按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Three short days； slipping away like water through her fingers。 Joiya and Amico would be sent north and the reason for staying in Tear would vanish； it would be time for her and Egwene and Nynaeve to leave； too。 She would go； when that time came； she had never considered not。 Knowing that made her proud of behaving like a woman； not a girl； knowing it made her want to cry。
And Rand？ He met with High Lords in his chambers and issued orders。 He startled them by appearing at secret gatherings of three or four that Thom had ferreted out； just to reiterate some point from his last mands。 They smiled and bowed and sweated and wondered how much he knew。 A use had to be found for their energy before one of them decided that if Rand could not be manipulated； he must be killed。 Whatever it took to divert them； he would not start a war。 If he had to confront Sammael； so be it； but he would not start a war。
Forming his plan of action occupied most of his time not given over to hounding the High Lords。 Bits and pieces came from the books he had the librarians bring to his rooms by armloads； and from his talks with Elayne。 Her advice was certainly useful with the High Lords； he could see them hastily reassessing him when he displayed knowledge of things they themselves only half…knew。 She stopped him when he wanted to give her the credit。
〃A wise ruler takes advice；〃 she told him； smiling； 〃but should never be seen to take it。 Let them think you know more than you do。 It will not harm them； and it will help you。〃 She seemed pleased he had suggested it； though。
He was not entirely sure that he was not still putting off some decision； at least； because of her。 Three days of planning； of trying to puzzle out what was still missing。 Something was。 He could not react to the Forsaken； he had to make them react to him。 Three days； and on the fourth she would go … back to Tar Valon； he hoped … but once he moved； he suspected even their brief moments together would end。 Three days of stolen kisses； when he could forget he was anything but a man with his arms around a woman。 He knew it for a foolish reason； if true。 He was relieved she did not seem to want more than his pany； but in those moments alone he could forget decisions； forget the fate awaiting the Dragon Reborn。 More than once he considered asking her to stay； but it would not be fair to raise her expectations when he had no idea what he wanted from her beyond her presence。 If she had any expectations； of course。 Much better just to think of them as a man and a young woman walking out together of a feastday evening。 That became easier； sometimes he forgot she was the Daughter…Heir； and he a shepherd。 But he wished she were not going。 Three days。 He had to decide。 He had to move。 In a direction no one expected。
The sun slid slowly toward the horizon on the evening of the third day。 The half…drawn draperies of Rand's bedchamber lessened the reddish yellow glare。 Callandor glittered on its ornate stand like the purest crystal。
Rand stared at Meilan and Sunamon； then tossed the thick bundle of large vellum sheets at them。 A treaty； all neatly scribed； lacking only signatures and seals。 It hit Meilan in the chest； and he caught it by reflex； he bowed as if honored； but his tight smile revealed clenched teeth。
Sunamon shifted from foot to foot； dry…washing his hands。 〃All is as you said； my Lord Dragon；〃 he said anxiously。 〃Grain for ships …〃
〃And two thousand Tairen levies；〃 Rand cut him off。 〃'To see to proper distribution of the grain and protect Tairen interests。'〃 His voice was like ice； but his stomach seemed to be boiling； he nearly shook with the desire to pound at these fools with his fists。 〃Two thousand men。 Under the mand of Torean！〃
〃The High Lord Torean has an interest in affairs with Mayene； my Lord Dragon；〃 Meilan said smoothly。
〃He has an interest in forcing his attentions on a woman who won't look at him！〃 Rand shouted。 〃Grain for ships； I said！ No soldiers。 And certainly no bloody Torean！ Have you even spoken to Berelain？〃
They blinked at him as if they did not understand the words。 It was too much。 He snatched at saidin； the vellum in Meilan's arms erupted into flame。 With a yell； Meilan hurled the fiery bundle into the bare fireplace and hurriedly brushed at sparks and scorch marks on his red silk coat。 Sunamon stared at the burning sheets； which were crackling and turning black； with his mouth hanging open。
〃You will go to Berelain；〃 he told them； surprised at how calm his voice was。 〃By tomorrow midday you will have offered her the treaty I want； or by sunset tomorrow I'll hang both of you。 If I have to hang High Lords every day； two by two； I will。 I will send every last one of you to the gallows if you won't obey me。 Now； get out of my sight。〃
The quiet tone seemed to affect them more than his shouting had。 Even Meilan looked uneasy as they backed away； bowing at every other step； murmuring protestations of undying loyalty and everlasting obedience。 They sickened him。
〃Get out！〃 he roared； and they abandoned dignity； almost fighting with one another to pull the doors open。 They ran。 One of the Aiel guards put his head in for a moment； to see that Rand was all right； before drawing the door shut。
Rand trembled openly。 They disgusted him almost as much as he disgusted himself。 Threatening to hang men because they did not do as he told them。 Worse； meaning it。 He could remember when he did not have a temper； or； at least； when he rarely had； and had managed to keep it on a short rein。
He crossed the room to where Callandor sparkled with the light streaming in between the draperies。 The blade looked like the finest glass； absolutely clear； it felt like steel to his fingers； sharp as a razor。 He had e close to reaching for it； to deal with Meilan and Sunamon。 Whether to use it as a sword or for its real purpose； he did not know。 Either possibility horrified him。 I am not mad yet。 Only angry。 Light； so angry！
