rj.thegreathunt-第166章
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All around them Rand could hear the sounds of people stirring； slippers scuffing on the floor； soft murmurs of speech。 He did not see anyone； but he could imagine it all too well； someone stepping into the hall to see five slinking men with weapons in their hands； shouting an alarm。。。
〃In there；〃 Mat whispered； pointing to a big pair of sliding doors ahead； carved handholds their only ornamentation。 〃At least； the dagger is。〃
Ingtar looked at Hurin； the sniffer slid the doors open； and Ingtar leaped through with his sword ready。 There was no one there。 Rand and the others hurried inside； and Hurin quickly closed the doors behind them。
Painted screens hid all the walls and any other doors； and veiled the light ing through windows that had to overlook the street。 At one end of the big room stood a tall； circular cabinet。 At the other was a small table； the lone chair on the carpet turned to face it。 Rand heard Ingtar gasp； but he only felt like heaving a sigh of relief。 The curling golden Horn of Valere sat on a stand on the table。 Below it； the ruby in the hilt of the ornate dagger caught the light。
Mat darted to the table； snatching Horn and dagger。 〃We have it；〃 he crowed； shaking the dagger in his fist。 〃We have both of them。〃
〃Not so loud；〃 Perrin said with a wince。 〃We don't have them out of here； yet。〃 His hands were busy on the haft of his axe； they seemed to want to be holding something else。
〃The Horn of Valere。〃 There was sheer awe in Ingtar's voice。 He touched the Horn hesitantly； tracing a finger along the silver script inlaid around the bell and mouthing the translation； then pulled his hand back with a shiver of excitement。 〃It is。 By the Light； it is！ I am saved。〃
Hurin was moving the screens that hid the windows。 He shoved the last out of his way and peered into the street below。 〃Those soldiers are all still there； looking like they've took root。〃 He shuddered。 〃Those 。。。 things； too。〃
Rand went to join him。 The two beasts were grolm； there was no denying it。 〃How did they 。。。〃 As he lifted his eyes from the street； words died。 He was looking over a wall into the garden of the big house across the street。 He could see where further walls had been torn down； joining other gardens to it。 Women sat on benches there； or strolled along the walks； always in pairs。 Women linked； neck to wrist； by silver leashes。 One of the women with a collar around her neck looked up。 He was too far to make out her face clearly； but for an instant it seemed that their eyes met； and he knew。 The blood drained from his face。 〃Egwene；〃 he breathed。
〃What are you talking about？〃 Mat said。 〃Egwene is safe in Tar Valon。 I wish I were。〃
〃She's here；〃 Rand said。 The two women were turning； walking toward one of the buildings on the far side of the joined gardens。 〃She is there； right across the street。 Oh； Light； she's wearing one of those collars！〃
〃Are you sure？〃 Perrin said。 He came to peer from the window。 〃I don't see her； Rand。 And … and I could recognize her if I did； even at this distance。〃
〃I am sure；〃 Rand said。 The two women disappeared into one of the houses that faced the next street over。 His stomach was twisted into a knot。 She is supposed to be safe。 She's supposed to be in the White Tower。 〃I have to get her out。 The rest of you …〃
〃So！〃 The slurring voice was as soft as the sound of the doors sliding in their tracks。 〃You are not who I expected。〃
For a brief moment； Rand stared。 The tall man with the shaven head who had stepped into the room wore a long； trailing blue robe； and his fingernails were so long that Rand wondered if he could handle anything。 The two men standing obsequiously behind him had only half their dark hair shaved； the rest hanging in a dark braid down each man's right cheek。 One of them cradled a sheathed sword in his arms。
It was only a moment he had for staring； then screens toppled to reveal； at either end of the room； a doorway crowded with four or five Seanchan soldiers； bareheaded but armored； and swords in hand。
〃You are in the presence of the High Lord Turak；〃 the man who carried the sword began； staring at Rand and the others angrily； but a brief motion of a finger with a blue…lacquered nail cut him short。 The other servant stepped forward with a bow and began undoing Turak's robe。
〃When one of my guards was found dead；〃 the shaven…headed man said calmly； 〃I suspected the man who calls himself Fain。 I have been suspicious of him since Huon died so mysteriously； and he has always wanted that dagger。〃 He held out his arms for the servant to remove his robe。 Despite his soft； almost…singing voice； hard muscles roped his arms and smooth chest； which was bare to a blue sash holding wide； white trousers that seemed made of hundreds of pleats。 He sounded uninterested； and indifferent to the blades in their hands。 〃And now to find strangers with not only the dagger； but the Horn。 It will please me to kill one or two of you for disturbing my morning。 Those who survive will tell me of who you are and why you came。〃 He stretched out a hand without looking … the man with the scabbarded sword laid the hilt in the hand … and drew the heavy； curved blade。 〃I would not have the Horn damaged。〃
Turak gave no other signal； but one of the soldiers stalked into the room and reached for the Horn。 Rand did not know whether he should laugh； or not。 The man wore armor； but his arrogant face seemed as oblivious to their weapons as Turak was。
Mat put an end to it。 As the Seanchan reached out his hand； Mat slashed it with the ruby…hilted dagger。 With a curse； the soldier leaped back； looking surprised。 And then he screamed。 It chilled the room； held everyone where they stood in astonishment。 The trembling hand he held up in front of his face was turning black； darkness creeping outwards from the bleeding gash that crossed his palm。 He opened his mouth wide and howled； clawing at his arm； then his shoulder。 Kicking； jerking； he toppled to the floor； thrashing on the silken carpet； shrieking as his face grew black and his dark eyes bulged like overripe plums； until a dark； swollen tongue gagged him。 He twitched； choking raggedly； heels drumming； and did not move again。 Every bit of his exposed flesh was black as putrid pitch and looked ready to burst at a touch。
Mat licked his lips and swallowed； his grip shifted uneasily on the dagger。 Even Turak stared； openmouthed。
〃You see；〃 Ingtar said softly； 〃we are no easy meat。〃 Suddenly he leaped over the corpse； toward the soldiers still goggling at what was left of the man who had stood at their shoulders only moments before。 〃Shinowa！〃 he cried。 〃Follow me！〃 Hurin leaped after him； and the soldiers fell back before them； the sounds of steel on steel rising。
The Seanchan at the other end of the room started forward as Ingtar moved； but then they were falling back； too； before Mat's thrusting dagger even more than from the axe Perrin swung with wordless snarls。
In the space of heartbeats； Rand stood alone； facing Turak； who held his blade upright before him。 His moment of shock was gone。 His eyes were sharp on Rand's face； the black and swollen body of one of his soldiers might as well not have existed。 It did not seem to exist for the two servants； either； any more than Rand and his sword existed； or the sounds of fighting； fading now from the rooms to either side out into the house。 The servants had begun calmly folding Turak's robe as soon as the High Lord took his sword； and had not looked up even for the dead soldier's shrieks； now they knelt beside the door and watched with impassive eyes。
〃I suspected it might e to you and me。〃 Turak spun his blade easily； a full circle one way； then the other； his long…nailed fingers moving delicately on the hilt。 His fingernails did not seem to hamper him at all。 〃You are young。 Let us see what is required to earn the heron on this side of the ocean。〃
Suddenly Rand saw。 Standing tall on Turak's blade was a heron。 With the little training he had； he was face…to…face with a real blademaster。 Hastily he tossed the fleece…lined cloak aside； riddi
