rj.acrownofswords-第30部分

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　　　She　eyed　the　rapidly　diminishing　crowd　across　the　Grand　Hall。　The　nearest　of　them　was　a　long　way；　and　all　making　a　good　deal　of　noise；　but　she　lowered　her　voice　even　so。　〃Aes　Sedai　can　do　that　sort　of　thing；　I've　heard。　My　husband；　no　one　knows　more　than　I　that　even　Aes　Sedai　would　find　hard　times　trying　to　make　you　dance　for　a　puppet；　much　harder　than　a　man　who's　just　the　Dragon　Reborn；　but　when　you　walked　in　here；　I　was　more　afraid　than　at　any　time　since　you　left。〃　Amusement　trickled　through　in　the　first　of　that；　like　tiny　bubbles　in　his　nose；　and　warm　fondness；　and　love；　the　smell　of　her；　clear　and　pure　and　strong；　but　all　of　those　faded　by　the　end；　leaving　that　thin　trembling　thread。
　　　〃Light；　Faile；　it's　true。　Every　word　Rand　said。　You　heard　Dobraine；　and　Aram。〃　She　smiled；　and　nodded；　and　worked　her　fan。　That　thread　still　quivered　in　his　nostrils；　though。　Blood　and　ashes；　what　does　it　take　to　convince　her？　〃Would　it　help　if　he　had　Verin　dance　the　sa'sara？　She　will；　if　he　tells　her　to。〃　He　meant　it　for　a　joke。　All　he　knew　of　the　sa'sara　was　that　it　was　scandalous　…　and　that　Faile　had　once　admitted　knowing　how　to　dance　it；　though　recently　she　sidestepped　and　all　but　denied　it。　He　meant　it　for　a　joke；　but　she　closed　her　fan　and　tapped　it　on　her　wrist。　He　knew　that　one：　I　am　giving　your　suggestion　serious　thought。
　　　〃I　don't　know　what　would　be　enough；　Perrin。〃　She　shivered　slightly。　〃Is　there　anything　an　Aes　Sedai　would　not　do；　or　put　up　with；　if　the　White　Tower　told　her　to？　I　have　studied　my　history；　and　I　was　taught　to　read　between　the　lines。　Mashera　Donavelle　bore　seven　children　for　a　man　she　loathed；　whatever　the　stories　say；　and　Isebaille　Tobanyi　delivered　the　brothers　she　loved　to　their　enemies　and　the　throne　of　Arad　Doman　with　them；　and　Jestian　Redhill。。。　〃　She　shivered　again；　not　so　slightly。
　　　〃It's　all　right；〃　he　murmured；　wrapping　her　in　his　arms。　He　had　studied　several　books　of　history　himself；　but　he　had　never　seen　those　names。　The　daughter　of　a　lord　received　a　different　education　from　a　blacksmith's　apprentice。　〃It　really　is　true。〃　Dobraine　averted　his　eyes；　and　so　did　Aram；　though　with　a　pleased　grin。
　　　She　resisted　at　first；　but　not　very　hard。　He　could　never　be　sure　when　she　would　avoid　a　public　embrace　and　when　wele　it；　only　that　if　she　did　not　want　one；　she　made　it　clear　in　no　uncertain　terms；　with　or　without　words。　This　time　she　snuggled　her　face　into　his　chest　and　hugged　him　back；　squeezing　harder。
　　　〃If　any　Aes　Sedai　ever　harms　you；〃　she　whispered；　〃I　will　kill　her。〃　He　believed　her。　〃You　belong　to　me；　Perrin　t'　Bashere　Aybara。　To　me。〃　He　believed　that；　too。　As　her　hug　grew　fiercer；　so　did　the　thorny　scent　of　jealousy。　He　almost　chuckled。　It　seemed　the　right　to　put　a　knife　in　him　was　reserved　to　her。　He　would　have　chuckled；　except　that　filament　of　fear　remained。　That；　and　what　she　had　said　about　Maire。　He　could　not　smell　himself；　but　he　knew　what　was　there。　Fear。　Old　fear；　and　new　fear；　for　the　next　time。
　　　The　last　of　the　nobles　forced　their　way　from　the　Grand　Hall；　without　anyone　being　trampled。　Sending　Aram　off　to　tell　Dannil　to　bring　the　Two　Rivers　men　into　the　city　…　and　wondering　how　he　was　going　to　feed　them　…　Perrin　offered　Faile　his　arm　and　led　her　out；　leaving　Dobraine　with　Colavaere；　who　was　finally　showing　signs　of　awakening。　He　had　no　wish　to　be　around　when　she　woke；　and　Faile；　with　her　hand　on　his　wrist；　seemed　not　to　either。　They　walked　quickly；　eager　to　reach　their　rooms；　if　not　necessarily　for　the　same　reasons。
