rj.thegreathunt-第69部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
will be raised to the Accepted。 Though I don't think you will have to worry about that too much； if you work hard and apply yourself。 The work is hard； and even for one with the potential they tell me you have； it will not be made any easier。 If you cannot stick to it； no matter how hard it is； or if you will break under the strain； better we find it out now； and let you go on your way； than wait until you are a full sister and others are depending on you。 An Aes Sedai's life is not easy。 Here； we will prepare you for it； if you have in you what is required。〃
Egwene swallowed。 Break under the strain？ 〃I will try； Sheriam Sedai；〃 she said faintly。 And I will not break。
Nynaeve looked at her worriedly。 〃Sheriam 。。。〃 She stopped and took a deep breath。 〃Sheriam Sedai〃 … she seemed to force the honorific out … 〃does it have to be so hard on her？ Flesh and blood can only take so much。 I know 。。。 something 。。。 of what novices must go through。 Surely there's no need to try to break her just to find out how strong she is。〃
〃You mean what the Amyrlin did to you today？〃 Nynaeve's back stiffened； Sheriam looked as though she were trying to keep amusement from her face。 〃I told you I spoke with the Amyrlin。 Rest your worries for your friend。 Novice training is hard； but not that hard。 That is for the first few weeks of being one of the Accepted。〃 Nynaeve's mouth fell open； Egwene thought the Wisdom's eyes were going to e right out of her head。 〃To catch the few who might have slipped through novice training when they should not have。 We cannot risk having one of our number … a full Aes Sedai … who will break under the stress of the world outside。〃 The Aes Sedai gathered them both up； an arm around the shoulders of each。 Nynaeve hardly seemed to realize where she was going。 〃e；〃 Sheriam said； 〃I will see you settled in your rooms。 The White Tower awaits。〃
Chapter 19
（Horn）
Beneath the Dagger
Night on the edge of Kinslayer's Dagger was cold； as nights in the mountains are always cold。 The wind whipped down from the high peaks carrying the iciness of the snowcaps。 Rand shifted on the hard ground； tugging at his cloak and blanket； and only half asleep。 His hand went to his sword； lying beside him。 One more day； he thought drowsily。 Just one more； and then we go。 If no one es tomorrow； Ingtar or Darkfriends one； I'll take Selene to Cairhien。
He had told himself that before。 Every day they had been there on the mountainside； watching the place where Hurin said the trail had been； in that other world … where Selene said the Darkfriends would surely appear in this world … he told himself it was time to leave。 And Selene talked of the Horn of Valere； and touched his arm； and looked into his eyes； and before he knew it he had agreed to yet another day before they went on。
He shrugged against the chill of the wind； thinking of Selene touching his arm and looking into his eyes。 If Egwene saw that； she'd shear me for a sheep； and Selene； too。 Egwene could already be in Tar Valon by now； learning to be an Aes Sedai。 The next time she sees me； she'll probably try to gentle me。
As he shifted over； his hand slid past the sword and touched the bundle holding Thom Merrilin's harp and flute。 Unconsciously； his fingers tightened on the gleeman's cloak。 I was happy then； I think； even running for my life。 Playing the flute for my supper。 I was too ignorant to know what was going on。 There's no turning back。
Shivering； he opened his eyes。 The only light came from the waning moon； not far past full and low in the sky。 A fire would give them away to those for whom they watched。 Loial muttered in his sleep； a low rumble。 One of the horses stamped a hoof。 Hurin had the first watch； from a stone outcrop a little way up the mountain； he would be ing to wake Rand for his turn； soon。
Rand rolled over 。。。 and stopped。 In the moonlight he could see the shape of Selene； bending over his saddlebags； her hands on the buckles。 Her white dress gathered the faint light。 〃Do you need something？〃
She gave a jump； and stared toward him。 〃You … you startled me。〃
He rolled to his feet； shedding the blanket and wrapping the cloak around himself； and went to her。 He was sure he had left the saddlebags right by his side when he lay down； he always kept them close。 He took them from her。 All the buckles were fastened； even those on the side that held the damning banner。 How can my life depend on keeping it？ If anybody sees it and knows what it is； I'll die for having it。 He peered at her suspiciously。
