rj.thepathofdaggers-第45部分

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　　　　　　　〃If　you　take　care　what　you　say；〃　Edarra　told　her。　Sipping　her　wine；　the　Wise　One　watched　over　the　rim　of　her　cup。　A　teacher　watching　a　pupil？　A　hawk　watching　a　mouse？　Perrin　could　not　be　sure。　Except　that　Edarra　was　very　sure　of　her　place；　whatever　the　pairing。　So　was　Seonid。　But　that　did　not　carry　over　to　him。
　　　　　　　She　twisted　around　to　face　him　on　her　knees；　back　going　straight；　eyes　heated。　Anger　raged　in　the　smell　of　her。　〃Whatever　you　know；〃　she　said　angrily；　〃whatever　you　think　you　know；　you　will　forget！〃　No；　there　was　not　a　shred　of　serenity　left　in　her。　〃Whatever　is　between　the　Wise　Ones　and　us　is　for　us　alone！　You　will　stand　aside；　avert　your　eyes；　and　keep　your　mouth　closed！〃
　　　　　　　Amazed；　Perrin　raked　his　fingers　through　his　hair。　〃Light；　you're　upset　because　I　know　you　got　a　switching？〃　he　said　incredulously。　Well；　he　would　have　been；　too；　but　not　alongside　the　rest。　〃Don't　you　know　these　women　would　as　soon　cut　your　throat　as　look　at　you？　Slit　your　throat　and　leave　you　by　the　side　of　the　road！　Well；　I　promised　myself　I　wouldn't　let　that　happen！　I　don't　like　you；　but　I　promised　to　protect　you　from　the　Wise　Ones；　or　the　Asha'man；　or　Rand　himself；　so　e　down　off　that　high　horse！〃　Realizing　that　he　was　shouting；　he　drew　a　deep；　embarrassed　breath　and　settled　back　on　his　cushion；　snatched　up　his　winecup　and　took　a　long　drink。
　　　　　　　Seonid　went　stiffer　by　the　word　with　indignation；　and　her　lip　curled　well　before　he　finished。　〃You　promised？〃　she　sneered。　〃You　think　Aes　Sedai　need　your　protection？　You　…？〃
　　　　　　　〃Enough；〃　Edarra　said　quietly；　and　Seonid's　jaw　snapped　shut；　though　her　hands　made　white…knuckled　fists　clutching　her　skirts。
　　　　　　　〃What　makes　you　think　we　would　kill　her；　Perrin　Aybara？〃　Janina　asked　curiously。　Aiel　seldom　showed　much　on　their　faces；　but　the　others　frowned　at　him　or　looked　with　open　incredulity。
　　　　　　　〃I　know　how　you　feel；〃　he　replied　slowly。　〃I've　known　since　I　saw　you　with　the　sisters　after　Dumai's　Wells。〃　He　was　not　about　to　explain　that　he　had　smelled　their　hatred；　their　contempt；　every　time　a　Wise　One　looked　at　an　Aes　Sedai　back　then。　He　did　not　smell　it　now；　but　no　one　could　maintain　that　level　of　fury　for　long　without　bursting。　That　did　not　mean　it　was　gone；　only　that　it　had　sunk　deep；　maybe　into　the　bone。
　　　　　　　Delora　snorted；　a　sound　like　linen　ripping。　〃First　you　say　they　must　be　coddled　because　you　need　them；　and　now　because　they　are　Aes　Sedai　and　you　have　promised　to　protect　them。　Which　is　truth；　Perrin　Aybara？〃
　　　　　　　〃Both。〃　Perrin　met　Delora's　hard　gaze　for　a　long　moment；　then　eyed　each　of　the　others　in　turn。　〃Both　are　true；　and　I　mean　both。〃
　　　　　　　The　Wise　Ones　exchanged　glances；　the　sort　where　every　flicker　of　an　eyelid　held　a　hundred　words　and　no　man　could　make　out　a　one。　Finally；　in　a　shifting　of　necklaces　and　readjusting　of　tied　shawls；　they　appeared　to　reach　agreement。
　　　　　　　〃We　do　not　kill　apprentices；　Perrin　Aybara；〃　Nevarin　said。　She　sounded　shocked　at　the　idea。　〃When　Rand　al'Thor　asked　us　to　apprentice　them；　perhaps　he　thought　it　was　just　to　make　them　obey　us；　but　we　do　not　speak　empty　words。　They　are　apprentices；　now。〃
　　　　　　　〃They　will　remain　so　until　five　Wise　Ones　agree　they　are　ready　to　be　more；〃　Marline　added；　sweeping　her　long　hair　over　her　shoulder。　〃And　they　are　treated　no　differently　than　any　others。〃
　　　　　　　Edarra　nodded　over　her　winecup。　〃Tell　him　the　advice　you　would　give　him　concerning　Masema　Dagar；　Seonid　Traighan；〃　she　said。
