rj.theshadowrising-第122部分

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s　something　she　did　not　seem　to　understand。　On　the　other　hand；　he　could　have　done　without　her　being　so　intrigued。　What　could　be　fascinating　to　an　Aes　Sedai　about　a　hammer？
　　　　　　　With　only　the　riding　animals　to　prepare；　it　took　no　time　at　all　to　be　ready　to　go。　Verin　had　a　nondescript　brown　gelding；　as　plain　to　the　untrained　eye　as　her　garb；　but　its　deep　chest　and　strong　rump　suggested　as　much　endurance　as　her　Warder's　ferocious…eyed　gray；　tall　and　sleek。　Stepper　snorted　at　the　other　stallion　until　Perrin　patted　the　dun's　neck。　The　gray　was　more　disciplined　…　and　just　as　ready　to　fight；　if　Tomas　let　it。　The　Warder　controlled　his　animal　with　his　knees　as　much　as　his　reins；　the　two　seeming　almost　one。
　　　　　　　Master　Cauthon　watched　Tomas's　horse　with　interest　…　wartrained　mounts　were　not　much　seen　in　these　pails　…　but　Verin's　earned　an　approving　nod　at　first　glance。　He　was　as　good　a　judge　of　horseflesh　as　there　was　in　the　Two　Rivers。　No　doubt　he　had　chosen　his　and　Master　al'Thor's　rough…coated　animals；　not　so　tall　as　the　other　horses；　but　sturdy；　with　gaits　that　spoke　of　good　speed　and　staying　power。
　　　　　　　The　three　Aiel　glided　ahead　as　the　party　started　north；　with　long　strides　that　carried　them　out　of　sight　quickly　in　the　woods；　early…morning　shadows　sharp　and　long　in　the　brightness　of　sunrise。　Now　and　then　a　flash　of　gray…and…brown　was　visible　through　the　trees；　probably　on　purpose；　to　let　the　others　know　they　were　there。　Tam　and　Abell　took　the　lead；　bows　across　the　tall　pommels　of　their　saddles；　with　Perrin　and　Faile　behind；　and　Verin　and　Tomas　bringing　up　the　rear。
　　　　　　　Perrin　could　have　done　without　Verin's　eyes　on　his　back。　He　could　feel　them　between　his　shoulder　blades。　He　wondered　if　she　knew　about　the；　wolves。　Not　a　fortable　thought。　Brown　sisters　supposedly　knew　things　the　other　Ajahs　did　not；　obscure　things；　old　knowledge。　Perhaps　she　knew　how　he　could　avoid　losing　himself；　what　was　human　in　him；　to　the　wolves。　Short　of　finding　Elyas　Machera　again；　she　might　be　his　best　chance。　All　he　had　to　do　was　trust　her。　Whatever　she　knew　she　would　likely　use；　certainly　to　help　the　White　Tower；　probably　to　help　Rand。　The　only　trouble　was　that　helping　Rand　might　not　bring　what　he　wanted　now。　Everything　would　have　been　so　much　simpler　without　any　Aes　Sedai。
　　　　　　　Mostly　they　rode　in　silence　except　for　the　sounds　of　the　forest；　squirrels　and　woodpeckers　and　occasional　birdsong。　At　one　point　Faile　glanced　back。　〃She　will　not　harm　you；〃　she　said；　her　soft　tone　clashing　with　the　fierce　light　in　her　dark　eyes。
　　　　　　　Perrin　blinked。　She　meant　to　protect　him。　Against　Aes　Sedai。　He　was　never　going　to　understand　her；　or　know　what　to　expect　next。　She　was　about　as　confusing　as　the　Aes　Sedai　sometimes。
　　　　　　　They　broke　out　of　the　Westwood　perhaps　four　or　five　miles　north　of　Emond's　Field　with　the　sun　standing　its　own　height　above　the　trees　to　the　east。　Scattered　copses；　mainly　leatherleaf　and　pine　and　oak；　lay　between　them　and　the　nearest　hedged　fields　of　barley　and　oats；　tabac　and　tall　grass　for　hay。　Strangely　there　was　no　one　in　sight；　no　smoke　rising　from　the　farmhouse　chimneys　beyond　the　fields。　Perrin　knew　the　people　who　lived　there；　the　al'Loras　in　two　of　the　big　houses；　the　Barsteres　in　the　others。　Hardworking　folk。　If　there　had　been　anyone　in　those　houses；　they　would　have　been　at　their　labors　long　since。　Gaul　waved　from　the　edge　of　a　thicket；　then　vanished　into　the　trees。
