rj.thepathofdaggers-第67部分

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pite　being　a　farmer；　Dashiva　disliked　being　out…of…doors　unless　the　skies　were　clear。
　　　　　　　Only　Hopwil　rode　in　silence；　frowning　at　something　beyond　the　horizon；　his　hair　and　cloak　whipping　about　as　wildly　as　Dashiva's。　Now　and　then　he　clutched　the　hilt　of　his　sword　unconsciously。　Rand　had　to　speak　three　times；　the　last　sharply；　before　Hopwil　gave　a　surprised　jerk　and　booted　his　lanky　dun　up　beside　Tai'daishar。
　　　　　　　Rand　studied　him。　The　young　man　…　not　a　boy　any　longer；　no　matter　his　age　…　had　filled　out　since　Rand　first　saw　him；　though　his　nose　and　ears　still　seemed　made　for　a　bigger　man。　A　Dragon；　red…enameled　gold；　now　balanced　the　silver　Sword　on　his　high　collar；　just　like　Dashiva's。　Once；　he　had　said　he　would　laugh　a　year　for　joy　when　the　Dragon　was　his；　but　he　stared　unblinking　at　Rand　as　though　looking　through　him。
　　　　　　　〃What　you　learned　was　good　news；〃　Rand　told　him。　Only　an　effort　kept　him　from　trying　to　crush　the　Dragon　Scepter　in　his　fist。　〃You　did　well。〃　He　had　expected　the　Seanchan　to　return；　but　not　so　soon。　He　had　hoped　not　so　soon。　And　not　leaping　out　of　nowhere；　swallowing　cities　at　a　gulp。　When　he　found　out　that　merchants　in　Illian　had　known　for　days　before　any　of　them　thought　to　inform　the　Nine　…　the　Light　forbid　they　should　lose　a　chance　at　profit　because　too　many　knew　too　much！　…　he　had　been　within　a　hair　of　scouring　the　city　to　its　foundations。　But　the　news　was　good；　or　as　good　as　it　could　be　in　the　circumstances。　Hopwil　had　Traveled　to　Amador；　to　the　countryside　nearby；　and　the　Seanchan　appeared　to　be　waiting。　Perhaps　digesting　what　they　had　consumed。　The　Light　send　they　choked　on　it！　He　forced　his　grip　to　loosen　on　the　length　of　Dragon…carved　spearhead。　〃If　Morr　brings　half　as　good；　I　have　time　to　settle　Illian　before　dealing　with　them。〃　Ebou　Dar；　as　well！　The　Light　burn　the　Seanchan！　They　were　a　distraction；　one　he　did　not　need　and　could　not　afford　to　ignore。
　　　　　　　Hopwil　said　nothing；　only　looked。
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　upset　because　you　had　to　kill　women？〃　Desora；　of　the　Musara　Reyn；　and　Lamelle；　of　the　Smoke　Water　Miagoma；　and。。。　Rand　forced　down　the　instinctive　litany　even　as　it　began　floating　across　the　Void。　New　names　had　appeared　on　that　list；　names　he　did　not　remember　adding。　Laigin　Arnault；　a　Red　sister　who　had　died　trying　to　take　him　a　prisoner　to　Tar　Valon。　Surely　she　had　no　right　to　a　place；　but　she　had　claimed　one。　Colavaere　Saighan；　who　had　hanged　herself　rather　than　accept　justice。　Others。　Men　had　died　in　thousands；　by　his　order　or　by　his　hand；　but　it　was　the　faces　of　the　women　that　haunted　his　dreams。　Each　night；　he　made　himself　confront　their　silently　accusing　eyes。　Maybe　it　was　their　eyes　he　had　felt　of　late。
　　　　　　　〃I　told　you　about　damane　and　sul'dam；〃　he　said　calmly；　but　inside　of　him；　rage　flared；　fire　spiderwebbing　around　the　emptiness　of　the　Void。　The　Light　burn　me；　I've　killed　more　women　than　all　your　nightmares　could　hold！　My　hands　are　black　with　the　blood　of　women！　〃If　you　hadn't　wiped　out　that　Seanchan　patrol；　they'd　have　killed　you　for　sure。〃　He　did　not　say　that　Hopwil　should　have　avoided　them；　avoided　the　need　to　kill　them。　Too　late　for　that。　〃I　doubt　that　damane　even　knew　how　to　shield　a　man。　You　had　no　choice。〃　And　better　they　were　all　dead　than　some　escaping　with　word　of　a　man　who　could　channel；　scouting　them。
