rj.eyeoftheworld-第29部分

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just…victorious　army。
　　　　　　　〃Now　they　ran　like　beasts　before　a　wildfire　in　the　forest；　with　no　thought　for　anything　but　escape。　North　and　south　they　fled。　Thousands　drowned　attempting　to　cross　the　Tarendrelle　without　the　aid　of　the　Dreadlords；　and　at　the　Manetherendrelle　they　tore　down　the　bridges　in　their　fright　at　what　might　be　following　them。　Where　they　found　people；　they　slew　and　burned；　but　to　flee　was　the　need　that　gripped　them。　Until；　at　last；　no　one　of　them　remained　in　the　lands　of　Manetheren。　They　were　dispersed　like　dust　before　the　whirlwind。　The　final　vengeance　came　more　slowly；　but　it　came；　when　they　were　hunted　down　by　other　peoples；　by　other　armies　in　other　lands。　None　was　left　alive　of　those　who　did　murder　at　Aemon's　Field。
　　　　　　　〃But　the　price　was　high　for　Manetheren。　Eldrene　had　drawn　to　herself　more　of　the　One　Power　than　any　human　could　ever　hope　to　wield　unaided。　As　the　enemy　generals　died；　so　did　she　die；　and　the　fires　that　consumed　her　consumed　the　empty　city　of　Manetheren；　even　the　stones　of　it；　down　to　the　living　rock　of　the　mountains。　Yet　the　people　had　been　saved。〃
　　　　　　　〃Nothing　was　left　of　their　farms；　their　villages；　or　their　great　city。　Some　would　say　there　was　nothing　left　for　them；　nothing　but　to　flee　to　other　lands；　where　they　could　begin　anew。　They　did　not　say　so。　They　had　paid　such　a　price　in　blood　and　hope　for　their　land　as　had　never　been　paid　before；　and　now　they　were　bound　to　that　soil　by　ties　stronger　than　steel。　Other　wars　would　wrack　them　in　years　to　e；　until　at　last　their　corner　of　the　world　was　forgotten　and　at　last　they　had　forgotten　wars　and　the　ways　of　war。　Never　again　did　Manetheren　rise。　Its　soaring　spires　and　splashing　fountains　became　as　a　dream　that　slowly　faded　from　the　minds　of　its　people。　But　they；　and　their　children；　and　their　children's　children；　held　the　land　that　was　theirs。　They　held　it　when　the　long　centuries　had　washed　the　why　of　it　from　their　memories。　They　held　it　until；　today；　there　is　you。　Weep　for　Manetheren。　Weep　for　what　is　lost　forever。〃
　　　　　　　The　fires　on　Moiraine's　staff　winked　out；　and　she　lowered　it　to　her　side　as　if　it　weighed　a　hundred　pounds。　For　a　long　moment　the　moan　of　the　wind　was　the　only　sound。　Then　Paet　al'Caar　shouldered　past　the　Coplins。
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know　about　your　story；〃　the　long…jawed　farmer　said。　〃I'm　no　thorn　to　the　Dark　One's　foot；　nor　ever　likely　to　be；　neither。　But　my　Wil　is　walking　because　of　you；　and　for　that　I　am　ashamed　to　be　here。　I　don't　know　if　you　can　forgive　me；　but　whether　you　will　or　no；　I'll　be　going。　And　for　me；　you　can　stay　in　Emond's　Field　as　long　as　you　like。〃
　　　　　　　With　a　quick　duck　of　his　head；　almost　a　bow；　he　pushed　back　through　the　crowd。　Others　began　to　mutter　then；　offering　shamefaced　penirence　before　they；　too；　slipped　away　one　by　one。　The　Coplins；　sour…mouthed　and　scowling　once　more；　looked　at　the　faces　around　them　and　vanished　into　the　night　without　a　word。　Bili　Congar　had　disappeared　even　before　his　cousins。
　　　　　　　Lan　pulled　Rand　back　and　shut　the　door。　〃Let's　go；　boy。〃　The　Warder　started　for　the　back　of　the　inn。　〃e　along；　both　of　you。　Quickly！〃
　　　　　　　Rand　hesitated；　exchanging　a　wondering　glance　with　Mat。　While　Moiraine　had　been　telling　the　story；　Master　al'Vere's　Dhurrans　could　not　have　dragged　him　away；　but　now　something　else　held　his　feet。　This　was　the　real　beginning；　leaving　the　inn　and　following　the　Warder　into　the　night。　He　shook　himself；　and　tried　to　firm　his　resolve。　He　had　no　choice　but　to　go；　but　he　would　e　back　to　Emond's　Field；　however　far　or　long　this　journey　was。
