　plunged　headfirst　into　a　freezing　pond；　it　left　you　gasping　and　shaking　and　weak…kneed。　Hungry；　too；　usually。　The　only　sign　Rand　gave　that　anything　had　been　done；　though；　was　a　slight　shiver。
　　　〃How　do　you　stand　the　pain？〃　Alanna　whispered　at　him。
　　　〃It's　done；　then；〃　he　said；　removing　her　hands。　And　turned　from　her　without　a　word　of　thanks。　Seeming　on　the　point　of　speaking；　he　paused；　half…turning　to　look　back　toward　Dumai's　Wells。
　　　〃They　have　all　been　found；　Rand　al'Thor；〃　Amys　said　gently。
　　　He　nodded；　then　again；　more　briskly。　〃It's　time　to　be　gone。　Sorilea；　will　you　name　Wise　Ones　to　take　over　the　prisoners　from　the　Asha'man？　And　also　as　panions　for　Kiruna　and。。。　my　other　liegewomen。〃　For　an　instant；　he　grinned。　〃I　wouldn't　want　them　to　err　through　ignorance。〃
　　　〃It　shall　be　done　as　you　say；　Car'a'carn。〃　Adjusting　her　shawl　firmly；　the　leather…faced　Wise　One　addressed　the　three　sisters。　〃Join　your　friends　until　I　can　find　someone　to　hold　your　hands。〃　It　was　not　unexpected　that　Bera　would　frown　indignantly；　or　Kiruna　bee　frost　personified。　Alanna　gazed　at　the　ground；　resigned；　almost　sullen。　Sorilea　was　having　none　of　it。　Clapping　hands　sharply；　she；　made　brisk　shooing　motions。　〃Well？　Move！　Move！〃
　　　Reluctantly；　the　Aes　Sedai　let　themselves　be　herded；　making　it　seem　they　simply　were　going　where　they　wished。　Joining　Sorilea；　Amys　whispered　something　that　Perrin　did　not　quite　catch。　The　three　Aes　Sedai　apparently　did；　though。　They　stopped　dead；　three　very　startled　faces　looking　back　at　the　Wise　Ones。　Sorilea　just　clapped　her　hands　again；　louder　than　before；　and　shooed　even　more　briskly。
　　　Scratching　his　beard；　Perrin　met　Rhuarc's　eyes。　The　clan　chief　smiled　faintly　and　shrugged。　Wise　Ones'　business。　That　was　all　very　well　for　him；　Aiel　were　fatalistic　as　wolves。　Perrin　glanced　at　Gedwyn。　The　fellow　was　watching　Sorilea　lecture　the　Aes　Sedai。　No；　it　was　the　sisters　he　watched；　a　fox　staring　at　hens　in　a　coop　just　out　of　his　reach。　The　Wise　Ones　have　to　be　better　than　the　Asha'man；　Perrin　thought。　They　have　to　be。
　　　If　Rand　noticed　the　by…play；　he　ignored　it。　〃Taim；　you　take　the　Asha'man　back　to　the　Black　Tower　as　soon　as　the　Wise　Ones　have　charge　of　the　prisoners。　As　soon　as。　Remember　to　keep　an　eye　out　for　any　man　who　learns　too　fast。　And　remember　what　I　said　about　recruiting。〃
　　　〃I　can　hardly　forget；　my　Lord　Dragon；〃　the　black…coated　man　replied　dryly。　〃I　will　handle　that　trip　personally。　But　if　I　may　bring　it　up　again。。。　You　need　a　proper　honor　guard。〃
　　　〃We　have　been　over　that；〃　Rand　said　curtly。　〃I　have　better　uses　for　the　Asha'man。　If　I　need　an　honor　guard；　those　I　am　keeping　will　do。　Perrin；　will　you　…？〃
　　　〃My　Lord　Dragon；〃　Taim　broke　in；　〃you　need　more　than　a　few　Asha'man　around　you。〃
　　　Rand's　head　turned　toward　Taim。　His　face　matched　any　Aes　Sedai　for　giving　nothing　away；　but　his　scent　made　Perrin's　ears　try　to　lie　back。　Razor…sharp　rage　abruptly　vanished　in　curiosity　and　caution；　the　one　thin　and　probing；　the　other　foglike；　then　slashing；　murderous　fury　consumed　both。　Rand　shook　his　head　just　slightly；　and　his　smell　became　stony　determination。　Nobody's　scent　changed　that　fast。　Nobody's。
　　　Taim　had　only　his　eyes　to　go　by；　of　course；　and　all　they　could　tell　him　was　that　Rand　had　shaken　his　head；　if　just　barely。　〃Think。　You　have　chosen　four　Dedicated　and　four　soldiers。　You　should　have　Asha'man。〃　Perrin　did　not　understand　that；　he　thought　they　were　all　Asha'man。
　　　〃You　think　I　can't　teach　them　as　well　as　you？〃　Rand's　voice　was　soft；　the　whisper　of　a　blade　sliding　in　its　sheath。
　　　〃I　think　the　Lord　Dragon　is　too　busy　for　teaching；〃　Taim　replied　smoothly；　yet　the　anger　smell　rose　again。　〃Too　important。　Take　men　who　need　the　least　of　it。　I　can　choose　the　furthest　along　…　〃
　　　〃One；〃　Rand　cut　in。　〃And　I　will　choose。〃　Taim　smiled；　spreading　his　hands　in　acquiescence；　but　the　scent　of　frus