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！
〃
〃My body…servant will polish your boots；〃 Talmanes put in with a small smile that he carefully did not direct at the square…faced Tairen； 〃and brush and mend your clothes。 So you will appear at your best。〃
Nalesean gave his oiled beard a jerk； his eyes darted halfway to the other man before he could stop them。 〃If I may offer； I have a good coat I think will fit you well。 Gold satin and crimson。〃 It was the Cairhienin's turn to glower。
〃General！〃 Mat exclaimed； holding himself up with the spear haft。 〃I'm no flaming …！ I mean； I wouldn't want to usurp your place。〃 Let them figure out which one of them he meant。
〃Burn my soul；〃 Nalesean said； 〃it was your battle skill that won for us； and kept us alive。 Not to mention your luck。 I've heard how you always turn the right card； but it is more than that。 I'd follow you if you had never met the Lord Dragon。〃
〃You are our leader；〃 Talmanes said right on top of him； in a voice more sober if no less certain。 〃Until yesterday I have followed men of other lands because I must。 You I will follow because I want to。 Perhaps you are not a lord in Andor； but here； I say that you are； and I pledge myself your man。〃
Cairhienin and Tairen stared at one another as though startled at voicing the same sentiment； then slowly； reluctantly； exchanged brief nods。 If they did not like each other … and only a fool would bet against that … they could meet on this point。 After a fashion。
〃I will send my groom to prepare your horse for the procession；〃 Talmanes said； and barely frowned when Nalesean added； 〃Mine can share the work。 Your mount must do us proud。 And burn my soul； we need a banner。 Your banner。〃 At that the Cairhienin nodded emphatically。
Mat was not sure whether to laugh hysterically or sit down and cry。 Those bloody memories。 If not for them； he would have ridden on。 If not for Rand； he would not have the things。 He could trace the steps that led to them； each necessary as it seemed at the time and seeming an end in itself； yet each leading inevitably to the next。 At the beginning of it all lay Rand。 And bloody ta'veren。 He could not understand why doing something that seemed absolutely necessary and as close to harmless as he could make it always seemed to lead him deeper into the mire。 Melindhra had begun stroking the back of his neck instead of squeezing it。 All he needed now。。。
He glanced up the hill； and there she was。 Moiraine； on her delicate…stepping white mare； with Lan on his black stallion towering at her side。 The Warder bent toward her as if to listen； and there seemed to be a brief argument； a violent protest on his part； but after a moment the Aes Sedai reined Aldieb around and rode out of sight toward； the opposite slope。 Lan remained where he was on Mandarb； watching the camp below。 Watching Mat。
He shivered。 Couladin's head really did appear to be grinning at him。 He could almost hear the man speak。 You may have killed me； but you've put your foot squarely in the trap。 I'm dead； but you'll never be free。
〃Just bloody wonderful；〃 he muttered； and took a long； choking swallow of the rough brandy。 Talmanes and Nalesean seemed to think be meant it as said； and Melindhra laughed agreement。
Some fifty or so Tairens and Cairhienin had gathered to watch the two lords speak to him； and they took his drinking as a signal to serenade him； beginning with a verse of their own。
〃Well toss the dice however they fall；
and snuggle the girls be they short or tall；
then follow young Mat whenever he calls；
to dance with Jak o' the Shadows。〃
With a wheezing laugh he could not stop； Mat sank back down onto the boulder and set about emptying the pitcher。 There had to be some way out of this。 There just had to be。
Rand's eyes opened slowly； staring up at the roof of his tent。 He was naked beneath a single blanket。 The absence of pain seemed almost startling； yet he felt even weaker than he remembered。 And he did remember。 He had said things； thought things。。。 His skin went cold。 I cannot let him take control。 I am me！ Me！ Fumbling beneath the blanket； he found the smooth round scar on his side； tender yet whole。
〃Moiraine Sedai Healed you；〃 Aviendha said； and he gave a start。
He had not seen her； sitting cross…legged on the layered rugs near the firepit； sipping from a silver cup worked with leopards。 Asmodean lay sprawled across tasseled cushions； chin on his arms。 Neither appeared to have slept； dark circles underlined their eyes。
〃She should not have had to；〃 Aviendha went on in a cool voice。 Tired or not； she had every hair in place； and her neat clothes were a sharp contrast to Asmodean's rumpled dark velvets。 Now and then she twisted the ivory bracelet of roses…and…thorns that he had given her as if not realizing what she was doing。 She wore the silver snowflake necklace； too。 She still had not told him who had given it to her； though she had seemed amused when she realized he really wanted to know。 She certainly did not look amused now。 〃Moiraine Sedai herself was near collapse from Healing wounded。 Aan'allein had to carry her to her tent。 Because of you； Rand al'Thor。 Because Healing you took the last of her strength。〃
〃The Aes Sedai is on her feet already；〃 Asmodean put in； stifling a yawn。 He ignored Aviendha's pointed stare。 〃She has been here twice since sunrise； though she said you would recover。 I think she was not so certain last night。 Nor was I。〃 Pulling his gilded harp around in front of him； he fussed with it； speaking in an idle tone。 〃I did what I could for you； of course … my life and fortune are tied to yours … but my talents lie elsewhere than Healing； you understand。〃 He strummed a few notes to demonstrate。 〃I understand that a man can kill or gentle himself doing what you did。 Strength in the Power is useless if the body is exhausted。 Saidin can easily kill； if the body is exhausted。 Or so I have heard。〃
〃Are you finished sharing your wisdom； Jasin Natael？〃 Aviendha's tone was chillier； if anything； and she did not wait for a reply before turning a gaze like blue…green ice back to Rand。 The interruption； it seemed； was his fault。 〃A man may behave like a fool sometimes； and little is the worse for it； but a chief must be more than a man； and the chief of chiefs more still。 You had no right to push yourself near to death。 Egwene and I tried to make you e with us when we grew too tired to continue； but you would not listen。 You may be as much stronger than we as Egwene claims； yet you are still flesh。 You are the Car'a'carn； not a new Seia Doon seeking honor。 You have toh； obligation； to the Aiel； Rand al'Thor； and you cannot fulfill it dead。 You cannot do everything yourself。〃
For a moment he could only gape at her。 He had barely managed to do anything at all； had left the battle to others for all practical purposes while he stumbled about trying to be useful。 He had not even been able to stop Sammael from striking where and as he chose。 And she upbraided him for doing too much。
〃I will try to remember；〃 he said finally。 Even so； she looked ready to lecture more。 〃What news of the Miagoma and the ot