rj.theshadowrising-第27部分

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ook。
　　　　　　　No　evidence　of　last　night's　horror　remained；　unless　it　was　the　absence　of　mirrors；　lighter　patches　marked　the　wall　panels　where　those　hanging　there　had　been　taken　away。　Not　that　the　room　came　anywhere　near　neatness；　books　lay　everywhere；　on　everything；　some　lying　open　as　if　abandoned　in　the　middle　of　a　page；　and　the　bed　was　still　unmade。　The　crimson　draperies　were　pulled　open　on　all　the　windows；　facing　westward　toward　the　river　that　was　Tear's　heartvein；　and　Callandor　sparkled　like　polished　crystal　on　a　huge　gilded　stand　of　surpassing　gaudiness。　Egwene　thought　the　stand　the　ugliest　thing　she　had　ever　seen　decorating　a　room　…　until　she　glimpsed　the　silver　wolves　savaging　a　golden　stag　on　the　mantel　above　the　fireplace。　Scant　breezes　off　the　river　kept　the　room　surprisingly　cool　pared　to　the　rest　of　the　Stone。
　　　　　　　Rand　sat　in　his　shirtsleeves；　sprawled　in　a　chair　with　one　leg　over　the　arm　and　a　leather…bound　book　propped　against　his　knee。　At　the　sound　of　their　footsteps；　he　snapped　the　book　shut　and　dropped　it　among　the　others　on　the　scroll…worked　carpet；　bounding　to　his　feet　ready　to　fight。　The　scowl　on　his　face　faded　as　he　took　in　who　they　were。
　　　　　　　For　the　first　time　in　the　Stone；　Egwene　looked　for　changes　in　him　and　found　them。　How　many　months　before　then　since　she　had　seen　him　last？　Enough　for　his　face　to　have　grown　harder；　for　the　openness　that　had　once　been　there　to　fade。　He　moved　differently；　too；　a　little　like　Lan；　a　little　like　the　Aiel。　With　his　height　and　his　reddish　hair；　and　eyes　that　seemed　now　blue；　now　gray；　as　the　light　took　them；　he　looked　all　too　much　like　an　Aielman；　too　much　for　fort。　But　had　he　changed　inside？
　　　　　　　〃I　thought　you　were。。。　someone　else；〃　he　mumbled；　sharing　out　embarrassed　glances　between　them。　That　was　the　Rand　she　knew；　even　to　the　flush　that　rose　in　his　cheeks　every　time　he　looked　at　her　or　Elayne；　either　one。　〃Some。。。people　want　things　I　can't　give。　Things　I　will　not　give。〃　Suspicion　grew　on　his　face　with　shocking　suddenness；　and　his　tone　hardened。　〃What　do　you　want？　Did　Moiraine　send　you？　Are　you　supposed　to　convince　me　to　do　what　she　wants？〃
　　　　　　　〃Don't　be　a　goose；〃　Egwene　said　sharply　before　she　thought。　〃I　do　not　want　you　to　start　a　war！〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　added　in　pleading　tones；　〃We　came　to。。。　to　help　you；　if　we　can。〃　That　was　one　of　their　reasons；　and　the　easiest　to　bring　up；　they　had　decided　over　breakfast。
　　　　　　　〃You　know　about　her　plans　for。。。〃　he　began　roughly；　then　made　a　sudden　shift。　〃Help　me？　How？　That　is　what　Moiraine　says。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　sternly　folded　her　arms　beneath　her　breasts；　holding　the　scarf　tight；　in　the　way　Nynaeve　used　to　address　the　Village　Council　when　she　meant　to　have　her　way　no　matter　how　stubborn　they　were。　It　was　too　late　to　start　over；　the　only　thing　was　to　go　on　as　she　had　begun。　〃I　told　you　not　to　be　a　fool；　Rand　al'Thor。　You　may　have　Tairens　bowing　to　your　boots；　but　I　remember　when　Nynaeve　switched　your　bottom　for　letting　Mat　talk　you　into　stealing　ajar　of　apple　brandy。〃　Elayne　kept　her　face　carefully　posed。　Too　carefully；　it　was　plain　to　Egwene　that　she　wanted　to　laugh　out　loud。
　　　　　　　Rand　did　not　notice；　of　course。　Men　never　did。　He　grinned　at　Egwene；　close　to　laughing　himself。　〃We　had　just　turned　thirteen。　She　found　us　asleep　behind　your　father's　stable；　and　our　heads　hurt　so　much　we　didn't　even　feel　her　switch。〃　That　was　not　at　all　the　way　Egwene　recalled　it。　〃Not　like　when　you　threw　that　bowl　at　her　head。　Remember？　She'd　closed　you　with　dogweed　tea　because　you　had　been　moping　about　for　a　week；　and　as　soon　as　you　tasted　it；　you　hit　her　with　her　best　bowl。　Light；　did　you　squeal！　When　was　that？　Two　years　ago　e　this　…〃
