rj.theshadowrising-第67章

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n　of　it。
　　　　　　　〃Look　at　this　while　I　am　gone。〃　His　voice　was　lighter；　more　the　way　it　had　been　when　she　first　found　him　in　his　village；　but　no　less　sure　or　firm　than　it　had　been　moments　before。　〃Look　at　it；　and　remember　me。　Remember　I　will　e　back　for　it。　If　anyone　wants　to　take　my　place；　all　they　have　to　do　is　pull　it　out。〃　He　waggled　a　finger　at　them；　grinning　almost　mischievously。　〃But　remember　the　price　of　failure。〃
　　　　　　　Turning　on　his　heel；　he　marched　out　of　the　chamber；　the　Aiel　falling　in　behind　him。　Staring　at　the　sword　rising　out　of　the　floor　of　the　Heart；　the　Tairens　got　to　their　feet　more　slowly。　Most　looked　ready　to　run；　but　too　frightened　to。
　　　　　　　〃That　man！〃　Egwene　grumbled；　dusting　off　her　green　linen　dress。　〃Is　he　mad？〃　She　clapped　a　hand　to　her　mouth。　〃Oh；　Moiraine；　he　isn't；　is　he？　Is　he？　Not　yet。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Light　send　he　is　not；〃　Moiraine　muttered。　She　could　not　take　her　eyes　from　the　sword　any　more　than　the　Tairens　could。　The　Light　take　the　boy。　Why　could　he　not　have　remained　the　amenable　youngling　she　had　found　in　Emond's　Field？　She　made　herself　start　after　Rand。　〃But　I　will　find　out。〃
　　　　　　　Half…running；　they　caught　up　quickly　in　a　broad；　tapestry　lined　hallway。　The　Aiel；　veils　hanging　loose　now　but　easily　raised　if　needed；　moved　aside　without　slowing。　They　glanced　at　her；　and　at　Egwene；　hard　faces　unchanging　but　eyes　touched　by　the　wariness　Aiel　always　had　around　Aes　Sedai。
　　　　　　　How　they　could　be　uneasy　at　her　while　calmly　following　Rand；　she　did　not　understand。　Learning　more　than　fragments　about　them　was　difficult。　They　answered　questions　freely　…　about　anything　that　was　of　no　interest　to　her。　Her　informants　and　her　own　eavesdropping　overheard　nothing；　and　her　network　of　eyes　and　ears　would　no　longer　try。　Not　since　one　woman　had　been　left　bound　and　gagged；　hanging　by　her　ankles　from　battlements　and　staring　wild　eyed　at　the　four　hundred　foot　drop　beneath　her；　and　not　since　the　man　who　had　simply　disappeared。　The　man　was　just　gone；　the　woman；　refusing　to　go　higher　than　the　ground　floor；　had　been　a　constant　reminder　until　Moiraine　sent　her　into　the　country。
　　　　　　　Rand　did　not　slow　down　any　more　than　the　Aiel　when　she　and　Egwene　fell　in　on　either　side　of　him。　His　glance　was　wary；　too；　but　in　a　different　way；　and　touched　with　exasperated　anger。　〃I　thought　you　were　gone；〃　he　said　to　Egwene。　〃I　thought　you　went　with　Elayne　and　Nynaeve。　You　should　have。　Even　Tanchico　is。。。　Why　did　you　stay？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　won't　be　staying　much　longer；〃　Egwene　said。　〃I　am　going　to　the　Waste　with　Aviendha；　to　Rhuidean；　to　study　with　the　Wise　Ones。〃
　　　　　　　He　missed　a　step　as　the　girl　mentioned　the　Waste；　glancing　at　her　uncertainly；　then　strode　on。　He　seemed　posed　now；　too　much　so；　a　boiling　teakettle　with　the　lid　strapped　down　and　the　spout　plugged。　〃Do　you　remember　swimming　in　the　Waterwood？〃　he　said　quietly。　〃I　used　to　float　on　my　back　in　a　pool　and　think　the　hardest　thing　I'd　ever　have　to　do　was　plow　a　field；　unless　maybe　it　was　shearing　sheep。　Shearing　from　sunup　till　bedtime；　hardly　stopping　to　eat　until　the　clip　was　in。〃
　　　　　　　〃Spinning；〃　Egwene　said。　〃I　hated　it　worse　than　scrubbing　floors。　Twisting　the　threads　makes　your　fingers　so　sore。〃
　　　　　　　〃Why　did　you　do　it？〃　Moiraine　demanded　before　they　could　go　on　with　this　childhood　reminiscing。
　　　　　　　He　gave　her　a　sidelong　look；　and　a　smile　mocking　enough　to　belong　to　Mat。　〃Could　I　really　have　hung　her；　for　trying　to　kill　a　man　who　was　plotting　to　kill　me？　Would　there　be　more　justice　in　that　than　in　what　I　did？〃　The　grin　slid　from　his　face。　〃Is　there　justice　in　anything　I　do？　Sunamon　will　hang　if　he　fails。　Because　I　said　so。　He'll　deserve　it　after　the　way　he's　tried　to　take　advantage；　with　never　a　care　if　his　own　people　starved；　but　he'll　not　go　to　the　gallows　for　that。　He　will　hang　because　I　said　he　would。　Because　I　said　it。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　laid　a　hand　on　his　arm；　but　Moiraine　would　not　allow　him　to　sidestep。　〃You　know　that　is　not　what　I　mean。〃
　　　　　　　He　nodded；　this　time　his　smile　had　a　frightening；　rictus　quality。　〃Callandor。　With　that　in　my　hands；　I　can　do　anything。　Anything。　I　know　I　can　do　anything。　But　now；　it's　a　weight　off　my　shoulders。　You　don't　understand；　do　you？〃　She　did　not；　though　it　nettled　her　that　he　saw　it。　She　kept　silent；　and　he　went　on。　〃Perhaps　it　will　help　if　you　know　it　es　from　the　Prophecies。