　　　The　nobles　apparently　had　not　stopped　their　flight　once　they　were　out　of　the　Grand　Hall。　The　corridors　were　empty　except　for　servants　who　kept　their　eyes　down　at　a　silent　rush；　but　before　they　had　gone　very　far；　Perrin　caught　the　sound　of　footsteps　and　realized　they　were　being　followed。　It　seemed　unlikely　that　Colavaere　had　any　open　supporters　still；　but　if　there　were　any；　they　might　think　to　strike　at　Rand　through　his　friend；　walking　alone　with　his　wife　while　the　Dragon　Reborn　was　elsewhere。
　　　Only；　when　Perrin　spun　about；　hand　to　his　axe；　he　stared　instead　of　drawing　the　weapon。　It　was　Selande　and　her　friends　from　the　entry　hall；　with　eight　or　nine　new　faces。　They　gave　a　start　when　he　turned；　and　exchanged　abashed　glances。　Some　were　Tairens；　including　a　woman　who　stood　taller　than　all　but　one　of　the　Cairhienin　men。　She　wore　a　man's　coat　and　tight　breeches；　just　like　Selande　and　the　rest　of　the　women；　with　a　sword　on　her　hip。　He　had　not　heard　that　this　nonsense　had　spread　to　the　Tairens。
　　　〃Why　are　you　following　us？〃　he　demanded。　〃If　you　try　to　make　me　any　of　your　wool…head　trouble；　I　vow　I'll　kick　the　lot　of　you　from　here　to　Bel　Tine！〃　He　had　had　problems　before　with　these　idiots；　or　some　just　like　them；　anyway。　All　they　thought　about　was　their　honor；　and　fighting　duels；　and　taking　one　another　gai'shain。　That　last　really　set　the　Aiel's　teeth　on　edge。
　　　〃Attend　my　husband　and　obey；〃　Faile　put　in　sharply。　〃He　is　not　a　man　to　be　trifled　with。〃　Gawking　stares　vanished；　and　they　backed　away；　bowing；　peting　over　flourishes。　They　were　still　at　it　when　they　vanished　around　a　turn。
　　　〃Bloody　young　buffoons；〃　Perrin　muttered；　offering　Faile　his　wrist　again。
　　　〃My　husband　is　wise　in　his　years；〃　she　murmured。　Her　tone　was　utterly　serious；　her　smell　was　something　else　again。
　　　Perrin　managed　not　to　snort。　True；　a　few　of　them　might　be　a　year　or　two　older　than　he；　but　they　all　were　like　children　with　their　playing　at　Aiel。　Now；　with　Faile　in　a　good　mood；　seemed　as　good　a　time　as　any　to　begin　what　they　had　to　talk　about。　What　he　had　to　talk　about。　〃Faile；　how　did　you　e　to　be　one　of　Colavaere's　attendants？〃
　　　〃The　servants；　Perrin。〃　She　spoke　softly；　nobody　two　steps　away　could　have　heard　a　word。　She　knew　all　about　his　hearing；　and　the　wolves。　That　was　nothing　a　man　could　keep　from　his　wife。　Her　fan　touched　her　ear；　admonishing　caution　in　speech。　〃Too　many　people　forget　servants　are　there；　but　servants　listen　too。　In　Cairhien；　they　listen　far　too　much。〃
　　　None　of　the　liveried　people　he　saw　were　doing　any　listening。　The　few　who　did　not　duck　down　side　corridors　when　they　saw　him　and　Faile　went　by　at　a　near　run；　gazes　on　the　floor　and　gathered　in　on　themselves。　Any　sort　of　news　spread　quickly　in　Cairhien。　Events　in　the　Grand　Hall　would　have　flown。　The　word　was　in　the　streets　by　now；　probably　on　its　way　out　of　the　city　already。　Without　any　doubt　there　were　eyes…and…ears　in　Cairhien　for　the　Aes　Sedai；　and　the　Whitecloaks；　and　likely　more　thrones　than　not。
　　　In　that　hushed　voice；　she　went　on　despite　her　caution　to　him。　〃Colavaere　could　not　be　fast　enough　to　take　me　in；　once　she　learned　who　I　am。　My　father's　name　impressed　her　as　much　as　my　cousin's。〃　She　finished　with　a　little　nod；　as　if　she　had　answered　everything。
