rj.thepathofdaggers-第38部分

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married；　and　the　quicker　the　better。〃
　　　　　　　Master　Gill　gaped　at　her；　and　Perrin　was　not　sure　his　own　mouth　might　not　be　hanging　open。　〃I'm　not　certain　I　understand　what　it　is　you　want　of　me；〃　he　said　slowly；　and　the　white…haired　woman　leaped　in　before　he　was　well　finished。
　　　　　　　〃Don't　pretend　to　be　dense。　I　won't　believe　it　in　you　for　a　moment。　I　can　see　you　have　more　wits　than　most　men。　That's　the　worst　habit　you　men　have；　making　believe　you　don't　see　what's　plain　under　your　noses。〃　What　had　happened　to　all　those　curtsies？　Folding　thin　arms　across　her　chest；　she　eyed　him　sternly。　〃Well；　if　you　must　pretend；　I'll　set　it　out　for　you。　This　Lord　Dragon　of　yours　does　whatever　he　wants；　the　way　I　hear。　Your　Prophet　picks　out　people　and　marries　them　on　the　spot。　Very　well；　you　snatch　up　Maighdin　and　Tallanvor　and　marry　them。　He'll　thank　you；　and　so　will　she。　When　her　mind　settles。〃
　　　　　　　Stunned；　Perrin　glanced　at　Master　Gill；　who　shrugged　and　made　a　sickly　grin。　〃If　you　will　forgive　me；〃　Perrin　told　the　frowning　woman；　〃I　have　some　matters　I　must　see　to。〃　He　hurried　away；　only　looking　back　once。　Lini　was　shaking　a　finger　at　Master　Gill；　berating　him　despite　his　protests。　The　breeze　was　wrong　for　Perrin　to　hear　what　they　were　saying。　In　truth；　he　did　not　want　to。　They　were　all　crazy！
　　　　　　　Berelain　might　have　her　two　maids　and　her　thief…catchers；　but　Faile　had　her　own　attendants；　of　a　sort。　Close　on　twenty　young　Tairens　and　Cairhienin　were　sitting　cross…legged　near　the　tent；　the　women　in　coats　and　breeches　with　swords　belted　on　just　like　the　men。　None　wore　their　hair　longer　than　the　shoulder；　and　men　and　women　both　had　it　tied　back　with　a　ribbon；　imitating　the　Aiel　tail。　Perrin　wondered　where　the　rest　were；　they　seldom　strayed　far　from　the　sound　of　Faile's　voice。　Not　causing　trouble；　he　hoped。　She　had　taken　them　under　her　wing　to　keep　them　out　of　trouble；　she　said；　and　the　Light　knew　they　would　have　gotten　into　it；　left　back　in　Cairhien　with　a　great　lot　of　young　fools　just　like　them。　In　Perrin's　opinion；　the　whole　lashing　of　them　needed　a　swift　kick　in　the　bottom　to　knock　some　sense　into　them。　Dueling；　playing　at　ji'e'toh；　pretending　to　be　some　sort　of　Aiel。　Idiocy！
　　　　　　　Lacile　rose　to　her　feet　as　Perrin　came　closer；　a　pale　little　woman　with　red　ribbons　pinned　to　her　lapels；　small　gold　hoops　in　her　ears；　and　a　challenging　stare　that　sometimes　made　the　Two　Rivers　men　think　she　might　like　a　kiss　despite　her　sword。　Right　then；　the　challenge　was　stony　hard。　A　moment　behind　her；　Arrela　stood　too；　tall　and　dark；　with　her　hair　cut　short　as　a　Maiden's　and　her　clothes　plainer　than　most　of　the　men's。　Unlike　Lacile；　Arrela　made　it　clear　she　would　as　soon　kiss　a　dog　as　any　man。　The　pair　made　as　if　to　move　in　front　of　the　tent；　to　block　Perrin's　way；　but　a　square…chinned　fellow　in　a　puffy…sleeved　coat　barked　an　order　and　they　sat　again。　Reluctantly。　For　that　matter；　Parelean　thumbed　that　block　of　a　chin　as　though　he　might　be　reconsidering。　He　had　worn　a　beard　the　first　time　Perrin　saw　him　…　several　of　the　Tairen　men　had　had　them　…　but　Aiel　did　not　wear　beards。
　　　　　　　Perrin　muttered　about　foolishness　under　his　breath。　They　were　Faile's　to　the　bone；　and　the　fact　that　he　was　her　husband　meant　little。　Aram　might　be　jealous　of　his　attentions；　yet　Aram　at　least　shared　his　affections　with　Faile。　He　could　feel　the　young　idiots'　eyes　on　him　as　he　strode　inside。　Faile　would　skin　him　if　she　ever　learned　that　he　hoped　they　would　keep　her　from　trouble。
