rj.thegreathunt-第149部分

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　　　　　　　The　void　shook。　He　had　faced　Trollocs　before；　faced　Shadowspawn。　Never　before　had　he　confronted　a　human　being　with　a　sword　except　in　practice　or　bluff。　I　just　killed　a　man。　The　void　shook；　and　saidin　tried　to　fill　him。
　　　　　　　Desperately　he　clawed　free；　breathing　hard　as　he　looked　around。　He　gave　a　start　when　he　saw　the　two　servants　still　kneeling　beside　the　door。　He　had　forgotten　them；　and　now　he　did　not　know　what　to　do　about　them。　Neither　man　appeared　armed；　yet　all　they　had　to　do　was　shout　。。。
　　　　　　　They　never　looked　at　him；　or　at　each　other。　Instead；　they　stared　silently　at　the　High　Lord's　body。　They　produced　daggers　from　under　their　robes；　and　he　tightened　his　grip　on　the　sword；　but　each　man　placed　the　point　to　his　own　breast。　〃From　birth　to　death；〃　they　intoned　in　unison；　〃I　serve　the　Blood。〃　And　plunged　the　daggers　into　their　own　hearts。　They　folded　forward　almost　peacefully；　heads　to　the　floor　as　if　bowing　deeply　to　their　lord。
　　　　　　　Rand　stared　at　them　in　disbelief。　Mad；　he　thought。　Maybe　I　will　go　mad；　but　they　already　were。
　　　　　　　He　was　getting　to　his　feet　shakily　when　Ingtar　and　the　others　came　running　back。　They　all　bore　nicks　and　cuts；　the　leather　of　Ingtar's　coat　was　stained　in　more　than　one　place。　Mat　still　had　the　Horn　and　his　dagger；　its　blade　darker　than　the　ruby　in　its　hilt。　Perrin's　axe　was　red；　too；　and　he　looked　as　if　he　might　be　sick　at　any　moment。
　　　　　　　〃You　dealt　with　them？〃　Ingtar　said；　looking　at　the　bodies。　〃Then　we're　done；　if　no　alarm　is　given。　Those　fools　never　cried　for　help；　not　once。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　see　if　the　guards　heard　anything；〃　Hurin　said；　and　darted　for　the　window。
　　　　　　　Mat　shook　his　head。　〃Rand；　these　people　are　crazy。　I　know　I've　said　that　before；　but　these　people　really　are。　Those　servants　。。。〃　Rand　held　his　breath；　wondering　if　they　had　all　killed　themselves。　Mat　said；　〃Whenever　they　saw　us　fighting；　they　fell　on　their　knees；　put　their　faces　to　the　floor；　and　wrapped　their　arms　around　their　heads。　They　never　moved；　or　cried　out；　never　tried　to　help　the　soldiers；　or　give　an　alarm。　They're　still　there；　as　far　as　I　know。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　would　not　count　on　them　staying　on　their　knees；〃　Ingtar　said　dryly。　〃We　are　leaving　now；　as　fast　as　we　can　run。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　go；〃　Rand　said。　〃Egwene　…〃
　　　　　　　〃You　fool！〃　Ingtar　snapped。　〃We　have　what　we　came　for。　The　Horn　of　Valere。　The　hope　of　salvation。　What　can　one　girl　count；　even　if　you　love　her；　alongside　the　Horn；　and　what　it　stands　for？〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Dark　One　can　have　the　Horn　for　all　I　care！　What　does　finding　the　Horn　count　if　I　abandon　Egwene　to　this？　If　I　did　that；　the　Horn　couldn't　save　me。　The　Creator　couldn't　save　me。　I　would　damn　myself。〃
　　　　　　　Ingtar　stared　at　him；　his　face　unreadable。　〃You　mean　that　exactly；　don't　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃Something's　happening　out　here；〃　Hurin　said　urgently。　〃A　man　just　came　running　up；　and　they're　all　milling　like　fish　in　a　bucket。　Wait。　The　officer　is　ing　inside！〃
