rj.acrownofswords-第78部分

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who　returned　with　Nurelle。　〃You　expect　me　to　turn　tail　because　of　a　cutpurse？〃
　　　〃Don't　play　the　fool；〃　he　growled。　〃A　cutpurse；　with　a　dozen　soldiers　around　you？〃　Color　flared　in　her　cheeks；　she　knew；　all　right。　He　gave　her　no　chance　for　protests　or　explanations　or　any　other　foolishness。　〃Dobraine　tells　me　he's　already　heard　whispers　in　the　palace　that　you　betrayed　Colavaere。　Those　who　supported　her　might　be　afraid　to　say　boo　to　me；　but　they'll　pay　to　have　a　knife　stuck　into　you。〃　And　Faile；　too；　according　to　Dobraine；　that　was　being　taken　care　of。　〃But　they　won't　have　a　chance；　because　you　are　going　back　to　Mayene。　Dobraine　will　take　your　place　here　until　Elayne　claims　the　Sun　Throne。〃
　　　She　spluttered　as　if　he　had　dumped　cold　water　down　her　dress。　Her　eyes　grew　dangerously　large。　He　had　been　glad　when　she　stopped　being　afraid　of　him；　but　now　he　was　not　so　sure。　As　she　opened　her　mouth　to　explode；　Annoura　touched　her　arm；　and　her　head　whipped　around。　They　exchanged　a　long　look；　and　Berelain's　sputters　subsided。　She　smoothed　her　skirts　and　vigorously　squared　her　shoulders。　Rand　looked　away　hastily。
　　　Merana　hovered　at　the　edge　of　the　ward。　He　wondered　whether　she　had　stepped　across　and　dodged　back　…　how　else　could　she　stand　right　on　top　of　what　she　could　not　possibly　detect？　When　his　head　turned；　she　moved　backward　until　she　almost　touched　the　walls；　her　eyes　never　leaving　him。　By　her　face；　she　would　have　poured　his　tea　every　day　for　ten　years　to　hear　what　was　being　said。
　　　〃My　Lord　Dragon；〃　Berelain　said；　smiling；　〃there　is　still　the　matter　of　the　Atha'an　Miere。〃　Her　voice　was　warm　honey；　the　curve　of　her　lips　would　have　sparked　thoughts　of　kisses　in　a　stone。　〃The　Wavemistress　Harine　is　not　pleased　to　be　left　sitting　on　her　ship　so　long。　I　have　visited　with　her　a　number　of　times。　I　can　smooth　the　difficulties　there；　which　I　hardly　think　Lord　Dobraine　can。　I　believe　the　Sea　Folk　are　vital　to　you　whether　or　not　the　Prophecies　of　the　Dragon　mention　them。　You　are　crucial　in　their　prophecies；　though　they　seem　reluctant　to　say　exactly　how。〃
　　　Rand　stared。　Why　was　she　struggling　so　hard　to　keep　a　difficult　job　that　had　offered　few　thanks　from　Cairhienin　even　before　some　began　wanting　to　kill　her？　She　was　a　ruler；　used　to　dealing　with　rulers　and　embassies；　not　street　thugs　and　knives　in　the　dark。　Warm　honey　or　no　warm　honey；　it　was　not　for　any　desire　to　stay　near　Rand　al'Thor。　She　had。。。　well；　offered　herself　to　him。。。　once；　but　the　hard　fact　was　that　Mayene　was　a　small　country；　and　Berelain　used　her　beauty　as　a　man　would　a　sword；　to　keep　her　land　from　being　swallowed　by　its　more　powerful　neighbor；　Tear。　And　there；　simple　as　that；　he　had　it。　〃Berelain；　I　don't　know　what　else　I　can　do　to　guarantee　Mayene　for　you；　but　I　will　write　out　any　…　〃　Colors　swirled　so　strongly　in　his　head　that　his　tongue　froze。　Lews　Therin　cackled。　A　woman　who　knows　the　danger　and　isn't　afraid　is　a　treasure　only　a　madman　would　spurn。
　　　〃Guarantees。〃　Bleakness　engulfed　honey；　and　anger　bubbled　again；　cold　this　time。　Annoura　plucked　at　Berelain's　sleeve；　but　she　paid　the　Aes　Sedai　no　heed。　〃While　I　sit　in　Mayene　with　your　guarantees；　others　will　serve　you。　They　will　ask　then　rewards；　and　the　service　I　did　here　will　be　faded　and　old；　while　theirs　is　bright　and　new。　If　the　High　Lord　Weiramon　gives　you　Illian　and　asks　Mayene　in　return；　what　will　you　say？　If　he　gives　you　Murandy；　and　Altara；　and　everything　clear　to　the　Aryth　Ocean？〃
