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！
Rand cut him off。 〃You do not want to extend Tear's sway all the way to Kinslayer's Dagger； Meilan？ That is all right。 I know who I mean to sit on the Sun Throne。 You do not go to conquer； Meilan； but to restore order； and peace。 And to feed the hungry。 There is more grain in the granaries now than Tear could sell； and the farmers will harvest as much more this year； unless you disobey me。 Wagons will carry it north behind the armies； and those peasants。。。 those peasants will not have to eat bark any longer； my Lord Meilan。〃 The tall High Lord opened his mouth again； and Rand swung Callandor down； grounding its crystal point in front of him。 〃You have a question； Meilan？〃 Shaking his head； Meilan backed into the crowd as though trying to hide。
〃I knew he would not start a war；〃 Egwene said fiercely。 〃I knew it。〃
〃You think there will be less killing in this？〃 Moiraine muttered。 What was the boy up to？ At least he was not running off to save his village while the Forsaken had their way with the rest of the world。 〃The corpses will be piled as high； girl。 You will not know the difference between this and a war。〃
Attacking Illian and Sammael would have gained him time even if it grew into a stalemate。 Time to learn his power； and perhaps to bring down one of his strongest enemies； to cow the rest。 What did he gain by this？ Peace for the land of her birth； starving Cairhienin fed； she would have applauded another time。 It was laudably humane … and utterly senseless； now。 Useless bloodshed； rather than confronting an enemy who would destroy him given the slightest opening。 Why？ Lanfear。 What had Lanfear said to him？ What had she done？ The possibilities chilled Moiraine's heart。 Rand would take closer watching than ever now。 She would not allow him to turn to the Shadow。
〃Ah； yes；〃 Rand said as if just remembering something。 〃Soldiers don't know much about feeding hungry people； do they？ For that； I think a kind； woman's heart is needed。 My Lady Alteima； I regret intruding on your grief； but will you undertake to oversee distributing the food？ You will have a nation to feed。〃
And power to gain； Moiraine thought。 This was his first slip。 Aside from deciding on Cairhien over Illian； of course。 Alteima would certainly return to Tear on an equal footing with Meilan or Gueyam； ready for more plotting。 She would have Rand assassinated before that； if he was not careful。 Perhaps an accident could be arranged in Cairhien。
Alteima swept a graceful curtsy； spreading her full white skirts； only a touch of her surprise showing。 〃As my Lord Dragon mands； so do I obey。 It will please me greatly to serve the Lord Dragon。〃
〃I was sure it would；〃 Rand said wryly。 〃As much as you love your husband； you'll not want him with you in Cairhien。 Conditions will be hard； for a sick man。 I took the liberty of having him moved to the High Lady Estanda's apartments。 She will care for him while you are away； and send him to meet you in Cairhien when he is well。〃 Estanda smiled； a tight smile of triumph。 Alteima's eyes rolled back in her head； and she crumpled in a heap。
Moiraine shook her head slightly。 He truly was harder than he had been。 More dangerous。 Egwene started toward the fallen woman； but Moiraine put a hand on her arm。 〃I think she was only overe by emotion。 I can recognize it； you see。 The ladies are tending her。〃 Several of them had clustered around； patting Alteima's wrists and passing smelling salts under her nose。 She coughed and opened her eyes； and looked ready to faint again when she saw Estanda standing over her。
〃Rand just did something very clever； I think；〃 Egwene said in a flat voice。 〃And very cruel。 He has a right to look ashamed。〃
Rand did look it at that； grimacing at the floorstones under his boots。 Perhaps he was not as hard as he was trying to be。
〃Not undeserved； however；〃 Moiraine observed。 The girl showed promise； picking up on what she did not understand。 But she still needed to learn to control her emotions； to see what had to be done as well as she saw what she wished could be done。 〃Let us hope he is finished with being clever for today。〃
Very few in the great chamber understood exactly what had happened； only that Alteima's fainting had upset the Lord Dragon。 A few in the back raised shouts of 〃Cairhien shall fall！〃 but the cry did not take hold。
〃With you to lead us； my Lord Dragon； we shall conquer the world！〃 a lumpy faced young man shouted； half…supporting Torean。 Estean； Torean's eldest son； the lumpy…faced resemblance was clear； though the father was still mumbling to himself。
Jerking his head up； Rand appeared startled。 Or perhaps angry。 〃I will not be with you。 I am。。。 going away for a time。〃 That certainly brought silence again。 Every eye was on him； but his attentions were all on Callandor。 The crowd flinched as he lifted the crystal blade before his face。 Sweat rolled down his face； much more sweat than before。 〃The Stone held Callandor before I came。 The Stone should hold it again； until I return。〃
Suddenly the transparent sword blazed in his hands。 Whirling it hilt uppermost； he drove it down。 Into the stone floor。 Bluish lightning arced wildly toward the dome above。 The stone rumbled loudly； and the Stone shook； dancing； heaving screaming people from their feet。
Moiraine pushed Egwene off of her while tremors still reverberated through the chamber； and scrambled erect。 What had he done？ And why？ Going away？ It was the worst of all her nightmares。
The Aiel had already regained their feet。 Everyone else lay stunned or huddled on hands and knees。 Except for Rand。 He was on one knee； both hands holding Callandor's hilt； with the blade driven halfway into the floorstones。 The sword was clear crystal again。 Sweat glistened on his face。 He pried his hands away one finger at a time； held them cupped around the hilt yet not touching it。 For a moment Moiraine thought he was going to take hold of it again； but instead he forced himself to his feet。 He did have to force himself； she was certain of it。