　　　　　　　〃Go！〃　Ingtar　said。　He　tried　to　take　the　Horn；　but　Mat　was　already　running。　Rand　hesitated；　but　Ingtar　grabbed　his　arm　and　pulled　him　into　the　hall。　The　others　were　streaming　after　Mat；　Perrin　only　gave　Rand　one　pained　look　before　he　went。　〃You　cannot　save　the　girl　if　you　stand　here　and　die！〃
　　　　　　　He　ran　with　them。　Part　of　him　hated　himself　for　running；　but　another　part　whispered；　I'll　e　back。　I'll　free　her　somehow。
　　　　　　　By　the　time　they　reached　the　bottom　of　the　narrow；　winding　staircase；　he　could　hear　a　man's　deep　voice　raised　in　the　front　part　of　the　house；　angrily　demanding　that　someone　stand　up　and　speak。　A　serving　girl　in　her　nearly　transparent　robe　knelt　at　the　bottom　of　the　stairs；　and　a　gray…haired　woman　all　in　white　wool；　with　a　long　floury　apron；　knelt　by　the　kitchen　door。　They　were　both　exactly　as　Mat　had　described；　faces　to　the　floor　and　arms　wrapped　around　their　heads；　and　they　did　not　stir　a　hair　as　Rand　and　the　others　hurried　by。　He　was　relieved　to　see　the　motions　of　breathing。
　　　　　　　They　crossed　the　garden　at　a　dead　run；　climbing　over　the　back　wall　rapidly。　Ingtar　cursed　when　Mat　tossed　the　Horn　of　Valere　ahead　of　him；　and　tried　again　to　take　it　when　he　dropped　outside；　but　Mat　snatched　it　up　with　a　quick；　〃It　isn't　even　scratched；〃　and　scampered　up　the　alley。
　　　　　　　More　shouts　rose　from　the　house　they　had　just　left；　a　woman　screamed；　and　someone　began　tolling　a　gong。
　　　　　　　I　will　e　back　for　her。　Somehow。　Rand　sped　after　the　others　as　fast　as　he　could。


Chapter　46
（Ruby…Hilted　Dagger）
To　e　Out　of　the　Shadow

　　　　　　　Nynaeve　and　the　others　heard　distant　shouts　as　they　approached　the　buildings　where　the　damane　were　housed。　The　crowds　were　beginning　to　pick　up；　and　there　was　a　nervousness　to　the　people　in　the　street；　an　extra　quickness　to　their　step；　an　extra　wariness　in　the　way　they　glanced　past　Nynaeve；　in　her　lightning…paneled　dress；　and　the　woman　she　held　by　a　silver　leash。
　　　　　　　Shifting　her　bundle　nervously；　Elayne　peered　toward　the　noise　of　shouts；　one　street　over；　where　the　golden　hawk　clutching　lightning　rippled　in　the　wind。　〃What　is　happening？〃
　　　　　　　〃Nothing　to　do　with　us；〃　Nynaeve　said　firmly。
　　　　　　　〃You　hope；〃　Min　added。　〃And　so　do　I〃　She　increased　her　pace；　hurrying　up　the　steps　ahead　of　the　others；　and　disappeared　inside　the　tall　stone　house。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　shortened　her　grip　on　the　leash。　〃Remember；　Seta；　you　want　us　to　make　it　through　this　safely　as　much　as　we　do。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　do；〃　the　Seanchan　woman　said　fervently。　She　kept　her　chin　on　her　chest；　to　hide　her　face。　〃I　will　cause　you　no　trouble；　I　swear。〃
　　　　　　　As　they　turned　up　the　gray　stone　steps；　a　sul'dam　and　a　damane　appeared　at　the　head　of　the　stairs；　ing　down　as　they　went　up。　After　one　glance　to　make　sure　the　woman　in　the　collar　was　not　Egwene；　Nynaeve　did　not　look　at　them　again。　She　used　the　a'dam　to　keep　Seta　close　by　her　side；　so　if　the　damane　sensed　the　ability　to　channel　in　one　of　them；　she　would　think　it　was　Seta。　She　felt　sweat　trickling　down　her　spine；　though；　until　she　realized　they　were　paying　her　no　more　attention　than　she　gave　them。　All　they　saw　was　a　dress　with　lightning　panels　and　a　gray　dress；　the　women　wearing　them　linked　by　the　silver　length　of　an　a'dam。　Just　another　Leash　Holder　with　a　Leashed　One；　and　a　local　girl　hurrying　along　behind　with　a　bundle　belonging　to　the　sul'dam。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　pushed　open　the　door；　and　they　went　in。
