rj.thepathofdaggers-第113部分

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　　　　　　　She　frowned　at　him；　and　her　foot　stopped　tapping。　The　angry　light　in　her　eyes　faded　into　worry　that　vanished　in　a　twinkling。　〃Well；　I　suppose　you're　old　enough　to　cross　the　stableyard　without　your　hand　held；　sheepherder。　Besides；　I　am　falling　behind　in　my　reading。〃
　　　　　　　Dropping　into　one　of　the　tall　gilded　chairs；　she　folded　her　legs　beneath　her　and　picked　up　the　book　she　had　been　reading　when　he　came　in。　In　moments；　she　seemed　totally　engrossed　in　the　page　before　her。
　　　　　　　Rand　nodded。　That　was　what　he　wanted；　her　here；　and　safe。　Still；　she　did　not　have　to　forget　him　so　pletely。
　　　　　　　There　were　six　Maidens　squatting　in　the　hallway　outside　his　door。　They　stared　at　him　flat…eyed；　not　speaking；　Nandera's　gaze　the　flattest　of　all。　Though　Somara　and　Nesair　came　close。　He　thought　Nesair　was　Shaido；　he　would　have　to　keep　a　hard　eye　on　her。
　　　　　　　The　Asha'man　were　waiting；　too　…　Lews　Therin　muttered　darkly　of　killing　in　Rand's　head　…　all　but　Narishma　with　the　Dragon　on　their　collars　as　well　as　the　Sword。　Curtly；　he　ordered　Narishma　to　stand　guard　on　his　apartments；　and　the　man　saluted　sharply；　those　dark　too…big　eyes　seeing　too　much；　faintly　accusing。　Rand　did　not　think　the　Maidens　would　take　out　their　displeasure　on　Min；　but　he　was　not　taking　any　chances。　Light；　he　had　told　Narishma　everything　about　the　traps　he　had　woven　in　the　Stone　when　he　sent　the　man　to　fetch　Callandor。　The　man　was　imagining　things。　Burn　him；　but　that　had　been　a　mad　risk　to　take。
　　　　　　　Only　madmen　never　trust。　Lews　Therin　sounded　amused。　And　quite　mad。　The　wounds　in　Rand's　side　throbbed；　they　seemed　to　resonate　with　each　other　in　distant　pain。
　　　　　　　〃Show　me　where　to　find　Cadsuane；〃　he　manded。　Nandera　rose　smoothly　to　her　feet　and　started　off　without　a　backward　glance。　He　followed；　and　the　others　fell　in　behind　him；　Dashiva　and　Flinn；　Morr　and　Hopwil。　He　gave　them　hasty　instructions　as　they　walked。　Flinn；　of　all　people；　tried　to　protest；　but　Rand　bore　him　down；　this　was　no　time　for　quailing。　The　grizzled　onetime　Guardsman　was　the　last　Rand　had　expected　it　of。　Morr　or　Hopwil；　perhaps。　If　no　longer　exactly　dewy…eyed；　they　were　still　young　enough　to　leave　their　razors　dry　as　many　days　as　wet。　But　not　Flinn。　Nandera's　soft　boots　made　no　sound；　their　footsteps　reverberated　from　the　high　square…vaulted　ceiling；　chasing　away　everyone　with　the　shadow　of　a　reason　for　fear。　His　wounds　pulsed。
　　　　　　　Every　last　person　in　the　Sun　Palace　knew　the　Dragon　Reborn　on　sight　by　now；　and　they　knew　who　the　black…coated　men　were；　too。　Black…liveried　servants　made　deep　bows　or　curtsies；　and　hurried　to　get　out　of　his　sight。　Most　nobles　were　almost　as　quick　to　put　distance　between　themselves　and　five　men　who　could　channel；　going　somewhere　with　purpose　on　their　faces。　Ailil　watched　them　pass　with　an　unreadable　expression。　Anaiyella　simpered；　of　course；　but　when　Rand　glanced　back；　she　was　staring　after　him　with　a　face　to　match　Nandera's。　Bertome　smiled　as　he　made　his　leg；　a　dark　smile　with　neither　mirth　nor　pleasure　in　it。
　　　　　　　Nandera　did　not　speak　even　when　they　reached　their　destination；　merely　pointed　to　a　closed　door　with　one　of　her　spears；　turned　on　her　heel；　and　strode　back　the　way　they　had　e。　The　Car'a'carn　without　a　single　Maiden　to　guard　him。　Did　they　think　four　Asha'man　enough　to　keep　him　safe？　Or　was　her　departure　another　sign　of　displeasure？
　　　　　　　〃Do　what　I　told　you；〃　Rand　said。
