rj.theshadowrising-第193部分

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！


re　Laman　was　beheaded；　did　you　not？　A　pity　you　did　not　reach　Andor。　I　have　always　wanted　a　piece　of　Andoran　silver。　This　necklace　is　beautiful；　too；　Mat　Cauthon。〃
　　　　　　　Listening　to　her　heap　praise　on　both　gifts；　Rand　masked　his　shock。　For　all　her　skirts　and　motherly　eyes；　she　was　as　Aiel　as　any　Maiden　of　the　Spear。
　　　　　　　By　the　time　Lian　finished；　Moiraine　and　the　other　Wise　Ones　arrived　with　Lan　and　Egwene。　The　Warder's　sword　drew　a　single　disapproving　glance；　but　the　roofmistress　weled　him　warmly　after　Bair　called　him　Aan'allein。　Yet　that　was　nothing　to　her　greeting　for　Egwene　and　Moiraine。
　　　　　　　〃You　honor　my　roof；　Aes　Sedai。〃　The　roof　mistress's　tone　made　it　sound　an　understatement；　she　came　very　close　to　bowing　to　them。　〃It　is　said　that　we　served　Aes　Sedai　before　the　Breaking　of　the　World　and　failed　them；　and　for　that　failure　were　sent　here　to　the　Three…fold　Land。　Your　presence　says　that　perhaps　our　sin　was　not　beyond　forgiving。〃　Of　course。　She　had　not　been　to　Rhuidean；　apparently　the　prohibition　against　speaking　of　what　happened　in　Rhuidean　with　anyone　who　had　not　been　there　applied　even　between　husband　and　wife。　And　between　sister…wives；　or　whatever　the　relationship　was　between　Amys　and　Lian。
　　　　　　　Moiraine　tried　to　give　Lian　a　guest　gift；　too；　tiny　crystal…and…silver　flasks　of　scent　all　the　way　from　Arad　Doman；　but　Lian　spread　her　hands。　〃Your　very　presence　is　guest　gift　beyond　value；　Aes　Sedai。　To　accept　more　would　dishonor　my　roof；　and　me。　I　could　not　bear　the　shame。〃　She　sounded　entirely　serious；　and　troubled　that　Moiraine　might　press　the　scent　on　her。　It　was　an　indication　of　the　relative　importance　of　the　Car'a'carn　and　an　Aes　Sedai。
　　　　　　　〃As　you　wish；〃　Moiraine　said；　returning　the　flasks　to　her　belt　pouch。　She　was　icily　serene　in　blue　silk；　her　pale　cloak　thrown　back。　〃Your　Three…fold　Land　will　surely　see　more　Aes　Sedai。　We　have　never　had　reason　to　e；　before。〃
　　　　　　　Amys　did　not　look　best　pleased　over　that　at　all；　and　flame…haired　Melaine　stared　at　Moiraine　like　a　green…eyed　cat　wondering　if　she　should　do　something　about　a　large　dog　that　had　wandered　into　her　barnyard。　Bair　and　Seana　exchanged　troubled　glances；　but　nothing　like　the　two　who　could　channel。
　　　　　　　A　flurry　of　gai'shain　…　men　and　women　alike　graceful　in　cowled　white　robes；　their　downcast　eyes　seeming　so　strangely　submissive　in　Aiel　faces　…　took　Moiraine　and　Egwene's　cloaks；　brought　damp　towels　for　hands　and　faces；　and　tiny　silver　cups　of　water　to　be　drunk　formally；　and　finally　a　meal；　served　with　silver　bowls　and　trays　fit　for　a　palace　yet　eaten　from　pottery　with　a　blue…striped　glaze。　Everyone　ate　lying　on　the　floor；　where　white　tiles　had　been　set　into　the　stone　for　a　table；　heads　together；　cushions　under　their　chests；　radiating　out　like　spokes　in　a　wheel　while　gai'shain　slipped　between　to　place　dishes。
　　　　　　　Mat　struggled；　shifting　this　way　and　that　on　his　cushions；　but　Lan　lounged　as　if　he　had　always　eaten　that　way；　and　Moiraine　and　Egwene　looked　almost　as　fortable。　No　doubt　they　had　had　practice　in　the　Wise　Ones'　tents。　Rand　found　it　awkward；　yet　the　food　itself　was　peculiar　enough　to　take　most　of　his　attention。