　　　　　　　The　tent　was　tall　and　spacious；　with　a　flowered　carpet　for　a　floor　and　sparse　furnishings　that　folded　for　storage　on　a　cart；　most　of　them。　The　heavy　stand…mirror　certainly　could　not。　Except　for　brass…bound　chests　draped　with　embroidered　cloths　and　doubling　as　extra　tables；　straight　lines　of　bright　gilt　decorated　everything　down　to　the　washstand　and　its　mirror。　A　dozen　mirrored　lamps　made　the　interior　nearly　as　bright　as　outside；　if　considerably　cooler；　and　there　were　even　a　pair　of　silk　hangings　dangling　from　the　roof　poles；　too　ornate　for　Perrin's　taste。　Too　rigid；　with　the　birds　and　flowers　marching　in　lines　and　angles。　Dobraine　had　set　them　up　to　travel　like　Cairhienin　nobles；　though　Perrin　had　managed　to　〃lose〃　the　worst　of　it。　The　huge　bed；　for　one；　a　ridiculous　thing　to　travel　with。　It　had　taken　up　almost　a　whole　cart　to　itself。
　　　　　　　Faile　and　Maighdin　were　sitting　alone　together；　worked　silver　cups　in　hand。　They　had　the　air　of　women　feeling　one　another　out；　all　smiles　on　the　outside　yet　with　a　hint　of　sharpness　to　the　eyes；　a　hint　of　listening　for　something　behind　the　words；　and　not　a　clue　as　to　whether　they　would　hug　in　the　next　instant　or　draw　knives。　Well；　he　thought　most　women　would　not　actually　go　as　far　as　knives；　but　Faile　could。　Maighdin　appeared　much　less　travel…worn　than　she　had；　washed　and　bed；　the　dust　brushed　from　her　dress。　A　small　mosaic…topped　table　between　them　held　more　cups　and　a　tall　sweating　silver　pitcher　that　gave　off　the　minty　scent　of　herb　tea。　Both　women　looked　around　at　his　entrance；　and　for　an　instant；　they　had　almost　exactly　the　same　expression；　coolly　wondering　who　was　barging　in　and　not　at　all　pleased　with　the　interruption。　At　least　Faile　softened　hers　immediately　with　a　smile。
　　　　　　　〃Master　Gill　told　me　your　story；　Mistress　Dorlain；〃　he　said。　〃You've　faced　hard　days；　but　you　can　be　sure　you're　safe　here　till　you　decide　to　leave。〃　The　woman　murmured　thanks　over　the　rim　of　her　cup；　but　she　smelled　wary；　and　her　eyes　tried　to　read　him　like　a　book。
　　　　　　　〃Maighdin　also　told　me　their　story；　Perrin；〃　Faile　said；　〃and　I　have　an　offer　to　make　her。　Maighdin；　you　and　your　friends　have　had　trying　months　behind；　and　you　tell　me　of　no　prospects　ahead。　Enter　my　service；　all　of　you。　You　will　still　have　to　journey；　but　the　circumstances　will　be　much　better。　I　pay　well；　and　I　am　not　a　harsh　mistress。〃　Perrin　voiced　his　approval　immediately。　If　Faile　wanted　to　indulge　her　fancy　for　taking　in　strays；　at　least　he　wanted　to　help　this　lot；　too。　Maybe　they　would　be　safer　with　him　than　wandering　around　alone　at　that。
　　　　　　　Choking　on　her　tea；　Maighdin　nearly　dropped　her　cup。　She　blinked　at　Faile；　dabbing　at　the　damp　on　her　chin　with　a　lace…edged　linen　handkerchief；　and　her　chair　creaked　faintly　as　she　turned；　strangely；　to　study　Perrin。　〃I。。。　thank　you；〃　she　said　at　last；　slowly。　〃I　think。。。　〃　Another　moment's　perusal　of　Perrin；　and　her　voice　picked　up。　〃Yes；　I　thank　you；　and　I　accept　your　kind　offer　gratefully。　I　must　tell　my　panions。〃　Rising；　she　hesitated　in　setting　her　cup　on　the　tray；　then　straightened　only　to　spread　her　skirts　in　a　curtsy　suitable　for　any　palace。　〃I　will　try　to　give　good　service；　my　Lady；〃　she　said　levelly。　〃May　I　withdraw？〃　At　Faile's　assent；　she　curtsied　again　and　backed　away　two　steps　before　turning　to　go！　Perrin　scratched　his　beard。　Somebody　else　who　would　be　bobbing　at　him　every　time　she　turned　around。