　　　　　　　Perrin　heeled　Stepper　up　beside　Tam　and　Abell。　〃Shouldn't　we　stay　under　cover　as　long　as　we　can？　Six　people　on　horses　won't　go　unnoticed。〃　They　kept　their　mounts　at　a　steady　walk。
　　　　　　　〃Not　many　to　notice　us；　lad；〃　Master　al'Thor　replied；　〃as　long　as　we　stay　away　from　the　North　Road。　Most　farms　have　been　abandoned；　close　by　to　the　woods。　Anyway；　nobody　travels　alone　these　days；　not　far　from　their　own　doorstep。　Ten　people　together　wouldn't　be　noticed　twice　nowadays；　though　mostly　folk　travel　by　wagon；　if　at　all。〃
　　　　　　　〃It'll　take　us　most　of　daylight　to　reach　Watch　Hill　as　it　is；〃　Master　Cauthon　said；　〃without　trying　to　cover　the　distance　through　the　woods。　Would　be　a　little　faster　along　the　road；　but　more　chance　of　meeting　Whitecloaks；　too。　More　chance　somebody　might　turn　us　in　for　the　rewards。〃
　　　　　　　Tam　nodded。　〃But　we　have　friends　up　this　way；　too。　We　figure　to　stop　at　Jac　al'Seen's　farm　about　midday　to　breathe　the　horses　and　stretch　our　legs。　We　will　make　it　to　Watch　Hill　while　there's　still　light　enough　to　see。〃
　　　　　　　〃There　will　be　enough　light；〃　Perrin　said　absently；　there　was　always　light　enough　for　him。　He　twisted　in　his　saddle　to　peer　back　at　the　farmhouses。　Abandoned；　but　not　burned；　not　ransacked　that　he　could　make　out。　Curtains　hung　at　the　windows　still。　Unbroken　windows。　Trollocs　liked　smashing　things；　and　empty　houses　were　an　invitation。　Weeds　stood　tall　among　the　barley　and　oats；　but　the　fields　had　not　been　trampled。　〃Have　Trollocs　attacked　Emond's　Field　itself？〃
　　　　　　　〃No；　they　have　not；　〃　Master　Cauthon　said　in　a　thankful　tone。　〃They'd　have　no　easy　time　if　they　did；　mind。　People　learned　to　keep　a　sharp　eye　out　Winternight　before　last。　There's　a　bow　beside　every　door；　and　spears　and　the　like。　Besides；　the　Whitecloaks　patrol　down　to　Emond's　Field　every　few　days。　Much　as　I　hate　to　admit　it；　they　do　keep　the　Trollocs　back。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　shook　his　head。　〃Do　you　have　any　idea　how　many　Trollocs　there　are？〃
　　　　　　　〃One's　too　many；〃　Abell　grunted。
　　　　　　　〃Maybe　two　hundred；〃　Tam　said。　〃Maybe　more。　Probably　more。〃　Master　Cauthon　looked　surprised。　〃Think　on　it；　Abell。　I　don't　know　how　many　the　Whitecloaks　have　killed；　but　the　Warders　claim　they　and　the　Aes　Sedai　have　finished　off　nearly　fifty；　and　two　Fades。　It　hasn't　lessened　the　number　of　burnings　we　hear　about。　I　think　it　has　to　be　more；　but　you　figure　it　out　for　yourself。　〃　The　other　man　nodded　unhappily。
　　　　　　　〃Then　why　haven't　they　attacked　Emond's　Field？〃　Perrin　asked。　〃If　two　or　three　hundred　came　in　the　night；　they　could　likely　burn　the　whole　village　and　be　gone　before　the　Whitecloaks　up　at　Watch　Hill　even　heard　about　it。　Still　easier　for　them　to　hit　Deven　Ride。　You　said　the　Whitecloaks　don't　go　down　that　far。〃
