rj.thepathofdaggers-第123部分

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agely。　Everyone　knew　about　her　viewings；　now。　The　only　result　had　been　a　stream　of　noblewomen　who　wanted　to　know　their　futures；　and　right　sulky；　too；　when　she　said　she　could　not　tell　them。　Most　would　not　have　been　pleased　with　the　little　she　had　seen；　nothing　dire；　but　not　at　all　the　bright　wonders　that　fortune…tellers　at　the　fair　forecast。　〃As　for　Darlin；　aside　from　the　fact　that　he'll　marry　Caraline；　after　she's　wrung　him　out　and　hung　him　up　to　dry；　all　I　can　say　is　that　one　day　he'll　be　a　king。　I　saw　the　crown　on　his　head；　a　thing　with　a　sword　on　the　front　of　it；　but　I　don't　know　what　country　it　belongs　to。　And；　oh；　yes。　He'll　die　in　bed；　and　she　will　survive　him。〃
　　　　　　　Dobraine　choked　on　his　wine；　spluttering　and　dabbing　at　his　lips　with　a　plain　linen　handkerchief。　Most　of　those　who　knew　did　not　believe。　Quite　satisfied　with　herself；　Min　drank　the　little　that　remained　in　her　goblet。　And　then　she　was　choking　and　gasping；　jerking　her　handkerchief　from　her　sleeve　to　wipe　at　her　mouth。　Light；　she　would　have　to　give　herself　the　dregs！
　　　　　　　Rand　simply　nodded；　peering　into　his　goblet。　〃So　they　will　live　to　trouble　me；〃　he　murmured。　A　very　soft　sound；　for　words　like　stone。　He　was　hard　as　a　blade；　her　sheepherder。　〃And　what　do　I　do　about　…　〃
　　　　　　　Abruptly　he　twisted　in　his　chair；　toward　the　doors。　One　was　opening。　He　had　very　sharp　ears。　Min　had　heard　nothing。
　　　　　　　Neither　of　the　two　Aes　Sedai　who　entered　was　Cadsuane；　and　Min　felt　her　shoulders　loosen　as　she　tucked　her　handkerchief　away。　While　Rafela　shut　the　door；　Merana　curtsied　deeply　to　Rand；　though　the　Gray　sister's　hazel　eyes　took　in　Min　and　Dobraine　and　filed　them　away；　and　then　the　round…faced　Rafela　was　spreading　her　deep　blue　skirts　wide；　too。　Neither　rose　until　Rand　gestured。　They　glided　to　him　wearing　cool　serenity　as　they　did　their　dresses。　Except　that　the　plump　Blue　sister　fingered　her　shawl　briefly　as　though　to　remind　herself　it　was　there。　Min　had　seen　that　gesture　before；　from　other　sisters　who　had　sworn　fealty　to　Rand。　It　could　not　be　easy　for　them。　Only　the　White　Tower　manded　Aes　Sedai；　but　Rand　crooked　a　finger　and　they　came；　pointed　and　they　went。　Aes　Sedai　spoke　with　kings　and　queens　as　equals；　perhaps　slightly　as　their　betters；　yet　the　Wise　Ones　called　them　apprentices　and　expected　them　to　obey　twice　as　fast　as　Rand　did。
　　　　　　　None　of　that　showed　on　Merana's　smooth　face。　〃My　Lord　Dragon；〃　she　said　respectfully。　〃We　only　just　learned　that　you　had　returned；　and　we　thought　you　might　be　eager　to　learn　how　matters　went　with　the　Atha'an　Miere。〃　She　merely　glanced　at　Dobraine；　but　he　rose　immediately。　Cairhienin　were　used　to　people　wanting　to　speak　in　private。
　　　　　　　〃Dobraine　can　stay；〃　Rand　said　curtly。　Had　he　hesitated？　He　did　not　stand。　His　eyes　like　blue　ice；　he　was　being　the　Dragon　Reborn　for　all　he　was　worth。　Min　had　told　him　these　women　were　his　in　truth；　that　all　five　who　had　acpanied　him　to　the　Sea　Folk　ship　were　his；　utterly　loyal　to　their　oath　and　therefore　obedient　to　his　will；　yet　he　seemed　to　find　trusting　any　Aes　Sedai　difficult。　She　understood；　but　he　was　going　to　have　to　learn　how。
