rj.thegreathunt-第16章

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e　said；　that　told　him　it　was　not　to　be　him；　must　not　be　him。　He　could　not　wait　to　be　rid　of　it；　yet　he　wanted　it　still。〃
　　　　　　　Moiraine　nodded。　Agelmar　was　familiar　with　the　Prophecy　of　the　Horn；　most　who　fought　the　Dark　One　were。　〃'Let　whosoever　sounds　me　think　not　of　glory；　but　only　of　salvation。　'〃
　　　　　　　〃Salvation。〃　The　Amyrlin　laughed　bitterly。　〃From　the　look　in　Agelmar's　eyes；　he　didn't　know　whether　he　was　giving　away　salvation　or　rejecting　the　condemnation　of　his　own　soul。　He　only　knew　he　had　to　be　rid　of　it　before　it　burned　him　up。　He　has　tried　to　keep　it　secret；　but　he　says　there　are　rumors　in　the　keep　already。　I　do　not　feel　his　temptation；　yet　the　Horn　still　makes　my　skin　crawl。　He　will　have　to　take　it　back　into　his　strongroom　until　I　leave。　I　could　not　sleep　with　it　even　in　the　next　room。〃　She　rubbed　frown　lines　from　her　forehead　and　sighed。　〃And　it　was　not　to　be　found　until　just　before　the　Last　Battle。　Can　it　be　that　close？　I　thought；　hoped；　we　would　have　more　time。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Karaethon　Cycle。〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　Moiraine。　You　do　not　have　to　remind　me。　I've　lived　with　the　Prophecies　of　the　Dragon　as　long　as　you。〃　The　Amyrlin　shook　her　head。　〃Never　more　than　one　false　Dragon　in　a　generation　since　the　Breaking；　and　now　three　loose　in　the　world　at　one　time；　and　three　more　in　the　past　two　years。　The　Pattern　demands　a　Dragon　because　the　Pattern　weaves　toward　Tarmon　Gai'don。　Sometimes　doubt　fills　me；　Moiraine。〃　She　said　it　musingly；　as　if　wondering　at　it；　and　went　on　in　the　same　tone。　〃What　if　Logain　was　the　one？　He　could　channel；　before　the　Reds　brought　him　to　the　White　Tower；　and　we　gentled　him。　So　can　Mazrim　Taim；　the　man　in　Saldaea。　What　if　it　is　him？　There　are　sisters　in　Saldaea　already；　he　may　be　taken　by　now。　What　if　we　have　been　wrong　since　the　start？　What　happens　if　the　Dragon　Reborn　is　gentled　before　the　Last　Battle　even　begins？　Even　prophecy　can　fail　if　the　one　prophesied　is　slain　or　gentled。　And　then　we　face　the　Dark　One　naked　to　the　storm。〃
　　　　　　　〃Neither　of　them　is　the　one；　Siuan。　The　Pattern　does　not　demand　a　Dragon；　but　the　one　true　Dragon。　Until　he　proclaims　himself；　the　Pattern　will　continue　to　throw　up　false　Dragons；　but　after　that　there　will　be　no　others。　If　Logain　or　the　other　were　the　one；　there　would　be　no　others。〃
　　　　　　　〃'For　he　shall　e　like　the　breaking　dawn；　and　shatter　the　world　again　with　his　ing；　and　make　it　anew。'　Either　we　go　naked　in　the　storm；　or　cling　to　a　protection　that　will　scourge　us。　The　Light　help　us　all。〃　The　Amyrlin　shook　herself　as　if　to　throw　off　her　own　words。　Her　face　was　set；　as　though　bracing　for　a　blow。　〃You　could　never　hide　what　you　were　thinking　from　me　as　you　do　from　everyone　else；　Moiraine。　You　have　more　to　tell　me；　and　nothing　good。〃
　　　　　　　For　answer　Moiraine　took　the　leather　pouch　from　her　belt　and　upended　it；　spilling　the　contents　on　the　table。　It　appeared　to　be　only　a　heap　of　fragmented　pottery；　shiny　black　and　white。
　　　　　　　The　Amyrlin　Seat　touched　one　bit　curiously；　and　her　breath　caught。　〃Cuendillar。〃
　　　　　　　〃Heartstone；〃　Moiraine　agreed。　The　making　of　cuendillar　had　been　lost　at　the　Breaking　of　the　World；　but　what　had　been　made　of　heartstone　had　survived　the　cataclysm。　Even　those　objects　swallowed　by　the　earth　or　sunk　in　the　sea　had　survived；　they　must　have。　No　known　force　could　break　cuendillar　once　it　was　plete；　even　the　One　Power　directed　against　heartstone　only　made　it　stronger。　Except　that　some　power　had　broken　this。
