rj.thepathofdaggers-第122部分

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　　　　　　　He　staggered　as　if　she　had　slapped　him　…　no；　as　if　she　had　kicked　him　in　the　belly！　…　and　blinked。　She　took　a　firm　hold　on　herself　and　settled　against　the　chairback。　Give　a　man　sympathy　at　the　wrong　moment；　and　you　never　regained　the　ground　lost。　A　part　of　her　wanted　to　throw　her　arms　around　him；　fort　him；　draw　out　all　his　pains；　soothe　all　his　hurts。　He　had　so　many；　and　refused　to　admit　a　one。　She　was　not　going　to　spring　up　and　rush　to　him；　gushing　to　know　what　was　wrong　or。。。　Light；　he　had　to　be　all　right。
　　　　　　　Something　took　her　gently　beneath　the　elbows　and　lifted　her　out　of　the　chair。　Blue　boots　dangling；　she　floated　toward　him　through　the　air。　The　Dragon　Scepter　floated　away　from　him。　So；　he　thought　he　could　smile；　did　he？　He　thought　a　pretty　smile　could　turn　her　around？　She　opened　her　mouth　to　give　him　a　piece　of　her　mind。　A　very　sharp　piece！　Folding　his　arms　around　her；　he　kissed　her。
　　　　　　　When　she　could　breathe　again；　she　peered　up　at　him　through　her　lashes。　〃The　first　time。。。　〃　She　swallowed　to　clear　her　voice。　〃First；　Jahar　Narishma　stalked　in　trying　to　stare　inside　everybody's　skull　the　way　he　does；　and　vanished　after　handing　me　a　scrap　of　parchment。　Let　me　see。　It　said；　'I　have　claimed　the　crown　of　Illian。　Trust　no　one　until　I　return。　Rand。'　A　little　short　of　a　proper　love　letter；　I'd　say。〃
　　　　　　　He　kissed　her　again。
　　　　　　　This　time；　getting　her　breath　back　took　longer。　This　was　not　going　as　she　had　expected　at　all。　On　the　other　hand；　it　was　not　going　very　badly。　〃The　second　time；　Jonan　Adley　delivered　a　bit　of　paper　that　said；　'I　will　return　when　I　finish　here。　Trust　no　one。　Rand。'　Adley　walked　in　on　me　in　my　bath；〃　she　added；　〃and　he　wasn't　shy　about　getting　an　eyeful。〃　Rand　always　tried　to　pretend　he　was　not　jealous　…　as　if　there　were　a　man　in　the　world　who　was　not　…　but　she　had　noticed　his　scowls　at　men　who　looked　at　her。　And　his　very　considerable　ardor　was　more　heated　afterward；　too。　She　wondered　what　this　kiss　would　be　like。　Maybe　she　should　suggest　retiring　to　the　bedchamber？　No；　she　would　not　be　that　forward　no　matter　…
　　　　　　　Rand　set　her　down；　his　face　suddenly　bleak。　〃Adley's　dead；〃　he　said。　Suddenly　the　crown　flew　from　his　head；　spinning　the　length　of　the　room　as　though　hurled。　Just　when　she　thought　it　would　crash　into　the　back　of　the　Dragon　Throne；　perhaps　smash　through　it；　the　wide　ring　of　gold　stopped　short　and　settled　slowly　onto　the　throne's　seat。
　　　　　　　Min's　breath　caught　as　she　looked　up　at　him。　Blood　glistened　in　the　dark　red　curls　above　his　left　ear。　Pulling　a　lace…edged　handkerchief　from　her　sleeve；　she　reached　for　his　temple；　but　he　caught　her　wrist。
　　　　　　　〃I　killed　him；〃　he　said　quietly。
　　　　　　　She　shivered　at　the　sound　of　his　voice。　Quiet；　the　way　the　grave　was　quiet。　Perhaps　the　bedchamber　was　a　very　good　idea。　No　matter　how　forward　it　was。　Making　herself　smile　…　and　blushing　when　she　realized　how　easy　it　was　to　smile；　thinking　of　that　huge　bed　…　she　gripped　the　front　of　his　shirt；　preparing　to　rip　shirt　and　coat　from　his　back　right　then　and　there。
　　　　　　　Someone　knocked　at　the　doors。
