rj.theshadowrising-第105部分

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　　　　　　　The　old　sickhouse　was　even　more　ramshackle　than　he　remembered；　a　sprawling　single　story　that　leaned　drunkenly；　half　the　rooms　open　to　the　sky；　a　forty…foot　sourgum　tree　poking　up　from　one。　The　forest　closed　in　on　every　side。　A　thick　net　of　vines　and　briars　snaked　up　the　walls；　covered　the　remaining　thatch　with　green；　he　thought　they　might　be　all　that　was　holding　the　building　up。　The　front　door　was　cleared；　though。　He　smelled　horses；　and　a　faint　aroma　of　beans　and　ham；　but　oddly；　no　woodsmoke。
　　　　　　　Tying　their　animals　to　low　branches；　they　followed　Mistress　al'Vere　inside；　where　vine…shrouded　windows　admitted　only　a　dim　light。　The　front　room　was　large　and　bare　of　furnishings；　with　dirt　in　the　corners　and　a　few　cobwebs　that　had　escaped　an　obviously　hasty　cleaning。　Four　blanket　rolls　were　laid　out　on　the　floor；　with　saddles　and　saddlebags　and　neatly　tied　bundles　against　the　wall；　and　a　small　kettle　on　the　stone　hearth　gave　off　the　cooking　smells　despite　the　lack　of　any　fire。　A　smaller　kettle　seemed　to　be　water　for　tea；　almost　at　the　boil。　Two　Aes　Sedai　awaited　them。　Marin　al'Vere　curtsied　hastily　and　launched　into　an　anxious　cascade　of　introductions　and　explanations。
　　　　　　　Perrin　leaned　his　chin　against　his　bow。　He　recognized　the　Aes　Sedai。　Verin　Mathwin；　plump　and　square…faced；　gray　streaking　her　brown　hair　despite　her　smooth…cheeked　Aes　Sedai　agelessness；　was　Brown　Ajah；　and　like　all　Browns　seemingly　lost　half　the　time　in　the　search　for　knowledge；　whether　old　and　lost　or　new。　But　sometimes　her　dark　eyes　belied　that　vague　dreamy　expression；　as　now；　looking　past　Marin　at　him　sharp　as　tacks。　She　was　one　of　two　Aes　Sedai　besides　Moiraine　he　was　certain　knew　about　Rand；　and　he　suspected　she　knew　more　about　himself　than　she　let　on。　Her　eyes　took　on　that　slight　vagueness　again　as　she　listened　to　Marin；　but　for　an　instant　they　had　weighed　him　on　scales；　factored　him　into　her　own　plans。　He　would　have　to　be　very　careful　around　her。
　　　　　　　The　other；　a　dark；　slender　woman　in　a　deep　green　silk　riding　dress　that　contrasted　sharply　with　Verin's　plain　brown；　inkstained　at　the　cuffs；　he　had　never　met；　and　only　seen　once。　Alanna　Mosvani　was　Green　Ajah；　if　he　remembered　correctly；　a　beautiful　woman　with　long　black　hair　and　penetrating　dark　eyes。　Those　eyes　sought　him；　too；　while　she　listened　to　Marin。　Something　Egwene　had　said　came　back　to　him。　Some　Aes　Sedai　who　shouldn't　know　about　Rand　show　too　much　interest　in　him。　Elaida；　for　instance；　and　Alanna　Mosvani。　I　don't　think　I　trust　either　of　them。　Perhaps　it　would　be　best　to　be　guided　by　Egwene　until　he　found　out　differently。
　　　　　　　His　ears　perked　up　when　Marin　said；　still　apprehensive；　〃You　were　asking　about　him；　Verin　Sedai。　Perrin；　I　mean。　All　three　boys；　but　Perrin　among　them。　It　seemed　the　easiest　way　to　keep　him　from　getting　himself　killed　was　to　bring　him　to　you。　There　just　wasn't　any　time　to　ask　first。　Do　say　you　under　…〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　quite　all　right；　Mistress　al'Vere；〃　Verin　interrupted　in　a　soothing　tone。　〃You　did　exactly　the　correct　thing。　Perrin　is　in　the　right　hands；　now。　Also　I　will　enjoy　the　chance　to　learn　more　about　the　Aiel；　and　it　is　always　a　pleasure　to　talk　with　an　Ogier。　I　will　pick　your　brain；　Loial。　I　have　found　some　fascinating　things　in　Ogier　books。〃
　　　　　　　Loial　gave　her　a　pleased　smile；　anything　to　do　with　books　seemed　to　please　him。　Gaul；　on　the　other　hand；　exchanged　guarded　looks　with　Bain　and　Chiad。
