rj.theshadowrising-第95部分

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　rescue　Mistress　Luhhan　and　the　others。　And　where　were　Tam　and　Abell　hiding？　Neither　Bran　nor　Mistress　al'Vere　had　said；　perhaps　they　did　not　know。　If　Tam　and　Abell　had　not　brought　the　prisoners　out　already；　it　was　not　an　easy　task。　He　had　to　do　it　somehow；　though。　Then　he　could　turn　his　attention　to　Trollocs。
　　　　　　　No　one　from　the　village　had　e　this　way　in　years；　and　the　path　had　vanished；　yet　tall　trees　kept　the　undergrowth　down　to　a　large　extent。　The　Aiel　slipped　along　silently　with　everyone　else；　acceding　to　Mistress　al'Vere's　insistence　that　they　all　stay　together。　Loial　murmured　approvingly　at　great　oaks　or　particularly　tall　fir　trees　and　leatherleaf。　Occasionally　a　mocker　or　redbreast　sang　in　the　trees；　and　once　Perrin　smelled　a　fox　watching　them　pass。
　　　　　　　Suddenly　he　caught　man　scent　that　had　not　been　there　a　moment　before；　heard　a　faint　rustle。　The　Aiel　tensed；　crouching　with　spears　ready。　Perrin　reached　to　his　quiver。
　　　　　　　〃Be　at　ease；〃　Mistress　al'Vere　said　urgently；　motioning　for　weapons　to　be　lowered。　〃Please；　be　at　ease。〃
　　　　　　　Abruptly　there　were　two　men　standing　ahead；　one　tall　and　dark　and　slender　to　the　left；　the　other　short；　stocky　and　graying　to　the　right。　Both　held　bows　with　arrows　nocked；　ready　to　raise　and　draw；　with　quivers　balancing　the　swords　on　their　hips。　Both　wore　cloaks　that　seemed　to　fade　into　the　surrounding　foliage。
　　　　　　　〃Warders！〃　Perrin　exclaimed。　〃Why　didn't　you　tell　us　there　are　Aes　Sedai　here；　Mistress　al'Vere？　Master　al'Vere　never　mentioned　it　either。　Why？〃
　　　　　　　〃Because　he　doesn't　know；〃　she　said　hurriedly。　〃I　did　not　lie　when　I　said　this　is　Women's　Circle　business。〃　She　turned　her　attention　to　the　two　Warders；　neither　of　whom　had　relaxed　an　inch。　〃Tomas；　Ihvon；　you　know　me。　Put　those　bows　down。　You　know　I'd　not　bring　anyone　here　if　they　meant　harm。〃
　　　　　　　〃An　Ogier；〃　the　gray　haired　man　said；　〃Aiel；　a　yellow…eyed　man…　the　one　the　Whitecloaks　seek；　of　course　…　and　a　fierce　young　woman　with　a　knife。〃　Perrin　glanced　at　Faile；　she　held　a　blade　ready　to　throw。　He　agreed　with　her　this　time。　These　might　be　Warders；　but　they　showed　no　sign　of　lowering　their　bows　yet；　their　faces　might　as　well　have　been　carved　from　anvils。　The　Aiel　looked　ready　to　begin　dancing　the　spears　without　waiting　to　veil　themselves。　〃A　strange　group；　Mistress　al'Vere；〃　the　older　Warder　went　on。　〃We　shall　see。　Ihvon？〃　The　slender　man　nodded　and　melted　into　the　undergrowth；　Perrin　could　barely　hear　the　fellow's　going。　Warders　moved　like　death　itself　when　they　wanted　to。
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　mean；　Women's　Circle　business？〃　he　demanded。　〃I　know　Whitecloaks　would　cause　trouble　if　they　knew　about　Aes　Sedai；　so　you　wouldn't　want　to　tell　Hari　Coplin；　but　why　keep　it　secret　from　the　Mayor？　And　us？〃
