rj.thegreathunt-第88章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


isn't　the　way；　talking　of　'must'。〃
　　　　　　　Ingtar　turned　back　to　Verin　stiffly。　〃Verin　Sedai；　Cairhienin　are　very　strict　in　their　protocol。　If　Rand　does　not　send　a　reply；　Barthanes　may　be　so　insulted　he　will　not　let　us　in；　even　with　that　parchment　in　our　hands。　But　if　Rand　does。。。　well；　Fain；　at　least；　knows　him。　We　could　be　warning　them　to　set　a　trap。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　will　surprise　them。〃　Her　brief　smile　was　not　pleasant。　〃But　I　think　Barthanes　will　want　to　see　Rand　in　any　case。　Darkfriend　or　not；　I　doubt　he　has　given　up　plots　against　the　throne。　Rand；　he　says　you　took　an　interest　in　one　of　the　King's　projects；　but　he　doesn't　say　what。　What　does　he　mean？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know；〃　Rand　said　slowly。　〃I　haven't　done　anything　at　all　since　I　arrived。　Wait。　Maybe　he　means　the　statue。　We　came　through　a　village　where　they　were　digging　up　a　huge　statue。　From　the　Age　of　Legends；　they　said。　The　King　means　to　move　it　to　Cairhien；　though　I　don't　know　how　he　can　move　something　that　big。　But　all　I　did　was　ask　what　it　was。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　passed　it　in　the　day；　and　did　not　stop　to　ask　questions。〃　Verin　let　the　invitation　fall　in　her　lap。　〃Not　a　wise　thing　for　Galldrian　to　do；　perhaps；　unearthing　that。　Not　that　there　is　any　real　danger；　but　it　is　never　wise　for　those　who　don't　know　what　they　are　doing　to　meddle　with　things　from　the　Age　of　Legends。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　is　it？〃　Rand　asked。
　　　　　　　〃A　sa'angreal。〃　She　sounded　as　if　it　were　really　not　very　important；　but　Perrin　suddenly　had　the　feeling　the　two　of　them　had　entered　a　private　conversation；　saying　things　no　one　else　could　hear。　〃One　of　a　pair；　the　two　largest　ever　made；　that　we　know　of。　And　an　odd　pair；　as　well。　One；　still　buried　on　Tremalking；　can　only　be　used　by　a　woman。　This　one　can　only　be　used　by　a　man。　They　were　made　during　the　War　of　the　Powers；　to　be　a　weapon；　but　if　there　is　anything　to　be　thankful　for　in　the　end　of　that　Age　or　the　Breaking　of　the　World；　it　is　that　the　end　came　before　they　could　be　used。　Together；　they　might　well　be　powerful　enough　to　Break　the　World　again；　perhaps　even　worse　than　the　first　Breaking。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin's　hands　tightened　to　knots。　He　avoided　looking　directly　at　Rand；　but　even　from　the　corner　of　his　eye　he　could　see　a　whiteness　around　Rand's　mouth。　He　thought　Rand　might　be　afraid；　and　he　did　not　blame　him　a　bit。
　　　　　　　Ingtar　looked　shaken；　as　well　he　might。　〃That　thing　should　be　buried　again；　and　as　deeply　as　they　can　pile　dirt　and　stone。　What　would　have　happened　if　Logain　had　found　it？　Or　any　wretched　man　who　can　channel；　let　alone　one　claiming　he's　the　Dragon　Reborn。　Verin　Sedai；　you　must　warn　Galldrian　what　he's　doing。〃
　　　　　　　〃What？　Oh；　there　is　no　need　for　that；　I　think。　The　two　must　be　used　in　unison　to　handle　enough　of　the　One　Power　to　Break　the　World　…　that　was　the　way　in　the　Age　of　Legends；　a　man　and　a　woman　working　together　were　always　ten　times　as　strong　as　they　were　apart　…　and　what　Aes　Sedai　today　would　aid　a　man　in　channeling？　One　by　itself　is　powerful　enough；　but　I　can　think　of　few　women　strong　enough　to　survive　the　flow　through　the　one　on　Tremalking。　The　Amyrlin；　of　course。　Moiraine；　and　Elaida。　Perhaps　one　or　two　others。　And　three　still　in　training。　As　for　Logain；　it　would　have　taken　all　his　strength　simply　to　keep　from　being　burned　to　a　cinder；　with　nothing　left　for　doing　anything。　No；　Ingtar；　I　don't　think　you　need　worry。　At　least；　not　until　the　real　Dragon　Reborn　proclaims　himself；　and　then　we　will　all　have　enough　to　worry　about　as　it　is。　Let　us　worry　now　about　what　we　shall　do　when　we　are　inside　Barthanes's　manor。〃
