rj.theshadowrising-第203部分

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s　remaining　no　longer　wore　their　white　cloaks；　of　course。　Rust　spotted　their　dull　plate…and…mail；　and　Bornhald　would　never　have　recognized　those　sullen；　suspicious　faces；　dirty　and　unshaven。　The　humans　watched　Ordeith；　distrustful　yet　afraid；　not　even　glancing　at　the　Myrddraal　in　their　midst；　its　slug…pale；　eyeless　face　as　bleakly　wooden　as　theirs。　The　Halfman　feared　Isam　would　find　it；　Isam　had　not　at　all　been　pleased　when　that　raid　on　Taren　Ferry　let　so　many　escape　to　carry　away　word　of　what　was　happening　in　the　Two　Rivers。　Ordeith　giggled　at　the　thought　of　Isam　disforted。　The　man　was　a　problem　for　another　time；　if　he　still　lived。
　　　　　　　〃We　ride　for　Tar　Valon；〃　he　snapped。　Hard　riding；　to　beat　Bornhald　to　the　ferry。　Manetheren's　banner；　raised　again　in　the　Two　Rivers　after　all　these　centuries。　How　the　Red　Eagle　had　harried　him；　so　long　ago。　〃But　Caemlyn　first！〃　Scourge　them　and　flay　them！　Let　the　Two　Rivers　pay　first；　and　then　Rand　al'Thor；　and　then。。。
　　　　　　　Laughing；　he　galloped　north　through　the　forest；　not　looking　back　to　see　if　the　others　followed。　They　would。　They　had　nowhere　else　to　go　now。
　　　　　　　

Chapter　57
（Spears　and　Shield）
A　Breaking　in　the　Three…fold　Land

　　　　　　　The　molten　afternoon　sun　broiled　the　Waste；　flinging　shadows　across　the　mountains　to　the　north；　just　ahead　now。　The　dry　hills　passed　beneath　Jeade'en's　hooves；　high　and　low　like　swells　in　an　ocean　of　cracked　clay；　miles　rolling　away　behind。　The　mountains　had　held　Rand's　eyes　since　they　first　came　in　sight　the　day　before；　not　snowcapped；　not　so　tall　as　the　Mountains　of　Mist；　much　less　the　Spine　of　the　World；　but　jagged　slabs　of　brown　and　gray　stone；　streaked　in　some　places　with　yellow　or　red　or　bands　of　glittering　flecks；　tumbled　about　so　that　a　man　might　think　to　try　the　Dragonwall　afoot　first。　Sighing；　he　settled　in　his　saddle　and　adjusted　the　shoufa　he　wore　with　his　red　coat。　In　those　mountains　lay　Alcair　Dal。　Soon　there　would　be　an　ending　of　sorts；　or　a　beginning。　Maybe　both。　Soon；　perhaps。
　　　　　　　Yellow…haired　Adelin　strode　easily　ahead　of　the　dapple　stallion；　and　nine　more　sun…dark　Far　Dareis　Mai　made　a　wide　ring　around　him；　all　with　bucklers　and　spears　in　hand；　cased　bows　on　their　backs；　black　veils　dangling　on　their　chests　ready　to　be　lifted。　Rand's　honor　guard。　The　Aiel　did　not　call　it　that；　yet　the　Maidens　came　to　Alcair　Dal　for　Rand's　honor。　So　many　differences；　and　he　did　not　know　what　half　really　were　even　when　he　saw　them。
　　　　　　　For　instance；　Aviendha's　behavior　toward　the　Maidens；　and　theirs　to　her。　Most　of　the　time；　as　now；　she　walked　beside　his　horse　with　her　arms　folded　in　the　shawl　around　her　shoulders；　green　eyes　intent　beneath　her　dark　head　scarf　on　the　mountains　ahead；　she　seldom　spoke　with　the　Maidens　beyond　a　word　or　two；　but　that　was　not　the　oddity。　Her　arms　folded；　that　was　the　heart　of　it。　The　Maidens　knew　she　wore　the　ivory　bracelet；　yet　seemed　to　pretend　not　to　see　it；　she　would　not　take　it　off；　yet　hid　her　wrist　whenever　she　thought　one　of　them　might　be　looking。
