rj.thegreathunt-第7部分

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each　other；　then　the　drums　drew　them　to　the　tower　wall　to　stare　southward。
　　　　　　　The　city　stood　on　high　hills；　the　land　around　the　city　walls　cleared　to　ankle　height　for　a　full　mile　in　all　directions；　and　the　keep　covered　the　highest　hill　of　all。　From　the　tower　top；　Rand　had　a　clear　view　across　the　chimneys　and　roofs　to　the　forest。　The　drummers　appeared　first　from　the　trees；　a　dozen　of　them；　drums　lifting　as　they　stepped　to　their　own　beat；　mallets　whirling。　Next　came　trumpeters；　long；　shining　horns　raised；　still　calling　the　flourish。　At　that　distance　Rand　could　not　make　out　the　huge；　square　banner　whipping　in　the　wind　behind　them。　Lan　grunted；　though；　the　Warder　had　eyes　like　a　snow　eagle。
　　　　　　　Rand　glanced　at　him；　but　the　Warder　said　nothing；　his　eyes　intent　on　the　column　emerging　from　the　forest。　Mounted　men　in　armor　rode　out　of　the　trees；　and　women　on　horseback；　too。　Then　a　palanquin　borne　by　horses；　one　before　and　one　behind；　its　curtains　down；　and　more　men　on　horseback。　Ranks　of　men　afoot；　pikes　rising　above　them　like　a　bristle　of　long　thorns；　and　archers　with　their　bows　held　slanted　across　their　chests；　all　stepping　to　the　drums。　The　trumpets　cried　again。　Like　a　singing　serpent　the　column　wound　its　way　toward　Fal　Dara。
　　　　　　　The　wind　flapped　the　banner；　taller　than　a　man；　straight　out　to　one　side。　As　big　as　it　was；　it　was　close　enough　now　for　Rand　to　see　clearly。　A　swirl　of　colors　that　meant　nothing　to　him；　but　at　the　heart　of　it；　a　shape　like　a　pure　white　teardrop。　His　breath　froze　in　his　throat。　The　Flame　of　Tar　Valon。
　　　　　　　〃Ingtar's　with　them。〃　Lan　sounded　as　if　his　thoughts　were　elsewhere。　〃Back　from　his　hunting　at　last。　Been　gone　long　enough。　I　wonder　if　he　had　any　luck？〃
　　　　　　　〃Aes　Sedai；〃　Rand　whispered　when　he　finally　could。　All　those　women　out　there　。。。　Moiraine　was　Aes　Sedai；　yes；　but　he　had　traveled　with　her；　and　if　he　did　not　entirely　trust　her；　at　least　he　knew　her。　Or　thought　he　did。　But　she　was　only　one。　So　many　Aes　Sedai　together；　and　ing　like　this；　was　something　else　again。　He　cleared　his　throat；　when　he　spoke；　his　voice　grated。　〃Why　so　many；　Lan？　Why　any　at　all？　And　with　drums　and　trumpets　and　a　banner　to　announce　them。〃
　　　　　　　Aes　Sedai　were　respected　in　Shienar；　at　least　by　most　people；　and　the　rest　respectfully　feared　them；　but　Rand　had　been　in　places　where　it　was　different；　where　there　was　only　the　fear；　and　often　hate。　Where　he　had　grown　up；　some　men；　at　least；　spoke　of　〃Tar　Valon　witches〃　as　they　would　speak　of　the　Dark　One。　He　tried　to　count　the　women；　but　they　kept　no　ranks　or　order；　moving　their　horses　around　to　converse　with　one　another　or　with　whoever　was　in　the　palanquin。　Goose　bumps　covered　him。　He　had　traveled　with　Moiraine；　and　met　another　Aes　Sedai；　and　he　had　begun　to　think　of　himself　as　worldly。　Nobody　ever　left　the　Two　Rivers；　or　almost　nobody；　but　he　had。　He　had　seen　things　no　one　back　in　the　Two　Rivers　had　ever　laid　eyes　on；　done　things　they　had　only　dreamed　of；　if　they　had　dreamed　so　far。　He　had　seen　a　queen　and　met　the　Daughter…Heir　of　Andor；　faced　a　Myrddraal　and　traveled　the　Ways；　and　none　of　it　had　prepared　him　for　this　moment。
　　　　　　　〃Why　so　many？〃　he　whispered　again。
　　　　　　　〃The　Amyrlin　Seat's　e　in　person。〃　Lan　looked　at　him；　his　expression　as　hard　and　unreadable　as　a　rock。　〃Your　lessons　are　done；　sheepherder。〃　He　paused　then；　and　Rand　almost　thought　there　was　sympathy　on　his　face。　That　could　not　be；　of　course。　〃Better　for　you　if　you　were　a　week　gone。〃　With　that　the　Warder　snatched　up　his　shirt　and　disappeared　down　the　ladder　into　the　tower。
　　　　　　　Rand　worked　his　mouth；　trying　to　get　a　little　moisture。　He　stared　at　the　column　approaching　Fal　Dara　as　if　it　really　were　a　snake；　a　deadly　viper。　The　drums　and　trumpets　sang；　loud　in　his　ears。　The　Amyrlin　Seat；　who　ordered　the　Aes　Sedai。　She's　e　because　of　me。　He　could　think　of　no　other　reason。
　　　　　　　They　knew　things；　had　knowledge　that　could　help　him；　he　was　sure。　And　he　did　not　dare　ask　any　of　them。　He　was　afraid　they　had　e　to　gentle　him。　And　afraid　they　haven't；　too；　he　admitted　reluctantly。　Light；　I　don't　know　which　scares　me　more。