　　　　　　　She　was　talking　to　Rand。　Perrin　knew　it；　and　from　the　queasy　look　in　Mat's　eye；　he　did；　too。　Even　Loial　shifted　nervously　in　his　chair。　Oh；　Light；　Rand；　Perrin　thought。　Light；　don't　let　her　use　you。
　　　　　　　Rand's　hands　were　pressing　the　tabletop　so　hard　that　his　knuckles　were　white；　but　his　voice　was　steady。　His　eyes　never　left　the　Aes　Sedai。　〃First　we　have　to　take　back　the　Horn；　and　the　dagger。　And　then　it　is　done；　Verin。　Then　it　is　done。〃
　　　　　　　Watching　Verin's　smile；　small　and　mysterious；　Perrin　felt　a　chill。　He　did　not　think　Rand　knew　half　what　he　thought　he　did。　Not　half。


Chapter　32
（Harp）
Dangerous　Words

　　　　　　　Lord　Barthanes's　manor　crouched　like　a　huge　toad　in　the　night；　covering　as　much　ground　as　a　fortress；　with　all　its　walls　and　outbuildings。　It　was　no　fortress；　though；　with　tall　windows　everywhere；　and　lights；　and　the　sounds　of　music　and　laughter　drifting　out；　yet　Rand　saw　guards　moving　on　the　tower　tops　and　along　the　roofwalks；　and　none　of　the　windows　were　close　to　the　ground。　He　got　down　from　Red's　back　and　smoothed　his　coat；　adjusted　his　sword　belt。　The　others　dismounted　around　him；　at　the　foot　of　broad；　whitestone　stairs　leading　up　to　the　wide；　heavily　carved　doors　of　the　manor。
　　　　　　　Ten　Shienarans；　under　Uno；　made　an　escort。　The　one…eyed　man　exchanged　small　nods　with　Ingtar　before　taking　his　men　to　join　the　other　escorts；　where　ale　had　been　provided　and　a　whole　ox　was　roasting　on　a　spit　by　a　big　fire。
　　　　　　　The　other　ten　Shienarans　had　been　left　behind；　along　with　Perrin。　Every　one　of　them　had　to　be　there　for　a　purpose；　Verin　had　said；　and　Perrin　had　no　purpose　to　serve　this　night。　An　escort　was　necessary　for　dignity　in　Cairhienin　eyes；　but　more　than　ten　would　seem　suspicious。　Rand　was　there　because　he　had　received　the　invitation。　Ingtar　had　e　to　lend　the　prestige　of　his　title；　while　Loial　was　there　because　Ogier　were　sought　after　in　the　upper　reaches　of　the　Cairhienin　nobility。　Hurin　pretended　to　be　Ingtar's　bodyservant。　His　true　purpose　was　to　sniff　out　the　Darkfriends　and　Trollocs　if　he　could；　the　Horn　of　Valere　should　not　be　far　from　them。　Mat；　still　grumbling　about　it；　was　pretending　to　be　Rand's　servant；　since　he　could　feel　the　dagger　when　it　was　close。　If　Hurin　failed；　perhaps　he　could　find　the　Darkfriends。
　　　　　　　When　Rand　had　asked　Verin　why　she　was　there；　she　had　only　smiled　and　said；　〃To　keep　the　rest　of　you　out　of　trouble。〃
　　　　　　　As　they　mounted　the　stairs；　Mat　muttered；　〃I　still　don't　see　why　I　have　to　be　a　servant。〃　He　and　Hurin　followed　behind　the　others。　〃Burn　me；　if　Rand　can　be　a　lord；　I　can　put　on　a　fancy　coat；　too。〃
　　　　　　　〃A　servant；〃　Verin　said　without　looking　back　at　him；　〃can　go　many　places　another　man　cannot；　and　many　nobles　will　not　even　see　him。　You　and　Hurin　have　your　tasks。〃
　　　　　　　〃Be　quiet　now；　Mat；〃　Ingtar　put　in；　〃unless　you　want　to　give　us　away。〃　They　were　approaching　the　doors；　where　half　a　dozen　guards　stood　with　the　Tree　and　Crown　of　House　Damodred　on　their　chests；　and　an　equal　number　of　men　in　dark　green　livery　with　Tree　and　Crown　on　the　sleeve。
　　　　　　　Taking　a　deep　breath；　Rand　proffered　the　invitation。　〃I　am　Lord　Rand　of　House　al'Thor；〃　he　said　all　in　a　rush；　to　get　it　over　with。　〃And　these　are　my　guests。　Verin　Aes　Sedai　of　the　Brown　Ajah。　Lord　Ingtar　of　House　Shinowa；　in　Shienar。　Loial；　son　of　Arent　son　of　Halan；　from　Stedding　Shangtai。〃　Loial　had　asked　that　his　stedding　be　left　out　of　it；　but　Verin　insisted　they　needed　every　bit　of　formality　they　could　offer。
　　　　　　　The　servant　who　had　reached　for　the　invitation　with　a　perfunctory　bow　gave　a　little　jerk　at　each　additional　name；　his　eyes　popped　at　Verin's。　In　a　strangled　voice　he　said；　〃Be　wele　in　House　Damodred；　my　lords。　Be　wele；　Aes　Sedai。　Be　wele；　friend　Ogier。〃　He　waved　the　other　servants　to　open　the　doors　wide；　and　bowed　Rand　and　the　others　inside；　where　he　hurriedly　passed　the　invitation　to　another　liveried　man　and　whispered　in　his　ear。