　　　　　　　The　Amyrlin　hastily　assembled　the　pieces。　What　they　formed　was　a　disk　the　size　of　a　man's　hand；　half　blacker　than　pitch　and　half　whiter　than　snow；　the　colors　meeting　along　a　sinuous　line；　unfaded　by　age。　The　ancient　symbol　of　Aes　Sedai；　before　the　world　was　broken；　when　men　and　women　wielded　the　Power　together。　Half　of　it　was　now　called　the　Flame　of　Tar　Valon；　the　other　half　was　scrawled　on　doors；　the　Dragon's　Fang；　to　accuse　those　within　of　evil。　Only　seven　like　it　had　been　made；　everything　ever　made　of　heartstone　was　recorded　in　the　White　Tower；　and　those　seven　were　remembered　above　all。　Siuan　Sanche　stared　at　it　as　she　would　have　at　a　viper　on　her　pillow。
　　　　　　　〃One　of　the　seals　on　the　Dark　One's　prison；〃　she　said　finally；　reluctantly。　It　was　those　seven　seals　over　which　the　Amyrlin　Seat　was　supposed　to　be　Watcher。　The　secret　hidden　from　the　world；　if　the　world　ever　thought　of　it；　was　that　no　Amyrlin　Seat　had　known　where　any　of　the　seals　were　since　the　Trolloc　Wars。
　　　　　　　〃We　know　the　Dark　One　is　stirring；　Siuan。　We　know　his　prison　cannot　stay　sealed　forever。　Human　work　can　never　match　the　Creator's。　We　knew　he　has　touched　the　world　again；　even　if；　thank　the　Light；　only　indirectly。　Darkfriends　multiply；　and　what　we　called　evil　but　ten　years　ago　seems　almost　caprice　pared　with　what　now　is　done　every　day。〃
　　　　　　　〃If　the　seals　are　already　breaking　。。。　We　may　have　no　time　at　all。〃
　　　　　　　〃Little　enough。　But　that　little　may　be　enough。　It　will　have　to　be。〃
　　　　　　　The　Amyrlin　touched　the　fractured　seal；　and　her　voice　grew　tight；　as　if　she　were　forcing　herself　to　speak。　〃I　saw　the　boy；　you　know；　in　the　courtyard　during　the　Wele。　It　is　one　of　my　Talents；　seeing　ta'veren。　A　rare　Talent　these　days；　even　more　rare　than　ta'veren；　and　certainly　not　of　much　use。　A　tall　boy；　a　fairly　handsome　young　man。　Not　much　different　from　any　young　man　you　might　see　in　any　town。〃　She　paused　to　draw　breath。　〃Moiraine；　he　blazed　like　the　sun。　I've　seldom　been　afraid　in　my　life；　but　the　sight　of　him　made　me　afraid　right　down　to　my　toes。　I　wanted　to　cower；　to　howl。　I　could　barely　speak。　Agelmar　thought　I　was　angry　with　him；　I　said　so　little。　That　young　man　。。。　he's　the　one　we　have　sought　these　twenty　years。〃
　　　　　　　There　was　a　hint　of　question　in　her　voice。　Moiraine　answered　it。　〃He　is。〃
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　certain？　Can　he　。。。　？　Can　he　。。。　channel　the　One　Power？〃
　　　　　　　Her　mouth　strained　around　the　words；　and　Moiraine　felt　the　tension；　too；　a　twisting　inside；　a　cold　clutching　at　her　heart。　She　kept　her　face　smooth；　though。　〃He　can。〃　A　man　wielding　the　One　Power。　That　was　a　thing　no　Aes　Sedai　could　contemplate　without　fear。　It　was　a　thing　the　whole　world　feared。　And　I　will　loose　it　on　the　world。　〃Rand　al'Thor　will　stand　before　the　world　as　the　Dragon　Reborn。〃
　　　　　　　The　Amyrlin　shuddered。　〃Rand　al'Thor。　It　does　not　sound　like　a　name　to　inspire　fear　and　set　the　world　on　fire。〃　She　gave　another　shiver　and　rubbed　her　arms　briskly；　but　her　eyes　suddenly　shone　with　a　purposeful　light。　〃If　he　is　the　one；　then　we　truly　may　have　time　enough。　But　is　he　safe　here？　I　have　two　Red　sisters　with　me；　and　I　can　no　longer　answer　for　Green　or　Yellow；　either。　The　Light　consume　me；　I　can't　answer　for　any　of　them；　not　with　this。　Even　Verin　and　Serafelle　would　leap　on　him　the　way　they　would　a　scarlet　adder　in　a　nursery。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　is　safe；　for　the　moment。〃
　　　　　　　The　Amyrlin　waited　for　her　to　say　more。　The　silence　stretched；　until　it　was　plain　she　would　not。　Finally　the　Amyrlin　said；　〃You　say　our　old　plan　is　useless。　What　do　you　suggest　now？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　purposely　let　him　think　I　no　longer　have　any　interest　in　him；　that　he　may　go　where　he　pleases　for　all　of　me。〃　She　raised　her　hands　as　the　Amyrlin　opened　her　mouth。　〃It　was　necessary；　Siuan。　Rand　al'Thor　was　raised　in　the　Two　Rivers；　where　Manetheren's　stubborn　blood　flows　in　every　vein；　and　his　own　blood　is　like　rock　beside　clay　pared　to　Manetheren's。　He　must　be　handled　gently；　or　he　will　bolt　in　any　direction　but　the　one　we　want。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　we'll　handle　him　like　a　newborn　babe。　We'll　wrap　him　in　swaddling　clothes　and　play　with　his　toes；　if　that's　what　you　think　we　need。　But　to　what　immediate　purpose？〃
