rj.acrownofswords-第105部分

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ywhere　else；　tried　to　pretend　they　were　anywhere　else。　Only　Dobraine　watched；　shaking　his　gray　head；　as　Rand　stalked　across　the　throne　room。
　　　〃I　will　deal　with　the　Aes　Sedai　as　I　choose！〃　Rand　shouted。　〃Do　you　hear　me；　Perrin？　As　I　choose！〃
　　　〃You've　just　handed　them　over　to　the　Wise　Ones；〃　he　growled　back；　shoving　away　from　the　column。　〃You　don't　know　whether　they're　sleeping　on　silk　or　had　their　throats　cut！　You　are　not　the　Creator！〃
　　　With　a　snarl　of　rage；　Rand　threw　his　head　back。　〃I　am　the　Dragon　Reborn！〃　he　cried。　〃I　don't　care　how　they're　treated！　They　deserve　a　dungeon！〃　Perrin's　hackles　stirred　as　Rand's　eyes　lowered　from　the　vaulted　ceiling。　Blue　ice　would　have　been　warm　and　soft　beside　them；　the　more　so　because　they　stared　from　a　face　twisted　with　pain。　〃Get　out　of　my　sight；　Perrin；　Do　you　hear　me？　Get　out　of　Cairhien！　Today！　Now！　I　never　want　to　see　you　again！〃　Pivoting　on　his　heel；　he　strode　away　with　nobles　all　but　throwing　themselves　to　the　floor　as　he　passed。
　　　Perrin　thumbed　a　trickle　of　blood　from　the　corner　of　his　mouth。　For　one　moment　there；　he　had　been　sure　Rand　was　going　to　kill　him。
　　　Shaking　his　head　to　rid　himself　of　the　thought；　he　rounded　a　corner　and　nearly　ran　into　Loial。　With　a　large　bundle　strapped　to　his　back　and　a　scrip　big　enough　to　hold　a　sheep　slung　on　his　shoulder；　the　Ogier　was　using　his　long…handled　axe　as　a　walking　staff。　The　capacious　pockets　of　his　coat　bulged　with　the　shapes　of　books。
　　　Loial's　tufted　ears　perked　up　at　the　sight　of　him；　then　suddenly　drooped。　His　whole　face　drooped；　eyebrows　hanging　on　his　cheeks。　〃I　heard；　Perrin；〃　he　boomed　sadly。　〃Rand　should　not　have　done　that。　Quick　words　make　long　troubles。　I　know　he'll　reconsider。　Tomorrow；　maybe。〃
　　　〃It's　all　right；〃　Perrin　told　him。　〃Cairhien　is　too。。。　polished。。。　for　me；　anyway。　I'm　a　blacksmith；　not　a　courtier。　By　tomorrow；　I'll　be　a　long　way　gone。〃
　　　〃You　and　Faile　could　e　with　me。　Karldin　and　I　are　going　to　visit　the　stedding；　Perrin。　All　of　them；　about　the　Waygates。〃　A　narrow…faced；　pale…haired　young　fellow　standing　behind　Loial　stopped　frowning　at　Perrin　to　frown　at　the　Ogier。　He　had　a　scrip　and　a　bundle；　too；　and　a　sword　on　his　hip。　Despite　the　blue　coat；　Perrin　recognized　one　of　the　Asha'man。　Karldin　did　not　look　pleased　to　recognize　Perrin；　besides；　his　smell　was　cold　and　angry。　Loial　peered　down　the　hallway　behind　Perrin。　〃Where　is　Faile？〃
　　　〃She's。。。　meeting　me　in　the　stables。　We　had　words。〃　That　was　simple　truth；　Faile　seemed　to　like　shouting；　sometimes。　He　lowered　his　voice。　〃Loial；　I　wouldn't　talk　about　that　where　anyone　could　hear。　The　Waygates；　I　mean。〃
　　　Loial　snorted　hard　enough　to　make　a　bull　jump；　but　he　did　drop　his　tone。　〃I　don't　see　anyone　but　us；〃　he　rumbled。　No　one　more　than　two　or　three　paces　beyond　Karldin　could　have　heard　clearly。　His　ears。。。　lashed　was　the　only　word。。。　and　laid　back　angrily。　〃Everyone's　afraid　to　be　seen　near　you。　After　all　you've　done　for　Rand。〃
　　　Karldin　tugged　at　Loial's　sleeve。　〃We　have　to　go；〃　he　said；　glaring　at　Perrin。　Anyone　the　Dragon　Reborn　shouted　at　was　outside　the　gates　so　far　as　he　was　concerned。　Perrin　wondered　whether　he　was　holding　the　Power　right　then。
