rj.theshadowrising-第102部分

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ecloaks　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　slightly　weary　expression；　the　slightly　condescending　smile。　Maybe　they　simply　thought　that　was　how　lords　behaved。　True　enough；　a　good　many　did；　but　it　irked　Perrin　to　watch　these　people　…　his　people　…　put　up　with　it。
　　　　　　　As　the　hubbub　began　to　diminish；　Jac　and　Elisa　presented　their　other　guests　…　all　but　Tam　and　Abell；　who　had　already　met　him　…　to　Lord　Luc　of　Chiendelna；　saying　that　he　was　advising　them　in　ways　to　defend　themselves　against　the　Trollocs；　that　he　encouraged　them　to　stand　up　to　the　Whitecloaks；　stand　up　for　themselves。　Approving　murmurs　of　agreement　came　from　the　rest　of　the　room。　If　the　Two　Rivers　had　been　choosing　a　king；　Lord　Luc　would　have　had　the　al'Seens　and　Lewins　behind　him　entire。　He　knew　it；　too。　His　apparent　bored　placency　did　not　last　long；　though。
　　　　　　　At　his　first　glimpse　of　Verin's　smooth…cheeked　face；　Luc　stiffened　slightly；　eyes　flickering　to　her　hands　so　quickly　many　would　not　have　noticed。　He　very　nearly　dropped　his　embroidered　gloves。　Plump　and　plainly　dressed；　she　might　have　been　another　farm　wife；　but　clearly　he　knew　an　Aes　Sedai's　ageless　face；　when　he　saw　one。　He　was　not　particularly　happy　to　see　one　here。　The　er　of　his　left　eye　twitched　as　he　listened　to　Mistress　al'Seen　name　〃Mistress　Mathwin〃　〃a　scholar　from　outside〃。
　　　　　　　Verin　smiled　at　him　as　if　half…asleep。　〃A　pleasure；〃　she　murmured。　〃House　Chiendelna。　Where　is　that？　It　has　a　Borderland　sound。〃
　　　　　　　〃Nothing　so　grand；〃　Luc　replied　quickly；　giving　her　a　wary；　fractional　bow。　〃Murandy；　actually。　A　minor　house；　but　old。　〃　He　seemed　uneasy　about　taking　his　eyes　from　her　for　the　rest　of　the　introductions。
　　　　　　　Tomas　he　barely　glanced　at。　He　had　to　know　him　for　〃Mistress　Mathwin's〃　Warder；　yet　dismissed　him　out　of　hand　as　clearly　as　if　he　had　shouted　it。　That　was　purely　strange。　However　good　Luc　was　with　that　sword；　no　one　was　good　enough　to　dismiss　a　Warder。　Arrogance。　The　fellow　had　enough　for　ten　men。　He　proved　it　with　Faile　so　far　as　Perrin　was　concerned。
　　　　　　　The　smile　Luc　offered　her　was　certainly　more　than　self…assured；　it　was　also　familiar　and　decidedly　warm。　In　fact；　it　was　too　admiring　and　too　warm　by　half。　He　took　her　hand　in　both　of　his　to　bow　over；　and　peered　into　her　eyes　as　if　trying　to　see　through　the　back　of　her　head。　For　an　instant　Perrin　thought　she　was　about　to　look　over　at　him；　but　instead　she　returned　the　lord's　stare　with　a　red…cheeked　pretense　to　coolness　and　a　slight　bow　of　her　head。
　　　　　　　〃I；　too；　am　a　Hunter　for　the　Horn；　my　Lord；〃　she　said；　sounding　a　touch　breathless。　〃Do　you　think　to　find　it　here？〃
　　　　　　　Luc　blinked　and　released　her　hand。　〃Perhaps；　my　Lady。　Who　can　say　where　the　Horn　might　be？〃　Faile　looked　a　little　surprised　…　maybe　disappointed　…　at　his　sudden　loss　of　interest。
　　　　　　　Perrin　kept　his　expression　neutral。　If　she　wanted　to　smile　at　Wil　al'Seen　and　blush　at　fool　lords；　she　could。　She　could　make　an　idiot　of　herself　any　way　she　wanted；　gawking　at　every　man　who　came　along。　So　Luc　wanted　to　know　where　the　Horn　of　Valere　was？　It　was　hidden　away　in　the　White　Tower；　that　was　where。　He　was　tempted　to　tell　the　man；　just　to　make　him　grind　his　teeth　in　frustration。