　　　　　　　A　dark；　spicy　stew　of　goat　with　chopped　peppers　was　unfamiliar　but　hardly　strange；　and　peas　were　peas　anywhere；　or　squash。　The　same　could　not　be　said　of　the　crumbly；　coarse　yellow　bread；　or　long；　bright　red　beans　mixed　in　with　the　green；　or　a　dish　of　bright　yellow　kernels　and　bits　of　pulpy　red　that　Aviendha　called　zemai　and　t'mat；　or　a　sweet；　bulbous　fruit　with　a　tough　greenish　skin　she　said　came　from　one　of　those　leafless；　spiny　plants　called　kardon。　It　was　all　tasty；　though。
　　　　　　　He　might　have　enjoyed　the　meal　more　if　she　had　not　lectured　him　on　everything。　Not　sister…wives。　That　was　left　to　Amys　and　Lian；　lying　on　either　side　of　Rhuarc　and　smiling　at　each　other　almost　as　much　as　at　their　husband。　If　they　had　both　married　him　so　as　not　to　break　up　their　friendship；　it　was　plain　they　both　loved　him。　Rand　could　not　see　Elayne　and　Min　agreeing　to　such　an　agreement；　he　wondered　why　he　had　even　thought　of　it。　The　sun　must　have　cooked　his　brains。
　　　　　　　But　if　Aviendha　left　that　one　explanation　to　others；　she　explained　everything　else　in　tooth…grinding　detail。　Maybe　she　thought　him　an　idiot　for　not　knowing　about　sister…wives。　Turned　on　her　right　side　to　face　him；　she　smiled　almost　sweetly　as　she　told　him　the　spoon　could　be　used　for　eating　the　stew　or　the　zemai　and　t'mat；　but　her　eyes　shone　with　a　light　that　said　it　was　the　Wise　Ones　being　there　that　kept　her　from　hurling　a　bowl　of　something　at　his　head。
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　know　what　I've　done　to　you；〃　he　said　quietly。　He　was　very　conscious　of　Melaine　on　his　other　side；　seeming　engrossed　in　her　own　low　conversation　with　Seana。　Bair　put　in　a　word　now　and　then；　but　he　thought　she　was　bending　an　ear　his　way；　too。　〃But　if　you　hate　being　my　teacher　so　much；　you　do　not　have　to　be。　It　just　popped　out。　I'm　sure　Rhuarc　or　the　Wise　Ones　will　find　someone　else。〃　The　Wise　Ones　certainly　would；　if　he　rid　himself　of　this　spy。
　　　　　　　〃You　have　done　nothing　to　me。。。〃　She　bared　teeth　at　him；　if　it　was　meant　to　be　a　smile；　it　fell　considerably　short。　〃。　。　。　and　you　never　will。　You　may　lie　however　is　most　fortable　for　eating；　and　talk　to　those　around　you。　Except　for　those　of　us　who　must　instruct　instead　of　sharing　the　meal；　of　course。　It　is　considered　polite　to　talk　with　those　on　both　sides。〃　From　behind　her；　Mat　looked　at　Rand　and　rolled　his　eyes；　clearly　relieved　to　be　spared　that。　〃Unless　you　are　forced　to　face　one　in　particular；　as　to　teach　him。　Take　food　with　your　right　hand　…　unless　you　must　lean　on　that　elbow　…　and。。。〃
　　　　　　　It　was　torture；　and　she　seemed　to　enjoy　it。　The　Aiel　seemed　to　set　great　store　by　the　giving　of　gifts。　Maybe　if　he　gave　her　a　gift。。。
　　　　　　　〃。。。all　talk　for　a　time　when　the　meal　is　done；　unless　one　of　us　must　teach　instead；　and。。。〃
　　　　　　　A　bribe。　It　did　not　seem　fair　to　have　to　bribe　someone　who　was　spying　on　him；　but　if　she　meant　to　go　on　even　half　like　this；　it　would　be　worth　it　for　a　little　peace。
