rj.thegreathunt-第102部分

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days；　dog；　and　…　〃　The　barest　motion　of　Turak's　finger　silenced　him。
　　　　　　　〃I　cannot　allow　you　to　leave　me；　trader；〃　the　High　Lord　said。　〃In　this　shadowed　land　of　oath…breakers；　I　find　none　who　can　converse　with　a　man　of　sensibilities。　But　you　are　a　collector。　Perhaps　your　conversation　will　be　interesting。〃　He　took　the　chair；　lolling　back　in　its　curves　to　study　Domon。
　　　　　　　Domon　put　on　what　he　hoped　was　an　ingratiating　smile。　〃High　Lord；　I　do　be　a　simple　trader；　a　simple　man。　I　do　no　have　the　way　of　talking　with　great　Lords。〃
　　　　　　　The　man　with　the　braid　glared　at　him；　but　Turak　seemed　not　to　hear。　From　behind　one　of　the　screens；　a　slim；　pretty　young　woman　appeared　on　quick　feet　to　kneel　beside　the　High　Lord；　offering　a　lacquered　tray　bearing　a　single　cup；　thin　and　handleless；　of　some　steaming　black　liquid。　Her　dark；　round　face　was　vaguely　reminiscent　of　the　Sea　Folk。　Turak　took　the　cup　carefully　in　his　long…nailed　fingers；　never　looking　at　the　young　woman；　and　inhaled　the　fumes。　Domon　took　one　look　at　the　girl　and　pulled　his　eyes　away　with　a　strangled　gasp；　her　white　silk　robe　was　embroidered　with　flowers；　but　so　sheer　he　could　see　right　through　it；　and　there　was　nothing　beneath　but　her　own　slimness。
　　　　　　　〃The　aroma　of　kaf；〃　Turak　said；　〃is　almost　as　enjoyable　as　the　flavor。　Now；　trader。　I　have　learned　that　cuendillar　is　even　more　rare　here　than　in　Seanchan。　Tell　me　how　a　simple　trader　came　to　possess　a　piece。〃　He　sipped　his　kaf　and　waited。
　　　　　　　Domon　took　a　deep　breath　and　set　about　trying　to　lie　his　way　out　of　Falme。

Chapter　30
（Rising　Sun）
Daes　Dae'mar

　　　　　　　In　the　room　shared　by　Hurin　and　Loial；　Rand　peered　through　the　window　at　the　ordered　lines　and　terraces　of　Cairhien；　the　stone　buildings　and　slate　roofs。　He　could　not　see　the　Illuminators'　chapter　house；　even　if　huge　towers　and　great　lords'　houses　had　not　been　in　the　way；　the　city　walls　would　have　prevented　it。　The　Illuminators　were　on　everyone's　tongues　in　the　city；　even　now；　days　after　the　night　when　they　had　lofted　only　one　nightflower　into　the　sky；　and　that　early。　A　dozen　different　versions　of　the　scandal　were　being　told；　discounting　minor　variations；　but　none　close　to　the　truth。
　　　　　　　Rand　turned　away。　He　hoped　no　one　had　been　hurt　in　the　fire；　but　the　Illuminators　had　not　so　far　admitted　there　had　been　a　fire。　They　were　a　close…mouthed　lot　about　what　went　on　inside　their　chapter　house。
　　　　　　　〃I　will　take　the　next　watch；〃　he　told　Hurin；　〃as　soon　as　I　e　back。〃
　　　　　　　〃There　is　no　need；　my　Lord。〃　Hurin　bowed　as　deeply　as　any　Cairhienin。　〃I　can　keep　watch。　Truly；　my　Lord　need　not　trouble　himself。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　drew　a　deep　breath　and　exchanged　looks　with　Loial。　The　Ogier　only　shrugged。　The　sniffer　was　growing　more　formal　every　day　they　remained　in　Cairhien；　the　Ogier　simply　mented　that　humans　often　acted　oddly。
　　　　　　　〃Hurin；〃　Rand　said；　〃you　used　to　call　me　Lord　Rand；　and　you　used　not　to　bow　every　time　I　looked　at　you。〃　I　want　him　to　unbend　and　call　me　Lord　Rand　again；　he　thought　with　amazement。　Lord　Rand！　Light；　we　have　to　get　out　of　here　before　I　start　wanting　him　to　bow。　〃Will　you　please　sit　down？　You　make　me　tired；　looking　at　you。〃
