rj.theshadowrising-第124部分

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！


the　Light　aren't　letting　anyone　cross　the　Taren。　I　don't　know　why；　but　there　it　is。
　　　　　　　〃But　there　are　so　many　fine　stories　in　the　country；〃　Verin　said；　blinking　mildly。　〃I　would　miss　them　all　if　I　remained　in　a　village。〃　Without　lying　once；　she　managed　to　give　the　impression　that　she　had　e　to　the　Two　Rivers　in　search　of　old　stories；　the　same　as　Moiraine　had　done；　what　seemed　so　long　ago。　Her　Great　Serpent　ring　lay　in　her　belt　pouch；　though　Perrin　doubted　that　any　of　these　people　would　know　what　it　meant。
　　　　　　　Elisa　al'Seen　smoothed　her　white　apron　and　smiled　gravely　at　Verin。　Though　her　hair　had　less　gray　than　her　husband's；　she　looked　older　than　Verin；　her　lined　face　motherly。　Very　likely　she　thought　she　was。　〃It　is　an　honor　to　have　a　real　scholar　under　our　roof；　yet　Jac　is　right；〃　she　said　firmly。　〃You　truly　are　wele　to　stay　here；　but　when　you　leave；　you　must　go　immediately　to　a　village。　Traveling　about　isn't　safe。　The　same　goes　for　you；　my　Lady；〃　she　added　to　Faile。　〃Trollocs　are　not　something　two　women　should　face　with　only　a　handful　of　men　for　protection。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　think　on　it；〃　Faile　said　calmly。　I　thank　you　for　your　consideration。〃　She　sipped　her　tea；　as　unconcerned　as　Verin；　who　had　begun　writing　in　her　small　book　again；　only　looking　up　to　smile　at　Elisa　and　murmur；　〃There　are　so　many　stories　in　the　countryside。　〃　Faile　accepted　a　butter　cookie　from　a　young　al'Seen　girl；　who　curtsied　and　blushed　furiously；　all　the　while　staring　at　Faile　in　wide…eyed　admiration。
　　　　　　　Perrin　grinned　to　himself。　In　her　green　riding　silks；　they　all　took　Faile　for　nobly　born；　and　he　had　to　admit　she　carried　it　off　beautifully。　When　she　wanted　to。　The　girl　might　not　have　been　so　admiring　had　she　seen　her　in　one　of　her　tempers；　when　her　tongue　could　flay　the　hide　off　a　wagon　driver。
　　　　　　　Mistress　al'Seen　turned　to　her　husband；　shaking　her　head；　Faile　and　Verin　were　not　going　to　be　convinced。　Jac　looked　at　Tomas。　〃Can　you　convince　them？〃
　　　　　　　I　go　where　she　tells　me；〃　Tomas　replied。　Sitting　there　with　a　teacup　in　his　hand；　the　Warder　still　seemed　on　the　point　of　drawing　his　sword。
　　　　　　　Master　al'Seen　sighed　and　shifted　his　attention。　〃Perrin；　most　of　us　have　met　you　one　time　or　another；　down　to　Emond's　Field；　We　know　you；　after　a　fashion。　At　least；　we　knew　you　before　you　ran　off　last　year。　We've　heard　some　troubling　things；　but　I　suppose　Tam　and　Abell　wouldn't　be　with　you　if　they　were　true。〃
　　　　　　　Flann's　wife；　Adine；　a　plump　woman　with　a　self…contented　eye；　sniffed　sharply。　〃I've　heard　some　things　about　Tam　and　Abell；　too。　And　about　their　boys；　running　off　with　Aes　Sedai。　With　Aes　Sedai！　A　dozen　of　them！　You　all　remember　how　Emond's　Field　was　burned　to　the　ground。　The　Light　knows　what　they　could　have　got　up　to。　I　heard　tell　they　kidnapped　the　al'Vere　girl。〃　Flann　shook　his　head　resignedly　and　gave　Jac　an　apologetic　look。