　　　　　　　Dashiva　gave　a　jerk　as　if　ing　back　to　himself；　then　seized　the　Source。　The　wide　door；　carved　in　vertical　lines；　swung　open　with　a　bang　on　a　flow　of　Air。　The　other　three　took　hold　of　saidin　and　followed　Dashiva　in；　faces　grim。
　　　　　　　〃The　Dragon　Reborn；〃　Dashiva's　voice　sounded　loud；　magnified　slightly　by　the　Power；　〃the　King　of　Illian；　the　Lord　of　the　Morning；　es　to　see　the　woman；　Cadsuane　Melaidhrin。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　stepped　in；　standing　tall。　He　did　not　recognize　the　other　weave　Dashiva　had　created；　but　the　air　seemed　to　hum　with　menace；　a　sense　of　something　inexorable　approaching；　drawing　ever　nearer。
　　　　　　　〃I　sent　for　you；　Cadsuane；〃　Rand　said。　He　did　not　use　weaves。　His　voice　was　hard　and　flat　enough　without　aid。
　　　　　　　The　Green　sister　he　remembered　sat　beside　a　small　table　with　an　embroidery　hoop　in　her　hands；　an　opened　basket　on　the　polished　tabletop　spilling　out　skeins　of　bright　thread　from　some　of　its　many　partments。　She　was　exactly　as　he　remembered。　That　strong　face　topped　by　an　iron…gray　bun　decorated　with　small　dangling　golden　fish　and　birds；　stars　and　moons。　Those　dark　eyes；　seeming　almost　black　in　her　fair　face。　Cool；　considering　eyes。　Lews　Therin　gave　a　wail　and　fled　at　the　sight　of　her。
　　　　　　　〃Well；〃　she　said；　setting　the　embroidery　hoop　on　the　table；　〃I　must　say　I've　seen　better　without　paying。　With　all　I've　been　hearing　about　you；　boy；　the　least　I　expected　was　peals　of　thunder；　trumpets　in　the　heavens；　flashing　lights　in　the　sky。〃　Calmly；　she　regarded　the　five　stone…faced　men　who　could　channel；　which　should　have　been　enough　to　make　any　Aes　Sedai　flinch。　Calmly；　she　regarded　the　Dragon　Reborn。　〃I　hope　one　of　you　is　at　least　going　to　juggle；〃　she　said。　〃Or　eat　fire？　I've　always　enjoyed　watching　gleemen　eat　fire。〃
　　　　　　　Flinn　barked　a　laugh　before　catching　himself；　and　even　then　raked　a　hand　through　his　fringe　of　hair　and　seemed　to　be　struggling　with　amusement。　Morr　and　Hopwil　exchanged　looks　both　puzzled　and　more　than　a　little　outraged。　Dashiva　smiled　unpleasantly；　and　the　weave　he　was　holding　grew　stronger；　until　Rand　felt　as　if　he　wanted　to　look　over　his　shoulder　to　see　what　was　rushing　toward　him。
　　　　　　　〃It　is　enough　that　you　know　I　am　who　I　am；〃　Rand　told　her。　〃Dashiva；　all　of　you；　wait　outside。〃
　　　　　　　Dashiva　opened　his　mouth　as　if　to　protest。　That　had　not　been　part　of　Rand's　instructions；　but　they　were　not　going　to　overawe　the　woman；　not　this　way。　The　man　went；　though；　muttering　to　himself。　Hopwil　and　Morr　actually　stepped　out　eagerly；　with　sidelong　glances　at　Cadsuane。　Flinn　was　the　only　one　to　make　a　dignified　withdrawal；　in　spite　of　his　limp。　And　he　still　seemed　amused！
　　　　　　　Rand　channeled；　and　a　heavy；　leopard…carved　chair　floated　into　the　air　from　its　place　by　the　wall；　spinning　end　over　end　in　somersaults　before　settling　like　a　feather　in　front　of　Cadsuane。　At　the　same　time；　a　heavy　silver　pitcher　drifted　up　from　a　long；　draped　table　across　the　room；　making　a　loud　ping　as　it　was　suddenly　heated；　steam　gushed　from　the　top；　and　it　tipped　over；　whirling　round　and　round　like　a　slow　top；　as　a　silver　cup　darted　up　to　neatly　catch　the　dark　pouring。
　　　　　　　〃Too　hot；　I　think；〃　Rand　said；　and　the　glassed　casements　leaped　from　the　tall；　narrow　windows。　Snowflakes　billowed　in　on　an　icy　blast；　and　the　cup　soared　out　through　one　of　the　windows；　soared　back　again；　straight　to　his　hand　as　he　sat　himself。　Let　her　see　how　calm　she　could　stay　with　a　madman　staring　at　her。　The　dark　liquid　was　tea；　too　strong　after　his　boiling；　and　bitter　enough　to　set　his　teeth　on　edge。　But　the　warmth　was　just　right。　His　skin　pebbled　in　the　gusts　howling　into　the　room　and　flapping　tapestries　against　the　walls；　but　in　the　Void；　that　was　far　away；　someone　else's　skin。