Tomorrow。 The Darkfriends would be put on a ship； tomorrow。 Elayne would be leaving。 And Egwene and Nynaeve； of course。 Back to Tar Valon； he prayed； Black Ajah or no Black Ajah； the White Tower had to be as safe a place as there was now。 Tomorrow。 No more excuses to put off what he had to do。 Not after tomorrow。
He turned his hands over； looking at the heron branded into each palm。 He had examined them so often that he could have sketched every line perfectly from memory。 The Prophecies foretold them。
Twice and twice shall he be marked；
twice to live； and twice to die。
Once the heron to set his path。
Twice the heron； to name him true。
Once the Dragon； for remembrance lost。
Twice the Dragon； for the price he must pay。
But if the herons 〃named him true；〃 what need for Dragons？ For that matter； what was a Dragon？ The only Dragon he had ever heard of was Lews Therin Telamon。 Lews Therin Kinslayer had been the Dragon； the Dragon was the Kinslayer。 Except now there was himself。 But he could not be marked with himself。 Perhaps the figure on the banner was a Dragon； not even Aes Sedai seemed to know what that creature was。
〃You are changed from when I last saw you。 Stronger。 Harder。〃
He spun； gaping at the young woman standing by the door； fair of skin and dark of hair and eye。 Tall； dressed all in white and silver； she arched an eyebrow at the half…melted lumps of gold and silver over the fireplace。 He had left them there to remind him what could happen when he acted without thinking； when he lost control。 Much good it had done。
〃Selene；〃 he gasped； hurrying to her。 〃Where did you e from？ How did you get here？ I thought you must still be in Cairhien； or。。。〃 Looking down at her； he did not want to say he feared she might be dead； or a starving refugee。
A woven silver belt glittered around her narrow waist； silver bs worked with stars and crescent moons shone in hair that fell to her shoulders like waterfalls of night。 She was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen。 Elayne and Egwene were only pretty beside her。 For some reason； though； she did not affect him the way she had； perhaps it was the long months since he had last seen her； in a Cairhien not yet racked by civil war。
〃I go where I wish to be。〃 She frowned at his face。 〃You have been marked； but no matter。 You were mine； and you are mine。 Any other is no more than a caretaker whose time has passed。 I will lay claim to what is mine openly； now。〃
He stared at her。 Marked？ Did she mean his hands？ And what did she mean； he was hers？ 〃Selene；〃 he said gently； 〃we had pleasant days together … and hard days； I'll never forget your courage； or your help … but there was never more between us than panionship。 We traveled together； but that was the end of it。 You will stay here in the Stone； in the best apartments； and when peace returns to Cairhien； I will see that your estates there are returned to you； if I can。〃
〃You have been marked。〃 She smiled wryly。 〃Estates in Cairhien？ I may have had estates in those lands； once。 The land has changed so much that nothing is as it was。 Selene is only a name I sometimes use； Lews Therin。 The name I made my own is Lanfear。〃
Rand barked a shallow laugh。 〃A poor joke； Selene。 I'd as soon make jests about the Dark One as one of the Forsaken。 And my name is Rand。〃
〃We call ourselves the Chosen；〃 she said calmly。 〃Chosen to rule the world forever。 We will live forever。 You can； also。〃
He frowned at her worriedly。 She actually thought she was。。。 Her travails in reaching Tear must have unhinged her。 But she did not look mad。 She was calm； cool； certain。 Without thinking； he found himself reaching for saidin。 He reached for it … and struck a wall he could not see or feel； except that it kept him from the Source。 〃You can't be。〃 She smiled。 〃Light；〃 he breathed。 〃You are one of them。〃
Slowly； he backed away。 If he reached Callandor； at least he would have a weapon。 Perhaps it could not work as a sa'angreal； but it would do for a sword。 Could he use a sword against a woman； against Selene？ No； against Lanfear； against one of the Forsaken。
His back came up hard against something； and he looked around to see what it was。 There was nothing there。 A wall of nothing； with his back pressed against it。 Callandor glittered not three paces away … on the other side。 He thumped a fist against the barrier in frustration； it was as unyielding as rock。
〃I cannot trust you fully； Lews Therin。 Not yet。〃 She came closer； and he considered simply seizing her。 He was bigger and stronger by far … and blocked as he was； she could wrap him up with the Power like a kitten tangled in a ball of string。 〃Not with that； certainly；〃 she added； grimacing at Callandor。 〃There are only two more powerful that a man can use。 One at least； I know； still exists。 No； Lews Therin。 I will not trust you yet with that。〃
〃Stop calling me that；〃 he growled。 〃My name is Rand。 Rand al'Thor。〃
〃You are Lews Therin Telamon。 Oh； physically； nothing is the same except your height； but I would know who is behind those eyes even if I'd found you in your cradle。〃 She laughed suddenly。 〃How much easier everything would be if I had found you then。 If I had been free to。。。〃 Laughter faded into an angry stare。 〃Do you wish to see my true appearance？ You can't remember that； either； can you？〃
He tried to say no； but his tongue would not work。 Once he had seen two of the Forsaken together； Aginor and Balthamel； the first two loosed； after three thousand years trapped just beneath the seal on the Dark One's prison。 The one had been more withered than anything could be and still live； the other hid his face behind a mask； hid every bit of his flesh as though he could not bear to see it or have it seen。
The air rippled around Lanfear； and she changed。 She was … older than he； certainly； but older was not the right word。 More mature。 Riper。 Even more beautiful； if that was possible。 A lush blossom in full flower pared to a bud。 Even knowing what she was； she made his mouth go dry； his throat tighten。
Her dark eyes examined his face； full of confidence yet with a