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rj.thepathofdaggers-第146章

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Flames sprang up in thickets; trees turning to torches in the rain; flames racing through olive orchards。
       Something struck him hard; and he realized he was picking himself up from the ground。 The crown had fallen from his head。 Callandor still blazed in his hand; though。 Vaguely; he was aware of Tai'daishar scrambling to his feet; trembling。 So they thought to strike back at him; did they。
       Shoving Callandor high; he screamed at them。 〃e against me; if you dare! I am the storm! e if you dare; Shai'tan! I am the Dragon Reborn!〃 A thousand sizzling lightning bolts hailed down from the clouds。
       Again something struck him down。 He tried to fight up again。 Callandor; still shining; lay a pace from his outstretched hand。 The sky shattered with lightnings。 Suddenly; he realized that the weight atop him was Bashere; that the man was shaking him。 It must have been Bashere who had flung him down!
       〃Stop it!〃 the Saldaean shouted。 Blood fanned down his face from a split across his scalp。 〃You're killing us; man! Stop!〃
       Rand turned his head; and one stunned look was enough。 Lightnings flashed all around him; in every direction。 A bolt stabbed down onto the reverse slope; where Denharad and the armsmen were; the screams of men and horses rose。 Anaiyella and Ailil were both afoot; trying vainly to quiet mounts that reared; eyes rolling; trying to rip reins free。 Flinn was bending over someone; not far from a dead horse with legs already stiff。
       Rand let saidin go。 He let it go; but for moments it still flowed into him; and lightning raged。 The flow into him dwindled; tailed off and vanished。 Dizziness swept through him in its place。 For three more heartbeats; two of Callandor shone where they lay on the ground; and lightning fell。 Then; silence except for the rising drum of the rain。 And the screams from behind the hill。
       Slowly Bashere climbed off of him; and Rand rose unaided on tottering legs; blinking as his sight returned to normal。 The Saldaean watched him as he might have a rabid lion; fingering his sword hilt。 Anaiyella took one look at Rand on his feet and collapsed in a faint; her horse dashed away; reins dangling。 Ailil; still fighting her rearing animal; spared few glances for Rand。 Rand let Callandor lie where it was for the moment。 He was not sure he dared pick it up。 Not yet。
       Flinn straightened; shaking his head; then stood silently as Rand went unsteadily to stand beside him。 The rain fell on Jonan Adley's sightless eyes; bulging as if in horror。 Jonan had been one of the first。 Those screams from behind the hill seemed to slice through the rain。 How many more; Rand wondered。 Among the Defenders? The panions? Among。。。?
       Rain thick as a blanket hid the hills where the Seanchan army lay。 Had he hurt them at all; striking out blindly? Or were they still waiting out there with all their damane? Waiting to see how many more of his own he could kill for them。
       〃Set whatever guard you think we need;〃 Rand told Bashere。 His voice was iron。 One of the first。 His heart was iron。 〃When Gregorin and the others reach us; we'll Travel to where the carts are waiting as fast as we can。〃 Bashere nodded without speaking; and turned away in the rain。
       I've lost; Rand thought dully。 I'm the Dragon Reborn; but for the first time; I've lost。
       Suddenly; Lews Therin raged up inside him; sly digs forgotten。 I've never been defeated; he snarled。 I am the Lord of the Morning! No one can defeat me!
       Rand sat in the rain; turning the Crown of Swords in his hands; looking at Callandor lying in the mud。 He let Lews Therin rage。
       
       Abaldar Yulan wept; grateful for the downpour that hid the tears on his cheeks。 Someone would have to give the order。 Eventually someone would have to apologize to the Empress; might she live forever; and maybe to Suroth sooner。 Those were not why he wept; though; nor even for a dead rade。 Roughly ripping a sleeve from his coat; he laid it across Miraj's staring eyes so the rain would not fall in them。
       〃Send out orders for retreat;〃 Yulan ordered; and saw the men standing around him jerk。 For the second time on these shores; the Ever Victorious Army had suffered a devastating defeat; and Yulan did not think he was the only one who wept。
       
       
Chapter 25 
(Female Silhouettes) 
An Unwele Return 
       
       Seated behind her gilded writing table; Elaida fingered an age…dark ivory carving of a strange bird with a beak as long as its body and listened with some amusement to the six women standing on the other side on the table。 Each a Sitter for her Ajah; they frowned sideways at one another; shifted velvet slippers on the brightly patterned carpet that covered most of the russet floor tiles; twitched at vine…worked shawls so the colored fringes danced; and generally looked and sounded like a gaggle of peevish serving girls wishing they had the nerve to go for each others' throats in front of their mistress。 Frost coated the glassed casements fitted into the windows so that it was hardly possible to see the snow swirling outside; though sometimes the winds howled with an icy rage。 Elaida felt quite warm; and not just for the thick logs blazing in the white marble fireplace。 Whether these women knew it or not … well; Duhara knew; certainly; and perhaps the others did … she was their mistress。 The elaborate gold…covered case clock that Cemaile had missioned ticked away。 Cemaile's vanished dream would e true; The Tower returned to its glory。 And firmly in the capable hands of Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan。
       〃No ter'angreal has ever been found that can 'control' a woman's channeling;〃 Velina was saying in a voice cool and precise but almost girlishly high…pitched; a voice at strong odds with her eagle's beak of a nose and her sharp; tilted eyes。 She sat for the White; and was the very model of a White sister; in all but her fierce appearance。 Her plain; snowy dress seemed stark and cold。 〃Very few have ever been found that perform the same function。 Therefore; logically; if such a ter'angreal were found; or more than one; improbable as that must be; there could not be sufficient of them to control more than two or three women at most。 It follows that the reports of these so…called Seanchan are exaggerated wildly。 If women on 'leashes' exist; they cannot channel。 Plainly not。 I do not deny these people hold Ebou Dar; and Amador; and perhaps more; but clearly they are but a creation of Rand al'Thor; perhaps to frighten people into flocking to him。 Like this Prophet of his。 It is simple logic。〃
       〃I am very glad you don't deny Amador and Ebou Dar at least; Velina;〃 Shevan said drily。 And she could be very dry indeed。 As tall as most men; and bonily thin with it; the Brown Sitter had an angular face and a long chin; not improved by a cap of curls。 With spidery fingers she rearranged her shawl and smoothed skirts of dark golden silk; and her voice took on pointed amusement。 〃I'm unfortable saying what can and can't be。 For example; not long gone; everyone 'knew' only a shield woven by a sister could stop a woman channeling。 Then es a simple herb; forkroot; and anyone at all can feed you a tea that leave
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