rj.thegreathunt-第98章

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　　　　　　　As　soon　as　the　Ogier　girl　left；　Rand　got　Mat　and　Perrin　over　to　one　side。　〃What　do　you　mean　they're　looking　for　me？　Why？　For　what　reason？　They　looked　right　at　me；　and　went　away。〃
　　　　　　　〃They　looked　at　you；〃　Mat　said　with　a　grin；　〃like　you　hadn't　bathed　in　a　month；　and　had　doused　yourself　with　sheepdip　besides。〃　His　grin　faded。　〃But　they　could　be　looking　for　you。　We　met　another　Aiel。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　listened　in　growing　amazement　to　their　tale　of　the　meeting　in　Kinslayer's　Dagger。　Mat　told　most　of　it；　with　Perrin　putting　in　a　correcting　word　now　and　again　when　he　embellished　too　much。　Mat　made　a　great　show　of　how　dangerous　the　Aielman　had　been；　and　how　close　the　meeting　had　e　to　a　fight。
　　　　　　　〃And　since　you're　the　only　Aiel　we　know；〃　he　finished；　〃well；　it　could　be　you。　Ingtar　says　Aiel　never　live　outside　the　Waste；　so　you　must　be　the　only　one。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　think　that's　funny；　Mat；〃　Rand　growled。　〃I　am　not　an　Aiel。〃　The　Amyrlin　said　you　are。　Ingtar　thinks　you　are。　Tam　said　。。。　He　was　sick；　fevered。　They　had　severed　the　roots　he　had　thought　he　had；　the　Aes　Sedai　and　Tam　between　them；　though　Tam　had　been　too　sick　to　know　what　he　was　saying。　They　had　cut　him　loose　to　tumble　before　the　wind；　then　offered　him　something　new　to　hold　on　to。　False　Dragon。　Aiel。　He　could　not　claim　those　for　roots。　He　would　not。　〃Maybe　I　don't　belong　to　anyone。　But　the　Two　Rivers　is　the　only　home　I　know。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　didn't　mean　anything；〃　Mat　protested。　〃It's　just　。。。　Burn　me；　Ingtar　says　you　are。　Masema　says　you　are。　Urien　could　have　been　your　cousin；　and　if　Rhian　put　on　a　dress　and　said　she　was　your　aunt；　you'd　believe　it　yourself。　Oh；　all　right。　Don't　look　at　me　like　that；　Perrin。　If　he　wants　to　say　he　isn't；　all　right。　What　difference　does　it　make；　anyway？〃　Perrin　shook　his　head。
　　　　　　　Ogier　girls　brought　water　and　towels　for　washing　faces　and　hands；　and　cheese　and　fruit　and　wine；　with　pewter　goblets　a　little　too　large　to　be　fortable　in　the　hand。　Other　Ogier　women　came；　too；　their　dresses　all　embroidered。　One　by　one　they　appeared；　a　dozen　of　them　all　told；　to　ask　if　the　humans　were　fortable；　if　they　needed　anything。　Each　turned　her　attentions　to　Loial　just　before　she　left。　He　gave　his　answers　respectfully　but　in　as　few　words　as　Rand　had　ever　heard　him　use；　standing　with　an　Ogier…sized；　wood…bound　book　clutched　to　his　chest　like　a　shield；　and　when　they　went；　he　huddled　in　his　chair　with　the　book　held　up　in　front　of　his　face。　The　books　in　the　house　were　one　thing　not　sized　for　humans。
