rj.theshadowrising-第104部分

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erous　light　appeared　in　her　eyes。　〃I　mean；　there's　nothing　to　forgive。〃　If　anything；　the　light　sparkled　hotter。　What　did　she　want　him　to　say？　〃Will　you　forgive　me？　When　I　was　trying　to　chase　you　away；　I　said　things　I　shouldn't　have。　Will　you　forgive　me　that？〃
　　　　　　　〃You　said　some　things　that　need　forgiving？〃　she　said　sweetly；　and　he　knew　he　was　in　trouble。　〃I　cannot　think　what；　but　I　will　take　it　into　consideration。〃
　　　　　　　Into　consideration？　She　sounded　very　much　the　noblewoman　there；　maybe　her　father　worked　for　some　lord；　so　she　could　study　the　way　ladies　talked。　He　had　no　idea　what　she　meant。　Whenever　he　found　out　would　be　too　soon；　he　was　certain。
　　　　　　　It　was　a　relief　to　climb　back　into　Stepper's　saddle　amid　the　confusion　of　wagon　teams　being　hitched　and　people　arguing　over　what　they　could　or　could　not　take　and　children　chasing　down　chickens　and　geese　and　tying　their　feet　for　loading。　Boys　were　already　driving　the　cattle　eastward；　and　others　herding　the　sheep　out　of　the　cote。
　　　　　　　Faile　made　no　reference　to　what　had　been　said　inside。　Indeed；　she　smiled　at　him；　and　pared　the　keeping　of　sheep　here　to　in　Saldaea；　and　when　one　of　the　girls　brought　her　a　bunch　of　small　red　flowers；　heartsblush；　she　tried　to　thread　some　of　them　into　his　beard；　laughing　at　his　efforts　to　stop　her。　In　short；　she　had　him　jumping　out　of　his　skin。　He　needed　another　talk　with　Master　Cauthon。
　　　　　　　〃Go　with　the　Light；〃　Master　al'Seen　told　him　again　just　as　they　were　ready　to　ride　out；　〃and　look　after　the　boys。〃
　　　　　　　Four　of　the　young　men　had　decided　to　go　with　them；　on　rough…coated　horses　not　nearly　as　good　as　those　Tam　and　Abell　rode。　Perrin　was　not　sure　why　he　was　the　one　who　was　supposed　to　look　after　them。　They　were　all　older　than　he；　if　not　by　much。　Wil　al'Seen　was　one；　with　his　cousin　Ban；　one　of　Jac's　sons；　who　had　gotten　all　the　nose　in　that　family；　and　a　pair　of　the　Lewins；　Tell　and　Dannil；　who　looked　so　much　like　Flann　that　they　could　have　been　his　sons　instead　of　his　nephews。　Perrin　had　tried　to　talk　them　out　of　it；　especially　when　they　all　made　it　plain　that　they　wanted　to　help　rescue　the　Cauthons　and　the　Luhhans　from　the　Whitecloaks。　They　seemed　to　think　it　was　a　matter　of　riding　into　the　Children's　camp　and　demanding　everybody's　return。　Casting　down　our　defiance；　Tell　called　it；　which　nearly　made　Perrin's　hair　stand　on　end。　Too　many　gleeman's　tales。　Too　much　listening　to　fools　like　Luc。　He　suspected　that　Wil　had　another　reason；　though　he　tried　to　pretend　Faile　did　not　exist；　but　the　others　were　bad　enough。
　　　　　　　No　one　else　made　any　objections。　Tam　and　Abell　only　seemed　concerned　that　they　all　knew　how　to　use　the　bows　they　carried　and　could　stay　on　a　horse；　and　Verin　merely　observed；　making　notes　in　her　little　book。　Tomas　looked　amused；　and　Faile　busied　herself　plaiting　a　crown　from　the　heartsblush；　which　turned　out　to　be　for　Perrin。　Sighing；　he　draped　the　flowers　across　the　pommel　of　his　saddle。　〃I　will　take　care　of　them　the　best　I　can；　Master　al'Seen；〃　he　promised。
　　　　　　　A　mile　from　the　al'Seen　farm；　he　thought　he　might　lose　one　or　two　right　there；　when　Gaul　and　Bain　and　Chiad　suddenly　appeared　out　of　a　thicket；　loping　to　join　them。　Lose　them　to　Aiel　spears。　Wil　and　his　friends　took　one　look　at　the　Aiel　and　hastily　began　nocking　arrows；　without　breaking　stride　the　Aiel　had　spears　ready　to　cast　and　their　faces　veiled。　It　took　some　minutes　to　straighten　out。　Gaul　and　the　two　Maidens　seemed　to　think　it　a　huge　joke　when　they　understood；　laughing　uproariously；　and　that　unsettled　the　Lewins　and　al'Seens　as　much　as　finding　out　that　the　three　were　Aiel；　and　two　of　them　women。　Wil　essayed　a　smile　at　Bain　and　Chiad；　and　they　exchanged　looks　and　brief　nods。　Perrin　did　not　know　what　was　going　on　there；　but　he　decided　to　let　it　alone　unless　Wil　looked　to　get　his　throat　cut。　Time　enough　to　stop　it　if　one　of　the　Aiel　women　actually　took　her　knife　out。　Might　teach　Wil　a　thing　or　two　about　smiling。
