rj.thepathofdaggers-第118部分

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　　　　　　　Min　frowned。　Leave　the　choice　to　him？　Wise　Ones　rarely　left　any　choice　they　could　make　to　anyone　else。　Sorilea　never　did。　The　sinewy　Wise　One　casually　shifted　her　dark　shawl　on　her　shoulders　and　watched　Rand　as　if　this　was　of　no　importance　at　all。　But　she　shot　one　blue　ice　glance　at　Min；　and　suddenly　Min　was　sure　that　if　she　said　the　wrong　thing　here；　that　bony　old　woman　would　have　her　hide。　It　was　not　a　viewing。　She　just　knew　Sorilea　better　than　she　wanted　to；　by　now。
　　　　　　　Determinedly　she　set　to　studying　what　was　appearing　and　vanishing　around　the　women。　No　easy　task　when　they　stood　so　close　together　she　could　not　be　certain　whether　a　particular　image　belonged　to　one　woman　or　the　woman　next　to　her。　At　least　the　auras　were　always　certain。　Light；　let　her　be　able　to　understand　at　least　some　of　what　she　saw！
　　　　　　　Rand　took　Sorilea's　announcement　coolly；　on　the　surface。　He　rubbed　his　hands　together　slowly；　then　thoughtfully　examined　the　herons　branded　on　his　palms。　He　examined　each　of　those　Aes　Sedai　faces　in　turn。　Finally；　he　focused　on　Erian。
　　　　　　　〃Why？〃　he　asked　her　in　a　mild　voice。　〃I　killed　two　of　your　Warders。　Why？〃　Min　winced。　Rand　was　many　things；　but　seldom　mild。　And　Erian　was　one　of　the　few　who　had　beaten　him　more　than　once。
　　　　　　　The　pale　Illianer　sister　straightened。　Images　danced；　and　auras　flashed　and　were　gone。　Nothing　Min　could　read。　Dirty…faced　and　her　long　black　hair　matted；　Erian　gathered　Aes　Sedai　authority　around　her　and　met　his　gaze　levelly。　But　her　answer　came　simply　and　directly。　〃We　did　be　wrong　in　taking　you。　I　have　considered　long　on　it。　You　must　fight　the　Last　Battle；　and　we　must　help　you。　If　you　will　no　accept　me；　I　do　understand；　but　I　will　help　as　you　do　require　if　you　will　allow。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　stared　at　her　without　expression。
　　　　　　　He　put　that　same　one…word　question　to　each；　and　their　answers　were　as　different　as　the　women。
　　　　　　　〃The　Green　is　the　Battle　Ajah；〃　Beldeine　told　him　proudly；　and　despite　smudges　on　her　cheeks　and　dark　circles　beneath　her　eyes；　she　did　look　a　Queen　of　Battles。　But　then；　Saldaean　women　seemed　to　find　that　second　nature。　〃When　you　go　to　Tarmon　Gai'don；　the　Green　must　be　there。　I　will　follow；　if　you　will　accept　me。〃　Light；　she　was　going　to　bond　an　Asha'man　as　a　Warder！　How。。。？　No；　it　was　not　important　now。
　　　　　　　〃What　we　did　was　logical　at　the　time。〃　Sarene's　tightly　held　cool　serenity　slipped　into　clear　worry；　and　she　shook　her　head。　〃I　say　that　to　explain；　not　to　exculpate。　Circumstances　have　changed。　For　you；　the　logical　course　might　seem　to。。。　〃　She　drew　a　decidedly　unsteady　breath。　Images　and　auras；　a　tempestuous　love　affair；　of　all　things！　The　woman　was　ice；　however　beautiful。　And　there　was　nothing　useful　in　knowing　some　man　would　melt　her！　〃To　send　us　back　to　captivity；〃　she　went　on；　〃or　even　execute　us。　For　me；　logic　says　I　must　serve　you。〃
　　　　　　　Nesune　tilted　her　head；　and　her　nearly　black　eyes　seemed　to　be　trying　to　store　away　every　scrap　of　him。　One　red…and…green　aura　spoke　of　honors；　and　fame。　A　huge　building　appeared　above　her　head　and　vanished。　A　library　she　would　found。　〃I　want　to　study　you；〃　she　said　simply。　〃I　can　hardly　do　that　carrying　stones　or　digging　holes。　They　do　leave　plenty　of　time　for　thought；　but　serving　you　seems　a　fair　exchange　for　what　I　might　learn。〃　Rand　blinked　at　the　directness　of　that；　but　otherwise；　his　expression　did　not　alter。
