rj.thepathofdaggers-第135部分

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disapproved　of　a　great　many　things；　and　made　his　feelings　known　with　sharp　examples。
　　　　　　　The　streets　were　jammed　with　people；　but　Perrin　and　his　panions　were　the　only　ones　on　horseback。　The　snow　had　long　since　been　trampled　to　half…frozen　ankle…deep　mush。　Plenty　of　oxcarts　made　their　slow　way　through　the　throng；　but　very　few　wagons；　and　not　a　single　carriage。　Except　for　those　wearing　worn　castoffs　or　possibly　stolen　clothes；　everyone　wore　drab　woolens。　Most　people　hurried；　but　like　the　folk　on　the　road；　with　heads　down。　Those　who　did　not　hurry　were　straggling　groups　of　men　carrying　weapons。　In　the　streets；　the　smell　was　mainly　dirt　and　fear。　It　made　Perrin's　hackles　rise。　At　least；　if　it　came　to　that；　getting　out　of　a　town　with　no　wall　would　not　prove　harder　than　getting　in。
　　　　　　　〃My　Lord；〃　Balwer　murmured　as　they　came　abreast　of　one　of　those　heaps　of　rubble。　He　barely　waited　for　Perrin's　nod　before　turning　his　hammer…nosed　mount　aside　and　making　his　way　in　another　direction；　hunched　in　his　saddle　with　his　brown　cloak　held　tight　around　him。　Perrin　had　no　worries　about　the　dried…up　little　man　going　off　alone；　even　here。　For　a　secretary；　he　managed　to　learn　a　surprising　amount　on　these　forays　of　his。　He　seemed　to　know　what　he　was　about。
　　　　　　　Dismissing　Balwer　from　his　thoughts；　Perrin　set　to　what　he　was　there　about。
　　　　　　　It　took　only　one　question；　put　to　a　lanky　young　man　with　an　ecstatic　light　on　his　face；　to　learn　where　the　Prophet　was　staying；　and　three　more　to　other　folk　in　the　streets　to　find　the　merchant's　house；　four　stories　of　gray　stone　with　white　marble　moldings　and　window　frames。　Masema　disapproved　of　grubbing　for　money；　but　he　was　willing　to　accept　acmodations　from　those　who　did。　On　the　other　hand；　Balwer　said　he　had　slept　in　a　leaky　farmhouse　as　often　and　been　as　satisfied。　Masema　drank　only　water；　and　wherever　he　went；　he　hired　a　poor　widow　and　ate　the　food　she　prepared；　fair　or　foul；　without　plaint。　The　man　had　made　too　many　widows　for　that　charity　to　count　far　with　Perrin。
　　　　　　　The　throng　that　packed　the　streets　elsewhere　was　absent　in　front　of　the　tall　house；　yet　the　number　of　armed　guards　like　those　at　the　bridge　almost　made　up　for　it。　They　stared　at　Perrin　sullenly；　those　who　did　not　sneer　insolently。　The　two　Aes　Sedai　kept　their　faces　hidden　in　their　deep　hoods　and　their　heads　down；　white　breath　rising　from　the　cowls　like　steam。　From　the　corner　of　his　eye；　Perrin　saw　Elyas　thumbing　the　hilt　of　his　long　knife。　It　was　hard　not　to　stroke　his　axe。
　　　　　　　〃I've　e　with　a　message　for　the　Prophet　from　the　Dragon　Reborn；〃　he　announced。　When　none　of　the　men　moved；　he　added；　〃My　name　is　Perrin　Aybara。　The　Prophet　knows　me。〃　Balwer　had　cautioned　him　about　the　dangers　of　using　Masema's　name；　or　calling　Rand　anything　but　the　Lord　Dragon　Reborn。　He　was　not　there　to　start　a　riot。
