rj.acrownofswords-第157章

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or　himself。　He　was　used　to　the　Maidens　who　stood　around　watching；　offering　to　scrub　his　back　or　his　feet；　hands　flickering　in　silent　chatter　and　still　more　than　half…scandalized　at　the　sight　of　someone　sitting　in　water。　Besides；　he　managed　to　get　rid　of　some；　at　least；　by　sending　them　off　carrying　orders。
　　　What　he　was　not　used　to　was　Min；　sitting　cross…legged　on　the　bed　with　her　chin　on　her　hands；　watching　the　whole　thing　in　very　evident　fascination。　In　all　the　crowd　of　Maidens；　he　had　not　realized　she　was　there　until　he　was　naked；　and　all　there　was　to　do　then　was　sit　down　as　fast　as　he　could；　splashing　water　over　the　sides　of　the　tub。　The　woman　would　have　done　very　well　as　a　Maiden　herself。　She　discussed　him　with　the　Maidens　quite　openly；　with　never　a　blush！　He　was　the　one　who　blushed。
　　　〃Yes；　he　is　very　modest；〃　she　said；　agreeing　with　Malindare；　a　woman　more　rounded　than　most　Maidens；　with　the　darkest　hair　Rand　had　seen　on　any　Aiel。　〃Modesty　is　a　man's　crowning　glory。〃　Malindare　nodded　soberly；　but　Min　wore　a　grin　that　nearly　split　her　cheeks。
　　　And；　〃Oh；　no；　Domeille；　it　would　be　a　shame　to　spoil　such　a　pretty　face　with　a　scar。〃　Domeille；　grayer　than　Nandera；　leaner；　and　with　a　thrusting　chin；　insisted　that　he　was　not　pretty　enough　to　do　without　a　scar　to　set　off　what　beauty　he　had。　Her　words。　The　rest　was　worse。　The　Maidens　had　always　seemed　to　enjoy　making　his　face　red。　Min　certainly　did。
　　　〃You　have　to　dry　off　sooner　or　later；　Rand；〃　she　said；　holding　up　a　long　piece　of　white　toweling　with　both　hands。　She　stood　a　good　three　paces　from　the　tub；　and　the　Maidens　had　all　backed　into　a　watching　ring。　Min's　smile　was　so　innocent　any　magistrate　would　have　found　her　guilty　on　that　alone。　〃e　and　get　dry；　Rand。〃
　　　He　had　never　been　so　relieved　to　pull　on　clothes　in　his　life。
　　　By　that　time；　all　his　orders　had　been　carried　out；　and　everything　was　in　readiness。　Rand　al'Thor　might　have　been　routed　in　a　bathtub；　but　the　Dragon　Reborn　was　going　to　the　Sea　Folk　in　a　style　that　would　send　them　plummeting　to　their　knees　with　awe。
　　　
　　　
Chapter　34　
（Star　and　Birds）　
Ta'veren　
　　　
　　　All　was　ready　as　Rand　had　ordered　in　the　courtyard　at　the　front　of　the　Sun　Palace。　Or　almost　all。　The　morning　sun　slanted　shadows　from　the　stepped　towers；　so　only　ten　paces　in　front　of　the　tall　bronze　gates　lay　in　full　light。　Dashiva　and　Flinn　and　Narishma；　the　three　Asha'man　he　had　retained；　waited　beside　their　horses；　even　Dashiva　resplendent　with　the　silver　sword　and　red…and…gold　Dragon　on　his　black　collar；　though　he　still　touched　the　sword　at　his　hip　as　if　constantly　surprised　to　find　it　there。　A　hundred　of　Dobraine's　armsmen　sat　their　mounts　behind　Dobraine　himself　with　two　long　banners　that　hung　down　in　the　still　air；　their　dark　armor　newly　lacquered　so　it　glistened　in　the　sun；　and　silk　streamers　of　red　and　white　and　black　tied　below　the　heads　of　their　lances。　They　raised　a　cheer　when　Rand　appeared；　his　sword　belt　with　its　gilded　Dragon　buckle　strapped　over　a　red　coat　heavy　with　gold。
　　　〃Al'Thor！　Al'Thor！　Al'Thor！〃　filled　the　courtyard。　People　crowding　the　archers'　balconies　joined　in；　Tairen　and　Cairhienin　in　their　silks　and　laces　who　just　a　week　before　had　no　doubt　cheered　Colavaere　as　loudly。　Men　and　women　who　would　as　soon　he　had　never　returned　to　Cairhien；　some　of　them；　waving　their　arms　and　giving　voice。　He　raised　the　Dragon　Scepter　to　acknowledge　them；　and　they　roared　louder。
　　　A　thunderous　roll　of　drums　and　a　blare　of　trumpets　rose　through　the　cheers；　produced　by　a　dozen　more　of　Dobraine's　men　who　wore　crimson　tabards　with　the　black…and…white　disc　on　the　chest；　half　carrying　long　trumpets　draped　in　identical　cloths；　the　other　half　with　kettle　drums　also　decorated　slung　on　either　side　of　the　horses。
