rj.theshadowrising-第92部分

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　about　those　two；　Faile；　and　they　think　I'm　a　Darkfriend。〃　She　would　learn　that　much　soon　enough。　Brought　to　the　point　of　it；　he　might　have　told　her　why；　had　they　been　alone。　At　least　two　Whitecloaks；　Geofram　Bornhald　and　Jaret　Byar；　suspected　something　of　his　connection　with　wolves。　Not　nearly　all；　but　for　them　the　little　was　enough。　A　man　who　ran　with　wolves　had　to　be　a　Darkfriend。　Maybe　one　or　both　was　with　the　Whitecloaks　here。　〃They　believe　it　for　true。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　are　no　more　a　Darkfriend　than　I；〃　she　whispered　harshly。　〃The　sun　could　be　a　Darkfriend　first。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　makes　no　difference；　Faile。　I　have　to　do　what　I　have　to　do。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　addle…brained　lummox！　You　don't　have　to　do　any　such　crackpate　thing！　You　goose…brain！　If　you　try　it；　I'll　hang　you　myself！〃
　　　　　　　〃Perrin；〃　Mistress　al'Vere　said　quietly；　〃would　you　introduce　me　to　this　young　woman　who　thinks　so　highly　of　you？〃
　　　　　　　Faile's　face　went　bright　red　when　she　realized　she　had　been　ignoring　Master　and　Mistress　al'Vere；　and　she　began　making　elaborate　curtsies　and　offered　flowery　apologies。　Bain　and　Chiad　did　as　Gaul　had；　asking　leave　to　defend　Mistress　al'Vere's　roof　and　giving　her　a　small　golden　bowl　worked　in　leaves　and　an　ornate　silver　pepper　mill　bigger　than　Perrin's　two　fists；　topped　by　some　fanciful　creature　half　horse；　half　fish。
　　　　　　　Bran　al'Vere　stared　and　frowned；　rubbed　his　head　and　muttered　to　himself。　Perrin　caught　the　word　〃Aiel〃　more　than　once　in　an　incredulous　tone。　The　Mayor　kept　glancing　at　the　windows；　too。　Not　wondering　about　more　Aiel；　he　had　been　surprised　to　learn　Gaul　was　Aiel。　Maybe　he　was　worried　about　Whitecloaks。
　　　　　　　Marin　al'Vere；　on　the　other　hand；　took　it　all　in　stride；　treating　Faile　and　Bain　and　Chiad　the　same　as　any　other　young　women　travelers　who　came　to　the　inn；　miserating　with　them　over　how　tiring　travel　was；　plimenting　Faile　on　her　riding　dress　…　dark　blue　silk；　today　…　and　telling　the　Aiel　women　how　she　admired　the　color　and　sheen　of　their　hair。　Perrin　suspected　that　Bain　and　Chiad；　at　least；　did　not　know　quite　what　to　make　of　her；　but　in　short　order；　with　a　sort　of　calm　motherly　firmness；　she　had　all　three　women　settled　at　a　table　with　damp　towels　to　wipe　journey　dust　from　hands　and　faces；　sipping　tea　she　poured　from　a　large　red…striped　pot　he　remembered　well。
　　　　　　　It　might　have　been　amusing　seeing　those　fierce　women　…　he　certainly　included　Faile　…　suddenly　eager　to　assure　Mistress　al'Vere　that　they　were　more　than　fortable；　was　there　nothing　they　could　do　to　help；　she　was　doing　too　much；　all　of　them　wide　eyed　as　children；　with　a　child's　chance　of　resisting　her。　It　would　have　been　amusing　if　she　had　not　included　himself　and　Gaul；　sweeping　them　just　as　firmly　to　the　table；　insisting　on　clean　hands　and　clean　faces　before　they　got　a　cup　of　tea。　Gaul　wore　a　small　grin　the　whole　time；　Aiel　had　a　strange　sense　of　humor。
