rj.acrownofswords-第41章
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Kill them before it is too late； before they go mad； Lews Therin whispered。 Kill them； hunt down Sammael； and Demandred； and all the Forsaken。 I have to kill them all； before it is too late！ A moment of struggle as he attempted to wrest the Power away from Rand and failed。 He seemed to try that more often of late； or to seize saidin on his own。 The second was a bigger danger than the first。 Rand doubted that Lews Therin could take the True Source away once Rand held it； he was not certain he could take it from Lews Therin； either； if the other reached it first。
What about me？ Rand thought again。 It was nearly a snarl； and no less vicious for falling short。 Wrapped in the Power as he was； anger spiderwebbed across the outside of the Void； a fiery lace。 I can channel； too。 Madness waits for me； but it already has you！ You killed yourself； Kinslayer； after you murdered your wife and your children and the Light alone knows how many others。 I won't kill where I don't have to！ Do you hear me； Kinslayer？ Silence answered。
He drew a deep； uneven breath。 That web of fire flickered； lightning in the distance。 He had never spoken to the man … it was the man； not just a voice； a man； entire with memories … never spoken to him like that before。 Perhaps it might drive Lews Therin away for good。 Half the man's mad rantings were tears over his dead wife。 Did he want to drive Lews Therin away？ His only friend in that chest。
He had promised Sulin to count to one hundred before following； but he did it by fives； then stepped more than a hundred and fifty leagues to Caemlyn。
Night had closed down on the Royal Palace of Andor； moonshadows cloaking delicate spires and golden domes； but a gentle breeze did nothing to break the heat。 The moon hung above； still almost full； giving some light。 Veiled Maidens scurried around the wagons lined up behind the largest of the palace stables。 The odor of the stable muck the wagons hauled away every day had long since soaked into the wood。 The Asha'man had hands to their faces； Eben actually pinching his nose shut。
〃The Car'a'carn counts quickly；〃 Sulin muttered； but she lowered her veil。 There would be no surprises here。 No one would stay near those wagons who did not have to。
Rand let the gateway close as soon as the remaining Maidens came through； right behind him； and as it winked out of existence； Lews Therin whispered； She is gone。 Almost gone。 There was relief in his voice； the bond of Warder and Aes Sedai had not existed in the Age of Legends。
Alanna was not really gone； no more than she had been any time since bonding Rand against his will； but her presence had lessened； and it was the lessening that made Rand truly aware。 You could bee used to anything； begin taking it for granted。 Near to her； he walked around with her emotions nestled in the back of his head； her physical condition as well； if he thought about it； and he knew exactly where she was as well as he knew his own his hand's place； but just as with his hand； unless he thought about it； it just was。 Only distance had any effect； but he could still feel that she was somewhere east of him。 He wanted to be aware of her。 Should Lews Therin fall silent and all the memories of the chest somehow be wiped from his head； he would still have the bond to remind him； 〃Never trust Aes Sedai。〃
Abruptly he realized that Jonan and Eben still held saidin too。 〃Release；〃 he said sharply … that was the mand Taim used … and he felt the Power vanish from them。 Good weapons。 So far。 Kill them before it's too late； Lews Therin murmured。 Rand released the Source deliberately； and reluctantly。 He always hated letting go of the life； the enhanced senses。 Of the struggle。 Inside； though； he was tense； a jumper ready to leap； ready to seize it once more。 He always was； now。
I have to kill them； Lews Therin whispered。
Shoving the voice back； Rand sent one of the Maidens； Nerilea； a square…faced woman； into the palace and began pacing alongside the wagons； thoughts spinning again； faster than before。 He should not have e here。 He should have sent Fedwin； with a letter。 Spinning。 Elayne。 Aviendha。 Perrin。 Faile。 Annoura。 Berelain。 Mat。 Light； he should not have e。 Elayne and Aviendha。 Annoura and Berelain。 Faile and Perrin and Mat。 Flashes of color； quick motion just out of sight。 A madman muttering angrily in the distance。
Slowly he became aware of the Maidens talking among themselves。 About the smell。 Implying that it came from the Asha'man。 They wanted to be heard； or they would have been using handtalk； there was moonlight enough for that。 Moonlight enough to see the color in Eben's face； too； and how Fedwin's jaw was set。 Maybe they were not boys any longer； not since Dumai's Wells certainly； but they were still only fifteen or sixteen。 Jonan's eyebrows had drawn down so far they seemed to be sitting on his cheeks。 At least nobody had seized saidin again。 Yet。
He started to step over to the three men； then raised his voice instead。 Let them all hear。 〃If I can put up with foolishness from Maidens； so can you。〃
If anything； the color in Eben's face deepened。 Jonan grunted。 All three saluted Rand with fist to chest； then they turned to one another。 Jonan said something in a low voice； glancing at the Maidens； and Fedwin and Eben laughed。 The first time they saw Maidens they had stumbled between wanting to goggle at these exotic creatures they had only read about and wanting to run before the murderous Aiel of the stories killed them。 Nothing much frightened them anymore。 They needed to relearn fear。
The Maidens stared at Rand； and began talking with their hands； sometimes laughing softly。 Wary of the Asha'man they might be； yet Maidens being Maidens … Aiel being Aiel … risk only made taunts more fun。 Somara murmured aloud about Aviendha settling him down； which earned firm nods of approval。 Nobody's life was ever this tangled in the stories。
As soon as Nerilea returned saying that she had found Davram Bashere and Bael； the clan chief leading the Aiel here in Caemlyn； Rand took off his sword belt； and so did Fedwin。 Jalani produced a large leather bag for the swords and the Dragon Scepter； holding it as if the swords were poisonous snakes； or perhaps long dead and rotten。 Though in truth she would not have held it so gingerly in either case。 Putting on a hooded cloak that Corana handed him； Rand held his wrists together behind his back； and Sulin bound them with a cord。 Tightly； muttering to herself。
〃This is nonsense。 Even wetlanders would call it nonsense。〃
He tried not to wince。 She was strong； and using every ounce of it。 〃You have run away from us too often； Rand al'Thor。 You have no care for yourself。〃 She considered him a brother of an age with herself； but irresponsible at times。 〃Far Dareis Mai carries your honor； and you have no care。〃
Fedwin glowered while his own wrists were tied； though the Maiden binding him hardly put out much effort。 Watching； Jonan and Eben frowned deeply。 They disliked this plan as much as Sulin did。 And understood it as little。 The Dragon Reborn did not have to explain himself； and the Car'a'carn seldom did。 No one said anything； though。 A weapon did not plain。
When Sulin stepped around in front of Rand； she took one look at his face； and her breath caught。 〃They did this to you；〃 she said softly； and reached for her heavy…bladed belt knife。 A foot or more of steel； it was almost a short…sword； though none but a fool would say that to an Aiel。
〃Pull up the hood；〃 Rand told her roughly。 〃The whole point of this is that no one recognize me before I reach Bael and Bashere。〃 She hesitated； peering into his eyes。 〃I said； pull it up；〃 he growled。 Sulin could kill most men with her bare hands； but her fingers were gentle settling the hood around his face。
With a laugh Jalani snatched the hood down over his eyes。 〃Now you can be sure no one will know you； Rand al'Thor。 You must trust us to guide your feet。〃 Several Maidens laughed。
Stiffening； he barely stopped short of seizing saidin。 Barely。 Lews Therin snarled and gibbered。 Rand forced himself to breathe normally。 It was not total darknes
