rj.theshadowrising-第111部分

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est　of　them　left　the　farm。　〃They　won't　talk　about　Abell　or　me；〃　he　said；　〃but　you　three　will　set　tongues　wagging　with　the　best　will　in　the　world。〃
　　　　　　　That　was　putting　it　mildly；　with　their　odd　clothes　and　their　spears；　and　two　of　them　women。　A　rabbit　apiece　dangled　beside　their　quivers；　though　Perrin　could　not　see　how　they　had　found　time　to　hunt　while　keeping　ahead　of　the　horses。　They　seemed　less　tired　than　the　horses；　for　that　matter。
　　　　　　　〃Well　enough；〃　Gaul　said。　〃I　will　find　a　place　to　eat　my　own　meal；　and　watch　for　your　going。〃　He　turned　and　loped　away　immediately。　Bain　and　Chiad　exchanged　glances。　After　a　moment　Chiad　shrugged；　and　they　followed。
　　　　　　　〃Aren't　they　together？〃　Mat's　father　asked；　scratching　his　head。
　　　　　　　〃It　is　a　long　story；〃　Perrin　said。　It　was　better　than　telling　him　Chiad　and　Gaul　might　decide　to　kill　each　other　over　a　feud。　He　hoped　the　water　oath　held。　He　had　to　remember　to　ask　Gaul　what　a　water　oath　was。
　　　　　　　The　al'Seen　farm　was　just　about　as　big　as　farms　went　in　the　Two　Rivers；　with　three　tall　barns　and　five　tabac　curing　sheds。　The　stone…walled　cote；　full　of　black…faced　sheep；　spread　as　wide　as　some　pastures；　and　rail…fenced　yards　kept　white…spotted　milk　cows　separate　from　black　beef　cattle。　Pigs　grunted　contentedly　in　their　wallow；　chickens　wandered　everywhere；　and　there　were　white　geese　on　a　good…sized　pond。
　　　　　　　The　first　odd　thing　Perrin　noticed　was　the　boys　on　the　thatched　roofs　of　the　house　and　barns；　eight　or　nine　of　them；　with　bows　and　quivers。　They　shouted　down　as　soon　as　they　saw　the　riders；　and　women　hustled　children　inside　before　shading　their　eyes　to　see　who　was　ing。　Men　gathered　in　the　farmyard；　some　with　bows；　others　with　pitchforks　and　bushhooks　held　like　weapons。　Too　many　people。　Far　too　many；　even　for　a　farm　as　big　as　this。　He　looked　a　question　at　Master　al'Thor。
　　　　　　　〃Jac　took　in　his　cousin　Wit's　people；〃　Tam　explained；　〃because　Wit's　farm　was　too　close　to　the　Westwood。　And　Flann　Lewin's　people　after　their　farm　was　attacked。　Whitecloaks　drove　the　Trollocs　off　before　more　than　his　barns　were　burned；　but　Flann　decided　it　was　time　to　go。　Jac　is　a　good　man。〃
　　　　　　　As　they　rode　into　the　farmyard；　and　Tam　and　Abell　were　recognized；　men　and　women　crowded　around　with　smiles　and　a　babble　of　wele　while　they　dismounted。　Seeing　that；　children　burst　out　of　the　house；　followed　by　the　women　who　had　been　minding　them　and　others；　fresh　from　the　kitchen；　wiping　hands　on　aprons。　Every　generation　was　represented；　from　white…haired　Astelle　al'Seen；　bent…backed　but　using　her　stick　to　thump　people　out　of　her　way　more　than　to　walk　with；　down　to　a　swaddled　infant　in　the　arms　of　a　more　than　stout　young　woman　with　a　bright　smile。
　　　　　　　Perrin　looked　past　the　stout；　smiling　woman；　then　his　head　whipped　back。　When　he　had　left　the　Two　Rivers；　Laila　Dearn　had　been　a　slim　girl　who　could　dance　any　three　boys　into　the　ground。　Only　the　smile　and　the　eyes　were　the　same。　He　shivered。　There　had　been　a　time　when　he　had　dreamed　of　marrying　Laila；　and　she　had　returned　the　feeling　somewhat。　The　truth　was；　she　had　held　on　to　it　longer　than　he　had。　Luckily；　she　was　too　entranced　with　her　baby　and　the　even　wider　fellow　by　her　side　to　pay　much　attention　to　him。　Perrin　recognized　the　man　with　her；　too。　Natley　Lewin。　So　Laila　was　a　Lewin　now。　Odd。　Nat　never　could　dance。　Thanking　the　Light　for　his　escape；　Perrin　looked　around　for　Faile。
