rj.theshadowrising-第158部分

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lieve　the　rest。
　　　　　　　〃I　betrayed　no　one；〃　Perrin　said　in　a　loud　voice　so　everyone　could　hear。　〃If　your　father　died　at　Falme；　those　who　killed　him　are　called　the　Seanchan。　I　don't　know　whether　they　are　Darkfriends；　but　I　do　know　they　use　the　One　Power　in　battle。〃
　　　　　　　〃Liar！〃　Spittle　flew　from　Bornhald's　lips。　〃The　Seanchan　are　a　tale　concocted　by　the　White　Tower　to　hide　their　foul　lies！　You　are　a　Darkfriend！〃
　　　　　　　Bran　shook　his　head　wonderingly；　pushing　his　steel　cap　over　to　one　side　so　he　could　scratch　his　fringe　of　gray　hair。　〃I　don't　know　anything　about　these　…　Seanchan？　…　about　these　Seanchan。　What　I　do　know　is　that　Perrin　is　no　Darkfriend；　and　you　are　not　arresting　anybody。〃
　　　　　　　The　situation　was　growing　more　dangerous　by　the　minute；　Perrin　realized。　Byar　saw　it　and　tugged　at　Bornhald's　arm；　whispering　to　him；　but　the　Whitecloak　captain　would　not；　or　perhaps　could　not；　back　away　now　that　he　had　Perrin　in　front　of　his　eyes。　Bran　and　the　Two　Rivers　men　had　their　heels　planted；　too；　they　might　not　be　willing　to　let　the　Whitecloaks　take　him　even　if　he　confessed　to　everything　Bornhald　claimed。　Unless　someone　tossed　some　water　fast；　everything　was　going　to　explode　like　a　fistful　of　dry　straw　tossed　on　a　forge…fire。
　　　　　　　He　hated　having　to　think　quickly。　Loial　had　the　right　of　it。　Hasty　thinking　led　to　people　being　hurt。　But　he　thought　he　saw　a　way　here。　〃Are　you　willing　to　hold　off　my　arrest；　Bornhald？　Until　the　Trollocs　are　done　with？　I　won't　be　going　anywhere　before　then。〃
　　　　　　　〃Why　should　I　hold　off？〃　The　man　was　blind　with　hate。　If　he　went　on；　a　good　many　men　were　going　to　die；　including　him　most　likely；　and　he　could　not　see。　There　was　no　use　pointing　it　out。
　　　　　　　〃Haven't　you　noticed　all　the　farms　burning　this　morning？〃　Perrin　said　instead。　He　made　a　sweeping　gesture　that　took　in　all　the　dwindling　plumes　of　smoke。　〃Look　around。　You　said　it　yourself。　The　Trollocs　aren't　content　with　raiding　a　farm　or　two　each　night　anymore。　They're　up　to　raiding　villages。　If　you　try　to　make　it　back　to　Watch　Hill；　you　may　not　get　there。　You　were　lucky　to　e　this　far。　But　if　you　stay　here；　in　Emond's　Field。。。〃　Bran　rounded　on　him；　and　other　men　shouted　loud　noes；　Faile　rode　close　and　seized　his　arm；　but　he　ignored　all　of　them。　〃。。。you　will　know　where　I　am；　and　your　soldiers　will　be　wele　to　help　our　defenses。〃
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　sure　about　this；　Perrin？〃　Bran　said；　grabbing　Stepper's　stirrup；　while　from　the　other　side　Faile　said　urgently；　〃No；　Perrin！　It　is　too　great　a　risk。　You　must　not　…　I　mean。。。　please　don't　…　Oh；　the　Light　burn　me　to　bloody　ash！　You　must　not　do　this！〃
　　　　　　　〃I　won't　have　men　fighting　men　if　I　can　stop　it；〃　he　told　them　firmly。　〃We　are　not　going　to　do　the　Trollocs'　work　for　them。〃
　　　　　　　Faile　practically　flung　his　arm　away。　Scowling　at　Bornhald；　she　produced　a　sharpening　stone　from　her　pouch　and　a　knife　from　somewhere；　and　began　honing　the　blade　with　a　silk…soft　whisk…whisk。
　　　　　　　〃Hari　Coplin　won't　know　what　to　think；　now；〃　Bran　said　wryly。　Straightening　his　round　helmet；　he　turned　back　to　the　Whitecloaks　and　planted　his　spear　butt。　〃You　have　heard　his　terms。　Now　hear　mine。　If　you　e　into　Emond's　Field；　you　arrest　no　one　without　the　say…so　of　the　Village　Council；　which　you　will　not　get；　so　you　arrest　no　one。　You　don't　go　into　anybody's　house　unless　you　are　asked。　You　make　no　trouble；　and　you　share　in　the　defense　where　and　when　you're　asked。　And　I　don't　want　to　so　much　as　smell　a　Dragon's　Fang！　Will　you　agree？　If　not；　you　can　ride　back　as　you　came。〃　Byar　stared　at　the　round　man　as　if　a　sheep　had　reared　up　on　its　hind　legs　and　offered　to　wrestle。