　　　　　　　Min's　hands　sprang　away　from　Rand's　shirt。　She　sprang　away；　too。　Who　could　it　be；　she　wondered　irritably。　The　Maidens　either　announced　visitors　when　Rand　was　there；　or　simply　sent　them　in。
　　　　　　　〃e；〃　he　said　loudly；　giving　her　a　rueful　smile。　And　she　blushed　again　at　that。
　　　　　　　Dobraine　put　his　head　in　at　the　door；　then　entered　and　shut　the　door　behind　him　when　he　saw　them　standing　together。　The　Cairhienin　lord　was　a　small　man；　little　taller　than　she；　with　the　front　of　his　head　shaved　and　the　rest　of　his　mostly　gray　hair　falling　to　his　shoulders。　Stripes　of　blue　and　white　decorated　the　front　of　his　nearly　black　coat　to　below　his　waist。　Even　before　gaining　Rand's　favor　he　had　been　a　power　in　the　land。　Now；　he　ruled　here；　at　least　until　Elayne　could　claim　the　Sun　Throne。　〃My　Lord　Dragon；〃　he　murmured；　bowing。　〃My　Lady　Ta'veren。〃
　　　　　　　〃A　joke；〃　Min　muttered；　when　Rand　quirked　an　eyebrow　at　her。
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps；〃　Dobraine　said；　shrugging　slightly；　〃yet　half　the　noblewomen　in　the　city　now　wear　bright　colors　in　imitation　of　the　Lady　Min。　Breeches　that　display　their　legs；　and　many　in　coats　that　do　not　even　cover　their。。。　〃　He　coughed　discreetly；　realizing　that　Min's　coat　did　not　cover　her　hips　pletely。
　　　　　　　She　thought　about　telling　him　he　had　very　pretty　legs；　even　if　they　were　decidedly　knobby；　then　quickly　thought　better。　Rand's　jealousy　might　be　a　wonderful　flame　if　they　were　alone；　but　she　did　not　want　him　striking　out　at　Dobraine。　He　was　capable　of　that；　she　feared。　Besides；　she　thought　it　really　was　a　slip；　Lord　Dobraine　Taborwin　was　not　the　sort　to　make　even　slightly　rough　jokes。
　　　　　　　〃So　you're　changing　the　world；　too；　Min。〃　Grinning；　Rand　tapped　the　tip　of　her　nose　with　a　finger。　He　tapped　her　nose！　Like　a　child　he　was　amused　with！　Worse；　she　felt　herself　grinning　back　at　him　like　a　fool。　〃In　better　ways　than　I　am；　it　appears；〃　he　went　on；　and　that　momentary　boyish　grin　faded　like　mist。
　　　　　　　〃Is　all　well　in　Tear　and　Illian；　my　Lord　Dragon？〃　Dobraine　inquired。
　　　　　　　〃In　Tear　and　Illian；　all　is　well；〃　Rand　replied　grimly。　〃What　do　you　have　for　me；　Dobraine？　Sit；　man。　Sit。〃　He　motioned　toward　the　rows　of　chairs；　and　took　one　for　himself。
　　　　　　　〃I　have　acted　on　all　of　your　letters；〃　Dobraine　said；　seating　himself　across　from　Rand；　〃but　there　is　little　good　to　report；　I　fear。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'll　get　us　something　to　drink；〃　Min　said　in　a　tight　voice。　Letters？　It　was　not　easy　to　stalk　in　heeled　boots　…　she　had　grown　accustomed　to　them；　but　the　things　made　you　sway　whatever　you　did　…　not　easy；　yet　enough　anger　made　anything　possible。　She　stalked　to　the　small　gilded　table　beneath　one　of　the　huge　mirrors　where　a　silver　pitcher　and　goblets　sat。　She　busied　herself　with　pouring　spiced　wine；　splashing　it　out　furiously。　The　servants　always　brought　extra　goblets；　in　case　she　had　visitors；　though　she　seldom　did　except　for　Sorilea　or　a　fool　lot　of　noblewomen。　The　wine　was　barely　warm；　but　it　was　more　than　hot　enough　for　the　likes　of　that　pair。　She　had　received　two　letters；　but　she　would　bet　Dobraine　had　had　ten！　Twenty！　Banging　pitcher　and　goblets　about；　she　listened　carefully。　What　had　they　been　up　to　behind　her　back　with　their　dozens　of　letters？