　　　　　　　〃It　is　all　right　as　long　as　you　do　not　do　it　again；〃　Alanna　said　firmly。　〃Unless。。。　You　are　alone？〃　she　asked　Perrin　in　a　voice　that　required　an　answer；　and　right　now。　〃Did　the　other　two　return　as　well？〃
　　　　　　　〃Why　are　you　here？〃　he　demanded　right　back。
　　　　　　　〃Perrin！〃　Mistress　al'Vere　said　sharply。　〃Mind　your　manners！　You　may　have　picked　up　some　rough　ways　out　in　the　world；　but　you　can　just　lose　them　again　now　that　you　are　home。〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　not　trouble　yourself；〃　Verin　told　her。。　〃Perrin　and　I　are　old　friends　now。　I　understand　him。　〃　Her　dark　eyes　glittered　at　him　for　a　moment。
　　　　　　　〃We　will　take　care　of　him。〃　Alanna's　cool　words　seemed　open　to　interpretation。
　　　　　　　Verin　smiled　and　patted　Marin's　shoulder。　〃You　had　better　go　on　back　to　the　village。　We　don't　want　anyone　wondering　why　you　are　walking　in　the　woods。〃
　　　　　　　Mistress　al'Vere　nodded。　Pausing　by　Perrin；　she　put　a　hand　on　his　arm。　〃You　know　you　have　my　sympathy；〃　she　said　gently。　〃Just　remember　that　getting　yourself　killed　won't　help　anything。。　Do　what　the　Aes　Sedai　tell　you。　〃　He　mumbled　something　nonmittal；　but　it　seemed　to　satisfy　her。
　　　　　　　When　Mistress　al'Vere　had　gone；　Verin　said；　〃You　have　our　sympathy　as　well；　Perrin。　If　there　was　anything　we　could　have　done；　we　would　have。〃
　　　　　　　He　did　not　want　to　think　of　his　family　now。　〃You　still　haven't　answered　my　question。〃
　　　　　　　〃Perrin！〃　Faile　managed　to　copy　Mistress　al'Vere's　tone　almost　exactly；　but　he　paid　it　no　mind。
　　　　　　　〃Why　are　you　here？　It　seems　awfully　coincidental。　Whitecloaks　and　Trollocs；　and　the　two　of　you　just　happen　to　be　here　at　the　same　time。〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　coincidental　at　all；〃　Verin　replied。　〃Ah；　the　tea　water　is　ready。〃　The　water　subsided　from　a　boil　as　she　began　to　bustle　about；　tossing　a　handful　of　leaves　into　the　kettle；　directing　Faile　to　find　metal　cups　in　one　of　the　bundles　against　the　wall。　Alanna；　with　her　arms　folded　beneath　her　breasts；　never　took　her　eyes　off　Perrin；　their　heat　conflicting　with　the　coolness　of　her　face。　〃Year　by　year；〃　Verin　continued；　〃we　find　fewer　and　fewer　girls　who　can　be　taught　to　channel。　Sheriam　believes　we　may　have　spent　the　last　three　thousand　years　culling　the　ability　out　of　humankind　by　gentling　every　man　who　can　channel　we　find。　The　proof　of　it；　she　says；　is　how　very　few　men　we　do　find。　Why；　even　a　hundred　years　ago　the　records　say　there　were　two　or　three　a　year；　and　five　hundred　years　…〃
　　　　　　　Alanna　harrumphed。　〃What　else　can　we　do；　Verin？　Let　them　go　insane？　Follow　the　Whites'　mad　plan？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　think　not；〃　Verin　replied　calmly。　〃Even　if　we　could　find　women　willing　to　bear　children　by　gentled　men；　there　is　no　guarantee　the　children　would　be　able　to　channel；　or　would　be　girls。　I　did　suggest　that　if　they　wanted　to　increase　the　stock；　Aes　Sedai　should　be　the　ones　to　have　the　children；　themselves；　in　fact；　since　they　put　it　forward　in　the　first　place。　Alviarin　was　not　amused。〃
　　　　　　　〃She　would　not　be；〃　Alanna　laughed。　The　sudden　flash　of　delight；　breaking　her　fiery；　dark…eyed　stare；　was　startling。　〃I　wish　I　could　have　seen　her　face。〃
　　　　　　　〃Her　expression　was。。。　interesting；　〃　the　Brown　sister　said　musingly。　〃Calm　yourself；　Perrin。　I　will　give　you　the　rest　of　your　answer。　Tea？〃
　　　　　　　Trying　to　wipe　the　glare　from　his　face；　somehow　he　found　himself　seated　on　the　floor；　his　bow　beside　him　and　a　metal　cup　full　of　strong　tea　in　his　hand。　Everyone　sat　in　a　circle　in　the　middle　of　the　room。。　Alanna　took　up　the　explanation　of　their　presence；　perhaps　to　forestall　the　other　Aes　Sedai's　tendency　to　ramble。
