rj.theshadowrising-第183部分

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s　barely　able　to　think。　Faile。　The　boy　tugged　at　his　breeches'　leg。　〃Lord　Perrin！　Master　al'Thor　said　to　tell　you　the　Trollocs　are　breaking！　And　they　are　shouting　'Deven　Ride'！　The　men；　I　mean。　I　heard　them！〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　bent　to　ruffle　the　boy's　curly　hair。　〃What's　your　name；　lad？〃
　　　　　　　〃Jaim　Aybara；　Lord　Perrin。　I'm　your　cousin；　I　think。　Sort　of；　anyway。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　squeezed　his　eyes　shut　for　a　moment　to　keep　the　tears　in。　Even　when　he　opened　them　his　hand　still　trembled　on　the　lad's　head。　〃Well；　Cousin　Jaim；　you　tell　your　children　about　today。　You　tell　your　grandchildren；　your　grandchildren's　children。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'm　not　going　to　have　any；〃　Jaim　said　stoutly。　〃Girls　are　horrible。　They　laugh　at　you；　and　they　don't　like　to　do　anything　worth　doing；　and　you　never　understand　what　they're　saying。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　think　one　day　you'll　find　out　they're　the　opposite　of　horrible。　Some　of　it　won't　change；　but　that　will。〃　Faile。
　　　　　　　Jaim　looked　doubtful；　but　then　he　brightened；　a　wide　grin　spreading　across　his　face。　〃Wait　till　I　tell　Had　Lord　Perrin　called　me　cousin！〃　And　he　darted　away　to　tell　Had；　who　would　have　children；　too；　and　all　the　other　boys　who　would；　one　day。　The　sun　stood　straight　overhead。　An　hour；　maybe。　It　had　all　taken　no　more　than　an　hour。　It　felt　like　a　lifetime。
　　　　　　　Stepper　moved　forward；　and　he　realized　he　must　have　dug　his　heels　in。　Cheering　people　made　way　for　the　dun；　and　he　hardly　heard　them。　There　were　great　gaps　where　Trollocs　had　broken　down　the　stakes　with　sheer　weight　of　numbers。　He　rode　through　one　over　a　mound　of　dead　Trollocs　and　never　noticed。　Dead　Trollocs　bristling　with　arrows　carpeted　the　open　ground；　and　here　and　there　a　pincushioned　Fade　flailed　and　thrashed。　He　saw　none　of　it。　He　had　eyes　for　only　one　thing。　Faile。
　　　　　　　She　started　out　from　the　Watch　Hill　men；　pausing　to　stop　Bain　from　following；　and　rode　to　meet　him。　She　rode　so　gracefully；　as　if　the　black　mare　were　part　of　her；　slimly　erect；　guiding　Swallow　more　with　her　knees　than　the　reins　held　so　casually　in　one　hand。　The　red　marriage　ribbon　still　twined　through　her　hair；　the　ends　dangling　past　her　shoulders。　He　must　find　her　flowers。
　　　　　　　For　a　moment　those　tilted　eyes　studied　him；　her　mouth。。。　Surely　she　could　not　be　uncertain；　but　she　smelled　it。　〃I　said　I　would　go；〃　she　said　finally；　holding　her　head　high。　Swallow　danced　sideways；　neck　arched；　and　Faile　mastered　the　mare　without　seeming　to　noticed　〃I　did　not　say　how　far。　You　cannot　say　I　did。〃
　　　　　　　He　could　not　say　anything。　She　was　so　beautiful。　He　just　wanted　to　look　at　her；　to　see　her；　beautiful；　alive；　with　him。　Her　scent　was　clean　sweat　with　just　the　slightest　hint　of　herbal　soap。　He　was　not　sure　whether　he　wanted　to　laugh　or　cry。　Maybe　both。　He　wanted　to　pull　all　the　smell　of　her　into　his　lungs。
