rj.thegreathunt-第31部分

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　　　　　　　〃Who　is　it？〃
　　　　　　　Lan　strode　in；　pushing　the　door　to　behind　him　with　his　boot　heel。　As　usual；　he　wore　his　sword　over　a　plain　coat　of　green　that　was　nearly　invisible　in　the　woods。　This　time；　though；　he　had　a　wide；　golden　cord　tied　high　around　his　left　arm；　the　fringed　ends　hanging　almost　to　his　elbow。　On　the　knot　was　pinned　a　golden　crane　in　flight；　the　symbol　of　Malkier。
　　　　　　　〃The　Amyrlin　Seat　wants　you；　sheepherder。　You　can't　go　like　that。　Out　of　that　shirt　and　brush　your　hair。　You　look　like　a　haystack。〃　He　jerked　open　the　wardrobe　and　began　pawing　through　the　clothes　Rand　meant　to　leave　behind。
　　　　　　　Rand　stood　stiff　where　he　was；　he　felt　as　though　he　had　been　hit　in　the　head　with　a　hammer。　He　had　expected　it；　of　course；　in　a　way；　but　he　had　been　sure　he　would　be　gone　before　the　summons　came。　She　knows。　Light；　I'm　sure　of　it。　〃What　do　you　mean；　she　wants　me？　I'm　leaving；　Lan。　You　were　right。　I　am　going　to　the　stable　right　now；　get　my　horse；　and　leave。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　should　have　done　that　last　night。〃　The　Warder　tossed　a　white　silk　shirt　onto　the　bed。　〃No　one　refuses　an　audience　with　the　Amyrlin　Seat；　sheepherder。　Not　the　Lord　Captain　mander　of　the　Whitecloaks　himself。　Pedron　Niall　might　spend　the　trip　planning　how　to　kill　her；　if　he　could　do　it　and　get　away；　but　he　would　e。〃　He　turned　around　with　one　of　the　high…collared　coats　in　his　hands　and　held　it　up。　〃This　one　will　do。〃　Tangled；　long…thorned　briars　climbed　each　red　sleeve　in　a　thick；　gold　embroidered　line；　and　ran　around　each　cuff。　Golden　herons　stood　on　the　collars；　which　were　edged　with　gold。　〃The　color　is　right；　too。〃　He　seemed　to　be　amused　at　something；　or　satisfied。　〃e　on；　sheepherder。　Change　your　shirt。　Move。〃
　　　　　　　Reluctantly　Rand　pulled　the　coarse　wool　workman's　shirt　over　his　head。　〃I'll　feel　a　fool；〃　he　muttered。　〃A　silk　shirt！　I　never　wore　a　silk　shirt　in　my　life。　And　I　never　wore　so　fancy　a　coat；　either；　even　on　a　feastday。〃　Light；　if　Perrin　sees　me　in　that　。。。　Burn　me；　after　all　that　fool　talk　about　being　a　lord；　if　he　sees　me　in　that；　he'll　never　listen　to　reason。
　　　　　　　〃You　can't　go　before　the　Amyrlin　Seat　dressed　like　a　groom　fresh　out　of　the　stables；　sheepherder。　Let　me　see　your　boots。　They'll　do。　Well；　get　on　with　it；　get　on　with　it。　You　don't　keep　the　Amyrlin　waiting。　Wear　your　sword。〃
　　　　　　　〃My　sword！〃　The　silk　shirt　over　his　head　muffled　Rand's　yelp。　He　yanked　it　the　rest　of　the　way　on。　〃In　the　women's　apartments？　Lan；　if　I　go　for　an　audience　with　the　Amyrlin　Seat　…　the　Amyrlin　Seat！　…　wearing　a　sword；　she'll　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　nothing；〃　Lan　cut　him　off　dryly。　〃If　the　Amyrlin　is　afraid　of　you　…　and　it's　smarter　for　you　to　think　she　isn't；　because　I　don't　know　anything　that　could　frighten　that　woman　…　it　won't　be　for　a　sword。　Now　remember；　you　kneel　when　you　go　before　her。　One　knee　only；　mind；〃　he　added　sharply。　〃You're　not　some　merchant　caught　giving　short　weight。　Maybe　you　had　better　practice　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know　how；　I　think。　I　saw　how　the　Queen's　Guards　knelt　to　Queen　Morgase。〃
