rj.theshadowrising-第228部分

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　　　　　　　The　chant　faded　to　a　murmur　behind　them　as　they　passed　into　the　wide；　steep…walled　gorge；　deep　and　shadowed　as　it　wound　into　the　mountains。　For　minutes　the　loudest　sounds　were　the　clatter　of　hooves　on　stone；　the　whisper　of　soft　Aiel　boots。　Abruptly　the　passage　gave　way　to　Alcair　Dal。
　　　　　　　Rand　could　see　why　the　canyon　had　been　called　a　bowl；　though　there　was　nothing　golden　about　it。　Almost　perfectly　round；　its　gray　wall　sloped　all　the　way　around　except　at　the　far　end；　where　it　curled　inward　like　a　breaking　wave。　Clusters　of　Aiel　dotted　the　slopes；　heads　and　faces　bare；　many　more　clusters　than　there　were　clans。　The　Taardad　who　had　e　with　the　sept　chiefs　peeled　away　toward　one　or　another　of　those。　According　to　Rhuarc；　grouping　by　society　rather　than　clan　was　an　aid　to　keeping　peace。　Only　his　Red　Shields　and　the　Maidens　continued　on　with　Rand　and　the　Taardad　chiefs。
　　　　　　　The　sept　chiefs　of　the　other　clans　all　sat　by　clan；　cross…legged　before　a　deep　ledge　beneath　the　curling　overhang。　Six　small　knots；　one　of　Maidens；　stood　between　the　sept　chiefs　and　the　ledge。　Supposedly　these　were　the　Aiel　who　had　e　for　the　honor　of　clan　chiefs。　Six；　although　only　five　clans　were　represented。　Sevanna　would　have　the　Maidens　…　though　Aviendha　had　been　quick　to　point　out　that　Sevanna　had　never　been　Far　Dareis　Mai　…　but　the　extra。。。　Eleven　men　in　that；　not　ten。　Even　seeing　only　the　back　of　a　flame…haired　head；　Rand　was　sure　it　was　Couladin。
　　　　　　　On　the　ledge　itself　stood　a　golden…haired　woman　in　as　much　jewelry　as　the　woman　back　at　the　fair　tents；　gray　shawl　draped　over　her　arms　…　Sevanna；　of　course　…　and　four　clan　chiefs；　none　armed　save　for　his　long　belt　knife；　and　one　the　tallest　man　Rand　had　ever　seen。　Bael　of　the　Goshien　Aiel；　by　the　descriptions　Rhuarc　had　given；　the　fellow　had　to　be　at　least　a　hand　taller　than　Rhuarc　or　himself。　Sevanna　was　speaking；　and　some　trick　of　the　canyon's　shape　carried　her　words　clearly　throughout。
　　　　　　　〃。。。allow　him　to　speak！〃　Her　voice　was　tight　and　angry。　Head　high　and　back　straight　she　tried　to　dominate　the　ledge　by　force　of　will。　〃I　demand　it　as　my　right！　Until　a　new　chief　is　chosen；　I　stand　for　Suladric　and　the　Shaido。　I　demand　my　right！〃
　　　　　　　〃You　stand　for　Suladric　until　a　new　chief　is　chosen；　roofmistress。〃　The　white…haired　man　who　spoke　in　irascible　tones　was　Han；　clan　chief　of　the　Tomanelle。　With　a　face　like　dark；　wrinkled　leather；　he　would　have　been　taller　than　average　in　the　Two　Rivers；　for　an　Aiel；　he　was　short；　if　stocky。　〃I　have　no　doubt　you　know　the　rights　of　a　roofmistress　well；　but　perhaps　not　so　well　those　of　a　clan　chief。　Only　one　who　has　entered　Rhuidean　may　speak　here　…　and　you；　who　stand　in　Suladric's　place〃　…　Han　did　not　sound　happy　about　that；　but　then　he　sounded　as　if　he　was　seldom　happy　…〃but　the　dreamwalkers　have　told　our　Wise　Ones　Couladin　was　refused　the　right　to　enter　Rhuidean。〃
　　　　　　　Couladin　shouted　something；　plainly　furious　yet　indistinct　…　apparently　the　canyon's　trick　only　worked　from　the　ledge　…　but　Erim；　of　the　Chareen；　his　own　bright　red　hair　nearly　half…white；　cut　him　off　sharply。　〃Have　you　no　respect　for　custom　and　law；　Shaido？　Have　you　no　honor？　Stand　silent　here。〃
