rj.acrownofswords-第116节

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ndor　in　Valda's　hands。　Consider　it　my　way　of　repaying　him。　I　know　I　am　not　much　to　look　at；　Majesty。。。　〃　He　hid　a　self…deprecating　cough　behind　his　hand。　〃。。。　but　the　plan　will　work。　These　Seanchan　actually　make　it　easier；　I　would　not　have　been　ready　for　days　yet　without　them。　For　a　newly　conquered　city；　they　allow　remarkable　freedom　to　anyone　willing　to　say　their　Oath。　Not　an　hour　after　sunrise；　I　obtained　a　pass　allowing　myself　and　up　to　ten　more　who　have　taken　the　Oath　to　depart　Amador。　They　believe　I　intend　to　buy　wine；　and　wagons　to　carry　it；　in　the　east。〃
　　　〃It　must　be　a　trap。〃　The　words　tasted　bitter。　Better　the　window　than　falling　into　some　snare。　〃They　won't　allow　you　to　carry　word　of　them　ahead　of　their　army。〃
　　　Balwer's　head　tilted　to　one　side；　and　he　began　dry…washing　his　hands；　then　stopped　abruptly。　〃In　truth；　Majesty；　I　considered　that。　The　officer　who　gave　me　the　pass　said　it　did　not　matter。　His　exact　words：　'Tell　who　you　will　what　you　have　seen；　and　let　them　know　they　cannot　stand　against　us。　Your　lands　will　know　soon　enough　anyway。'　I　have　seen　several　merchants　take　the　Oath　this　morning　and　depart　with　their　wagons。〃
　　　Tallanvor　moved　close　to　her。　Too　close。　She　could　almost　feel　his　breath。　She　could　feel　his　eyes。　〃We　are　accepting　his　offer；〃　he　said　for　her　ears　alone。　〃If　I　must　bind　and　gag　you；　I　think　he　can　find　a　way　even　so。　He　seems　a　very　resourceful　little　fellow。〃
　　　She　met　him　stare　for　stare。　The　window　or。。。　a　chance。　If　Tallanvor　had　only　held　his　tongue　it　would　have　been　much　easier　to　say；　〃I　accept　with　gratitude；　Master　Balwer；〃　but　she　said　it。　She　stepped　away　as　if　to　see　Balwer　without　having　to　crane　past　Tallanvor。　It　was　always　disturbing　being　so　near　to　him。　He　was　too　young。　〃What　is　to　do　first？　I　doubt　those　guards　at　the　door　will　accept　your　pass　for　us。〃
　　　Balwer　bowed　his　head　as　if　acknowledging　her　foresight。　〃I　fear　they　must　meet　with　accidents；　Majesty。〃　Tallanvor　eased　his　dagger　in　its　scabbard；　and　Lamgwin　flexed　his　hands　like　the　lopar　flexing　its　claws。
　　　She　did　not　believe　it　could　be　so　easy；　even　after　they　had　packed　up　what　they　could　carry　and　the　two　Taraboners　had　been　stuffed　beneath　her　bed。　At　the　main　gates；　holding　her　linen　dust…cloak　close　awkwardly　because　of　the　bundle　on　her　back；　she　bowed；　hands　on　her　knees　the　way　Balwer　had　shown　her；　while　he　told　the　guards　that　they　had　all　sworn　to　obey；　await　and　serve。　She　thought　of　how　to　make　sure　she　was　not　taken　alive。　It　was　not　until　they　were　actually　riding　out　of　Amador；　past　the　last　guards；　on　the　horses　Balwer　had　had　waiting；　that　she　began　to　believe。　Of　course；　Balwer　probably　expected　some　fine　reward　for　rescuing　the　Queen　of　Andor。　She　had　not　told　anyone　that　that　was　done　with　beyond　going　back；　she　knew　she　had　spoken　the　words；　and　no　one　else　needed　to　know。　Regretting　them　was　useless。　Now　she　would　see　what　sort　of　life　she　could　find　without　a　throne。　A　life　far　from　a　man　who　was　much　too　young　and　much　too　disturbing。
