rj.thegreathunt-第128部分

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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　　　　　　〃Egwene　said　they　have　two　prisoners；〃　Min　said　slowly。　〃Ryma；　a　Yellow；　and　she　didn't　know　who　the　other　is。〃　Nynaeve　gave　her　a　sharp　look；　and　she　fell　silent；　blushing。　From　the　look　on　Domon's　face；　it　had　not　furthered　their　cause　any　to　tell　him　the　Seanchan　held　two　Aes　Sedai；　not　just　one。
　　　　　　　Yet　abruptly　he　stared　at　Nynaeve　and　took　a　long　gulp　of　wine。　〃Do　that　be　why　you　are　here？　To　free　。。。　those　two？　You　did　say　there　would　be　three　of　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　know　what　you　need　to　know；〃　Nynaeve　told　him　briskly。　〃You　must　be　ready　to　sail　on　the　instant　anytime　in　the　next　two　or　three　days。　Will　you　do　it；　or　will　you　remain　here　to　see　if　they　will　cut　off　your　head　after　all？　There　are　other　ships；　Captain；　and　I　mean　to　have　passage　assured　on　one　of　them　today。〃
　　　　　　　Min　held　her　breath；　under　the　table；　her　fingers　were　knotted。
　　　　　　　Finally；　Domon　nodded。　〃I　will　be　ready。〃
　　　　　　　When　they　returned　to　the　street；　Min　was　surprised　to　see　Nynaeve　sag　against　the　front　of　the　inn　as　soon　as　the　door　closed。　〃Are　you　ill；　Nynaeve？〃　she　asked　anxiously。
　　　　　　　Nynaeve　drew　a　long　breath　and　stood　up　straight；　tugging　at　her　coat。　〃With　some　people；〃　she　said；　〃you　have　to　be　certain。　If　you　show　them　one　glimmer　of　doubt；　they'll　sweep　you　off　in　some　direction　you　don't　want　to　go。　Light；　but　I　was　afraid　he　was　going　to　say　no。　e；　we　have　plans　yet　to　make。　There　are　still　one　or　two　small　problems　to　work　out。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　hope　you　don't　mind　fish；　Min；〃　Elayne　said。
　　　　　　　One　or　two　small　problems？　Min　thought　as　she　followed　them。　She　hoped　very　much　that　Nynaeve　was　not　just　being　certain　again。
　
Chapter　44
（Flame　of　Tar　Valon）
Five　Will　Ride　Forth

　　　　　　　Perrin　eyed　the　villagers　warily；　self…consciously　hitching　at　a　too…short　cloak；　embroidered　on　the　chest　and　with　some　holes　in　it　not　even　patched；　but　none　of　them　gave　him　a　second　glance　despite　his　strange　mix　of　clothes　and　the　axe　on　his　hip。　Hurin　had　a　coat　with　blue　spirals　across　the　chest　under　his　cloak；　and　Mat　wore　a　pair　of　baggy　trousers　that　made　bunches　where　they　were　stuffed　into　his　boots。　That　had　been　all　they　had　been　able　to　find　that　would　fit　back　in　the　abandoned　village。　Perrin　wondered　if　this　one　would　be　abandoned　soon。　Half　the　stone　houses　were　empty；　and　in　front　of　the　inn；　up　the　dirt　street　from　them；　three　ox　carts；　loaded　too　heavily　in　great　mounds　and　everything　covered　with　roped　canvas；　stood　with　families　gathered　around　them。
　　　　　　　As　he　watched　them；　huddling　together　and　saying　their　goodbyes　to　those　who　were　staying；　at　least　for　the　time　being；　Perrin　decided　it　was　not　lack　of　interest　in　strangers　on　the　villagers'　part；　they　were　carefully　avoiding　looking　at　him　and　the　others。　These　people　had　learned　not　to　show　curiosity　about　strangers；　even　strangers　who　were　obviously　not　Seanchan。　Strangers　might　be　dangerous　these　days　on　Toman　Head。　They　had　encountered　the　same　studious　indifference　in　other　villages。　There　were　more　towns　here　within　a　few　leagues　of　the　coast；　every　one　holding　itself　independent。　At　any　rate；　they　had　until　the　Seanchan　came。
　　　　　　　〃I　say　it's　time　to　go　get　the　horses；〃　Mat　said；　〃before　they　decide　to　start　asking　questions。　There　has　to　be　a　first　time　for　it。〃