　　　　　　　A　few　eyes　on　the　slopes　turned　to　see　who　the　newers　were。　A　ripple　of　nudges　brought　more　around　at　the　sight　of　two　outlanders　on　horseback　at　the　head　of　the　sept　chiefs；　and　one　of　the　riders　followed　close　by　Maidens。　How　many　Aiel　peered　down　at　him；　Rand　wondered。　Three　thousand？　Four？　More？　None　made　a　sound。
　　　　　　　〃We　have　gathered　here　to　hear　a　great　announcement；〃　Bael　said；　〃when　all　the　clans　have　e。〃　His　dark　reddish　hair　was　graying；　too；　there　were　no　young　men　among　clan　chiefs。　His　great　height　and　deep　voice　drew　eyes　to　him。　〃When　all　the　clans　have　e。　If　all　Sevanna　wishes　to　speak　of　now　is　letting　Couladin　speak；　I　will　go　back　to　my　tents　and　wait。〃
　　　　　　　Jheran；　of　the　Shaarad；　blood　enemy　of　Bael's　Goshien；　was　a　slender　man；　gray　streaked　heavily　through　his　light　brown　hair。　Slender；　as　a　steel　blade　is　slender；　he　spoke　to　no　one　of　the　chiefs　in　particular。　〃I　say　we　do　not　return　to　our　tents。　Since　Sevanna　has　brought　us　in；　let　us　discuss　what　is　only　somewhat　less　important　than　the　announcement　we　await。　Water。　I　wish　to　discuss　the　water　at　Chain　Ridge　Stand。〃　Bael　turned　toward　him　threateningly。
　　　　　　　〃Fools！〃　Sevanna　snapped。　〃I　will　have　done　with　waiting！　I…〃
　　　　　　　It　was　then　that　those　on　the　ledge　became　aware　of　the　new　arrivals。　In　utter　silence　they　watched　them　approach；　the　clan　chiefs　frowning；　Sevanna　scowling。　She　was　a　pretty　woman；　well　short　of　her　middle　years　…　and　younger…looking　for　standing　among　men　well　the　other　side　of　theirs　…　but　with　a　greedy　mouth。　The　clan　chiefs　were　dignified；　even　Han　in　a　sour…mouthed　fashion；　her　pale　green　eyes　had　a　calculating　look。　Unlike　any　Aiel　woman　Rand　had　ever　seen；　she　wore　her　loose　white　blouse　undone　low　enough　to　show　considerable　tanned　cleavage；　framed　by　her　many　necklaces。　He　could　have　known　the　men　for　clan　chiefs　by　their　manner；　if　Sevanna　was　a　roofmistress；　she　was　surely　nothing　like　Lian。
　　　　　　　Rhuarc　strode　straight　to　the　ledge；　gave　his　spears　and　buckler；　his　bow　and　quiver；　to　his　Red　Shields；　and　climbed　up。　Rand　handed　his　reins　to　Mat　…　who　muttered；　〃Luck　with　us！〃　as　he　eyed　the　surrounding　Aiel；　Adelin　nodded　encouragingly　to　Rand　…　and　stepped　straight　from　his　saddle　to　the　ledge。　A　startled　murmur　rolled　around　the　canyon。
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　do；　Rhuarc；〃　Han　demanded；　scowling；　〃bringing　this　wetlander　here？　If　you　will　not　kill　him；　at　least　send　him　down　from　standing　like　a　chief。〃
　　　　　　　〃This　man；　Rand　al'Thor；　has　e　to　speak　to　the　chiefs　of　the　clans。　Did　not　the　dreamwalkers　tell　you　that　he　would　e　with　me？〃　Rhuarc's　words　brought　a　louder　murmur　from　the　listeners。
　　　　　　　〃Melaine　told　me　many　things；　Rhuarc；〃　Bael　said　slowly；　frowning　at　Rand。　〃That　He　Who　es　With　the　Dawn　had　e　out　of　Rhuidean。　You　cannot　mean　that　this　man。。。〃　He　trailed　off　in　disbelief。
　　　　　　　〃If　this　wetlander　can　speak；〃　Sevanna　said　quickly；　〃so　may　Couladin。〃　She　lifted　a　smooth　hand；　and　Couladin　scrambled　onto　the　ledge；　face　an　angry　red。