　　　　　　　Hurin　stood　with　his　back　stiff；　yet　appeared　ready　to　leap　to　perform　any　task　Rand　might　request。　He　neither　sat　down　nor　relaxed　now。　〃It　wouldn't　be　proper；　my　Lord。　We　have　to　show　these　Cairhienin　we　know　how　to　be　every　bit　as　proper　as　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃Will　you　stop　saying　that！〃　Rand　shouted。
　　　　　　　〃As　you　wish；　my　Lord。〃
　　　　　　　It　was　an　effort　for　Rand　not　to　sigh　again。　〃Hurin；　I'm　sorry。　I　should　not　have　shouted　at　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃It's　your　right；　my　Lord；〃　Hurin　said　simply。　〃If　I　don't　do　the　way　you　want；　it's　your　right　to　shout。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　stepped　toward　the　sniffer　with　the　intention　of　grabbing　the　man's　collar　and　shaking　him。
　　　　　　　A　knock　on　the　connecting　door　to　Rand's　room　froze　them　all；　but　Rand　was　pleased　to　see　that　Hurin　did　not　wait　to　ask　permission　before　picking　up　his　sword。　The　heron…mark　blade　was　at　Rand's　waist；　going　out；　he　touched　its　hilt。　He　waited　for　Loial　to　seat　himself　on　his　long　bed；　arranging　his　legs　and　the　tails　of　his　coat　to　further　obscure　the　blanket…covered　chest　under　the　bed；　then　yanked　open　the　door。
　　　　　　　The　innkeeper　stood　there；　rocking　with　eagerness　and　pushing　his　tray　at　Rand。　Two　sealed　parchments　lay　on　the　tray。　〃Forgive　me；　my　Lord；〃　Cuale　said　breathlessly。　〃I　could　not　wait　until　you　came　down；　and　then　you　were　not　in　your　own　room；　and　…　and　。。。　Forgive　me；　but。。。〃　He　jiggled　the　tray。
　　　　　　　Rand　snatched　the　invitations　…　there　had　been　so　many　…　without　looking　at　them；　took　the　innkeeper's　arm；　and　turned　him　toward　the　door　to　the　hall。　〃Thank　you；　Master　Cuale；　for　taking　the　trouble。　If　you'll　leave　us　alone；　now；　please。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃But；　my　Lord；〃　Cuale　protested；　〃these　are　from　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃Thank　you。〃　Rand　pushed　the　man　into　the　hall　and　pulled　the　door　shut　firmly。　He　tossed　the　parchments　onto　the　table。　〃He　hasn't　done　that　before。　Loial；　do　you　think　he　was　listening　at　the　door　before　he　knocked？〃
　　　　　　　〃You　are　starting　to　think　like　these　Cairhienin。〃　The　Ogier　laughed；　but　his　ears　twitched　thoughtfully　and　he　added；　〃Still；　he　is　Cairhienin；　so　he　may　well　have　been。　I　don't　think　we　said　anything　he　should　not　have　heard。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　tried　to　remember。　None　of　them　had　mentioned　the　Horn　of　Valere；　or　Trollocs；　or　Darkfriends。　When　he　found　himself　wondering　what　Cuale　could　make　of　what　they　actually　had　said；　he　gave　himself　a　shake。　〃This　place　is　getting　to　you；　too；〃　he　muttered　to　himself。
　　　　　　　〃My　Lord？〃　Hurin　had　picked　up　the　sealed　parchments　and　was　gazing　wide…eyed　at　the　seals。　〃My　Lord；　these　are　from　Lord　Barthanes；　High　Seat　of　House　Damodred；　and　from〃　…　his　voice　dropped　with　awe　…　〃the　King。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　waved　them　away。　〃They　still　go　in　the　fire　like　the　rest。　Un…opened。〃
　　　　　　　〃But；　my　Lord！〃