　　　　　　　You　have　no　society；　Adelin　had　told　him　when　he　suggested　some　other　than　the　Maidens　of　the　Spear　might　provide　his　escort。　Each　chief；　whether　of　clan　or　sept；　would　be　acpanied　by　men　from　the　society　he　had　belonged　to　before　being　chief。　You　have　no　society；　but　your　mother　was　a　Maiden。　The　yellow…haired　woman　and　the　other　nine　had　not　looked　at　Aviendha；　a　few　steps　away　in　the　entry　hall　to　Lian's　roof；　they　had　not　looked　intently。　For　countless　years　Maidens　who　would　not　give　up　the　spear　have　given　their　babes　for　the　Wise　Ones　to　hand　to　other　women；　none　knowing　where　the　child　went　or　even　whether　boy　or　girl。　Now　a　Maiden's　son　has　e　back　to　us；　and　we　know　him。　We　will　go　to　Alcair　Dal　for　your　honor；　son　of　Shaiel；　a　Maiden　of　the　Chumai　Taardad。　Her　face　was　so　set　…　all　of　their　faces　were；　including　Aviendha's　…　that　he　thought　they　might　offer　to　dance　the　spears　if　he　refused。
　　　　　　　When　he　accepted；　they　made　him　go　through　that　ritual　of　〃Remember　honor〃　again；　this　time　with　some　drink　called　oosquai；　made　from　zemai；　drinking　to　the　bottom　of　a　small　silver　cup　with　each　of　them。　Ten　Maidens；　ten　little　cups。　The　stuff　looked　like　faintly　brown…tinged　water；　tasted　almost　like　it　…　and　was　stronger　than　double…distilled　brandy。　He　had　not　been　able　to　walk　straight　after；　and　they　had　got　him　to　bed；　laughing　at　him；　no　matter　how　he　protested；　as　much　as　he　could　with　all　of　them　tickling　him　so　he　could　barely　breathe　for　laughing　himself。　All　but　Aviendha。　Not　that　she　went　away；　she　stayed　and　watched　the　whole　thing　with　a　face　as　blank　as　stone。　When　Adelin　and　the　others　finally　tucked　him　into　his　blankets　and　left；　Aviendha　sat　down　beside　the　door；　spreading　her　dark；　heavy　skirts；　watching　him　stonily　until　he　fell　asleep。　At　his　waking；　she　was　still　there；　still　watching。　And　refusing　to　talk　about　Maidens　or　oosquai　or　any　of　it；　as　far　as　she　was　concerned；　it　seemed　not　to　have　happened。　Whether　the　Maidens　would　have　been　as　reticent；　he　did　not　know；　how　could　you　possibly　look　ten　women　in　the　face　and　ask　why　they　had　gotten　you　drunk　and　made　a　game　of　taking　your　clothes　off　and　putting　you　to　bed？
　　　　　　　So　many　differences；　so　few　that　made　much　sense　that　he　could　see；　and　no　telling　which　might　trip　him　up　and　ruin　all　his　plans。　Yet　he　could　not　afford　to　wait。　He　glanced　over　his　shoulder。　What　was　done；　was　done。　And　who　can　say　what's　yet　to　e？
　　　　　　　Well　behind；　the　Taardad　followed　him。　Not　just　the　Nine　Valley　Taardad　and　the　Jindo；　but　the　Miadi　and　the　Four　Stones；　the　Chumai　and　the　Bloody　Water　and　more；　broad　columns　surrounding　the　peddlers'　lurching　wagons　and　the　Wise　Ones'　party；　reaching　back　two　miles　through　the　shimmering　heat　haze；　ringed　by　scouts　and　outrunners。　Every　day　more　had　e　in　response　to　the　runners　Rhuarc　had　sent　that　first　day；　a　hundred　men　and　Maidens　here；　three　hundred　there；　five　hundred；　according　to　the　size　of　each　sept　and　what　each　hold　needed　to　keep　for　safety。
　　　　　　　In　the　distance　to　the　south　and　west；　another　band　was　approaching　at　a　run；　trailing　dust　for　their　pace；　perhaps　they　belonged　to　some　other　clan　on　its　way　to　Alcair　Dal；　but　he　thought　not。　Only　two…thirds　of　the　septs　represented　yet；　but　he　estimated　there　were　well　over　fifteen　thousand　Taardad　Aiel　strung　out　behind　him。　An　army　on　the　march；　and　still　growing。　Nearly　an　entire　clan　ing　to　a　meeting　of　chiefs；　in　violation　of　all　custom。
　　　　　　　Suddenly　Jeade'en　topped　a　rise；　and　there　in　a　long；　wide　hollow　below　was　the　fair　gathered　for　the　meeting；　and　on　the　hills　beyond；　the　camps　of　the　clan　and　sept　chiefs　who　had　already　arrived。