　　　　　　　〃His　two　friends；　Matrim　Cauthon　and　Perrin　Aybara；　are　ripe　to　see　the　world　before　they　sink　back　into　the　obscurity　of　the　Two　Rivers。　If　they　can　sink　back；　they　are　ta'veren；　too；　if　lesser　than　he。　I　will　induce　them　to　carry　the　Horn　of　Valere　to　Illian。〃　She　hesitated；　frowning。　〃There　is　。。。　a　problem　with　Mat。　He　carries　a　dagger　from　Shadar　Logoth。〃
　　　　　　　〃Shadar　Logoth！　Light；　why　did　you　ever　let　them　get　near　that　place。　Every　stone　of　it　is　tainted。　There　isn't　a　pebble　safe　to　carry　away。　Light　help　us；　if　Mordeth　touched　the　boy　。。。〃　The　Amyrlin　sounded　as　though　she　were　strangling。　〃If　that　happened；　the　world　would　be　doomed。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　it　did　not；　Siuan。　We　do　what　we　must　from　necessity；　and　it　was　necessary。　I　have　done　enough　so　that　Mat　will　not　infect　others；　but　he　had　the　dagger　too　long　before　I　knew。　The　link　is　still　there。　I　had　thought　I　must　take　him　to　Tar　Valon　to　cure　it；　but　with　so　many　sisters　present；　it　might　be　done　here。　So　long　as　there　are　a　few　you　can　trust　not　to　see　Darkfriends　where　there　are　none。　You　and　I　and　two　others　will　suffice；　using　my　angreal。〃
　　　　　　　〃Leane　will　do　for　one；　and　I　can　find　another。〃　Suddenly　the　Amyrlin　Seat　gave　a　wry　grin。　〃The　Hall　wants　that　angreal　back；　Moiraine。　There　are　not　very　many　of　them　left；　and　you　are　now　considered　。。。　unreliable。〃
　　　　　　　Moiraine　smiled；　but　it　did　not　touch　her　eyes。　〃They　will　think　worse　of　me　before　I　am　done。　Mat　will　leap　at　the　chance　to　be　so　big　a　part　of　the　legend　of　the　Horn；　and　Perrin　should　not　be　hard　to　convince。　He　needs　something　to　take　his　mind　off　his　own　troubles。　Rand　knows　what　he　is　…　some　of　it；　at　least；　a　little　…　and　he　is　afraid　of　it；　naturally。　He　wants　to　go　off　somewhere　alone；　where　he　cannot　hurt　anyone。　He　says　he　will　never　wield　the　Power　again；　but　he　fears　not　being　able　to　stop　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃As　well　he　might。　Easier　to　give　up　drinking　water。〃
　　　　　　　〃Exactly。　And　he　wants　to　be　free　from　Aes　Sedai。〃　Moiraine　gave　a　small；　mirthless　smile。　〃Offered　the　chance　to　leave　Aes　Sedai　behind　and　still　stay　with　his　friends　a　while　longer；　he　should　be　as　eager　as　Mat。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　how　is　he　leaving　Aes　Sedai　behind？　Surely　you　must　travel　with　him。　We　can't　lose　him　now；　Moiraine。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　cannot　travel　with　him。〃　It　is　a　long　way　from　Fal　Dara　to　Illian；　but　he　has　traveled　almost　as　far　already。　〃He　must　be　let　off　the　leash　for　a　time。　There　is　no　help　for　it。　I　have　had　all　of　their　old　clothes　burned。　There　has　been　too　much　opportunity　for　some　shred　of　what　they　were　wearing　to　have　fallen　into　the　wrong　hands。　I　will　cleanse　them　before　they　leave；　they　will　not　even　realize　it　has　been　done。　There　will　be　no　chance　they　can　be　tracked　that　way；　and　the　only　other　threat　of　that　kind　is　locked　away　here　in　the　dungeon。〃　The　Amyrlin；　midway　in　nodding　approval；　gave　her　a　questioning　look；　but　she　did　not　pause。　〃They　will　travel　as　safely　as　I　can　manage；　Siuan。　And　when　Rand　needs　me　in　Illian；　I　will　be　there；　and　I　will　see　that　it　is　he　who　presents　the　Horn　to　the　Council　of　Nine　and　the　Assemblage。　I　will　see　to　everything　in　Illian。　Siuan；　the　Illianers　would　follow　the　Dragon；　or　Ba'alzamon　himself；　if　he　came　bearing　the　Horn　of　Valere；　and　so　will　the　greater　part　of　those　gathered　for　the　Hunt。　The　true　Dragon　Reborn　will　not　need　to　gather　a　following　before　nations　move　against　him。　He　will　begin　with　a　nation　around　him　and　an　army　at　his　back。〃
　　　　　　　The　Amyrlin　dropped　back　into　her　chair；　but　immediately　leaned　forward。　She　seemed　caught　between　weariness　and　hope。　〃But　will　he　proclaim　himself？　If　he's　afraid　。。。　The　Light　knows　he　s