　　　　　　　〃Toram　Riatin　appears　to　have　vanished；〃　Dobraine　said；　〃though　rumor；　at　least；　says　he　still　lives；　worse　luck。　Rumors　also　say　that　Daved　Hanlon　and　Jeraal　Mordeth　…　Padan　Fain；　as　you　call　the　man　…　have　deserted　him。　By　the　way；　I　have　settled　Toram's　sister；　the　Lady　Ailil；　in　generous　apartments；　with　servants　who　are。。。　trustworthy。〃　By　his　tone；　he　clearly　meant　trustworthy　toward　himself。　The　woman　would　not　be　able　to　change　her　dress　without　him　knowing。　〃I　can　understand　bringing　her　here；　and　Lord　Bertome　and　the　others；　but　why　High　Lord　Weiramon；　or　High　Lady　Anaiyella？　It　goes　without　saying；　of　course；　that　their　servants　also　are　trustworthy。〃
　　　　　　　〃How　do　you　know　when　a　woman　wants　to　kill　you？〃　Rand　mused。
　　　　　　　〃When　she　knows　your　name？〃　Dobraine　did　not　sound　as　if　he　were　joking。　Rand　tilted　his　head　thoughtfully；　then　nodded。　Nodded！　She　hoped　he　was　not　still　hearing　voices。
　　　　　　　Rand　gestured　as　if　brushing　away　the　women　who　wanted　to　kill　him。　A　dangerous　thing；　with　her　about。　She　did　not　want　to　kill　him；　certainly；　but　she　would　not　mind　seeing　Sorilea　go　at　him　with　that　switch！　Breeches　did　not　give　much　protection。
　　　　　　　〃Weiramon　is　a　fool　who　makes　too　many　mistakes；〃　Rand　told　Dobraine；　who　nodded　sober　agreement。　〃My　mistake　for　thinking　I　could　use　him。　He　seems　happy　enough　to　stay　near　the　Dragon　Reborn　in　any　case。　What　else？〃　Min　handed　him　a　goblet；　and　he　smiled　at　her　despite　the　wine　that　slopped　over　his　wrist。　Maybe　he　thought　it　was　an　accident。
　　　　　　　〃Little　else　and　too　much；〃　Dobraine　began；　then　jerked　back　in　his　chair　to　avoid　spilling　wine　as　Min　shoved　the　second　silver　goblet　at　him。　She　had　not　liked　her　brief　stint　as　a　tavernmaid。　〃My　thanks；　my　Lady　Min；〃　he　murmured　graciously；　but　he　eyed　her　askance　as　he　took　the　goblet。　She　walked　calmly　back　to　fetch　her　own　wine。　Calmly。
　　　　　　　〃I　fear　that　Lady　Caraline　and　the　High　Lord　Darlin　are　in　Lady　Arilyn's　palace　here　in　the　City；〃　the　Cairhienin　lord　went　on；　〃under　the　protection　of　Cadsuane　Sedai。　Perhaps　protection　is　not　the　correct　word。　I　have　been　refused　entry　to　see　them；　but　I　hear　that　they　have　attempted　to　leave　the　City　and　been　brought　back　like　sacks。　In　a　sack；　one　story　claims。　Having　met　Cadsuane；　I　can　almost　believe　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃Cadsuane；〃　Rand　murmured；　and　Min　felt　a　chill。　He　did　not　sound　afraid；　precisely；　yet　he　did　sound　more　than　uneasy。　〃What　do　you　think　I　should　do　about　Caraline　and　Darlin；　Min？〃
　　　　　　　Settling　into　a　chair　two　away　from　him；　Min　jerked　at　suddenly　being　included。　Ruefully；　she　stared　down　at　the　wine　soaking　through　her　best　cream　silk　blouse；　and　her　breeches；　too。　〃Caraline　will　support　Elayne　for　the　Sun　Throne；〃　she　said　glumly。　For　warm　wine；　it　seemed　very　cold；　and　she　doubted　the　stain　would　ever　e　out　of　the　blouse。　〃Not　a　viewing；　but　I　believe　her。〃　She　did　not　glance　toward　Dobraine；　though　he　nodded　sagely。　Everyone　knew　about　her　viewings；