　　　　　　　Absently；　Hopwil　touched　his　left　sleeve；　where　the　black　color　disguised　fire…scarred　wool。　The　Seanchan　had　not　died　easily　or　fast。　〃I　piled　the　bodies　in　a　hollow；〃　he　said　in　a　flat　voice。　〃The　horses；　everything。　I　burned　it　all　to　ash。　White　ash　that　floated　in　the　wind　like　snow。　It　didn't　bother　me　at　all。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　heard　the　lie　on　the　man's　tongue；　but　Hopwil　had　to　learn。　After　all；　he　had。　They　were　what　they　were；　and　that　was　all　there　was　to　it。　All　there　was。　Liah；　of　the　Cosaida　Chareen；　a　name　written　in　fire。　Moiraine　Damodred；　another　name　that　seared　to　the　soul　rather　than　merely　burning。　A　nameless　Darkfriend；　represented　only　by　a　face；　who　had　died　by　his　sword　near。。。
　　　　　　　〃Majesty；〃　Gregorin　said　loudly；　pointing　ahead。　A　lone　man　came　out　of　the　trees　at　the　foot　of　the　nearest　hill　to　stand　waiting　in　an　attitude　of　defiance。　He　carried　a　bow；　and　wore　a　pointed　steel　cap　and　a　belted　mail　shirt　that　hung　nearly　to　his　knees。
　　　　　　　Rand　spurred　Tai'daishar　to　meet　him　seething　with　the　Power。　Saidin　could　protect　him　from　men。
　　　　　　　Up　close；　the　bowman　did　not　make　so　brave　a　sight。　Rust　streaked　his　helmet　and　mail；　and　he　looked　sodden；　mud　to　his　thighs；　damp　hair　trailing　down　a　narrow　face。　Coughing　hollowly；　he　scrubbed　at　a　long　nose　with　the　back　of　his　hand。　His　bowstring　appeared　taut；　though；　that；　he　had　protected　from　the　rain。　And　the　fletchings　on　the　arrows　in　his　quiver　looked　dry；　too。
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　the　leader　here？〃　Rand　demanded。
　　　　　　　〃You　might　say　I　do　speak　for　him；〃　the　narrow…faced　man　replied　warily。　〃Why？〃　As　the　others　galloped　up　behind　Rand；　he　shifted　his　feet；　dark　eyes　like　a　cornered　badger's。　Badgers　were　dangerous；　cornered。
　　　　　　　〃Watch　your　tongue；　man！〃　Gregorin　snapped。　〃You　do　speak　to　Rand　al'Thor；　the　Dragon　Reborn；　Lord　of　the　Morning　and　King　of　Illian！　Kneel　to　your　King！　What　do　your　name　be？〃
　　　　　　　〃He　do　be　the　Dragon　Reborn？〃　the　fellow　said　doubtfully。　Eyeing　Rand　from　the　crown　on　his　head　to　his　boots；　lingering　a　moment　on　the　gilded　Dragon　buckling　his　sword　belt；　the　man　shook　his　head　as　if　he　had　expected　someone　older；　or　grander。　〃And　Lord　of　the　Morning；　you　do　say？　Our　King　did　never　style　himself　so。〃　He　made　no　move　toward　kneeling；　or　giving　his　name。　Gregorin's　face　darkened　at　the　man's　tone；　and　maybe　at　the　man's　oblique　denial　of　Rand　as　King。　Marcolin　gave　a　slight　nod；　as　though　he　had　expected　no　more。
　　　　　　　Damp　rustlings　stirred　in　the　undergrowth　among　the　trees。　Rand　heard　easily；　and　abruptly　he　felt　saidin　fill　Hopwil。　No　longer　staring　at　nothing；　Hopwil　studied　the　woodline　intently；　a　wild　light　in　his　eyes。　Dashiva；　silent；　raking　dark　hair　out　of　his　face；　looked　bored。　Leaning　forward　in　his　saddle；　Gregorin　opened　his　mouth　angrily。　Fire　and　ice；　but　not　yet　death。