　　　　　　　〃Just　smell　this　air；　Lord　Rand；〃　Hurin　said；　filling　his　lungs　with　a　smile。　His　feet　dangled　from　one　of　the　chairs　at　the　table；　he　swung　them　like　a　boy。　〃I　never　thought　most　places　smelled　bad；　but　this　。。。　Lord　Rand；　I　don't　think　there's　ever　been　any　killing　here。　Not　even　any　hurting；　except　by　accident。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　stedding　are　supposed　to　be　safe　for　everyone；〃　Rand　said。　He　was　watching　Loial。　〃That's　what　the　stories　say；　anyway。〃　He　swallowed　a　last　bit　of　white　cheese　and　went　over　to　the　Ogier。　Mat　followed　with　a　goblet　in　his　hand。　〃What's　the　matter；　Loial？〃　Rand　said。　〃You've　been　as　nervous　as　a　cat　in　a　dogyard　ever　since　we　came　here。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　nothing；〃　Loial　said；　giving　the　door　an　uneasy　glance　from。　the　corner　of　his　eye。
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　afraid　they'll　find　out　you　left　Stedding　Shangtai　without　permission　from　your　Elders？〃
　　　　　　　Loial　looked　around　wildly；　the　tufts　on　his　ears　vibrating。　〃Don't　say　that；〃　he　hissed。　〃Not　where　anyone　can　hear。　If　they　found　out　。。。〃　With　a　heavy　sigh；　he　slumped　back；　looking　from　Rand　to　Mat。　〃I　don't　know　how　humans　do　it；　but　among　Ogier　。。。　If　a　girl　sees　a　boy　she　likes；　she　goes　to　her　mother。　Or　sometimes　the　mother　sees　someone　she　thinks　is　suitable。　In　any　case；　if　they　agree；　the　girl's　mother　goes　to　the　boy's　mother；　and　the　next　thing　the　boy　knows；　his　marriage　is　all　arranged。〃
　　　　　　　〃Doesn't　the　boy　have　any　say　in　it？〃　Mat　asked　incredulously。
　　　　　　　〃None。　The　women　always　say　we　would　spend　our　lives　married　to　the　trees　if　it　was　left　to　us。〃　Loial　shifted；　grimacing。　〃Half　of　our　marriages　take　place　between　stedding；　groups　of　young　Ogier　visit　from　stedding　to　stedding　so　they　can　see；　and　be　seen。　If　they　discover　I'm　Outside　without　permission；　the　Elders　will　almost　certainly　decide　I　need　a　wife　to　settle　me　down。　Before　I　know　it；　they'll　have　sent　a　message　to　Stedding　Shangtai；　to　my　mother；　and　she　will　e　here　and　have　me　married　before　she　washes　off　the　dust　of　her　journey。　She's　always　said　I　am　too　hasty　and　need　a　wife。　I　think　she　was　looking　when　I　left。　Whatever　wife　she　chooses　for　me　。。。　well；　any　wife　at　all　won't　let　me　go　back　Outside　until　I　have　gray　in　my　beard。　Wives　always　say　no　man　should　be　allowed　Outside　until　he's　settled　enough　to　control　his　temper。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　gave　a　guffaw　loud　enough　to　draw　every　head；　but　at　Loial's　frantic　gesture　he　spoke　softly。　〃Among　us；　men　do　the　choosing；　and　no　wife　can　stop　a　man　doing　what　he　wants。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　frowned；　remembering　how　Egwene　had　begun　following　him　around　when　they　were　both　little。　It　was　then　that　Mistress　al'Vere　had　begun　taking　a　special　interest　in　him；　more　than　in　any　of　the　other　boys。　Later；　some　girls　would　dance　with　him　on　feastdays　and　some　would　not；　and　those　who　would　were　always　Egwene's　friends；　while　those　who　would　not　were　girls　Egwene　did　not　like。　He　also　seemed　to　remember　Mistress　al'Vere　taking　Tam　aside　…　And　she　was　muttering　about　Tam　not　having　a　wife　for　her　to　talk　to！　…　and　after　that；　Tam　and　everyone　else　had　acted　as　if　he　and　Egwene　were　promised；　even　though　they　had　not　knelt　before　the　Women's　Circle　to　say　the　words。　He　had　never　thought　about　it　this　way　before；　things　between　Egwene　and　him　had　always　just　seemed　to　be　the　way　they　were；　and　that　was　that。