　　　　　　　The　kneeling　woman　had　practically　writhed　during　Nevarin　and　Marline's　short　speeches；　gripping　her　skirt　until　Perrin　thought　the　silk　might　rip；　but　she　wasted　no　time　plying　with　Edarra's　instructions。　〃The　Wise　Ones　are　right；　whatever　their　reasons。　I　do　not　say　this　because　they　wish　it。〃　She　drew　herself　up　again；　smoothing　her　features　with　a　visible　effort。　A　touch　of　heat　still　flared　in　her　voice；　though。　〃I　saw　the　work　of　so…called　Dragonsworn　before　I　ever　met　Rand　al'Thor。　Death　and　destruction；　to　no　purpose。　Even　a　faithful　dog　must　be　put　down　if　it　begins　to　foam　at　the　mouth。〃
　　　　　　　〃Blood　and　ashes！〃　Perrin　grumbled。　〃How　can　I　even　let　you　in　sight　of　the　man　after　that？　You　swore　fealty　to　Rand；　you　know　that　isn't　what　he　wants！　What　about　that　'thousands　will　die　if　you　fail'？〃　Light；　if　Masuri　felt　the　same；　then　he　had　to　put　up　with　Aes　Sedai　and　Wise　Ones　for　nothing！　No；　worse。　He　would　have　to　guard　Masema　from　them！
　　　　　　　〃Masuri　knows　Masema　for　rabid　as　well　as　I；〃　Seonid　replied　when　he　put　the　question　to　her。　All　of　her　serenity　had　returned。　She　regarded　him　with　a　cool；　unreadable　face。　Her　scent　was　sharply　alert。　Intent。　As　if　he　needed　his　nose；　with　her　eyes　fixed　on　his；　big　and　dark　and　bottomless。　〃I　swore　to　serve　the　Dragon　Reborn；　and　the　best　service　I　can　give　him　now　is　to　keep　this　animal　from　him。　Bad　enough　that　rulers　know　Masema　supports　him；　worse　if　they　see　him　embrace　the　man。　And　thousands　will　die　if　you　fail　…　to　get　close　enough　to　Masema　to　kill　him。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　thought　his　head　would　spin。　Again　an　Aes　Sedai　whirled　words　about　like　a　top；　made　it　seem　she　had　said　black　when　she　meant　white。　Then　the　Wise　Ones　added　their　bit。
　　　　　　　〃Masuri　Sokawa；〃　Nevarin　said　calmly；　〃believes　the　rabid　dog　can　be　leashed　and　bound　so　he　may　be　used　safely。〃　For　an　instant；　Seonid　looked　as　surprised　as　Perrin　felt；　but　she　recovered　quickly。　Outside；　she　did；　her　scent　was　suddenly　wary；　as　if　she　sensed　a　trap　where　she　had　not　expected　one。
　　　　　　　〃She　also　wishes　to　fit　you　for　a　halter；　Perrin　Aybara；〃　Carelle　added；　even　more　casually。　〃She　thinks　you　must　be　bound　also；　to　make　you　safe。〃　Nothing　on　her　freckled　face　told　whether　she　agreed。
　　　　　　　Edarra　raised　a　hand　toward　Seonid。　〃You　may　go；　now。　You　will　not　listen　further；　but　you　may　ask　Gharadin　again　to　let　you　Heal　the　wound　on　his　face。　Remember；　if　he　still　refuses；　you　must　accept　it。　He　is　gai'shain；　not　one　of　your　wetlander　servants。〃　She　invested　that　last　word　with　depths　of　scorn。
　　　　　　　Seonid　stared　icy　augers　at　Perrin。　She　looked　at　the　Wise　Ones；　her　lips　trembling　on　the　brink　of　speech。　In　the　end；　though；　all　she　could　do　was　go　with　as　good　a　grace　as　she　could　muster。　Outwardly；　that　was　considerable；　an　Aes　Sedai　being　Aes　Sedai　fit　to　shame　a　queen。　But　the　scent　she　trailed　behind　her　was　frustration　sharp　enough　to　cut。
　　　　　　　As　soon　as　she　was　gone；　the　six　Wise　Ones　focused　on　Perrin　again。
　　　　　　　〃Now；〃　Edarra　said；　〃you　can　explain　to　us　why　you　would　put　a　rabid　animal　next　to　the　Car'a'carn。〃
　　　　　　　〃Only　a　fool　obeys　another's　mand　to　push　him　over　a　cliff；〃　Nevarin　said。
