rj.theshadowrising-第165部分

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ygate。
　　　　　　　Farms　began　to　appear　more　often；　closer　together；　until　they　traveled　along　hard…packed　dirt　between　fields　bordered　by　hedges　or　low；　rough　stone　walls。　Abandoned　farms。　No　one　here　clung　to　the　land。
　　　　　　　They　came　to　the　Old　Road；　which　ran　north　from　the　White　River；　the　Manetherendrelle；　through　Deven　Ride　to　Emond's　Field；　and　at　last　began　to　see　sheep　in　the　pastures；　great　clumps　like　a　dozen　men's　flocks　gathered　together；　with　ten　shepherds　where　there　once　would　have　been　one；　and　half　of　them　grown　men。　Bow…armed　shepherds　watched　them　pass；　singing　at　the　tops　of　their　lungs；　not　knowing　quite　what　to　make　of　it。
　　　　　　　Perrin　did　not　know　what　to　make　of　his　first　view　of　Emond's　Field；　and　neither　did　the　other　Two　Rivers　men；　from　the　way　their　singing　faltered　and　died。
　　　　　　　The　trees；　fences　and　hedges　closest　to　the　village　were　simply　gone；　cleared　away。　The　westernmost　houses　of　Emond's　Field　had　once　stood　among　the　trees　on　the　edge　of　the　Westwood。　The　oaks　and　leatherleaf　between　the　houses　remained；　but　now　the　forest's　brim　stood　five　hundred　paces　away；　a　long　bowshot；　and　axes　rang　loud　as　men　pushed　it　back　farther。　Row　on　row　of　waist…high　stakes；　driven　into　the　ground　at　an　angle；　surrounded　the　village　a　little　out　from　the　houses　and　presented　a　continuous　hedge　of　sharpened　points；　except　where　the　road　ran　in。　At　intervals　behind　the　stakes　men　stood　like　sentries；　some　wearing　bits　of　old　armor　or　leather　shirts　sewn　with　rusty　steel　discs；　a　few　in　dented　old　steel　caps；　with　boar　spears；　or　halberds　rooted　out　of　attics；　or　bush　hooks　fitted　to　long　poles。　Other　men；　and　boys；　were　up　on　some　of　the　thatched　roofs　with　bows；　they　stood　when　they　saw　Perrin　and　the　others　ing；　and　shouted　to　people　below。
　　　　　　　Beside　the　road　behind　the　stakes　stood　a　contraption　of　wood　and　thick；　twisted　rope；　with　a　nearby　pile　of　stones　bigger　than　a　man's　head。　Ihvon　noticed　Perrin　frowning　at　it　as　they　came　closer。　〃Catapult；〃　the　Warder　said。　〃Six；　so　far。　Your　carpenters　knew　what　to　do　once　Tomas　and　I　showed　them。　The　stakes　will　hold　off　charging　Trollocs　or　Whitecloaks；　either　one。〃　He　might　have　been　discussing　the　prospects　for　more　rain。
　　　　　　　〃I　told　you　your　village　was　preparing　to　defend　itself。〃　Faile　sounded　fiercely　proud；　as　though　it　were　her　village。　〃A　hard　people；　for　such　a　soft　land。　They　could　almost　be　Saldaean。　Moiraine　always　said　Manetheren's　blood　runs　strong　here　still。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　could　only　shake　his　head。
　　　　　　　The　hard…packed　dirt　streets　were　nearly　crowded　enough　for　a　city；　the　gaps　between　houses　filled　with　carts　and　wagons；　and　through　open　doors　and　unshuttered　windows　he　could　see　more　people。　The　crowd　parted　before　Ihvon　and　the　Aiel；　and　rustling　whispers　acpanied　them　along　the　street。
　　　　　　　〃It's　Perrin　Goldeneyes。〃
　　　　　　　〃Perrin　Goldeneyes。〃
　　　　　　　〃Perrin　Goldeneyes。〃