　　　　　　　〃If　you　believe　that；〃　Wit　said　wryly；　〃you'll　believe　anything。　I　talked　to　Marin　al'Vere　two　weeks　ago；　and　she　said　her　girl　went　off　on　her　own　hook。　And　there　was　only　one　Aes　Sedai。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　are　you　suggesting；　Adine？〃　Elisa　al'Seen　put　her　fists　on　her　hips。　〃e　out　with　it。〃　There　was　more　than　a　hint　of　〃I　dare　you〃　in　her　voice。
　　　　　　　〃I　didn't　say　I　believed　it；〃　Adine　protested　stoutly；　〃just　that　I　heard　it。　There　are　questions　to　be　asked。　The　Children　didn't　latch　on　to　those　three　by　pulling　names　out　of　a　cap。〃
　　　　　　　〃If　you　listen　for　a　change；〃　Elisa　said　firmly；　〃you　might　hear　an　answer　or　two。〃　Adine　set　herself　to　rearranging　her　skirts；　but　though　she　muttered　to　herself；　she　held　her　tongue　otherwise。
　　　　　　　〃Does　anyone　else　have　anything　to　say？〃　Jac　asked　with　barely　concealed　impatience。　When　no　one　spoke；　he　went　on。　〃Perrin；　no　one　here　believes　you　a　Darkfriend；　any　more　than　we　believe　Tam　or　Abell　is。〃　He　shot　Adine　a　hard　look；　and　Flann　put　a　hand　on　his　wife's　shoulder；　she　kept　silent；　but　her　lips　writhed　with　what　she　did　not　say。　Jac　muttered　to　himself　before　continuing。　〃Even　so；　Perrin；　I　think　we　have　a　right　to　hear　why　the　Whitecloaks　are　saying　what　they　are。　They　accuse　you　and　Mat　Cauthon　and　Rand　al'Thor　of　being　Darkfriends。　Why？〃
　　　　　　　Faile　opened　her　mouth　angrily；　but　Perrin　waved　her　to　silence。　Her　obedience　surprised　him　so；　he　stared　at　her　a　moment　before　speaking。　Maybe　she　was　ill。　〃Whitecloaks　don't　need　much；　Master　al'Seen。　If　you　don't　bow　and　scrape　and　walk　wide　of　them；　you　must　be　a　Darkfriend。　If　you　don't　say　what　they　want；　think　what　they　want；　you　must　be　a　Darkfriend。　I　don't　know　why　they　think　Rand　and　Mat　are。〃　That　was　the　simple　truth。　If　the　Whitecloaks　knew　Rand　was　the　Dragon　Reborn；　that　would　be　enough　for　them；　but　there　was　no　way　they　could　know。　Mat　confused　him　entirely。　It　had　to　be　Fain's　work。　〃Myself；　I　killed　some　of　them。〃　For　a　wonder；　the　gasps　that　rounded　the　room　did　not　make　him　cringe　inside；　and　neither　did　the　thought　of　what　he　had　done。　〃They　killed　a　friend　of　mine　and　would　have　killed　me。　I　didn't　see　my　way　clear　to　let　them。　That's　the　short　of　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　can　see　where　you　wouldn't；〃　Jac　said　slowly。　Even　with　Trollocs　about；　Two　Rivers　people　were　not　used　to　killing。　Some　years　ago　a　woman　had　murdered　her　husband　because　she　wanted　another　man　to　marry　her；　that　was　the　last　time　anybody　had　died　of　violence　in　the　Two　Rivers　that　Perrin　knew。　Until　the　Trollocs。
　　　　　　　〃The　Children　of　the　Light；〃　Verin　said；　〃are　very　good　at　one　thing。　Making　people　who　have　been　neighbors　all　their　lives　suspicious　of　each　other。〃　All　the　farm　folk　looked　at　her；　some　nodding　after　a　moment。
　　　　　　　〃They　have　a　man　with　them；　I　hear；〃　Perrin　said。　〃Padan　Fain。　The　peddler。〃
　　　　　　　〃I've　heard；〃　Jac　said。　〃I　hear　he　calls　himself　by　some　other　name　nowadays。　〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　nodded。　〃Ordeith。　But　Fain　or　Ordeith；　he　is　a　Darkfriend。　He　admitted　as　much；　admitted　to　bringing　the　Trollocs　on　Winternight　last　year。　And　he　rides　with　the　Whitecloaks。　〃
　　　　　　　〃That's　very　easy　for　you　to　claim；〃　Adine　Lewin　said　sharply。　〃You　can　name　anybody　Darkfriend。〃