　　　It　was　a　good　enough　answer。　Almost。　Her　father　was　Davram；　High　Seat　of　House　Bashere；　Lord　of　Bashere；　Tyr　and　Sidona；　Guardian　of　the　Blightborder；　Defender　of　the　Heartland；　and　Marshal…General　to　Queen　Tenobia　of　Saldaea。　Faile's　cousin　was　Tenobia　herself。　More　than　reason　for　Colavaere　to　leap　at　Faile　for　one　of　her　attendants。　But　he　had　had　time　to　mull　things　over　now；　and　he　prided　himself　that　he　was　being　used　to　her　ways。　Married　life　taught　a　man　about　women；　or　about　one　woman；　anyway。　The　answer　she　had　not　given；　confirmed　something。　Faile　had　no　concept　of　danger；　not　where　she　herself　was　concerned。
　　　He　could　not　speak　of　it　there　in　the　corridor；　of　course。　Whisper　how　he　would；　she　did　not　have　his　ears；　and　doubtless　she　would　insist　every　servant　within　fifty　was　listening。　Holding　his　patience；　he　walked　on　with　her　until　they　reached　the　rooms　that　had　been　set　aside　for　them　what　seemed　an　age　ago　。now。　The　lamps　had　been　lit；　making　shimmers　on　the　dark　polished　walls；　each　tall　wooden　panel　carved　in　concentric　rectangles。　In　the　square　stone　fireplace　the　hearth　was　swept　bare　and　laid　with　a　few　pitiful　branches　of　leatherleaf。　They　were　almost　green。
　　　Faile　went　straight　to　a　small　table　where　two　golden　pitchers　stood　beaded　with　moisture　on　a　tray。　〃They　have　left　us　blueberry　tea；　my　husband；　and　wine　punch。　The　wine　is　from　Tharon；　I　think。　They　cool　the　punch　in　the　cisterns　beneath　the　palace。　Which　would　you　prefer？〃
　　　Perrin　unbuckled　his　belt　and　tossed　belt　and　axe　on　a　chair。　He　had　planned　out　what　he　had　to　say　very　carefully　on　the　way　here。　She　could　be　a　prickly　woman。　〃Faile；　I　missed　you　more　than　I　can　say；　and　worried　about　you；　but　…　〃
　　　〃Worried　about　me！〃　she　snapped；　spinning　to　face　him。　She　stood　straight　and　tall；　eyes　fierce　as　those　of　her　falcon　namesake；　and　her　fan　made　a　coring　motion　toward　his　middle。　Not　part　of　the　language　of　fans；　she　made　the　same　gesture　with　a　knife　sometimes。　〃When　almost　the　first　words　from　your　mouth　were　to　ask　after　that。。。　that　woman！〃
　　　His　jaw　dropped。　How　could　he　have　forgotten　the　smell　filling　his　nostrils？　He　nearly　put　a　hand　up　to　see　whether　his　nose　was　bleeding。　〃Faile；　I　wanted　her　thief…catchers。　Be　…　〃　No；　he　was　not　stupid　enough　to　repeat　that　name。　〃She　said　she　had　proof　of　the　poison　before　I　left。　You　heard　her！　I　just　wanted　the　proof；　Faile。〃
　　　It　did　no　good。　That　spiky　stench　softened　not　a　whit；　and　the　thin；　sour　smell　of　hurt　joined　it。　What　under　the　Light　had　he　said　to　hurt　her？
　　　〃Her　proof！　What　I　gathered　went　for　nothing；　but　her　proof　put　Colavaere's　head　on　the　block。　Or　should　have。〃　That　was　his　opening；　but　she　was　not　about　to　let　him　push　a　word　in　edgewise。　She　advanced　on　him；　looking　daggers；　her　fan　darting　like　one。　All　he　could　do　was　back　away。　〃Do　you　know　what　story　that　woman　put　about？〃　Faile　almost　hissed。　A　black　viper　could　not　have　dripped　so　much　venom。　〃Do　you？　She　said　the　reason　you　were　not　here　was　that　you　were　at　a　manor　not　far　from　the　city。　Where　she　could　visit　you！　I　told　the　story　I　prepared　…　that　you　were　hunting；　and　the　Light　knows　you　spent　enough　days　hunting！　…　but　everyone　believed　I　was　putting　a　good　face　on　you　and　her！　Together！　Colavaere　delighted　in　it。　I　could　believe　she　only　took　that　Mayener　strumpet　as　an　attendant　to　throw　the　two　of　us　together。　'Faile；　Berelain；　e　lace　my　gown。'　'Faile；