rj.thegreathunt-第20部分

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world　feared。　And　I　will　loose　it　on　the　world。　〃Rand　al'Thor　will　stand　before　the　world　as　the　Dragon　Reborn。〃
　　　　　　　The　Amyrlin　shuddered。　〃Rand　al'Thor。　It　does　not　sound　like　a　name　to　inspire　fear　and　set　the　world　on　fire。〃　She　gave　another　shiver　and　rubbed　her　arms　briskly；　but　her　eyes　suddenly　shone　with　a　purposeful　light。　〃If　he　is　the　one；　then　we　truly　may　have　time　enough。　But　is　he　safe　here？　I　have　two　Red　sisters　with　me；　and　I　can　no　longer　answer　for　Green　or　Yellow；　either。　The　Light　consume　me；　I　can't　answer　for　any　of　them；　not　with　this。　Even　Verin　and　Serafelle　would　leap　on　him　the　way　they　would　a　scarlet　adder　in　a　nursery。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　is　safe；　for　the　moment。〃
　　　　　　　The　Amyrlin　waited　for　her　to　say　more。　The　silence　stretched；　until　it　was　plain　she　would　not。　Finally　the　Amyrlin　said；　〃You　say　our　old　plan　is　useless。　What　do　you　suggest　now？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　purposely　let　him　think　I　no　longer　have　any　interest　in　him；　that　he　may　go　where　he　pleases　for　all　of　me。〃　She　raised　her　hands　as　the　Amyrlin　opened　her　mouth。　〃It　was　necessary；　Siuan。　Rand　al'Thor　was　raised　in　the　Two　Rivers；　where　Manetheren's　stubborn　blood　flows　in　every　vein；　and　his　own　blood　is　like　rock　beside　clay　pared　to　Manetheren's。　He　must　be　handled　gently；　or　he　will　bolt　in　any　direction　but　the　one　we　want。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　we'll　handle　him　like　a　newborn　babe。　We'll　wrap　him　in　swaddling　clothes　and　play　with　his　toes；　if　that's　what　you　think　we　need。　But　to　what　immediate　purpose？〃
　　　　　　　〃His　two　friends；　Matrim　Cauthon　and　Perrin　Aybara；　are　ripe　to　see　the　world　before　they　sink　back　into　the　obscurity　of　the　Two　Rivers。　If　they　can　sink　back；　they　are　ta'veren；　too；　if　lesser　than　he。　I　will　induce　them　to　carry　the　Horn　of　Valere　to　Illian。〃　She　hesitated；　frowning。　〃There　is　。。。　a　problem　with　Mat。　He　carries　a　dagger　from　Shadar　Logoth。〃
　　　　　　　〃Shadar　Logoth！　Light；　why　did　you　ever　let　them　get　near　that　place。　Every　stone　of　it　is　tainted。　There　isn't　a　pebble　safe　to　carry　away。　Light　help　us；　if　Mordeth　touched　the　boy　。。。〃　The　Amyrlin　sounded　as　though　she　were　strangling。　〃If　that　happened；　the　world　would　be　doomed。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　it　did　not；　Siuan。　We　do　what　we　must　from　necessity；　and　it　was　necessary。　I　have　done　enough　so　that　Mat　will　not　infect　others；　but　he　had　the　dagger　too　long　before　I　knew。　The　link　is　still　there。　I　had　thought　I　must　take　him　to　Tar　Valon　to　cure　it；　but　with　so　many　sisters　present；　it　might　be　done　here。　So　long　as　there　are　a　few　you　can　trust　not　to　see　Darkfriends　where　there　are　none。　You　and　I　and　two　others　will　suffice；　using　my　angreal。〃
　　　　　　　〃Leane　will　do　for　one；　and　I　can　find　another。〃　Suddenly　the　Amyrlin　Seat　gave　a　wry　grin。　〃The　Hall　wants　that　angreal　back；　Moiraine。　There　are　not　very　many　of　them　left；　and　you　are　now　considered　。。。　unreliable。〃