　　　　　　　Hurin　was　staring　at　a　big；　blackened　circle　of　ground　that　marred　the　brown　grass　of　the　village　green。　It　had　a　weathered　look；　but　no　one　had　done　anything　to　erase　it。　〃Maybe　six　or　eight　months　ago；〃　he　muttered；　〃and　it　still　stinks。　The　whole　Village　Council　and　their　families。　Why　would　they　do　a　thing　like　that？〃
　　　　　　　〃Who　knows　why　they　do　anything？〃　Mat　muttered。　〃Seanchan　don't　seem　to　need　a　reason　for　killing　people。　None　I　can　figure　out；　anyway。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　tried　not　to　look　at　the　charred　patch。　〃Hurin；　are　you　sure　about　Fain？　Hurin？〃　It　had　been　hard　to　make　the　sniffer　look　at　anything　else　since　they　entered　the　village。　〃Hurin！〃
　　　　　　　〃What？　Oh。　Fain。　Yes。〃　Hurin's　nostrils　flared；　and　right　away　he　wrinkled　his　nose。　〃There's　no　mistaking　that；　even　old　as　it　is。　Makes　a　Myrddraal　smell　like　roses。　He　passed　through　here　all　right；　but　I　think　he　was　alone。　No　Trollocs；　anyway；　and　if　he　had　any　Darkfriends　with　him；　they　hadn't　been　up　to　much　lately。〃
　　　　　　　There　was　some　sort　of　agitation　up　by　the　inn；　people　shouting　and　pointing。　Not　at　Perrin　and　the　other　two；　but　at　something　Perrin　could　not　see　in　the　low　hills　east　of　the　village。
　　　　　　　〃Can　we　get　the　horses　now？〃　Mat　said。　〃That　could　be　Seanchan。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　nodded；　and　they　broke　into　a　run　for　where　they　had　tied　their　horses　behind　an　abandoned　house。　As　Mat　and　Hurin　disappeared　around　the　corner　of　the　house；　Perrin　looked　back　toward　the　inn　and　stopped　in　astonishment。　The　Children　of　the　Light　were　riding　into　town；　a　long　column　of　them。
　　　　　　　He　leaped　after　the　others。　〃Whitecloaks！〃
　　　　　　　They　wasted　only　an　instant　staring　at　him　in　disbelief　before　they　were　scrambling　into　their　saddles。　Keeping　houses　between　them　and　the　main　street　of　the　village；　the　three　galloped　out　of　the　village　westward；　watching　over　their　shoulders　for　pursuit。　Ingtar　had　told　them　to　avoid　anything　that　might　slow　them　down；　and　Whitecloaks　asking　questions　would　certainly　do　that；　even　if　they　could　manage　answers　that　satisfied。　Perrin　kept　an　even　closer　watch　than　the　other　two；　he　had　his　own　reasons　for　not　wanting　to　meet　Whitecloaks。　The　axe　in　my　hands。　Light；　what　I　wouldn't　give　to　change　that。
　　　　　　　The　lightly　wooded　hills　soon　hid　the　village；　and　Perrin　began　to　think　maybe　there　was　nothing　chasing　them　after　all。　He　reined　in　and　motioned　the　other　two　to　stop。　When　they　did；　eyeing　him　questioningly；　he　listened。　His　ears　were　sharper　than　they　once　had　been；　but　he　heard　no　sounds　of　hoofbeats。
　　　　　　　Reluctantly；　he　reached　out　with　his　mind　in　search　of　wolves。　Almost　immediately　he　found　them；　a　small　pack；　lying　up　for　the　day　in　the　hills　above　the　village　they　had　just　left。　There　were　moments　of　astonishment　so　strong　he　almost　thought　it　was　his　own；　these　wolves　had　heard　rumors；　but　they　had　not　really　believed　there　were　two…legs　who　could　talk　to　their　kind。　He　sweated　through　the　minutes　it　took　to　get　past　introducing　himself　…　he　gave　the　image　of　Young　Bull　in　spite　of　himself；　and　added　his　own　smell；　according　to　the　custom　among　wolves；　wolves　were　great　ones　for　formalities　on　first　meetings　…　but　finally　he　managed　to　get　his　question　through。　They　really　had　no　interest　in　any　two…legs　who　could　not　talk　to　them；　but　at　last　they　glided　down　to　take　a　look；　unseen　by　the　dull　eyes　of　the　two…legs。
