rj.thepathofdaggers-第139部分

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t。　At　worst；　you　can　collect　your　customs　when　the　goods　e　out　of　their。。。　sanctuary。　For　the　rest。。。　If　I　can　accept　it；　you　can；　too。〃　There　was　no　laughter　in　his　voice　now；　and　Dobraine　bowed　his　head。
　　　　　　　Min　wondered　where　he　had　learned　all　that。　He　sounded　a　king；　and　one　who　knew　what　he　was　doing。　Maybe　Elayne　had　taught　him。
　　　　　　　〃　'Secondly'　implies　more；〃　Rand　said　to　the　two　Aes　Sedai。
　　　　　　　Merana　and　Rafela　exchanged　glances；　unconsciously　touched　skirts　and　shawls；　and　then　Merana　spoke；　her　voice　not　at　all　pompous。　In　fact；　it　was　much　too　light。　〃Thirdly；　the　Dragon　Reborn　agrees　to　keep　an　ambassador　chosen　by　the　Atha'an　Miere　with　him　at　all　times。　Harine　din　Togara　has　named　herself。　She　will　be　acpanied　by　her　Windfinder；　her　Swordmaster　and　a　retinue。〃
　　　　　　　〃What？〃　Rand　roared；　springing　from　the　chair。
　　　　　　　Rafela　rushed　in；　rushed　ahead；　as　though　afraid　he　might　cut　her　off。　〃And　fourthly；　the　Dragon　Reborn　agrees　to　go　promptly　to　a　summons　from　the　Mistress　of　the　Ships；　but　not　more　than　twice　in　any　three　consecutive　years。〃　She　finished　panting　a　little；　trying　to　make　the　last　sound　like　extenuation。
　　　　　　　The　Dragon　Scepter　flew　from　the　floor　behind　Rand；　and　he　snagged　it　out　of　the　air　without　looking。　His　eyes　were　not　ice　any　more。　They　were　blue　fire。　〃A　Sea　Folk　ambassador　clinging　to　my　heels？〃　he　shouted。　〃Obey　summonses？〃　He　shook　the　carved　spearhead　at　them；　the　green…and…white　tassel　flailing。　〃There　are　a　people　out　there　who　want　to　conquer　all　of　us；　and　might　be　able　to　do　it！　The　Forsaken　are　out　there！　The　Dark　One　is　waiting！　Why　didn't　you　agree　I'd　caulk　their　hulls　while　you　were　about　it！〃
　　　　　　　Normally；　Min　tried　to　soothe　his　temper　when　it　flared；　but　this　time　she　sat　forward　and　glared　at　the　Aes　Sedai。　She　agreed　with　him　fully。　They　had　given　away　the　barn　to　sell　a　horse！
　　　　　　　Rafela　actually　swayed　before　that　blast；　but　Merana　drew　herself　up；　her　own　eyes　managing　a　good　imitation　of　brown　fire　flecked　with　gold。　〃You　castigate　us？〃　she　snapped　in　tones　as　frosty　as　her　eyes　were　hot。　She　was　Aes　Sedai　as　the　child　Min　had　seen　them；　regal　above　queens；　powerful　above　powers。　〃You　were　present　in　the　beginning；　ta'veren；　and　you　twisted　them　as　you　wanted　them。　You　could　have　had　them　all　kneeling　to　you！　But　you　left！　They　were　not　pleased　to　know　they　had　been　dancing　for　a　ta'veren。　Somewhere；　they　learned　to　weave　shields；　and　before　you　were　well　off　their　ship；　Rafela　and　I　were　shielded。　So　we　could　not　take　advantage　with　the　Power；　they　said。　More　than　once；　Harine　threatened　to　hang　us　in　the　rigging　by　our　toes　until　we　came　to　our　senses；　and　I　for　one　believe　she　meant　it！　Feel　lucky　that　you　have　the　ships　you　want；　Rand　al'Thor。　Harine　would　have　given　you　a　handful！　Feel　lucky　she　didn't　want　your　new　boots　and　that　ghastly　throne　of　yours　as　well！　Oh；　by　the　by；　she　formally　acknowledged　you　as　the　Coramoor；　may　you　get　a　bellyache　from　it！〃
　　　　　　　Min　stared　at　her。　Rand　and　Dobraine　stared　at　her；　and　the　Cairhienin's　jaw　hung　open。　Rafela　stared；　her　mouth　working　soundlessly。　For　that　matter；　the　fire　faded　from　Merana's　eyes；　and　they　slowly　grew　wider　and　wider　as　if　she　were　just　hearing　what　she　had　said。
　　　　　　　The　Dragon　Scepter　trembled　in　Rand's　fist。　Min　had　seen　his　fury　swell　near　to　bursting　for　far　less。　She　prayed　for　a　way　to　avoid　the　explosion；　and　could　not　see　one。
　　　　　　　〃It　seems；〃　he　said　finally；　〃that　the　words　a　ta'veren　drags　out　aren't　always　the　words　he　wants　to　hear。〃　He　sounded。。。　calm；　Min　was　not　about　to　think；　sane。　〃You've　done　well；　Merana。　I　handed　you　a　dog's　dinner；　but　you　and　Rafela　have　done　well。〃
　　　　　　　The　two　Aes　Sedai　swayed；　and　for　a　moment；　Min　thought　they　might　collapse　in　puddles　on　the　floor　from　sheer　relief。
　　　　　　　〃At　least　we　managed　to　keep　the　details　from　Cadsuane；〃　Rafela　said；　smoothing　her　skirts　unsteadily。　〃There　was　no　way　to　stop　everyone　learning　we　had　made　some　sort　of　agreement；　but　we　kept　that　much　from　her。〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；〃　Merana　said　breathlessly。　〃She　even　waylaid　us　on　the　way　here。　It's　difficult　keeping　anything　from　her；　but　we　did。　We　didn't　think　you'd　want　her　to。。。　〃　She　trailed　off　at　the　stony　look　on　Rand's　face。