　　　　　　　This　man　had　the　Tree　and　Crown　large　on　the　chest　of　his　green　coat。　〃Aes　Sedai；〃　he　said；　using　his　long　staff　to　make　a　bow；　almost　bending　his　head　to　his　knees；　to　each　of　them　in　turn。　〃My　lords。　Friend　Ogier。　I　am　called　Ashin。　Please　to　follow　me。〃
　　　　　　　The　outer　hall　held　only　servants；　but　Ashin　led　them　to　a　great　room　filled　with　nobles；　with　a　juggler　performing　at　one　end　and　tumblers　at　the　other。　Voices　and　music　ing　from　elsewhere　said　these　were　not　the　only　guests；　or　the　only　entertainments。　The　nobles　stood　in　twos；　and　threes　and　fours；　sometimes　men　and　women　together；　sometimes　only　one　or　the　other；　always　with　careful　space　between　so　no　one　could　overhear　what　was　said。　The　guests　wore　the　dark　Cairhienin　colors；　each　with　bright　stripes　at　least　halfway　down　his　or　her　chest；　and　some　had　them　all　the　way　to　their　waists。　The　women　had　their　hair　piled　high　in　elaborate　towers　of　curls；　every　one　different；　and　their　dark　skirts　were　so　wide　they　would　have　had　to　turn　sideways　to　pass　through　any　doorway　narrower　than　those　of　the　manor。　None　of　the　men　had　the　shaved　heads　of　soldiers　…　they　all　wore　dark　velvet　hats　over　long　hair；　some　shaped　like　bells；　others　flat　…　and　as　with　the　women；　lace　ruffles　like　dark　ivory　almost　hid　their　hands。
　　　　　　　Ashin　rapped　his　staff　and　announced　them　in　a　loud　voice；　Verin　first。
　　　　　　　They　drew　every　eye。　Verin　wore　her　brown…fringed　shawl；　embroidered　in　grape　vines；　the　announcement　of　an　Aes　Sedai　sent　a　murmur　through　the　lords　and　ladies；　and　made　the　juggler　drop　one　of　his　hoops；　though　no　one　was　watching　him　any　longer。　Loial　received　almost　as　many　looks；　even　before　Ashin　spoke　his　name。　Despite　the　silver　embroidery　on　collar　and　sleeves；　the　otherwise　unrelieved　black　of　Rand's　coat　made　him　seem　almost　stark　beside　the　Cairhienin；　and　his　and　Ingtar's　swords　drew　many　glances。　None　of　the　lords　appeared　to　be　armed。　Rand　heard　the　words　〃heron…mark　blade〃　more　than　once。　Some　of　the　glances　he　was　receiving　looked　like　frowns；　he　suspected　they　came　from　men　he　had　insulted　by　burning　their　invitations。
　　　　　　　A　slim；　handsome　man　approached。　He　had　long；　graying　hair；　and　multihued　stripes　crossed　the　front　of　his　deep　gray　coat　from　his　neck　almost　to　the　hem　just　above　his　knees。　He　was　extremely　tall　for　a　Cairhienin；　no　more　than　half　a　head　shorter　than　Rand；　and　he　had　a　way　of　standing　that　made　him　seem　even　taller；　with　his　chin　up　so　he　seemed　to　be　looking　down　at　everyone　else。　His　eyes　were　black　pebbles。　He　looked　warily　at　Verin；　though。
　　　　　　　〃Grace　honors　me　with　your　presence；　Aes　Sedai。〃　Barthanes　Damodred's　voice　was　deep　and　sure。　His　gaze　swept　across　the　others。　〃I　did　not　expect　so　distinguished　a　pany。　Lord　Ingtar。　Friend　Ogier。〃　His　bow　to　each　was　little　more　than　a　nod　of　the　head；　Barthanes　knew　exactly　how　powerful　he　was。　〃And　you；　my　young　Lord　Rand。　You　excite　much　ment　in　the　city；　and　in　the　Houses。　Perhaps　we　will　have　a　chance　to　talk　this　night。〃　His　tone　said　that　he　would　not　miss　it　if　the　chance　never　came；　that　he　had　not　been　excited　to　any　ment；　but　his　eyes　slid　a　fraction　before　he　caught　them；　to　Ingtar　and　Loial；　and　to　Verin。　〃Be　wele。〃　He　let　himself　be　drawn　away　by　a　handsome　woman　who　laid　a　beringed　hand　buried　in　lace　on　his　arm；　but　his　gaze　drifted　back　to　Rand　as　he　walked　away。
　　　　　　　The　murmur　of　conversation　picked　up　once　more；　and　the　juggler　spun　his　hoops　again　in　a　narrow　loop　that　almost　reached　the　worked　plaster　ceiling；　a　good　four　spans　up。　The　tumblers　had　never　stopped；　a　woman　leaped　into　the　air　from　the　cupped　hands　of　one　of　her　patriots；　her　oiled　skin　shining　in　the　light　of　a　hundred　lamps　as　she　spun；　and　landed　on　her　feet　on　the　hands　of　a　man　who　was　already　standing　atop　another