rj.acrownofswords-第96部分

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s　presence。　And　she　had　spoken　of　serving；　too；　though　he　doubted　that　Merana's　present　tasks　were　what　either　had　in　mind。　Perhaps　some　sort　of　livery　would　make　it　clear？
　　　The　clan　chiefs　watched　Merana　watch　them。　Not　so　much　as　the　flicker　of　an　eyelash　betrayed　their　thoughts。
　　　〃The　Wise　Ones　have　told　you　where　the　Aes　Sedai　stand；〃　Rand　said　bluntly。　Sorilea　had　told　him　they　knew；　but　the　fact　would　have　been　clear　from　the　lack　of　surprise　when　they　first　saw　Merana　fetch　and　curtsy。　〃You've　seen　her　bring　the　tray　and　pour　your　tea。　You've　seen　her　e　and　go　as　I　say。　If　you　want；　I'll　have　her　dance　a　jig。〃　Convincing　the　Aiel　that　he　was　not　on　the　end　of　an　Aes　Sedai　leash　was　the　most　needed　service　any　of　the　sisters　could　do　him　right　now。　He　would　have　them　all　doing　jigs；　if　necessary。
　　　Mandelain　adjusted　the　gray…green　patch　over　his　right　eye；　the　way　he　did　when　he　wanted　a　moment　to　think。　A　thick　puckered　scar　ran　up　his　forehead　from　behind　the　leather　patch　and　halfway　across　his　mostly　bald　head。　When　he　finally　spoke；　it　was　only　a　little　less　blunt　than　Rand。　〃Some　say　an　Aes　Sedai　will　do　anything　to　have　what　she　wants。〃
　　　Indirian　lowered　heavy　white　eyebrows　and　peered　down　his　long　nose　at　his　tea。　Of　only　average　height　for　an　Aielman；　he　was　shorter　than　Rand　by　half　a　hand；　yet　everything　about　him　seemed　long。　The　heat　of　the　Waste　appeared　to　have　melted　away　every　spare　ounce　of　flesh　and　a　few　more　besides。　His　cheekbones　stood　out　sharp；　and　his　eyes　were　emeralds　set　in　caves。　〃I　do　not　like　speaking　of　Aes　Sedai。〃　His　deep；　rich　voice　was　always　a　shock；　ing　from　that　gaunt　face。　〃What　is　done；　is　done。　Let　the　Wise　Ones　deal　with　them。〃
　　　〃Better　to　speak　of　the　Shaido　dogs；〃　Janwin　said　mildly。　Which　was　almost　as　great　a　shock；　ing　from　his　fierce　face。　〃Within　a　few　months；　less　than　half　a　year　at　most；　every　Shaido　who　can　be　will　be　dead　…　or　made　gai'shain。〃　Just　because　his　voice　was　soft　did　not　mean　he　was。　The　other　two　nodded；　Mandelain　smiled　eagerly。
　　　They　still　seemed　unconvinced。　The　Shaido　had　been　the　professed　reason　for　this　meeting；　and　no　less　important　for　not　being　the　most　important。　Not　unimportant　…　the　Shaido　had　made　trouble　long　enough　…　just　not　on　the　same　page　with　the　Aes　Sedai　in　his　book。　They　did　present　problems；　though。　Three　clans　joining　Timolan's　Miagoma；　already　near　Kinslayer's　Dagger；　might　well　be　able　to　do　as　Janwin　said；　but　there　were　those　who　could　not　be　made　gai'shain　and　could　not　be　killed。　Some　were　more　critical　than　others。　〃What　of　the　Wise　Ones？〃　he　asked。
　　　For　a　moment　their　faces　became　unreadable；　not　even　Aes　Sedai　could　do　that　so　well　as　Aiel。　Facing　the　One　Power　did　not　frighten　them；　not　where　it　showed；　at　least；　no　one　could　outrun　death；　so　Aiel　believed；　and　a　hundred　Aes　Sedai　in　a　rage　could　not　make　a　lone　Aiel　lower　the　veil　once　raised。　But　learning　that　Wise　Ones　had　taken　part　in　the　fighting　at　Dumai's　Wells　had　hit　them　like　watching　the　sun　rise　by　night　and　the　moon　by　day　in　a　blood…red　sky。
　　　〃Sarinde　tells　me　almost　all　of　the　Wise　Ones　will　run　with　the　algai'd'siswai；〃　Indirian　said　at　last；　reluctantly。　Sarinde　was　the　Wise　One　who　had　followed　him　from　Red　Springs；　clan　hold　of　the　Codarra。　Or　perhaps　〃followed〃　was　not　the　right　word；　Wise　Ones　seldom　did。　In　any　case；　most　of　the　Codarra　Wise　Ones；　and　the　Shiande　and　the　Daryne；　would　go　north　with　the　spears。　〃The　Shaido　Wise　Ones　will　be。。。　dealt　with。。。　by　Wise　Ones。〃　His　mouth　twisted　with　disgust。
　　　〃All　things　change。〃　Janwin's　voice　was　even　softer　than　usual。　He　believed；　but　he　did　not　want　to。　Wise　Ones　taking　part　in　battle　violated　custom　as　old　as　the　Aiel。
　　　Mandelain　set　his　cup　down　with　exaggerated　care。　〃Corehuin　wishes　to　see　Jair　again　before　the　dream　ends；　and　so　do　I。〃　Like　Bael　and　Rhuarc；　he　had　two　wives；　the　other　chiefs　had　only　one　each；　except　Timolan；　but　a　widowed　chief　seldom　remained　so　long。　The　Wise　Ones　saw　to　that　if　he　did　not。　〃Will　any　of　us　ever　see　the　sun　rise　again　in　the　Three…fold　Land？〃