　　　　　　　Whatever　the　excitement　beneath　Turak's　banner；　it　did　not　extend　here；　not　yet。　There　were　only　women　moving　about　in　the　entry　hall；　all　easily　placed　by　their　dress。　Three　gray…dressed　damane；　with　sul'dam　wearing　the　bracelets。　Two　women　in　dresses　paneled　with　forked　lightning　stood　talking；　and　three　crossed　the　hall　alone。　Four　dressed　like　Min；　in　plain　dark　woolens；　hurried　on　their　way　with　trays。
　　　　　　　Min　stood　waiting　down　the　entry　hall　when　they　went　in；　she　glanced　at　them　once；　then　started　deeper　into　the　house。　Nynaeve　guided　Seta　down　the　hall　after　Min；　with　Elayne　scurrying　along　in　their　wake。　No　one　gave　them　a　second　glance；　it　seemed　to　Nynaeve；　but　she　thought　the　trickle　of　sweat　down　her　backbone　might　bee　a　river　soon。　She　kept　Seta　moving　quickly　so　no　one　would　have　a　chance　for　a　good　look　…　or　worse；　a　question。　With　her　eyes　fixed　on　her　toes；　Seta　needed　so　little　urging　that　Nynaeve　thought　she　would　have　been　running　if　not　for　the　physical　restraint　of　the　leash。
　　　　　　　Near　the　back　of　the　house；　Min　took　a　narrow　stairs　that　spiraled　upwards。　Nynaeve　pushed　Seta　up　it　ahead　of　her；　all　the　way　to　the　fourth　floor。　The　ceilings　were　low；　there；　the　halls　empty　and　silent　except　for　the　soft　sounds　of　weeping。　Weeping　seemed　to　fit　the　air　of　the　chilly　halls。
　　　　　　　〃This　place　。。。〃　Elayne　began；　then　shook　her　head。　〃It　feels　。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　it　does；〃　Nynaeve　said　grimly。　She　glared　at　Seta；　who　kept　her　face　down。　A　pallor　of　fear　made　the　Seanchan　woman's　skin　paler　than　it　was　normally。
　　　　　　　Wordlessly；　Min　opened　a　door　and　went　in；　and　they　followed。　The　room　beyond　had　been　divided　into　smaller　rooms　by　roughly　made　wooden　walls；　with　a　narrow　hallway　running　to　a　window。　Nynaeve　crowded　after　Min　as　she　hurried　to　the　last　door　on　the　right　and　pushed　in。
　　　　　　　A　slender；　dark…haired　girl　in　gray　sat　at　a　small　table　with　her　head　resting　on　folded　arms；　but　even　before　she　looked　up；　Nynaeve　knew　it　was　Egwene。　A　ribbon　of　shining　metal　ran　from　the　silver　collar　around　Egwene's　neck　to　a　bracelet　hanging　on　a　peg　on　the　wall。　Her　eyes　widened　at　the　sight　of　them；　her　mouth　working　silently。　As　Elayne　closed　the　door；　Egwene　gave　a　sudden　giggle；　and　pressed　her　hands　to　her　mouth　to　stifle　it。　The　tiny　room　was　more　than　crowded　with　all　of　them　in　it。
　　　　　　　〃I　know　I'm　not　dreaming；〃　she　said　in　a　quivering　voice；　〃because　if　I　was　dreaming；　you'd　be　Rand　and　Galad　on　tall　stallions。　I　have　been　dreaming。　I　thought　Rand　was　here。　I　couldn't　see　him；　but　I　thought　。。。〃　Her　voice　trailed　off。
　　　　　　　〃If　you'd　rather　wait　for　them　。。。〃　Min　said　dryly。
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　no。　No；　you　are　all　beautiful；　the　most　beautiful　thing　I've　ever　seen。　Where　did　you　e　from？　How　did　you　do　it？　That　dress；　Nynaeve；　and　the　a'dam；　and　who　is　。。。〃　She　gave　an　abrupt　squeak。　〃That's　Seta。　How　。。。　？〃　Her　voice　hardened　so　that　Ny