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！
of fact。
〃No offense taken；〃 Rand said stiffly。 But the pair were acting as if he were a skittish horse。
〃She does know what she is doing；〃 Gawyn said。 〃She has had the best teachers。 So do not fear； you are in good hands。〃
Elayne pressed some of the bandaging against his temple and pulled a silk scarf from her belt； blue and cream and gold。 For any girl in Emond's Field it would have been a treasured feast…day cloth。 Elayne deftly began winding it around his head to hold the wad of bandage in place。
〃You can't use that；〃 he protested。
She went on winding。 〃I told you to hold still；〃 she said calmly。
Rand looked at Gawyn。 〃Does she always expect everybody to do what she tells them？〃
A flash of surprise crossed the young man's face； and his mouth tightened with amusement。 〃Most of the time she does。 And most of the time they do。〃
〃Hold this；〃 Elayne said。 〃Put your hand there while I tie…〃 She exclaimed at the sight of his hands。 〃You did not do this falling。 Climbing where you shouldn't have been climbing is more like it。〃 Quickly finishing her knot； she turned his hands palms upward in front of him； muttering to herself about how little water was left。 The water made the lacerations burn； but her touch was surprisingly delicate。 〃Hold still； this time。〃
The vial of ointment was produced again。 She spread it thinly across the scrapes； all of her attention apparently on rubbing it in without hurting him。 A coolness spread through his hands； as if she were rubbing the torn places away。
〃Most of the time they do exactly what she says；〃 Gawyn went on with an affectionate grin at the top of her head。 〃Most people。 Not Mother； of course。 Or Elaida。 And not Lini。 Lini was her nurse。 You can't give orders to someone who switched you for stealing figs when you were little。 And even not so little。〃 Elayne raised her head long enough to give him a dangerous look。 He cleared his throat and carefully blanked his expression before hurrying on。 〃And Gareth； of course。 No one gives orders to Gareth。〃
〃Not even Mother；〃 Elayne said； bending her head back over Rand's hands。 〃She makes suggestions； and he always does what she suggests； but I've never heard her give him a mand。〃 She shook her head。
〃I don't know why that always surprises you；〃 Gawyn answered her。 〃Even you don't try telling Gareth what to do。 He's served three Queens and been Captain…General； and First Prince Regent； for two。 I daresay there are some think he's more a symbol of the Throne of Andor than the Queen is。〃
〃Mother should go ahead and marry him；〃 she said absently。 Her attention was on Rand's hands。 〃She wants to； she can't hide it from me。 And it would solve so many problems。〃
Gawyn shook his head。 〃One of them must bend first。 Mother cannot； and Gareth will not。 〃
〃If she manded him 。。。〃
〃He would obey。 I think。 But she won't。 You know she won't。〃
Abruptly they turned to stare at Rand。 He had the feeling they had forgotten he was there。 〃Who 。。。 ？〃 He had to stop to wet his lips。 〃Who is your mother？〃
Elayne's eyes widened in surprise； but Gawyn spoke in an ordinary tone that made his words all the more jarring。 〃Morgase； by the Grace of the Light； Queen of Andor； Protector of the Realm； Defender of the People； High Seat of the House Trakand。〃
〃The Queen；〃 Rand muttered； shock spreading through him in waves of numbness。 For a minute he thought his head was going to begin spinning again。 Don't attract any attention。 Just fall into the Queen's garden and let the Daughter…Heir tend your cuts like a hedge…doctor。 He wanted to laugh； and knew it for the fringes of panic。
Drawing a deep breath； he scrambled hastily to his feet。 He held himself tightly in rein against the urge to run； but the need to get away filled him； to get away before anyone else discovered him there。
Elayne and Gawyn watched him calmly； and when he leaped up they rose gracefully； not hurried in the least。 He put up a hand to pull the scarf from his head； and Elayne seized his elbow。 〃Stop that。 You will start the bleeding again。〃 Her voice was still calm； still sure that he would do as he was told。
〃I have to go；〃 Rand said。 〃I'll just climb back over the wall and…〃
〃You really didn't know。〃 For the first time she seemed as startled as he was。 〃Do you mean you climbed up on that wall to see Logain without even knowing where you were？ You could have gotten a much better view down in the streets。〃
〃I 。。。 I don't like crowds；〃 he mumbled。 He sketched a bow to each of them。 〃If you'll pardon me； ah 。。。 my Lady。〃 In the stories； royal courts were full of people all calling one another Lord and Lady and Royal Highness and Majesty； but if he had ever heard the correct form of address for the Daughter…Heir； he could not think clearly enough to remember。 He could not think clearly about anything beyond the need to be far away。 〃If you will pardon me； I'll just leave now。 Ah 。。。 thank you for the 。。。〃 He touched the scarf around his head。 〃Thank you。〃
〃Without even telling us your name？〃 Gawyn said。 〃A poor payment for Elayne's care。 I've been wondering about you。 You sound like an Andorman； though not a Caemlyner； certainly； but you look like。。。 Well； you know our names。 Courtesy would suggest you give us yours。〃
Looking longingly at the wall； Rand gave his right name before he thought what he was doing； and even added； 〃From Emond's Field； in the Two Rivers。〃〃From the west；〃 Gawyn murmured。 〃Very far to the west。〃
Rand looked around at him sharply。 There had been a note of surprise in the young man's voice； and Rand caught some of it still on his face when he turned。 Gawyn replaced it with a pleasant smile so quickly； though； that he almost doubted what he had seen。
〃Tabac and wool；〃 Gawyn said。 〃I have to know the principal products of every part of the Realm。 Of every land； for that matter。 Part of my training。 Principal products and crafts； and what the people are like。 Their customs； their strengths and weaknesses。 It's said Two Rivers people are stubborn。 They can be led； if they think you are worthy； but the harder you try to push them； the harder they dig in。 Elayne ought to choose her husband from there。 It'll take a man with a will like stone to keep from being trampled by her。〃
Rand stared at him。 Elayne was staring； too。 Gawyn looked as much under control as ever； but he was babbling。 Why？
〃What's this？〃
All three of them jumped at the sudden voice； and spun to face it。
The young man who stood there was the handsomest man Rand had ever seen； almost too handsome for masculinity。 He was tall and slender； but his movements spoke of whipcord strength and a sure confidence。 Dark of hair and eye； he wore his clothes； only a little less elaborate in red and white than Gawyn's； as if they were of no importance。 One hand rested on his sword hilt； and his eyes were steady on Rand。
〃Stand away from him； Elayne；〃 the man said。 〃You； too； Gawyn。〃
Elayne stepped in front of Rand； between him and the newer； head high and as confident as ever。 〃He is