　　　　　　　He　wished　they　would　not　do　that。　These　people　knew　him；　some　of　them。　What　did　they　think　they　were　doing？　There　was　horse…faced　Neysa　Ayellin；　who　had　paddled　his　ten…year…old　backside　that　time　Mat　talked　him　into　stealing　one　of　her　gooseberry　pies。　And　there　was　pink…cheeked；　big…eyed　Cilia　Cole；　the　first　girl　he　had　ever　kissed　and　still　pleasingly　plump；　and　Pel　Aydaer；　with　his　pipe　and　his　bald　head；　who　had　taught　Perrin　how　to　catch　trout　with　his　hands；　and　Daise　Congar　herself；　a　tall；　wide　woman　who　made　Alsbet　Luhhan　seem　soft；　with　her　husband　Wit；　a　scrawny　man　overshadowed　as　always　by　his　wife。　And　they　were　all　staring　at　him；　and　whispering　to　the　people　from　off；　who　might　not　know　who　he　was。　When　old　Cenn　Buie　lifted　a　little　boy　up　on　his　shoulder；　pointing　at　Perrin　and　talking　enthusiastically　to　the　boy；　Perrin　groaned。　They　had　all　gone　mad。
　　　　　　　Townsfolk　trailed　after　Perrin　and　the　others；　around　them；　in　a　parade　that　rode　a　swell　of　murmurs。　Chickens　scurried　every　which　way　under　people's　feet。　Bawling　calves　and　pigs　squealing　in　pens　behind　the　houses　peted　with　the　noise　of　the　humans。　Sheep　crowded　the　Green；　and　black…and…white　milkcows　cropped　the　grass　in　pany　with　flocks　of　geese；　gray　and　white。
　　　　　　　And　in　the　middle　of　the　Green　rose　a　tall　pole；　the　red…bordered　white　banner　at　its　peak　rippling　lazily；　displaying　a　red　wolf's　head。　He　looked　at　Faile；　but　she　shook　her　head；　as　surprised　as　he。
　　　　　　　〃A　symbol。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　had　not　heard　Verin　approach；　though　now　he　caught　hushed　whispers　of　〃Aes　Sedai〃　floating　around　her。　Ihvon　did　not　look　surprised。　People　stared　at　her　with　awe…filled　eyes。
　　　　　　　〃People　need　symbols；〃　Verin　went　on；　resting　a　hand　on　Stepper's　shoulder。　〃When　Alanna　told　a　few　of　the　villagers　how　much　Trollocs　fear　wolves；　everyone　seemed　to　think　this　banner　a　grand　idea。　Don't　you；　Perrin？〃　Was　there　a　dryness　in　her　voice　then？　Her　dark　eyes　looked　up　at　him；　birdlike。　A　bird　watching　a　worm？
　　　　　　　〃I　wonder　what　Queen　Morgase　will　think　of　that；〃　Faile　said。　〃This　is　part　of　Andor。　Queens　seldom　like　strange　banners　being　raised　in　their　realms。〃
　　　　　　　〃That's　nothing　but　lines　on　a　map；〃　Perrin　told　her。　It　was　good　to　be　still；　the　throbbing　from　the　arrowhead　seemed　to　have　abated　somewhat。　〃I　did　not　even　know　we　were　supposed　to　be　part　of　Andor　until　I　went　to　Caemlyn。　I　doubt　many　people　here　do。〃
　　　　　　　〃Rulers　have　a　tendency　to　believe　maps；　Perrin。〃　There　was　no　doubt　of　the　dryness　in　Faile's　tone。　〃When　I　was　a　child；　there　were　parts　of　Saldaea　that　had　not　seen　a　taxman　in　five　generations。　Once　Father　could　turn　his　attention　from　the　Blight　for　a　time；　Tenobia　made　sure　they　knew　who　their　queen　was。〃
　　　　　　　〃This　is　the　Two　Rivers；〃　he　said；　grinning；　〃not　Saldaea。〃　They　did　sound　very　fierce；　up　there　in　Saldaea。　As　he　turned　back　to　Venn；　the　grin　became　a　frown。　〃I　thought　you　were。。。　hiding。。。　who　you　are。〃　He　could　not　say　which　was　more　disturbing；　Aes　Sedai　there　in　secret；　or　Aes　Sedai　in　the　open。