　　　　　　　〃Here　in　the　Two　Rivers；　where　I　suspect　no　Aes　Sedai　had　visited　in　a　thousand　years；　Moiraine　found　two　women　who　could　not　only　be　taught　to　channel；　but　who　had　the　ability　born　in　them；　and　heard　of　another　who　had　died　because　she　could　not　teach　herself。〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　to　mention　three　ta'veren；　Verin　murmured　into　her　tea。
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　have　any　idea；〃　Alanna　went　on；　〃how　many　towns　and　villages　we　usually　must　visit　to　find　three　girls　with　the　ability　inborn？　The　only　wonder　is　that　it　took　us　so　long　to　e　hunting　more。　The　old　blood　is　very　strong　here　in　the　Two　Rivers。　We　were　only　in　Watch　Hill　a　week　before　the　Children　appeared；　and　were　very　careful　not　to　reveal　who　we　were　to　any　but　the　Women's　Circle　there；　yet　even　so　we　found　four　girls　who　can　be　trained；　and　one　child　I　think　has　the　ability　inborn。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　was　difficult　to　be　sure；〃　Verin　added。　〃She　is　only　twelve。　None　have　anywhere　near　the　potential　of　Egwene　or　Nynaeve；　but　the　number　is　still　nothing　less　than　remarkable。　There　might　be　another　two　or　three　just　around　Watch　Hill。　We　have　had　no　chance　to　examine　girls　here；　or　farther　south。　Taren　Ferry　was　a　disappointment；　I　must　say。　Too　much　interchange　of　bloodlines　with　the　outside；　I　suppose。　〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　had　to　admit　it　made　sense。　But　it　did　not　answer　all　his　questions；　or　settle　all　his　doubts。　He　shifted；　stretching　out　his　leg。　The　spear　wound　in　his　thigh　hurt。　〃I　don't　understand　why　you　are　hiding　here。　Whitecloaks　arresting　innocent　people；　and　here　you　sit。　Trollocs　running　all　over　the　Two　Rivers；　apparently；　and　here　you　sit。〃
　　　　　　　Loial　muttered　under　his　breath；　a　muted　rumble。　Perrin　caught　〃angering　Aes　Sedai〃　and　〃hornet's　nest；〃　but　he　continued　to　hammer　at　them。　〃Why　aren't　you　doing　something？　You're　Aes　Sedai！　Burn　me；　why　aren't　you　doing　something？〃
　　　　　　　〃Perrin！〃　Faile　hissed　before　turning　an　apologetic　smile　to　Verin　and　Alanna。　〃Please　forgive　him。　Moiraine　Sedai　spoiled　him。　She　has　an　easy　manner；　I　suppose；　and　she　let　him　get　away　with　things。　Please　don't　be　angry　with　him。　He　will　do　better。〃　She　shot　him　a　sharp　look；　indicating　she　meant　that　for　his　ears　as　much　as　theirs；　or　more。　He　gave　her　a　piece　of　his　glower。　She　had　no　right　interfering　in　this。
　　　　　　　〃An　easy　manner？〃　Verin　said；　blinking。　〃Moiraine？　I　never　noticed。〃
　　　　　　　Alanna　waved　Faile　to　silence。　〃You　certainly　do　not　understand；〃　the　Aes　Sedai　told　Perrin　in　a　tight　voice。　〃You　do　not　understand　the　restrictions　under　which　we　labor。　The　Three　Oaths　are　not　merely　words。　I　brought　two　Warders　with　me　to　this　place。〃　The　Greens　were　the　only　Ajah　to　bond　more　than　a　single　Warder　apiece；　a　few；　he　had　heard；　even　had　three　or　four。　〃The　Children　caught　Owein　crossing　an　open　field。　I　felt　every　arrow　that　struck　him　until　he　died。　I　felt　him　die。　Had　I　been　there；　I　could　have　defended　him；　and　myself；　with　the　Power。　But　I　cannot　use　it　for　revenge。　The　Oaths　do　not　permit　it。　The　Children　are　very　nearly　as　vile　as　men　can　be；　short　of　Darkfriends；　but　they　are　not　Darkfriends；　and　for　that　reason　they　are　safe　from　the　Power　except　in　self…defense。　Stretch　that　as　far　as　we　can；　it　will　only　stretch　so　far。〃
　　　　　　　〃As　for　Trollocs；〃　Verin　added；　〃we　have　done　for　a　number　of　them；　and　two