rj.eyeoftheworld-第94部分

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　　　　　　　〃I　would　say　six　or　eight　wolves；　Child　Byar；　and　perhaps　no　other　humans　than　these　two。　You　have　the　true　zeal；　but　no　experience　outside　the　cities。　It　is　a　different　thing；　bringing　the　Light；　when　streets　and　houses　are　far　distant。　Wolves　have　a　way　of　seeming　more　than　they　are；　in　the　night　…　and　men；　also。　Six　or　eight　at　most；　I　think。〃　Byar's　flush　deepened　slowly。　〃I　also　suspect　they　were　here　for　the　same　reason　we　are：　the　only　easy　water　for　at　least　a　day　in　any　direction。　A　much　simpler　explanation　than　spies　or　traitors　within　the　Children；　and　the　simplest　explanation　is　usually　the　truest。　You　will　learn；　with　experience。〃
　　　　　　　Byar's　face　went　deathly　white　as　the　grandfatherly　man　spoke；　by　contrast；　the　two　spots　in　his　hollow　cheeks　deepened　from　red　to　purple。　He　cut　his　eyes　toward　the　two　prisoners　for　an　instant。
　　　　　　　He　hates　us　even　more；　now；　Perrin　thought；　for　hearing　this。　But　why　did　he　hate　us　in　the　first　place？
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　think　of　this？〃　the　Lord　Captain　said；　holding　up　Perrin's　axe。
　　　　　　　Byar　looked　a　question　at　his　mander　and　waited　for　an　answering　nod　before　he　broke　his　rigid　stance　to　take　the　weapon。　He　hefted　the　axe　and　gave　a　surprised　grunt；　then　whirled　it　in　a　tight　arc　above　his　head　that　barely　missed　the　top　of　the　tent。　He　handled　it　as　surely　as　if　he　had　been　born　with　an　axe　in　his　hands。　A　look　of　grudging　admiration　flickered　across　his　face；　but　by　the　time　he　lowered　the　axe　he　was　expressionless　once　more。
　　　　　　　〃Excellently　balanced；　my　Lord　Captain。　Plainly　made；　but　by　a　very　good　weaponsmith；　perhaps　even　a　master。〃　His　eyes　burned　darkly　at　the　prisoners。　〃Not　a　villager's　weapon；　my　Lord　Captain。　Nor　a　farmer's。〃
　　　　　　　〃No。〃　The　gray…haired　man　turned　toward　Perrin　and　Egwene　with　a　weary；　slightly　chiding　smile；　a　kindly　grandfather　who　knew　his　grandchildren　had　been　up　to　some　mischief。　〃My　name　is　Geofram　Bornhald；〃　he　told　them。　〃You　are　Perrin；　I　understand。　But　you；　young　woman；　what　is　your　name？〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　glowered　at　him；　but　Egwene　shook　her　head。　〃Don't　be　silly；　Perrin。　I'm　Egwene。〃
　　　　　　　〃Just　Perrin；　and　just　Egwene；〃　Bornhald　murmured。　〃But　I　suppose　if　you　truly　are　Darkfriends；　you　wish　to　hide　your　identities　as　much　as　possible。　〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　heaved　himself　up　to　his　knees；　he　could　rise　no　further　because　of　the　way　he　was　bound。　〃We　aren't　Darkfriends；〃　he　protested　angrily。
　　　　　　　The　words　were　not　pletely　out　of　his　mouth　before　Byar　reached　him。　The　man　moved　like　a　snake。　He　saw　the　handle　of　his　own　axe　swinging　toward　him　and　tried　to　duck；　but　the　thick　haft　caught　him　over　the　ear。　Only　the　fact　that　he　was　moving　away　from　the　blow　kept　his　skull　from　being　split。　Even　so；　lights　flashed　in　his　eyes。　Breath　left　him　as　he　struck　the　ground。　His　head　rung；　and　blood　ran　down　his　cheek。
　　　　　　　〃You　have　no　right；〃　Egwene　began；　and　screamed　as　the　axe　handle　whipped　toward　her。　She　threw　herself　aside；　and　the　blow　whistled　through　empty　air　as　she　tumbled　to　the　ground　cloth。
　　　　　　　〃You　will　keep　a　civil　tongue；〃　Byar　said；　〃when　speaking　to　an　Anointed　of　the　Light；　or　you　will　have　no　tongue。　〃　The　worst　of　it　was　his　voice　still　had　no　emotion　at　all。　Cutting　out　their　tongues　would　give　him　no　pleasure　and　no　regret；　it　was　just　something　he　would　do。