　　　　　　　He　found　her　idly　flipping　Swallow's　reins　while　the　mare　nuzzled　her　shoulder。　She　was　too　busy　smiling　admiringly　at　Wil　al'Seen；　a　cousin　from　Deven　Ride　way；　to　notice　her　horse；　though；　and　Wil　was　smiling　back。　A　good…looking　boy；　Wil。　Well；　he　was　a　year　older　than　Perrin；　but　too　good…looking　not　to　appear　boyish。　When　Wil　came　down　to　Emond's　Field　for　dances；　the　girls　all　used　to　stare　at　him　and　sigh。　Just　the　way　Faile　was　now。　True；　she　was　not　sighing；　but　her　smile　was　decidedly　approving。
　　　　　　　Perrin　went　over　and　put　an　arm　around　her；　resting　his　other　hand　on　his　axe。　〃How　are　you；　Wil？〃　he　asked；　smiling　for　all　he　was　worth。　No　point　in　letting　Faile　think　he　was　jealous。　Not　that　he　was。
　　　　　　　〃Fine；　Perrin。〃　Wil's　eyes　slid　away　from　his　and　bounced　off　the　axe；　a　sickly　expression　oozing　over　his　face。　〃Just　fine。　〃　Avoiding　looking　at　Faile　again；　he　hurried　off　to　join　the　crowd　around　Verin。
　　　　　　　Faile　looked　up　at　Perrin；　pursing　her　lips；　then　took　his　beard　with　one　hand　and　gently　shook　his　head。　〃Perrin；　Perrin；　Perrin；〃　she　murmured　softly。
　　　　　　　He　was　not　sure　what　she　meant；　but　he　thought　it　wiser　not　to　ask。　She　looked　as　if　she　did　not　know　herself　whether　she　was　angry　or…　could　it　possibly　be　amused？　Best　not　to　make　her　decide。
　　　　　　　Wil　was　not　the　only　one　to　look　askance　at　his　eyes；　of　course。　It　seemed　that　everyone；　young　or　old；　male　or　female；　gave　a　start　the　first　time　they　met　his　gaze。　Old　Mistress　al'Seen　poked　him　with　her　stick；　and　her　dark　old　eyes　widened　in　surprise　when　he　grunted。　Maybe　she　thought　he　was　not　real。　Nobody　said　anything；　though。
　　　　　　　Soon　enough　the　horses　had　been　led　off　to　one　of　the　barns　…　Tomas　took　his　gray　himself；　the　animal　did　not　appear　to　want　anyone　else　to　touch　the　reins　…　and　everybody　except　the　boys　on　the　rooftops　had　crowded　into　the　house；　just　about　filling　it。　Adults　lined　the　front　room　two　deep；　Lewins　and　al'Seens　interspersed　in　no　particular　order　or　rank；　children　in　their　mothers'　arms　or　relegated　to　peering　through　the　legs　of　grown…ups　packing　the　doorways　to　peer　in。
　　　　　　　Strong　tea　and　high…backed；　rush…bottomed　chairs　were　provided　for　the　newers；　though　Verin　and　Faile　got　embroidered　cushions。　There　was　considerable　excitement　over　Verin；　and　Tomas；　and　Faile。　Murmurs　filled　the　room　like　a　gabble　of　geese；　and　everyone　stared　at　those　three　as　though　they　wore　crowns；　or　might　do　tricks　any　moment。　Strangers　were　always　a　curiosity　in　the　Two　Rivers。　Tomas's　sword　drew　especial　ment；　in　near　whispers　that　Perrin　heard　easily。　Swords　were　not　mon　here；　or　had　not　been　before　the　Whitecloaks　came。　Some　thought　Tomas　was　a　Whitecloak；　others　a　lord。　One　boy　little　more　than　waist…high　mentioned　Warders　before　his　elders　laughed　him　down。
　　　　　　　As　soon　as　the　guests　were　settled；　Jac　al'Seen　planted　himself　in　front　of　the　wide　stone　fireplace；　a　stocky；　square　shouldered　man　with　less　hair　than　Master　al'Vere；　and　that　just　as　gray。　A　clock　ticked　on　the　mantel　behind　his　head　between　two　large　silver　goblets；　evidence　of　his　success　as　a　farmer。　The　babble　quieted　when　he　raised　a　hand；　though　his　cousin　Wit；　a　near　twin　except　for　no　hair　at　all；　and　Flann　Lewin；　a　gnarled；　gray…headed　beanpole；　both　shushed　their　own　folk　anyway。