　　　　　　　〃We　are　not　here　to　talk　over　old　times；〃　Egwene　said；　shifting　the　scarf　irritably。　It　was　thin　wool；　but　still　far　too　hot。　Really；　he　did　have　the　habit　of　remembering　the　most　unfortunate　things。
　　　　　　　He　grinned　as　if　he　knew　what　she　was　thinking；　and　went　on　in　better　humor。　〃You　are　here　to　help　me；　you　say。　With　what？　I　don't　suppose　you　know　how　to　make　a　High　Lord　keep　his　word　when　I'm　not　staring　over　his　shoulder。　Or　how　to　stop　unwanted　dreams？　I　could　surely　use　help　with　…　〃　Eyes　darting　to　Elayne　and　back　to　her；　he　made　another　abrupt　shift。　〃What　about　the　Old　Tongue？　Did　you　learn　any　of　that　in　the　White　Tower？〃　Without　waiting　for　an　answer　he　began　rooting　through　the　volumes　scattered　across　the　carpet。　There　were　more　on　the　chairs；　among　the　tumbled　bedclothes。　〃I　have　a　copy　here。。。　somewhere　。　。　。of。。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃Rand。〃　Egwene　raised　her　voice。　〃Rand；　I　cannot　read　the　Old　Tongue。〃　She　shot　a　look　at　Elayne；　warning　her　not　to　admit　to　any　such　knowledge。　They　had　not　e　to　translate　the　Prophecies　of　the　Dragon　for　him。　The　sapphires　in　the　Daughter…Heir's　hair　swayed　as　she　nodded　agreement。　〃We　had　other　things　to　learn。〃
　　　　　　　He　straightened　from　the　books　with　a　sigh。　〃It　was　too　much　to　hope。〃　For　a　moment　he　seemed　on　the　point　of　saying　more；　but　stared　at　his　boots。　Egwene　wondered　how　he　managed　to　deal　with　the　High　Lords　in　all　their　arrogance　if　she　and　Elayne　put　him　so　out　of　countenance。
　　　　　　　〃We　came　to　help　you　with　channeling；〃　she　told　him。　〃With　the　Power。〃　What　Moiraine　claimed　was　supposed　to　be　true；　a　woman　could　not　teach　a　man　to　channel　any　more　than　she　could　teach　him　how　to　bear　a　child。　Egwene　was　not　so　sure。　She　had　felt　something　woven　from　saidin；　once。　Or　rather；　she　had　felt　nothing；　something　blocking　her　own　flows　as　surely　as　stone　dammed　water。　But　she　had　learned　as　much　outside　the　Tower　as　within；　surely　in　her　knowledge　there　was　something　she　could　teach　him；　some　guidance　she　could　offer。
　　　　　　　〃If　we　can；〃　Elayne　added。
　　　　　　　Suspicion　flashed　across　his　face　again。　It　was　unnerving　how　his　mood　changed　so　quickly。　〃I　have　more　chance　of　reading　the　Old　Tongue　than　you　do　of。。。。　Are　you　sure　this　isn't　Moiraine's　doing？　Did　she　send　you　here？　Thinks　she　can　convince　me　by　some　roundabout　way；　does　she？　Some　twisty　Aes　Sedai　plot　I'll　not　see　the　point　of　until　I　am　mired　in　it？〃　He　grunted　sourly　and　pulled　a　dark　green　coat　from　the　floor　behind　one　of　the　chairs；　shrugging　into　it　hastily。　〃I　agreed　to　meet　some　more　of　the　High　Lords　this　morning。　If　I　don't　keep　an　eye　on　them；　they　just　find　ways　to　get　around　what　I　want。　They'll　learn　sooner　or　later。　I　rule　Tear；　now。　Me。　The　Dragon　Reborn。　I　will　teach　them。　You　will　have　to　excuse　me。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　wanted　to　shake　him。　He　ruled　Tear？　Well；　perhaps　he　did；　if　it　came　to　that；　but　she　remembered　a　boy　with　a　lamb　nestled　inside　his　coat；　proud　as　a　rooster　because　he　had　driven　off　the　wolf　that　tried　to　take　it。　He　was　a　shepherd；　not　a　king；　and　even　if　he　had　call　to　give　himself　airs；　it　was　no　good　to　him　that　he　did。
　　　　　　　She　was　about　to　tell　him　as　much；　but　before　she　could　Elayne　spoke　up　fiercely。　〃No　one　sent　us。　No　one。　We　came　because。。。　because　we　care　for　you。　Perhaps　it　will　not　work；　but　you　can　try。　If　I。。。　if　we　care　enough　to　try；　you　can　try；　too。　Is　it　so　unimportant　to　you　that　you　cannot　spare　us　an　hour？　For　your　life？〃
　　　　　　　He　stopped　buttoning　up　his　coat；　staring　at　the　Daughter…Heir　so　intently　that　for　a　moment　Egwene　thought　he　had　forgotten　she　was　there。　With　a　shiver　he　pulled　his　eyes　away。　Glancing　at　Egwene；　he　shifted　his　feet　and　frowned　at　the　floor。　〃I　will　try；〃　he　muttered。　〃It'll　do　no　good；　but　I　will。。。。　What　do　you　want　me　to　do？〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　drew　a　deep　breath。　She　had　not　thought　convincing　him　would　be　this　easy；　he　had　always　been　like　a　boulder　buried　in　mud　when　he　decided　to　dig　his　heels　in；　which　he　did　far　too　often。
