rj.acrownofswords-第189章
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He landed heavily on a slope covered with dead grass and nearly pitched head…over…heels down the hill before he caught himself。 For a moment he stared back up at the hole。 On this side； it hung more than a foot above the ground。
〃Wife！〃 he shouted。 〃There is a drop！〃
Black Eyes leaped through； veiled and spears ready； and Maidens； also。 As well try to drink sand as try to keep Maidens from being among the first。 The rest of the Moshaine followed at a run； algai'd'siswai and wives and children； jumping down on the fly； craftsfolk and traders and gai'shain； most pulling heavily loaded packhorses and mules； near to six thousand altogether。 His sept； his people。 They still would be once he went to Rhuidean； Sevanna could not keep him from being clan chief for much longer。
Scouts began spreading out immediately； while the sept still rushed out of the hole。 Lowering his veil； Maeric shouted orders that sent a screen of algai'd'siswai toward the crests of the surrounding hills while everyone else remained concealed below。 There was no telling who or what lay beyond those hills。 Rich lands； the wetlander claimed； but this part did not look rich to him。
The rush of his sept became a flood of algai'd'siswai he did not really trust； men who had fled their own clans because they did not believe Rand al'Thor was truly the Car'a'carn。 Maeric was not sure what he himself believed； but a man did not abandon sept and clan。 These men called themselves Mera'din； the Brotherless； a fitting name； and he had two hundr…
The hole suddenly snapped into a vertical slash of silver that sliced through ten of the Brotherless。 Pieces of them fell onto the slope； arms； legs。 The front half of a man slid almost to Maeric's feet。
Staring at the place where the hole had been； he stabbed at the red spot with his thumb。 Useless； he knew； but。。。 Darin； his eldest son； was one of the Stone Dogs waiting as a rear guard。 They would have been the last through。 Suraile； his eldest daughter； had remained with the Stone Dog for whom she was thinking of giving up the spear。
His eyes met Dyrele's； as green and beautiful as the day she had laid the wreath at his feet。 And threatened to cut his throat if he did not pick it up。 〃We can wait。〃 he said softly。 The wetlander had said three days； but maybe he was wrong。 His thumb stabbed the red spot again。 Dyrele nodded calmly； he hoped there would be no need to cry in one another's arms once they could be alone。
A Maiden came skittering down the slope from above； hurriedly lowering her veil； and actually breathing hard。 〃Maeric；〃 Naeise said； not even waiting for him to see her； 〃there are spears to the east； only a few miles and running straight at us。 I think they are Reyn。 At least seven or eight thousand of them。〃
He could see other algai'd'siswai running toward him。 A young Brother to the Eagle； Cairdin； slid to a stop； speaking as soon as Maeric saw him。 〃I see you； Maeric。 There are spears no more than five miles to the north； and wetlanders on horses。 Perhaps ten thousand of each。 I do not think any of us broke the crest； but some of the spears have turned toward us。〃
Maeric knew before the grizzled Water Seeker named Laerad opened his mouth。 〃Spears ing over a hill three or four miles to the south。 Eight thousand or more。 Some of them saw one of the boys。〃 Laerad never wasted words； and he would never say which boy； who in truth could be anyone without gray hair； to Laerad。
There was no time for wasting words； Maeric knew。 〃Hamal！〃 he shouted。 No time for proper courtesy to a blacksmith； either。
The big man knew something was wrong； he scrambled up the slope； likely moving faster than he had since first picking up a hammer。
Maeric handed him the stone cube。 〃You must press the red spot and keep pressing it； no matter what happens； no matter how long it takes for that hole to open。 That is the only way out for any of you。〃 Hamal nodded； but Maeric did not even wait for him to say that he would。 Hamal would understand。 Maeric touched Dyrele's cheek； careless of how many eyes were on them。 〃Shade of my heart； you must prepare to put on white。〃 Her hand strayed toward the hilt of her belt knife … she had been a Maiden when she made his wreath … but he shook his head…firmly。 〃You must live； wife； roofmistress； to hold together what remains。〃 Nodding； she pressed fingers to his cheek。 He was astonished； she had always been very reserved in public。
Raising his veil； Maeric shoved one spear high above his head。 〃Moshaine！〃 he roared。 〃We dance！〃
Up the slope they followed him； men and Maidens； nearly a thousand strong counting the Brotherless。 Perhaps they could be counted among the sept。 Up the slope and west； that way lay the nearest and the fewest。 Perhaps they might buy enough time； though he did not really believe that。 He wondered whether Sevanna had known of this。 Ah； the world had grown very strange since Rand al'Thor came。 Some things could not change； though。 Laughing； he began to sing。
〃Wash the spears； while the sun climbs high。
Wash the spears； while the sun falls low。
Wash the spears； who fears to die？
Wash the spears； no one I know！〃
Singing； the Moshaine Shaido ran to dance their deaths。
Frowning； Graendal watched the gateway close behind the last of the Jumai Shaido。 The Jumai and a great many Wise Ones。 Unlike with the others； Sammael had not simply knotted this web so it would fall apart eventually。 At least； she assumed he held it to the last； the closing； right on the heels of the last brown…and…gray…clad men； was too fortuitous otherwise。 Laughing； Sammael tossed away the bag； still holding a few of those useless bits of stone。 Her own empty sack was long since discarded。 The sun sat low behind the mountains to the west； half of a glowing red ball。
〃One of these days；〃 she said dryly； 〃you will be too smart for your own good。 A fool box； Sammael？ Suppose one of them had understood？〃
〃None did；〃 he said simply； but he kept rubbing his hands together and staring at where the gateway had been。 Or maybe at something beyond。 He still held the Mask of Mirrors； giving him the illusion of added height。 She had dropped hers as soon as the gateway closed。
〃Well； you certainly managed to put a panic into them。〃 Around them lay the evidence： a few low tents still standing； blankets； a cookpot； a rag doll； all sorts of rubbish lying where it had fallen。 〃Where did you send them？ Somewhere ahead of al'Thor's army； I suppose？〃
〃Some；〃 he said absently。 〃Enough。〃 His staring introspection vanished abruptly； and his disguise as well。 The scar across his face seemed especially livid。 〃Enough to cause trouble； particularly with their Wise Ones channeling； but not so many that anyone will suspect me。 The rest are scattered from Illian to Ghealdan。 As to how or why？ Maybe al'Thor did it； for his own reasons； but I certainly wouldn't have wasted most of them if it was my work； now would I？〃 He laughed again； caught up in his own brilliance。
She adjusted the bodice of her dress to cover a start。 peting that way was remarkably silly … she had told herself that ten thousand times； and never listened once … remarkably silly； and now the dress felt as if it might fall off。 Which had nothing to do with her start。 He did not know Sevanna had taken every Shaido woman who could channel with her。 Was it finally time to abandon him？ If she threw herself on Demandred's mercy。。。
As if reading her thoughts； he said； 〃You're tied to me as tightly as my belt； Graendal。〃 A gateway opened； revealing his private rooms in Illian。 〃The truth doesn't matter anymore； if it ever has。 You rise with me； or fall with me。 The Great Lord rewards success； and he's never cared how it was achieved。〃
〃As you say；〃 she told him。 Demandred had no mercy。 And Semirhage。。。 〃I rise or fall with you。〃 Still； something would have to be worked out。 The Great Lord rewarded success； but she would not be pulled down if Sammael failed。 She opened a gateway to her palace in Arad Doman； to the long columned room where she could see her pets frolicking in the pool。 〃But what if al'Thor es