　　　　　　　〃You　will　not　listen　to　us；〃　Janina　said；　〃so　we　will　listen　to　you。　Speak；　Perrin　Aybara。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　considered　making　a　break　for　the　doorflaps。　But　if　he　did；　he　would　leave　behind　one　Aes　Sedai　who　might　possibly　be　of　some　doubtful　help；　and　another；　along　with　six　Wise　Ones；　who　were　all　set　to　ruin　everything　he　had　e　to　do。　He　put　his　winecup　down　again；　and　settled　his　hands　on　his　knees。　He　needed　a　clear　head　if　he　was　to　show　these　women　he　was　no　tethered　goat。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　
Chapter　10　
（Wolf）　
Changes　
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　When　Perrin　left　the　Wise　Ones'　tent；　he　considered　removing　his　coat　to　see　whether　his　hide　was　still　attached　and　whole。　Not　a　tethered　goat；　maybe；　but　a　stag　with　six　she…wolves　on　his　heels；　and　he　was　unsure　what　fast　feet　had　gained　him。　For　certain；　none　of　the　Wise　Ones　had　changed　her　mind；　and　their　promises　not　to　take　any　action　on　their　own　had　been　vague　at　best。　About　the　Aes　Sedai；　there　had　been　no　promises；　even　foggy　ones。
　　　　　　　He　looked　for　either　of　the　sisters；　and　found　Masuri。　A　narrow　rope　had　been　tied　between　two　trees　and　a　fringed　red…and…green　rug　draped　over　it。　The　slender　Brown　was　flailing　away　with　a　bent…wood　beater；　raising　thin　clouds　of　dust；　motes　that　floated　glittering　in　the　midmorning　sun。　Her　Warder；　a　pact　man　with　dark　receding　hair；　sat　on　a　fallen　tree　trunk　nearby；　watching　her　glumly。　Rovair　Kirklin　normally　had　a　ready　grin；　but　it　was　buried　deep　today。　Masuri　caught　sight　of　Perrin；　and　with　barely　a　pause　in　her　rug…beating　shot　him　a　look　of　such　frozen　malevolence　that　he　sighed。　And　she　was　the　one　who　thought　as　he　did。　As　close　to　it　as　he　was　likely　to　find；　anyway。　A　red…tailed　hawk　passed　overhead；　riding　rising　currents　of　hot　air　from　hill　to　hill　without　flapping　its　outstretched　wings。　It　would　be　very　nice　to　soar　away　from　all　this。　The　iron　in　front　of　him；　not　dreams　of　silver。
　　　　　　　Nodding　to　Sulin　and　the　Maidens；　who　might　have　taken　root　under　that　leatherleaf；　Perrin　turned　to　go；　and　stopped。　Two　men　were　climbing　the　hill；　one　an　Aiel　in　the　grays　and　browns　and　greens　of　the　cadin'sor；　his　cased　bow　on　his　back；　a　bristling　quiver　at　his　belt；　and　his　spears　and　round　hide　buckler　in　hand。　Gaul　was　a　friend；　and　the　only　man　among　the　Aiel　who　did　not　wear　white。　His　panion；　a　head　shorter　in　a　broad…brimmed　hat　and　coat　and　breeches　of　a　plain　dull　green；　was　no　Aiel。　He　had　a　full　quiver　at　his　belt；　too；　and　a　knife　even　longer　and　heavier　than　the　Aielman's；　but　he　carried　his　bow；　much　shorter　than　a　Two　Rivers　longbow　though　longer　than　the　horn　bows　of　the　Aiel。　Despite　his　clothes；　he　did　not　have　the　look　of　a　farmer；　or　a　city　man　either。　Perhaps　it　was　the　graying　hair　tied　at　the　nape　of　his　neck　and　hanging　to　his　waist；　the　beard　fanning　across　his　chest；　or　perhaps　just　the　way　he　moved；　much　like　the　man　at　his　side；　slipping　around　the　brush　on　the　hill　so　that　you　were　sure　no　twig　snapped　in　his　passing；　no　weeds　broke　under　his　foot。　Perrin　had　not　seen　him　in　what　seemed　a　very　long　time。
　　　　　　　Reaching　the　hilltop；　Elyas　Machera　regarded　Perrin；　golden　eyes　shining　faintly　in　the　shadow　of　his　hat　brim。　His　eyes　had　been　that　way　years　before　Perrin's；　Elyas　had　introduced　Perrin　to　the　wolves。　He　had　been　dressed　in　hides；　then。　〃Good　to　see　you　again；　boy；〃　he　said　quietly。　Sweat　glistened　on　his　face；　but　little　more　than　on　Gaul's。　〃You　give　away　that　axe；　finally？　I　didn't　think　you'd　ever　stop　hating　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　still　do；〃　Perrin　said　just　as　quietly。　A　long　time　ago　the　onetime　Warder　had　told　him　to　keep　the　ax