　　　　　　　〃Peace；　Gregorin。〃　Rand　did　not　raise　his　voice；　but　he　wove　flows　to　carry　his　words；　Air　and　Fire；　so　they　boomed　against　the　wall　of　trees。　〃My　offer　is　generous。〃　The　long…nosed　man　staggered　at　the　sound；　and　Gregorin's　horse　shied。　Those　hidden　men　would　hear　clearly。　〃Lay　down　your　arms；　and　those　who　want　to　return　home；　can。　Those　who　want　to　follow　me　instead；　can　do　that。　But　no　man　leaves　here　under　arms　unless　he　does　follow　me。　I　know　most　of　you　are　good　men；　who　answered　the　call　of　your　King　and　the　Council　of　Nine　to　defend　Illian；　but　I　am　your　King；　now；　and　I'll　not　have　anyone　tempted　to　turn　bandit。〃　Marcolin　nodded　grimly。
　　　　　　　〃What　about　your　Dragonsworn　burning　farms？〃　a　man's　frightened　voice　shouted　from　the　trees。　〃They　do　be　flaming　bandits！〃
　　　　　　　〃What　about　your　Aiel？〃　another　called。　〃I　do　hear　they　carry　off　whole　villages！〃　More　voices　from　unseen　men　joined　in；　all　shouting　the　same　things；　Dragonsworn　and　Aiel；　murderous　brigands　and　savages。　Rand　ground　his　teeth。
　　　　　　　When　the　shouting　faded；　narrow…face　said；　〃You　do　see？〃　He　paused　to　cough；　then　hawked　and　spat；　maybe　for　his　chest　and　maybe　for　emphasis。　A　pitiful　sight；　all　wet　and　rust；　but　his　backbone　was　as　tight　as　his　bowstring。　He　ignored　Rand's　glare　as　easily　as　he　did　Gregorin's。　〃You　do　ask　us　to　go　home　unarmed；　unable　to　defend　ourselves　or　our　families；　while　your　people　do　burn　and　steal　and　kill。　They　do　say　the　storm　be　ing；〃　he　added；　and　looked　surprised　that　he　had；　surprised　and　confused　for　a　moment。
　　　　　　　〃The　Aiel　you've　heard　about　are　my　enemies！〃　Not　spider…webs　of　flame　this　time；　but　solid　sheets　of　fury　that　wrapped　tight　around　the　Void。　Rand's　voice　was　ice；　though；　it　roared　like　the　crack　of　winter。　The　storm　was　ing？　Light；　he　was　the　storm！　〃My　Aiel　are　hunting　them　down。　My　Aiel　hunt　the　Shaido；　and　they　and　Davram　Bashere　and　most　of　the　panions　hunt　bandits；　whatever　they　call　themselves！　I　am　the　King　of　Illian；　and　I　will　allow　no　one　to　disrupt　the　peace　of　Illian！〃
　　　　　　　〃Even　if　what　you　say　do　be　true；〃　narrow…face　began。
　　　　　　　〃It　is！〃　Rand　snapped。　〃You　have　until　midday　to　decide。〃　The　man　frowned　uncertainly；　unless　the　roiling　clouds　cleared；　he　might　have　a　difficult　time　knowing　midday。　Rand　gave　him　no　relief。　〃Decide　wisely！〃　he　said。　Whirling　Tai'daishar　about；　he　spurred　the　gelding　to　a　gallop　back　toward　the　ridge　without　waiting　for　the　others。
　　　　　　　Reluctantly　he　let　go　of　the　Power；　forced　himself　not　to　hang　on　like　a　man　clutching　salvation　with　his　fingernails　as　life　and　filth　drained　from　him　together。　For　an　instant；　he　saw　double；　the　world　seemed　to　tilt　dizzily。　That　was　a　recent　problem；　and　he　worried　it　might　be　part　of　the　sickness　that　killed　men　who　channeled；　but　the　dizziness　never　lasted　more　than　moments。　It　was　the　rest　of　letting　go　that　he　regretted。　The　world　seemed　to　dull。　No；　it　did　dull；　and　became　somehow　less。　Colors　were　washed…out；　the　sky　smaller；　pared　to　what　they　had　been　before。　He　wanted　desperately　to　seize　the　Source　again　and　wring　the　One　Powe