　　　　　　　Moiraine　smiled；　but　it　did　not　touch　her　eyes。　〃They　will　think　worse　of　me　before　I　am　done。　Mat　will　leap　at　the　chance　to　be　so　big　a　part　of　the　legend　of　the　Horn；　and　Perrin　should　not　be　hard　to　convince。　He　needs　something　to　take　his　mind　off　his　own　troubles。　Rand　knows　what　he　is　…　some　of　it；　at　least；　a　little　…　and　he　is　afraid　of　it；　naturally。　He　wants　to　go　off　somewhere　alone；　where　he　cannot　hurt　anyone。　He　says　he　will　never　wield　the　Power　again；　but　he　fears　not　being　able　to　stop　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃As　well　he　might。　Easier　to　give　up　drinking　water。〃
　　　　　　　〃Exactly。　And　he　wants　to　be　free　from　Aes　Sedai。〃　Moiraine　gave　a　small；　mirthless　smile。　〃Offered　the　chance　to　leave　Aes　Sedai　behind　and　still　stay　with　his　friends　a　while　longer；　he　should　be　as　eager　as　Mat。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　how　is　he　leaving　Aes　Sedai　behind？　Surely　you　must　travel　with　him。　We　can't　lose　him　now；　Moiraine。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　cannot　travel　with　him。〃　It　is　a　long　way　from　Fal　Dara　to　Illian；　but　he　has　traveled　almost　as　far　already。　〃He　must　be　let　off　the　leash　for　a　time。　There　is　no　help　for　it。　I　have　had　all　of　their　old　clothes　burned。　There　has　been　too　much　opportunity　for　some　shred　of　what　they　were　wearing　to　have　fallen　into　the　wrong　hands。　I　will　cleanse　them　before　they　leave；　they　will　not　even　realize　it　has　been　done。　There　will　be　no　chance　they　can　be　tracked　that　way；　and　the　only　other　threat　of　that　kind　is　locked　away　here　in　the　dungeon。〃　The　Amyrlin；　midway　in　nodding　approval；　gave　her　a　questioning　look；　but　she　did　not　pause。　〃They　will　travel　as　safely　as　I　can　manage；　Siuan。　And　when　Rand　needs　me　in　Illian；　I　will　be　there；　and　I　will　see　that　it　is　he　who　presents　the　Horn　to　the　Council　of　Nine　and　the　Assemblage。　I　will　see　to　everything　in　Illian。　Siuan；　the　Illianers　would　follow　the　Dragon；　or　Ba'alzamon　himself；　if　he　came　bearing　the　Horn　of　Valere；　and　so　will　the　greater　part　of　those　gathered　for　the　Hunt。　The　true　Dragon　Reborn　will　not　need　to　gather　a　following　before　nations　move　against　him。　He　will　begin　with　a　nation　around　him　and　an　army　at　his　back。〃
　　　　　　　The　Amyrlin　dropped　back　into　her　chair；　but　immediately　leaned　forward。　She　seemed　caught　between　weariness　and　hope。　〃But　will　he　proclaim　himself？　If　he's　afraid　。。。　The　Light　knows　he　should　be；　Moiraine；　but　men　who　name　themselves　as　the　Dragon　want　the　power。　If　he　does　not。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　the　means　to　see　him　named　Dragon　whether　he　wills　it　or　not。　And　even　if　I　somehow　fail；　the　Pattern　itself　will　see　him　named　Dragon　whether　he　wills　it　or　not。　Remember；　he　is　ta'veren；　Siuan。　He　has　no　more　control　over　his　fate　than　a　candle　wick　has　over　the　flame。〃
　　　　　　　The　Amyrlin　sighed。　〃It's　risky；　Moiraine。　Risky。　But　my　father　used　to　say；　'Girl；　if　you　won't　take　a　chance；　you'll　never　win　a　copper。'　We　have　plans　to　make。　Sit　down；　this　won't　be　done　quickly。　I　will　send　for　wine　and　cheese。〃
　　　　　　　Moiraine　shook　her　head。　〃We　have　been　closeted　alone　too　long　already。　If　any　did　try　listening　and　found　your　Warding；　they　will　be　wondering　already。　It　is　not　worth　the　risk。　We　can　contrive　another　meeting　tomorrow。〃　Besides；　my　dearest　friend；　I　cannot　tell　you　everything；　and　I　cannot　risk　letting　you　know　I　am　holding　anything　back。