　　　　　　　No　sooner　had　the　tentflap　dropped　behind　Maighdin　than　Faile　put　her　cup　down　and　laughed；　drumming　her　heels　on　the　carpet。　〃Oh；　I　like　her；　Perrin。　She　has　spirit！　I'll　wager　she　would　have　singed　your　beard　over　those　banners　if　I　hadn't　saved　you。　Oh；　yes。　Spirit！〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　grunted。　Just　what　he　needed；　another　woman　to　singe　his　beard。　〃I　promised　Master　Gill　to　look　after　them；　Faile；　but。。。　Can　you　guess　what　that　Lini　asked？　She　wanted　me　to　marry　Maighdin　to　that　fellow　Tallanvor。　Just　stand　them　up　and　marry　them　whatever　they　said！　She　claimed　they　want　it。〃　He　filled　a　silver　cup　with　tea　and　dropped　into　the　chair　Maighdin　had　vacated；　ignoring　its　alarming　groans　under　his　sudden　weight。　〃In　any　case；　that　nonsense　is　the　least　of　my　worries。　Master　Gill　says　it　was　the　Seanchan　took　Amador；　and　I　believe　him。　Light！　The　Seanchan！〃
　　　　　　　Faile　tapped　her　fingertips　together；　staring　across　them　at　nothing。　〃That　might　be　just　the　thing；〃　she　mused。　〃Most　servants　do　better　married　than　not。　Perhaps　I　should　arrange　it。　And　for　Breane；　too。　The　way　she　went　running　out　of　here　to　check　on　that　big　fellow　as　soon　as　her　face　was　clean；　I　suspect　they　should　be　already。　There　was　a　gleam　in　her　eye。　I　won't　have　that　kind　of　behavior　in　my　servants；　Perrin。　It　just　leads　to　tears　and　recriminations　and　sulking。　And　Breane　will　be　worse　than　he　is。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　stared　at　her。　〃Did　you　hear　me？〃　he　said　slowly。　〃The　Seanchan　have　captured　Amador！　The　Seanchan；　Faile！〃
　　　　　　　She　gave　a　start　…　she　really　had　been　thinking　about　marrying　off　those　women！　…　then　smiled　at　him；　amused。　〃Amador　is　long　way；　yet；　and　if　we　do　meet　with　these　Seanchan；　I'm　sure　you　will　deal　with　them。　After　all；　you　taught　me　to　perch　on　your　wrist；　didn't　you？〃　That　was　what　she　claimed；　though　he　had　never　seen　any　sign　of　it。
　　　　　　　〃They　might　be　a　touch　more　difficult　than　you　were；〃　he　said　dryly；　and　she　smiled　again。　She　smelled　extremely　pleased；　for　some　reason。　〃I'm　thinking　about　sending　Grady　or　Neald　to　warn　Rand；　no　matter　what　he　said。〃　She　shook　her　head　fiercely；　smiles　evaporating；　but　he　pushed　on。　〃If　I　knew　how　to　find　him；　I　would。　There　has　to　be　some　way　to　get　word　to　him　without　anyone　learning　of　it。〃　Rand　had　insisted　on　that　more　than　he　had　on　secrecy　about　Masema。　Perrin　had　been　exiled　from　Rand's　presence；　and　no　one　was　to　know　anything　remained　between　them　except　enmity。
　　　　　　　〃He　knows；　Perrin。　I'm　sure　of　it。　Maighdin　saw　pigeoncotes　everywhere　in　Amador；　and　apparently　the　Seanchan　didn't　look　at　them　twice。　By　this　time；　any　merchant　who　has　business　with　Amador　has　heard；　and　so　has　the　White　Tower。　Believe　me；　Rand　must　have；　too。　You　have　to　trust　that　he　knows　best。　In　this；　he　does。〃　She　was　not　always　so　certain　of　that。
　　　　　　　〃Maybe；〃　Perrin　muttered　irritably。　He　tried　not　to　worry　about　Rand's　sanity；　but　Rand　made　Perrin　at　his　most　suspicious　look　like　a　child　skipping　in　a　meadow。　How　much　did　Rand　trust　even　him？　Rand　kept　things　back；　had　plans　he　never　let　on。
　　　　　　　Exhaling；　Perrin　settled　back　in　the　chair；　gulped　a　swallow　of　tea。　The　truth　of　it　was；　mad　or　sane；　Rand　was　right。　If　the　Forsaken　caught　a　suspicion　of　what　he　was　up　to；　or　the　White　Tower　did；　they　would　find　some　way　to　overturn　the　anvil　on　his　feet。　〃At　least　I　can　give　the　Tower's　eyes…and…ears　less　to　talk　abou