　　　　　　　Han　rounded　on　him。　〃Stand　down；　Couladin！　It　is　bad　enough　that　Rhuarc　violates　custom　without　you　doing　it　as　well！〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　time　to　be　done　with　worn…out　customs！〃　the　fiery…haired　Shaido　shouted；　stripping　off　his　gray…and…brown　coat。　There　was　no　need　for　shouting　…　his　words　echoed　across　the　canyon　…　but　he　did　not　lower　his　voice。　〃I　am　He　Who　es　With　the　Dawn！〃　Shoving　shirtsleeves　above　his　elbows；　he　thrust　his　fists　into　the　air。　Around　each　forearm　wound　a　serpentine　creature　scaled　in　crimson　and　gold；　glittering　metallically　feet　each　tipped　with　five　golden　claws；　golden…maned　heads　resting　on　the　backs　of　his　wrists。　Two　perfect　Dragons。　〃I　am　the　Car'a'carn！〃　The　roar　that　came　back　was　like　thunder；　Aiel　leaping　to　their　feet　and　shouting　joyously。　The　sept　chiefs　were　on　their　feet；　too；　the　Taardad　clustered　worriedly；　the　others　shouting　as　loudly　as　anyone。
　　　　　　　The　clan　chiefs　looked　stunned；　even　Rhuarc。　Adelin　and　her　nine　Maidens　hefted　their　spears　as　if　they　expected　to　use　them　any　moment。　Eyeing　the　gap　leading　out；　Mat　pulled　his　hat　low　and　guided　the　two　horses　close　to　the　ledge；　motioning　surreptitiously　for　Rand　to　get　back　into　his　saddle。
　　　　　　　Sevanna　smiled　smugly；　adjusting　her　shawl；　as　Couladin　strode　to　the　front　of　the　ledge　with　his　arms　high。　〃I　bring　change！〃　he　shouted。　〃According　to　the　prophecy；　I　bring　new　days！　We　will　cross　the　Dragonwall　again；　and　take　back　what　was　ours！　The　wetlanders　are　soft；　but　rich！　You　remember　the　wealth　brought　back　when　last　we　went　into　the　Wetlands！　This　time；　we　will　take　it　all！　This　time。。。　！〃
　　　　　　　Rand　let　the　man's　tirade　wash　over　him。　Of　things　possible；　he　had　never　suspected　this。　How？　The　word　kept　sliding　through　his　head；　yet　he　could　not　believe　how　posed　he　was。　Slowly　he　took　off　his　coat；　hesitating　a　moment　before　fishing　the　angreal　from　his　pocket；　sticking　it　into　the　waistband　of　his　breeches；　he　dropped　the　coat　and　walked　to　the　front　of　the　ledge；　calmly　undoing　the　laces　of　his　sleeves。　They　slid　down　as　he　raised　his　arms　above　his　head。
　　　　　　　It　took　a　moment　for　the　assembled　Aiel　to　notice　the　Dragons　wrapped　around　his　arms；　too；　shining　in　the　sunlight。　Their　hush　came　by　increments；　but　it　was　total。　Sevanna's　mouth　dropped　open；　she　had　not　known　of　this。　Obviously　Couladin　had　not　thought　Rand　would　follow　so　quickly；　had　not　told　her　another　bore　the　markings；　too。　How？　The　man　must　have　believed　he　would　have　time；　once　he　had　established　himself；　Rand　could　be　dismissed　as　a　fraud。　Light；　how？　If　the　roofmistess　of　arda　Hold　was　stunned　now；　so　were　the　clan　chiefs；　save　only　Rhuarc。　Two　men　marked　as　prophecy　said　only　one　could　beuladin　ranted　on；　waving　his　arms　to　make　sure　all　saw。　〃。。。will　not　stop　with　the　lands　of　the　oathbreakers！　We　will　take　all　the　lands　to　the　Aryth　Ocean！　The　wetlanders　cannot　stand　against　…〃　Suddenly　he　became　aware　of　the　silence　where　eager　cries　had　been。　He　knew　what　had　caused　it。　Without　turning　to　look　at　Rand；　he　shouted；　〃Wetlander！　L