　　　　　　　〃Mistress　Mathwin；　Lady　Faile；〃　Jac　said；　bowing　awkwardly　to　each；　〃You　are　wele　here；　for　as　long　as　you　wish。　I　have　to　caution　you；　though。　You　know　the　trouble　we　have　in　the　countryside。　Best　for　you　if　you　go　straightway　to　Emond's　Field；　or　Watch　Hill；　and　stay　there。　They　are　too　big　to　be　troubled。　I　would　advise　you　to　leave　the　Two　Rivers　altogether；　but　I　understand　the　Children　of　the　Light　aren't　letting　anyone　cross　the　Taren。　I　don't　know　why；　but　there　it　is。
　　　　　　　〃But　there　are　so　many　fine　stories　in　the　country；〃　Verin　said；　blinking　mildly。　〃I　would　miss　them　all　if　I　remained　in　a　village。〃　Without　lying　once；　she　managed　to　give　the　impression　that　she　had　e　to　the　Two　Rivers　in　search　of　old　stories；　the　same　as　Moiraine　had　done；　what　seemed　so　long　ago。　Her　Great　Serpent　ring　lay　in　her　belt　pouch；　though　Perrin　doubted　that　any　of　these　people　would　know　what　it　meant。
　　　　　　　Elisa　al'Seen　smoothed　her　white　apron　and　smiled　gravely　at　Verin。　Though　her　hair　had　less　gray　than　her　husband's；　she　looked　older　than　Verin；　her　lined　face　motherly。　Very　likely　she　thought　she　was。　〃It　is　an　honor　to　have　a　real　scholar　under　our　roof；　yet　Jac　is　right；〃　she　said　firmly。　〃You　truly　are　wele　to　stay　here；　but　when　you　leave；　you　must　go　immediately　to　a　village。　Traveling　about　isn't　safe。　The　same　goes　for　you；　my　Lady；〃　she　added　to　Faile。　〃Trollocs　are　not　something　two　women　should　face　with　only　a　handful　of　men　for　protection。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　think　on　it；〃　Faile　said　calmly。　I　thank　you　for　your　consideration。〃　She　sipped　her　tea；　as　unconcerned　as　Verin；　who　had　begun　writing　in　her　small　book　again；　only　looking　up　to　smile　at　Elisa　and　murmur；　〃There　are　so　many　stories　in　the　countryside。　〃　Faile　accepted　a　butter　cookie　from　a　young　al'Seen　girl；　who　curtsied　and　blushed　furiously；　all　the　while　staring　at　Faile　in　wide…eyed　admiration。
　　　　　　　Perrin　grinned　to　himself。　In　her　green　riding　silks；　they　all　took　Faile　for　nobly　born；　and　he　had　to　admit　she　carried　it　off　beautifully。　When　she　wanted　to。　The　girl　might　not　have　been　so　admiring　had　she　seen　her　in　one　of　her　tempers；　when　her　tongue　could　flay　the　hide　off　a　wagon　driver。
　　　　　　　Mistress　al'Seen　turned　to　her　husband；　shaking　her　head；　Faile　and　Verin　were　not　going　to　be　convinced。　Jac　looked　at　Tomas。　〃Can　you　convince　them？〃
　　　　　　　I　go　where　she　tells　me；〃　Tomas　replied。　Sitting　there　with　a　teacup　in　his　hand；　the　Warder　still　seemed　on　the　point　of　drawing　his　sword。
　　　　　　　Master　al'Seen　sighed　and　shifted　his　attention。　〃Perrin；　most　of　us　have　met　you　one　time　or　another；　down　to　Emond's　Field；　We　know　you；　after　a　fashion。　At　least；　we　knew　you　before　you　ran　off　last　year。　We've　heard　some　troubling　things；　but　I　suppose　Tam　and　Abell　wouldn't　be　with　you　if　they　were　true。〃
　　　　　　　Flann's　wife；　Adine；　a　plump　woman　with　a　self…contented　eye；　sniffed　sharply。　〃I've　heard　some　things　about　Tam　and　Abell；　too。　And　about　their　boys；　running　off　with　Aes　Sedai。　With　Aes　Sedai！　A　dozen　of　them！　You　all　remember　how　Emond's　Field　was　burned　to　the　ground。　The　Light　knows　what　they　could　have　got　up　to。　I　heard　tell　they　kidnapped　the　al'Vere　girl。〃　Flann　shook　his　head　resignedly　and　gave　Jac　an　apologetic　look。
　　　　　　　〃If　you　believe　that；〃　Wit　said　wryly；　〃you'll　believe　anything。　I　talked　to　Marin　al'Vere　two　weeks　ago；　and　she　said　her　girl　went　off　on　her　own　hook。　And　there　was　only　one　Aes　Sedai。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　are　you　suggesting；　Adine？〃　Elisa　al'Seen　put　her　fists　on　her　hips。　〃e　out