rj.thepathofdaggers-第136节

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　　　　　　　〃Would　my　Lady　like　me　to　ask　one　of　the　handlers　to　bring　her　a　hawk？〃　Maighdin　asked。　One　of　Alliandre's　four　hawk　handlers；　all　men　as　lean　as　their　birds；　urged　a　sleek　duckhawk　wearing　a　feathered　hood　onto　his　heavy　gauntlet　from　the　wooden　stand　in　front　of　his　saddle　and　lifted　the　gray　bird　toward　her。　The　falcon；　with　its　blue…tipped　wings；　was　on　Alliandre's　green…gloved　wrist。　That　bird　was　reserved　to　her；　unfortunately。　Alliandre　knew　her　place　as　a　vassal；　but　Faile　understood　not　wanting　to　relinquish　a　favorite　bird。
　　　　　　　She　merely　shook　her　head；　and　Maighdin　bowed　in　her　saddle　and　moved　her　roan　mare　away　from　Swallow；　far　enough　not　to　intrude　but　close　enough　to　be　at　hand　without　Faile　raising　her　voice。　The　dignified　golden…haired　woman　had　proved　to　be　every　bit　as　good　a　lady's　maid　as　Faile　had　hoped；　knowledgeable；　capable。　At　least；　she　had　once　she　learned　that　whatever　their　relative　positions　with　their　former　mistress；　Lini　was　first　among　Faile's　serving　women；　and　willing　to　use　her　authority。　Surprisingly；　that　had　actually　taken　an　episode　with　a　switch；　but　Faile　pretended　not　to　know。　Only　an　utter　fool　embarrassed　her　servants。　There　was　still　the　matter　of　Maighdin　and　Tallanvor；　of　course。　She　was　certain　Maighdin　had　begun　sharing　his　bed；　and　if　she　found　proof；　they　would　marry　if　she　had　to　turn　Lini　loose　on　both　of　them。　Still；　that　was　a　small　matter；　and　could　not　spoil　her　morning。
　　　　　　　Hawking　had　been　Alliandre's　idea；　but　Faile　had　not　objected　to　a　ride　through　this　sparse　forest；　where　snow　made　a　rolling　blanket　over　everything　and　lay　thick　and　white　on　bare　branches。　The　green　of　the　trees　that　still　held　their　leaves　seemed　sharper。　The　air　was　crisp；　and　it　smelled　new　and　fresh。
　　　　　　　Bain　and　Chiad　had　insisted　on　acpanying　her；　but　they　squatted　nearby；　shoufa　wrapped　around　their　heads；　watching　her　with　disgruntled　expressions。　Sulin　had　wanted　to　e　with　all　of　the　Maidens；　but　with　a　hundred　stories　of　Aiel　depredations　floating　everywhere；　the　sight　of　an　Aiel　was　enough　to　send　most　people　in　Amadicia　running　or　reaching　for　a　sword。　There　must　be　some　truth　in　those　tales；　or　so　many　would　not　know　an　Aiel；　though　the　Light　alone　knew　who　they　were　or　where　they　had　e　from；　yet　even　Sulin　agreed　that　whoever　they　were；　they　had　moved　on　east；　perhaps　into　Altara。
　　　　　　　In　any　case；　this　close　to　Abila；　twenty　of　Alliandre's　soldiers　and　as　many　Mayener　Winged　Guards　provided　sufficient　escort。　The　streamers　on　their　lances；　red　or　green；　lifted　like　ribbons　when　the　breeze　stirred。　Berelain's　presence　was　the　only　blight。　Though　watching　the　woman　shiver　in　her　fur…trimmed　red　cloak；　thick　enough　for　two　blankets；　was　certainly　amusing。　Mayene　did　not　have　a　real　winter。　This　was　like　the　last　days　of　autumn。　In　Saldaea；　the　heart　of　winter　could　freeze　exposed　flesh　hard　as　wood。　Faile　took　a　deep　breath。　She　felt　like　laughing。