　　　Five　Aes　Sedai　in　their　shawls　came　to　meet　him　as　he　descended　the　broad　stairs。　At　least；　they　glided　toward　him。　Alanna　gave　him　one　searching　look　with　those　big　dark　penetrating　eyes；　the　tiny　knot　of　emotions　in　his　skull　said　she　was　calmer；　more　relaxed；　than　he　ever　remembered。　Then　she　made　a　small　motion；　and　Min　touched　his　arm　and　went　aside　with　her。　Bera　and　the　others　made　small　curtsies；　inclining　their　heads　slightly；　as　Aiel　streamed　out　of　the　palace　behind　him。　Nandera　led　two　hundred　Maidens　…　they　were　not　about　to　be　outshone　by　the　〃oathbreakers〃　…　and　Camar；　a　rangy　Bent　Peak　Daryne　grayer　than　Nandera　and　half　a　head　taller　than　Rand；　led　two　hundred　Seia　Doon　who　would　not　be　outshone　by　Far　Dareis　Mai；　let　alone　Cairhienin。　They　swung　past　on　either　side　of　him　and　the　Aes　Sedai　to　ring　the　courtyard。　Bera　like　a　proud　farmwife　and　Alanna　like　some　darkly　beautiful　queen；　in　their　green…fringed　shawls；　and　plump　Rafela；　even　darker　wrapped　in　her　blue；　watching　him　anxiously；　and　cool…eyed　Faeldrin；　yet　another　Green；　her　thin　braids　worked　with　colored　beads；　and　slim　Merana　in　her　gray；　whose　frown　made　Rafela　seem　a　picture　of　Aes　Sedai　serenity。　Five。
　　　〃Where　are　Kiruna　and　Verin？〃　he　demanded。　〃I　called　for　all　of　you。〃
　　　〃So　you　did；　my　Lord　Dragon；〃　Bera　answered　smoothly。　She　made　another　curtsy；　too；　only　the　slightest　dip；　but　it　took　him　aback。　〃We　could　not　find　Verin；　she　is　somewhere　in　the　Aiel　tents。　Questioning　the。。。〃　Her　smooth　tone　faltered　for　one　instant。　〃。。。　the　prisoners；　I　believe；　in　an　attempt　to　learn　what　was　planned　once　they　reached　Tar　Valon。〃　Once　he　reached　Tar　Valon；　she　knew　enough　not　to　blurt　that　where　anyone　could　hear。　〃And　Kiruna　is。。。　consulting　with　Sorilea　on　a　matter　of　protocol。　But　I'm　quite　certain　she　will　be　more　than　happy　to　join　us　if　you　send　a　personal　summons　to　Sorilea。　I　could　go　myself；　if　you　…　〃
　　　He　waved　that　away。　Five　should　be　enough。　Perhaps　Verin　could　learn　something。　Did　he　want　to　know？　And　Kiruna。　A　matter　of　protocol？　〃I'm　glad　you　are　getting　on　with　the　Wise　Ones。〃　Bera　started　to　speak；　then　closed　her　mouth　firmly。　Whatever　Alanna　was　saying　to　Min；　scarlet　spots　had　flared　in　Min's　cheeks　and　she　had　raised　her　chin；　though　oddly；　she　seemed　to　be　replying　calmly　enough。　He　wondered　whether　she　would　tell　him。　One　thing　he　was　sure　of　about　women　was　that　every　last　one　had　secret　places　in　her　heart；　sometimes　shared　with　another　woman　but　never　with　a　man。　The　only　thing　he　was　sure　of　about　women。
　　　〃I　didn't　e　out　here　to　stand　all　day；〃　he　said　irritably。　The　Aes　Sedai　had　arranged　themselves　with　Bera　in　the　lead；　the　others　half　a　step　back。　If　it　had　not　been　her；　it　would　have　been　Kiruna。　Their　own　arrangements；　not　his。　He　did　not　really　care　so　long　as　they　held　to　their　oaths；　and　he　might　have　left　it　alone　if　not　for　Min　and　Alanna。　〃Merana　will　speak　for　you　from　now　on；　you　will　take　your　orders　from　her。〃
　　　By　the　suddenly　widened　eyes；　you　would　have　thought　he　had　slapped　every　one　of　them。　Including　Merana。　Even　Alanna's　head　whipped　around。　Why　should　they　be　startled？　True；　Bera　or　Kiruna　had　done　almost　all　the　talking　since　Dumai's　Wells；　but　Merana　had　been　the　ambassador　sent　to　him　at　Caemlyn。
　　　〃If　you　are　ready；　Min？〃　he　said；　and　without　waiting　for　a　reply　strode　out　into　the　courtyard。　The　big；　fiery…eyed　black　gelding　he　had　ridden　back　from　Dumai's　Wells　had　been　brought　out　for　him；　with　a　high…cantled　saddle　all　worked　in　gold　and　a　crimson　saddlecloth　embroidered　with　the　disc　of　black…and…white　at　each　corner。　The　trappings　suited　the　animal；　and　his　name。　Tai'daishar；　in　the　Old　Tongue；　Lord　of　Glory。　Horse　and　trappings　both　suited　the　Dragon　Reborn。
　　　As　he　mounted；　Min　led　up　the　mouse…colored　mare　she　had　ridden　back；　snugging　on　her　riding　gloves　before　swinging　into　the　saddle。　〃Seiera's　a　fine　animal；〃　she　said；　patting　the　mare's　arched　neck。　〃I　wish　she　was　mine。　I　like　her　name；　too。　We　call　the　flower　a　blue…eye　around　Baerlon；　and　they　grow　everywhere　in　the　spring。〃
　　　〃She's　yours；〃　Rand　said。　Whichever　Aes　Sedai　the　mare　belonged　to　would　not　refuse　to　sell　to　him。　He　would　give　Kiruna　a　thousand　crowns　for　Tai'daishar；　she　could　not　plain　then；　the　finest　stallion　of　Tairen　bloodstock　never　cost　a　tenth　of　that。　〃Did　you　have　an　interesting　conversation　with　Alanna？〃
　　　〃Nothing　that　wou