　　　　　　　After　a　time；　images　came　back　to　him；　what　the　wolves　saw。　Whitecloaked　men　on　horses　crowding　around　the　village；　riding　among　the　houses；　riding　around　it；　but　none　leaving。　Especially　not　westward。　The　wolves　said　all　they　smelled　moving　west　was　himself　and　two　other　two…legs　with　three　of　the　hard…footed　tall　ones。
　　　　　　　Perrin　let　go　the　contact　with　the　wolves　gratefully。　He　was　aware　of　Hurin　and　Mat　looking　at　him。
　　　　　　　〃They　aren't　following；〃　he　said。
　　　　　　　〃How　can　you　be　sure？〃　Mat　demanded。
　　　　　　　〃I　am！〃　he　snapped；　then　more　softly；　〃I　just　am。〃
　　　　　　　Mat　opened　his　mouth　and　closed　it　again；　and　finally　said；　〃Well；　if　they　aren't　ing　after　us；　I　say　we　go　back　to　Ingtar　and　get　on　Fain's　trail。　That　dagger　isn't　ing　any　closer　just　standing　here。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　can't　pick　it　up　again　this　close　to　that　village；〃　Hurin　said。　〃Not　without　risking　running　into　Whitecloaks。　I　don't　think　Lord　Ingtar　would　appreciate　that；　and　not　Verin　Sedai；　neither。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　nodded。　〃We'll　follow　it　on　a　few　miles；　anyway。　But　keep　a　close　lookout。　We　can't　be　too　far　from　Falme；　now。　It　won't　do　any　good　to　avoid　the　Whitecloaks　and　ride　right　into　a　Seanchan　patrol。〃
　　　　　　　As　they　started　out　again；　he　could　not　help　wondering　what　Whitecloaks　were　doing　there。
　
　　　　　　　Geofram　Bornhald　peered　down　the　village　street；　sitting　his　saddle　while　the　legion　spread　through　the　small　town　and　surrounded　it。　There　had　been　something　about　the　heavy…shouldered　man　who　had　dashed　out　of　sight；　something　that　tickled　his　memory。　Yes；　of　course。　The　lad　who　claimed　to　be　a　blacksmith。　What　was　his　name？
　　　　　　　Byar　pulled　up　in　front　of　him；　hand　on　heart。　〃The　village　is　secured；　my　Lord　Captain。〃
　　　　　　　Villagers　in　heavy　sheepskin　coats　milled　uneasily　as　white…cloaked　soldiers　herded　them　together　near　the　overloaded　carts　in　front　of　the　inn。　Crying　children　clung　to　their　mothers'　skirts；　but　no　one　looked　defiant。　Dull　eyes　stared　out　of　the　adult　faces；　waiting　passively　for　whatever　was　going　to　happen。　For　that　much；　Bornhald　was　grateful。　He　had　no　real　desire　to　make　an　example　of　any　of　these　people；　and　no　wish　at　all　to　waste　time。
　　　　　　　Dismounting；　he　tossed　his　reins　to　one　of　the　Children。　〃See　that　the　men　are　fed；　Byar。　Put　the　prisoners　in　the　inn　with　as　much　food　and　water　as　they　can　carry；　then　nail　all　the　doors　and　shutters　closed。　Make　them　think　I　am　leaving　some　men　to　stand　guard；　yes？〃
　　　　　　　Byar　touched　his　heart　again　and　wheeled　his　horse　to　shout　orders。　The　herding　began　anew；　into　the　flat…roofed　inn；　while　other　Children　ransacked　houses　searching　for　hammers　and　nails。
　　　　　　　Watching　the　sullen　faces　that　filed　past　him；　Bornhald　thought　it　should　be　two　or　three　days　before　any　of　them　found　enough　courage　to　break　out　of　the　inn　and　find　there　were　no　guards。　Two　or　three　days　was　all　he　needed；　but　he　did　not　intend　to　risk　alerting　the　Seanchan　to　his　presence　now。
　　　　　　　Leaving　enough　men　behind　to　make　the　Questioners　believe　his　entire　legion　was　still　scattered　across　Almoth　Plain；　he　had　brought　more　than　a　thousand　of　the　Children　nearly　the　length　of　Toman　Head　without　giving　alarm；　so　far　as　he　knew。　Three　skirmishes　with　Seanchan　patrols　had　ended　quickly。　The　Seanchan　had　grown　used　to　facing　already　defeated　rabble；　the　Children　of　the　Light　had　been　a　deadly　surprise。　Yet　the　Seanchan　knew　how　to　fight　like　the　Dark　One's　hordes；　and　he　could　not　help　remembering　the　one　skirmish　that　had　cost　him　better　than　fifty　men。　He　was　still　not　sure　which　of　the　two　ar