　　　〃Will　you　serve　if　it　still　means　leaving？〃　he　asked　quietly。　〃You　will　be　out　of　my　sight；　but　not　out　of　my　mind。〃　Lews　Therin　laughed　again；　in　such　a　way　that　Rand　nearly　blushed。　He　enjoyed　looking；　but　sometimes　the　things　Lews　Therin　thought。。。
　　　Berelain　considered　him　with　stubborn　eyes；　and　he　could　all　but　see　the　questions　being　toted　up　behind　Annoura's；　the　careful　choosing　of　which　to　ask。
　　　The　door　opened　again　for　Riallin。　〃An　Aes　Sedai　has　e　to　see　the　Car'a'carn。〃　She　managed　to　sound　cold　and　uncertain　at　the　same　time。　〃Her　name　is　Cadsuane　Melaidhrin。〃　A　strikingly　handsome　woman　swept　in　right　behind　her；　iron…gray　hair　gathered　in　a　bun　atop　her　head　and　decorated　with　dangling　gold　ornaments；　and　it　seemed　everything　happened　at　once。
　　　〃I　thought　you　were　dead；〃　Annoura　gasped；　eyes　nearly　starting　out　of　her　head。
　　　Merana　darted　through　the　ward；　hands　outstretched。　〃No；　Cadsuane！〃　she　screamed。　〃You　mustn't　harm　him！　You　must　not！〃
　　　Rand's　skin　tingled　as　someone　in　the　room　embraced　saidar；　perhaps　more　than　one；　and　swiftly　moving　well　clear　of　Berelain；　he　seized　hold　of　the　Source；　flooding　himself　with　saidin；　feeling　it　fill　the　Asha'man。　Dashiva's　face　twitched　as　he　glared　from　one　Aes　Sedai　to　another。　Despite　the　Power　he　held；　Narishma　grasped　his　sword　hilt　with　both　hands　and　assumed　the　stance　called　Leopard　in　the　Tree；　on　the　brink　of　drawing。　Lews　Therin　snarled　of　killing　and　death；　kill　them　all；　kill　them　now。　Riallin　raised　her　veil；　shouting　something；　and　suddenly　a　dozen　Maidens　were　in　the　room；　veiling；　spears　ready。　It　was　hardly　surprising　that　Berelain　stood　gaping　as　if　everyone　had　gone　mad。
　　　For　someone　who　had　caused　all　that；　this　Cadsuane　seemed　remarkably　unaffected。　She　looked　at　the　Maidens　and　shook　her　head；　golden　stars　and　moons　and　birds　swaying　gently。　〃Trying　to　grow　decent　roses　in　northern　Ghealdan　may　be　near　to　death；　Annoura；〃　she　said　dryly；　〃but　it　is　not　quite　the　grave。　Oh；　do　calm　down；　Merana；　before　you　frighten　someone。　One　would　think　you　would　have　grown　a　little　less　excitable　since　putting　off　novice　white。〃
　　　Merana　opened　and　closed　her　mouth；　looking　abashed　of　all　things；　and　the　tingling　vanished　abruptly。　Rand　did　not　release　saidin；　though；　nor　did　the　Asha'man。
　　　〃Who　are　you？〃　he　demanded。　〃What　Ajah？〃　Red；　by　Merana's　reaction；　but　for　a　Red　sister　simply　to　walk　in　like　this；　alone；　would　require　suicidal　courage。　〃What　do　you　want？〃
　　　Cadsuane's　gaze　lingered　on　him　for　no　more　than　a　moment；　and　she　did　not　answer。　Merana's　lips　parted；　but　the　gray…haired　woman　looked　at　her；　raising　one　eyebrow；　and　that　was　that。　Merana　actually　reddened　and　lowered　her　eyes。　Annoura　was　still　staring　at　the　newer　as　if　at　a　ghost。　Or　a　giant。
　　　Without　a　word；　Cadsuane　swept　across　the　room　to　the　two　Asha'man；　dark　green　divided　skirts　swishing。　Rand　was　beginning　to　get　the　feeling　that　she　always　moved　in　that　rushing　glide；　graceful　yet　wasting　no　time　and　allowing　nothing　to　impede　her。　Dashiva　stared　her　up　and　down；　and　sneered。　Although　looking　him　straight　in　the　face；　she　did　not　seem　to　notice；　any　more　than　she　appeared　to　notice　Narishma's　hands　on　his　sword　when　she　put　a　finger　under　his　chin；　moving　his　head　from　side　to　side　before　he　could　jerk　back。