　　　　　　　〃What　are　you　waiting　for？〃　Lan　asked　from　the　door　that　led　out　of　the　back　of　the　mon　room。　With　a　start　Mat　hurried　to　him。
　　　　　　　Trying　to　convince　himself　that　he　was　beginning　a　grand　adventure；　Rand　followed　them　through　the　darkened　kitchen　out　into　the　stableyard。

Chapter　10
Leavetaking
　
　　　　　　　A　single　lantern；　its　shutters　half　closed；　hung　from　a　nail　on　a　stall　post；　casting　a　dim　light。　Deep　shadows　swallowed　most　of　the　stalls。　As　Rand　came　through　the　doors　from　the　stableyard；　hard　on　the　heels　of　Mat　and　the　Warder；　Perrin　leaped　up　in　a　rustle　of　straw　from　where　he　had　been　sitting　with　his　back　against　a　stall　door。　A　heavy　cloak　swathed　him。
　　　　　　　Lan　barely　paused　to　demand；　〃Did　you　look　the　way　I　told　you；　blacksmith？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　looked；〃　Perrin　replied。　〃There's　nobody　here　but　us。　Why　would　anybody　hide　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃Care　and　a　long　life　go　together；　blacksmith。〃　The　Warder　ran　a　quick　eye　around　the　shadowed　stable　and　the　deeper　shadows　of　the　hayloft　above；　then　shook　his　head。　〃No　time；〃　he　muttered；　half　to　himself。　〃Hurry；　she　says。〃
　　　　　　　As　if　to　suit　his　words；　he　strode　quickly　to　where　the　five　horses　stood　tethered；　bridled　and　saddled　at　the　back　of　the　pool　of　light。　Two　were　the　black　stallion　and　white　mare　that　Rand　had　seen　before。　The　others；　if　not　quite　so　tall　or　so　sleek；　certainly　appeared　to　be　among　the　best　the　Two　Rivers　had　to　offer。　With　hasty　care　Lan　began　examining　cinches　and　girth　straps；　and　the　leather　ties　that　held　saddlebags；　water…skins；　and　blanket…rolls　behind　the　saddles。
　　　　　　　Rand　exchanged　shaky　smiles　with　his　friends；　trying　hard　to　look　as　if　he　really　was　eager　to　be　off。
　　　　　　　For　the　first　time　Mat　noticed　the　sword　at　Rand's　waist；　and　pointed　to　it。　〃You　being　a　Warder？〃　He　laughed；　then　swallowed　it　with　a　quick　glance　at　Lan。　The　Warder　apparently　took　no　notice。　〃Or　at　least　a　merchant's　guard；〃　Mat　went　on　with　a　grin　that　seemed　only　a　little　forced。　He　hefted　his　bow。　〃An　honest　man's　weapon　isn't　good　enough　for　him。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　thought　about　flourishing　the　sword；　but　Lan　being　there　stopped　him。　The　Warder　was　not　even　looking　in　his　direction；　but　he　was　sure　the　man　was　aware　of　everything　that　went　on　around　him。　Instead　he　said　with　exaggerated　casualness；　〃It　might　be　useful；〃　as　if　wearing　a　sword　were　nothing　out　of　the　ordinary。
　　　　　　　Perrin　moved；　trying　to　hide　something　under　his　cloak。　Rand　glimpsed　a　wide　leather　belt　encircling　the　apprentice　blacksmith's　waist；　with　the　handle　of　an　axe　thrust　through　a　loop　on　the　belt。
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　have　there？〃　he　asked。
　　　　　　　〃Merchant's　guard；　indeed；〃　Mat　hooted。
　　　　　　　The　shaggy…haired　youth　gave　Mat　a　frown　that　suggested　he　had　already　had　more　than　his　fair　share　of　joking；　then　sighed　heavily　and　tossed　back　his　cloak　to　uncover　the　axe。　It　was　no　rnon　woodsman's　tool。　A　broad　half…moon　blade　on　one　side　of　the　head　and　a　curved　spike　on　the　other　made　it　every　bit　as　strange　for　the　Two　Rivers　as　Rand's　sword。　Perrin's　hand　rested　on　it　with　a　sense　of　familiarity；　though。