　　　　　　　Frowning；　she　went　on。　〃They　were　ready；　Perrin。　Truly；　they　were。　I　barely　had　to　say　anything　to　convince　them　to　e。　The　Trollocs　had　hardly　bothered　them　at　all；　but　they　could　see　the　smoke。　We　traveled　hard；　Bain　and　I；　and　reached　Watch　Hill　well　before　first　light；　and　we　started　back　as　soon　as　the　sun　rose。〃　Her　frown　became　a　wide　smile；　eager　and　proud。　Such　a　beautiful　smile。　Her　dark　eyes　sparkled。　〃They　followed　me；　Perrin。　They　followed　me！　Even　Tenobia　has　never　led　men　in　battle。　She　wanted　to　once；　when　I　was　eight；　but　Father　had　a　talk　with　her　alone　in　her　chambers；　and　when　he　rode　off　to　the　Blight　she　stayed　behind。〃　With　a　rueful　grin；　she　added；　〃I　think　you　and　he　use　the　same　methods　sometimes。　Tenobia　exiled　him；　but　she　was　only　sixteen；　and　the　Council　of　Lords　managed　to　change　her　mind　after　a　few　weeks。　She　will　be　blue　with　envy　when　I　tell　her。〃　Again　she　paused；　this　time　drawing　a　deep　breath　and　planting　a　fist　on　her　hip。　〃Aren't　you　going　to　say　anything？〃　she　demanded　impatiently。　〃Are　you　just　going　to　sit　there　like　a　hairy　lump？　I　did　not　say　I　would　leave　the　Two　Rivers。　You　said　that；　not　I。　You've　no　right　to　be　angry　because　I　did　not　do　what　I　never　promised！　And　you　trying　to　send　me　away　because　you　thought　you　were　going　to　die！　I　came　back　to　…〃
　　　　　　　〃I　love　you。〃　It　was　all　he　could　say；　but　strangely　it　seemed　to　be　enough。　No　sooner　were　the　words　out　of　his　mouth　than　she　reined　Swallow　close　enough　to　throw　an　arm　around　him　and　press　her　face　against　his　chest；　she　seemed　to　be　trying　to　squeeze　him　in　two。　He　stroked　her　dark　hair　gently；　just　feeling　the　silkiness　of　it；　just　feeling　her。
　　　　　　　〃I　was　so　afraid　I　would　be　too　late；〃　she　said　into　his　coat。　〃The　Watch　Hill　men　marched　as　fast　as　they　could；　but　when　we　arrived；　and　I　saw　the　Trollocs　fighting　right　in　among　the　houses；　so　many　of　them；　as　if　the　village　were　being　buried　in　an　avalanche；　and　I　couldn't　see　you。。。〃　She　drew　a　shivering　breath　and　let　it　out　slowly。　When　she　spoke　again；　her　voice　was　calmer。　Just。　〃Did　the　men　from　Deven　Ride　e？〃
　　　　　　　He　gave　a　start；　and　his　hand　stopped　stroking。　〃Yes；　they　did。　How　did　you　know？　。Did　you　arrange　that；　too？〃　She　began　shaking；　it　took　him　a　moment　to　know　she　was　laughing。
　　　　　　　〃No；　my　heart；　though　I　would　have　if　I　could。　When　that　man　came　with　his　message　…　'We　are　ing'　…　I　thought　…　hoped　…　that　that　was　what　it　meant。〃　Pulling　her　face　back　a　little；　she　looked　up　at　him　seriously。　〃I　could　not　tell　you；　Perrin。　I　could　not　raise　your　hopes　when　I　only　suspected。　It　would　have　been　too　cruel　if。。。　Don't　be　angry　with　me；　Perrin。〃