　　　〃Why　is　your　smile　so　sad？〃　Lini　asked；　reining　her　slab…sided　brown　mare　closer。　The　animal　looked　moth…eaten。　Morgase's　bay　was　no　better；　none　of　the　horses　were。　The　Seanchan　might　have　been　willing　to　let　Balwer　go　with　his　pass；　but　not　with　decent　mounts。
　　　〃There　is　a　long　road　ahead；　yet；〃　Morgase　told　her；　and　thumped　her　mare　into　some　semblance　of　a　trot　after　Tallanvor。
　　　
　　　
Chapter　27　
（Wolf）　
To　Be　Alone　
　　　
　　　Slipping　the　haft　of　his　axe　through　the　loop　on　his　belt　opposite　his　quiver；　Perrin　took　his　unstrung　longbow　from　the　corner；　slung　his　saddlebags　over　his　shoulder　and　left　the　rooms　he　had　shared　with　Faile　without　a　backward　look。　They　had　been　happy　there　…　most　of　the　time。　He　did　not　think　he　would　ever　be　back。　Sometimes　he　wondered　whether　being　happy　somewhere　with　Faile　meant　he　would　never　return　there。　He　hoped　not。
　　　The　servants　he　saw　in　the　palace　corridors　wore　unrelieved　black　livery；　perhaps　Rand　had　ordered　it；　and　perhaps　the　servants　themselves　had　simply　adopted　it。　They　had　been　uneasy　without　livery；　as　though　they　did　not　know　where　they　belonged；　and　black　seemed　safe　as　Rand's　color　because　of　the　Asha'man。　Those　who　saw　Perrin　scampered　away　as　fast　as　they　could；　not　waiting　for　any　bows　or　curtsies。　Fear　scent　drifted　behind　them。
　　　For　once　his　yellow　eyes　had　nothing　to　do　with　anyone　being　afraid。　It　might　not　be　safe　to　loiter　near　a　man　at　whom　the　Dragon　Reborn　had　unleashed　his　rage　so　publicly　this　very　morning。　Perrin　eased　the　shoulder　under　his　saddlebags。　A　long　while　had　passed　since　anyone　had　been　able　to　pick　him　up　and　throw　him。　Of　course；　no　one　had　ever　used　the　Power　to　try；　before。　One　moment　in　particular　stuck　with　him。
　　　He　pushed　himself　up　holding　his　shoulder；　sliding　his　back　up　the　square　column　that　had　stopped　his　flight。　He　thought　a　few　ribs　might　have　cracked。　Around　the　Grand　Hall　of　the　Sun；　a　scattering　of　nobles　who　had　e　to　appeal　one　thing　or　another　to　Rand　tried　to　look　anywhere　else；　tried　to　pretend　they　were　anywhere　else。　Only　Dobraine　watched；　shaking　his　gray　head；　as　Rand　stalked　across　the　throne　room。
　　　〃I　will　deal　with　the　Aes　Sedai　as　I　choose！〃　Rand　shouted。　〃Do　you　hear　me；　Perrin？　As　I　choose！〃
　　　〃You've　just　handed　them　over　to　the　Wise　Ones；〃　he　growled　back；　shoving　away　from　the　column。　〃You　don't　know　whether　they're　sleeping　on　silk　or　had　their　throats　cut！　You　are　not　the　Creator！〃
　　　With　a　snarl　of　rage；　Rand　threw　his　head　back。　〃I　am　the　Dragon　Reborn！〃　he　cried。　〃I　don't　care　how　they're　treated！　They　deserve　a　dungeon！〃　Perrin's　hackles　stirred　as　Rand's　eyes　lowered　from　the　vaulted　ceiling。　Blue　ice　would　have　been　warm　and　soft　beside　them；　the　more　so　because　they　stared　from　a　face　twisted　with　pain。　〃Get　out　of　my　sight；　Perrin；　Do　you　hear　me？　Get　out　of　Cairhien！　Today！　Now！　I　never　want　to　see　you　again！〃　Pivoting　on　his　heel；　he　strode　away　with　nobles　all　but　throwing　themselves　to　the　floor　as　he　passed。
