rj.thepathofdaggers-第51部分

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　　　　　　　〃I　still　do；〃　Perrin　said　just　as　quietly。　A　long　time　ago　the　onetime　Warder　had　told　him　to　keep　the　axe　until　he　stopped　hating　to　use　it。　Light；　but　he　still　hated　it！　And　he　had　added　new　reasons；　now。　〃What　are　you　doing　in　this　part　of　the　world；　Elyas？　Where　did　Gaul　find　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃He　found　me；〃　Gaul　said。　〃I　did　not　know　he　was　behind　me　until　he　coughed。〃　He　spoke　loudly　enough　to　be　heard　by　the　Maidens；　and　the　sudden　stillness　among　them　was　solid　as　a　touch。
　　　　　　　Perrin　expected　at　least　a　few　cutting　ments　…　Aiel　humor　could　near　draw　blood；　and　the　Maidens　seized　any　chance　to　dig　at　the　green…eyed　man　…　but　instead；　some　of　the　women　took　up　spears　and　bucklers　to　rattle　them　together　in　approbation。　Gaul　nodded　approval。
　　　　　　　Elyas　grunted　ambiguously　and　tugged　his　hat　down；　yet　he　smelled　pleased。　The　Aiel　did　not　approve　of　much　this　side　of　the　Dragonwall。　〃I　like　to　keep　moving；〃　he　told　Perrin；　〃and　I　just　happened　to　be　in　Ghealdan　when　some　mutual　friends　told　me　you　were　traveling　with　this　parade。〃　He　did　not　name　the　mutual　friends；　it　was　unwise　to　speak　openly　about　talking　to　wolves。　〃Told　me　a　lot　of　things。　Told　me　they　smell　a　change　ing。　They　don't　know　what。　Maybe　you　do。　I　hear　you've　been　running　with　the　Dragon　Reborn。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know；〃　Perrin　said　slowly。　A　change？　He　had　not　thought　to　ask　the　wolves　anything　more　than　where　large　groups　of　men　were；　so　he　could　go　around　them。　Even　here　in　Ghealdan；　sometimes　he　felt　blame　among　them　for　the　wolves　dead　at　Dumai's　Wells。　What　kind　of　change？　〃Rand　is　surely　changing　things；　but　I　couldn't　say　what　they　mean。　Light；　the　whole　world　is　turning　somersaults；　and　never　mind　him。〃
　　　　　　　〃All　things　change；〃　Gaul　said　dismissively。　〃Until　we　wake；　the　dream　drifts　on　the　wind。〃　For　a　moment　he　studied　Perrin　and　Elyas；　paring　their　eyes；　Perrin　was　sure。　He　said　nothing　about　them；　though；　the　Aiel　seemed　to　take　golden　eyes　as　just　one　more　peculiarity　among　wetlanders。　〃I　will　leave　you　two　to　talk　alone。　Friends　long　separated　need　to　talk　by　themselves。　Sulin；　are　Chiad　and　Bain　about？　I　saw　them　hunting　yesterday；　and　thought　I　might　show　them　how　to　draw　a　bow　before　one　of　them　shoots　herself。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　was　surprised　to　see　you　e　back　today；〃　the　white…haired　woman　replied。　〃They　went　out　to　set　snares　for　rabbits。〃　Laughter　rippled　through　the　Maidens；　and　fingers　flickered　rapidly　in　handtalk。
　　　　　　　Sighing；　Gaul　rolled　his　eyes　ostentatiously。　〃In　that　case；　I　think　I　must　go　cut　them　loose。〃　Almost　as　many　Maidens　laughed　at　that；　including　Sulin。　〃May　you　find　shade　this　day；〃　he　told　Perrin；　a　casual　farewell　between　friends；　but　he　clasped　forearms　formally　with　Elyas　and　said；　〃My　honor　is　yours；　Elyas　Machera。〃