　　　　　　　〃The　Laurel　Crown　is　prettier　than　some；〃　Cadsuane　said　with　a　faint　smile。　Her　hair　ornaments　swayed　whenever　the　wind　rose；　and　small　wisps　flailed　about　her　bun；　but　the　only　notice　she　took　was　to　catch　her　embroidery　hoop　just　before　it　was　blown　from　the　table。　〃I　prefer　that　name。　But　you　can't　expect　me　to　be　impressed　by　crowns。　I've　paddled　the　bottoms　of　two　reigning　kings　and　three　queens。　Not　sitting　rulers；　you　understand；　once　I　was　done　with　them；　not　for　a　day　or　so；　but　it　did　get　their　attention。　You　can　see　why　crowns　don't　impress　me；　though。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　eased　his　jaw。　Grinding　his　teeth　would　not　help。　He　widened　his　eyes；　hoping　he　looked　insane　instead　of　simply　furious。　〃Most　Aes　Sedai　avoid　the　Sun　Palace；〃　he　told　her。　〃Except　for　those　who　have　sworn　fealty　to　me。　And　those　I　hold　prisoner。〃　Light；　what　was　he　to　do　with　those？　As　long　as　the　Wise　Ones　kept　them　out　of　his　hair；　all　was　well　enough。
　　　　　　　〃The　Aiel　seem　to　think　I　should　e　and　go　as　I　please；〃　she　said　absently；　eyeing　the　hoop　in　her　hand　as　if　thinking　of　taking　up　her　needle　again。　〃A　matter　of　some　trifling　help　I　gave　some　boy　or　other。　Though　why　anyone　but　his　mother　should　think　him　worth　it；　I　can　hardly　say。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　made　another　effort　not　to　grind　his　teeth。　The　woman　had　saved　his　life。　Her　and　Damer　Flinn　between　them；　and　plenty　of　others　in　the　bargain；　Min　among　them。　But　he　still　owed　Cadsuane　something　for　that。　Burn　her。　〃I　want　you　to　be　my　advisor。　I'm　King　of　Illian　now；　and　kings　have　Aes　Sedai　advisors。〃
　　　　　　　She　gave　his　crown　a　dismissive　glance。　〃Certainly　not。　An　advisor　has　to　stand　and　watch　her　charge　make　a　muddle　much　too　often　to　suit　me。　She　also　has　to　take　orders；　something　I　am　particularly　bad　at。　Won't　someone　else　do？　Alanna；　perhaps？〃
　　　　　　　Despite　himself；　Rand　sat　up　straight。　Did　she　know　about　the　bond？　Merana　had　said　it　was　hard　to　keep　anything　from　her。　No；　he　could　worry　later　about　how　much　his　〃faithful〃　Aes　Sedai　were　telling　Cadsuane。　Light；　he　wished　Min　could　be　wrong　for　once。　But　he　would　believe　himself　breathing　water；　first。　〃I。。。　〃　He　could　not　make　himself　tell　her　that　he　needed　her。　No　halter！　〃What　if　you　didn't　have　to　swear　any　oaths？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　suppose　that　might　work；〃　she　said　doubtfully；　peering　at　her　cursed　stitchery。　Her　eyes　rose　to　his。　Considering。　〃You　sound。。。　uneasy。　I　don't　like　to　tell　a　man　he's　afraid　even　when　he　has　reason　to　be。　Uneasy　over　a　sister　you　haven't　turned　into　a　tame　lapdog　snaring　you　in　some　fashion？　Let　me　see。　I　can　make　you　a　few　promises；　perhaps　they　will　set　your　mind　at　rest。　I　expect　you　to　listen；　of　course　…　make　me　waste　my　breath；　and　you'll　yelp　for　it　…　but　I　won't　make　you　do　what　I　want。　I　won't　tolerate　anyone　lying　to　me；　certainly　…　that's　another　thing　you'll　find　decidedly　unfortable　…　but　I　don't　expect　you　to　tell　me　the　deepest　yearnings　of　your　heart；　either。　Oh；　yes。　Whatever　I　do；　it　will　be　for　your　own　good；　not　mine；　not　the　good　of　the　White　Tower；　yours。　Now；　does　that　ease　your　fears？　Pardon　me。　Your　unease。〃
　　　　　　　Wondering　whether　he　was　supposed　to　laugh；