　　　　　　　He　intended　that　they　should　push　on　to　Watch　Hill　as　quickly　as　they　could；　but　a　mile　or　so　north　of　the　al'Seen　place　he　saw　one　of　the　farms　that　produced　those　scattered　plumes　of　chimney　smoke。　Tam　was　keeping　them　far　enough　away　that　the　people　around　the　farmhouse　were　only　shapes。　Except　to　Perrin's　eyes；　he　could　see　children　in　the　yard。　And　Jac　al'Seen　was　the　nearest　neighbor。　Had　been；　until　today。　He　hesitated；　then　reined　Stepper　toward　the　farm。　Not　that　it　was　likely　to　do　any　good；　but　he　had　to　try。〃What　are　you　doing？〃　Tam　asked；　frowning。
　　　　　　　〃Giving　them　the　same　advice　I　gave　Master　al'Seen。　It　won't　take　a　minute。〃
　　　　　　　Tam　nodded；　and　the　others　turned　with　him。　Verin　was　studying　Perrin　thoughtfully。　The　Aiel　peeled　away　short　of　the　farm　to　wait　to　the　north；　Gaul　running　a　little　apart　from　the　Maidens。
　　　　　　　Perrin　did　not　know　the　Torfinns　nor　they　him；　yet　to　his　surprise；　once　the　excitement　of　strangers　was　past；　the　staring　at　Tomas　and　Verin　and　Faile；　they　listened　and　began　hitching　horses　to　two　wagons　and　a　pair　of　high…wheeled　carts　before　he　and　the　others　rode　on。
　　　　　　　Three　more　times　he　stopped　when　their　route　took　them　near　to　farmhouses；　once　at　a　cluster　of　five　close　together。　It　was　always　the　same。　The　people　protested　they　could　not　just　leave　their　farms；　but　each　time　he　left　behind　a　bustle　of　packing　and　a　gathering　of　farm　animals。
　　　　　　　Something　else　happened；　too。　He　could　not　stop　Wil　and　his　cousin；　or　the　Lewins；　from　talking　with　the　young　men　on　the　farms。　Their　party　grew　by　thirteen；　Torfinns　and　al'Dais；　Ahans　and　Marwins；　armed　with　bows　and　riding　an　ill…matched　assortment　of　ponies　and　plow　horses；　all　eager　to　rescue　the　prisoners　from　the　Whitecloaks。
　　　　　　　It　was　not　as　smooth　as　that；　of　course。　Wil　and　the　others　from　the　al'Seen　farm　thought　it　unfair　that　he　warned　the　newers　about　the　Aiel；　spoiling　the　fun　they　hoped　to　have　seeing　them　jump。　They　jumped　more　than　enough　to　suit　Perrin；　and　the　way　they　peered　at　every　bush；　much　less　every　stand　of　trees；　made　it　clear　that　they　thought　there　must　be　more　Aiel　about　no　matter　what　he　said。　At　first　Wil　tried　lording　it　over　the　Torfinns　and　the　rest　on　the　grounds　that　he　had　been　the　first　to　join　Perrin　…　one　of　the　first；　at　least；　he　admitted　when　Ban　and　the　Lewins　glared　at　him　…　while　they　were　lateers。
　　　　　　　Perrin　put　an　end　to　it　by　dividing　them　into　two　groups　of　about　the　same　size　and　putting　Darmil　and　Ban　each　in　charge　of　one；　though　there　was　some　grumbling　over　that；　too；　in　the　beginning。　The　al'Dais　thought　the　leaders　should　be　chosen　according　to　age　…　Bili　al'Dai　being　the　eldest　by　a　year　…　while　others　put　forward　Hu　Marwin　as　the　best　tracker；　and　Jairn　Tortinn　as　the　best　shot；　while　Kenley　Ahan　had　been　to　Watch　Hill　often　before　the　Whitecloaks　came　and　would　know　his　way　around　the　village。　They　all　seemed　to　think　it　a　lark。　Tell's　phrase　about　casting　defiance　was　repeated　more　than　once。
　　　　　　　Finally　Perrin　rounded　on　them　in　cold　anger；　forcing　everyone　to　halt　in　the　grass　between　two　copses。　〃This　is　not　a　game；　and　it　isn't　a　Bel　Tine　dance。　You　do　what　you're　told；　or　else　go　back　home。　I　don't　know　what　use　you　are　anyway；　and　I've　no　intention　of　getting　killed　because　you　think　you　know　what　you　are　doing。　Now　line　up　and　shut　up。　You　sound　like　the　Women's　Circle　meeting　in　a　wardrobe。〃
