rj.thegreathunt-第24部分

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rve；　or　to　。。。　〃　She　frowned　worriedly。　〃There's　more　than　enough　work　for　everybody　with　the　Amyrlin　here。　And　they　were　not　just　here　in　the　women's　apartments。　I　saw　the　Lady　Amalisa　herself　ing　out　of　a　storeroom　near　the　buttery　with　her　face　all　over　dust。〃
　　　　　　　〃That's　ridiculous。　Why　would　she　be　part　of　a　search？　Or　any　of　the　women；　for　that　matter。　They'd　be　using　Lord　Agelmar's　soldiers；　and　the　Warders。　And　the　Aes　Sedai。　They　must　just　be　doing　something　for　the　feast。　Burn　me　if　I　know　what　a　Shienaran　feast　takes。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　are　a　woolhead；　sometimes；　Rand。　The　men　I　saw　didn't　know　what　the　women　were　doing　either。　I　heard　some　of　them　plaining　about　having　to　do　all　the　work　by　themselves。　I　know　it　makes　no　sense　that　they　were　looking　for　you。　None　of　the　Aes　Sedai　seemed　to　be　taking　any　interest。　But　Amalisa　was　not　readying　herself　for　the　feast　by　dirtying　her　dress　in　a　storeroom。　They　were　looking　for　something；　something　important。　Even　if　she　began　right　after　I　saw　her；　she　would　barely　have　time　to　bathe　and　change。　Speaking　of　which；　if　Egwene　doesn't　e　back　soon；　she'll　have　to　choose　between　changing　and　being　late。〃
　　　　　　　For　the　first　time；　he　realized　that　Nynaeve　was　not　wearing　the　Two　Rivers　woolens　he　was　used　to。　Her　dress　was　pale　blue　silk；　embroidered　in　snowdrop　blossoms　around　the　neck　and　down　the　sleeves。　Each　blossom　centered　on　a　small　pearl；　and　her　belt　was　tooled　in　silver；　with　a　silver　buckle　set　with　pearls。　He　had　never　seen　her　in　anything　like　that。　Even　feastday　clothes　back　home　might　not　match　it。
　　　　　　　〃You're　going　to　the　feast？〃
　　　　　　　〃Of　course。　Even　if　Moiraine　had　not　said　I　should；　I　would　never　let　her　think　I　was　。。。〃　Her　eyes　lit　up　fiercely　for　a　moment；　and　he　knew　what　she　meant。　Nynaeve　would　never　let　anyone　think　she　was　afraid；　even　if　she　was。　Certainly　not　Moiraine；　and　especially　not　Lan。　He　hoped　she　did　not　know　he　was　aware　of　her　feelings　for　the　Warder。
　　　　　　　After　a　moment　her　gaze　softened　as　it　fell　on　the　sleeve　of　her　dress。　〃The　Lady　Amalisa　gave　me　this；〃　she　said　so　softly　he　wondered　if　she　was　speaking　to　herself。　She　stroked　the　silk　with　her　fingers；　outlining　the　embroidered　flowers；　smiling；　lost　in　thought。
　　　　　　　〃It's　very　pretty　on　you；　Nynaeve。　You're　pretty　tonight。〃　He　winced　as　soon　as　he　said　it。　Any　Wisdom　was　touchy　about　her　authority；　but　Nynaeve　was　touchier　than　most。　The　Women's　Circle　back　home　had　always　looked　over　her　shoulder　because　she　was　young；　and　maybe　because　she　was　pretty；　and　her　fights　with　the　Mayor　and　the　Village　Council　had　been　the　stuff　of　stories。
　　　　　　　She　jerked　her　hand　away　from　the　embroidery　and　glared　at　him；　brows　lowering。　He　spoke　quickly　to　forestall　her。
　　　　　　　〃They　can't　keep　the　gates　barred　forever。　Once　they　are　opened；　I　will　be　gone；　and　the　Aes　Sedai　will　never　find　me。　Perrin　says　there　are　places　in　the　Black　Hills　and　the　Caralain　Grass　you　can　go　for　days　without　seeing　a　soul。　Maybe…maybe　I　can　figure　out　what　to　do　about　。。。〃　He　shrugged　unfortably。　There　was　no　need　to　say　it；　not　to　her。　〃And　if　I　can't；　there'll　be　no　one　to　hurt。〃
