rj.theshadowrising-第114部分

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　　　　　　　〃I　know。〃　She　looked　at　him　sharply；　and　he　managed　to　keep　the　smile　off　his　face。　〃That　you've　met　some　like　that；　I　mean。　I　saw　a　pair　of　them　once；　remember。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　them。　Well；　we　can　hope　Lord　Luc　is　not　a　boasting　liar。〃　Her　eyes　became　intent；　and　her　grip　tightened　on　his　hands；　not　unfortably；　but　as　though　she　was　trying　to　add　her　strength　to　his。　〃You　will　want　to　visit　your　family's　farm；　your　home。　I　will　e　with　you；　if　you　will　let　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃When　I　can；　Faile。〃　Not　now；　though。　Not　yet。　If　he　looked　at　those　graves　below　the　apple　trees　now。。。　It　was　strange。　He　had　always　taken　his　own　strength　for　granted；　and　now　it　turned　out　that　he　was　not　strong　at　all。　Well；　he　was　done　with　weeping　like　a　babe。　It　was　past　time　to　be　doing　something。　〃First　things　first。　Finding　Tam　and　Abell；　I　suppose。〃
　　　　　　　Master　al'Vere　put　his　head　into　the　mon　room；　and　came　the　rest　of　the　way　when　he　saw　them　sitting　apart。　〃There　is　an　Ogier　in　the　kitchen；〃　he　told　Perrin　with　a　bemused　look。　〃An　Ogier。　Drinking　tea。　The　biggest　cup　looks。。。〃　He　held　two　fingers　as　though　gripping　a　thimble。　〃Maybe　Marin　could　pretend　Aiel　walk　in　here　every　day；　but　she　nearly　fainted　when　she　saw　this　Loial。　I　gave　her　a　double　tot　of　brandy；　and　she　tossed　it　down　like　water。　Nearly　coughed　herself　to　death；　she　doesn't　take　more　than　wine；　usually。　I　think　she'd　have　drunk　another；　if　I'd　given　it　to　her。〃　He　pursed　his　lips　and　affected　an　interest　in　a　nonexistent　spot　on　his　long　white　apron。　〃Are　you　all　right　now；　my　boy？〃
　　　　　　　〃I'm　fine；　sir；〃　Perrin　said　hastily。　〃Master　al'Vere；　we　cannot　remain　here　much　longer。　Someone　might　tell　the　Whitecloaks　you　sheltered　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　there　are　not　many　would　do　that。　Not　all　the　Coplins；　and　not　some　of　the　Congars；　even。〃　But　he　did　not　suggest　they　stay。
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　know　where　I　can　find　Master　al'Thor　and　Master　Cauthon？〃
　　　　　　　〃In　the　Westwood　somewhere；　usually；〃　Bran　said　slowly。　〃That's　all　I　know　for　sure。　They　move　about。〃　Locking　his　fingers　over　his　broad　belly；　he　tilted　his　gray　fringed　head　to　one　side。　〃You　aren't　leaving　are　you？　Well。　I　told　Marin　you　would　not；　but　she　doesn't　believe　me。　She　thinks　it　best　for　you　to　go　away　…　best　for　you　…　and　like　most　women　she's　sure　you　will　see　things　her　way　if　she　talks　long　enough。〃
　　　　　　　〃Why；　Master　al'Vere；〃　Faile　said　sweetly；　〃I　for　one　have　always　found　men　to　be　sensible　creatures　who　only　need　to　be　shown　the　wisest　path　once　to　choose　it。〃
　　　　　　　The　Mayor　favored　her　with　an　amused　smile。　〃You　will　be　talking　Perrin　into　going　then；　I　take　it？　Marin's　right；　that　is　wisest；　if　he　wants　to　avoid　a　noose。　The　only　reason　to　stay　is　that　sometimes　a　man　can't　run。　No？　Well；　no　doubt　you　know　best。〃　He　ignored　her　sour　look。　〃e　along；　my　boy。　Let's　tell　Marin　the　good　news。　Set　your　teeth　and　hold　on　to　your　intentions；　because　she　won't　give　up　trying　to　shift　you。〃