　　　　　　　If　Luc　had　been　surprised　to　find　out　who　his　other　fellows　in　the　al'Seen　house　were；　his　reaction　to　Perrin　was　peculiar　to　say　the　least。　He　gave　a　start　at　the　sight　of　Perrin's　face；　shock　flashed　in　his　eyes。　It　was　all　gone　in　a　moment；　masked　behind　lordly　haughtiness；　except　for　a　wild　fluttering　at　the　corner　of　one　eye。　The　trouble　was；　it　made　no　sense。　It　was　not　his　yellow　eyes　that　took　Luc　aback；　he　was　sure　of　that。　More　as　if　the　fellow　knew　him；　somehow；　and　was　surprised　to　see　him　here；　but　he　had　never　met　this　Luc　before　in　his　life。　More　than　that；　he　would　have　bet　that　Luc　was　afraid　of　him。　No　sense　at　all。
　　　　　　　〃Lord　Luc　is　the　one　who　suggested　the　boys　go　up　on　the　rooftops；〃　Jac　said。　〃No　Trolloc　will　get　close　without　those　lads　giving　warning。〃
　　　　　　　〃How　much　warning？〃　Perrin　said　dryly。　This　was　an　example　of　the　great　Lord　Luc's　advice？　〃Trollocs　see　like　cat's　in　the　dark。　They'll　be　on　top　of　you；　kicking　in　the　doors；　before　your　boys　raise　a　shout。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　do　what　we　can；〃　Flann　barked。　〃Stop　trying　to　frighten　us。　There　are　children　listening。　Lord　Luc　at　least　offers　helpful　suggestions。　He　was　at　my　place　the　day　before　the　Trollocs　came；　seeing　I　had　everybody　placed　properly。　Blood　and　ashes！　If　not　for　him；　the　Trollocs　would　have　killed　us　all。〃
　　　　　　　Luc　did　not　seem　to　hear　the　praise　offered　him。　He　was　watching　Perrin　cautiously　while　fussing　with　his　gauntlets；　tucking　them　behind　the　golden　wolf's…head　buckle　of　his　sword　belt。　Faile　was　watching　him；　too；　with　a　slight　frown。　He　ignored　her。
　　　　　　　〃I　thought　it　was　Whitecloaks　saved　you；　Master　Lewin。　I　thought　a　Whitecloak　patrol　arrived　in　the　nick　of　time　and　drove　the　Trollocs　off。〃
　　　　　　　〃Well；　they　did。〃　Flann　scrubbed　a　hand　through　his　gray　hair。　〃But　Lord　Luc。。。　If　the　Whitecloaks　hadn't　e　we　could　have。。。　At　least　he　doesn't　try　to　frighten　us。〃　he　muttered。
　　　　　　　〃So　he　doesn't　frighten　you；〃　Perrin　said。　〃Trollocs　frighten　me。　And　the　Whitecloaks　keep　the　Trollocs　back　for　you。　When　they　can。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　want　to　credit　the　Whitecloaks？〃　Luc　fixed　Perrin　with　a　cold　stare；　as　if　pouncing　on　a　weakness。　〃Who　do　you　think　is　responsible　for　the　Dragon's　Fang　scribbled　on　people's　doors？　Oh；　their　hands　never　hold　charcoal；　but　they　are　behind　it。　They　stalk　into　these　good　people's　homes；　asking　questions　and　demanding　answers　as　if　it　were　their　own　roof　overhead。　I　say　these　people　are　their　own　masters；　not　dogs　for　the　Whitecloaks　to　call　to　heel。　Let　them　patrol　the　country　side　…　well　and　good　…　but　meet　them　at　the　door　and　tell　them　whose　land　they　are　on。　That　is　what　I　say。　If　you　want　to　be　a　Whitecloak　dog；　be　so；　but　do　not　begrudge　these　good　people　their　freedom。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　met　Luc's　eyes　stare　for　stare。　〃I　hold　no　affection　for　Whitecloaks。　They　want　to　hang　me；　or　hadn't　you　heard？〃
　　　　　　　The　tall　lord　blinked　as　though　he　had　not；　or　maybe　had　forgotten