　　　〃Yes；　yes；〃　Loial　murmured；　waving　a　ham…sized　hand；　but　he　leaned　on　his　axe；　frowning　pensively。　〃I　don't　like　this；　Perrin。　Rand　chases　you　away。　He　sends　me　off。　How　I'm　to　finish　my　book。。。　〃　His　ears　twitched；　and　he　coughed。　〃Well；　that's　neither　here　nor　there。　But　you；　me；　and　the　Light　only　knows　where　Mat　is。　He'll　send　Min　away　next。　He　hid　from　her；　this　morning。　He　sent　me　out　to　tell　her　he　wasn't　there。　I　think　she　knew　I　was　lying。　He'll　be　alone；　then；　Perrin。　'It's　terrible　to　be　alone。'　That's　what　he　said　to　me。　He　is　planning　to　send　all　of　his　friends　away。〃
　　　〃The　Wheel　weaves　as　the　Wheel　wills；〃　Perrin　said。　Loial　blinked　at　that　echo　of　Moiraine。　Perrin　had　been　thinking　of　her　a　lot　recently；　she　had　been　a　restraining　influence　on　Rand。　〃Farewell；　Loial。　Keep　safe；　and　don't　trust　anyone　you　don't　have　to。〃　He　did　not　quite　look　at　Karldin。
　　　〃You　don't　mean　that；　Perrin。〃　Loial　sounded　shocked；　he　seemed　to　trust　everyone。　〃You　cannot。　e　with　me；　you　and　Faile。〃
　　　〃We'll　meet　again；　one　day；〃　Perrin　told　him　gently；　and　hurried　past　before　he　had　to　say　more。　He　did　not　like　lying；　especially　not　to　a　friend。
　　　In　the　north　stable　things　were　much　the　same　as　inside　the　palace。　Grooms　saw　him　walk　in；　and　dropped　dung　forks　and　curry　bs；　crowding　out　through　small　doors　at　the　back。　Rustles　in　the　loft　high　above　that　might　have　escaped　another's　ears　told　of　folk　hiding　there；　he　could　hear　anxious；　fearful　breaths。　He　brought　Stepper　out　of　a　green…streaked　marble　stall；　slipped　on　his　bridle　and　tied　the　dun　stallion　to　a　gilded　hitching　ring。　He　went　to　fetch　blanket　and　saddle　from　a　marble　tack　room　where　half　the　saddles　were　mounted　with　silver　or　gold。　The　stable　fit　very　well　in　a　palace；　with　tall　square　marble　columns　and　a　marble　floor；　even　under　the　straw　in　the　stalls。　He　rode　out　glad　to　see　the　back　of　grandeur。
　　　North　of　the　city　he　followed　the　road　he　had　e　down　so　desperately　with　Rand　just　a　few　days　before；　rode　until　folds　in　the　land　hid　Cairhien。　Then　he　turned　off　to　the　east；　where　a　fair　patch　of　forest　remained；　running　down　one　tall　hill　and　over　the　next；　taller　one。　Just　inside　the　trees；　Faile　booted　Swallow　to　meet　him；　Aram　heeling　her　like　a　hound　on　his　own　horse。　Aram's　face　brightened　at　the　sight　of　him；　though　that　was　not　saying　much；　he　merely　divided　his　faithful　hound　looks　between　him　and　Faile。
　　　〃Husband；〃　she　said。　Not　too　coolly；　but　razor…sharp　anger　and　spiky　jealousy　still　threaded　through　the　clean　scent　of　her　and　her　herbal　soap。　She　was　garbed　for　travel；　with　a　thin　dust…cloak　hanging　down　her　back　and　red　gloves　that　matched　the　boots　peeking　out　beneath　the　dark　narrow　riding　skirts　she　favored。　No　fewer　than　four　sheathed　daggers　were　tucked　behind　her　belt。
　　　Movement　behind　her　turned　into　Bain　and　Chiad。　And　Sulin；　with　a　dozen　more　Maidens。　Perrin's　eyebrows　rose。　He　wondered　what　Gaul　thought　of　that；　the　Aielman　had　said　he　was　looking　forward　to　getting　Bain　and　Chiad　alone。　Even　more　surprising　were　Faile's　other　panions。
　　　〃What　are　they　doing　here？〃　He　nodded　toward　a　small　cluster　who　held　their　horses　back。　He　recognized　Selande　and　Camaille　and　the　tall　Tairen　woman；　all　still　in　men's　clothes　and　wearing　swords。　The　blocky　fellow　in　a　fat…sleeved　coat　who　had　kept　his　beard　oiled　and　trimmed　to　a　point　despite　wearing　his　hair　tied　back　with　a　ribbon　also　looked　familiar。　The　other　two　men；　both　Cairhienin；　he　did　not　know；　but　he　could　guess；　by　their　youth　and　the　ribbon　tying　their　hair　if　nothing　else；　that　they　were　part　of　Selande's　〃society。〃