　　　　　　　〃Cadsuane　again；〃　he　said　flatly。　He　frowned　at　the　carved　length　of　spearhead　in　his　hand；　then　tossed　it　onto　a　chair　as　if　he　did　not　trust　himself　with　it。　〃She's　in　the　Sun　Palace；　is　she？　Min；　tell　the　Maidens　outside　to　carry　a　message　to　Cadsuane。　She　is　to　attend　the　Dragon　Reborn　in　all　haste。〃
　　　　　　　〃Rand；　I　don't　think；〃　Min　began　uneasily；　but　Rand　cut　in。　Not　harshly；　but　quite　firmly。
　　　　　　　〃Do　it；　please；　Min。　This　woman　is　like　a　wolf　eyeing　the　sheepfold。　I　intend　to　find　out　what　she　wants。〃
　　　　　　　Min　took　her　time　getting　up；　and　dragged　her　feet　to　the　doors。　She　was　not　the　only　one　to　think　this　a　bad　idea。　Or　at　least　to　want　to　be　elsewhere　when　the　Dragon　Reborn　faced　Cadsuane　Melaidhrin。　Dobraine　passed　her　on　the　way　to　the　door；　making　a　hasty　bow　with　barely　a　pause；　and　even　Merana　and　Rafela　were　out　of　the　room　before　her；　though　they　made　it　appear　they　were　not　hurrying。　Inside　the　room；　they　did；　anyway。　When　Min　put　her　head　into　the　hallway；　the　two　sisters　had　caught　Dobraine　and　were　scurrying　along　at　little　short　of　a　trot。
　　　　　　　Strangely；　the　half…dozen　Maidens　who　had　been　outside　when　Min　entered　earlier　had　now　grown　in　number　until　they　lined　the　corridor　as　far　as　she　could　see　in　both　directions；　tall　hard…faced　women　in　the　grays　and　browns　and　grays　of　the　cadin'sor；　shoufa　wrapped　around　their　heads　with　the　long　black　veil　hanging　down。　A　good　many　carried　their　spears　and　bull…hide　bucklers　as　if　they　expected　a　battle。　Some　were　playing　a　finger…game　called　〃knife；　paper；　stone；〃　and　the　rest　were　watching　intently。
　　　　　　　Not　so　intently　that　they　did　not　see　her；　though。　When　she　passed　Rand's　message；　handtalk　flashed　up　and　down　the　rows；　then　two　lanky　Maidens　went　trotting　off。　The　others　promptly　returned　to　the　game；　playing　or　watching。
　　　　　　　Scratching　her　head　in　puzzlement；　Min　went　back　in。　The　Maidens　often　made　her　nervous；　yet　they　always　had　a　word　for　her；　sometimes　respectful；　as　to　a　Wise　One；　sometimes　joking；　though　their　humor　was　odd；　to　say　the　least。　Never　had　they　ignored　her　like　this。
　　　　　　　Rand　was　in　the　bedchamber。　That　simple　fact　set　her　heart　racing。　He　had　his　coat　off；　his　snowy　shirt　unlaced　at　neck　and　cuffs　and　pulled　out　of　his　breeches。　Sitting　on　the　foot　of　the　bed；　she　leaned　back　against　one　of　the　heavy　blackwood　bedposts　and　swung　her　feet　up；　crossing　her　ankles。　She　had　not　had　a　chance　to　watch　Rand　undress　himself；　and　she　intended　to　enjoy　it。
　　　　　　　Instead　of　continuing；　though；　he　stood　there　looking　at　her。　〃What　can　Cadsuane　possibly　teach　me？〃　he　asked　suddenly。
　　　　　　　〃You；　and　all　the　Asha'man；〃　she　replied。　That　had　been　her　viewing。　〃I　don't　know　what；　Rand。　I　only　know　you　have　to　learn　it。　All　of　you　do。〃　It　did　not　seem　he　intended　to　progress　beyond　letting　his　shirt　hang　down。　Sighing；　she　went　on。　〃You　need　her；　Rand。　You　can't　afford　to　make　her　angry。　You　can't　afford　to　chase　her　away。〃　Actually；　she　did　not　think　fifty　Myrddraal　and　a　thousand　Trollocs　could　chase　Cadsuane　anywhere；　but　the　point　was　the　same。
　　　　　　　A　far…off　look　came　into　Rand's　eyes；　and　after　a　moment；　he　shook　his　head。　〃Why　should　I　listen　to　a　madman？〃　he　muttered　almost　under　his　breath。　Light；　did　he　really　believe　Lews　Therin　Telamon　spoke　in　his　head？　〃Let　someone　know　you　need　them；　Min；　and　they　have　a　hold　on　you。　A　leash；　to　pull　you　where　they　want。　I　won't　put　a　halter　on　my　own　neck　for　any　Aes　Sedai。　Not　for　anyone！〃　Slowly　his　fists　unclenched。　〃You；　I　need；　Min；〃　he　said　simply。　〃Not　for　your　viewings。　I　just　need　you。〃
　　　　　　　Burn　her；　but　the　man　could　sweep　her　feet　out　from　under　her　with　a　few　words！
　　　　　　　With　a　smile　as　eager　as　hers；　he　grasped　the　bottom　of　his　shirt　with　both　hands　and　bent　to　begin　hauling　it　over　his　head。　Lacing　her　fingers　over　her　stomach；　she　settled　back　to　watch。
　　　　　　　The　three　Maidens　who　marched　into　the　room　no　longer　wore　the　shoufa　that