　　　〃What　lovely　eyes；〃　she　murmured。　Narishma　blinked　uncertainly；　and　Dashiva's　sneer　turned　to　a　grin；　but　a　nasty　one　that　made　his　former　smirk　lighthearted　in　parison。
　　　〃Do　nothing；〃　Rand　snapped。　Dashiva　had　the　gall　to　glower　at　him　before　sullenly　pressing　a　fist　to　his　chest　in　the　salute　the　Asha'man　used。　〃What　do　you　want　here；　Cadsuane；〃　Rand　went　on。　〃Look　at　me；　burn　you！〃
　　　She　did；　turning　just　her　head。　〃So　you　are　Rand　al'Thor；　the　Dragon　Reborn。　I'd　have　thought　even　a　child　like　Moiraine　could　have　taught　you　a　few　manners。〃
　　　Riallin　put　the　spear　from　her　right　hand　with　those　clutched　behind　her　buckler　and　flashed　Maiden　handtalk。　For　once；　none　laughed。　For　once；　Rand　was　sure　the　talk　was　not　a　joke　about　him。　〃Be　easy；　Riallin；〃　he　said；　raising　a　hand。　〃All　of　you；　be　easy。〃
　　　Cadsuane　ignored　the　byplay　too；　directing　a　smile　to　Berelain。　〃So　this　is　your　Berelain；　Annoura。　She　is　more　beautiful　than　I　had　heard。〃　The　curtsy　she　made；　bowing　her　head；　was　quite　deep；　yet　somehow　without　any　suggestion　of　obeisance；　no　hint　that　she　was　in　any　way　less。　It　truly　was　a　courtesy；　no　more。　〃My　Lady　First　of　Mayene；　I　must　speak　with　this　young　man；　and　I　would　retain　your　advisor。　I've　heard　you　have　undertaken　many　duties　here。　I　would　not　keep　you　from　them。〃　It　was　as　clear　a　dismissal　as　could　be；　short　of　holding　the　door　open。
　　　Berelain　inclined　her　head　graciously；　then　smoothly　turned　to　Rand　and　spread　her　skirts　in　a　curtsy　so　deep　that　he　worried　whether　she　would　remain　even　as　clothed　as　she　was。　〃My　Lord　Dragon；〃　she　intoned；　〃I　ask　your　kind　permission　to　withdraw。〃
　　　Rand's　return　bow　was　not　so　practiced。　〃Granted；　my　Lady　First；　as　you　wish。〃　He　offered　her　a　hand；　to　help　her　rise。　〃I　hope　you　will　consider　my　proposal。〃
　　　〃My　Lord　Dragon；　I　will　serve　you　wherever　and　however　you　desire。〃　Her　voice　was　all　honey　again。　For　Cadsuane's　benefit；　he　supposed。　There　was　certainly　no　flirtation　on　her　face；　only　determination。　〃Remember　Harine；〃　she　added　in　a　whisper。
　　　When　the　door　closed　behind　Berelain；　Cadsuane　said；　〃It's　always　good　to　see　children　play；　don't　you　think；　Merana？〃　Merana　goggled；　head　swiveling　between　Rand　and　the　gray…haired　sister。　Annoura　looked　as　though　only　willpower　held　her　upright。
　　　Most　of　the　Maidens　followed　Berelain；　apparently　deciding　there　was　to　be　no　killing；　but　Riallin　and　two　others　remained　before　the　door；　still　veiled。　It　might　have　been　coincidence　that　there　was　one　for　each　Aes　Sedai。　Dashiva　also　seemed　to　think　any　danger　past。　He　leaned　back　against　the　wall　with　a　foot　propped；　lips　moving　silently；　arms　folded；　apparently　watching　the　Aes　Sedai。
　　　Narishma　frowned　questioningly　at　Rand；　but　Rand　only　shook　his　head。　The　woman　was　deliberately　trying　to　provoke　him。　The　question　was；　why　provoke　a　man　she　must　know　could　still　her；　or　kill　her；　without　exerting　himself？　Lews　Therin　muttered　the　same　thing。　Why？　Why？　Stepping　onto　the　dais；　Rand　took　up　the　Dragon　Scepter　from　the　throne　and　sat；　waiting　to　see　what　would　happen。　The　woman　was　not　going　to　succeed。
　　　〃Rather　ornate；　wouldn't　you　say？〃　Cadsuane　said　to　Annoura；　looking　around。　Aside　from　all　the　other　gold；　broad　bands　of　it　ran　around　the　walls　above　the　mirrors；　and　the　cornices　were　nearly　two　feet　of　golden　scales。　〃I've　never　known　whether　Cairhienin　or　Tairens　overdo　worse；　but　either