rj.theshadowrising-第118节

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rin　was　seeing　to　Gaul；　and　Chiad　was　testing　her　left　arm；　swinging　it　back　and　forth　with　a　satisfied　expression。
　　　　　　　Faile　took　Alanna's　place　beside　Perrin　and　stroked　a　finger　across　his　cheek；　along　the　scar　beneath　his　eye。　〃Beauty　mark；〃　she　said；　smiling　slightly。〃A　what？〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　just　something　Domani　women　do。　It　was　just　an　idle　ment。〃
　　　　　　　Despite　her　smile；　or　maybe　because　of　it；　he　scowled　suspiciously。　She　was　making　fun　of　him；　only　he　did　not　understand　how；　exactly。
　　　　　　　Ihvon　slipped　into　the　room；　whispered　in　Alanna's　ear；　and　vanished　outside　again　at　her　whisper。　He　hardly　made　a　sound　even　on　the　wooden　floor。　A　few　moments　later　the　scrape　of　boots　on　the　steps　announced　new　arrivals。
　　　　　　　Perrin　sprang　to　his　feet　as　Tam　al'Thor　and　Abell　Cauthon　appeared　in　the　doorway；　bows　in　hand；　with　the　rumpled　clothes　and　gray…flecked　two…day　beards　of　men　who　had　been　sleeping　rough。　They　had　been　hunting；　four　rabbits　hung　at　Tam's　belt；　three　at　Abell's。　It　was　obvious　they　were　expecting　the　Aes　Sedai；　and　visitors；　too；　but　they　stared　in　amazement　at　Loial；　more　than　half　again　as　tall　as　either　of　them；　with　his　tufted　ears　and　broad　snout　of　a　nose。　A　flicker　of　recognition　crossed　Tam's　bluff；　lined　face　at　sight　of　the　Aiel。
　　　　　　　Tam's　gaze　only　rested　thoughtfully　on　them　for　a　moment；　though；　before　ing　to　rest　on　Perrin　with　a　start　almost　as　big　as　for　Loial。　He　was　a　sturdy；　deep…chested　man　despite　hair　that　was　nearly　all　gray；　the　sort　it　would　take　an　earthquake　to　knock　off　his　feet　and　more　than　that　to　fluster。　〃Perrin；　lad！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃Is　Rand　with　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃What　about　Mat？〃　Abell　added　eagerly。　He　had　the　look　of　an　older；　graying　Mat；　but　with　more　serious　eyes。　A　man　not　thickened　much　by　age；　with　an　agile　step。
　　　　　　　〃They　are　well；〃　Perrin　told　them。　〃In　Tear。〃　He　caught　Verin's　glance　from　the　corner　of　his　eye；　she　knew　very　well　what　Tear　meant　for　Rand。　Alanna　hardly　seemed　to　be　paying　attention　at　all。　〃They　would　have　e　with　me；　but　we　didn't　know　how　bad　things　are。　〃　That　was　true　on　both　counts；　he　was　sure。　〃Mat　spends　his　time　dicing　…　and　winning　…　and　kissing　the　girls。　Rand。。。　Well；　the　last　I　saw　of　Rand；　he　was　wearing　a　fancy　coat　and　had　a　pretty　golden…haired　girl　on　his　arm。〃
〃That　sounds　like　my　Mat；〃　Abell　chuckled。
　　　　　　　〃Maybe　it's　as　well　they　didn't　e；〃　Tam　said　more　slowly；　〃what　with　the　Trollocs。　And　the　Whitecloaks。。。。　〃　He　shrugged。　〃You　know　the　Trollocs　returned？〃　Perrin　nodded。　〃Was　that　Aes　Sedai　right？　Moiraine。　Were　they　after　you　three　lads；　that　Winternight？　Did　you　ever　find　out　why？〃
　　　　　　　The　Brown　sister　gave　Perrin　a　warning　look。　Alanna　appeared　absorbed　in　rummaging　through　her　saddlebags；　but　he　thought　she　was　listening　now。　Neither　was　what　made　him　hesitate；　though。　There　was　just　no　way　to　e　out　and　tell　Tam　that　his　son　could　channel；　that　Rand　was　the　Dragon　Reborn。　How　could　he　tell　a　man　something　like　that？　Instead；　he　said；　〃You　will　have　to　ask　Moiraine。　Aes　Sedai　don't　tell　you　any　more　than　they　have　to。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　noticed；〃　Tam　said　dryly。
　　　　　　　Both　Aes　Sedai　were　definitely　listening；　and　making　no　secret　of　it　now。　Alanna　arched　an　icy　eyebrow　at　Tam；　and　Abell　shifted　his　feet　as　if　he　thought　Tam　was　pushing　his　luck；　but　it　would　take　more　than　a　stare　to　upset　Tam。
　　　　　　　〃Can　we　talk　outside？〃　Perrin　asked　the　two　men。　〃I　want　a　breath　of　air。〃　He　wanted　to　talk　without　Aes　Sedai　eavesdropping　and　watching；　but　he　could　hardly　say　so。
　　　　　　　Tam　and　Abell　were　agreeable；　and　perhaps　as　eager　to　escape　Verin　and　Alanna's　scrutiny　as　he；　but　first　there　was　the　matter　of　the　rabbits；　all　of　which　they　handed　over　to　Alanna。
　　　　　　　〃We　meant　to　keep　two　for　ourselves；〃　Abell　said；　〃but　it　seems　you　have　more　mouths　to　feed。〃
　　　　　　　〃There　is　no　need　for　this。〃　The　Green　sister　sounded　as　though　she　had　said　as　much　often　before。
