rj.acrownofswords-第197章
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them by the Ways； but apparently he did not realize just how Rand had marked the Waygate here。
Well short of the square where the Waygate lay； Rand stopped and looked around。 Nearby； a tower stood seemingly whole。 Not nearly as tall as some； its top still rose more than fifty paces above the ground。 The dark doorway at its base was empty； the wood long rotted away and the hinges gone to dust。 Through blackness relieved only by faint starlight through the windows； he climbed the winding stairs slowly； small clouds puffing up beneath his boots； every second step a stab of pain up his leg。 Distant pain。 On the tower top； he leaned against the smooth parapet to catch his breath。 The idle thought came that he would never hear the end if Min learned of this。 Min； or Amys； or Cadsuane for that matter。
Across missing rooftops； he could see the great square that had been one of the most important in Aridhol。 Once an Ogier grove had covered this part of the land； but within thirty years after the Ogier who had built the oldest parts of the city departed； the residents had cut down the trees to make room for expanding Aridhol。 Palaces and the remains of palaces surrounded the huge square； the glow of Mashadar shining deep inside a few windows； and a huge mound of rubble covered one end； but in the center stood the Waygate； apparently a tall broad piece of stone。 He was not close enough to see the delicately carved leaves and vines that covered it； but he could make out the toppled pieces of high fence that had once surrounded it。 Power…wrought metal lying in a heap； they gleamed untarnished in the night。 He could also see the trap he had woven around the Waygate； inverted so no eye but his could see it。 No way to tell by looking whether the Trollocs and Halfmen really had passed through it； yet if they had； they would die before long。 A nasty thing。 Whatever traps Sammael had made down there were invisible to him； but that was expected。 Likely they were not very pleasant either。
At first； he could not see Sammael； but then someone moved among the fluted； flaring columns of a palace。 Rand waited。 He wanted to be sure； he had only one chance。 The figure stepped forward； out of the columns and a pace into the square； head swinging this way and that。 Sammael； with snowy lace shining at his throat； waiting to see Rand walk into the square； into the traps。 Behind him； the glow in the windows of the palace brightened。 Sammael peered into the darkness lying across the square； and Mashadar oozed out of the windows； thick billows of silver…gray fog sliding together； merging as they loomed above his head。 Sammael walked a little to one side； and the wave began to descend； slowly picking up speed as it fell。
Rand shook his head。 Sammael was his。 The flows needed for balefire seemed to gather themselves； despite the far echo of Cadsuane's voice。 He raised his hand。
A scream tore the darkness； a woman shrieking in agony beyond knowing。 Rand saw Sammael turn to stare toward the great mound of rubble even as his own eyes flashed that way。 Atop the mound a shape stood outlined against the night sky in coat and breeches； a single thin tendril of Mashadar touching her leg。 Arms outstretched； she thrashed about； unable to move from the spot； and her wordless wail seemed to call Rand's name。
〃Liah；〃 he whispered。 Unconsciously he reached out； as though he could stretch his arm across the intervening distance and pull her away。 Nothing could save what Mashadar touched； though； no more than anything could have saved him had Fain's dagger plunged into his heart。 〃Liah；〃 he whispered。 And balefire leaped from his hand。
For less than a heartbeat； the shape of her still seemed to be there； all in stark blacks and snowy whites； and then she was gone； dead before her agony began。
Screaming； Rand swept the balefire down toward the square； the rubble collapsing on itself； swept down death out of time … and let saidin go before the bar of white touched the lake of Mashadar that now rolled across the square； billowing past the Waygate toward rivers of glowing gray that flowed out from another palace on the other side。 Sammael had to be dead。 He had to be。 There had not been time for him to run； no time to weave a gateway； and if he had； Rand would have felt saidin being worked。 Sammael was dead； killed by an evil almost as great as himself。 Emotion raced across the outside of the Void； Rand wanted to laugh； or perhaps cry。 He had e here to kill one of the Forsaken； but instead he had killed a woman he had abandoned here to her fate。
For a long time he stood on the tower top while the waning moon crossed the sky； almost at its half； stood watching Mashadar fill the square pletely； till only the very top of the Waygate rose above the surface of the fog。 Slowly it began to ebb away； hunting elsewhere。 If Sammael had been alive； he could have killed the Dragon Reborn easily then。 Rand was not sure that he would have cared。 Finally he opened a gateway for Skimming and made a platform； a railless disc； half white and half black。 Skimming was slower than Traveling； it took him at least half an hour to reach Illian； and the whole way； he burned Liah's name into his mind again and again； flailing himself with it。 He wished he could cry。 He thought he had forgotten how。
They were waiting for him in the King's Palace； in the throne room。 Bashere； and Dashiva and the Asha'man。 It was exactly like the room he had seen at the other end of the square； down to the stand…lamps and the scenes carved into the marble walls and the long white dais。 Exactly the same except for being slightly larger in every dimension； and instead of nine chairs on the dais； there was only a great gilded throne with leopards for its arms and nine fist…sized golden bees that would stand above the head of whoever sat in it。 Wearily Rand sat himself down on the steps at the front of the dais。
〃I take it Sammael is dead；〃 Bashere said； looking him up and down in his ragged coat and dust。
〃He's dead；〃 Rand said。 Dashiva sighed loudly with relief。
〃The city is ours；〃 Bashere went on。 〃Or I should say； yours。〃 He laughed suddenly。 〃The fighting stopped quick enough once the right people found out it was you。 Not much to it； in the end。〃 Dried blood made a black stain down one torn sleeve of his coat。 〃The Council has been waiting eagerly for you to e back。 Anxiously； you might say；〃 he added with a wry grin。
Eight sweating men had been standing at the far end of the throne room since Rand came in。 They wore dark silk coats with gold or silver embroidery on the lapels and sleeves； and falls of lace at their throats and wrists。 Some wore a beard that left the upper lip shaved clean； but every one had a broad sash of green silk slanted across his chest； with nine golden bees marching up it。
At Bashere's gesture they came forward； bowing to Rand at about every third step； for all the world as though he wore the finest garments sewn。 A tall man seemed to be the leader； a round…faced fellow with one of those beards； with a natural dignity that appeared strained by worry。 〃My Lord Dragon；〃 he said； bowing again and pressing both hands to his heart。 〃Forgive me； but Lord Brend do be nowhere to be found； and … 〃
〃He won't be；〃 Rand said flatly。
A muscle in the man's face jumped at Rand's tone； and he swallowed。 〃As you do say； my Lord Dragon；〃 he murmured。 〃I do be Lord Gregorin den Lushenos； my Lord Dragon。 In Lord Brend's absence； I do speak for the Council of Nine。 We do offer you。。。 〃 A hand at his side waved vigorously at a shorter； beardless man； who stepped forward bearing a cushion draped with a length of green silk。 〃。。。 we do offer you Illian。〃 The shorter man whipped the cloth away； revealing a heavy gold circlet； two inches wide； of laurel leaves。 〃The city do be yours； of course；〃 Gregorin went on anxiously。 〃We did put an end to all resistance。 We do offer you the crown； and the throne； and all of Illian。〃
Rand stared at the crown on its cushion； not moving a muscle。 People had thought he meant to make himself a king in Tear； feared he would in Cairhien and Andor； but no one had offered him a cr
