rj.theshadowrising-第40章
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！
ngest woman ever to e out of the White Tower。 Women had actually burst into flame themselves that way。 Women had burst into flame。 Egwene drew a ragged breath。
〃What's the matter？〃 Rand asked。
〃I think you just proved the difference to me。〃 She sighed。
〃Oh。 Does that mean you're ready to give up？〃
〃No！〃 She tried to make her voice softer。 She was not angry with him。 Exactly。 She was not sure who she was angry with。 〃Maybe my teachers were right； but there has to be a way。 Some way。 Only I cannot think of one； right now。〃
〃You tried；〃 he said simply。 〃I thank you for that。 It is not your fault it did not work。〃
〃There must be a way；〃 Egwene muttered； and Elayne murmured； 〃We will find it。 We will。〃
〃Of course you will；〃 he said with a forced cheerfulness。 〃But not today。〃 He hesitated。 〃I suppose you'll be going； then。〃 He sounded half…regretful； half…glad。 〃I do need to tell the High Lords a few things about taxes this morning。 They seem to think they can take as much from a farmer in a poor year as a good without beggaring him。 And I suppose you have to get back to questioning those Darkfriends。〃 He frowned。
He had not said anything； but Egwene was sure he would like to keep them as far from the Black Ajah as possible。 She was a little surprised he had not already tried to make them return to the Tower。 Perhaps he knew that she and Nynaeve would put a flea in his ear the size of a horse if he tried。
〃We do；〃 she said firmly。 〃But not right away。 Rand。。。〃 The time had e to bring up her second reason for being there； but it was even more difficult than she had expected。 This was going to hurt him； those sad； wary eyes convinced her it would。 But it had to be done。 She snugged the scarf around her； it enveloped her from shoulders to waist。 〃Rand； I cannot marry you。〃
〃I know；〃 he said。
She blinked。 He was not taking it as hard as she expected。 She told herself that was good。 〃I do not mean to hurt you … really； I don't … but I do not want to marry you。〃
〃I understand； Egwene。 I know what I am。 No woman could … 〃
〃You wool…brained idiot！〃 she snapped。 〃This had nothing to do with you channeling。 I do not love you！ At least； not in the way to want to marry you。〃
Rand's jaw dropped。 〃You don't。。。 love me？〃 He sounded as surprised as he looked。 And hurt； too。
〃Please try to understand；〃 she said in a gentler voice。 〃People change； Rand。 Feelings change。 When people are apart； sometimes they grow apart。 I love you as I would a brother； perhaps more than a brother； but not to marry。 Can you understand that？〃
He managed a rueful grin。 〃I really am a fool。 I didn't really believe you might change； too。 Egwene； I do not want to marry you； either。 I did not want to change； I didn't try to； but it happened。 If you knew how much this means to me。 Not having to pretend。 Not being afraid I'll hurt you。 I never wanted to do that； Egwene。 Never to hurt you。〃
She very nearly smiled。 He was putting on such a brave face； he was actually quite close to convincing。 〃I am glad you are taking it so well；〃 she told him in a soft voice。 〃I did not want to hurt you； either。 And now I really must go。〃 Rising from her chair； she bent to brush a kiss across his cheek。 〃You will find someone else。〃
〃Of course；〃 he said； getting to his feet； the lie loud in his voice。
〃You will。〃
She slipped out with a sense of satisfaction and hurried across the anteroom； letting saidar go as she took the scarf from her shoulders。 The thing was abominably hot。
He was ready for Elayne to pick up like a lost puppy if she handled him the way they had discussed。 She thought Elayne would manage him nicely； now and later。 For as much later as they had。 Something had to be done about his control。 She was willing to admit that what she had been told was right … no woman could teach him； fish and birds … but that was not the same as giving up。 Something had to be done； so a way had to be found。 That horrible wound and the madness were problems for later； but they would be dealt with eventually。 Somehow。 Everyone said Two Rivers men were stubborn； but they could not match Two Rivers women。
Chapter 8
（Dragon）
Hard Heads
Elayne was not certain Rand realized she was still in the room； the way he stared after Egwene with a half…bewildered expression。 Now and again he shook his head as if arguing with himself； or trying to straighten his mind。 She was content to wait him out。 Anything that put off the moment a while longer。 She concentrated on maintaining an outward posure； back straight and head high； hands folded in her lap； a calmness on her face that could have rivaled Moiraine's best。 Butterflies the size of hedgehogs frolicked in her stomach。
It was not fear of him channeling。 She had let go of saidar as soon as Egwene stood to leave。 She wanted to trust him； and she had to。 It was what she wanted to happen that had her trembling inside。 She had to concentrate not to finger her necklace or fiddle with the strand of sapphires in her hair。 Was her perfume too heavy？ No。 Egwene said he liked the smell of roses。 The dress。 She wanted to tug it up； but。。。
He turned … the slight limp in his step tightened her lips thoughtfully … saw her sitting in her chair； and gave a start； eyes widening with what seemed very close to panic。 She was glad to see it； the effort of keeping her own face serene had leaped tenfold as soon as his eyes touched her。 Those eyes were blue now； like a misty morning sky。
He recovered on the instant and made a quite unnecessary bow； wiping his hands once nervously on his coat。 〃I did not realize you were still…〃 Flushing； he cut off； forgetting her presence might be taken as an insult。 〃I mean。。。 I didn't 。 。 。 that is； I。。。〃 He took a deep breath and began again。 〃I am not as much of a fool as I sound； my Lady。 It isn't every day someone tells you they don't love you； my Lady。〃
She put on a tone of mock severity。 〃If you call me that again； I shall call you my Lord Dragon。 And curtsy。 Even the Queen of Andor might curtsy to you； and I am only Daughter…Heir。〃
〃Light！ Don't do that。〃 He seemed uneasy out of all proportion to the threat。
〃I will not； Rand；〃 she said in a more serious voice； 〃if you call me by my name。 Elayne。 Say it。〃
〃Elayne。〃 He spoke awkwardly； yet； delightfully； as if he were savoring the name； too。
〃Good。〃 It was absurd to be so pleased； all he had done was say her name； after all。 There was something she had to know before she could go on。 〃Did it hurt you very much？〃 That could be taken two ways； she realized。 〃What Egwene told you； I mean。 〃
〃No。 Yes。 Some。 I don't know。 Fair is fair； after all。〃 His small grin took some of the edge off of his wariness。 〃I sound a fool again； don't I？〃
〃No。 Not to me。〃
〃I told her the pure truth； but I don't think she believed me。 I suppose I did not want to believe it of her； either。 Not really。 If that isn't foolish； I don't know what is。〃
〃If you tell me one more time that you are a fool； I may begin to believe it。〃 He won't try to hold on to her； I won't have to deal with that。 Her voice was calm； with a light enough tone to let him know she did not really mean what she said。 〃I saw a Cairhienin lord's fool； once； a man in a funny striped coat； too big for him and sewn with bells。 You would look silly wearing bells。〃
〃I suppose I would；〃 he said ruefully。 〃I will remember that。〃 His slow grin was wider this time； warming his whole face。
The butterflies' wings flogged her for haste； but she occupied herself with straightening her skirts。 She had to go slowly； carefully。 If I don't； he'll think I am just a foolish girl。 And he will be right。 The butterflies in her belly were beating kettle drums； now。
〃Would you like a flower？〃 he asked suddenly； and she blinked in confusion。
〃A flower？〃
〃Yes。〃 Striding to the bed； he scooped up a double handful of feathers from the tattered mattress and held them out to her。 〃I made one for the majhere last night。 You'd have thought I had given her the Stone。 But yours