　　　　　　　〃Master　Luhhan　made　it　about　two　years　ago；　for　a　wool…buyer's　guard。　But　when　it　was　done　the　fellow　wouldn't　pay　what　he　had　agreed；　and　Master　Luhhan　would　not　take　less。　He　gave　it　to　me　when〃　…　he　cleared　his　throat；　then　shot　Rand　the　same　warning　frown　he'd　given　Mat　…〃when　he　found　me　practicing　with　it。　He　said　I　might　as　well　have　it　since　he　couldn't　make　anything　useful　from　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃Practicing；〃　Mat　snickered；　but　held　up　his　hands　soothingly　when　Perrin　raised　his　head。　〃As　you　say。　It's　just　as　well　one　of　us　knows　how　to　use　a　real　weapon〃
　　　　　　　〃That　bow　is　a　real　weapon；〃　Lan　said　suddenly。　He　dropped　an　arm　across　the　saddle　of　his　tall　black　and　regarded　hem　gravely。　〃So　are　the　slings　I've　seen　you　village　boys　with。　Just　because　you　never　used　them　for　anything　but　hunting　rabbits　or　chasing　a　wolf　away　from　the　sheep　makes　no　difference。　Anything　can　be　a　weapon；　if　the　man　or　woman　who　holds　it　has　the　nerve　and　will　to　make　it　so。　Trollocs　aside；　you　had　better　have　that　clear　in　your　minds　before　we　leave　the　Two　Rivers；　before　we　leave　Emond's　Field；　if　you　want　to　reach　Tar　Valon　alive。〃
　　　　　　　His　face　and　voice；　cold　as　death　and　hard　as　a　rough…hewn　gravestone；　stifled　their　smiles　and　their　tongues。　Perrin　grimaced　and　pulled　his　cloak　back　over　the　axe。　Mat　stared　at　his　feet　and　stirred　the　straw　on　the　stable　floor　with　his　toe。　The　Warder　grunted　and　went　back　to　his　checking；　and　the　silence　lengthened。
　　　　　　　〃It　isn't　much　like　the　stories；〃　Mat　said；　finally。
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know；〃　Perrin　said　sourly。　〃Trollocs；　a　Warder；　an　Aes　Sedai。　What　more　could　you　ask？〃
　　　　　　　〃Aes　Sedai；〃　Mat　whispered；　sounding　as　if　he　were　suddenly　cold。
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　believe　her；　Rand？〃　Perrin　asked。　〃I　mean；　what　would　Trollocs　want　with　us？〃
　　　　　　　As　one；　they　glanced　at　the　Warder。　Lan　appeared　absorbed　in　the　white　mare's　saddle　girth；　but　the　three　of　them　moved　back　toward　the　stable　door；　away　from　Lan。　Even　so；　they　huddled　together　and　spoke　softly。
　　　　　　　Rand　shook　his　head。　〃I　don't　know；　but　she　had　it　right　about　our　farms　being　the　only　ones　attacked。　And　they　attacked　Master　Luhhan's　house　and　the　forge　first；　here　in　the　village。　I　asked　the　Mayor。　It's　as　easy　to　believe　they　are　after　us　as　anything　else　I　can　think　of。　〃　Suddenly　he　realized　they　were　both　staring　at　him。
　　　　　　　〃You　asked　the　Mayor？〃　Mat　said　incredulously。　〃She　said　not　to　tell　anybody。　〃
　　　　　　　〃I　didn't　tell　him　why　I　was　asking；〃　Rand　protested。　〃Do　you　mean　you　didn't　talk　to　anybody　at　all？　You　didn't　let　anybody　know　you're　going？〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　shrugged　defensively。　〃Moiraine　Sedai　said　not　anybody。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　left　notes；〃　Mat　said。　〃For　our　families。　They'll　find　them　in　the　morning。　Rand；　my　mother　thinks　Tar　Valon　is　the　next　thing　to　Shayol　Ghul。〃　He　gave　a　little　laugh　to　show　he　did　not　share　her　opinion。　It　was　not　very　convincing。　〃She'd　try　to　lock　me　in　the　cellar　if　she　believed　I　was　even　thinking　of　going　there。〃
　　　　　　　〃Master　Luhhan　is　stubborn　as　stone；〃　Perrin　added；　〃and　Mistress　Luhhan　is　worse。　If　you'd　seen　her　digging　through　what's　left　of　the　house；　saying　she　hoped　the　Trollocs　did　e　back　so　she　could　get　her　hands　on　them　。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃Burn　me；　Rand；〃　Mat　said；　〃I　know　she's　an　Aes　Sedai　and　all；　but　the　Trollocs　were　really　here。　She　said　not　to　tell　anybody。　If　an　Aes　Sedai　doesn't　know　what　to　do　about　some　thing　like　this；　who　does？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know。〃　Rand　rubbed　at　his　forehead。　His　head　hurt；　He　could　not　get　that　dream　out　of　his　mind。　〃My　father　believes　her。　At　least；　he　agreed　that　we　had　to　g