　　　　　　　The　most　surprising　answer　came　from　Elza；　in　her　manner　of　delivery　more　than　the　words。　Sinking　to　her　knees；　she　gazed　up　at　Rand　with　feverish　eyes。　Her　whole　face　seemed　to　shine　with　fervor。　Auras　flared　and　images　cascaded　around　her；　telling　nothing。　〃You　are　the　Dragon　Reborn；〃　she　said　breathlessly。　〃You　must　be　there　for　the　Last　Battle。　I　must　help　you　be　there！　Whatever　is　necessary；　I　will　do！〃　And　she　flung　herself　facedown；　pressing　her　lips　to　the　polished　stone　floor　in　front　of　his　boots。　Even　Sorilea　looked　taken　aback；　and　Sarene's　mouth　dropped　open。　Morr　gaped　at　her　and　hastily　returned　to　twisting　his　button。　Min　thought　he　giggled　nervously；　almost　under　his　breath。
　　　　　　　Turning　on　his　heel；　Rand　stalked　halfway　to　the　Dragon　Throne；　where　his　scepter　and　the　crown　of　Illian　rested　atop　his　gold…embroidered　red　coat。　His　face　was　so　bleak　that　Min　wanted　to　rush　to　him　no　matter　who　was　watching；　but　she　continued　to　study　the　Aes　Sedai。　And　Sorilea。　She　had　never　seen　anything　really　useful　around　that　white…haired　harridan。
　　　　　　　Abruptly；　Rand　turned　back；　striding　toward　the　line　of　women　so　quickly　that　Beldeine　and　Sarene　stepped　back。　A　sharp　gesture　from　Sorilea　jerked　them　into　place　again。
　　　　　　　〃Would　you　accept　being　confined　in　a　box？〃　His　voice　grated；　stone　grinding　on　frozen　stone。　〃Locked　in　a　chest　all　day；　and　beaten　before　you　go　in　and　when　you　e　out？〃　That　was　what　they　had　done　to　him。
　　　　　　　〃Yes！〃　Elza　moaned　against　the　floor。　〃Whatever　I　must　do；　I　will！〃
　　　　　　　〃If　you　do　require　it；〃　Erian　managed　shakily；　and；　faces　aghast；　the　others　nodded　slowly。
　　　　　　　Min　stared　in　amazement；　knotting　her　fists　in　her　coat　pockets。　That　he　might　think　of　getting　his　own　back　in　the　same　manner　seemed　almost　natural；　but　she　had　to　stop　it；　somehow。　She　knew　him　better　than　he　did　himself；　she　knew　where　he　was　hard　as　a　knife　blade；　and　where　he　was　vulnerable　no　matter　how　he　denied　it。　He　would　never　forgive　himself　this。　But　how？　Fury　contorted　his　face；　and　he　shook　his　head　as　he　did　when　arguing　with　that　voice　he　heard。　He　muttered　one　word　aloud　that　she　understood。　Ta'veren。　Sorilea　stood　there　calmly　examining　him　as　closely　as　Nesune　did。　Not　even　the　threat　of　the　chest　shook　the　Brown。　Except　for　Elza；　still　moaning　and　kissing　the　floor；　the　others　were　hollow…eyed；　as　if　seeing　themselves　doubled　up　and　bound　as　he　had　been。
　　　　　　　Among　all　of　those　images　spilling　around　Rand　and　the　women；　suddenly　an　aura　flashed；　blue　and　yellow　tinged　with　green；　enpassing　them　all。　And　Min　knew　its　meaning。　She　gasped；　half　in　surprise；　half　in　relief。
　　　　　　　〃They　will　serve　you；　each　in　her　fashion；　Rand；〃　she　said　hurriedly。　〃I　saw　it。〃　Sorilea　would　serve　him？　Suddenly　Min　wondered　exactly　what　〃in　her　fashion〃　meant。　The　words　came　with　the　knowing；　but　she　did　not　always　know　what　the　words　themselves　meant。　But　they　would　serve；　that　much　was　plain。
　　　　　　　The　fury　drained　from　Rand's　face　as　he　silently　studied　the　Aes　Sedai。　Some　of　them　glanced　at　Min　with　raised　eyebrows；　obviously　marveling　that　a　few　words　from　her　carried　so　much　weight；　but　for　the　most　part；　they　watched　Rand　and　hardly　seemed　to　breathe。　Even　Elza　lifted　her　head　to　gaze　up　at　him。　Sorilea　gave　Min　one　quick　look；　and　the　faintest　nod。　Approving；　Min　thought。　So　the　old　woman　pretended　not　to　care　one　way　or　the　other；　did　she？