Surprisingly；　she　never　glanced　at　his　bow　or　axe；　or　the　Aiel's　weapons。　People　seldom　carried　even　a　bow　in　the　Two　Rivers；　and　she　always　insisted　such　be　set　aside　before　anyone　took　a　place　at　one　of　her　tables。　Always。　But　she　just　ignored　them　now。
　　　　　　　Another　surprise　came　when　Bran　placed　a　silver　cup　of　apple　brandy　at　Perrin's　elbow；　not　the　small　tot　that　men　usually　drank　at　the　inn；　barely　enough　to　cover　the　last　joint　of　the　thumb；　but　half…full。　When　he　had　left　he　would　have　been　offered　cider　if　not　milk；　or　perhaps　well…watered　wine；　a　half…cup　with　a　meal　or　a　full　one　on　a　feastday。　It　was　gratifying　to　be　recognized　as　a　grown　man；　but　he　only　held　it。　He　was　used　to　wine　now；　but　he　seldom　drank　anything　stronger。
　　　　　　　〃Perrin；〃　the　Mayor　said　as　he　took　a　chair　beside　his　wife；　〃no　one　believes　you　a　Darkfriend。　No　one　with　any　sense。　There　is　no　reason　for　you　to　let　yourself　be　hanged。〃
　　　　　　　Faile　nodded　in　fierce　agreement；　but　Perrin　ignored　her。　〃I　won't　be　turned　aside；　Master　al'Vere。　The　Whitecloaks　want　me；　and　if　they　do　not　get　me；　they　might　turn　to　the　next　Aybara　they　can　find。　Whitecloaks　don't　need　much　to　decide　somebody　is　guilty。　They　are　not　pleasant　people。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　know；〃　Mistress　al'Vere　said　softly。
　　　　　　　Her　husband　stared　at　his　hands　on　the　table。　〃Perrin；　your　family　is　gone。〃
　　　　　　　〃Gone？　You　mean　the　farm　is　burned　already？〃　Perrin's　fist　tightened　around　the　silver　cup。　〃I　hoped　I　was　in　time。　I　should　have　known　better；　I　suppose。　Too　long　before　I　heard。　Maybe　I　can　help　my　da　and　Uncle　Eward　rebuild。　Who　are　they　staying　with？　I　want　to　see　them　first；　at　least。〃
　　　　　　　Bran　grimaced；　and　his　wife　stroked　his　shoulder　fortingly。　But　strangely　her　eyes　stayed　on　Perrin；　all　sadness　and　fort。
　　　　　　　〃They　are　dead；　my　boy；〃　Bran　said　in　a　rush。
　　　　　　　〃Dead？　No。　They　can't　be　…〃　Perrin　frowned　as　wetness　suddenly　slopped　over　his　hand；　stared　at　the　crumpled　cup　as　though　wondering　where　it　had　e　from。　〃I　am　sorry。　I　didn't　mean　to　…〃　He　pulled　at　the　flattened　silver；　trying　to　force　it　back　out　with　his　fingers。　That　would　not　work。　Of　course　not。　Very　carefully；　he　put　the　ruined　cup　in　the　middle　of　the　table。　〃I　will　replace　it。　I　can　…〃　He　wiped　his　hand　on　his　coat；　and　suddenly　found　he　was　caressing　the　axe　hanging　at　his　belt。　Why　was　everyone　looking　at　him　so　oddly？　〃Are　you　sure？〃　His　voice　sounded　far　away。　〃Adora　and　Deselle？　Paet？　My　mother？〃
　　　　　　　〃All　of　them；〃　Bran　told　him。　〃Your　aunts　and　uncles；　too；　and　your　cousins。　Everybody　on　the　farm。　I　helped　bury　them；　my　boy。　On　that　low　hill；　the　one　with　the　apple　trees。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　stuck　his　thumb　in　his　mouth。　Fool　thing　to　do；　cutting　himself　on　his　own　axe。　〃My　mother　likes　apple　blossoms。　The　Whitecloaks。　Why　would　they　…？　Burn　me；　Paet　was　only　nine。　The　girls。。。〃　His　voice　was　very　flat。　He　thought　he　should　have　had　some　emotion　in　those　words。　Some　emotion。