　　　　　　　〃I　think　we　do　it　the　same　way；〃　he　muttered；　and　when　Mat　laughed；　he　added；　〃Do　you　remember　your　father　ever　doing　anything　your　mother　really　didn't　want　him　to？〃　Mat　opened　his　mouth　with　a　grin；　then　frowned　thoughtfully　and　closed　it　again。
　　　　　　　Juin　came　down　the　steps　from　outside。　〃If　you　please；　will　all　of　you　e　with　me？　The　Elders　would　see　you。〃　He　did　not　look　at　Loial；　but　Loial　still　almost　dropped　the　book。
　　　　　　　〃If　the　Elders　try　to　make　you　stay；〃　Rand　said；　〃we'll　say　we　need　you　to　go　with　us。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'll　bet　it　isn't　about　you　at　all；〃　Mat　said。　〃I'll　bet　they　are　just　going　to　say　we　can　use　the　Waygate。　〃　He　shook　himself；　and　his　voice　fell　even　lower。　〃We　really　have　to　do　it；　don't　we。〃　It　was　not　a　question。
　　　　　　　〃Stay　and　get　married；　or　travel　the　Ways。〃　Loial　grimaced　ruefully。　〃Life　is　very　unsettling　with　ta'veren　for　friends。〃


Chapter　36
（Leaf）
Among　the　Elders

　　　　　　　As　Juin　took　them　through　the　Ogier　town；　Rand　saw　that　Loial　was　growing　more　and　more　anxious。　Loial's　ears　were　as　stiff　as　his　back；　his　eyes　grew　bigger　every　time　he　saw　another　Ogier　looking　at　him；　especially　the　women　and　girls；　and　a　large　number　of　them　did　seem　to　take　notice　of　him。　He　looked　as　if　he　expected　his　own　execution。
　　　　　　　The　bearded　Ogier　gestured　to　wide　steps　leading　down　into　a　grassy　mound　that　was　bigger　by　far　than　any　other；　it　was　a　hill；　for　all　practical　purposes；　almost　at　the　base　of　one　of　the　Great　Trees。
　　　　　　　〃Why　don't　you　wait　out　here；　Loial？〃　Rand　said。
　　　　　　　〃The　Elders　…〃　Juin　began。
　　　　　　　〃…　Probably　just　want　to　see　the　rest　of　us；〃　Rand　finished　for　him。
　　　　　　　〃Why　don't　they　leave　him　alone；〃　Mat　put　in。
　　　　　　　Loial　nodded　vigorously。　〃Yes。　Yes；　I　think　。。。〃　A　number　of　Ogier　women　were　watching　him；　from　white…haired　grandmothers　to　daughters　Erith's　age；　a　knot　of　them　talking　among　themselves　but　with　all　eyes　on　him。　His　ears　jerked；　but　he　looked　at　the　broad　door　to　which　the　stone　steps　led　down；　and　nodded　again。　〃Yes；　I　will　sit　out　here；　and　I'll　read。　That　is　it。　I　will　read。〃　Fumbling　in　his　coat　pocket；　he　produced　a　book。　He　settled　himself　on　the　mound　beside　the　steps；　the　book　small　in　his　hands；　and　fixed　his　eyes　on　the　pages。　〃I　will　just　sit　here　and　read　until　you　e　out。〃　His　ears　twitched　as　if　he　could　feel　the　women's　eyes。
　　　　　　　Juin　shook　his　head；　then　shrugged　and　motioned　to　the　steps　again。　〃If　you　please。　The　Elders　are　waiting。〃