　　　　　　　〃Because　we　agreed　to；〃　Mistress　al'Vere　said　irritably。　The　irritation　seemed　meant　in　equal　parts　for　Perrin　and　the　Warder　still　guarding　them　…　there　was　no　other　word　for　it　…　with　maybe　a　bit　left　over　for　the　Aes　Sedai。　〃They　were　at　Watch　Hill　when　the　Whitecloaks　came。　No　one　there　knew　who　they　were　except　the　Circle　there；　who　passed　them　on　to　us　to　hide。　From　everyone；　Perrin。　It's　the　best　way　to　keep　a　secret；　if　only　a　few　know。　Light　preserve　me；　I　know　two　women　who　have　stopped　sharing　their　husbands'　beds　for　fear　they　might　talk　in　their　sleep。　We　agreed　to　keep　it　secret。〃
　　　　　　　〃Why　did　you　decide　to　change　that？〃　the　gray　haired　Warder　asked　in　a　hard　voice。
　　　　　　　〃For　what　I　consider　good　and　sufficient　reasons；　Tomas。〃　From　the　way　she　shifted　her　shawl；　Perrin　suspected　she　was　hoping　the　Circle…　and　the　Aes　Sedai　…　thought　so；　too。　Rumor　had　it　the　Circle　could　be　even　harder　on　each　other　than　they　were　on　the　rest　of　the　village。　〃Where　better　to　hide　you；　Perrin；　than　with　Aes　Sedai？　Surely　you　aren't　afraid　of　them；　not　after　leaving　here　with　one。　And。。。　You　will　find　out　soon　enough。　You　just　have　to　trust　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃There　are　Aes　Sedai　and　Aes　Sedai；〃　Perrin　told　her。　But　those　he　considered　the　worst；　the　Red　Ajah；　did　not　bond　Warders；　the　Red　Ajah　did　not　like　men　very　much　at　all。　This　Tomas　had　dark　unwavering　eyes。　They　might　rush　him；　or　better　simply　leave；　but　the　Warder　would　surely　put　an　arrow　through　the　first　one　to　do　something　he　did　not　like；　and　Perrin　was　ready　to　bet　the　man　had　more　shafts　handy　for　easy　nocking。　The　Aiel　seemed　to　agree；　they　still　looked　ready　to　spring　in　any　direction　at　any　moment；　but　they　looked　as　if　they　could　stand　where　they　were　until　the　sun　froze；　too。　Perrin　patted　Faile　on　the　shoulder。　〃It　will　be　all　right；〃　he　said。
　　　　　　　〃Of　course　it　will；〃　she　replied；　smiling。　She　had　put　the　knife　away。　〃If　Mistress　al'Vere　says　it；　I　trust　her。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　hoped　she　was　right。　He　did　not　trust　as　many　people　as　he　once　had。　Not　Aes　Sedai。　And　maybe　not　even　Marin　al'Vere。　But　maybe　these　Aes　Sedai　would　help　him　fight　Trollocs。　He　would　trust　anyone　who　did　that。　But　how　far　could　he　rely　on　Aes　Sedai？　They　did　what　they　did　for　their　own　reasons；　the　Two　Rivers　was　home；　to　him；　but　to　them　it　might　be　a　stone　on　a　stones　board。　Faile　and　Marin　al'Vere　appeared　to　be　trusting；　though；　and　the　Aiel　waited。　For　the　moment；　it　seemed　he　had　little　choice。


Chapter　31
（Sunburst）
Assurances

　　　　　　　In　a　few　minutes　Ihvon　returned。　〃You　can　go　ahead；　Mistress　al'Vere〃　was　all　he　said　before　he　and　Tomas　both　vanished　into　the　brush　again　without　so　much　as　the　rustle　of　a　leaf。
　　　　　　　〃They　are　very　good；〃　Gaul　muttered；　still　staring　around　suspiciously。
　　　　　　　〃A　child　could　hide　in　this；〃　Chiad　told　him；　slapping　a　redberry　branch。　But　she　watched　the　undergrowth　as　closely　as　Gaul　did。
