rj.theshadowrising-第139部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


tch　on　Verin　and　on　the　treeline。　〃They　usually　are　not　very　smart；　alone。　Sly；　but　not　smart。　The　timbering　party　drove　it　away　before　it　did　more　than　draw　some　blood。〃
　　　　　　　From　out　of　the　trees　the　two　Aiel　women　appeared；　running；　heads　shoufa…wrapped　and　veiled　so　he　could　not　tell　which　was　which。　They　slowed　to　snake　between　the　sharp…pointed　stakes；　then　slipped　deftly　through　the　crowd；　people　moving　out　of　their　way　as　much　as　possible　in　that　press。　By　the　time　they　reached　Faile；　they　had　unveiled；　and　she　leaned　down　to　listen。
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　five　hundred　Trollocs；〃　Bain　told　her；　〃probably　no　more　than　a　mile　or　two　behind　us。〃　Her　voice　was　level；　but　her　dark　blue　eyes　sparkled　with　eagerness。　So　did　Chiad's　gray。
　　　　　　　〃As　I　expected；〃　Tomas　said　calmly。　〃That　one　likely　wandered　off　from　the　larger　body　hoping　to　find　a　meal。　The　rest　will　be　ing　soon；　I　think。〃　The　Maidens　nodded。
　　　　　　　Perrin　gestured　in　consternation　at　the　jam　of　people。　〃They　shouldn't　be　out　here；　then。　Why　haven't　you　cleared　them　away？〃
　　　　　　　It　was　Ihvon；　bringing　his　gray　into　the　gathering；　who　answered。　〃Your　people　do　not　seem　to　want　to　listen　to　outsiders；　not　when　they　can　watch　Aes　Sedai。　I　would　suggest　you　see　what　you　can　do。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　was　sure　they　could　have　imposed　some　sort　of　order　had　they　really　tried。　Verin　and　Alanna　surely　could　have。　So　why　did　they　wait　and　leave　it　to　me；　if　they　expected　Trollocs？　It　would　have　been　easy　to　put　it　down　to　ta'veren　…　easy；　and　foolish。　Ihvon　and　Tomas　were　not　going　to　let　Trollocs　kill　them　…　or　Verin；　or　Alanna　…　while　waiting　for　a　ta'veren　to　tell　them　what　to　do。　The　Aes　Sedai　were　maneuvering　him；　risking　everyone；　maybe　even　themselves。　But　to　what　possible　end？　He　met　Faile's　eyes；　and　she　nodded　slightly；　as　if　she　knew　what　he　was　thinking。
　　　　　　　He　had　no　time　to　try　figuring　it　out　now。　Scanning　the　crowd；　he　spotted　Bran　al'Vere；　putting　his　head　together　with　Tam　al'Thor　and　Abell　Cauthon。　The　Mayor　had　a　long　spear　on　his　shoulder　and　a　dented　old　round　steel　cap　on　his　head。　A　leather　jerkin　sewn　all　over　with　steel　discs　strained　around　his　bulk。
　　　　　　　All　three　men　looked　up　when　Perrin　pushed　Stepper　through　the　crowd　to　them。　〃Bain　says　Trollocs　are　heading　this　way；　and　the　Warders　think　we　may　be　attacked　soon。〃　He　had　to　shout　because　of　the　incessant　drone　of　voices。　Some　of　the　nearer　folk　heard　and　fell　silent；　quiet　spread　on　ripples　of　〃Trolloc〃　and　〃attack。〃
　　　　　　　Bran　blinked。　〃Yes。　It　had　to　e；　didn't　it？　Yes；　well；　we　know　what　to　do。〃　He　should　have　looked　ic；　with　his　jerkin　ready　to　pop　its　seams　and　his　steel　cap　wobbling　when　he　nodded；　but　he　only　looked　determined。　Raising　his　voice；　he　announced；　〃Perrin　says　the　Trollocs　will　be　here　soon。　You　all　know　your　places。　Hurry；　now。　Hurry。〃
　　　　　　　The　crowd　stirred　and　flowed；　women　herding　children　back　toward　the　houses；　men　milling　every　which　way。　Confusion　seemed　to　grow　more　rather　than　less。
　　　　　　　〃I'll　see　to　getting　the　shepherds　in；〃　Abell　told　Perrin；　and　dove　into　the　throng。
　　　　　　　Cenn　Buie　pushed　past　in　the　moil；　using　a　halberd　to　herd　sour…faced　Hari　Coplin　and　Hari's　brother　Darl　and　old　Bili　Congar；　who　staggered　as　if　already　full　of　ale　this　morning；　which　he　probably　was。　Of　the　three；　Bili　carried　his　spear　most　as　if　he　meant　to　use　it。　Cenn　touched　his　forehead　to　Perrin　in　a　sort　of　salute。　A　number　of　the　men　did。　It　made　him　unfortable。　Dannil　and　the　other　lads　were　one　thing；　but　these　men　were　half　again　his　age　and　more。
　　　　　　　〃You　are　doing　fine；〃　Faile　said。