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　was　silent　for　a　moment；　then　she　said　slowly；　〃I　am　not　so　sure；　Rand。　I　can't　say　you　look　like　more　than　another　village　boy　to　me；　but　Moiraine　insists　you　are　ta'veren；　and　I　don't　think　she　believes　the　Wheel　is　finished　with　you。　The　Dark　One　seems　…〃
　　　　　　　〃Shai'tan　is　dead；〃　he　said　harshly；　and　abruptly　the　room　seemed　to　lurch。　He　grabbed　his　head　as　waves　of　dizziness　sloshed　through　him。
　　　　　　　〃You　fool！　You　pure；　blind；　idiotic　fool！　Naming　the　Dark　One；　bringing　his　attention　down　on　you！　Don't　you　have　enough　trouble？〃
　　　　　　　〃He's　dead；〃　Rand　muttered；　rubbing　his　head。　He　swallowed。　The　dizziness　was　already　fading。　〃All　right；　all　right。　Ba'alzamon；　if　you　want。　But　he's　dead；　I　saw　him　die；　saw　him　burn。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　I　wasn't　watching　you　when　the　Dark　One's　eye　fell　on　you　just　now？　Don't　tell　me　you　felt　nothing；　or　I'll　box　your　ears；　I　saw　your　face。〃
　　　　　　　〃He's　dead；〃　Rand　insisted。　The　unseen　watcher　flashed　through　his　head；　and　the　wind　on　the　tower　top。　He　shivered。　〃Strange　things　happen　this　close　to　the　Blight。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　are　a　fool；　Rand　al'Thor。〃　She　shook　a　fist　at　him。　〃I　would　box　your　ears　for　you　if　I　thought　it　would　knock　any　sense　…〃
　　　　　　　The　rest　of　her　words　were　swallowed　as　bells　crashed　out　ringing　all　over　the　keep。
　　　　　　　He　bounded　to　his　feet。　〃That's　an　alarm！　They're　searching　。。。　〃　Name　the　Dark　One；　and　his　evil　es　down　on　you。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　stood　more　slowly；　shaking　her　head　uneasily。　〃No；　I　don't　think　so。　If　they　are　searching　for　you；　all　the　bells　do　is　warn　you。　No；　if　it's　an　alarm；　it　is　not　for　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　what？〃　He　hurried　to　the　nearest　arrowslit　and　peered　out。
　　　　　　　Lights　darted　through　the　night…cloaked　keep　like　fireflies；　lamps　and　torches　dashing　here　and　there。　Some　went　to　the　outer　walls　and　towers；　but　most　of　those　that　he　could　see　milled　through　the　garden　below　and　the　one　courtyard　he　could　just　glimpse　part　of。　Whatever　had　caused　the　alarm　was　inside　the　keep。　The　bells　fell　silent；　unmasking　the　shouts　of　men；　but　he　could　not　make　out　what　they　were　calling。
　　　　　　　If　it　isn't　for　me　。。。〃Egwene；〃　he　said　suddenly。　If　she's　still　alive；　if　there's　any　evil；　it's　supposed　to　e　to　me。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　turned　from　looking　through　another　arrowslit。　〃What？〃
　　　　　　　〃Egwene。〃　He　crossed　the　room　in　quick　strides　and　snatched　his　sword　and　scabbard　free　of　the　bundle。　Light；　it's　supposed　to　hurt　me；　not　her。　〃She's　in　the　dungeon　with　Fain。　What　if　he's　loose　somehow？〃
