rj.theshadowrising-第114章

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　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　want　to　talk　about　Elayne；〃　he　told　her　firmly。　Certainly　not　if　she　meant　to　go　on　as　she　had　begun。　The　thought　made　his　face　go　hot　again。　The　woman　did　not　seem　to　care　what　she　said；　or　who　heard！
　　　　　　　〃You　do　well　to　blush；　putting　her　aside　when　she　has　bared　her　heart　to　you。〃　Aviendha's　voice　was　hard　and　contemptuous。　〃Two　letters　she　wrote；　baring　all　as　if　she　had　stripped　herself　beneath　your　mother's　roof；　You　entice　her　into　corners　for　kisses；　then　reject　her。　She　meant　every　word　of　those　letters；　Rand　al'Thor！　Egwene　told　me　so。　She　meant　every　word。　What　do　you　mean　toward　her；　wetlander？〃
　　　　　　　Rand　scrubbed　a　hand　through　his　hair；　and　had　to　rearrange　his　shoufa。　Elayne　meant　every　word？　In　both　letters？　That　was　flat　impossible。　One　contradicted　the　other　nearly　point　for　point！　Suddenly　he　gave　a　start。　Egwene　had　told　her？　About　Elayne's　letters？　Did　women　discuss　these　things　among　themselves？　Did　they　plan　out　between　them　how　best　to　confuse　a　man？
　　　　　　　He　found　himself　missing　Min。　Min　had　never　made　him　look　a　fool。　Well；　not　more　than　once　or　twice。　And　she　had　never　insulted　him。　Well；　she　had　called　him　〃sheepherder〃　a　few　times。　But　he　felt　fortable　around　her；　warm；　in　a　strange　way。　She　never　made　him　feel　a　plete　idiot；　like　Elayne；　and　Aviendha。
　　　　　　　His　silence　seemed　to　irritate　the　Aiel　woman　more；　if　such　was　possible。　Muttering　to　herself；　striding　along　as　though　she　wanted　to　trample　something；　she　adjusted　and　readjusted　her　shawl　half　a　dozen　times。　Finally　her　grumbling　faded　away。　Instead；　she　began　staring　at　him。　Like　a　vulture。　He　could　not　see　how　she　did　not　trip　and　fall　on　her　face。
　　　　　　　〃Why　are　you　looking　at　me　like　that？〃　he　demanded。
　　　　　　　〃I　am　listening；　Rand　al'Thor；　since　you　wish　me　to　be　silent。〃　She　smiled　around　gritted　teeth。　〃Do　you　not　enjoy　having　me　listen　to　you？〃
　　　　　　　He　glanced　beyond　her　at　Mat；　who　shook　his　head。　There　was　just　no　understanding　women。　Rand　tried　to　set　himself　to　considering　what　lay　ahead；　but　it　was　difficult　with　the　woman's　eyes　on　him。　Pretty　eyes；　if　they　had　not　been　full　of　spite；　but　he　did　wish　she　would　look　at　something　else。
　
　　　　　　　Shading　his　eyes　against　the　sun's　glare；　Mat　did　his　best　to　avoid　looking　at　Rand　and　the　Aiel　woman　striding　along　between　their　horses。　He　could　not　understand　why　Rand　put　up　with　her。　Aviendha　was　pretty　enough；　to　be　sure　…　more　than　just　pretty；　especially　now　she　wore　a　semblance　of　proper　clothes　…　but　with　a　viper　for　a　tongue　and　a　temper　to　make　Nynaeve　look　meek。　He　was　just　glad　Rand　was　stuck　with　her　and　not　him。