　　　　　　　〃I　wish　I　knew　what　Verin　and　Alanna　were　up　to；〃　he　muttered。　〃And　I　don't　mean　right　now。〃　Two　of　the　catapults　the　Warders　had　had　built　stood　at　this　end　of　the　village；　squarish　things　taller　than　a　man；　all　heavy　timbers　and　thick；　twisted　ropes。　From　their　horses；　Ihvon　and　Tomas　were　overseeing　the　stout　wooden　beams　being　winched　down。　The　two　Aes　Sedai　were　more　interested　in　the　big　fieldstones；　fifteen　or　twenty　pounds　each；　being　loaded　in　cups　on　the　end　of　those　arms。
　　　　　　　〃They　mean　you　to　be　a　leader；〃　Faile　replied　quietly。　〃It　is　what　you　were　born　for；　I　think。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　snorted。　He　had　been　born　to　be　a　blacksmith。　〃I'd　be　a　lot　more　fortable　if　I　knew　why　they　wanted　it。〃　The　Aes　Sedai　were　looking　at　him；　Verin　with　head　tilted；　birdlike；　Alanna　with　a　franker　stare　and　a　small　smile。　Did　they　both　want　the　same　thing；　and　for　the　same　reason？　That　was　one　of　the　troubles　with　Aes　Sedai。　There　were　always　more　questions　than　answers。
　　　　　　　Order　asserted　itself　with　surprising　quickness。　Along　this　west　end　of　the　village　a　hundred　men　knelt　on　one　knee　right　behind　the　bristle　of　stakes；　uneasily　fingering　spears　or　halberds　or　some　polearm　made　from　a　bush　hook　or　scythe。　Here　and　there　one　wore　a　helmet　or　some　bit　of　armor。　To　their　rear；　twice　as　many　formed　two　lines　holding　good　Two　Rivers　longbows；　each　with　a　pair　of　quivers　at　his　belt。　Young　boys　came　running　from　the　houses　with　bundles　of　more　arrows　that　the　men　drove　point…down　in　the　ground　in　front　of　their　feet。　Tam　seemed　to　be　in　charge；　dressing　the　ranks　and　speaking　a　few　words　to　each　man；　but　Bran　marched　along　with　him；　offering　his　own　encouragement。　Perrin　could　not　see　that　they　needed　him　at　all。
　　　　　　　To　his　surprise；　Dannil　and　Ban　and　all　the　other　lads　who　had　ridden　with　him　came　trotting　out　of　the　village　to　surround　him　and　Faile；　all　with　their　bows。　They　looked　odd；　in　a　way。　The　Aes　Sedai　had　apparently　Healed　the　more　seriously　injured；　leaving　those　less　hurt　for　Daise's　poultices　and　ointments；　so　fellows　who　had　been　barely　clinging　to　a　saddle　yesterday　walked　along　sprightly　now；　while　Dannil　and　Tell　and　others　still　limped　or　wore　bandages。　If　he　was　surprised　to　see　them；　he　was　disgusted　by　what　they　brought。　Leof　Torfinn；　the　dressing　wrapped　around　his　head　making　a　pale　cap　above　his　deep…set　eyes；　had　his　bow　slung　on　his　back　and　carried　a　tall　staff　with　a　smaller　version　of　the　red…bordered　banner　with　its　wolfhead。
　　　　　　　〃I　think　one　of　the　Aes　Sedai　had　it　made；〃　Leof　said　when　Perrin　asked　where　it　came　from。　〃Milli　Ayellin　brought　it　to　Will's　da；　but　Wil　didn't　want　to　carry　it。〃　Wil　al'Seen　hunched　his　shoulders　a　bit。
　　　　　　　〃I　wouldn't　want　to　carry　it；　either；〃　Perrin　said　dryly。　They　all　laughed　as　if　he　had　made　a　joke；　even　Wil；　after　a　minute。
　　　　　　　The　hedge　of　stakes　looked　fierce　enough；　but　on　the　other　hand；　it　seemed　a　pitiful　thing　to　keep　Trollocs　out。　Maybe　it　would；　but　he　did　not　want　Faile　there　if　they　made　it　through。　When　he　looked　at　her；　though；　she　had　that　look　in　her　eyes　again　as　if　she　knew　what　he　was　thinking。　And　did　not　like　it。　If　he　tried　to　send　her　back；　she　would　argue　and　balk；　refusing　to　see　sense。　Weak　as　he　felt　right　then；　she　probably　had　a　better　chance　of　leading　him　back　to　the　inn　than　he　her。　The　way　she　was　sitting　her　saddle　so　ferociously；　she　likely　intended　to　defend　him；　if　the　Trollocs　broke　through。　He　would　just　have　to　keep　a　close　eye　on　her；　that　was　all　there　was　to　it。
　　　　　　　Suddenly　she　smiled；　and　he　scratched　his　beard。　Maybe　she　could　read　his　mind。