　　　　　　　Bornhald　never　took　his　eyes　off　Perrin。　〃Done；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃Until　the　Trolloc　threat　is　gone；　done！〃　Wrenching　his　horse　around；　he　galloped　back　toward　the　line　of　his　men；　snowy　cloak　billowing　behind　him。
　　　　　　　As　the　Mayor　ordered　the　wagons　rolled　aside；　Perrin　realized　that　Luc　was　looking　at　him。　The　fellow　sat　slumped　easily　in　his　saddle；　a　languorous　hand　on　his　sword　hilt；　blue　eyes　amused。
　　　　　　　〃I　thought　you　would　object；〃　Perrin　said；　〃the　way　I　hear　you've　been　talking　people　up　against　the　Whitecloaks。〃
　　　　　　　Luc　spread　his　hands　smoothly。　〃If　these　people　want　Whitecloaks　among　them；　let　them　have　Whitecloaks。　But　you　should　be　careful；　young　Goldeneyes。　I　know　something　of　taking　an　enemy　into　your　bosom。　His　blade　goes　in　quicker　when　he　is　close。〃　With　a　laugh；　he　pushed　his　stallion　off　through　the　crowd；　back　into　the　village。
　　　　　　　〃He　is　right；〃　Faile　said；　still　stropping　her　knife　on　the　stone。　〃Perhaps　this　Bornhald　will　keep　his　word　not　to　arrest　you；　but　what　is　to　stop　one　of　his　men　from　putting　a　blade　in　your　back？　You　should　not　have　done　this。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　had　to；〃　he　told　her。　〃Better　than　doing　the　Trollocs'　work。〃
　　　　　　　The　Whitecloaks　were　beginning　to　ride　in；　Bornhald　and　Byar　at　their　head。　Those　two　glared　at　him　with　unabated　hatred；　and　the　others；　riding　by　in　pairs　。。。　Cold；　hard　eyes　in　cold；　hard　faces　swung　to　regard　him　as　they　passed。　
　　　　　　　They　did　not　hate；　but　they　saw　a　Darkfriend　when　they　saw　him。　And　Byar；　at　least；　was　capable　of　anything。
　　　　　　　He　had　had　to　do　it；　but　he　thought　maybe　it　would　not　be　such　a　bad　idea　to　let　Dannil　and　Ban　and　the　others　follow　him　around　the　way　they　wanted　to。　He　was　not　going　to　be　able　to　sleep　easy　without　somebody　guarding　his　door。　Guards。　Like　some　fool　lord。　At　least　Faile　would　be　happy。　If　only　he　could　make　them　lose　that　banner　somewhere。


Chapter　46
（Female　Silhouettes）
Veils

　　　　　　　The　crowds　were　thick　in　the　confined　winding　streets　of　the　Calpene　near　the　Great　Circle；　the　smoke　of　countless　cook　fires　rising　above　the　high　white　walls　gave　the　reason。　Sour　smells　of　smoke　and　cooking　and　long　unwashed　sweat　hung　heavy　in　the　humid　morning　air　with　the　crying　of　children　and　the　vague　murmurs　that　always　clung　to　large　masses　of　people；　together　enough　to　muffle　the　shrill　caws　of　the　gulls　sailing　overhead。　The　shops　in　this　area　had　long　since　locked　the　iron　grilles　over　their　doors　for　good。
　　　　　　　Disgusted；　Egeanin　threaded　her　way　through　the　throng　afoot。　It　was　dreadful　that　order　had　broken　down　enough　for　penniless　refugees　to　take　over　the　circles；　sleeping　among　the　stone　benches。　It　was　as　bad　as　their　rulers　letting　them　starve。　Her　heart　should　have　been　gladdened　…　this　dispirited　rabble　could　never　resist　the　Corenne；　and　then　proper　order　would　be　restored　…　but　she　hated　looking　at　it。