　　　　　　　In　the　kitchen；　Loial　and　the　Aiel　were　cross…legged　on　the　floor。　There　was　certainly　no　chair　in　the　inn　big　enough　for　the　Ogier。　He　sat　with　an　arm　resting　on　the　kitchen　table；　tall　enough　sitting　to　look　Marin　al'Vere　in　the　eye。　Bran　had　exaggerated　the　smallness　of　the　cup　in　Loial's　hands；　though　on　second　glance　Perrin　saw　it　was　a　white…glazed　soup　bowl。
　　　　　　　Mistress　al'Vere　was　still　doing　her　best　to　pretend　Aiel　and　Ogier　were　normal；　bustling　about　with　a　tray　of　bread　and　cheese　and　pickles；　making　sure　everyone　ate；　but　her　eyes　did　widen　each　time　they　landed　on　Loial；　though　he　tried　to　put　her　at　ease　with　pliments　for　her　baking。　His　tufted　ears　twitched　nervously　whenever　she　looked　at　him；　and　she　gave　a　little　jump　every　time　they　did；　then　shook　her　head；　the　thick　graying　braid　swaying　vigorously。　Given　a　few　hours；　they　might　send　each　other　to　bed　with　the　shakes。
　　　　　　　Loial　heaved　a　deep　bass　sigh　of　relief　at　the　sight　of　Perrin　and　set　his　cup　…　bowl　…　of　tea　on　the　table；　but　the　next　instant　his　broad　face　sagged　sadly。　〃I　am　sorry　to　hear　your　loss；　Perrin。　I　share　your　grief。　Mistress　al'Vere。。。〃　His　ears　twitched　wildly　even　without　looking　at　her；　and　she　gave　another　start。　〃。。。has　been　telling　me　you　will　go；　now　there's　nothing　to　keep　you　here。　If　you　wish　it；　I　will　sing　to　the　apple　trees　before　we　leave。〃
　　　　　　　Bran　and　Marin　exchanged　startled　looks；　and　the　Mayor　actually　reamed　at　his　ear　with　a　finger。
　　　　　　　〃Thank　you；　Loial。　I　will　appreciate　that；　when　there's　time。　But　I　have　work　to　do　before　I　can　go。〃　Mistress　al'Vere　set　the　tray　on　the　table　with　a　sharp　click　and　stared　at　him；　but　he　kept　on；　laying　out　his　plans；　such　as　they　were：　Find　Tam　and　Abell；　and　rescue　the　people　the　Whitecloaks　held。　He　did　not　mention　Trollocs；　though　he　had　vague　plans　there；　too。　Perhaps　not　so　vague。　He　did　not　mean　to　leave　while　there　was　a　Trolloc　or　Myrddraal　alive　in　the　Two　Rivers。　He　fastened　his　thumbs　behind　his　belt　to　keep　from　caressing　his　axe。　〃It　won't　be　easy；〃　he　finished。　〃I　will　appreciate　your　pany；　but　I　will　understand　if　you　want　to　go。　This　isn't　your　fight；　and　you　have　seen　enough　trouble　through　staying　close　to　Emond's　Field　folk。　And　you　won't　write　much　of　
your　book　here。〃
　　　　　　　〃Here　or　there；　it　is　the　same　fight；　I　think；〃　Loial　replied。　〃The　book　can　wait。　Perhaps　I　will　have　a　chapter　about　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　said　I　would　e　with　you；〃　Gaul　put　in　without　being　asked。　〃I　did　not　mean　until　the　journey　grew　hard。　I　owe　you　blood　debt。〃
　　　　　　　Bain　and　Chiad　looked　questioningly　at　Faile；　and　when　she　nodded；　added　their　decisions　to　remain；　too。
　　　　　　　〃Stubborn　foolish；〃　Mistress　al'Vere　said；　〃the　lot　of　you。　Very　likely　you　will　all　end　up　on　gallows；　if　you　live　that　long。　You　know　that；　don't　you？〃　When　they　only　looked　at　her；　she　untied　her　apron　and　lifted　it　over　her　head。　〃Well；　if　you　are　foolish　enough　to　stay；　I　suppose　I　had　better　show　you　where　to　hide。〃
　　　　　　　Her　husband　looked　surprised　at　her　sudden　surrender；　but　he　recovered　quickly。　〃I　thought　perhaps　the　old　sickhouse；　Marin。　No　one　ever　goes　there　now；　and　I　think　it　still　has　most　of　its　roof。〃