　　　　　　　The　ghost　of　a　smile　touched　the　Warder's　lips。　〃Yes；　you　do　it　just　as　they　did。　That　will　give　them　something　to　think　about。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　frowned。　〃Why　are　you　telling　me　this；　Lan？　You're　a　Warder。　You're　acting　as　if　you　are　on　my　side。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　on　your　side；　sheepherder。　A　little。　Enough　to　help　you　a　bit。〃　The　Warder's　face　was　stone；　and　sympathetic　words　sounded　strange　in　that　rough　voice。　〃What　training　you've　had；　I　gave　you；　and　I'll　not　have　you　groveling　and　sniveling。　The　Wheel　weaves　us　all　into　the　Pattern　as　it　wills。　You　have　less　freedom　about　it　than　most；　but　by　the　Light；　you　can　still　face　it　on　your　feet。　You　remember　who　the　Amyrlin　Seat　is；　sheepherder；　and　you　show　her　proper　respect；　but　you　do　what　I　tell　you；　and　you　look　her　in　the　eye。　Well；　don't　stand　there　gaping。　Tuck　in　your　shirt。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　shut　his　mouth　and　tucked　in　his　shirt。　Remember　who　she　is？　Burn　me；　what　I　wouldn't　give　to　forget　who　she　is！
　　　　　　　Lan　kept　up　a　running　flow　of　instructions　while　Rand　shrugged　into　the　red　coat　and　buckled　on　his　sword。　What　to　say　and　to　whom；　and　what　not　to　say。　What　to　do；　and　what　not。　How　to　move；　even。　He　was　not　sure　he　could　remember　it　all　…　most　of　it　sounded　odd；　and　easy　to　forget　…　and　he　was　sure　whatever　he　forgot　would　be　just　the　thing　to　make　the　Aes　Sedai　angry　with　him。　If　they　aren't　already。　If　Moiraine　told　the　Amyrlin　Seat；　who　else　did　she　tell？
　　　　　　　〃Lan；　why　can't　I　just　leave　the　way　I　planned？　By　the　time　she　knew　I　was　not　ing；　I'd　be　a　league　outside　the　walls　and　galloping。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　she'd　have　trackers　after　you　before　you　had　gone　two。　What　the　Amyrlin　wants；　sheepherder；　she　gets。〃　He　adjusted　Rand's　sword　belt　so　the　heavy　buckle　was　centered。　〃What　I　do　is　the　best　I　can　for　you。　Believe　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　why　all　this？　What　does　it　mean？　Why　do　I　put　my　hand　over　my　heart　if　the　Amyrlin　Seat　stands　up？　Why　refuse　anything　but　water　…　not　that　I　want　to　eat　a　meal　with　her　…　then　dribble　some　on　the　floor　and　say　'The　land　thirsts'　？　And　if　she　asks　how　old　I　am；　why　tell　her　how　long　it　is　since　I　was　given　the　sword？　I　don't　understand　half　of　what　you've　told　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃Three　drops；　sheepherder；　don't　pour　it。　You　sprinkle　three　drops　only。　You　can　understand　later　so　long　as　you　remember　now。　Think　of　it　as　upholding　custom。　The　Amyrlin　will　do　with　you　as　she　must。　If　you　believe　you　can　avoid　it；　then　you　believe　you　can　fly　to　the　moon　like　Lenn。　You　can't　escape；　but　maybe　you　can　hold　your　own　for　a　while；　and　perhaps　you　can　keep　your　pride；　at　least。　The　Light　burn　me；　I　am　probably　wasting　my　time；　but　I've　nothing　better　to　do。　Hold　still。〃　From　his　pocket　the　Warder　produced　a　long　length　of　wide；　fringed　golden　cord　and　tied　it　around　Rand's　left　arm　in　a　plicated　knot。　On　the　knot　he　fastened　a　red…enameled　pin；　an　eagle　with　its　wings　spread。　〃I　had　that　made　to　give　you；　and　now　is　as　good　a　time　as　any。　That　will　make　them　think。〃　There　was　no　doubt　about　it；　now。　The　Warder　was　smiling。