　　　　　　　Most　of　the　ragged　people　around　her　seemed　too　apathetic　to　wonder　at　a　woman　in　their　midst　in　a　clean；　well…tended　blue　riding　dress；　silk　if　plainly　cut。　Men　and　women　in　once　fine　garb；　soiled　and　wrinkled　now；　speckled　the　crowd；　so　perhaps　she　did　not　stand　out　enough　for　contrast。　The　few　who　seemed　to　wonder　whether　her　clothes　meant　coins　in　her　purse　were　dissuaded　by　the　petent　way　she　carried　her　stout　staff；　as　tall　as　she　was。　Guards　and　chair　and　bearers　had　had　to　be　left　behind　today。　Floran　Gelb　would　surely　have　realized　he　was　being　followed　by　that　array。　At　least　this　dress　with　its　divided　skirts　gave　her　a　little　freedom　of　movement。
　　　　　　　Keeping　the　weasely　little　man　in　sight　was　easy　even　in　this　mass　of　people；　despite　having　to　dodge　oxcarts　or　the　occasional　wagon；　hauled　by　sweating　bare…chested　men　more　often　than　animals。　Gelb　and　seven　or　eight　panions；　burly　rough…faced　men　all；　shoved　through　in　a　knot；　an　eddy　of　curses　following　them。　Those　fellows　angered　her。　Gelb　meant　to　try　kidnapping　again。　He　had　found　three　women　since　she　sent　him　the　gold　he　had　asked　for；　none　more　than　casually　resembling　any　on　her　list；　and　had　whined　over　every　one　she　rejected。　She　should　never　have　paid　him　for　that　first　woman　he　snatched　off　the　street。　Greed　and　the　memory　of　gold　had　apparently　washed　out　the　hide…flaying　tongue…lashing　she　had　given　him　along　with　the　purse。
　　　　　　　Shouts　from　behind　pulled　her　head　around　and　tightened　her　hands　on　the　staff。　A　small　space　had　opened　up；　as　it　always　did　around　trouble。　A　bellowing　man　in　a　torn；　once…fine　yellow　coat　was　on　his　knees　in　the　street；　clutching　his　right　arm　where　it　bent　the　wrong　way。　Huddling　over　him　protectively；　a　weeping　woman　in　a　tattered　green　gown　was　crying　at　a　veiled　fellow　already　melting　into　the　crowd。　〃He　only　asked　for　a　coin！　He　only　asked！〃　The　crowd　swirled　in　around　them　again。
　　　　　　　Grimacing；　Egeanin　turned　back。　And　stopped　with　an　oath　that　drew　a　few　startled　glances。　Gelb　and　his　fellows　had　vanished。　Pushing　her　way　to　a　small　stone　fountain　where　water　gushed　from　the　mouth　of　a　bronze　fish　on　the　side　of　a　flat…roofed　wineshop；　she　roughly　displaced　two　of　the　women　filling　pots　and　leaped　up　onto　the　coping；　ignoring　their　indignant　curses。　From　there　she　could　see　over　the　heads　of　the　crowd；　Cramped　streets　ran　off　in　every　direction；　twisting　around　the　hills。　Bends　and　white…plastered　buildings　cut　her　view　to　less　than　a　hundred　paces　at　best；　but　Gelb　could　not　have　gone　farther　than　that　in　those　few　moments。
　　　　　　　Abruptly　she　found　him；　hiding　in　a　deep　doorway　thirty　paces　on；　but　up　on　his　toes　to　peer　down　the　street。　The　others　were　easy　enough　to　locate　then；　leaning　against　buildings　to　either　side　of　the　street；　trying　not　to　be　noticed。　They　were　not　the　only　ones　lining　the　walls；　but　where　the　rest　huddled　dispiritedly；　their　scared；　broken…nosed　faces　held　expectation。
　　　　　　　So　it　was　to　be　here；　their　abduction。　Certainly　no　one　would　interfere；　any　more　than　people　had　when　that　fellow's　arm　was　broken。　But　who？　If　Gelb　had　finally　found　someone　on　the　list；　she　could　go　away　and　wait　for　him　to　sell　her　the　woman；　wait　her　chance　to　see　if　an　a'dam　truly　could　hold　other　sul'dam　besides　Bethamin。　However；　she　did　not　mean　to　face　again　the　choice　between　slitting　some　unfortunate　woman's　throat　and　sending　her　off　to　be　sold。
　　　　　　　There　were　plenty　of　women　climbing　up　the　street　toward　Gelb；　most　in　those　transparent　veils；　their　hair　braided。　Without　a　second　glance　Egeanin　ruled　out　two　in　sedan　chairs；　with　bodyguards　marching　alongside；　Gelb's　street　toughs　would　not　tangle　with　near　their　own　number；　nor　face　swords　with　their　fists。　Whoever　they　w