　　　　　　　〃It　was　Trollocs；〃　Mistress　al'Vere　said　quickly。　〃They　have　e　back；　Perrin。　Not　the　way　they　did　when　you　went　away；　not　attacking　the　village；　but　out　in　the　countryside。　Most　farms　without　close　neighbors　have　been　abandoned。　No　one　goes　outside　at　night；　even　near　to　the　village。　It　is　the　same　down　to　Deven　Ride　and　up　to　Watch　Hill；　maybe　to　Taren　Ferry。　The　Whitecloaks；　bad　as　they　are；　are　our　only　real　protection。　They've　saved　two　families　that　I　know；　when　Trollocs　attacked　their　farms。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　wished　…　I　hoped　…〃　He　could　not　quite　remember　what　it　was　he　had　wished。　Something　about　Trollocs。　He　did　not　want　to　remember。　The　Whitecloaks　protecting　the　Two　Rivers？　It　was　almost　enough　to　make　him　laugh。　〃Rand's　father。　Tam's　farm。　Was　that　Trollocs；　too？〃
　　　　　　　Mistress　al'Vere　opened　her　mouth；　but　Bran　cut　her　off。　〃He　deserves　the　truth；　Marin。　That　was　Whitecloaks；　Perrin。　That；　and　the　Cauthon　place。〃
　　　　　　　〃Mat's　people　too。　Rand's；　and　Mat's；　and　mine。〃　Strange。　He　sounded　as　if　he　were　talking　about　whether　it　might　rain。　〃Are　they　dead；　too？〃
　　　　　　　〃No；　my　boy。　No；　Abell　and　Tam　are　hiding　in　the　Westwood　somewhere。　And　Mat's　mother　and　sisters。。。　They're　alive；　too。〃
　　　　　　　〃Hiding？〃
　　　　　　　〃There　is　no　need　to　go　into　that；〃　Mistress　al'Vere　said　briskly。　〃Bran；　bring　him　another　cup　of　brandy。　And　you　drink　this　one；　Perrin。〃　Her　husband　sat　where　he　was；　but　she　only　frowned　at　him　and　went　on。　〃I　would　offer　you　a　bed；　but　it　isn't　safe。　Some　people　are　like　as　not　to　run　off　hunting　for　Lord　Bornhald　if　they　find　out　you　are　here。　Eward　Congar　and　Hari　Coplin　fawn　after　the　Whitecloaks　like　heel…hounds；　eager　to　please　and　name　names；　and　Cenn　Buie　isn't　much　better。　And　Wit　Congar　will　carry　tales；　too；　if　Daise　doesn't　stop　him。　She　is　the　Wisdom；　now。　Perrin；　it　is　best　for　to　go。　Believe　me。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　shook　his　head　slowly；　it　was　too　much　to　take　in。　Daise　Congar　the　Wisdom？　The　woman　was　like　a　bull。　Whitecloaks　protecting　Emond's　Field。　Hari　and　Eward　and　Wit　cooperating。　Not　much　more　could　be　expected　from　Congars　or　Coplins；　but　Cenn　Buie　was　on　the　Village　Council。　Lord　Bornhald。　So　Geofram　Bornhald　was　there。　Faile　was　watching　him；　her　eyes　large　and　moist。　Why　should　she　be　on　the　edge　of　tears？
　　　　　　　〃There　is　more；　Brandelwyn　al'Vere；〃　Gaul　said。　〃Your　face　says　so。〃
　　　　　　　〃There　is；〃　Bran　agreed。　〃No；　Marin；〃　he　added　firmly　when　she　gave　a　small　shake　of　her　head。　〃He　deserves　the　truth。　The　whole　truth。〃　She　folded　her　hands　with　a　sigh；　Marin　al'Vere　very　nearly　always　got　her　way　…　except　when　Bran's　face　was　set；　as　now；　with　his　eyebrows　drawn　down　hard　as　a　plow。