　　　　　　　Rand　looked　down　at　the　pin　worriedly。　Caldazar。　The　Red　Eagle　of　Manetheren。　〃A　thorn　to　the　Dark　One's　foot；〃　he　murmured；　〃and　a　bramble　to　his　hand。〃　He　looked　at　the　Warder。　〃Manetheren's　long　dead　and　forgotten；　Lan。　It's　just　a　name　in　a　book；　now。　There　is　only　the　Two　Rivers。　Whatever　else　I　am；　I'm　a　shepherd　and　a　farmer。　That's　all。〃
　　　　　　　〃Well；　the　sword　that　could　not　be　broken　was　shattered　in　the　end；　sheepherder；　but　it　fought　the　Shadow　to　the　last。　There　is　one　rule；　above　all　others；　for　being　a　man。　Whatever　es；　face　it　on　your　feet。　Now；　are　you　ready？　The　Amyrlin　Seat　waits。〃
　　　　　　　With　a　cold　knot　in　the　pit　of　his　belly；　Rand　followed　the　Warder　into　the　hall。


Chapter　8
（Dragon's　Fang）
The　Dragon　Reborn

　　　　　　　Rand　walked　stiff…legged　and　nervous　at　first；　beside　the　Warder。　Face　it　on　your　feet。　It　was　easy　for　Lan　to　say。　He　had　not　been　summoned　by　the　Amyrlin　Seat。　He　was　not　wondering　if　he　would　be　gentled　before　the　day　was　done；　or　worse。　Rand　felt　as　if　he　had　something　caught　in　his　throat；　he　could　not　swallow；　and　he　wanted　to；　badly。
　　　　　　　The　corridors　bustled　with　people；　servants　going　about　their　morning　chores；　warriors　wearing　swords　over　lounging　robes。　A　few　young　boys　carrying　small　practice　swords　stayed　near　their　elders；　imitating　the　way　they　walked。　No　sign　remained　of　the　fighting；　but　an　air　of　alertness　clung　even　to　the　children。　Grown　men　looked　like　cats　waiting　for　a　pack　of　rats。
　　　　　　　Ingtar　gave　Rand　and　Lan　a　peculiar　look；　almost　troubled；　opening　his　mouth；　then　saying　nothing　as　they　passed　him。　Kajin；　tall　and　lean　and　sallow；　pumped　his　fists　over　his　head　and　shouted；　〃Tai'shar　Malkier！　Tai'shar　Manetheren！〃　True　blood　of　Malkier。　True　blood　of　Manetheren。
　　　　　　　Rand　jumped。　Light；　why　did　he　say　that？　Don't　be　a　fool；　he　told　himself。　They　all　know　about　Manetheren　here。　They　know　every　old　story；　if　it　has　fighting　in　it。　Burn　me；　I　have　to　take　a　rein　on　myself。
　　　　　　　Lan　raised　his　fists　in　reply。　〃Tai'shar　Shienar！〃
　　　　　　　If　he　made　a　run　for　it；　could　he　lose　himself　in　the　crowd　long　enough　to　reach　his　horse？　If　she　sends　trackers　after　me　。。。　With　every　step　he　grew　more　tense。
　　　　　　　As　they　approached　the　women's　apartments；　Lan　suddenly　snapped；　〃Cat　Crosses　the　Courtyard！〃
　　　　　　　Startled；　Rand　instinctively　assumed　the　walking　stance　as　he　had　been　taught；　back　straight　but　every　muscle　loose；　as　if　he　hung　from　a　wire　at　the　top　of　his　head。　It　was　a　relaxed；　almost　arrogant；　saunter。　Relaxed　on　the　outside；　he　certainly　did　not　feel　it　inside。　He　had　no　time　to　wonder　what　he　was　doing。　They　rounded　the　last　corridor　in　step　with　each　other。
　　　　　　　The　women　at　the　entrance　to　the　women's　apartments　looked　up　calmly　as　they　came　closer。　Some　sat　behind　slanted　tables；　checking　large　ledgers　and　sometimes　making　an　entry。　Others　were　knitting；　or　working　with　needle　and　embroidery　hoop。　Ladies　in　silks　kept　this　watch；　as　well　as　women　in　livery。　The　arched　doors　stood　open；　unguarded　except　for　the　women。　No　more　was　needed。　No　Shienaran　man　would　enter　uninvited；　but　any　Shienaran　man　stood　ready　to　defend　that　door　if　needed；　and　he　would　be　agha