　　　　　　　〃As　you　wish；〃　Merana　replied；　inclining　her　head　briefly。　〃Rafela　and　I　have　reached　a　bargain　with　the　Sea　Folk。　The　Bargain；　they　call　it。〃　The　difference　was　clear　to　the　ear。　Hands　lying　still　on　gray…slashed　green　skirts；　she　drew　a　deep　breath。　She　needed　it。　〃Harine　din　Togara　Two　Winds；　Wavemistress　of　Clan　Shodein；　speaking　for　Nesta　din　Reas　Two　Moons；　Mistress　of　the　Ships　to　the　Atha'an　Miere；　and　thus　binding　all　the　Atha'an　Miere；　has　promised　such　ships　as　the　Dragon　Reborn　needs；　to　sail　when　and　where　he　needs　them；　for　whatever　purposes　he　requires。〃　Merana　did　seem　to　grow　a　touch　pontifical　when　there　were　no　Wise　Ones　around；　the　Wise　Ones　did　not　allow　it。　〃In　return；　Rafela　and　I；　speaking　for　you；　promised　that　the　Dragon　Reborn　will　not　change　any　laws　of　the　Atha'an　Miere；　as　he　has　done　among　the。。。　〃　For　a　moment；　she　faltered。　〃Forgive　me。　I　am　used　to　delivering　agreements　exactly　as　made。　The　word　they　used　was　'shorebound；'　but　what　they　mean　is　what　you　have　done　in　Tear　and　Cairhien。〃　A　question　appeared　in　her　eyes；　and　was　gone。　Perhaps　she　was　wondering　whether　he　had　done　the　same　in　Illian。　She　had　expressed　relief　that　he　had　changed　nothing　in　her　native　Andor。
　　　　　　　〃I　suppose　I　can　live　with　that；〃　he　muttered。
　　　　　　　〃Secondly；〃　Rafela　took　up；　folding　plump　hands　at　her　waist；　〃you　must　give　the　Atha'an　Miere　land；　a　square　one　mile　on　a　side；　at　every　city　on　navigable　water　that　you　control　now　or　e　to　control。〃　She　sounded　less　pompous　than　her　panion；　but　only　just。　Nor　did　she　sound　entirely　pleased　with　what　she　was　saying。　She　was　Tairen；　after　all；　and　few　ports　held　a　tighter　control　on　their　trade　than　Tear。　〃Within　that　area；　the　laws　of　the　Atha'an　Miere　are　to　hold　sway　above　any　others。　This　agreement　must　also　be　made　by　the　rulers　of　those　ports　so　that。。。　〃　It　was　her　turn　to　falter；　and　her　dark　cheeks　turned　a　trifle　gray。
　　　　　　　〃So　the　agreement　will　survive　me？〃　Rand　said　dryly。　He　barked　a　laugh。　〃I　can　live　with　that；　too。〃
　　　　　　　〃Every　city　on　water？〃　Dobraine　exclaimed。　〃Do　they　mean　here；　too？〃　He　leaped　to　his　feet　and　began　pacing；　spilling　more　of　his　wine　than　Min　had。　He　did　not　seem　to　notice。　〃A　mile　square？　Under　the　Light　alone　knows　what　peculiar　laws？　I've　traveled　on　a　Sea　Folk　ship；　and　it　is　peculiar！　Bare　legs　are　not　in　it！　And　what　of　the　customs　duties；　and　docking　fees；　and。。。　〃　Suddenly　he　rounded　on　Rand。　He　scowled　at　the　Aes　Sedai；　who　paid　him　no　mind；　but　it　was　to　Rand　he　spoke；　in　a　tone　bordering　on　roughness。　〃They　will　ruin　Cairhien　in　a　year；　my　Lord　Dragon。　They　will　ruin　any　port　where　you　allow　them　to　do　this。〃
　　　　　　　Min　agreed；　silently；　but　Rand　merely　waved　a　hand　and　laughed　again。　〃They　may　think　so；　but　I　know　something　of　this；　Dobraine。　They　didn't　say　who　chooses　the　land；　so　it　doesn't　have　to　be　on　the　water　at　all。　They'll　have　to　buy　their　food　from　you；　and　live　with　your　laws　when　they　leave；　so　they　can't　be　too　arrogant。　At　worst；　you　can　collect　your　customs　when　the　goods　e　out　of　their。。。　sanctuary。　For　the　rest。。。　If　I　can　accept　it；　you　can；　too。〃　There　was　no　laughter　in　his　voice　now；　and　Dobraine　bowed　his　head。