　　　　　　　〃Look　at　me；〃　she　said；　embracing　saidar。　She　let　the　Power　fill　her　as　pletely　as　it　ever　had；　more　pletely；　accepting　every　drop　she　could　hold；　it　was　as　if　light　suffused　every　particle　of　her；　as　if　the　Light　itself　filled　every　cranny。　Life　seemed　to　burst　inside　her　like　fireworks。　She　had　never　before　let　this　much　in。　It　was　a　shock　to　realize　she　was　not　quivering；　surely　she　could　not　bear　this　glorious　sweetness。　She　wanted　to　revel　in　it；　to　dance　and　sing；　to　simply　lie　back　and　let　it　roll　through　her；　over　her。　She　made　herself　speak。　〃What　do　you　see？　What　do　you　feel？　Look　at　me；　Rand！〃
　　　　　　　He　lifted　his　head　slowly；　still　frowning。　〃I　see　you。　What　am　I　supposed　to　see？　Are　you　touching　the　Source？　Egwene；　Moiraine　has　channeled　around　me　a　hundred　times；　and　I　never　saw　anything。　Except　what　she　did。　It　doesn't　work　that　way。　Even　I　know　that　much。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　stronger　than　Moiraine；〃　she　told　him　firmly。　〃She　would　be　whimpering　on　the　floor；　or　insensible；　if　she　tried　to　hold　as　much　as　I　hold　now。〃　It　was　true；　though　she　had　never　before　rated　the　Aes　Sedai's　ability　so　closely。
　　　　　　　It　cried　out　to　be　used；　this　Power　pulsing　through　her　stronger　than　heartblood。　With　this　much；　she　could　do　things　Moiraine　could　not　dream　of　doing。　The　wound　in　Rand's　side　that　Moiraine　could　never　Heal　pletely。　She　did　not　know　Healing　…　it　was　considerably　more　plex　than　anything　she　had　ever　done　…　but　she　had　watched　Nynaeve　Heal；　and　perhaps；　with　this　great　pool　of　the　Power　filling　her；　she　could　see　something　of　how　that　could　be　Healed。　Not　to　do　it；　of　course；　only　to　see。
　　　　　　　Carefully　she　spun　out　hair…fine　flows　of　Air　and　Water　and　Spirit；　the　Powers　used　for　Healing；　and　felt　for　his　old　injury。　One　touch；　and　she　recoiled；　shivering；　snatching　back　her　weaving；　her　stomach　churned　as　if　every　meal　she　had　ever　eaten　wanted　to　e　up。　It　seemed　that　all　the　darkness　in　the　world　rested　there　in　Rand's　side；　all　the　world's　evil　in　a　festering　sore　only　lightly　covered　by　tender　scar　tissue。　A　thing　like　that　would　soak　up　Healing　flows　like　drops　of　water　on　dry　sand。　How　could　he　bear　the　pain？　Why　was　he　not　weeping？
　　　　　　　From　first　thought　to　action　had　taken　only　a　moment。　Shaken；　and　desperately　hiding　it；　she　went　on　without　a　pause。　〃You　are　as　strong　as　I。　I　know　it；　you　must　be。　Feel；　Rand。　What　do　you　feel？〃　Light；　what　can　Heal　that？　Can　anything？
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　feel　anything；〃　he　muttered；　shifting　his　feet。　〃Goose　bumps。　And　no　wonder。　It's　not　that　I　don't　trust　you；　Egwene；　but　I　cannot　help　being　nervous　when　a　woman　is　channeling　around　me。　I　am　sorry。〃
　　　　　　　She　did　not　bother　explaining　to　him　the　difference　between　channeling　and　merely　embracing　the　True　Source。　There　was　so　much　he　did　not　know；　even　pared　to　her　own　scant　knowledge。　He　was　a　blind　man　trying　to　work　a　loom　by　touch；　with　no　idea　of　colors　or　what　the　threads；　or　even　the　loom；　looked　like。
　　　　　　　With　an　effort　she　released　saidar；　and　it　was　an　effort。　Part　of　her　wanted　to　cry　at　the　loss。　〃I　am　not　touching　the　Source　now；　Rand。〃　She　stepped　closer　and　peered　up　at　him。　〃Do　you　still　feel　goose　bumps？〃
　　　　　　　〃No。　But　that's　just　because　you　told　me。〃　He　gave　an　abrupt　shrug　of　his　shoulders。　〃You　see？　I　started　thinking　about　it；　and　I　have　them　again。〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　smiled　triumphantly。　She　did　not　need　to　look　around　at　Elayne　to　confirm　what　she　had　already　sensed；　what　they　had　agreed　upon　earlier　for　this　point。　〃You　can　sense　a　woman　embracing　the　Source；　Rand。　Elayne　is　doing　just　that　right　now。〃　He　squinted　at　the　Daughter…Heir。　〃It　d