　　　　　　　〃Odd　fellow；〃　Elyas　murmured；　watching　Gaul　lope　back　down　the　hill。　〃When　I　coughed；　he　turned　around　ready　to　kill　me；　I　think；　then　he　just　started　laughing　instead。　You　have　any　objections　to　going　somewhere　else？　I　don't　know　the　sister　who's　trying　to　murder　that　rug；　but　I　don't　like　taking　chances　with　Aes　Sedai。〃　His　eyes　narrowed。　〃Gaul　says　there　are　three　with　you。　You　don't　expect　to　be　meeting　up　with　any　more；　do　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　hope　not；〃　Perrin　replied。　Masuri　was　glancing　their　way　between　slashes　with　the　beater；　she　would　learn　about　Elyas'　eyes　soon　enough　and　start　trying　to　ferret　out　what　else　linked　him　to　Perrin。　〃e　on；　it's　time　I　was　back　in　my　own　camp　anyway。　Are　you　worried　about　meeting　an　Aes　Sedai　who　knows　you？〃　Elyas'　days　as　a　Warder　had　ended　when　it　was　learned　he　could　talk　to　wolves。　Some　sisters　thought　it　a　mark　of　the　Dark　One；　and　he　had　had　to　kill　other　Warders　to　get　away。
　　　　　　　The　older　man　waited　until　they　were　a　dozen　paces　from　the　tents　before　he　replied；　and　even　then；　he　spoke　quietly；　as　though　he　suspected　someone　behind　them　might　have　ears　as　good　as　theirs。　〃One　who　knows　my　name　will　be　bad　enough。　Warders　don't　run　off　often；　boy。　Most　Aes　Sedai　will　free　a　man　who　really　wants　to　go　…　most　will　…　and　anyway；　she　can　track　you　down　however　far　you　run　if　she　decides　to　hunt。　But　any　sister　who　finds　a　renegade　will　spend　her　idle　moments　making　him　wish　he'd　never　been　born。〃　He　shivered　slightly。　His　smell　was　not　fear；　but　anticipation　of　pain。　〃Then　she'll　turn　him　over　to　his　own　Aes　Sedai　to　drive　the　lesson　home。　A　man's　never　quite　the　same　after　that。〃　At　the　edge　of　the　slope；　he　looked　back。　Masuri　did　seem　to　be　trying　to　kill　the　carpet；　focusing　all　her　rage　on　attempting　to　beat　a　hole　through　it。　Elyas　shivered　again；　though。　〃Worse　thing　would　be　to　run　into　Rina。　I'd　rather　be　caught　in　a　forest　fire　with　both　legs　broken。〃
　　　　　　　〃Rina's　your　Aes　Sedai？　But　how　could　you　run　into　her？　The　bond　lets　you　know　where　she　is。〃　That　nudged　something　in　Perrin's　memory；　but　whatever　it　was　melted　away　at　Elyas'　reply。
　　　　　　　〃A　fair　number　can　fuzz　the　bond；　in　a　manner　of　speaking。　Maybe　they　all　can。　You　don't　know　much　more　than　she's　still　alive；　and　I　know　that　anyway；　because　I　haven't　gone　crazy。〃　Elyas　saw　the　question　on　his　face　and　barked　a　laugh。　〃Light；　man；　a　sister's　flesh…and…blood；　too。　Most　are。　Think　about　it。　Would　you　want　somebody　inside　your　head　while　you　cuddled　up　with　a　likely　wench？　Sorry；　I　forgot　you　were　married；　now。　No　offense　meant。　I　was　surprised　to　hear　you'd　married　a　Saldaean；　though。〃
　　　　　　　〃Surprised？〃　Perrin　had　never　considered　that　about　the　Warder　bond。　Light！　For　that　matter；　he　had　never　really　thought　about　Aes　Sedai　that　way。　It　seemed　about　as　possible　as。。。　as　a　man　talking　to　wolves。　〃Why　surprised？〃　They　started　down　through　the　trees　on　this　side　of　the　hill；　not　hurrying　and　making　little　noise。　Perrin　had　always　been　a　good　hunter；　accustomed　to　the　forests；　and　Elyas　hardly　disturbed　the　leaves　underfoot；　gliding　smoothly　through　the　undergrowth　without　shifting　a　branch。　He　might　have　slung　his　bow　on　his　back　now；　but　he　still　carried　it　ready。　Elyas　was　a　wary　man；　especially　around　people。