　　　　　　　〃Go　easy；　Child　Byar。〃　Bornhald　looked　at　the　captives　again。　〃I　expect　you　do　not　know　much　about　the　Anointed；　or　about　Lords　Captain　of　the　Children　of　the　Light；　do　you？　No；　I　thought　not。　Well；　for　Child　Byar's　sake；　at　least；　try　not　to　argue　or　shout；　yes？　I　want　no　more　than　that　you　should　walk　in　the　Light；　and　letting　anger　get　the　better　of　you　won't　help　any　of　us。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　looked　up　at　the　gaunt…faced　man　standing　over　them。　For　Child　Byar's　sake？　He　noticed　that　the　Lord　Captain　did　not　tell　Byar　to　leave　them　alone。　Byar　met　his　eyes　and　smiled；　the　smile　touched　only　his　mouth；　but　the　skin　of　his　face　drew　tighter；　until　it　looked　like　a　skull。　Perrin　shivered。
　　　　　　　〃I　have　heard　of　this　thing　of　men　running　with　wolves；〃　Bornhald　said　musingly；　〃though　I　have　not　seen　it　before。　Men　supposedly　talking　with　wolves；　and　with　other　creatures　of　the　Dark　One。　A　filthy　business。　It　makes　me　fear　the　Last　Battle　is　indeed　ing　soon。〃
　　　　　　　〃Wolves　aren't　…〃　Perrin　cut　off　as　Byar's　boot　drew　back。　Taking　a　deep　breath；　he　went　on　in　a　milder　tone。　Byar　lowered　his　foot　with　a　disappointed　grimace。　〃Wolves　aren't　creatures　of　the　Dark　One。　They　hate　the　Dark　One。　At　least；　they　hate　Trollocs；　and　Fades。〃　He　was　surprised　to　see　the　gaunt…faced　man　nod　as　if　to　himself。
　　　　　　　Bornhald　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃Who　told　you　that？〃
　　　　　　　〃A　Warder；〃　Egwene　said。　She　scrunched　away　from　Byar's　heated　eyes。　〃He　said　wolves　hate　Trollocs；　and　Trollocs　are　afraid　of　wolves。〃　Perrin　was　glad　she　had　not　mentioned　Elyas。
　　　　　　　〃A　Warder；〃　the　gray…haired　man　sighed。　〃A　creature　of　the　Tar　Valon　witches。　What　else　would　that　sort　tell　you；　when　he　is　a　Darkfriend　himself；　and　a　servant　of　Darkfriends？　Do　you　not　know　Trollocs　have　wolves'　muzzles　and　teeth；　and　wolves'　fur？〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　blinked；　trying　to　clear　his　head。　His　brain　still　felt　like　jellied　pain；　but　there　was　something　wrong　here。　He　could　not　get　his　thoughts　straight　enough　to　puzzle　it　out。
　　　　　　　〃Not　all　of　them；〃　Egwene　muttered。　Perrin　gave　Byar　a　wary　look；　but　the　gaunt　man　only　watched　her。　〃Some　of　them　have　horns；　like　rams　or　goats；　or　hawks'　beaks；　or　。。。　or　。。。　all　sorts　of　things。〃
　　　　　　　Bornhald　shook　his　head　sadly。　〃I　give　you　every　chance；　and　you　dig　yourself　deeper　with　every　word。〃　He　held　up　one　finger。　〃You　run　with　wolves；　creatures　of　the　Dark　One。〃　A　second　finger。　〃You　admit　to　being　acquainted　with　a　Warder；　another　creature　of　the　Dark　One。　I　doubt　he　would　have　told　you　what　he　did　if　it　was　only　in　passing。〃　A　third　finger。　〃You；　boy；　carry　a　Tar　Valon　mark　in　your　pocket。　Most　men　outside　Tar　Valon　get　rid　of　those　as　fast　as　they　can。　Unless　they　serve　the　Tar　Valon　witches。〃　A　fourth。　〃You　carry　a　fighting　man's　weapon　while　you　dress　like　a　farmboy。　A　skulker；　then。〃　The　thumb　rose。　〃You　know　Trollocs；　and　Myrddraal。　This　far　south；　only　a　few　scholars　and　those　who　have　traveled　in　the　Borderlands　believe　they　are　anything　but　stories。　Perhaps　you　have　been　to　the　Borderlands？　If　so；　tell　me　where？　I　have　traveled　a　good　deal　in　the　Borderlands；　I　know　them　well。　No？　Ah；　well；　then。〃　He　looked　at　his　spread　hand；　then　dropped　it　hard　on　the　table。　The　grandfatherly　expression　said　the　grandchildren　had　been　up　to　some　very　serious　mischief　indeed。　〃Why　do　you　not　tell　me　the　truth　of　how　you　came　to　be　running　in　the　night　with　wolves？〃