　　　　　　　〃I　didn't　mean　to　channel　the　Power；〃　he　whispered。　〃It　was　an　accident！　Light；　I　don't　want　anything　to　do　with　it。　I　swear　I'll　never　touch　it　again！　I　swear　it！〃
　　　　　　　With　a　start；　he　realized　that　the　Aes　Sedai　party　was　entering　the　city　gates。　The　wind　swirled　up　fiercely；　chilling　his　sweat　like　droplets　of　ice；　making　the　trumpets　sound　like　sly　laughter；　he　thought　he　could　smell　an　opened　grave；　strong　in　the　air。　My　grave；　if　I　keep　standing　here。
　　　　　　　Grabbing　his　shirt；　he　scrambled　down　the　ladder　and　began　to　run。
　
Chapter　2
（Flame　of　Tar　Valon）
The　Wele

　　　　　　　The　halls　of　Fal　Dara　keep；　their　smooth　stone　walls　sparsely　decorated　with　elegantly　simple　tapestries　and　painted　screens；　bustled　with　news　of　the　Amyrlin　Seat's　imminent　arrival。　Servants　in　black…and…gold　darted　about　their　tasks；　running　to　prepare　rooms　or　carry　orders　to　the　kitchens；　moaning　that　they　could　not　have　everything　ready　for　so　great　a　personage　when　they　had　had　no　warning。　Dark…eyed　warriors；　their　heads　shaven　except　for　a　topknot　bound　with　a　leather　cord；　did　not　run；　but　haste　filled　their　steps　and　their　faces　shone　with　an　excitement　normally　reserved　for　battle。　Some　of　the　men　spoke　as　Rand　hurried　past。
　　　　　　　〃Ah；　there　you　are；　Rand　al'Thor。　Peace　favor　your　sword。　On　your　way　to　clean　up？　You'll　want　to　look　your　best　when　you　are　presented　to　the　Amyrlin　Seat。　She'll　want　to　see　you　and　your　two　friends　as　well　as　the　women；　you　can　count　on　it。〃
　　　　　　　He　trotted　toward　the　broad　stairs；　wide　enough　for　twenty　men　abreast；　that　led　up　to　the　men's　apartments。
　　　　　　　〃The　Amyrlin　herself；　e　with　no　more　warning　than　a　pack　peddler。　Must　be　because　of　Moiraine　Sedai　and　you　southerners；　eh？　What　else？〃
　　　　　　　The　wide；　iron…bound　doors　of　the　men's　apartments　stood　open；　and　half　jammed　with　top…knotted　men　buzzing　with　the　Amyrlin's　arrival。
〃Ho；　southlander！　The　Amyrlin's　here。　e　for　you　and　your　friends；　I　suppose。　Peace；　what　honor　for　you！　She　seldom　leaves　Tar　Valon；　and　she's　never　e　to　the　Borderlands　in　my　memory。〃
　　　　　　　He　fended　them　all　off　with　a　few　words。　He　had　to　wash。　Find　a　clean　shirt。　No　time　to　talk。　They　thought　they　understood；　and　let　him　go。　Not　a　one　of　them　knew　a　thing　except　that　he　and　his　friends　traveled　in　pany　with　an　Aes　Sedai；　that　two　of　his　friends　were　women　who　were　going　to　Tar　Valon　to　train　as　Aes　Sedai；　but　their　words　stabbed　at　him　as　if　they　knew　everything。　She's　e　for　me。
　　　　　　　He　dashed　through　the　men's　apartments；　darted　into　the　room　he　shared　with　Mat　and　Perrin　。。。　and　froze；　his　jaw　dropping　in　astonishment。　The　room　was　filled　with　women　wearing　the　black…and…gold；　all　working　purposefully。　It　was　not　a　big　room；　and　its　windows；　a　pair　of　tall；　narrow　arrowslits　looking　down　on　one　of　the　inner　courtyards；　did　nothing　to　make　it　seem　larger。　Three　beds　on　black…and…white　tiled　platforms；　each　with　a　chest　at　the　foot；　three　plain　chairs；　a　washstand　by　the　door；　and　a　tall；　wide　wardrobe　crowded　the　room。　The　eight　women　in　there　seemed　like　fish　in　a　basket。
　　　　　　　The　women　barely　glanced　at　him；　and　went　right　on　clearing　his　clothes…and　Mat's　and　Perrin's…out　of　the　wardrobe　and　replacing　them　with　new。　Anything　found　in　the　pockets　was　put　atop　the　chests；　and　the　old　clothes　were　bundled　up　carelessly；　like　rags。
　　　　　　　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　he　demanded　when　he　caught　his　breath。　〃Those　are　my　clothes！〃　One　of　the　women　sniffed　and　poked　a　finger　through　a　tear　in　the　sleeve　of　his　only　coat；　then　added　it　to　the　pile　on　the　floor。
　　　　　　　Another；　a　black…haired　woman　with　a　big　ring　of　keys　at　her　waist；　set　her　eyes　on　him。　That　was　Elansu；　shatayan　of　the　keep。　He　thought　of　the　sharp…faced　woman　as　a　housekeeper；　though　the　house　she　kept　was　a　fortress　and　scores　of　servants　did　her　bidding。　〃Moiraine　Sedai　said　all　of　your　clothes　are　worn　out；　and　the　Lady　Amalisa　had　new　made　to　give　you。　Just　keep　out　of　our　way；〃　she　added　firmly；　〃and　we　will　be　done　the　quicker。〃　There　were　few　men　the　shatayan　could　not　bully　into　doing　as　she　wished　…　some　said　even　Lord　Agelmar　…　and　she