　　　　　　　Time　passed；　the　sun　inching　up；　the　day's　warmth　building。　Now　and　then　a　woman　called　from　the　houses　to　ask　what　was　happening。　Here　and　there　men　sat　down；　but　Tam　or　Bran　was　on　them　before　they　had　their　legs　folded；　chivying　them　back　into　line。　No　more　than　a　mile　or　two；　Bain　had　said。　She　and　Chiad　were　sitting　near　the　stakes；　playing　some　game　that　apparently　involved　flipping　a　knife　into　the　foot　of　ground　between　them。　Surely　if　the　Trollocs　were　ing；　they　would　have　e　by　now。　He　was　beginning　to　find　it　hard　to　sit　up　straight。　Conscious　of　Faile's　watchful　eyes；　he　kept　his　back　stiff。
　　　　　　　A　horn　blared；　brazen　and　shrill。
　　　　　　　〃Trollocs！〃　half　a　dozen　voices　shouted；　and　bestial；　blackmailed　shapes　flooded　out　of　the　Westwood；　howling　as　they　ran　across　the　stumpy　ground；　waving　scythe…curved　swords　and　spiked　axes；　spears　and　tridents。　Three　Myrddraal　rode　behind　them　on　black　horses；　darting　back　and　forth　as　though　driving　the　Trolloc　charge　before　them。　Their　dead　black　cloaks　hung　motionless　no　matter　how　their　mounts　dashed　or　whirled。　The　horn　sounded　continuously　in　sharp；　urging　cries。
　　　　　　　Twenty　arrows　leaped　out　as　soon　as　the　first　Trolloc　appeared；　the　strongest　shot　falling　nearly　a　hundred　paces　short。
　　　　　　　〃Hold；　you　lack…witted　sheep…brains！〃　Tam　shouted。　Bran　jumped　and　gave　him　a　startled　look；　no　less　incredulous　than　those　ing　from　Tam's　friends　and　neighbors；　some　muttered　about　not　standing　still　for　that　kind　of　talk；　Trollocs　or　no　Trollocs。　Tam　rode　right　over　their　protests；　though。　〃You　hold　till　I　give　the　word；　the　way　I　showed　you！〃　Then；　as　if　hundreds　of　shrieking　Trollocs　were　not　galloping　toward　him；　Tam　turned　calmly　to　Perrin。　〃At　three　hundred　paces？〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　nodded　quickly。　The　man　was　asking　him？　Three　hundred　paces。　How　quickly　could　a　Trolloc　cover　three　hundred　paces？　He　eased　his　axe　in　its　loop。　That　horn　wailed　and　wailed。　The　spearmen　crouched　behind　the　stakes　as　if　forcing　themselves　not　to　edge　back。　The　Aiel　had　veiled　their　faces。
　　　　　　　Onward　the　screaming　tide　came；　all　horned　heads　and　faces　with　snouts　or　beaks；　each　half　again　as　tall　as　a　man；　each　shrieking　for　blood。　Five　hundred　paces。　Four　hundred。　Some　were　stretching　out　in　front。　They　ran　as　fast　as　horses。　Had　the　Aiel　been　right？　Could　there　be　only　five　hundred？　It　looked　like　thousands。
　　　　　　　〃Ready！〃　Tam　called；　and　two　hundred　bows　were　raised。　The　young　men　with　Perrin　hurriedly　formed　up　in　front　of　him　in　imitation　of　their　elders；　ranking　themselves　with　that　fool　banner。
　　　　　　　Three　hundred　paces。　Perrin　could　see　those　misshapen　faces；　contorted　with　rage　and　frenzy；　as　clearly　as　if　they　were　right　on　top　of　him。
　　　　　　　〃Loose！〃　Tam　shouted。　Bowstrings　slapped　like　one　huge　whip…crack。　With　twin　crashes　of　beam　against　leather…padded　beam；　the　catapults　fired。
　　　　　　　Broadhead　arrows　rained　down　into　the　Trollocs。　Monstrous　shapes　fell；　but　some　rose　and　staggered　on；　harried　by　the　Fades。　That　horn　wove　into　their　guttural　bellowing；　sounding　forward　for　the　kill。　The　catapults'　stones　fell　among　them　…　and　exploded　in　fire　and　shards；　ripping　open　holes　in　the　mass。　Perrin　was　not　the　only　one　to　jump；　so　that　was　what　the　Aes　Sedai　had　been　doing　with　the　catapults。　He　wondered　wildly　what　would　happen　if　they　dropped　one　of　those　stones　loading　it　into　the　cup。
　　　　　　　Another　flight　of　arrows　leaped　out；　and　another；　another；　and　again　and　again；　and　more　stones　from　the　catapults；　if　at　a　slower　pace。　Fiery　explosions　tore　at　the　Trollocs。　Broadhead　points　hailed　down　on　them。　And　they　came　on；　shrieking；　howling；　falling　and　dying；　but　always　running　forward。　They　were　close　now；　close　enough　that　the　bowmen　spread　out；　no　longer　firing　in　flights　but　choosing　their　targets。　Men　screamed　their　own　rage；　screamed　in　the　face　of　death　as　they　shot。
　　　　　　　And　then　there　were　no　more　Trollocs　standing。　Only　one　Fade；　bristling　with　arrows　yet　still　staggering　blindly。　The　shrill　shrieks　of　a　Myrddraal's　thrashing　horse　peted　with　the