　　　　　　　He　pulled　the　kerchief　from　his　head　and　wiped　the　sweat　off　of　his　face；　then　tied　it　back。　The　heat　and　the　eternal　sun　in　his　eyes　were　beginning　to　get　to　him。　Was　there　no　such　thing　as　shade　in　this　whole　land？　Sweat　stung　his　wounds。　He　had　refused　Healing　the　night　before；　when　Moiraine　wakened　him　after　he　had　finally　gotten　to　sleep。　A　few　cuts　were　a　small　price　to　avoid　having　the　Power　used　on　you；　and　the　Wise　Ones'　filthy…tasting　tea　had　settled　his　headache。　Well；　after　a　fashion；　anyway。　What　else　ailed　him；　he　did　not　think　Moiraine　could　do　anything　about；　and　he　had　no　intention　of　telling　her　until　he　understood　it　himself。　If　then。　He　didn't　even　want　to　think　of　it。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　and　the　Wise　Ones　were　watching　him。　Watching　Rand；　actually；　he　supposed；　but　it　felt　the　same。　Surprisingly；　the　sun…haired　one；　Melaine；　had　climbed　up　on　Aldieb　behind　the　Aes　Sedai；　riding　awkwardly　and　holding　Moiraine　around　the　waist　as　they　talked。　He　had　not　known　Aiel　would　ride　at　all。　A　very　pretty　woman；　Melaine；　with　those　fiery　green　eyes。　Except；　of　course；　that　she　could　channel。　A　man　would　have　to　be　an　utter　fool　to　tangle　himself　with　one　of　those。　Shifting　in　Pips's　saddle；　he　reminded　himself　that　it　did　not　matter　to　him　what　Aiel　did。
　　　　　　　I've　been　to　Rhuidean。　I've　done　what　those　snake　folk　said　I　had　to。　And　what　did　he　have　to　show　for　it？　This　bloody　spear；　a　silver　medallion；　and。。。　I　could　go　now。　If　I　have　any　sense；　I　will。
　　　　　　　He　could　go。　Try　to　find　his　own　way　out　of　the　Waste　before　he　died　of　thirst　or　sunstroke。　He　could　if　Rand　was　not　still　pulling　at　him；　holding　him。　The　easiest　manner　of　finding　out　was　just　to　try　leaving。　Looking　at　the　bleak　landscape；　he　grimaced。　A　wind　picked　up　…　it　felt　as　if　it　blew　across　an　overheated　cookstove　…　and　small　whirlwinds　spun　funnels　of　yellow　dust　across　the　cracked　ground。　Heat…haze　made　the　distant　mountains　shimmer。　Maybe　it　was　best　to　stay　around　a　while　longer。
　　　　　　　One　of　the　Maidens　who　had　been　scouting　ahead　came　trotting　back　and　fell　in　beside　Rhuarc；　speaking　for　his　ear　alone。　She　flashed　Mat　a　grin　when　she　was　done；　and　he　busied　himself　picking　a　sharp　burr　out　of　Pips's　mane。　He　remembered　her　all　too　well；　a　red…haired　woman　named　Dorindha；　about　Egwene's　age。　Dorindha　was　one　of　those　who　had　talked　him　into　trying　Maidens'　Kiss。　She　had　collected　the　first　forfeit。　It　was　not　that　he　did　not　want　to　meet　her　eyes；　certainly　not　that　he　could　not；　keeping　your　horse　free　of　burrs　and　the　like　was　important。
　　　　　　　〃Peddlers；〃　Rhuarc　announced　when　Dorindha　sprinted　off　the　way　she　had　e。　〃Peddlers'　wagons；　heading　in　this　direction。〃　He　did　not　sound　pleased。
　　　　　　　Mat　brightened　considerably；　though。　A　peddler　might　be　just　the　thing。　If　the　fellow　knew　the　way　in；　he　knew　the　way　out。　He　wondered　if　Rand　suspected　what　he　was　thinking；　the　man　had　gone　as　blank　faced　as　any　of　the　Aiel。
