rj.acrownofswords-第169章
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another tear in the seat that her coat covered； thank the Light； though one sleeve hung by a few threads。 More stains and dust than she wanted to think about。
Not waiting for anyone else； she drew a knife from her sleeve … popping most of those few threads … and gave it a flourish the way Thom Merrilin had taught her； hilt snaking through her fingers so the blade flashed in the sun。 〃We require a ride to the Sun Palace；〃 she announced； and Rand himself could not have done better。 There were times when being peremptory saved argument。
〃Child；〃 Cadsuane said chidingly； 〃I'm sure Kiruna and her friends would do everything they could； but there isn't a Yellow among them。 Samitsu and Corele really are two of the best ever。 Lady Arilyn has very kindly lent us her palace in the city； so we will take him … 〃
〃No。〃 Min had no idea where she found the courage to say that word to this woman。 Except。。。 It was Rand； they were talking about。 〃If he wakes。。。 〃 She stopped to swallow； he would wake。 〃If he wakes in a strange place surrounded by strange Aes Sedai again； I can't imagine what he might do。 You don't want to imagine it。〃 For a long moment she met that cool gaze； and then the Aes Sedai nodded。
〃The Sun Palace；〃 Cadsuane told the farmer。 〃And as fast as you make these fleabags move。〃
Of course； it was not quite so simple； even for Aes Sedai。 Ander Tol had a wagonload of scraggly turnips he intended to sell in the city； and no intention of going anywhere near the Sun Palace； where； he told them； the Dragon Reborn ate people； who were cooked on spits by Aiel women ten feet tall。 Not for any number of Aes Sedai would he venture within a mile of the palace。 On the other hand； Cadsuane tossed him a purse that made his eyes pop when he looked inside； then told him she had just bought his turnips and hired him and his wagon。 If he did not like the notion； he could give the purse back。 That with her fists on her hips and a look of her face that said he might just eat his wagon on the spot if he tried giving the purse back。 Ander Tol was a reasonable man； it turned out。 Samitsu and Niande unloaded the wagon； turnips simply flying into the air to land in a tidy pile by the roadside。 By their icy expressions； this was in no way a use to which they had ever expected to put the One Power。 By Darlin's expression； standing there with Rand still on his shoulders； he was relieved they had not called on him to do it。 Ander Tol sat the wagon seat with his jaw trying to reach his knees； fingering the purse as though wondering whether it was enough after all。
Once they were settled in the wagon bed； with the straw that had been beneath the turnips all gathered to make a bed for Rand； Cadsuane faced Min across him。 Master Tol was flapping his reins and finding a surprising turn of speed in those mules。 The wagon lurched and jounced horribly； the wheels not only shaking but apparently out of round。 Wishing she had kept just a little of the straw for herself； Min was amused to see Samitsu and Niande growing tighter in the face as they were bounced up and down。 Caraline smiled at them quite openly； the High Seat of House Damodred not bothering to hide her pleasure that the Aes Sedai were for once riding rough。 Though in truth； slight as she was； she bounced higher and came down with harder thumps than they。 Darlin； holding on to the side of the wagon； appeared unaffected however hard he was shaken； he kept frowning and looking from Caraline to Rand。
Cadsuane was another who apparently did not care whether her teeth rattled。 〃I expect to be there before nightfall； Master Tol；〃 she called； producing more flapping if no more speed。 〃Now tell me；〃 she said； turning to Min。 〃Exactly what happened the last time this boy woke surrounded by strange Aes Sedai？〃 Her eyes caught Min's and held them。
He wanted it kept secret； if it could be； for as long as it could be。 But he was dying； and the only chance he had that Min saw rested in these three women。 Maybe knowing could not help。 Maybe knowing could at least make them understand something of him。 〃They put him in a box；〃 she began。
She was not sure how she went on … except that she had to … or how she kept from bursting into tears … except that she was not going to break down again when Rand needed her … but somehow she continued through the confinement and the beatings without a tremor in her voice； right to Kiruna and the rest kneeling to swear fealty。 Darlin and Caraline looked stunned。 Samitsu and Niande looked horrified。 Though not for the reason she would have supposed； it turned out。
〃He。。。 stilled three sisters？〃 Samitsu said shrilly。 Suddenly she slapped a hand over her mouth and twisted around to lean over the side of the swaying wagon and retch loudly。 Niande joined her almost before she began； the pair of them hanging there； emptying their bellies。
And Cadsuane。。。 Cadsuane touched Rand's pale face； brushed strands of hair from his forehead。 〃Do not be afraid； boy；〃 she said softly。 〃They made my task harder； and yours； but I will not hurt you more than I must。〃 Min turned to ice inside。
Guards at the city gates shouted at the racing wagon； but Cadsuane told Master Tol not to stop； and he flailed at his mules all the harder。 People in the streets leaped out of the way to avoid being run down； and the wagon's progress left behind shouts and curses； overturned sedan chairs； and coaches run into street vendors' stalls。 Through the streets and up the broad ramp to the Sun Palace； where guards in Lord Dobraine's colors spilled out as though preparing to fight off hordes。 While Master Tol was squealing at the top of lungs that Aes Sedai made him do it； the soldiers saw Min。 Then they saw Rand。 Min had thought she was in a whirlwind before； but she had been wrong。
Two dozen men tried to reach into the wagon at once to lift Rand out； and those who managed to lay hands on him； handled him as gently as a babe； four to either side with their arms beneath。 Cadsuane must have repeated a thousand times that he was not dead as they hurried into the palace and along corridors that seemed longer than Min remembered； with more Cairhienin soldiers crowding along behind。 Nobles began appearing from every doorway and crossing hall； it seemed； faces bloodless； staring as Rand passed。 She lost track of Caraline and Darlin； realized she could not remember seeing them since the wagon； and； wishing them well； forgot them。 Rand was the only thing she cared about。 The only thing in the world。
Nandera was with the Far Dareis Mai guarding the doors to Rand's rooms； with their gilded Rising Suns。 When the graying Maiden saw Rand； stone…faced Aiel posure shattered。 〃What has happened to him？〃 she wailed； eyes going wide。 〃What has happened？〃 Some of the other Maidens began to moan； a low； hair…raising sound like a dirge。
〃Be quiet！〃 Cadsuane roared； slapping her hands together in a thundercrack。 〃You； girl。 He needs his bed。 Hop！〃 Nandera hopped。 Rand was stripped and in his bed in a twinkling； with Samitsu and Niande both hovering over him； the Cairhienin chased out and Nandera at the door repeating Cadsuane's instructions that he was not to be disturbed by anyone； all so fast Min felt dizzy。 She hoped one day to see the confrontation between Cadsuane and the Wise One Sorilea； it had to e； and it would be memorable。
Yet if Cadsuane thought her instructions were really going to keep everyone out； she was mistaken。 Before she had more than moved a chair； floating it on the Power； to sit beside Rand's bed； Kiruna and Bera strode in like the two faces of pride； ruler of a court and ruler of her farmhouse。
〃What is this I hear about …？〃 Kiruna began furiously。 She saw Cadsuane。 Bera saw Cadsuane。 To Min's amazement； they stopped there with their mouths hanging open。
〃He is in good hands；〃 Cadsuane said。 〃Unless one of you has suddenly found more Talent for Healing than I recall？〃
〃Yes； Cadsuane；〃 they said meekly。 〃No； Cadsuane。〃 Min closed her own mouth。
Samitsu took an ivory…inlaid chair against the wall； spreading her dark yellow skirts； and sat with her hands folded； watching Rand's chest rise and fall be