　　　　　　　The　Aes　Sedai's　hand　hovered　an　inch　from　the　broken…off　arrow　jutting　from　his　side。　Something　tingled　around　the　wound。　〃Oh；　this　is　not　good；〃　she　murmured。　〃Caught　in　the　rib；　and　some　infection　in　spite　of　that　poultice。　This　needs　Alanna；　I　think。〃　She　blinked　and　pulled　her　hand　back；　the　tingle　went；　too。　〃What？　Hiding？　Oh。　With　what　has　been　stirred　up　here　now；　we　could　hardly　remain　hidden。　I　suppose　we　could　have。。。　gone　away。　You　wouldn't　want　that；　would　you？〃　There　was　that　sharp；　considering；　birdlike　stare　again。
　　　　　　　He　hesitated；　and　finally　sighed。　〃I　suppose　not。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　that　is　good　to　hear；〃　she　said　with　a　smile。
　　　　　　　〃Why　did　you　really　e　here；　Verin？〃
　　　　　　　She　did　not　seem　to　hear　him。　Or　did　not　want　to。　〃Now　we　need　to　see　to　that　thing　in　you。　And　these　other　lads　need　to　be　looked　after；　too。　Alanna　and　I　will　see　to　the　worst；　but。。。〃
　　　　　　　The　men　with　him　were　as　stunned　by　what　they　found　here　as　he　was。　Ban　scratched　his　head　at　the　banner；　and　a　few　just　stared　around　in　amazement。　Most　looked　at　Verin；　though；　wide…eyed　and　uneasy；　they　had　surely　heard　the　whispers　of　〃Aes　Sedai。〃　Perrin　was　not　escaping　those　looks　entirely　himself；　he　realized；　talking　to　an　Aes　Sedai　as　though　she　were　just　any　village　woman。
　　　　　　　Verin　considered　them　right　back；　then　suddenly；　without　seeming　to　look；　reached　behind　her　to　snatch　a　girl　of　about　ten　or　twelve　out　of　the　onlookers。　The　girl；　her　long　dark　hair　caught　up　with　blue　ribbons；　went　rigid　with　shock。　〃You　know　Daise　Congar；　girl？〃　Verin　said。　〃Well；　you　find　her　and　tell　her　there　are　injured　men　who　need　a　Wisdom's　herbs。　And　tell　her　to　jump。　You　tell　her　I'll　have　no　patience　with　her　airs。　Do　you　have　that？　Off　with　you。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　did　not　recognize　the　girl；　but　evidently　she　did　know　Daise；　because　she　flinched　at　the　message。　But　Verin　was　an　Aes　Sedai。　After　a　moment　of　weighing　…　Daise　Congar　against　an　Aes　Sedai　…　the　girl　scampered　away　into　the　crowd。
　　　　　　　〃And　Alanna　will　take　care　of　you；〃　Verin　said；　peering　up　at　him　again。
　　　　　　　He　wished　she　did　not　sound　as　though　there　might　be　two　meanings　to　that。


Chapter　43
（Flame　of　Tar　Valon）
Care　for　the　Living

　　　　　　　Taking　Stepper's　bridle；　Verin　led　him　to　the　Winespring　Inn　herself；　the　crowd　melting　back　to　let　her　through；　then　falling　in　after。　Dannil　and　Ban　and　the　others　trailed　along　on　horse　and　afoot；　kin　mingling　with　them　now。　Astounded　as　they　were　by　the　changes　in　Emond's　Field；　the　lads　still　showed　their　pride　by　striding　even　if　they　limped；　or　sitting　up　straighter　in　the　saddle；　they　had　faced　Trollocs　and　e　home。　But　women　ran　their　hands　over　sons　and　nephews　and　grandsons；　often　biting　back　tears；　and　their　low　moans　made　a　soft；　pained　murmur。　Tight…eyed　men　tried　to　hide　their　worries　behind　proud　smiles；　clapping　shoulders　and　exclaiming　over　newly　begun　beards；　yet　frequently　their　hugs　just　happened　to　turn　into　a　shoulder　to　lean　on。　Sweethearts　rushed　in　with　kisses　and　loud　cries；　equal　parts　happiness　and　miseration；　and　little　brothers　and　sisters；　uncertain；　alternated　between　fits　of　weeping　and　clinging　in　wide…eyed　wonder　to　a　brother　everyone　seemed　to　be　taking　for　a　hero。
　　　　　　　It　was　the　other　voices