　　　　　　　Egwene　opened　her　mouth；　but　Perrin　saw　the　stubborn　set　of　her　jaw　and　knew　right　away　she　was　going　to　tell　one　of　the　stories　they　had　worked　out。　That　would　not　do。　Not　now；　not　here。　His　head　ached；　and　he　wished　he　had　time　to　think　it　out；　but　there　was　no　time。　Who　could　tell　where　this　Bornhald　had　traveled；　with　what　lands　and　cities　he　was　familiar？　If　he　caught　them　in　a　lie；　there　would　be　no　going　back　to　the　truth。　Bornhald　would　be　convinced　they　were　Darkfriends；　then。
　　　　　　　〃We're　from　the　Two　Rivers；〃　he　said　quickly。
　　　　　　　Egwene　stared　at　him　openly　before　she　caught　herself；　but　he　pressed　on　with　the　truth　…　or　a　version　of　it。　The　two　of　them　had　left　the　Two　Rivers　to　see　Caemlyn。　On　the　way　they　had　heard　of　the　ruins　of　a　great　city；　but　when　they　found　Shadar　Logoth；　there　were　Trollocs　there。　The　two　of　them　managed　to　escape　across　the　River　Arinelle；　but　by　that　time　they　were　pletely　lost。　Then　they　fell　in　with　a　man　who　offered　to　guide　them　to　Caemlyn。　He　had　said　his　name　was　none　of　their　business；　and　he　hardly　seemed　friendly；　but　they　needed　a　guide。　The　first　either　of　them　had　seen　of　wolves　had　been　after　the　Children　of　the　Light　appeared。　All　they　had　been　trying　to　do　was　hide　so　they　would　not　get　eaten　by　wolves　or　killed　by　the　men　on　horses。
　　　　　　　〃。。。　If　we'd　known　you　were　Children　of　the　Light；〃　he　finished；　〃we'd　have　gone　to　you　for　help。〃
　　　　　　　Byar　snorted　with　disbelief。　Perrin　did　not　care　overmuch；　if　the　Lord　Captain　was　convinced；　Byar　could　not　harm　them。　It　was　plain　that　Byar　would　stop　breathing　if　Lord　Captain　Bornhald　told　him　to。
　　　　　　　〃There　is　no　Warder　in　that；〃　the　gray…haired　man　said　after　a　moment。
　　　　　　　Perrin's　invention　failed　him；　he　knew　he　should　have　taken　time　to　think　it　out。　Egwene　leaped　into　the　breach。　〃We　met　him　in　Baerlon。　The　city　was　crowded　with　men　who　had　e　down　from　the　mines　after　the　winter；　and　we　were　put　at　the　same　table　in　an　inn。　We　only　talked　to　him　for　the　length　of　a　meal。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　breathed　again。　Thank　you；　Egwene。
　　　　　　　〃Give　them　back　their　belongings；　Child　Byar。　Not　the　weapons；　of　course。〃　When　Byar　looked　at　him　in　surprise；　Bornhald　added；　〃Or　are　you　one　of　those　who　have　taken　to　looting　the　unenlightened；　Child　Byar？　It　is　a　bad　business；　that；　yes？　No　man　can　be　a　thief　and　walk　in　the　Light。〃　Byar　seemed　to　struggle　with　disbelief　at　the　suggestion。
　　　　　　　〃Then　you're　letting　us　go？〃　Egwene　sounded　surprised。　Perrin　lifted　his　head　to　stare　at　the　Lord　Captain。
　　　　　　　〃Of　course　not；　child；〃　Bornhald　said　sadly。　〃You　may　be　telling　the　truth　about　being　from　the　Two　Rivers；　since　you　know　about　Baerlon；　and　the　mines。　But　Shadar　Logoth　。。。　？　That　is　a　name　very；　very　few　know；　most　of　them　Darkfriends；　and　anyone　who　knows　enough　to　know　the　name；　knows　enough　not　to　go　there。　I　suggest　you　think　of　a　better　story　on　the　journey　to　Amador。　You　will　have　time；　since　we　must　pause　in　Caemlyn。　Preferably　the　truth；　child。　There　is　freedom　in　truth　and　the　Light。　〃
　　　　　　　Byar　forgot　some　of　his　diffidence　toward　the　gray…haired　man。　He　spun　from　the　prisoners；　and　there　was　an　outraged　snap　to　his　words。　〃You　can't！　It　is　not　allowed！〃　Bornhald　raised　one　eyebrow　quizzically；　and　Byar　pulled　himself　up　short；　swallowing。　〃Forgive　me；　my　Lord　Captain。　I　forgot　myself；　and　I　humbly　beg　pardon　and　submit　myself　for　penance；　but　as　my　Lord　Captain　himself　has　pointed　out；　we　must　reach　Caemlyn　in　time；　and　with　most　of　our　remounts　gone；　we