　　　　　　　〃So　who　do　you　believe？〃　Tomas　said。　〃Those　who　came　a　few　weeks　ago；　arrested　people　you　know；　and　burned　their　farms？　Or　a　young　man　who　grew　up　right　here？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　no　Darkfriend；　Master　al'Seen；〃　Perrin　said；　〃but　if　you　want　me　to　go；　I　will。〃
　　　　　　　〃No；〃　Elisa　said　quickly；　shooting　her　husband　a　meaningful　glance。　And　Adine　a　freezing　one　that　made　her　swallow　what　she　had　been　about　to　say。　〃No。　You　are　wele　to　stay　here　as　long　as　you　like。〃　Jac　hesitated；　then　nodded　agreement。　She　came　over　and　looked　down　at　Perrin；　resting　her　hands　on　his　shoulders。　〃You　have　our　sympathy；〃　she　said　softly。　〃Your　father　was　a　good　man。　Your　mother　was　my　friend；　and　a　fine　woman。　I　know　she'd　want　you　stay　with　us；　Perrin。　The　Children　seldom　e　this　way；　and　if　they　do；　the　boys　on　the　roof　will　give　us　plenty　of　warning　to　get　you　into　the　attic。　You　will　be　safe　here。〃
　　　　　　　She　meant　it。　She　actually　meant　it。　And　when　Perrin　looked　at　Master　al'Seen；　he　nodded　again。　〃Thank　you；　〃　Perrin　said；　his　throat　tight。　〃But　I　have。。。　things　to　do。　Things　I　have　to　take　care　of。〃
　　　　　　　She　sighed；　patting　him　gently。　〃Of　course。　Just　you　be　sure　those　things　don't　get　you。。。　hurt。　Well；　at　least　I　can　send　you　off　with　a　full　belly。〃
　　　　　　　There　were　not　enough　tables　in　the　house　to　seat　everyone　for　the　midday　meal；　so　bowls　of　lamb　stew　were　handed　out　with　chunks　of　crusty　bread　and　admonitions　not　to　drip；　and　everyone　ate　where　they　sat　or　stood。　Before　they　were　done　eating；　a　lanky　boy　with　his　wrists　sticking　out　of　his　sleeves　and　a　bow　taller　than　he　was　came　bounding　in。　Perrin　thought　he　was　Win　Lewin；　but　he　could　not　be　sure；　boys　grew　fast　at　that　age。　〃It's　Lord　Luc；〃　the　skinny　boy　exclaimed　excitedly。　〃Lord　Luc　is　ing。〃


Chapter　33
（Serpent　and　Wheel）
A　New　Weave　in　the　Pattern

　　　　　　　The　lord　himself　followed　almost　on　the　boy's　heels；　a　tall；　broad…shouldered　man　in　his　middle　years；　with　a　hard；　angular　face　and　dark　reddish　hair　white…winged　at　the　temples。　There　was　an　arrogant　cast　to　his　dark　blue　eyes；　and　he　certainly　looked　every　inch　a　nobleman；　in　a　finely　cut　green　coat　discreetly　embroidered　in　golden　scrolls　down　the　sleeves　and　gauntlets　worked　in　thread…of…gold。　Gold…work　wrapped　his　sword　scabbard；　as　well；　and　banded　the　tops　of　his　polished　boots。　Somehow　he　made　the　simple　act　of　striding　in　through　the　doorway　grand。　Perrin　despised　him　on　sight。
　　　　　　　All　the　al'Seens　and　Lewins　rushed　in　a　mass　to　greet　the　lord；　men；　women　and　children　crowding　around　him　with　smiles　and　bows　and　curtsies；　babbling　all　over　one　another　about　the　honor　of　his　presence；　the　great　honor　of　a　visit　from　a　Hunter　for　the　Horn。　They　seemed　most　excited　about　that。　A　lord　under　the　same　roof　might　be　exciting；　but　one　of　those　sworn　to　search　for　the　legendary　Horn　of　Valere　…　that　was　the　stuff　of　stories。　Perrin　did　not　think　he　had　ever　seen　Two　Rivers　folk　fawn　over　anybody；　but　these　came　close。
　　　　　　　This　Lord　Luc　took　it　as　clearly　no　more　than　his　due；　perhaps　less。　And　tiresome　to　put　up　with；　at　that。　The　farm　folk　did　not　seem　to　see；　or　maybe　they　just　did　not　recognize　that