　　　　　　　By　some　miracle；　her　husband；　her　beloved　wolf；　had　begun　behaving　as　he　should。　Instead　of　shouting　at　Berelain　or　running　from　her；　Perrin　now　tolerated　the　jade's　blandishments；　plainly　tolerated　them　the　way　he　would　a　child　playing　around　his　knees。　And　best　of　all；　there　was　no　longer　any　need　to　tamp　down　her　anger　when　she　wanted　to　let　it　loose。　When　she　shouted；　he　shouted　back。　She　knew　he　was　not　Saldaean；　but　it　had　been　so　hard；　thinking　in　her　heart　of　hearts　that　he　believed　her　too　weak　to　stand　up　to　him。　A　few　nights　ago　at　supper；　she　had　almost　pointed　out　to　him　that　Berelain　was　going　to　fall　out　of　her　dress　if　she　leaned　over　the　table　any　further。　Well；　she　was　not　going　to　that　far；　not　with　Berelain；　the　trull　still　thought　she　could　win　him。　And　that　very　morning；　he　had　been　manding；　quietly　brooking　no　argument；　the　sort　of　man　a　woman　knew　she　had　to　be　strong　to　deserve；　to　equal。　Of　course；　she　would　have　to　nip　him　over　that。　A　manding　man　was　wonderful；　so　long　as　he　did　not　e　to　believe　he　could　always　mand。　Laugh？　She　could　have　sung！
　　　　　　　〃Maighdin；　I　think　after　all　I　will。。。　〃　Maighdin　was　there　immediately　with　an　inquiring　smile；　but　Faile　trailed　off　at　the　sight　of　three　riders　ahead　of　her；　plowing　through　the　snow　as　fast　as　they　could　push　their　horses。
　　　　　　　〃At　least　there　are　plenty　of　hares；　my　Lady；〃　Alliandre　said；　walking　her　tall　white　gelding　up　beside　Swallow；　〃but　I　had　hoped。。。　Who　are　they？〃　Her　falcon　shifted　on　her　thick　glove；　the　bells　on　its　jesses　jingling。　〃Why；　it　looks　like　some　of　your　people；　my　Lady。〃
　　　　　　　Faile　nodded　grimly。　She　recognized　them；　too。　Parelean；　Arrela　and　Lacile。　But　what　were　they　doing　here？
　　　　　　　The　three　drew　rein　before　her；　their　horses　panting　steam。　Parelean　looked　as　wide…eyed　as　his　dapple。　Lacile；　her　pale　face　nearly　hidden　in　the　deep　cowl　of　her　cloak；　was　swallowing　anxiously；　and　Arrela's　dark　face　seemed　gray。　〃My　Lady；〃　Parelean　said　urgently；　〃dire　news！　The　Prophet　Masema　has　been　meeting　with　the　Seanchan！〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Seanchan！〃　Alliandre　exclaimed。　〃Surely　he　cannot　believe　they　will　e　to　the　Lord　Dragon！〃
　　　　　　　〃It　might　be　simpler；〃　Berelain　said；　heeling　her　too…showy　white　mare　up　on　Alliandre's　other　side。　Without　Perrin　about　for　her　to　try　to　impress；　her　dark　blue　riding　dress　was　cut　quite　modestly；　with　a　neck　up　under　her　chin。　She　still　shivered。　〃Masema　dislikes　Aes　Sedai；　and　the　Seanchan　keep　women　who　can　channel　as　prisoners。〃
　　　　　　　Faile　clicked　her　tongue　in　vexation。　Dire　news　indeed；　if　true。　And　she　could　only　hope　Parelean　and　the　others　retained　enough　of　their　wits　to　at　least　pretend　they　had　simply　overheard　talk　by　chance。　Even　so；　she　had　to　be　sure；　and　quickly。　Perrin　might　already　have　reached　Masema。　〃What　proof　do　you　have；　Parelean？〃
　　　　　　　〃We　talked　to　three　farmers　who　saw　a　large　flying　creature　land　four　nights　ago；　my　Lady。　It　brought　a　woman　who　was　taken　to　Masema　and　remained　with　him　for　three　hours。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　were　able　to　trace　her　all　the　way　to　where　Masema　stays　in　Abila；〃　Lacile　added。