　　　　　　　Laughing；　he　lifted　her　out　of　her　saddle　and　set　her　sideways　in　front　of　his；　she　laughed　her　protests；　and　stretched　across　the　high　pommel　to　put　both　arms　around　him。　〃I　will　never；　ever　be　angry　with　you；　I　sw　…〃　She　cut　him　off　with　a　hand　over　his　mouth。
　　　　　　　〃Mother　says　the　worst　thing　Father　ever　did　to　her　was　vow　never　to　be　angry　with　her。　It　took　her　a　year　to　force　him　to　take　it　back；　and　she　says　he　was　hardly　fit　to　live　with　long　before　then　from　holding　in。　You　will　be　angry　with　me；　Perrin；　and　I　with　you。　If　you　want　to　make　me　another　wedding　vow；　vow　you　will　not　hide　it　when　you　are。　I　cannot　deal　with　what　you　will　not　let　me　see；　my　husband。　My　husband；〃　she　repeated　in　a　satisfied　tone；　snuggling　against　him。　〃I　do　like　the　sound　of　that。〃
　　　　　　　He　noticed　she　did　not　say　she　would　always　let　him　know　when　she　was　angry；　on　past　experience；　he　would　have　to　discover　it　the　hard　way　at　least　half　the　time。　And　she　made　no　promises　not　to　keep　secrets　from　him　again；　either。　Right　then；　it　did　not　matter　so　long　as　she　was　with　him。　〃I　will　let　you　know　when　I'm　angry；　my　wife；〃　he　promised。　She　gave　him　a　slanted　look；　as　if　she　was　not　sure　how　to　take　that。　You　won't　ever　e　to　understand　them；　Cousin　Jaim；　but　you　won't　care。
　　　　　　　Abruptly　he　became　aware　of　the　dead　Trollocs　all　around　him；　like　a　black　field　full　of　feathered　weeds；　the　thrashing　Myrddraal　still　refusing　to　die　finally。　Slowly　he　turned　Stepper。　A　slaughter　yard　and　a　shambles　of　Shadowspawn　stretching　for　hundreds　of　paces　in　every　direction。　Crows　hopped　across　the　ground　already；　and　vultures　soared　overhead　in　a　huge　milling　cloud。　No　ravens；　though。　And　the　same　to　the　south；　according　to　Jaim；　he　could　see　the　vultures　wheeling　beyond　the　village　for　proof。　Not　enough　to　repay　for　Deselle　or　Adora　or　little　Paet　or。。。　Not　enough；　it　would　never　be　enough。　Nothing　could　ever　repay　for　them。　He　hugged　Faile；　hard　enough　to　make　her　grunt；　but　when　he　tried　to　ease　up；　she　put　her　hands　on　his　arms；　gripping　just　as　hard　to　keep　them　where　they　were。　She　was　enough。
　　　　　　　People　were　streaming　out　of　Emond's　Field；　Bran　limping　and　using　his　spear　for　a　staff；　Marin　smiling　with　an　arm　around　him；　Daise　being　hugged　by　her　husband；　Wit；　and　Gaul　and　Chiad　hand　in　hand　with　their　veils　down。　Loial's　ears　drooped　wearily；　and　Tam　had　blood　on　his　face；　and　Flann　Lewin　was　standing　only　with　the　help　of　his　wife；　Adine；　there　was　blood　on　nearly　everyone；　and　hasty　bandages。　But　they　came　out　in　a　widening　throng；　Elam　and　Dav；　Ewin　and　Aram；　Eward　Candwin　and　Buel　Dowtry；　Hu　and　Tad　the　stablemen　from　the　Winespring　Inn；　Ban　and　Tell　and　the　panions　riding　with　that　banner　still。　This　time　he　did　not　see　the　missing　faces；　only　those　who　were　still　there。　Verin　and　Alanna　on　their　horses；　with　Tomas　and　Ihvon　riding　close　behind。　Old　Bili　Congar　waving　a　jug　that　surely　held　ale；　or　better　yet　brandy；　and　Cenn　Buie　as　gnarled　as　ever　if　bruised；　and　Jac　al'Seen　with　an　arm　around　his　wife；　and　his　sons　and　daughters　around　him　with　their　wives　and　husbands。　Raen　and　Ila；　still　with　the　babes　on　their　backs。　More。　Faces　he　did　not　know　at　all；　men　who　must　be　from　Deven　Ride　and　the　farms　down　there。　Boys　and　girls　running　among　them；　laughing。