　　　〃I　took　Selande　and　a　few　of　her　friends　into　my　service。〃　Faile　spoke　lightly；　but　suddenly　she　gave　off　foggy　waves　of　caution。　〃They　would　have　gotten　themselves　into　trouble　in　the　city；　sooner　or　later。　They　need　someone　to　give　them　direction。　Think　of　them　as　charity。　I　won't　let　them　get　under　your　feet。〃
　　　Perrin　sighed　and　scratched　his　beard。　A　wise　man　did　not　tell　his　wife　to　her　face　that　she　was　hiding　things。　Especially　when　that　wife　was　Faile；　she　was　going　to　be　as　formidable　as　her　mother。　If　she　was　not　already。　Under　his　feet？　How　many　of　these。。。　puppies。。。　had　she　taken　on？　〃Is　everything　ready？　Pretty　soon　some　idiot　back　there　will　decide　he　can　curry　favor　by　bringing　Rand　my　head。　I'd　like　to　be　gone　before　that。〃　Aram　growled　in　his　throat。
　　　〃No　one　is　going　to　take　your　head；　husband。〃　Faile　showed　white　teeth；　and　went　on　in　a　whisper　she　knew　he　would　catch。　〃Except　perhaps　me。〃　In　a　normal　voice；　she　said；　〃All　is　ready。〃
　　　In　a　clear；　fairly　flat　hollow　beyond　the　trees；　the　Two　Rivers　men　stood　beside　their　horses；　a　column　of　twos　that　wound　out　of　sight　around　the　side　of　the　hill。　Perrin　sighed　again。　The　red　wolfhead　banner　and　the　Red　Eagle　of　Manetheren　stirred　slightly　in　a　hot　breeze　at　the　head　of　the　column。　Maybe　another　dozen　Maidens　squatted　on　their　heels　near　the　banners；　on　the　other　side；　Gaul　wore　as　close　to　a　sullen　expression　as　Perrin　had　ever　seen　on　an　Aiel。
　　　As　he　dismounted；　two　black…coated　men　came　to　him；　saluting　with　fist　pressed　to　heart。　〃Lord　Perrin；〃　Jur　Grady　said。　〃We've　been　here　since　last　night。　We　are　ready。〃
　　　Grady's　weathered　farmer's　face　made　Perrin　almost　fortable　with　him；　but　Fager　Neald　was　another　matter。　Maybe　ten　years　younger　than　Grady；　he　might　have　been　a　farmer　too　for　all　Perrin　knew；　but　he　affected　airs　and　graces；　and　wore　his　pitiful　mustache　waxed　to　a　semblance　of　points。　Where　Grady　was　one　of　the　Dedicated；　he　was　a　Soldier；　without　the　silver　sword　pinned　to　his　collar；　but　that　did　not　hold　him　back　from　speaking。　〃Lord　Perrin；　is　it　really　necessary　to　take　those　women　with　us？　They'll　be　nothing　but　trouble；　they　will；　the　whole　lot　of　them；　and　you　know　it　well。〃
　　　Some　of　the　women　he　was　talking　about　stood　not　far　from　the　Two　Rivers　men；　shawls　looped　over　their　arms。　Edarra　appeared　the　eldest　of　the　six　Wise　Ones　impassively　watching　the　two　women　Neald　had　nodded　to。　In　truth；　that　pair　worried　Perrin　as　well。　Seonid　Traighan；　all　coolness　and　reserve　in　green　silk；　had　been　haughtily　trying　to　ignore　the　Aiel　women　…　most　Cairhienin　who　were　not　pretending　to　be　Aiel　despised　them　…　but　when　she　saw　Perrin；　she　shifted　her　bay's　reins　to　the　other　hand　and　gave　Masuri　Sokawa　a　nudge　in　the　ribs。　Masuri　started　…　Browns　seemed　to　go　off　in　daydreams　fairly　often　…　stared　at　the　Green　sister　blankly；　then　directed　her　stare　at　Perrin。　This　one　was　more　the　sort　she　might　have　given　some　peculiar　and　perhaps　dangerous　animal；　one　she　intended　to　be　sure　of　before　she　was　done。　They　had　sworn　to　obey　Rand　al'Thor；　but　how　would　they　do　obeying　Perrin　Aybara？　Giving　orders　to　Aes　Sedai　seemed　unnatural。　But　better　than　the　other　way　around；　at　least。
　　　〃Everybody　es；〃　Perrin　said。　〃Let's　be　gone　before　we　are　seen。〃　Faile　sniffed。
　　　Grady　and　Neald　saluted　again　and　strode　out　to　the　middle　of　the　treeless　area。　Perrin　had