　　　　　　　〃The　three　men　all　thought　the　creature　was　Shadowspawn；〃　Arrela　put　in；　〃but　they　seemed　fairly　reliable。〃　For　her　to　say　any　man　not　of　Cha　Faile　was　fairly　reliable　was　the　same　as　anyone　else　saying　they　thought　he　was　honest　as　a　bell。
　　　　　　　〃I　think　I　must　ride　into　Abila；〃　Faile　said；　gathering　Swallow's　reins。　〃Alliandre；　take　Maighdin　and　Berelain　with　you。〃　Any　other　time；　the　tightening　of　Berelain's　lips　over　that　would　have　been　amusing。　〃Parelean；　Arrela　and　Lacile　will　acpany　me　…　〃　A　man　screamed；　and　everyone　jerked。
　　　　　　　Fifty　paces　away；　one　of　Alliandre's　green…coated　soldiers　was　toppling　from　his　saddle；　and　a　moment　later；　a　Winged　Guard　fell　with　an　arrow　standing　out　from　his　throat。　Aiel　appeared　among　the　trees；　veiled　and　wielding　bows　as　they　ran。　More　soldiers　fell。　Bain　and　Chiad　were　on　their　feet；　dark　veils　hiding　their　faces　to　the　eyes；　their　spears　were　thrust　through　the　straps　of　the　bow　cases　on　their　back；　and　they　worked　their　bows　smoothly；　but　they　cast　glances　toward　Faile；　too。　There　were　Aiel　all　around；　hundreds　it　seemed；　a　great　noose　closing　in。　Mounted　soldiers　lowered　lances；　pulling　back　in　their　own　circle　around　Faile　and　the　others；　but　gaps　appeared　immediately　as　Aiel　arrows　struck　home。
　　　　　　　〃Someone　must　get　this　news　of　Masema　to　Lord　Perrin；〃　Faile　told　Parelean　and　the　two　women。　〃One　of　you　must　reach　him！　Ride　like　fire！〃　Her　sweeping　gaze　took　in　Alliandre　and　Maighdin。　And　Berelain；　too。　〃All　of　you；　ride　like　fire；　or　die　here！〃　Barely　waiting　for　their　nods；　she　suited　actions　to　words；　and　dug　her　heels　into　Swallow's　flanks；　bursting　through　the　useless　ring　of　soldiers。　〃Ride！〃　she　shouted。　Someone　had　to　get　the　news　to　Perrin。　〃Ride！〃
　　　　　　　Leaning　low　on　Swallow's　neck；　she　urged　the　black　mare　for　speed。　Fleet　hooves　splashed　snow　as　Swallow　ran；　light　as　her　namesake。　For　a　hundred　strides；　Faile　thought　she　might　break　free。　And　then　Swallow　screamed　and　stumbled；　pitching　forward　with　the　sharp　snap　of　a　breaking　leg。　Faile　flew　through　air　and　struck　hard；　most　of　the　breath　driven　out　of　her　as　she　plunged　facedown　into　the　snow。　Fighting　for　air；　she　struggled　to　her　feet　and　snatched　a　knife　from　her　belt。　Swallow　had　screamed　before　she　stumbled；　before　that　awful　crack。
　　　　　　　A　veiled　Aielman　loomed　up　before　her　as　if　out　of　the　air；　chopping　at　her　wrist　with　a　stiffened　hand。　Her　knife　dropped　from　suddenly　numb　fingers；　and　before　she　could　try　to　draw　another　with　her　left　hand；　the　man　was　on　her。
　　　　　　　She　fought；　kicking；　punching；　even　biting；　but　the　fellow　was　as　wide　as　Perrin　and　a　head　taller。　He　seemed　as　hard　as　Perrin；　too；　for　all　the　impression　she　made　on　him。　She　could　have　wept　with　frustration　at　the　humiliating　ease　with　which　he　handled　her；　first　rooting　out　all　of　her　knives　and　tucking　them　behind　his　belt；　then　using　one　of　her　own　blades　to　cut　her　clothes　away。　Almost　before　she　knew　it；　she　was　naked　in　the　snow；　her　elbows　bound　together　behind　her　back　with　one　of　her　stockings；　the　other　tied　about　her　neck　for　a　leash。
　　　　　　　She　had　no　choice　except　to　follow　him；　shivering　and　stumbling　through　the　snow。