〃Into　the　heart　he　thrusts　his　sword；
into　the　heart；　to　hold　their　hearts。
Who　draws　it　out　shall　follow　after；
What　hand　can　grasp　that　fearful　blade？

　　　　　　　〃You　see？　Straight　from　the　Prophecies。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　forget　one　thing；〃　she　told　him　tightly。　〃You　drew　Callandor　in　fulfillment　of　prophecy。　The　safeguards　that　held　it　awaiting　you　for　three　thousand　years　and　more　are　gone。　It　is　the　Sword　That　Cannot　Be　Touched　no　longer。　I　could　channel　it　free　myself。　Worse；　any　of　the　Forsaken　could。　What　if　Lanfear　returns？　She　could　use　Callandor　no　more　than　I；　but　she　could　take　it。〃　He　did　not　react　to　the　name。　Because　he　did　not　fear　her　…　in　which　case　he　was　a　fool　…　or　for　another　reason？　〃If　Sammael　or　Rahvin　or　any　male　Forsaken　puts　his　hand　on　Callandor；　he　can　wield　it　as　well　as　you。　Think　of　facing　the　power　you　give　up　so　casually。　Think　of　that　power　in　the　hands　of　the　Shadow。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　almost　hope　they'll　try。〃　A　threatening　light　shone　in　his　eyes；　they　seemed　gray　storm　clouds。　'〃There　is　a　surprise　awaiting　anyone　who　tries　to　channel　Callandor　out　of　the　Stone；　Moiraine。　Do　not　think　of　taking　it　to　the　Tower　for　safekeeping；　I　could　not　make　the　trap　pick　and　choose。　The　Power　is　all　it　needs　to　spring　and　reset；　ready　to　trap　again。　I　am　not　giving　Callandor　up　forever。　Just　until　I。。。〃　He　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Callandor　will　stay　there　until　I　e　back　for　it。　By　being　there；　reminding　them　of　who　I　am　and　what　I　am；　it　makes　sure　I　can　e　back　without　an　army。　A　haven　of　sorts；　with　the　likes　of　Alteima　and　Sunamon　to　wele　me　home。　If　Alteima　survives　the　justice　her　husband　and　Estanda　will　mete　out；　and　Sunamon　survives　mine。　Light；　what　a　wretched　tangle。〃
　　　　　　　He　could　not　make　it　selective；　or　would　not？　She　was　determined　not　to　underrate　what　he　might　be　capable　of。　Callandor　belonged　in　the　Tower；　if　he　would　not　wield　it　as　he　should；　in　the　Tower　till　he　would　wield　it。　〃Just　until〃　what？　He　had　been　intending　to　say　something　other　than　〃until　I　e　back。〃　But　what？
　　　　　　　〃And　where　are　you　going？　Or　do　you　mean　to　keep　it　a　mystery？〃　She　was　quietly　vowing　not　to　let　him　escape　again；　to　turn　him　somehow　if　he　meant　to　go　running　off　to　the　Two　Rivers；　when　he　surprised　her。
　　　　　　　〃Not　a　mystery；　Moiraine。　Not　from　you　and　Egwene；　anyway。〃　He　looked　at　Egwene　and　said　one　word。　〃Rhuidean。〃
　　　　　　　Wide…eyed；　the　girl　appeared　as　astounded　as　if　she　had　never　heard　the　name　before。　For　that　matter；　Moiraine　felt　scarcely　less。　There　was　a　murmur　among　the　Aiel；　but　when　she　glanced　back　they　were　striding　along　with　no　expression　whatsoever。　She　wished　she　could　make　them　leave；　but　they　would　not　go　at　her　mand；　and　she　would　not　ask　Rand　to　send　them　away。　It　would　not　help　her　with　him　to　ask　favors；　especially　when　he　might　well　refuse。
　　　　　　　〃You　are　not　an　Aiel　clan　chief；　Rand；〃　she　said　firmly；　〃and　have　no　need　to　be　one。　Your　struggle　is　on　this　side　of　the　Dragon　wall。　Unless。。。　Does　this　e　from　your　answers　in　the　ter'angreal？　Cairhien；　and　Callandor；　and　Rhuidean？　I　told　you　those　answers　can　be　cryptic。　You　could　be　misunderstanding　them；　and　that　could　prove　fatal。　To　more　than　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　must　trust　me；　Moiraine。　As　I　have　so　often　had　to　trust　you。〃　His　face　might　as　well　have　belonged　to　an　Aiel　for　all　she　could　read　in　it。
　　　　　　　〃I　will　trust　you　for　now。　Just　do　not　wait　to　seek　my　guidance　until　it　is　too　late。〃　I　will　not　let　you　go　to　the　Shadow。　I　have　worked　too　long　to　allow　that。　Whatever　it　takes。