　　　　　　　Min　wondered　where　he　had　learned　all　that。　He　sounded　a　king；　and　one　who　knew　what　he　was　doing。　Maybe　Elayne　had　taught　him。
　　　　　　　〃　'Secondly'　implies　more；〃　Rand　said　to　the　two　Aes　Sedai。
　　　　　　　Merana　and　Rafela　exchanged　glances；　unconsciously　touched　skirts　and　shawls；　and　then　Merana　spoke；　her　voice　not　at　all　pompous。　In　fact；　it　was　much　too　light。　〃Thirdly；　the　Dragon　Reborn　agrees　to　keep　an　ambassador　chosen　by　the　Atha'an　Miere　with　him　at　all　times。　Harine　din　Togara　has　named　herself。　She　will　be　acpanied　by　her　Windfinder；　her　Swordmaster　and　a　retinue。〃
　　　　　　　〃What？〃　Rand　roared；　springing　from　the　chair。
　　　　　　　Rafela　rushed　in；　rushed　ahead；　as　though　afraid　he　might　cut　her　off。　〃And　fourthly；　the　Dragon　Reborn　agrees　to　go　promptly　to　a　summons　from　the　Mistress　of　the　Ships；　but　not　more　than　twice　in　any　three　consecutive　years。〃　She　finished　panting　a　little；　trying　to　make　the　last　sound　like　extenuation。
　　　　　　　The　Dragon　Scepter　flew　from　the　floor　behind　Rand；　and　he　snagged　it　out　of　the　air　without　looking。　His　eyes　were　not　ice　any　more。　They　were　blue　fire。　〃A　Sea　Folk　ambassador　clinging　to　my　heels？〃　he　shouted。　〃Obey　summonses？〃　He　shook　the　carved　spearhead　at　them；　the　green…and…white　tassel　flailing。　〃There　are　a　people　out　there　who　want　to　conquer　all　of　us；　and　might　be　able　to　do　it！　The　Forsaken　are　out　there！　The　Dark　One　is　waiting！　Why　didn't　you　agree　I'd　caulk　their　hulls　while　you　were　about　it！〃
　　　　　　　Normally；　Min　tried　to　soothe　his　temper　when　it　flared；　but　this　time　she　sat　forward　and　glared　at　the　Aes　Sedai。　She　agreed　with　him　fully。　They　had　given　away　the　barn　to　sell　a　horse！
　　　　　　　Rafela　actually　swayed　before　that　blast；　but　Merana　drew　herself　up；　her　own　eyes　managing　a　good　imitation　of　brown　fire　flecked　with　gold。　〃You　castigate　us？〃　she　snapped　in　tones　as　frosty　as　her　eyes　were　hot。　She　was　Aes　Sedai　as　the　child　Min　had　seen　them；　regal　above　queens；　powerful　above　powers。　〃You　were　present　in　the　beginning；　ta'veren；　and　you　twisted　them　as　you　wanted　them。　You　could　have　had　them　all　kneeling　to　you！　But　you　left！　They　were　not　pleased　to　know　they　had　been　dancing　for　a　ta'veren。　Somewhere；　they　learned　to　weave　shields；　and　before　you　were　well　off　their　ship；　Rafela　and　I　were　shielded。　So　we　could　not　take　advantage　with　the　Power；　they　said。　More　than　once；　Harine　threatened　to　hang　us　in　the　rigging　by　our　toes　until　we　came　to　our　senses；　and　I　for　one　believe　she　meant　it！　Feel　lucky　that　you　have　the　ships　you　want；　Rand　al'Thor。　Harine　would　have　given　you　a　handful！　Feel　lucky　she　didn't　want　your　new　boots　and　that　ghastly　throne　of　yours　as　well！　Oh；　by　the　by；　she　formally　acknowledged　you　as　the　Coramoor；　may　you　get　a　bellyache　from　it！〃
　　　　　　　Min　stared　at　her。　Rand　and　Dobraine　stared　at　her；　and　the　Cairhienin's　jaw　hung　open。　Rafela　stared；　her　mouth　working　soundlessly。　For　that　matter；　the　fire