　　　　　　　〃Hurin；〃　Rand　said　patiently；　〃you　and　Loial　between　you　have　explained　this　Great　Game　to　me。　If　I　go　wherever　it　is　they've　invited　me；　the　Cairhienin　will　read　something　into　it　and　think　I　am　part　of　somebody's　plot。　If　I　don't　go；　they'll　read　something　into　that。　If　I　send　back　an　answer；　they　will　dig　for　meaning　in　it；　and　the　same　if　I　don't　answer。　And　since　half　of　Cairhien　apparently　spies　on　the　other　half；　everybody　knows　what　I　do。　I　burned　the　first　two；　and　I　will　burn　these；　just　like　all　the　others。〃　One　day　there　had　been　twelve　in　the　pile　he　tossed　into　the　mon…room　fireplace；　seals　unbroken。　〃Whatever　they　make　of　it；　at　least　it's　the　same　for　everybody。　I　am　not　for　anyone　in　Cairhien；　and　I　am　not　against　anyone。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　tried　to　tell　you；〃　Loial　said；　〃I　don't　think　it　works　that　way。　Whatever　you　do；　Cairhienin　will　see　some　sort　of　plot　in　it。　At　least；　that　is　what　Elder　Haman　always　said。〃
　　　　　　　Hurin　held　the　sealed　invitations　out　to　Rand　as　if　offering　gold。　〃My　Lord；　this　one　bears　the　personal　seal　of　Galldrian。　His　personal　seal；　my　Lord。　And　this　one　the　personal　seal　of　Lord　Barthanes；　who　is　next　to　the　King　himself　in　power。　My　Lord；　burn　these；　and　you　make　enemies　as　powerful　as　you　can　find。　Burning　them's　worked　so　far　because　the　other　Houses　are　all　waiting　to　see　what　you're　up　to；　and　thinking　you　must　have　powerful　allies　to　risk　insulting　them。　But　Lord　Barthanes　…　and　the　King！　Insult　them；　and　they'll　act　for　sure。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　scrubbed　his　hands　through　his　hair。　〃What　if　I　refuse　them　both？〃
　　　　　　　〃It　won't　work；　my　Lord。　Every　last　House　has　sent　you　an　invitation；　now。　If　you　decline　these　…　well；　for　sure　at　least　one　of　the　other　Houses　will　figure；　if　you're　not　allied　with　the　King　or　Lord　Barthanes；　then　they　can　answer　your　insult　of　burning　their　invitation。　My　Lord；　I　hear　the　Houses　in　Cairhien　use　killers；　now。　A　knife　in　the　street。　An　arrow　from　a　rooftop。　Poison　slipped　in　your　wine。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　could　accept　them　both；〃　Loial　suggested。　〃I　know　you　don't　want　to；　Rand；　but　it　might　even　be　fun。　An　evening　at　a　lord's　manor；　or　even　at　the　Royal　Palace。　Rand；　the　Shienarans　believed　in　you。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　grimaced。　He　knew　it　had　been　chance　that　the　Shienarans　thought　he　was　a　lord；　a　chance　likeness　of　names；　a　rumor　among　the　servants；　and　Moiraine　and　the　Amyrlin　stirring　it　all。　But　Selene　had　believed　it；　too。　Maybe　she'll　be　at　one　of　these。
　　　　　　　Hurin　was　shaking　his　head　violently；　though。　〃Builder；　you　don't　know　Daes　Dae'mar　as　well　as　you　think　you　do。　Not　the　way　they　play　it　in　Cairhien；　not　now。　With　most　Houses；　it　wouldn't　matter。　Even　when　they're　plotting　against　each　other　to　the　knife；　they　act　like　they　aren't；　out　where　everybody　can　see。　But　not　these　two。　House　Damodred　held　the　throne　until　Laman　lost　it；　and　they　want　it　back。　The　King　would　crush　them；　if　they　weren't　nearly　as　powerful　as　he　is。　You　can't　find　bitterer　rivals　than　House　Riatin　and　House　Damodred。　If　my　Lord　accepts　both；　both　Houses　will　know　it　as　soon　as　he　sends　his　answers；　and　they'll　both　think　he's　part　of　some　plot　by　the　other　against　them。　They'll　use　the　knife　and　the　poison　as　quick　as　look　at　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　I　suppose；〃　Rand　growled；　〃if　I　only　accept　one；　the　other　will　think　I'