　　　Perrin　thumbed　a　trickle　of　blood　from　the　corner　of　his　mouth。　For　one　moment　there；　he　had　been　sure　Rand　was　going　to　kill　him。
　　　Shaking　his　head　to　rid　himself　of　the　thought；　he　rounded　a　corner　and　nearly　ran　into　Loial。　With　a　large　bundle　strapped　to　his　back　and　a　scrip　big　enough　to　hold　a　sheep　slung　on　his　shoulder；　the　Ogier　was　using　his　long…handled　axe　as　a　walking　staff。　The　capacious　pockets　of　his　coat　bulged　with　the　shapes　of　books。
　　　Loial's　tufted　ears　perked　up　at　the　sight　of　him；　then　suddenly　drooped。　His　whole　face　drooped；　eyebrows　hanging　on　his　cheeks。　〃I　heard；　Perrin；〃　he　boomed　sadly。　〃Rand　should　not　have　done　that。　Quick　words　make　long　troubles。　I　know　he'll　reconsider。　Tomorrow；　maybe。〃
　　　〃It's　all　right；〃　Perrin　told　him。　〃Cairhien　is　too。。。　polished。。。　for　me；　anyway。　I'm　a　blacksmith；　not　a　courtier。　By　tomorrow；　I'll　be　a　long　way　gone。〃
　　　〃You　and　Faile　could　e　with　me。　Karldin　and　I　are　going　to　visit　the　stedding；　Perrin。　All　of　them；　about　the　Waygates。〃　A　narrow…faced；　pale…haired　young　fellow　standing　behind　Loial　stopped　frowning　at　Perrin　to　frown　at　the　Ogier。　He　had　a　scrip　and　a　bundle；　too；　and　a　sword　on　his　hip。　Despite　the　blue　coat；　Perrin　recognized　one　of　the　Asha'man。　Karldin　did　not　look　pleased　to　recognize　Perrin；　besides；　his　smell　was　cold　and　angry。　Loial　peered　down　the　hallway　behind　Perrin。　〃Where　is　Faile？〃
　　　〃She's。。。　meeting　me　in　the　stables。　We　had　words。〃　That　was　simple　truth；　Faile　seemed　to　like　shouting；　sometimes。　He　lowered　his　voice。　〃Loial；　I　wouldn't　talk　about　that　where　anyone　could　hear。　The　Waygates；　I　mean。〃
　　　Loial　snorted　hard　enough　to　make　a　bull　jump；　but　he　did　drop　his　tone。　〃I　don't　see　anyone　but　us；〃　he　rumbled。　No　one　more　than　two　or　three　paces　beyond　Karldin　could　have　heard　clearly。　His　ears。。。　lashed　was　the　only　word。。。　and　laid　back　angrily。　〃Everyone's　afraid　to　be　seen　near　you。　After　all　you've　done　for　Rand。〃
　　　Karldin　tugged　at　Loial's　sleeve。　〃We　have　to　go；〃　he　said；　glaring　at　Perrin。　Anyone　the　Dragon　Reborn　shouted　at　was　outside　the　gates　so　far　as　he　was　concerned。　Perrin　wondered　whether　he　was　holding　the　Power　right　then。
　　　〃Yes；　yes；〃　Loial　murmured；　waving　a　ham…sized　hand；　but　he　leaned　on　his　axe；　frowning　pensively。　〃I　don't　like　this；　Perrin。　Rand　chases　you　away。　He　sends　me　off。　How　I'm　to　finish　my　book。。。　〃　His　ears　twitched；　and　he　coughed。　〃Well；　that's　neither　here　nor　there。　But　you；　me；　and　the　Light　only　knows　where　Mat　is。　He'll　send　Min　away　next。　He　hid　from　her；　this　morning。　He　sent　me　out　to　tell　her　he　wasn't　there。　I　think　she　knew　I　was　lying。　He'll　be　alone；　then；　Perrin。　'It's　terrible　to　be　alone。'　That's　what　he　said　to　me。　He　is　planning　to　send　all　of　his　friends　away。〃
　　　〃The　Wheel　weaves　as　the　Wheel　wills；〃　Perrin　said。　Loial　blinked　at　that　echo　of　Moiraine。　Perrin　had　been　thinking　of　her　a　lot　recently；　she　had　been　a　restraining　influence　on　Rand。　〃Farewell；　Loial。　Keep　safe；　and　don't　trust　anyone　you　don't　have　to。〃　He　did　not　quite　look　at　Karldin。
　　　〃You　don't　mean　that；　Perrin。〃　Loial　sounded　shocked；　he　seemed　t