　　　　　　　The　Aiel　picked　up　their　pace　a　little　…　Couladin's　people　imitated　the　Jindo　and　the　Wise　Ones'　party　with　hardly　a　hesitation；　their　own　scouts　had　probably　brought　word；　too　…　a　quick　enough　step　that　the　horses　had　to　maintain　a　brisk　walk。　The　sun　did　not　bother　the　Aiel　at　all；　not　even　the　gai'shain　in　their　white　robes。　They　flowed　over　the　broken　ground。
　　　　　　　Less　than　two　miles　brought　the　wagons　in　sight；　a　dozen　and　a　half　of　them；　strung　out　in　a　line。　All　showed　the　wear　of　hard　travel；　with　spare　wheels　lashed　everywhere。　Despite　a　coat　of　yellow　dust；　the　first　two　looked　like　white…painted　boxes　on　wheels；　or　little　houses；　plete　with　wooden　steps　at　the　back　and　a　metal　stove…chimney　sticking　through　the　roof。　The　last　three；　drawn　by　twenty…mule　hitches；　appeared　no　more　than　huge　barrels；　also　white；　doubtless　full　of　water。　Those　in　between　could　have　done　for　peddlers'　wagons　in　the　Two　Rivers；　with　high　stout…spoked　wheels　and　clanking　clusters　of　pots　and　things　in　big　net　bags　tied　all　along　the　tall　round　canvas　covers。
　　　　　　　The　wagondrivers　drew　rein　as　soon　as　they　spotted　the　Aiel；　waiting　for　the　columns　to　e　to　them。　A　heavy　man　in　a　pale　gray　coat　and　dark；　wide…brimmed　hat　climbed　down　from　the　back　of　the　lead　wagon　and　stood　watching；　now　and　then　taking　off　his　flat…crowned　hat　to　wipe　his　forehead　with　a　large　white　handkerchief。　If　he　was　nervous；　looking　at　maybe　fifteen　hundred　Aiel　sweeping　toward　him；　Mat　could　not　blame　him。　The　strange　thing　was　the　expressions　on　the　Aiel　nearest　Mat。　Rhuarc；　trotting　ahead　of　Rand's　horse；　looked　grim；　and　Heirn　wore　a　face　that　could　break　rocks。
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　understand；〃　Mat　said。　〃You　look　like　you're　going　to　kill　somebody。〃　That　would　certainly　put　paid　to　his　hopes。　〃I　thought　there　were　three　kinds　of　people　you　Aiel　let　e　out　here　in　the　Waste；　peddlers；　gleemen；　and　the　Traveling　People。〃
　　　　　　　〃Peddlers　and　gleemen　are　wele；〃　Heirn　replied　curtly。　If　this　was　a　wele；　Mat　did　not　want　to　see　Aiel　being　unweling。
　　　　　　　〃What　about　the　Traveling　People？〃　he　asked　curiously。　When　Heirn　kept　silent；　he　added；　〃Tinkers？　The　Tuatha'an？〃　The　sept　chief's　face　grew　even　harder　before　he　turned　his　eyes　back　to　the　wagons。　Aviendha　shot　Mat　a　look　as　if　he　were　a　fool。
　　　　　　　Rand　drew　Jeade'en　close　to　Pips。　〃I'd　not　mention　Tinkers　to　the　Aiel　if　I　were　you；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃They　are　a　touchy　subject。〃
　　　　　　　〃If　you　say　so。〃　Why　would　Tinkers　be　a　touchy　subject？　〃Looks　to　me　like　they're　being　touchy　enough　about　this　peddler。　Peddler！　I　can　remember　merchants　who　came　to　Emond's　Field　with　fewer　wagons。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　came　into　the　Waste；〃　Rand　chuckled。　Jeade'en　tossed　his　head　and　danced　a　few　steps。　〃I　wonder　if　he　will　leave　it　again？〃　Rand's　twisted　grin　did　not　reach　his　eyes。　Sometimes　Mat　almost　wished　Rand　would　decide　whether　he　was　mad　or　not　and　get；　it　over　with。　Almost。