　　　　　　　Spread　among　two　or　three　hundred　of　the　low；　wall…less　tents；　all　widely　spaced；　were　pavilions　of　the　same　grayish　brown　material　that　were　tall　enough　to　stand　beneath；　with　goods　displayed　on　blankets　in　the　shade；　brightly　glazed　pottery　and　even　brighter　rugs；　jewelry　in　silver　or　gold。　Aiel　crafts　mainly；　but　there　would　be　things　from　beyond　the　Waste　as　well；　including　perhaps　silk　and　ivory　from　far　to　the　east。　No　one　seemed　to　be　trading；　the　few　men　and　women　in　sight　sat　in　one　or　another　of　the　pavilions；　usually　alone。
　　　　　　　Of　the　five　camps　scattered　on　heights　around　the　fair；　four　looked　just　as　empty；　only　a　few　dozen　men　or　Maidens　stirring　amid　tents　set　up　for　as　many　as　a　thousand。　The　fifth　camp　sprawled　over　twice　as　much　ground　as　any　of　the　others；　with　hundreds　of　people　visible；　and　likely　as　many　more　inside　the　tents。
　　　　　　　Rhuarc　trotted　up　the　hill　behind　Rand　with　his　ten　Aethan　Dor；　Red　Shields；　followed　by　Heirn　with　ten　Tain　Shari；　True　Bloods；　and　forty…odd　more　sept　chiefs　with　their　escorts　for　honor；　all　with　spears　and　bucklers；　bows　and　quivers。　It　made　a　formidable　force；　more　than　had　taken　the　Stone　of　Tear。　Some　of　the　Aiel　in　the　camps　and　among　the　pavilions　were　peering　at　the　hilltop。　Not　at　the　Aiel　gathered　there；　Rand　suspected。　At　him；　a　man　on　a　horse。　A　thing　seen　very　seldom　in　the　Three…fold　Land。　He　would　show　them　more　before　he　was　done。
　　　　　　　Rhuarc's　gaze　settled　on　the　largest　camp；　where　more　Aiel　in　cadin'sor　were　boiling　out　of　the　tents；　all　to　stare　in　their　direction。　〃Shaido；　unless　I　mistake　myself；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃Couladin。　You　are　not　the　only　one　to　break　custom；　Rand　al'Thor。〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　as　well　I　did。〃　Rand　dragged　the　shoufa　from　around　his　head　and　stuffed　it　into　his　coat　pocket　atop　the　angreal；　the　carving　of　a　round…faced　man　with　a　sword　across　his　knees。　The　sun　began　baking　his　bare　head　to　show　him　how　much　protection　the　cloth　had　been。　〃If　we　had　e　according　to　custom。。。〃　The　Shaido　were　loping　toward　the　mountains；　leaving　behind　apparently　empty　tents。　And　causing　some　little　stir　in　the　other　camps；　and　the　fair；　the　Aiel　gave　over　staring　at　a　man　on　a　horse　to　peer　after　the　Shaido。　〃Could　you　have　forced　a　way　into　Alcair　Dal　against　two…to…one　odds　or　better；　Rhuarc？〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　before　nightfall；〃　the　clan　chief　replied　slowly；　〃not　even　against　Shaido　dogrobbers。　This　is　more　than　violation　of　custom！　Even　Shaido　should　have　more　honor　than　this！〃
　　　　　　　Angry　mutters　of　agreement　rose　from　the　other　Taardad　on　the　hilltop。　Except　the　Maidens；　for　some　reason　they　had　gathered　around　Aviendha　off　to　one　side；　talking　seriously　among　themselves。　Rhuarc　spoke　a　few　quiet　words　to　one　of　his　Red　Shields；　a　green…eyed　fellow　who　looked　as　if　his　face　had　been　used　to　pound　fence　posts；　and　the　man　turned　downhill；　running　swiftly　back　toward　the　approaching　Taardad。
　　　　　　　〃Did　you　expect　this？〃　Rhuarc　asked　Rand　as　soon　as　the　Red　Shield　left。　〃Is　that　why　you　summoned　the　entire　clan？〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　this　exactly；　Rhuarc。〃　The　Shaido　began　forming　lines　before　a　narrow　gap　into　the　mountains；　they　were　veiling　themselves。　〃But　there　was　no　other　reason　for　Couladin　to　leave　in　the　night　except　that　he　was　eager　to　be　somewhere；　and　where　would　he　better　like　to　be　than　here；　causing　me　trouble？　Are　the　others　already　in　Alcair　Dal？　Why？〃
　　　　　　　〃The　opportunity　presented　by　chiefs　meeting　is　not　to　be　missed；　Rand　al'Thor。　There　will　be　discussions　of　boundary　disputes；　grazing　rights；　a　dozen　things。　Water。　If　two　Aiel　fr