　　　　　　　They　fanned　out　to　either　side；　forming　a　great　hollow　circle　with　the　Watch　Hill　men；　Faile　and　him　at　its　center。　Everyone　avoided　the　dying　Fades；　but　it　was　as　if　they　did　not　see　the　Shadowspawn　lying　everywhere；　only　the　pair　on　Stepper。　Silently　they　watched；　until　Perrin　began　to　feel　nervous。　Why　doesn't　somebody　say　something？　Why　are　they　staring　like　that？
　　　　　　　The　Whitecloaks　appeared；　riding　slowly　out　of　the　village　in　their　long　gleaming　column　of　fours；　Dain　Bornhald　at　their　head　with　Jaret　Byar。　Every　white　cloak　shone　as　though　freshly　laundered；　every　lance　slanted　at　precisely　the　same　angle。　Sullen　mutters　rose；　but　people　moved　aside　to　let　them　enter　the　circle。
　　　　　　　Bornhald　raised　a　gauntleted　hand；　halting　the　column　in　a　jingle　of　bridles　and　creak　of　saddles；　when　he　faced　Perrin。　〃It　is　done；　Shadowspawn。〃　Byar's　mouth　quivered　on　the　brink　of　a　snarl；　but　Bornhald's　face　never　changed；　his　voice　never　rose。　〃The　Trollocs　are　done　here。　As　we　agreed；　I　arrest　you　now　for　Darkfriend　and　murderer。〃
　　　　　　　〃No！〃　Faile　twisted　around　to　stare　up　at　Perrin；　eyes　angry。　〃What　does　he　mean；　as　you　agreed？〃
　　　　　　　Her　words　were　nearly　drowned　by　the　roar　from　every　side。　〃No！　No！〃　and　〃You　will　not　take　him！〃　and　〃Goldeneyes！〃
　　　　　　　Keeping　his　gaze　on　Bornhald；　Perrin　lifted　a　hand；　and　silence　descended　slowly。　When　all　was　quiet；　he　said；　〃I　said　I　would　not　resist；　if　you　aided。〃　Surprising；　how　calm　his　voice　was；　inside　he　seethed　with　a　slow；　cold　anger。　〃If　you　aided；　Whitecloak。　Where　were　you？〃　The　man　did　not　answer。
　　　　　　　Daise　Congar　stepped　out　from　the　encircling　throng　with　Wit；　who　clung　to　her　as　if　he　never　intended　to　let　go　of　her　again。　For　that　matter；　her　stout　arm　was　wrapped　around　Wit's　shoulders　in　much　the　same　fashion。　They　made　an　odd　picture　as　she　planted　her　pitchfork…polearm　firmly；　her　the　taller　by　a　head　and　holding　her　considerably　smaller　husband　as　though　she　meant　to　protect　him。　〃They　were　on　the　Green；〃　she　announced　loudly；　〃all　lined　up　and　sitting　their　horses　pretty　as　girls　ready　for　a　dance　at　Sunday。　They　never　stirred。　It　was　that　that　made　us　e。。。〃　A　fierce　murmur　of　agreement　rippled　from　the　women。　〃。　。　。　when　we　saw　you　were　about　to　be　overrun；　and　they　just　sat　there　like　bumps　on　a　log！〃
　　　　　　　Bornhald　did　not　take　his　eyes　from　Perrin　for　an　instant；　he　did　not　even　blink。　〃Did　you　think　I　would　trust　you？〃　he　sneered。　〃Your　plan　only　failed　because　these　others　arrived　…　yes？　…　and　you　can　claim　no　par