　　　　　　　What　was　still　called　the　new　sickhouse；　where　people　were　taken　to　be　tended　if　their　illness　was　contagious；　had　stood　east　of　the　village；　beyond　Master　Thane's　mill；　since　Perrin　was　a　small　boy。　The　old　one；　in　the　Westwood；　had　been　all　but　destroyed　in　a　fierce　windstorm　back　then。　Perrin　remembered　it　as　half…covered　by　vines　and　briars；　with　birds　roosting　in　what　was　left　of　the　thatch　and　a　badger's　den　under　the　back　steps。　It　would　be　a　good　place　to　hide。
　　　　　　　Mistress　al'Vere　gave　Bran　a　sharp　look；　as　though　startled　he　had　thought　of　it。　〃That　will　do；　I　suppose。　For　tonight；　at　least。　That　is　where　I　will　take　them。〃
　　　　　　　〃No　need　for　you　to　do　it；　Marin。　I　can　lead　them　easy　enough；　if　Perrin　doesn't　remember　the　way。〃
　　　　　　　〃Sometimes　you　forget　you're　the　Mayor；　Bran。　You　attract　eyes；　people　wonder　where　you're　going　and　what　you　are　up　to。　Why　don't　you　stay　here；　and　if　anyone　drops　by；　see　they　go　away　thinking　everything　is　just　as　it　should　be。　There's　mutton　stew　in　the　kettle；　and　lentil　soup　that　just　needs　heating。　Now　don't　mention　the　sickhouse　to　anyone；　Bran。　Best　if　no　one　even　remembers　it　exists。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　not　a　fool；　Marin；〃　he　said　stiffly。
　　　　　　　〃I　know　you　aren't；　dear。〃　She　patted　her　husband's　cheek；　but　her　fond　look　tightened　as　it　shifted　from　Bran　to　the　rest　of　them。　〃You　do　cause　trouble；〃　she　muttered　before　handing　out　instructions。
　　　　　　　They　were　to　travel　in　smaller　parties　so　as　not　to　attract　attention。　She　would　cross　the　village　by　herself　and　meet　them　in　the　woods　on　the　other　side。　The　Aiel　assured　her　they　could　find　the　lightning…split　oak　she　described；　and　slipped　out　by　the　back　door。　Perrin　knew　it；　a　huge　tree；　a　mile　beyond　the　edge　of　the　village；　that　looked　as　if　it　had　been　cleft　down　the　middle　by　an　axe　yet　somehow　continued　to　live　and　even　flourish。　He　was　sure　he　could　go　straight　to　the　sickhouse　itself　with　no　trouble；　but　Mistress　al'Vere　insisted　everyone　meet　at　the　oak。
　　　　　　　〃You　go　wandering　about　by　yourself；　Perrin；　and　the　Light　knows　what　you　might　stumble　into。〃　She　looked　up　at　Loial　…　standing　now；　his　shaggy　hair　brushing　the　ceiling　beams　and　sighed。　〃I　do　wish　there　was　something　we　could　do　about　your　height；　Master　Loial。　I　know　it　is　hot；　but　would　you　mind　wearing　your　cloak；　with　the　hood　up？　Even　these　days　most　people　will　soon　convince　themselves　they　didn't　see　what　they　saw　if　it　isn't　what　they　expect；　but　if　they　catch　a　glimpse　of　your　face。。。　Not　that　you　aren't　quite　handsome；　I'm　sure；　but　you'll　never　pass　for　Two　Rivers　folk。〃
　　　　　　　Loial's　smile　split　his　face　in　two　beneath　his　wide　snout　of　a　nose。　〃The　day　doesn't　seem　too　warm　for　a　cloak　at　all；　Mistress　al'Vere。〃
　　　　　　　Fetching　a　light；　knit　shawl　with　blue　fringe；　she　acpanied　Perrin；　Faile　and　Loial　out　to　the　stableyard　to　see　them　off；　and　for　a　moment　it　appeared　all　their　efforts　at　secrecy　were　doomed。　Cenn　Buie；　looking　made　from　gnarled　old　roots；　was　examining　the　horses　with　beady　eyes。　Especially　Loial's　tall　horse；　as　big　as　one　of　Bran's　Dhurrans。　Cenn　scratc