Chapter　22
（Portal　Stone）
Out　of　the　Stone

　　　　　　　It　was　a　strange　procession　Rand　led　out　of　the　Stone　and　eastward；　with　white　clouds　shading　the　midday　sun　and　a　breath　of　air　stirring　across　the　city。　By　his　order　there　had　been　no　announcement；　no　proclamation；　but　slowly　word　spread　of　something：　citizens　stopped　whatever　they　were　doing　and　ran　for　vantage　points。　The　Aiel　were　marching　through　the　city；　marching　out　of　the　city。　People　who　had　not　seen　them　e　in　the　night；　who　had　only　half　believed　they　were　in　the　Stone　at　all；　increasingly　lined　the　streets　along　the　route；　filled　the　windows；　even　climbed　onto　slate　rooftops；　straddling　roof　peaks　and　upturned　corners。　Murmurs　ran　as　they　counted　the　Aiel。　These　few　hundred　could　never　have　taken　the　Stone。　The　Dragon　banner　still　flew　above　the　fortress。　There　must　yet　be　thousands　of　Aiel　in　there。　And　the　Lord　Dragon。
　　　　　　　Rand　rode　easily　in　his　shirtsleeves；　sure　none　of　the　onlookers　could　take　him　for　anyone　out　of　the　ordinary。　An　outlander；　rich　enough　to　ride　…　and　on　a　superb　dappled　stallion；　best　of　the　Tairen　bloodstock　…　a　rich　man　traveling　in　the　oddest　of　odd　pany；　but　surely　just　another　man　for　that。　Not　even　the　leader　of　this　strange　pany；　that　title　was　surely　assigned　to　Lan　or　Moiraine　despite　the　fact　that　they　rode　some　little　distance　behind　him；　directly　ahead　of　the　Aiel。　The　soft　awed　susurration　that　acpanied　his　passing　certainly　rose　for　the　Aiel；　not　him。　These　Tairen　folk　might　even　take　him　for　a　groom；　riding　his　master's　horse。　Well；　no；　not　that；　not　out　in　front　as　he　was。　It　was　a　fine　day；　anyway。　Not　sweltering；　merely　warm。　No　one　expected　him　to　mete　out　justice；　or　rule　a　nation。　He　could　simply　enjoy　riding　in　anonymity；　enjoy　the　rare　breeze。　For　a　time　he　could　forget　the　feel　of　his　heron　branded　palms　on　the　reins。　For　a　little　longer　anyway；　he　thought。　A　little　longer。
　　　　　　　〃Rand；〃　Egwene　said；　〃do　you　really　think　it　was　right　to　let　the　Aiel　take　all　those　things？〃　He　looked　around　as　she　heeled　her　gray　mare；　Mist；　up　beside　him。　From　somewhere　she　had　gotten　a　dark　green　dress　with　narrow　divided　skirts；　and　a　green　velvet　band　held　her　hair　at　the　nape　of　her　neck。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　and　Lan　still　hung　back　half　a　dozen　strides；　she　on　her　white　mare　in　a　full　skirted　blue　silk　riding　dress　slashed　with　green；　her　dark　hair　caught　in　a　golden　net；　he　astride　his　great　black　warhorse；　in　a　color　shifting　Warder's　cloak　that　probably　brought　as　many　oohs　and　aahs　as　the　Aiel。　When　the　breeze　stirred　the　cloak；　shades　of　green　and　brown　and　gray　rippled　across　it；　when　it　hung　still　it　somehow　seemed　to　fade　into　whatever　was　beyond　it；　so　the　eye　appeared　to　be　seeing　through　parts　of　Lan　and　his　mount。　It　was　not　fortable　to　look　at。
　　　　　　　Mat　was　there；　too；　slumped　in　his　saddle　and　looking　resigned；　trying　to　keep　apart　from　the　Warder　and　Aes　Sedai。　He　had　chosen　a　nondescript　brown　gelding；　an　animal　he　called　Pips；　it　took　a　good　eye　to　notice　the　deep　chest　and　strong　withers　that　promised　blunt…nosed　Pips　could　likely　match　Rand's　stallion　or　Lan's　for　speed　and　endurance。　Mat's　decision　to　e　had　been　a　surprise；　Rand　still　did　not　know　why。　Friendship；　maybe；　and　then　again；　maybe　not。　Mat　could　be　odd　in　what　he　did　and　why。
　　　　　　　〃Didn't　your　friend　Aviendha　explain　to　you　about　'the　fifth'？〃　he　asked。
　　　　　　　〃She　mentioned　somethi