　　　　　　　She　caught　him　at　the　door；　grabbing　his　arm。　She　was　not　as　tall　as　his　shoulder；　but　she　held　on　like　iron。　〃Don't　be　a　worse　goat…brained　fool　than　you've　already　been；　Rand　al'Thor。　Even　if　this　doesn't　have　anything　to　do　with　you；　the　women　are　looking　for　something！　Light；　man；　this　is　the　women's　apartments。　There　will　be　Aes　Sedai　out　there　in　the　halls；　likely　as　not。　Egwene　will　be　all　right。　She　was　going　to　take　Mat　and　Perrin　with　her。　Even　if　she　met　trouble；　they　would　look　after　her。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　if　she　couldn't　find　them；　Nynaeve？　Egwene　would　never　let　that　stop　her。　She　would　go　alone；　the　same　as　you；　and　you　know　it。　Light；　I　told　her　Fain　is　dangerous！　Burn　me；　I　told　her！〃　Pulling　free；　he　jerked　open　the　door　and　dashed　out。　Light　burn　me；　it's　supposed　to　hurt　me！
　　　　　　　A　woman　screamed　at　the　sight　of　him；　in　a　laborer's　coarse　shirt　and　jerkin　with　a　sword　in　his　hand。　Even　invited；　men　did　not　go　armed　in　the　women's　apartments　unless　the　keep　was　under　attack。　Women　filled　the　corridor；　serving　women　in　the　black…and…gold；　ladies　of　the　keep　in　silks　and　laces；　women　in　embroidered　shawls　with　long　fringes；　all　talking　loudly　at　the　same　time；　all　demanding　to　know　what　was　happening。　Crying　children　clung　to　skirts　everywhere。　He　plunged　through　them；　dodging　where　he　could；　muttering　apologies　to　those　he　shouldered　aside；　trying　to　ignore　their　startled　stares。
　　　　　　　One　of　the　women　in　a　shawl　turned　to　go　back　into　her　room；　and　he　saw　the　back　of　her　shawl；　saw　the　gleaming　white　teardrop　in　the　middle　of　her　back。　Suddenly　he　recognized　faces　he　had　seen　in　the　outer　courtyard。　Aes　Sedai；　staring　at　him　in　alarm；　now。
　　　　　　　〃Who　are　you？　What　are　you　doing　here？〃
　　　　　　　〃Is　the　keep　under　attack？　Answer　me；　man！〃
　　　　　　　〃He's　no　soldier。　Who　is　he？　What's　happening？〃
　　　　　　　〃It's　the　young　southland　lord！〃
　　　　　　　〃Someone　stop　him！〃
　　　　　　　Fear　pushed　his　lips　back；　baring　his　teeth；　but　he　kept　moving；　and　tried　to　move　faster。
　　　　　　　Then　a　woman　came　out　into　the　hall；　face…to…face　with　him；　and　he　stopped　in　spite　of　himself。　He　recognized　that　face　above　the　rest；　he　thought　he　would　remember　it　if　he　lived　forever。　The　Amyrlin　Seat。　Her　eyes　widened　at　the　sight　of　him；　and　she　started　back。　Another　Aes　Sedai；　the　tall　woman　he　had　seen　with　the　staff；　put　herself　between　him　and　the　Amyrlin；　shouting　something　at　him　that　he　could　not　make　out　over　the　increasing　babble。
　　　　　　　She　knows。　Light　help　me；　she　knows。　Moiraine　told　her。　Snarling；　he　ran　on。　Light；　just　let　me　make　sure　Egwene's　safe　before　they　。。。　He　heard　shouting　behind　him；　but　he　did　not　listen。
　　　　　　　There　was　enough　turmoil　around　him　out　in　the　keep。　Men　running　for　the　courtyards　with　swords　in　hand；　never　looking　at　him。　Over　the　clamor　of　alarm　bells；　he　could　make　out　other　noises；　now。　Shouts。　Screams。　Metal　ringing　on　metal。　He　had　just　time　to　realize　they　were　the　sounds　of　battle　…　Fighting？　Inside　Fal　Dara？　…　when　three　Trollocs　came　dashing　around　a　corner　in　front　of　him。
　　　　　　　Hairy　snouts　distorted　otherwise　human　faces；　and　one　of　them　had　ram's　horns。　They　bared　teeth；　raising　scythe…like　swords　as　they　sped　toward　him。
　　　　　　　The　hallway　that　had　been　full　of　running　men　a　moment　before　was　empty　now　except　for　the　three　Trollocs　and　himself。　Caught　by　surprise；　he　unsheathed　his　sword　awkwardly；　tried　Hummingbird　Kisses　the　Honeyrose。　Shaken　at　finding　Trollocs　in　the　heart　of　Fal　Dara　keep；　he　did　the　form　so　badly　Lan　would　have　stalked　off　in　disgust。　A　bear…snouted　Trolloc　evad