　　　　　　　The　claim　of　knowing　Masema　seemed　to　put　a　spark　into　the　guards。　Several　exchanged　wide…eyed　looks；　and　one　went　running　inside。　The　rest　stared　at　him　as　if　he　were　a　gleeman。　In　a　few　moments；　a　woman　came　to　the　door。　Handsome；　with　white　at　her　temples；　in　a　high…necked　dress　of　blue　wool　that　was　fine　if　unadorned；　she　might　have　been　the　merchant　herself。　Masema　did　not　throw　those　who　offered　him　hospitality　into　the　streets；　but　their　servants　or　farmhands　usually　ended　up　with　one　of　the　bands　〃spreading　the　glories　of　the　Lord　Dragon。〃
　　　　　　　〃If　you　will　e　with　me；　Master　Aybara；〃　the　woman　said　calmly；　〃you　and　your　friends；　I　will　take　you　to　the　Prophet　of　the　Lord　Dragon；　may　the　Light　illumine　his　name。〃　Calm　she　might　sound；　but　terror　filled　her　scent。
　　　　　　　Telling　Neald　and　the　Warders　to　watch　the　horses　until　they　returned；　Perrin　followed　her　inside　with　the　others。　The　interior　was　dark；　with　few　lamps　lit；　and　not　much　warmer　than　outside。　Even　the　Wise　Ones　seemed　subdued。　They　did　not　smell　afraid；　but　almost　as　close　to　it　as　the　Aes　Sedai；　and　Grady　and　Elyas　smelled　of　wariness；　of　raised　hackles　and　ears　laid　back。　Strangely；　Aram's　scent　was　eager。　Perrin　hoped　the　man　did　not　try　to　draw　that　sword　on　his　back。
　　　　　　　The　large；　carpeted　room　the　woman　led　them　to；　with　fires　blazing　on　hearths　at　either　end；　might　have　been　a　general's　study；　every　table　and　half　the　chairs　covered　with　maps　and　papers；　and　warm　enough　that　Perrin　tossed　his　cloak　back　and　regretted　wearing　two　shirts　under　his　coat。　But　it　was　Masema　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　room　who　drew　his　eyes　immediately；　like　iron　filings　to　a　lodestone；　a　dark；　scowling　man　with　a　shaven　head　and　a　pale　triangular　scar　on　one　cheek；　in　a　wrinkled　gray　coat　and　scuffed　boots。　His　deep…set　eyes　burned　with　a　black　fire；　and　his　scent。。。　The　only　name　Perrin　could　give　that　smell；　steel…hard　and　blade…sharp　and　quivering　with　wild　intensity；　was　madness。　And　Rand　thought　he　could　put　a　leash　on　this？
　　　　　　　〃So；　it　is　you；〃　Masema　growled。　〃I　did　not　think　you　would　dare　show　your　face。　I　know　what　you've　been　up　to！　Hari　told　me　more　than　a　week　ago；　and　I　have　kept　myself　informed。〃　A　man　shifted　in　a　corner　of　the　room；　a　narrow…eyed　fellow　with　a　thrusting　nose；　and　Perrin　upbraided　himself　for　not　noticing　him　before。　Hari's　green　silk　coat　was　much　finer　than　what　he　had　worn　when　he　denied　collecting　ears。　The　fellow　rubbed　his　hands　together　and　grinned　at　Perrin　viciously；　but　he　kept　silent　as　Masema　went　on。　The　Prophet's　voice　grew　hotter　by　the　word；　not　with　anger；　but　as　though　he　meant　to　burn　every　syllable　deep　into　Perrin's　flesh。　〃I　know　about　you　murdering　men　who　have　e　to　the　Lord　Dragon。　I　know　about　you　trying　to　carve　out　your　own　kingdom！　Yes；　I　know　about　Manetheren！　About　your　ambition！　Your　greed　for　glory！　You　have　turned　your　back　on　…！〃
　　　　　　　Suddenly　Masema's　eyes　bulged；　and　for　the　first　time；　anger　flamed　in　his　scent。　Hari　made　a　strangled　sound　and　tried　to　back　through　the　wall。　Seonid　and　Masuri　had　lowered　their　hoods　and　stood　with　bare　faces；　calm　and　cool；　and　plainly　Aes　Sedai　to　anyone　who　knew　the　look。　Perrin　wondered　whether　they　held　the　Power。　He　would　have　wagered　that　the　Wise　Ones　did。　Edarra　and　Carelle　were　quietly　watching　every　direction　at　once；　and　smooth　faces　or　no；　if　he　had　ever　seen　anyone　ready　to　fight；　it　was　them。　For　that　matter；　Grady　wore　readiness　like　his　black　coat；　maybe　he　held　the　Power；　too。　Elyas　was　leaning　against　the　wall　beside　the　open　doors；　outwardly　as　posed　as　the　sisters；　but　he　smelled　ready　to　bite。　And　Aram　stood　gazing　at　Masema　with　his　mouth　hanging　open！　Light！