　　　　　　　〃Why；　because　you're　a　quiet　sort；　and　I　thought　you'd　marry　somebody　quiet；　too。　Well；　you　know　by　now　Saldaeans　aren't　quiet。　Except　with　strangers　and　outsiders。　Set　the　sun　on　fire　one　minute；　and　the　next；　it's　all　blown　away　and　forgotten。　Make　Arafellin　look　stolid　and　Domani　downright　dull。〃　Elyas　grinned　suddenly。　〃I　lived　a　year　with　a　Saldaean；　once；　and　Merya　shouted　my　ears　off　five　days　in　the　week；　and　maybe　heaved　the　dishes　at　my　head；　too。　Every　time　I　thought　about　leaving；　though；　she'd　want　to　make　up；　and　I　never　seemed　to　get　to　the　door。　In　the　end；　she　left　me。　Said　I　was　too　restrained　for　her　taste。〃　His　rasping　laugh　was　reminiscent；　but　he　rubbed　at　a　faint；　age…faded　scar　along　his　jaw　reminiscently；　too。　It　looked　to　have　been　made　by　a　knife。
　　　　　　　〃Faile's　not　like　that。〃　It　sounded　like　being　married　to　Nynaeve！　Nynaeve　with　sore　teeth！　〃I　don't　mean　she　doesn't　get　angry　now　and　then；〃　he　admitted　reluctantly；　〃but　she　doesn't　shout　and　throw　things。〃　Well；　she　did　not　shout　very　often；　and　instead　of　flaring　hot　and　vanishing；　her　anger　started　hot　and　dragged　on　till　it　turned　cold。
　　　　　　　Elyas　glanced　at　him　sideways。　〃If　I　ever　smelled　a　man　trying　to　dodge　hail。。。　You've　been　giving　her　soft　words　all　the　time；　haven't　you？　Mild　as　milk…water　and　never　lay　your　ears　back？　Never　raise　your　voice　to　her？〃
　　　　　　　〃Of　course　not！〃　Perrin　protested。　〃I　love　her！　Why　would　I　shout　at　her？〃
　　　　　　　Elyas　began　muttering　under　his　breath；　though　Perrin　could　hear　every　word；　of　course。　〃Burn　me；　a　man　wants　to　sit　on　a　red　adder；　it's　his　affair。　Not　my　business　if　a　man　wants　to　warm　his　hands　when　the　roof's　on　fire。　It's　his　life。　Will　he　thank　me？　No；　he　bloody　well　won't！〃
　　　　　　　〃What　are　you　going　on　about？〃　Perrin　demanded。　Catching　Elyas'　arm；　he　pulled　him　to　a　stop　beneath　a　winterberry　tree；　its　prickly　leaves　still　mostly　green。　Little　else　nearby　was；　except　for　some　struggling　creepers。　They　had　e　less　than　halfway　down　the　hill。　〃Faile　isn't　a　red　adder　or　a　roof　on　fire！　Wait　until　you　meet　her　before　you　start　talking　like　you　know　her。〃
　　　　　　　Irritably；　Elyas　raked　fingers　through　his　long　beard。　〃I　know　Saldaeans；　boy。　That　year　wasn't　the　only　time　I've　been　there。　I've　only　ever　met　about　five　Saldaean　women　I'd　call　meek；　or　even　mild…mannered。　No；　she　isn't　an　adder；　what　she　is　is　a　leopard；　I'll　wager。　Don't　growl；　burn　you！　I'll　bet　my　boots　she'd　smile　to　hear　me　say　it！〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　opened　his　mouth　angrily；　then　closed　it　again。　He　had　not　realized　he　was　growling　deep　in　his　throat。　Faile　would　smile　at　being　called　a　leopard。　〃You　can't　be　saying　she　wants　me　to　shout　at　her；　Elyas。〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　I　am。　Most　likely；　anyway。　Maybe　she's　the　sixth。　Maybe。　Just　hear　me　out。　Most　women；　you　raise　your　voice；　and　they　go　bulge…eyed　or　ice；　and　next　thing　you　know；　you're　arguing　about　you　being　angry；　never　mind　what　put　the　ember　down　your　back　in　the　first　place。　Swallow　your　tongue　with　a　Saldaean；　though；　and　to　her；　you're　saying　she　isn't　strong　enough　to　stand　up　to　you。　Insult　her　like　that；　and　you're　lucky　she　doesn't　feed　you　your　own　gizzard　for　breakfast。　She's　no　Far　Madding　w