　　　　　　　They　did　it；　stringing　themselves　out　in　two　columns　behind　Ban　and　Darmil。　Wil　and　Bili　wore　disgruntled　frowns；　but　they　held　whatever　objections　they　had。　Faile　gave　Perrin　an　approving　nod；　and　so　did　Tomas。　Verin　watched　it　all　with　a　smooth；　unreadable　face；　no　doubt　thinking　she　was　seeing　a　ta'veren　at　work。　Perrin　saw　no　need　to　tell　her　he　had　just　tried　to　think　of　what　a　Shienaran　he　knew；　a　soldier　named　Uno；　would　have　said；　though　no　doubt　Uno　would　have　put　it　in　harsher　words。
　　　　　　　Farms　began　to　appear　more　frequently　as　they　approached　Watch　Hill；　ing　in　clumps　closer　together　until　they　ran　on　continuously　the　way　they　did　near　Emond's　Field；　a　patchwork　of　hedged　or　stone…walled　fields　separated　by　narrow　lanes；　footways　and　wagon　paths。　Even　with　their　pauses　at　the　four　farms；　there　was　still　some　daylight　left；　still　men　working　their　crops；　and　boys　driving　sheep　and　cattle　in　from　pasture　for　the　night。　No　one　would　be　leaving　their　animals　out　these　days。
　　　　　　　Tam　suggested　Perrin　cease　warning　people；　and　he　reluctantly　agreed。　They　would　all　head　for　Watch　Hill　here；　alerting　the　Whitecloaks。　Twenty…odd　people　riding　together　by　the　back　ways　attracted　enough　eyes；　though　most　people　appeared　too　busy　to　do　more　than　glance。　It　would　have　to　be　done　sooner　or　later；　though；　and　the　sooner　the　better。　So　long　as　people　remained　in　the　countryside；　needing　Whitecloak　protection；　then　the　Whitecloaks　had　a　foothold　in　the　Two　Rivers　they　might　not　want　to　give　up。
　　　　　　　Perrin　kept　a　sharp　eye　out　for　any　sign　of　Whitecloak　patrols；　but　except　for　one　dust　cloud　over　toward　the　North　Road；　heading　south；　he　saw　none。　After　a　time　Tam　suggested　they　dismount　and　lead　their　horses。　Afoot　there　was　less　chance　of　being；　spotted；　and　the　hedges　and　even　the　low　stone　walls　shielded　them　a　little。
　　　　　　　Tam　and　Abell　knew　a　thicket　that　gave　a　good　view　of　the　Whitecloak　camp；　a　tangle　of　oak　and　sourgum　and　leatherleaf　that　covered　three　or　four　hides　little　more　than　a　mile　south　and　west　of　Watch　Hill　over　an　open　stretch　of　ground。　They　entered　from　the　south；　hurrying。　Perrin　hoped　no　one　had　seen　them　go　in；　no　one　to　wonder　why　they　did　not　e　out　and　ment　on　it。
　　　　　　　〃Stay　here；〃　he　told　Wil　and　the　other　young　men　while　they　were　tying　their　horses　to　branches。　〃Keep　your　bows　handy；　and　be　ready　to　run　if　you　hear　a　shout。　But　don't　move　unless　you　hear　me　shout。　And　if　anybody　makes　any　noise；　I'll　pound　his　head　like　an　anvil。　We're　here　to　look；　not　pull　the　Whitecloaks　down　on　us　by　tramping　around　like　blind　bulls。〃　Fingering　their　bows　nervously；　they　nodded。　Perhaps　it　was　beginning　to　dawn　on　them　just　what　they　were　doing。　The　Children　of　the　Light　might　not　take　kindly　to　finding　Two　Rivers　folk　riding　about　in　an　armed　bunch。
　　　　　　　〃Were　you　ever　a　soldier？〃　Faile　asked　quizzically　in　a　low　voice。　〃Some　of　my　father's。。。　guards　talk　that　way。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'm　a　blacksmith。〃　Perrin　laughed。　〃I've　just　heard　soldiers　talk。　It　seems　to　work；　though。〃　Even　Wil　and　Bili　were　peering　about　uneasily　and　hardly　daring　to　move。
　　　　　　　Creeping　from　tree　to　tree；　he　and　Faile　followed　Tam　and　Abell　to　where　the　Aiel　were　already　crouching　near　the　thicket's　north　edge。　Verin　was　there；　too；　and　Tomas；　of　course。　The　brush　made　a　thin　screen　of　leaves；　enough　to　hide　them　but　no　hindrance　to　observation。
　　　　　　　The　Whitecloak　encampment　stretched　out　at　the　foot　of　Watch　Hill　like　a　village　itself。　Hundreds　of　men；　some　armored；　moved　among　long；　straight　rows　of　white　tents；　with　lines　of　horses；　five　deep；　staked　out　to　east　and　west。　Animals　being　unsaddled　and　curried　indicated　patrols　finishing　their　day；　while　a　double　column　of　maybe　a　hundred　mounted　men；　pristine　and　precise；　trailed　off　toward　the　Waterwood　at　a　brisk　walk；　lances　all　at　the　same　angle。　At　intervals　around　the　encampment　white…cloaked　guards　marche