〃Look at this while I am gone。〃 His voice was lighter； more the way it had been when she first found him in his village； but no less sure or firm than it had been moments before。 〃Look at it； and remember me。 Remember I will e back for it。 If anyone wants to take my place； all they have to do is pull it out。〃 He waggled a finger at them； grinning almost mischievously。 〃But remember the price of failure。〃
Turning on his heel； he marched out of the chamber； the Aiel falling in behind him。 Staring at the sword rising out of the floor of the Heart； the Tairens got to their feet more slowly。 Most looked ready to run； but too frightened to。
〃That man！〃 Egwene grumbled； dusting off her green linen dress。 〃Is he mad？〃 She clapped a hand to her mouth。 〃Oh； Moiraine； he isn't； is he？ Is he？ Not yet。〃
〃The Light send he is not；〃 Moiraine muttered。 She could not take her eyes from the sword any more than the Tairens could。 The Light take the boy。 Why could he not have remained the amenable youngling she had found in Emond's Field？ She made herself start after Rand。 〃But I will find out。〃
Half…running； they caught up quickly in a broad； tapestry lined hallway。 The Aiel； veils hanging loose now but easily raised if needed； moved aside without slowing。 They glanced at her； and at Egwene； hard faces unchanging but eyes touched by the wariness Aiel always had around Aes Sedai。
How they could be uneasy at her while calmly following Rand； she did not understand。 Learning more than fragments about them was difficult。 They answered questions freely … about anything that was of no interest to her。 Her informants and her own eavesdropping overheard nothing； and her network of eyes and ears would no longer try。 Not since one woman had been left bound and gagged； hanging by her ankles from battlements and staring wild eyed at the four hundred foot drop beneath her； and not since the man who had simply disappeared。 The man was just gone； the woman； refusing to go higher than the ground floor； had been a constant reminder until Moiraine sent her into the country。
Rand did not slow down any more than the Aiel when she and Egwene fell in on either side of him。 His glance was wary； too； but in a different way； and touched with exasperated anger。 〃I thought you were gone；〃 he said to Egwene。 〃I thought you went with Elayne and Nynaeve。 You should have。 Even Tanchico is。。。 Why did you stay？〃
〃I won't be staying much longer；〃 Egwene said。 〃I am going to the Waste with Aviendha； to Rhuidean； to study with the Wise Ones。〃
He missed a step as the girl mentioned the Waste； glancing at her uncertainly； then strode on。 He seemed posed now； too much so； a boiling teakettle with the lid strapped down and the spout plugged。 〃Do you remember swimming in the Waterwood？〃 he said quietly。 〃I used to float on my back in a pool and think the hardest thing I'd ever have to do was plow a field； unless maybe it was shearing sheep。 Shearing from sunup till bedtime； hardly stopping to eat until the clip was in。〃
〃Spinning；〃 Egwene said。 〃I hated it worse than scrubbing floors。 Twisting the threads makes your fingers so sore。〃
〃Why did you do it？〃 Moiraine demanded before they could go on with this childhood reminiscing。
He gave her a sidelong look； and a smile mocking enough to belong to Mat。 〃Could I really have hung her； for trying to kill a man who was plotting to kill me？ Would there be more justice in that than in what I did？〃 The grin slid from his face。 〃Is there justice in anything I do？ Sunamon will hang if he fails。 Because I said so。 He'll deserve it after the way he's tried to take advantage； with never a care if his own people starved； but he'll not go to the gallows for that。 He will hang because I said he would。 Because I said it。〃
Egwene laid a hand on his arm； but Moiraine would not allow him to sidestep。 〃You know that is not what I mean。〃
He nodded； this time his smile had a frightening； rictus quality。 〃Callandor。 With that in my hands； I can do anything。 Anything。 I know I can do anything。 But now； it's a weight off my shoulders。 You don't understand； do you？〃 She did not； though it nettled her that he saw it。 She kept silent； and he went on。 〃Perhaps it will help if you know it es from the Prophecies。
〃Into the heart he thrusts his sword；
into the heart； to hold their hearts。
Who draws it out shall follow after；
What hand can grasp that fearful blade？
〃You see？ Straight from the Prophecies。〃
〃You forget one thing；〃 she told him tightly。 〃You drew Callandor in fulfillment of prophecy。 The safeguards that held it awaiting you for three thousand years and more are gone。 It is the Sword That Cannot Be Touched no longer。 I could channel it free myself。 Worse； any of the Forsaken could。 What if Lanfear returns？ She could use Callandor no more than I； but she could take it。〃 He did not react to the name。 Because he did not fear her … in which case he was a fool … or for another reason？ 〃If Sammael or Rahvin or any male Forsaken puts his hand on Callandor； he can wield it as well as you。 Think of facing the power you give up so casually。 Think of that power in the hands of the Shadow。〃
〃I almost hope they'll try。〃 A threatening light shone in his eyes； they seemed gray storm clouds。 '〃There is a surprise awaiting anyone who tries to channel Callandor out of the Stone； Moiraine。 Do not think of taking it to the Tower for safekeeping； I could not make the trap pick and choose。 The Power is all it needs to spring and reset； ready to trap again。 I am not giving Callandor up forever。 Just until I。。。〃 He took a deep breath。 〃Callandor will stay there until I e back for it。 By being there； reminding them of who I am and what I am； it makes sure I can e back without an army。 A haven of sorts； with the likes of Alteima and Sunamon to wele me home。 If Alteima survives the justice her husband and Estanda will mete out； and Sunamon survives mine。 Light； what a wretched tangle。〃
He could not make it selective； or would not？ She was determined not to underrate what he might be capable of。 Callandor belonged i