　　　　　　　〃So　that　is　true；　too！〃　Masema　snapped；　spittle　flying　from　his　lips。　〃With　filthy　rumors　spreading　against　the　holy　name　of　the　Lord　Dragon；　you　dare　to　ride　with　these。。。　these。。。！〃
　　　　　　　〃They've　sworn　fealty　to　the　Lord　Dragon；　Masema；〃　Perrin　cut　in。　〃They　serve　him！　Do　you？　He　sent　me　to　stop　the　killing。　And　to　bring　you　to　him。〃　No　one　was　offering　him　a　chair；　so　he　pushed　a　stack　of　papers　from　one　and　sat。　He　wished　the　rest　would　sit；　too；　shouting　seemed　harder　when　you　were　sitting　down。
　　　　　　　Hari　goggled　at　him；　and　Masema　was　practically　shaking。　Because　he　had　taken　a　chair　without　being　asked？　Oh。　Yes。
　　　　　　　〃I　have　given　up　the　names　of　men；〃　Masema　said　coldly。　〃I　am　simply　the　Prophet　of　the　Lord　Dragon；　may　the　Light　illumine　him　and　the　world　e　to　kneel　before　him。〃　By　his　tone；　the　world　and　the　Light　would　regret　failure　equally。　〃There　is　much　to　do　here；　yet。　Great　works。　All　must　obey　when　the　Lord　Dragon　calls；　but　in　winter；　travel　is　always　slow。　A　delay　of　a　few　weeks　will　make　little　difference。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　can　have　you　in　Cairhien　today；〃　Perrin　said。　〃Once　the　Lord　Dragon　has　spoken　to　you；　you　can　return　the　same　way　and　be　back　here　in　a　few　days。〃　If　Rand　let　him　return。
　　　　　　　Masema　actually　recoiled。　Baring　his　teeth；　he　glared　at　the　Aes　Sedai。　〃Some　contrivance　of　the　Power？　I　will　not　be　touched　with　the　Power！　It　is　blasphemy　for　mortals　to　touch　it！〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　came　close　to　gaping。　〃The　Dragon　Reborn　channels；　man！〃
　　　　　　　〃The　blessed　Lord　Dragon　is　not　as　other　men；　Aybara！〃　Masema　snarled。　〃He　is　the　Light　made　flesh！　I　will　obey　his　summons；　but　I　will　not　be　touched　by　the　filth　these　women　do！〃
　　　　　　　Slumping　back　in　the　chair；　Perrin　sighed。　If　the　man　was　this　bad　over　Aes　Sedai；　how　would　he　be　when　he　learned　that　Grady　and　Neald　could　channel？　For　a　moment；　he　considered　simply　knocking　Masema　over　the　head；　and。。。　Men　were　passing　by　in　the　corridor；　pausing　to　glance　in　before　hurrying　on。　All　it　took　was　one　of　them　raising　a　shout；　and　Abila　could　bee　a　slaughterhouse。　〃Then　we　ride；　Prophet；〃　he　said　sourly。　Light；　Rand　had　said　to　keep　this　secret　until　Masema　stood　in　front　of　him！　How　to　manage　that　riding　all　the　way　to　Cairhien？　〃But　no　delays。　The　Lord　Dragon　is　very　anxious　to　talk　with　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　anxious　to　speak　with　the　Lord　Dragon；　may　his　name　be　blessed　by　the　Light。〃　His　eyes　flickered　toward　the　two　Aes　Sedai。　He　tried　to　hide　it；　actually　smiling　at　Perrin。　But　he　smelled。。。　grim。　〃I　am　very　anxious　indeed。〃
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　〃Would　my　Lady　like　me　to　ask　one　of　the　handlers　to　bring　her　a　hawk？〃　Maighdin　asked。　One　of　Alliandre's　four　hawk　handlers；　all　men　as　lean　as　thei