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！
Narishma； Perrin had heard him called。 〃To the southwest。〃
A figure had appeared； running out from the trees a mile or more away； a woman with skirts hiked to her thighs。 To Perrin's eyes she was clearly Aiel。 A Wise One； he thought； though there was no real way to tell at sight。 He was just certain。 The sight of her brought back all his edginess。 Somebody out here； just where they happened to e out of the gateway； could not be good news。 The Shaido had been troubling Cairhien again when he set off after Rand； but to the Aiel； a Wise One was a Wise One； whatever her clan。 They visited like neighbors over for tea while their clans killed one another。 Two Aiel trying to kill each other would step back to let a Wise One pass between。 Maybe yesterday had changed that and maybe not。 He exhaled wearily。 At best she could not be good news。
Nearly everyone on the hill seemed to feel the same。 Ripples of motion ran everywhere； spears hefted； arrows nocked。 Cairhienin and Mayeners shifted in their saddles； and Aram drew his sword； eyes shining with anticipation。 Loial leaned on his tall axe and fingered the edge regretfully。 The head was shaped like that of a huge wood…axe； but engraved with leaves and scrolls and inlaid with gold。 The inlay was a trifle scuffed from the axe's late use。 If he had to use it again； he would； but with as much reluctance as Perrin used his and for many of the same reasons。
Rand simply sat his horse and watched； face unreadable。 Min edged her mare close enough to stroke his shoulder like someone trying to soothe a mastiff with its hackles up。
The Wise Ones also gave no sign of disturbance； but neither did they stay still。 Sorilea gestured； and a dozen of the women guarding the Aes Sedai broke off to join her and Amys； well away from Rand and out of even Perrin's hearing。 Few had any gray in their hair； and Sorilea's was the only lined face； but then； there was hardly a gray hair to be seen on any of the Wise Ones here。 The fact was； not many Aiel lived to have much gray hair。 These women had position； though； or influence； however Wise Ones decided such things。 Perrin had seen Sorilea and Amys confer with the same lot before； though confer was not quite the word。 Sorilea spoke； with an occasional word from Amys； and the others listened。 Edarra raised a protest； but Sorilea smothered it； apparently without breaking stride； then pointed out two of their number； Sotarin and Cosain。 Immediately； they gathered their skirts over their arms and sped off toward the newer； legs flashing。
Perrin patted Stepper's neck。 No more killing。 Not yet。
The three Wise Ones met nearly half a mile from the hill and stopped。 They spoke； just for a moment； and then all came on at a run； back to the hill。 And straight to Sorilea。 The newer； a youngish； long…nosed woman with a mass of incredibly red hair； spoke hurriedly。 Sorilea's face grew stonier by the word。 Finally the red…haired woman finished … or rather Sorilea cut her short with a few words … and the lot turned to face Rand。 None made a move toward him； though。 They waited； hands folded at their waists and shawls looped over their arms； inscrutable as any Aes Sedai；
〃The Car'a'carn；〃 Rand muttered dryly under his breath。 Swinging a leg over； he slid from his saddle； then helped Min to the ground。
Perrin climbed down too； and led Stepper after them to the Wise Ones。 Loial trailed along； and Aram followed on his horse； not dismounting until Perrin motioned him to。 Aiel did not ride； not unless it was absolutely necessary anyway； and they considered it rude for anyone to face them from horseback。 Rhuarc joined them； and Gaul； who wore a scowl for some reason。 It went without saying that Nandera and Sulin and the Maidens came too。
The red…haired newer began as soon as Rand drew near。 〃Bair and Megana set watches every way you might possibly e back to the treekillers' city； Car'a'carn； but in truth； no one thought this would be … 〃
〃Feraighin；〃 Sorilea said； sharply enough to draw blood。 The red…haired woman's teeth clicked as she snapped her mouth shut； and she stared fixedly at Rand with brilliant blue eyes； avoiding Sorilea's glare。
Finally Sorilea took a breath and turned her attention to Rand。 〃There is trouble in the tents；〃 she said in a flat voice。 〃Rumors began among the treekillers that you have gone to the White Tower with the Aes Sedai who came； gone to bend knee to the Amyrlin Seat。 None who know the truth dared speak； or the result would have been worse。〃
〃And what is the result？〃 Rand asked quietly。 He exuded tension； and Min began stroking his shoulder again。
〃Many believe you have abandoned the Aiel；〃 Amys told him just as quietly。 〃The bleakness has returned。 Every day a thousand or more throw down their spears and vanish； unable to face our future； or our past。 Some may be going to the Shaido。〃 For a moment disgust tinged her voice。 〃There have been whispers that the true Car'a'carn would not give himself to the Aes Sedai。 Indirian says if you have gone to the White Tower； it cannot be willingly。 He is ready to take the Codarra north； to Tar Valon； and dance the spears with any Aes Sedai he finds。 Or any wetlander； he says you mast have been betrayed。 Timolan mutters that if the tales are true； you have betrayed us； and he will take the Miagoma back to the Three…fold Land。 After he sees you dead。 Mandelain and Janwin hold their counsel； but they listen to Indirian and Timolan both。〃 Rhuarc grimaced； sucking air between his teeth； for an Aiel； that was as much as tearing his hair in despair。
〃It's not good news；〃 Perrin protested； 〃but you make it sound a death sentence。 Once Rand shows himself； the rumors are done。〃
Rand scrubbed a hand through his hair。 〃If that was so； Sorilea wouldn't look like she had swallowed a lizard。〃 For that matter； Nandera and Sulin looked as though their lizards were still alive on the way down。 〃What haven't you told me yet； Sorilea？〃
