rj.theshadowrising-第256部分
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〃They arrived just at sunrise。 Why they traveled in the night； who can say？〃 Mandhuin frowned slightly at Rand； tilted his head toward Mat。 〃Strange times indeed； Rhuarc。〃
〃Who is here besides the Shaido？〃 Rhuarc asked。
〃We Goshien arrived first。 Then the Shaarad。〃 The heavy man grimaced over his blood enemies' name； without stopping his study of the two wetlanders。 〃The Chareen and the Tomanelle came later。 And last the Shaido； as I said。 Sevanna convinced the chiefs to go in only a short time ago。 Bael saw no reason to meet today； nor did some of the others。〃
A broad…faced woman in her middle years； with hair yellower than Adelin's； put fists on her hips in a rattle of ivory and gold bracelets。 She wore as many； and as many necklaces； as Amys and her sister…wife bined。 〃We hear He Who es With the Dawn has e out of Rhuidean； Rhuarc。〃 She was frowning at Rand and Mat。 The entire delegation was。 〃We hear that the Car'a'carn will be announced today。 Before all of the clans arrive。〃
〃Then someone spoke you a prophecy；〃 Rand said。 He touched the dapple's flanks with his heels； the delegation moved out of his way。
〃Dovienya；〃 Mat murmured。 〃Mia dovienya nesodhin soende。〃 Whatever it meant； it sounded a fervent wish：
The Taardad columns had e up on either side of the Shaido and turned to face them across a few hundred paces； still veiled； still singing。 They made no move that could be considered threatening； really； only stood there； fifteen or twenty times the Shaido numbers； and sang； voices thundering in chanting harmony。
〃Wash the spears … till shade is gone。
Wash the spears … till water turns dry。
Wash the spears … How long from home？
Wash the spears … Until I die！〃
Riding closer to the black…veiled Shaido； Rand saw Rhuarc lift a hand to his own veil。 〃No； Rhuarc。 We are not here to fight them。〃 He meant that he hoped it would not e to that； but the Aielman took it differently。
〃You are right； Rand al'Thor。 No honor to the Shaido。〃 Leaving his veil hanging； Rhuarc raised his voice。 〃No honor to the Shaido！〃
Rand did not turn his head to look； but he had the feeling black veils were being lowered behind him。
〃Oh； blood and ashes！〃 Mat muttered。 〃Blood and bloody ashes！〃
〃Wash the spears … till the sun grows cold。
Wash the spears … till water runs free。
Wash the spears。。。〃
The lines of Shaido shifted uneasily。 Whatever Couladin or Sevanna had told them； they could count。 To dance the spears with Rhuarc and those with him was one thing； even if it went against all custom； to face enough Taardad to sweep them away like an avalanche was something else。 Slowly they parted； moving back to let Rand ride through； stepping back to make a wide path。
Rand heaved a sigh of relief。 Adelin and the other Maidens； at least； walked looking straight ahead； as though the Shaido did not exist。
〃Wash the spears … while I breathe。
Wash the spears … my steel is bright。
Wash the spears。。。〃
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
