rj.theshadowrising-第173部分

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t　let　myself　e　to　like　them　too　much。　I　cannot。
　　　　　　　None　of　the　other　men　had　done　so；　but　he　bowed　to　Lian；　that　was　how　he　had　been　brought　up。　〃Roofmistress；　I　ask　leave　to　e　beneath　your　roof。〃　He　heard　Aviendha's　breath　catch。　He　had　been　supposed　to　say　the　other　thing；　what　Rhuarc　had。　The　clan　chief's　eyes　narrowed　worriedly；　watching　his　wife；　and　Couladin's　flushed　face　twisted　in　a　scornful　smile。　The　soft　murmurs　from　the　crowd　sounded　puzzled。
　　　　　　　The　roofmistress　stared　at　Rand　even　harder　than　she　had　at　Couladin；　taking　him　in　from　hair　to　boots　and　back　again；　the　shoufa　lying　on　the　shoulders　of　a　red　coat　that　would　surely　never　be　worn　by　an　Aiel。　She　looked　questioningly　at　Amys；　who　nodded。
　　　　　　　〃Such　modesty；〃　Lian　said　slowly；　〃is　being　in　a　man。　Men　seldom　know　where　to　find　it。〃　Spreading　her　dark　skirts；　she　curtsied；　awkwardly　…　it　was　not　a　thing　Aiel　women　did　…　but　still　a　curtsy；　in　return　of　his　bow。　〃The　Car'a'carn　has　leave　to　enter　my　hold。　For　the　chief　of　chiefs；　there　is　ever　water　and　shade　at　Cold　Rocks。〃
　　　　　　　Another　great　ululation　rose　from　the　women　in　the　crowd；　but　whether　for　him　or　for　the　ceremony；　Rand　did　not　know。　Couladin　paused　to　stare　implacable　hatred　at　him；　then　stalked　off；　brushing　roughly　past　Aviendha　as　she　slid　ungracefully　from　the　dapple　stallion。　He　melded　quickly　into　the　dispersing　crowd。
　　　　　　　Mat　slowed　in　the　act　of　dismounting　to　stare　after　the　man。　〃Watch　your　back　with　that　one；　Rand；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃I　mean　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃Everybody　tells　me　that；〃　Rand　said。　The　peddlers　were　already　setting　up　to　trade　in　the　center　of　the　canyon；　and　at　the　entrance；　Moiraine　and　the　rest　of　the　Wise　Ones'　pany　were　arriving　to　a　few　shouts　and　the　drumming　of　pots；　but　nothing　like　the　cries　that　had　weled　Rhuarc。　〃He　isn't　who　I　have　to　worry　about。〃　His　dangers　were　not　Aiel。　Moiraine　to　one　side　and　Lanfear　to　the　other。　How　could　I　have　more　danger　than　that？　It　was　nearly　enough　to　make　him　laugh。
　　　　　　　Amys　and　Lian　had　climbed　down；　and　to　Rand's　surprise；　Rhuarc　put　an　arm　around　each　of　them。　They　were　both　tall；　as　most　Aiel　women　seemed　to　be；　but　neither　came　higher　than　the　clan　chief's　shoulder。　〃You　have　met　my　wife　Amys；〃　he　said　to　Rand。　〃Now　you　must　meet　my　wife　Lian。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　realized　his　mouth　was　hanging　open　and　closed　it　quickly。　After　Aviendha　had　told　him　the　roofmistress　of　Cold　Rocks　was　Rhuarc's　wife　and　named　Lian；　he　was　sure　he　had　misunderstood　back　at　Chaendaer；　all　that　〃shade　of　my　heart〃　between　the　man　and　Amys。　He　had　had　other　things　on　his　mind　then　anyway。　But　this。。。
　　　　　　　〃Both　of　them？〃　Mat　spluttered。　〃Light！　Two！　Oh；　burn　me！　He's　the　luckiest　man　in　the　world　or　the　biggest　fool　since　creation！〃
　　　　　　　〃I　had　thought；〃　Rhuarc　said；　frowning；　〃that　Aviendha　was　teaching　you　our　customs。　She　leaves　out　much；　it　appears。〃
　　　　　　　Leaning　to　look　around　her　husband　…　their　husband　…　Lian　raised　an　eyebrow　at　Amys；　who　said　dryly；　〃She　seemed　ideal　to　tell　him　what　he　needs　to　know。　Something　to　keep　her　from　trying　to　run　back　to　the　Maidens　whenever　our　backs　were　turned；　too。　Now　it　seems　I　must　have　a　long　talk　with　her　in　a　quiet　place。　No　doubt　she　has　been　teaching　him　Maiden　hand　talk；　or　how　to　milk　a　gara。〃