The leather…faced woman gave him a thin； approving smile。 〃You see beyond what is said。 Good。〃 Her tone stayed flat as worked stone； though。 〃You return with Aes Sedai。 Some will believe that means you did bend knee。 Whatever you say or do； they will believe you wear an Aes Sedai halter。 And that is before it is known you were a prisoner。 Secrets find crevices a flea could not slip through； and a secret known by so many has wings。〃
Perrin eyed Dobraine and Nurelle； watching with their men； and swallowed queasily。 How many of those who followed Rand did so because he had the weight of the Aiel massed behind him？ Not all； certainly； but for every man who had chosen because Rand was the Dragon Reborn； five or even ten had e because the Light shone brightest on the strongest ranks。 If the Aiel broke away； or splintered。。。
He did not want to think about that possibility。 Defending the Two Rivers had stretched his abilities as far as they would go； maybe farther。 Ta'veren or not； he had no illusions he was one of those men who ended up in the histories； that was for Rand。 Village…sized problems were his limit。 Yet he could not help himself。 His mind churned。 What to do if the worst came？ Lists ran up in his head： who would remain loyal and who might try to slip away。 The first list was sufficiently short and the second sufficiently long to dry his throat。 Too many people still schemed for advantage as if they had never heard of the Prophecies of the Dragon or the Last Battle。 He suspected some still would the day after Tarmon Gai'don began。 The worst of it was； most would not be Darkfriends； just people looking out for their own interests first。 Loial's ears hung limp； he saw it； too。
No sooner did Sorilea finish speaking to Rand than her eyes whipped to one side in a glare to bore holes in iron。 〃You were told to remain in the wagon。〃 Bera and Kiruna came to an abrupt halt； and Alanna nearly stumbled into them。 〃You were told not to touch the One Power without permission； but you listened to what was said here。 You will learn that I mean what I say。〃
Despite Sorilea's auguring stare； the three held their ground； Bera and Kiruna with icy dignity； Alanna with smoldering defiance。 Loial's huge eyes rolled toward them； then toward the Wise One； if his ears had been limp before； now they wilted pletely； and his long eyebrows dropped to his cheeks。 Poring uneasily over his mental lists； Perrin wondered absently how far the Aes Sedai intended to push。 Eavesdropping with the Power！ They might find a reaction from the Wise Ones worse than Sorilea's bark。 From Rand； too。
Not this time； however。 Rand seemed unaware of them。 He looked right through Sorilea。 Or maybe listened to something nobody else could hear again。 〃What of the wetlanders？〃 he said finally。 〃Colavaere has been crowned queen； hasn't she？〃 It was not really a question。
Sorilea nodded； thumb tapping the hilt of her belt knife； but her attention never left the Aes Sedai。 Who was chosen king or queen among the wetlanders was of small concern to Aiel； especially among the treekilling Cairhienin。
An icicle stabbed into Perrin's chest。 That Colavaere of House Saighan wanted the Sun Throne was no secret； she had schemed for it from the day Galldrian Riatin was assassinated； before Rand had even declared himself the Dragon Reborn； and kept scheming after it became public knowledge that Rand meant the throne for Elayne。 Few knew she was a cold…blooded murderer； however。 And Faile was in the city。 At least she was not alone。 Bain and Chiad would be close to her。 They were Maidens and her friends； maybe almost what the Aiel called near…sisters； they would not let her be harmed。 The icicle would not go away； though。 Colavaere hated Rand； and by extension anyone close to Rand。 Such as； perhaps； the wife of a man who was Rand's friend。 No。 Bain and Chiad would keep her safe。
〃This is a delicate situation。〃 Moving closer to Rand； remarkably； Kiruna ignored Sorilea。 For such a scrawny woman； the Wise One had eyes like hammers。 〃Whatever you do can have serious repercussions。 I … 〃
〃What has Colavaere said about me？〃 Rand asked Sorilea in a too…casual tone。 〃Has she harmed Berelain？〃 Berelain； the First of Mayene； was who Rand had left in charge of Cairhien。 Why did he not ask about Faile？
〃Berelain sur Paendrag is well；〃 Sorilea murmured； without stopping her study of the Aes Sedai。 Outwardly Kiruna stayed calm despite being interrupted and ignored； but the gaze she fixed on Rand could have frozen a forge…fire solid with the bellows pumping。 For the rest； Sorilea gestured to Feraighin。
The red…haired woman gave a start and cleared her throat； plainly she had not expected to be allowed a word。 She put dignity back on like a hastily donned garment。 〃Colavaere Saighan says you have gone to Caemlyn； Car'a'carn； or maybe to Tear； but wherever you have gone； all must remember that you are the Dragon Reborn and must be obeyed。〃 Feraighin sniffed； the Dragon Reborn was no part of Aiel prophecies； only the Car'a'carn。 〃She says you will return and confirm her on the throne。 She speaks often to the chiefs； encouraging them to move the spears south。 In obedience to you； she says。 She does not see the Wise Ones； and hears only the wind when we speak。〃 This time her sniff was a fair approximation of Sorilea's。 No one told the clan chiefs what to do； but angering the Wise Ones was a bad way to start convincing the chiefs of anything。
It made sense to Perrin； though； to the part of him that could think of anything besides Faile。 Colavaere probably had never paid enough attention to the 〃savages〃 to realize the Wise Ones did more than dispense herbs； but she would want every last Aiel out of Cairhien。 The question was； given the circumstances； had any of the chiefs listened to her？ But the question Rand asked was not the obvious。
〃What else has happened in the city？ Anything you've heard； Feraighin。 Maybe something that might only seem important to a wetlander。〃
She tossed her red mane contemptuously。 〃Wetlanders are like sandflies； Car'a'carn： who can know what they find important？ Strange things sometimes happen in the city； so I have heard； as they do among the tents。 People sometimes see things