　　　　　　　At　last；　Rand　spoke。　〃You　can　swear　to　me　as　Kiruna　and　the　others　did。　That；　or　go　back　to　wherever　the　Wise　Ones　have　been　keeping　you。　I'll　accept　nothing　less。〃　Despite　a　hint　of　demand　in　his　voice；　he　looked　as　if　he；　too；　did　not　care；　arms　folded；　eyes　impatient。　The　oath　he　demanded　of　them　came　out　in　a　rush。
　　　　　　　Min　did　not　expect　quibbles；　not　after　her　viewing；　yet　it　was　still　a　surprise　when　Elza　scrambled　up　to　her　knees；　and　the　others　lowered　themselves　to　theirs。　In　ragged　unison；　five　more　Aes　Sedai　swore　under　the　Light　and　by　their　hope　of　salvation　to　serve　the　Dragon　Reborn　faithfully　until　the　Last　Battle　had　e　and　gone。　Nesune　delivered　the　words　as　though　examining　each　one；　Sarene　as　if　stating　a　principle　of　logic；　Elza　wearing　a　wide；　victorious　smile；　but　they　all　swore。　How　many　Aes　Sedai　would　he　gather　around　him？
　　　　　　　With　the　oath；　Rand　seemed　to　lose　interest。　〃Find　them　clothes　and　put　them　with　your　other　'apprentices；'〃　he　told　Sorilea　absently。　He　was　frowning；　but　not　at　her　or　the　Aes　Sedai。　〃How　many　do　you　think　you'll　end　up　with？〃　Min　almost　jumped　at　the　echo　of　her　own　thought。
　　　　　　　〃However　many　are　necessary；〃　Sorilea　said　dryly。　〃I　think　more　will　e。〃　She　clapped　her　hands　once　and　gestured；　and　the　five　sisters　sprang　to　their　feet。　Only　Nesune　looked　surprised　at　the　alacrity　with　which　they　had　obeyed。　Sorilea　smiled；　a　very　satisfied　smile　for　an　Aiel；　and　Min　did　not　think　it　was　caused　by　the　other　women's　obedience。
　　　　　　　Nodding；　Rand　turned　away。　He　was　already　beginning　to　pace　again；　already　beginning　to　scowl　over　Elayne。　Min　settled　into　her　chair　once　more；　wishing　she　had　one　of　Master　Fel's　books　to　read。　Or　to　throw　at　Rand。　Well；　one　of　Master　Fel's　to　read；　and　someone　else's　to　throw。
　　　　　　　Sorilea　herded　the　black…clad　sisters　out　of　the　room；　but　at　the　last；　she　paused　with　one　hand　holding　a　door　and　looked　back　at　Rand　striding　away　from　her　toward　the　gilded　throne。　Her　lips　pursed　thoughtfully。　〃That　woman；　Cadsuane　Melaidhrin；　is　beneath　this　roof　again　today；〃　she　said　at　last；　to　his　back。　〃I　think　she　believes　you　are　afraid　of　her；　Rand　al'Thor；　the　way　you　avoid　her　whereabouts。〃　With　that；　she　left。
　　　　　　　For　a　long　moment；　Rand　stood　staring　at　the　throne。　Or　maybe　at　something　beyond　it。　Abruptly；　he　gave　himself　a　shake　and　strode　the　remaining　distance　to　pick　up　the　Crown　of　Swords。　On　the　point　of　setting　it　on　his　head；　though；　he　hesitated；　then　put　it　back。　Donning　the　coat；　he　left　crown　and　scepter　where　they　lay。
　　　　　　　〃I　mean　to　find　out　what　Cadsuane　wants；〃　he　announced。　〃She　doesn't　e　to　the　palace　every　day　because　she　likes　a　trip　through　the　snow。　Will　you　e　with　me；　Min？　Maybe　you'll　have　a　viewing。〃
　　　　　　　She　was　on　her　feet　faster　than　any　of　those　Aes　Sedai。　A　visit　with　Cadsuane　would　likely　be　as　pleasurable　as　a　visit　with　Sorilea；　yet　anything　was　better　than　sitting　there　alone。　Besides；　maybe　she　would　have　a　viewing。　Fedwin　fell　in　behind　her　and　Rand　with　an　alert　look　in　his　eyes。
　　　　　　　The　six　Maidens　outside　in　the　tall　vaulted　hallway　rose；　but　they　did　not　follow。　Somara　was　the　only　one　Min　knew；　she　gave　Min　a　brief　smile；　and　Rand　a　flat；　disapproving　stare。　The　others　glowered。　The　Maidens　had　accepted　his　explanation　about　why　he　had　gone　without　them　in　the　first　place；　so　any　watchers　would　believe　for　as　long　as　possible　that　he　was　still　in　Cairhien；　but　they　still　dem