　　　　　　　None　of　the　Aiel　appeared　eager　to　go　on。　Not　reluctant；　precisely；　and　certainly　not　afraid；　but　definitely　not　eager。　One　day　Perrin　hoped　to　figure　out　what　it　was　Aiel　did　feel　toward　Aes　Sedai。　One　day。　He　was　not　particularly　enthusiastic　himself；　today。
　　　　　　　〃Let's　go　meet　these　Aes　Sedai　of　yours；〃　he　told　Mistress　al'Vere　gruffly。
　　　　　　　The　old　sickhouse　was　even　more　ramshackle　than　he　remembered；　a　sprawling　single　story　that　leaned　drunkenly；　half　the　rooms　open　to　the　sky；　a　forty…foot　sourgum　tree　poking　up　from　one。　The　forest　closed　in　on　every　side。　A　thick　net　of　vines　and　briars　snaked　up　the　walls；　covered　the　remaining　thatch　with　green；　he　thought　they　might　be　all　that　was　holding　the　building　up。　The　front　door　was　cleared；　though。　He　smelled　horses；　and　a　faint　aroma　of　beans　and　ham；　but　oddly；　no　woodsmoke。
　　　　　　　Tying　their　animals　to　low　branches；　they　followed　Mistress　al'Vere　inside；　where　vine…shrouded　windows　admitted　only　a　dim　light。　The　front　room　was　large　and　bare　of　furnishings；　with　dirt　in　the　corners　and　a　few　cobwebs　that　had　escaped　an　obviously　hasty　cleaning。　Four　blanket　rolls　were　laid　out　on　the　floor；　with　saddles　and　saddlebags　and　neatly　tied　bundles　against　the　wall；　and　a　small　kettle　on　the　stone　hearth　gave　off　the　cooking　smells　despite　the　lack　of　any　fire。　A　smaller　kettle　seemed　to　be　water　for　tea；　almost　at　the　boil。　Two　Aes　Sedai　awaited　them。　Marin　al'Vere　curtsied　hastily　and　launched　into　an　anxious　cascade　of　introductions　and　explanations。
　　　　　　　Perrin　leaned　his　chin　against　his　bow。　He　recognized　the　Aes　Sedai。　Verin　Mathwin；　plump　and　square…faced；　gray　streaking　her　brown　hair　despite　her　smooth…cheeked　Aes　Sedai　agelessness；　was　Brown　Ajah；　and　like　all　Browns　seemingly　lost　half　the　time　in　the　search　for　knowledge；　whether　old　and　lost　or　new。　But　sometimes　her　dark　eyes　belied　that　vague　dreamy　expression；　as　now；　looking　past　Marin　at　him　sharp　as　tacks。　She　was　one　of　two　Aes　Sedai　besides　Moiraine　he　was　certain　knew　about　Rand；　and　he　suspected　she　knew　more　about　himself　than　she　let　on。　Her　eyes　took　on　that　slight　vagueness　again　as　she　listened　to　Marin；　but　for　an　instant　they　had　weighed　him　on　scales；　factored　him　into　her　own　plans。　He　would　have　to　be　very　careful　around　her。
　　　　　　　The　other；　a　dark；　slender　woman　in　a　deep　green　silk　riding　dress　that　contrasted　sharply　with　Verin's　plain　brown；　inkstained　at　the　cuffs；　he　had　never　met；　and　only　seen　once。　Alanna　Mosvani　was　Green　Ajah；　if　he　remembered　correctly；　a　beautiful　woman　with　long　black　hair　and　penetrating　dark　eyes。　Those　eyes　sought　him；　too；　while　she　listened　to　Marin。　Something　Egwene　had　said　came　back　to　him。　Some　Aes　Sedai　who　shouldn't　know　about　Rand　show　too　much　interest　in　him。　Elaida；　for　instance；　and　Alanna　Mosvani。　I　don't　think　I　trust　either　of　them。　Perhaps　it　would　be　best　to　be　guided　by　Egwene　until　he　found　out　differently。