　　　　　　　Flushing　slightly；　Aviendha　tossed　her　head　irritably；　her　dark　reddish　hair　had　grown　over　her　ears；　long　enough　to　sway　in　a　fringe　below　her　head　scarf。　〃There　were　more　important　matters　to　speak　of　than　marriages。　Anyway；　the　man　does　not　listen。〃
　　　　　　　〃She　has　been　a　good　teacher；〃　Rand　put　in　quickly。　〃I　have　learned　a　great　deal　about　your　customs；　and　the　Threefold　Land；　from　her。〃　Hand　talk？　〃Any　mistakes　I　make　are　mine；　not　hers。〃　How　did　you　milk　a　venomous　two…foot　lizard？　Why？　〃She　has　been　a　good　teacher；　and　I'd　like　to　keep　her　as　such；　if　that　is　all　right。〃　Why　in　the　Light　did　I　say　that？　The　woman　could　be　pleasant　enough　sometimes；　when　she　forget　herself；　anyway；　the　rest　of　the　time　she　was　a　burr　under　his　coat。　Yet　at　least　he　knew　who　the　Wise　Ones　had　set　to　watch　him　as　long　as　she　was　there。
　　　　　　　Amys　studied　him；　those　clear　blue　eyes　as　sharp　as　an　Aes　Sedai's。　But　then；　she　could　channel；　her　face　merely　looked　younger　than　it　should；　not　ageless；　but　maybe　she　was　as　much　Aes　Sedai　as　an　Aes　Sedai。　〃That　sounds　a　fine　arrangement　to　me；〃　she　said。　Aviendha　opened　her　mouth；　all　bristling　indignation　…　and　closed　it　again；　sullenly；　when　the　Wise　One　shifted　that　stare　to　her。　Perhaps　the　woman　had　thought　her　time　with　him　was　done；　now　they　had　reached　Cold　Rocks。
　　　　　　　〃You　must　be　tired　after　your　journey；〃　Lian　said　to　Rand；　her　gray　eyes　motherly；　〃and　hungry　as　well。　e。〃　Her　warm　smile　included　Mat；　who　was　hanging　back　and　beginning　to　look　to　the　peddlers'　wagons。　〃e　beneath　my　roof。〃
　　　　　　　Fetching　his　saddlebags；　Rand　left　Jeade'en　to　the　care　of　a　gai'shain　woman；　who　took　Pips　as　well。　Mat　gave　the　wagons　a　final　stare　before　tossing　his　saddlebags　over　his　shoulder　and　following。
　　　　　　　Lian's　roof；　her　house；　sat　on　the　highest　level　on　the　west　side；　with　the　steep　canyon　wall　rising　a　good　hundred　paces　above。　Dwelling　of　the　clan　chief　and　roofmistress　or　no；　from　the　outside　it　appeared　to　be　a　modest　rectangle　of　large　yellow…clay　bricks　with　narrow；　glassless　windows　covered　by　plain　white　curtains；　a　vegetable　garden　on　its　flat　roof　and　another　in　front　on　a　small　terrace　separated　from　the　house　by　a　narrow　path　paved　with　flat　gray　stones。　Big　enough　for　two　rooms；　maybe。　Except　perhaps　for　the　square　bronze　gong　hanging　beside　the　door；　it　looked　much　like　the　other　structures　Rand　could　see；　and　from　that　vantage　point　the　entire　length　of　the　valley　was　laid　out　below　him。　A　small；　simple　house。　Inside；　it　was　something　else。
　　　　　　　The　brick　part　was　one　large　room；　floored　with　reddish　brown　tiles；　but　it　was　only　part。　Carved　into　the　stone　behind　were　more　rooms；　high…ceilinged　and　surprisingly　cool；　with　wide；　arched　doorways　and　silver　lamps　giving　off　a　scent　that　hinted　of　green　places。　Rand　saw　only　one　chair；　tall…backed　and　lacquered　red　and　gold；　with　a　look　of　not　much　use；　the　chief's　chair；　Aviendha　called　it。　There　was　little　more　wood　to　be　seen；　beyond　a　few　polished　or　lacquered　boxes　and　chests；　and　low　reading　stands　holding　open　books；　the　reader　would　need　to　lie　on　the　floor。　Intricately　woven　carpets　covered　the　floors；　and　bright　rugs　in　layers；　he　recognized　some　patterns　from　Tear　and　Cairhien　and　Andor；　even　Illian　and　Tarabon；　while　other　designs　were　unfamiliar；　broad　jagged　stripes　and　no　two　colors　alike；　or　linked　hollow　squares　in　grays　and　browns　and　blacks。　