　　　　　　　Three　hundred　paces　short　of　the　wagons；　Rhuarc　signaled　a　halt；　and　he　and　Heirn　went　on　alone。　At　least；　that　seemed　to　have　been　his　intention；　but　Rand　heeled　his　dapple　stallion　after　them；　and　the　inevitable　bodyguard　of　a　hundred　Jindo　followed。　And　Aviendha；　of　course；　keeping　close　as　though　tied　to　Rand's　horse。　Mat　rode　right　with　them。　If　Rhuarc　sent　this　fellow　packing；　he　did　not　mean　to　miss　his　chance　to　go　along。
　　　　　　　Couladin　came　trotting　out　from　the　Shaido。　Alone。　Perhaps　he　meant　to　do　as　Rhuarc　and　Heirn　had　intended；　but　Mat　suspected　the　man　was　pointing　out　that　he　went　alone　where　Rand　needed　a　hundred　guards。　At　first　it　seemed　Moiraine　was　ing；　too；　but　words　passed　between　the　Wise　Ones　and　her；　and　they　all　stayed　where　they　were。　Watching；　though。　The　Aes　Sedai　dismounted；　playing　with　something　small　that　sparkled；　and　Egwene　and　the　Wise　Ones　clustered　around　her。
　　　　　　　Despite　his　face　mopping；　the　big；　gray…coated　fellow　did　not　appear　uneasy　up　close；　although　he　jumped　when　Maidens　suddenly　rose　out　of　the　ground；　encircling　his　wagons。　The　wagon　drivers；　hard…faced　men　with　more　than　enough　scars　and　broken　noses　to　go　around；　looked　ready　to　crawl　under　their　seats；　they　were　tough　alley　dogs　pared　to　Aiel　wolves。　The　peddler　recovered　right　away。　He　was　not　fat　for　all　his　size；　that　heaviness　was　muscle。　Rand　and　Mat　on　their　horses　earned　his　curious　glances；　but　he　singled　out　Rhuarc　at　once。　His　hooked　beak　of　a　nose　and　dark；　tilted　eyes　gave　his　square　swarthy　face　a　predatory　look　not　lessened　when　he　put　on　a　wide　smile　and　swept　his　broad…brimmed　hat　off　in　a　bow。　〃I　am　Hadnan　Kadere；〃　he　said；　〃peddler。　I　seek　Cold　Rocks　Hold；　good　sirs；　but　I　will　trade　with　one　and　all。　I　have　many　fine…〃
　　　　　　　Rhuarc　cut　him　off　like　an　icy　knife。　〃You　head　well　away　from　Cold　Rocks；　or　any　hold。　How　is　it　you　have　e　this　far　from　the　Dragonwall　without　acquiring　a　guide？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　really　know；　good　sir。〃　Kadere　did　not　lose　his　smile；　but　the　corners　of　his　mouth　tightened　a　trifle。　〃I　have　traveled　openly。　This　is　my　first　visit　to　the　Threefold　Land　so　far　south。　I　thought　perhaps　here　there　are　no　guides。〃　
　　　　　　　Couladin　snorted　loudly；　twirled　one　of　his　spears　lazily。　Kadere　hunched　his　shoulders　as　if　he　felt　steel　sliding　into　his　thick　body　already。
　　　　　　　〃There　are　always　guides；〃　Rhuarc　said　coldly。　〃You　have　luck　to　have　e　so　far　without　one。　Luck　that　you　are　not　dead；　or　walking　back　to　the　Dragonwall　in　your　skin。〃　Kadere　flashed　an　uneasy；　toothy　smile；　and　the　clan　Chief　went　on。　〃Luck　to　meet　us。　Had　you　continued　this　way　another　day　or　two；　you　would　have　reached　Rhuidean。〃
　　　　　　　The　peddler's　face　went　gray。　〃I　have　heard。　。　。〃　He　stopped　to　swallow。　〃