Selene stayed where she was； looking up at him。 The moon glistened in her dark eyes。 〃It came to me；〃 she said； 〃that I've been wearing this dress too long。 I could brush it； at least； if I had something else to wear while I did。 One of your shirts； perhaps。〃
Rand nodded； feeling a sudden relief。 Her dress looked as clean to him as when he first saw her； but he knew that if a spot appeared on Egwene's dress； nothing would do but that she cleaned it immediately。 〃Of course。〃 He opened the capacious pocket into which he had stuffed everything except the banner and pulled out one of the white silk shirts。
〃Thank you。〃 Her hands went behind her back。 To the buttons； he realized。
Eyes wide； he spun away from her。
〃If you could help me with these； it would be much easier。〃
Rand cleared his throat。 〃It would not be proper。 It isn't as if we were promised； or 。。。〃 Stop thinking about that！ You can never marry anyone。 〃It just wouldn't be proper。〃
Her soft laugh sent a shiver down his back； as if she had run a finger along his spine。 He tried not to listen to the rustlings behind him。 He said； 〃Ah 。。。 tomorrow 。。。 tomorrow； we'll leave for Cairhien。〃
〃And what of the Horn of Valere？〃
〃Maybe we were wrong。 Maybe they are not ing here at all。 Hurin says there are a number of passes through Kinslayer's Dagger。 If they went only a little further west； they do not have to e into the mountains at all。〃
〃But the trail we followed came here。 They will e here。 The Horn will e here。 You may turn around； now。〃
〃You say that； but we don't know 。。。〃 He turned； and the words died in his mouth。 Her dress lay across her arm； and she wore his shirt； hanging in baggy folds on her。 It was a long…tailed shirt； made for his height； but she was tall for a woman。 The bottom of it came little more than halfway down her thighs。 It was not as if he had never seen a girl's legs before； girls in the Two Rivers always tied up their skirts to go wading in Waterwood ponds。 But they stopped doing it well before they were old enough to braid their hair； and this was in the dark； besides。 The moonlight seemed to make her skin glow。
〃What is it you don't know； Rand？〃
The sound of her voice unfroze his joints。 With a loud cough； he whirled to face the other way。 〃Ah 。。。 I think 。。。 ah 。。。 I 。。。 ah 。。。〃
〃Think of the glory； Rand。〃 Her hand touched his back； and he almost shamed himself with a squeak。 〃Think of the glory that will e to the one who finds the Horn of Valere。 How proud I'll be to stand beside him who holds the Horn。 You have no idea the heights we will scale together； you and I。 With the Horn of Valere in your hand； you can be a king。 You can be another Artur Hawkwing。 You。。。〃
〃Lord Rand！〃 Hurin panted into the campsite。 〃My Lord； they 。。。〃 He skidded to a halt； suddenly making a gurgling sound。 His eyes dropped to the ground； and he stood wringing his hands。 〃Forgive me； my Lady。 I didn't mean to 。。。 I 。。。 Forgive me。〃
Loial sat up； his blanket and cloak falling away。 〃What's happening？ Is it my turn to watch already？〃 He looked toward Rand and Selene； and even in the moonlight the widening of his eyes was plain。
Rand heard Selene sigh behind him。 He stepped away from her； still not looking at her。 Her legs are so white； so smooth。 〃What is it； Hurin？〃 He made his voice more moderate； was he angry with Hurin； himself； or Selene？ No reason to be angry with her。 〃Did you see something； Hurin？〃
The sniffer spoke without raising his eyes。 〃A fire； my Lord； down in the hills。 I didn't see it at first。 They made it small； and hid it； but they hid it from somebody following them； not somebody ahead； and up above。 Two miles； Lord Rand。 Less than three； for sure。〃
〃Fain；〃 Rand said。 〃Ingtar would not be afraid of anyone following him。 It must be Fain。〃 Suddenly he did not know what to do； now。 They had been waiting for Fain； but now that the man was only a mile or so away； he was uncertain。 〃In the morning 。。。 In the morning； we will follow。 When Ingtar and the others catch up； we'll be able to point right to them。〃
〃So；〃 Selene said。 〃You will let this Ingtar take the Horn of Valere。 And the glory。〃
〃I don't want 。。。〃 Without thinking； he turned； and there she was； legs pale in the moonlight； and as unconcerned that they were bare as if she were alone。 As if we were alone； the thought came。 She wants the man who finds the Horn。 〃Three of us cannot take it away from them。 Ingtar has twenty lances with him。〃
〃You don't know you cannot take it。 How many followers does