　　　　　　　When　the　meal　was　cleared　away　by　gai'shain；　and　silver　cups　of　dark　wine　brought；　Bair　fixed　Aviendha　with　a　grim　eye　across　the　white　tiles；　and　she　subsided　sulkily。　Egwene　knelt　up　to　reach　over　Mat　and　pat　her；　but　it　did　not　appear　to　help。　At　least　she　was　quiet。　Egwene　gave　him　a　tight　look；　either　she　knew　what　he　was　thinking　or　she　considered　Aviendha's　sulks　his　fault。
　　　　　　　Rhuarc　dug　out　his　short…stemmed　pipe　and　tabac　pouch；　thumbing　the　bowl　full　then　passing　the　leather　pouch　to　Mat；　who　had　produced　his　own　silver…mounted　pipe。　〃Some　have　taken　news　of　you　to　heart；　Rand　al'Thor；　and　quickly　it　seems。　Lian　tells　me　word　has　e　that　Jheran；　who　is　clan　chief　of　the　Shaarad　Aiel；　and　Bael；　of　the　Goshien；　have　already　reached　Alcair　Dal。　Erim；　of　the　Chareen；　is　on　his　way。〃　He　allowed　a　slender　young　gai'shain　woman　to　light　his　pipe　with　a　burning　twig。　From　the　way　she　moved；　with　a　different　sort　of　grace　than　the　other　white…robed　men　and　women；　Rand　suspected　she　had　been　a　Maiden　of　the　Spear　not　too　long　ago。　He　wondered　how　long　she　had　to　continue　in　her　year　and　a　day　of　service；　meek　and　humble。
　　　　　　　Mat　grinned　at　the　woman　as　she　knelt　to　light　his　pipe；　the　green…eyed　stare　she　gave　him　from　the　depths　of　her　cowl　was　not　meek　at　all；　and　wiped　the　grin　right　off　his　face。　Irritably；　he　rolled　onto　his　belly；　a　thin　blue　streamer　rising　from　his　pipe。　It　was　too　bad　he　did　not　see　the　satisfaction　on　her　face；　or　see　it　wiped　away　in　a　blush　by　one　glance　from　Amys；　the　green…eyed　young　woman　scurried　away　looking　shamed　beyond　belief。　And　Aviendha；　who　so　hated　having　had　to　give　up　the　spear；　who　still　saw　herself　as　spear…sister　to　a　Maiden　of　whatever　clan。。。？　She　frowned　at　the　departing　gai'shain　as　Mistress　al'Vere　would　have　glared　at　someone　who　had　spit　on　the　floor。　A　strange　people。　Egwene　was　the　only　one　Rand　saw　with　any　sympathy　in　her　eyes　at　all。
　　　　　　　〃The　Goshien　and　the　Shaarad；〃　he　muttered　at　his　wine。　Rhuarc　had　told　him　each　clan　chief　would　bring　a　few　warriors　to　the　Golden　Bowl；　for　honor；　and　each　sept　chief；　as　well。　Added　together；　it　meant　perhaps　a　thousand　from　each　clan。　Twelve　clans。　Twelve　thousand　men　and　Maidens；　eventually；　all　tied　up　in　their　strange　honor　and　ready　to　dance　the　spears　if　a　cat　sneezed。　Maybe　more；　because　of　the　fair。　He　looked　up。　〃They　have　a　feud；　don't　they？〃　Rhuarc　and　Lan　both　nodded。　〃I　know　you　said　that　something　like　the　Peace　of　Rhuidean　holds　at　Alcair　Dal；　Rhuarc；　but　I　saw　how　far　that　Peace　held　Couladin　and　the　Shaido。　Maybe　I　had　better　go　right　away。　If　the　Goshien　and　the　Shaarad　start　fighting。。。　A　thing　like　that　could　spread。　I　want　all　the　Aiel　behind　me；　Rhuarc。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Goshien　are　not　Shaido；〃　Melaine　said　sharply；　shaking　her　red…gold　mane　like　a　lioness。
　　　　　　　〃Nor　are　the　Shaarad。〃　Bair's　reedy　voice　was　thinner　than　that　of　the　younger　woman；　but　no　less　definite。　〃Jheran　and　Bael　may　try　to　kill　one　another；　before　they　return　to　their　holds；　but　not　at　Alcair　Dal。〃
　　　　　　　〃None　of　which　answers　Rand　al'Thor's　question；〃　Rhuarc　said。　〃If　you　go　to　Alcair　Dal　before　all　of　the　chiefs　arrive；　those　who　have　not　e　yet　will　lose　h