　　　　　　　His　ears　perked　up　when　Marin　said；　still　apprehensive；　〃You　were　asking　about　him；　Verin　Sedai。　Perrin；　I　mean。　All　three　boys；　but　Perrin　among　them。　It　seemed　the　easiest　way　to　keep　him　from　getting　himself　killed　was　to　bring　him　to　you。　There　just　wasn't　any　time　to　ask　first。　Do　say　you　under　…〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　quite　all　right；　Mistress　al'Vere；〃　Verin　interrupted　in　a　soothing　tone。　〃You　did　exactly　the　correct　thing。　Perrin　is　in　the　right　hands；　now。　Also　I　will　enjoy　the　chance　to　learn　more　about　the　Aiel；　and　it　is　always　a　pleasure　to　talk　with　an　Ogier。　I　will　pick　your　brain；　Loial。　I　have　found　some　fascinating　things　in　Ogier　books。〃
　　　　　　　Loial　gave　her　a　pleased　smile；　anything　to　do　with　books　seemed　to　please　him。　Gaul；　on　the　other　hand；　exchanged　guarded　looks　with　Bain　and　Chiad。
　　　　　　　〃It　is　all　right　as　long　as　you　do　not　do　it　again；〃　Alanna　said　firmly。　〃Unless。。。　You　are　alone？〃　she　asked　Perrin　in　a　voice　that　required　an　answer；　and　right　now。　〃Did　the　other　two　return　as　well？〃
　　　　　　　〃Why　are　you　here？〃　he　demanded　right　back。
　　　　　　　〃Perrin！〃　Mistress　al'Vere　said　sharply。　〃Mind　your　manners！　You　may　have　picked　up　some　rough　ways　out　in　the　world；　but　you　can　just　lose　them　again　now　that　you　are　home。〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　not　trouble　yourself；〃　Verin　told　her。。　〃Perrin　and　I　are　old　friends　now。　I　understand　him。　〃　Her　dark　eyes　glittered　at　him　for　a　moment。
　　　　　　　〃We　will　take　care　of　him。〃　Alanna's　cool　words　seemed　open　to　interpretation。
　　　　　　　Verin　smiled　and　patted　Marin's　shoulder。　〃You　had　better　go　on　back　to　the　village。　We　don't　want　anyone　wondering　why　you　are　walking　in　the　woods。〃
　　　　　　　Mistress　al'Vere　nodded。　Pausing　by　Perrin；　she　put　a　hand　on　his　arm。　〃You　know　you　have　my　sympathy；〃　she　said　gently。　〃Just　remember　that　getting　yourself　killed　won't　help　anything。。　Do　what　the　Aes　Sedai　tell　you。　〃　He　mumbled　something　nonmittal；　but　it　seemed　to　satisfy　her。
　　　　　　　When　Mistress　al'Vere　had　gone；　Verin　said；　〃You　have　our　sympathy　as　well；　Perrin。　If　there　was　anything　we　could　have　done；　we　would　have。〃
　　　　　　　He　did　not　want　to　think　of　his　family　now。　〃You　still　haven't　answered　my　question。〃
　　　　　　　〃Perrin！〃　Faile　managed　to　copy　Mistress　al'Vere's　tone　almost　exactly；　but　he　paid　it　no　mind。
　　　　　　　〃Why　are　you　here？　It　seems　awfully　coincidental。　Whitecloaks　and　Trollocs；　and　the　two　of　you　just　happen　to　be　here　at　the　same　time。〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　coincidental　at　all；〃　Verin　replied。　〃Ah；　the　tea　water　is　ready。〃　The　water　subsided　from　a　boil　as　she　began　to　bustle　about；　tossing　a　handful　of　leaves　into　the　kettle；　directing　Faile　to　find　metal　cups　in　one