In　sharp　contrast　to　the　harsh　sameness　outside　this　valley；　there　was　vivid　color　everywhere；　wall　hangings　he　was　sure　had　e　from　the　other　side　of　the　Spine　of　the　World　…　perhaps　in　the　same　way　wall　hangings　had　left　the　Stone　of　Tear　…　and　cushions　of　all　sizes　and　hues；　often　tasseled　or　fringed　or　both　in　silk　of　red　or　gold。　Here　and　there；　in　niches　carved　into　the　walls；　stood　a　thin　porcelain　vase　or　a　silver　bowl　or　an　ivory　carving；　often　of　some　strange　animal　or　other。　So　these　were　the　〃caves〃　the　Tairens　spoke　of。　It　could　have　had　the　garishness　of　Tear　…　or　the　Tinkers　…　but　instead　it　seemed　dignified；　formal　and　informal　at　the　same　time。
　　　　　　　With　a　small　grin　for　Aviendha　to　show　her　he　had　listened；　Rand　pulled　a　guest　gift　for　Lian　from　his　saddlebags；　a　finely　worked　golden　lion。　It　had　been　looted　from　Tear　and　bought　from　a　Jindo　Water　Seeker；　but　if　he　was　ruler　of　Tear；　maybe　it　was　like　stealing　from　himself。　After　a　moment　of　hesitation；　Mat　produced　a　gift；　too；　a　Tairen　necklace　of　silver　flowers；　no　doubt　from　the　same　source　originally；　and　no　doubt　intended　for　Isendre。
　　　　　　　〃Exquisite；〃　Lian　smiled；　holding　up　the　lion。　〃I　have　always　had　a　taste　for　Tairen　craftwork。　Rhuarc　brought　me　two　pieces　many　years　ago。〃　In　a　voice　suitable　for　a　goodwife　reminiscing　over　some　particularly　fine　sugarberries；　she　said　to　her　husband；　〃You　took　them　from　the　tent　of　a　High　Lord　just　before　Laman　was　beheaded；　did　you　not？　A　pity　you　did　not　reach　Andor。　I　have　always　wanted　a　piece　of　Andoran　silver。　This　necklace　is　beautiful；　too；　Mat　Cauthon。〃
　　　　　　　Listening　to　her　heap　praise　on　both　gifts；　Rand　masked　his　shock。　For　all　her　skirts　and　motherly　eyes；　she　was　as　Aiel　as　any　Maiden　of　the　Spear。
　　　　　　　By　the　time　Lian　finished；　Moiraine　and　the　other　Wise　Ones　arrived　with　Lan　and　Egwene。　The　Warder's　sword　drew　a　single　disapproving　glance；　but　the　roofmistress　weled　him　warmly　after　Bair　called　him　Aan'allein。　Yet　that　was　nothing　to　her　greeting　for　Egwene　and　Moiraine。
　　　　　　　〃You　honor　my　roof；　Aes　Sedai。〃　The　roof　mistress's　tone　made　it　sound　an　understatement；　she　came　very　close　to　bowing　to　them。　〃It　is　said　that　we　served　Aes　Sedai　before　the　Breaking　of　the　World　and　failed　them；　and　for　that　failure　were　sent　here　to　the　Three…fold　Land。　Your　presence　says　that　perhaps　our　sin　was　not　beyond　forgiving。〃　Of　course。　She　had　not　been　to　Rhuidean；　apparently　the　prohibition　against　speaking　of　what　happened　in　Rhuidean　with　anyone　who　had　not　been　there　applied　even　between　husband　and　wife。　And　between　sister…wives；　or　whatever　the　relationship　was　between　Amys　and　Lian。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　tried　to　give　Lian　a　guest　gift；　too；　tiny　crystal…and…silver　flasks　of　scent　all　the　way　from　Arad　Doman；　but　Lian　spread　her　hands。　〃Your　very　presence　is　guest　gift　beyond　value；　Aes　Sedai。　To　accept　more　would　dishonor　my　roof；　and　me。　I　could　not　bear　the　shame。〃　She　sounded　entirely　serious；　and　troubled　that　Moiraine　might　press　the　scent　on　her。　It　was　an　indication　of　the　relative　importance　of　the　Car'a'carn　and　an　Aes　Sedai。
　　　　　　　〃As　you　wish；〃　Moiraine　said；　returning　the　flasks　to　her　belt　pouch。　She　was　icily　serene　in　blue　silk；　her　pale　cloak　thrown　back。　〃Your　Three…fold　Land　will　surely　see　more　Aes　Sedai。　We　have　never　had　reason　to　e；　before。〃
　　　　　　　Amys　did　not　look　best　pleased　over　that　at　all；　and　flame…haired　Melaine　stared　at　Moiraine　like　a　green…eyed　cat　wondering　if　she　should　do　something　about　a　large　dog　that　had　wandered　into　her　barnyard。　Bair　and　Seana