　　　　　　　〃Luck；〃　Abell　muttered；　but　he　sounded　troubled。　〃That's　what　it　is。　We've　been　lucky。　What　else　could　it　be？　What　are　you　getting　at；　boy？〃
　　　　　　　〃What　he's　getting　at；〃　Faile　said；　closing　up　beside　them；　〃is　that　there　must　be　a　reason。〃　Swallow　was　enough　taller　than　the　Two　Rivers　horses　to　let　her　look　Tam　and　Abell　in　the　eye；　and　she　made　it　a　firm　look。　〃I　have　seen　the　aftermath　of　Trolloc　raids　in　Saldaea。　They　despoil　what　they　do　not　bum；　kill　or　carry　off　people　and　farm　animals；　whoever　and　whatever　is　not　protected。　Entire　villages　have　disappeared　in　bad　years。　They　seek　wherever　is　weakest；　wherever　they　can　kill　the　most。　My　father　…〃　She　bit　it　off；　drew　a　deep　breath；　and　went　on。　〃Perrin　has　seen　what　you　should　have。〃　She　flashed　him　a　proud　smile。　〃If　the　Trollocs　have　not　attacked　your　villages；　they　have　a　reason。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　thought　of　that；〃　Tam　said　quietly；　〃but　I　can't　think　why。　Until　we　know；　luck　is　as　good　an　answer　as　any。〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps；〃　Verin　said；　joining　them；　〃it　is　a　lure。〃　Tomas　still　hung　back　a　little；　dark　eyes　searching　the　country　they　rode　through　as　relentlessly　as　any　Aiel's。　The　Warder　was　watching　the　sky；　too；　there　was　always　the　chance　of　a　raven。　Barely　pausing；　Verin's　gaze　brushed　across　Perrin　to　the　two　older　men。　〃News　of　continued　trouble；　news　of　Trollocs；　will　draw　eyes　to　the　Two　Rivers。　Andor　will　surely　send　soldiers；　and　perhaps　other　lands　as　well；　for　Trollocs　this　far　south。　That　is　if　the　Children　are　allowing　any　news　out；　of　course。　I　surmise　Queen　Morgase's　Guards　would　be　little　happier　to　find　so　many　Whitecloaks　than　they　would　to　find　Trollocs。〃
　　　　　　　〃War；〃　Abell　muttered。　〃What　we　have　is　bad　enough；　but　you　are　talking　war。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　might　be　so；〃　Verin　said　placently。　〃It　might　be。〃　Frowning　in　a　preoccupied　manner；　she　dug　a　steel…nibbed　pen　and　a　small　cloth…bound　book　from　her　pouch；　and　opened　a　little　leather　case　at　her　belt　that　held　an　ink　bottle　and　sandshaker。　Wiping　the　pen　absentmindedly　on　her　sleeve；　she　began　jotting　in　the　book　despite　the　awkwardness　of　writing　while　riding。　She　seemed　pletely　oblivious　of　any　unease　she　might　have　caused。　Perhaps　she　really　was。
　　　　　　　Master　Cauthon　kept　murmuring　〃War；〃　wonderingly；　under　his　breath；　and　Faile　put　a　forting　hand　on　Perrin's　arm；　her　eyes　sad。
　　　　　　　Master　al'Thor　only　grunted；　he　had　been　in　a　war；　so　Perrin　had　heard；　though　not　where　or　how；　exactly。　Just　somewhere　outside　the　Two　Rivers；　where　he　had　gone　as　a　young　man；　returning　years　later　with　a　wife　and　a　child；　Rand。　Few　Two　Rivers　folk　ever　left。　Perrin　doubted　if　any　of　them　really　knew　what　a　war　was；　except　by　what　they　heard　from　peddlers；　or　merchants　and　their　guards　and　wagon　drivers。　He　knew；　though。　He　had　seen　war；　on　Toman　Head。　Abell　was　right。　What　they　had　was　bad　enough；　but　it　did　not　e　near　war。
　　　　　　　He　held　his　peace。　Maybe　Verin　was　right。　And　maybe　she　just　wanted　to　stop　them　speculating。　If　Trollocs　harrying　the　Two　Rivers　were　bait　for　a　trap；　it　had　to　be　a　trap　for　Rand；　and　the　Aes　Sedai　had　to　know　it。