　　　　　　　〃What　truth？〃　Perrin　asked。　His　mother　liked　apple　blossoms。
　　　　　　　〃First　off；　Padan　Fain　is　with　the　Whitecloaks；〃　Bran　said。　〃He　calls　himself　Ordeith　now；　and　he　won't　answer　to　his　own　name　at　all；　but　it's　him；　stare　down　his　nose　as　he　will。〃
　　　　　　　〃He's　a　Darkfriend；〃　Perrin　said　absently。　Adora　and　Deselle　always　put　apple　blossoms　in　their　hair　in　the　spring。　〃Admitted　from　his　own　mouth。　He　brought　the　Trollocs；　on　Winternight。〃　Paet　liked　to　climb　in　the　apple　trees；　he　would　throw　apples　at　you　from　the　branches　if　you　did　not　watch　him。
　　　　　　　〃Is　he；　now；〃　the　Mayor　said　grimly。　〃Now；　that　is　interesting。　He　has　some　authority　with　the　Whitecloaks。　The　first　we　heard　they　were　here　was　after　they　burned　Tam's　farm。　That　was　Fain's　work；　he　led　the　Whitecloaks　that　did　it。　Tam　feathered　four　or　five　of　them　with　arrows　before　he　made　it　to　the　woods；　and　he　reached　the　Cauthon　farm　in　the　nick　to　stop　them　taking　Abell。　But　they　arrested　Natti　and　the　girls。　And　Haral　Luhhan；　and　Alsbet；　too。　I　think　Fain　might　have　hung　them；　except　Lord　Bornhald　wouldn't　allow　it。　Not　that　he　let　them　go；　either。　They　haven't　been　harmed；　as　far　as　I　can　discover；　but　they're　being　held　in　the　Whitecloak　camp　up　at　Watch　Hill。　For　some　reason；　Fain　has　a　hate　for　you；　and　Rand；　and　Mat。　He's　offered　a　hundred　pieces　of　gold　for　anyone　related　to　the　three　of　you；　two　hundred　for　Tam　or　Abell。　And　Lord　Bornhald　seems　to　have　some　interest　in　you；　especially。　When　a　Whitecloak　patrol　es　here；　he　usually　es；　too；　and　asks　questions　about　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；〃　Perrin　said。　〃Of　course。　He　would。〃　Perrin　of　the　Two　Rivers；　who　ran　with　wolves。　Darkfriend。　Fain　could　have　told　them　the　rest。　Fain；　with　the　Children　of　the　Light？　It　was　a　distant　thought。　Better　than　thinking　about　Trollocs；　though。　He　grimaced　at　his　hands；　made　them　be　still　on　the　table。　〃They　protect　you　from　the　Trollocs。〃
　　　　　　　Marin　al'Vere　leaned　toward　him；　frowning。　〃Perrin；　we　need　the　Whitecloaks。　Yes；　they　burned　Tam's　farm；　and　Abell's；　they've　arrested　people；　and　they　stamp　around　as　if　they　own　everything　they　see；　but　Alsbet　and　Natti　and　the　rest　are　unharmed；　only　held；　and　that　can　be　straightened　out　somehow。　The　Dragon's　Fang　has　been　scrawled　on　a　few　doors；　but　nobody　except　the　Congars　and　Coplins　pay　any　mind；　and　they're　likely　the　ones　who　did　the　scrawling。　Tam　and　Abell　can　stay　in　hiding　until　the　Whitecloaks　go。　They　have　to　go　sooner　or　later。　But　as　long　as　there　are　Trollocs　here；　we　do　need　them。　Please　understand。　It　isn't　that　we　would　not　rather　have　you　than　them；　but　we　need　them　and　we　don't　want　them　to　hang　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　call　this　being　protected；　roofmistress？〃　Bain　said。　〃If　you　ask　the　lion　to　protect　you　from　wolves；　you　have　only　chosen　to