　　　〃I　hope　so；〃　Rand　said　slowly。　As　the　plow　breaks　the　earth　shall　he　break　the　lives　of　men；　and　all　that　was　shall　be　consumed　in　the　fire　of　his　eyes。　The　trumpets　of　war　shall　sound　at　his　footsteps；　the　ravens　feed　at　his　voice；　and　he　shall　wear　a　crown　of　swords。　The　Prophecies　of　the　Dragon　gave　little　hope　for　anything　except　victory　over　the　Dark　One；　and　only　a　chance　of　that。　The　Prophecy　of　Rhuidean；　the　Aiel　Prophecy；　said　he　would　destroy　them。　The　bleakness　swept　through　the　clans　because　of　him　and　ancient　customs　were　ripped　apart。　Even　without　the　Aes　Sedai；　small　wonder　if　some　chiefs　pondered　whether　they　were　right　to　follow　Rand　al'Thor；　Dragons　on　his　arms　or　no。　〃I　hope　so。〃
　　　〃May　you　always　find　water　and　shade；　Rand　al'Thor；〃　Indirian　said。
　　　After　they　left；　Rand　sat　frowning　into　his　cup；　finding　no　answers　in　the　dark　tea。　Finally　he　set　it　beside　the　tray　and　pushed　his　sleeves　down。　Merana's　eyes　were　intent　on　him；　as　if　trying　to　pull　out　his　thoughts。　There　was　a　hint　of　impatience　about　her；　too。　He　had　told　her　to　stay　in　the　corner　unless　she　could　hear　voices。　Doubtless　she　saw　no　reason　why　she　should　not　e　out　now　the　clan　chiefs　were　gone。　e　out；　and　dig　out　what　had　been　said。
　　　〃Do　you　think　they　believe　I　dance　on　Aes　Sedai　strings？〃　he　said。
　　　Young　Narishma　gave　a　start。　In　truth；　he　was　a　little　older　than　Rand；　but　he　had　the　look　of　a　boy　five　or　six　years　younger。　He　glanced　at　Merana　as　though　she　had　the　answer；　and　shifted　his　shoulders　unfortably。　〃I。。。　do　not　know；　my　Lord　Dragon。〃
　　　Dashiva　blinked　and　stopped　murmuring　to　himself。　Tilting　his　head；　bird…like；　he　eyed　Rand　sideways。　〃Does　it　matter；　so　long　as　they　obey？〃
　　　〃It　matters；〃　Rand　said。　Dashiva　shrugged；　and　Narishma　frowned　thoughtfully；　neither　seemed　to　understand；　yet　maybe　Narishma　could　e　to。
　　　Maps　littered　the　stone　floor　behind　the　throne　on　its　dais；　rolled　or　folded　or　spread　out　where　he　had　left　them。　He　shifted　some　with　the　toe　of　his　boot。　So　much　to　be　juggled　at　once。　Northern　Cairhien　and　the　mountains　called　Kinslayer's　Dagger；　and　the　region　around　the　city。　Illian　and　the　Plains　of　Maredo　out　to　Far　Madding。　The　island　of　Tar　Valon　and　all　the　surrounding　towns　and　villages。　Ghealdan　and　part　of　Amadicia。　Movement　and　color　in　his　head。　Lews　Therin　moaned　and　laughed　in　the　distance；　faint　mad　mutters　of　killing　the　Asha'man；　killing　the　Forsaken。　Killing　himself。　Alanna　stopped　weeping；　cutting　anguish　subdued　beneath　a　thin　thread　of　anger。　Rand　scrubbed　his　hands　through　his　hair；　pressing　hard　against　his　temples。　What　had　it　been　like　to　be　alone　inside　his　own　skull？　He　could　not　recall。
　　　One　of　the　tall　doors　opened　to　admit　one　of　the　Maidens　who　were　standing　guard　in　the　corridor。　Riallin；　with　vivid　yellow…red　hair　and　a　grin　for　everything；　actually　managed　to　appear　plump。　For　a　Maiden；　anyway。　〃Berelain　sur　Paendrag　and　Annoura　Larisen　wish　to　see　the　Car'a'carn。〃　she　announced。　Her　voice　went　from　warm　and　friendly　on　the　first　name　to　cold　and　flat　on　the　second　without　disturbing　her　grin。
　　　Rand　sighed　and　opened　his　mouth　to　let　them　enter；　but　Berelain　did　not　wait。　She　stormed　in；　a　somewhat　calmer　Annoura　at　her　heels。　The　Aes　Sedai　shied　slightly　at　the　sight　of　Dashiva　and　Narishma；　and　stared　curiously　when　she　saw　Merana　standing　in　her　corner。　Not　so　Berelain。
　　　〃What　is　the　meaning　of　this；　my　Lord　Dragon？〃　she　demanded；　brandishing　the　letter　he　had　had　delivered　to　her　this　morning。　She　stalked　across　the　floor　to　shake　it　under　his　nose。　〃Why　am　I　to　return　to　Mayene？　I　have　governed　well　here　in　your　name；　and　you　know　it。　I　could　not　stop　Colavaere　having　herself　crowned；　but　at　least　I　stopped　her　changing　the　laws　you　made。　Why　am　I　to　be　sent　away？　And　why　am　I　told　by　letter？　Not　to　my　face。　By　letter！　Thanked　for　my　services　and　dismissed　like　a　clerk　who's　done　collecting　the　taxes！〃
　　　Even　furious；　the　First　of　Mayene　was　one　of　the　most　beautiful　women　Rand　had　ever　seen。　Black　hair　fell　in　shining　waves　to　her　shoulders；　fr