　　　　　　　〃I　suppose　you　are　right。　But　first　thing　in　the　morning。　There's　so　much　I　have　to　know。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　morning；〃　Moiraine　agreed。　The　Amyrlin　rose；　and　they　hugged　again。　〃In　the　morning　I　will　tell　you　everything　you　need　to　know。〃
　　　　　　　Leane　gave　Moiraine　a　sharp　look　when　she　came　out　into　the　anteroom；　then　darted　into　the　Amyrlin's　chamber。　Moiraine　tried　to　put　on　a　chastened　face；　as　if　she　had　endured　one　of　the　Amyrlin's　infamous　upbraidings　…　most　women；　however　strong…willed；　returned　from　those　big…eyed　and　weak…kneed　…　but　the　expression　was　foreign　to　her。　She　looked　more　angry　than　anything　else；　which　served　much　the　same　purpose。　She　was　only　vaguely　aware　of　the　other　women　in　the　outer　room；　she　thought　some　had　gone　and　others　e　since　she　went　in；　but　she　barely　looked　at　them。　The　hour　was　growing　late；　and　there　was　much　to　be　done　before　the　morning　came。　Much；　before　she　spoke　to　the　Amyrlin　Seat　again。
　　　　　　　Quickening　her　step；　she　moved　deeper　into　the　keep。
　
　　　　　　　The　column　would　have　made　an　impressive　sight　under　the　waxing　moon；　moving　through　the　Tarabon　night　to　the　jangle　of　harness；　had　there　been　anyone　to　see　it。　A　full　two　thousand　Children　of　the　Light；　well　mounted；　in　white　tabards　and　cloaks；　armor　burnished；　with　their　train　of　supply　wagons；　and　farriers；　and　grooms　with　the　strings　of　remounts。　There　were　villages　in　this　sparsely　forested　country；　but　they　had　left　roads　behind；　and　stayed　clear　of　even　farmers'　crofts。　They　were　to　meet　。。。　someone　。。。　at　a　flyspeck　village　near　the　northern　border　of　Tarabon；　at　the　edge　of　Almoth　Plain。
　　　　　　　Geofram　Bornhald；　riding　at　the　head　of　his　men；　wondered　what　it　was　all　about。　He　remembered　too　well　his　interview　with　Pedron　Niall；　Lord　Captain　mander　of　the　Children　of　the　Light；　in　Amador；　but　he　had　learned　little　there。
　　　　　　　〃We　are　alone；　Geofram；〃　the　white…haired　man　had　said。　His　voice　was　thin　and　reedy　with　age。　〃I　remember　giving　you　the　oath。。。　what　。。。　thirty…six　years　ago；　it　must　be；　now。〃
　　　　　　　Bornhald　straightened。　〃My　Lord　Captain　mander；　may　I　ask　why　I　was　called　back　from　Caemlyn；　and　with　such　urgency？　A　push；　and　Morgase　could　be　toppled。　There　are　Houses　in　Andor　that　see　dealing　with　Tar　Valon　as　we　do；　and　they　were　ready　to　lay　claim　to　the　throne。　I　left　Eamon　Valda　in　charge；　but　he　seemed　intent　on　following　the　Daughter…Heir　to　Tar　Valon。　I　would　not　be　surprised　to　learn　the　man　has　kidnapped　the　girl；　or　even　attacked　Tar　Valon。　〃　And　Dain；　Bornhald's　son；　had　arrived　just　before　Bornhald　was　recalled。　Dain　was　full　of　zeal。　Too　much　zeal；　sometimes。　Enough　to　fall　in　blindly　with　whatever　Valda　proposed。
　　　　　　　〃Valda　walks　in　the　Light；　Geofram。　But　you　are　the　best　battle　mander　among　the　Children。　You　will　assemble　a　full　legion；　the　best　men　you　can　find；　and　take　them　into　Tarabon；　avoiding　any　eyes　attached　to　a　tongue　that　may　speak。　Any　such　tongue　must　be　silenced；　if　the　eyes　see。〃
　　　　　　　Bornhald　hesitated。　Fifty　Children　together；　or　even　a　hundred；　could　enter　any　land　without　question；　at　le