　　　　　　　The　huge；　windowless　room　inside　the　mound　was　scaled　for　Ogier；　with　a　thick…beamed　ceiling　more　than　four　spans　up；　it　could　have　fit　in　any　palace；　for　size　at　least。　The　seven　Ogier　seated　on　the　dais　directly　in　front　of　the　door　made　it　shrink　a　little　by　their　size；　but　Rand　still　felt　as　if　he　were　in　a　cavern。　The　somber　floorstones　were　smooth；　if　large　and　irregular　in　shape；　but　the　gray　walls　could　have　been　the　rough　side　of　a　cliff。　The　ceiling　beams；　rough…hewn　as　they　were；　looked　like　great　roots。
　　　　　　　Except　for　a　high…backed　chair　where　Verin　sat　facing　the　dais；　the　only　furnishings　were　the　heavy；　vine…carved　chairs　of　the　Elders。　The　Ogier　woman　in　the　middle　of　the　dais　sat　in　a　chair　raised　a　little　higher　than　those　of　the　others；　three　bearded　men　to　her　left　in　long；　flaring　coats；　three　women　to　her　right　in　dresses　like　her　own；　embroidered　in　vines　and　flowers　from　neckline　to　hem。　All　had　aged　faces　and　pure　white　hair；　even　to　the　tufts　on　their　ears；　and　an　air　of　massive　dignity。
　　　　　　　Hurin　gaped　at　them　openly；　and　Rand　felt　like　staring　himself。　Not　even　Verin　had　the　appearance　of　wisdom　that　was　in　the　Elders'　huge　eyes；　nor　Morgase　in　her　crown　their　authority；　nor　Moiraine　their　calm　serenity。　Ingtar　was　the　first　to　bow；　as　formally　as　Rand　had　ever　seen　from　him；　while　the　others　still　stood　rooted。
　　　　　　　〃I　am　Alar；〃　the　Ogier　woman　on　the　highest　chair　said　when　they　had　finally　taken　their　places　beside　Verin；　〃Eldest　of　the　Elders　of　Stedding　Tsofu。　Verin　has　told　us　that　you　have　need　to　use　the　Waygate　here。　To　recover　the　Horn　of　Valere　from　Darkfriends　is　a　great　need；　indeed；　but　we　have　allowed　none　to　travel　the　Ways　in　more　than　one　hundred　years。　Neither　us；　nor　the　Elders　of　any　other　stedding。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　find　the　Horn；〃　Ingtar　said　angrily。　〃I　must。　If　you　will　not　permit　us　to　use　the　Waygate　。。。〃　He　fell　silent　as　Verin　looked　at　him；　but　the　scowl　remained　on　his　face。
　　　　　　　Alar　smiled。　〃Be　not　so　hasty；　Shienaran。　You　humans　never　take　time　for　thought。　Only　decisions　reached　in　calm　can　be　sure。〃　Her　smile　faded　to　seriousness；　but　her　voice　kept　its　own　measured　calm。　〃The　dangers　of　the　Ways　are　not　to　be　faced　with　a　sword　in　your　hand；　not　charging　Aiel　or　ravening　Trollocs。　I　must　tell　you　that　to　enter　the　Ways　is　to　risk　not　only　death　and　madness；　but　perhaps　your　very　souls。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　have　seen　Machin　Shin；〃　Rand　said；　and　Mat　and　Perrin　agreed。　They　could　not　manage　to　sound　eager　to　do　it　again。
　　　　　　　〃I　will　follow　the　Horn　to　Shayol　Ghul　itself；　if　need　be；〃　Ingtar　said　firmly。　Hurin　only　nodded　as　if　including　himself　in　Ingtar's　words。
　　　　　　　〃Bring　Trayal；〃　Alar　manded；　and　Juin；　who　had　remained　by　the　door；　bowed　and　left。　〃It　is　not　enough；〃　she　told　Verin；　〃to　hear　what　can　happen。　You　must　see　it；　know　it　in　your　heart。〃
　　　　　　　There　was　an　unfortable　silence　until　Juin　returned；　and　it　became　more　unfortable　still　as　tw