　　　　　　　〃We　like　to　pay　for　what　we　get　〃　Tam　told　her；　sounding　the　same。　〃The　Aes　Sedai　were　kind　enough　to　do　a　little　Healing　for　us；〃　he　added　to　Perrin；　〃and　we　want　to　stock　up　credit　in　case　we　need　it　again。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　nodded。　He　could　understand　not　wanting　to　take　a　gift　from　Aes　Sedai。　〃An　Aes　Sedai's　gift　always　has　a　hook　in　it；〃　the　old　saying　went。　Well；　he　knew　the　truth　of　that。　But　it　did　not　really　matter　whether　you　took　the　gift　or　paid　for　it；　Aes　Sedai　managed　to　set　the　hook　anyway。　Verin　was　watching　him　with　a　tiny　smile；　as　if　she　knew　what　he　was　thinking。
　　　　　　　As　the　three　men　started　out；　carrying　their　bows；　Faile　rose　to　follow。　Perrin　shook　his　head　at　her；　and　amazingly　she　sat　back　down。　He　wondered　if　she　was　ill。
　　　　　　　After　pausing　so　Tam　and　Abell　could　admire　Stepper　and　Swallow；　they　strolled　off　a　way　under　the　trees。　The　sun　slanted　westward；　lengthening　shadows。　The　older　men　made　a　few　jokes　about　his　beard；　but　they　never　mentioned　his　eyes。　Strangely；　the　omission　did　not　bother　him。　He　had　more　important　worries　than　whether　somebody　thought　his　eyes　peculiar。
　　　　　　　Responding　to　Abell's　query　as　to　whether　〃that　thing〃　was　any　good　for　straining　soup；　he　rubbed　his　beard　and　said　mildly；　〃Faile　likes　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh…ho；〃　Tam　chuckled。　〃That's　the　girl；　is　it？　A　spirited　look　to　her；　lad。　She'll　have　you　lying　awake　nights　trying　to　tell　up　from　down。〃
　　　　　　　〃Only　one　way　to　handle　that　sort；〃　Abell　said；　nodding。　〃Let　her　think　she's　running　things。　That　way；　when　it's　important；　and　you　say　different；　by　the　time　she　gets　over　the　shock　of　it；　you'll　have　matters　arranged　as　you　want；　and　it　will　be　too　late　for　her　to　badger　you　about　changing　it。〃
　　　　　　　That　seemed　to　Perrin　a　great　deal　like　what　Mistress　al'Vere　had　told　Faile　about　handling　men。　He　wondered　if　Abell　and　Marin　had　ever　pared　notes。　Not　likely。　Perhaps　it　was　worth　trying　with　Faile。　Only；　she　seemed　to　have　her　own　way　in　any　case。
　　　　　　　He　glanced　over　his　shoulder。　The　sickhouse　was　almost　hidden　by　the　trees。　They　had　to　be　safe　from　the　Aes　Sedai's　ears。　He　listened　carefully；　drew　a　deep　breath。　A　woodpecker　drummed　somewhere　in　the　distance。　There　were　squirrels　in　the　leafy　branches　overhead；　and　a　fox　had　passed　this　way　not　long　ago　with　its　kill；　a　rabbit。　Aside　from　the　three　of　them；　there　was　no　man　scent；　nothing　to　indicate　a　hidden　Warder　listening。　Perhaps　he　was　being　too　cautious；　but　good　reasons　or　no；　he　could　not　get　past　the　coincidence　of　both　Aes　Sedai　being　women　he　had　met　before；　one　a　woman　Egwene　did　not　trust；　the　other　a　woman　he　was　not　sure　he　trusted。
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　stay　here？〃　he　asked。　〃With　Verin　and　Alanna？〃
　　　　　　　〃Hardly；〃　Abell　replied。　〃How　could　a　man　sleep　with　Aes　Sedai　under　the　same　roof？　What　there　is　of　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　thought　this　would　be　a　good　place　to　hide；〃　Tam　said；　〃but　they　were　here　before　us。　I　think　those　Warders　might　have　killed　both　of　us　if　Marin　and　some　others　of　the　Women's　Circle　hadn't　been　here　then；　too。〃
　　　　　　　Abell　grimaced。　〃I　think　it　was　the　Aes　Sedai　finding　out　who　we　were　that　stopped　it。　Who　our　sons　were；　I　mean。　They　show　too　much　interest　in　you　boys　to　suit　me。〃　He　hesitated；　fingering　his　bow。　〃That　Alanna　let　slip　that　you're　ta'veren。　All　three　of　you。　I've　heard　Aes　Sedai　can't　lie。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　haven't　seen　any　signs　of　it　in　me；〃　Perrin　said　wryly。　〃Or　Mat。〃
　　　　　　　Tam　glanced　at　him　when　he　did　not　mention　Rand　…　he　was　going　to　have　to　learn　to　lie　better；　trying　to　keep　his　own　secrets　and　everybody　else's；　too　…　but　what　the　older　man　said　was；　〃Maybe　you　just　don't　know　what　to　look　for。　How　is　it　you　e　to　be　traveling　with　an　Ogier　and　three　Aiel？〃
　　　　　　　〃The　last　peddler　I　saw　said　there　were　Aiel　this　side　of　the　Spine　of　the　World；〃　Abell　put　in；　〃but　I　didn't　believe　him。　Said　he'd　heard　there　were　Aiel　in　Murandy；　of　all　places；　or　maybe　Altara。　He　wasn't　too　certain　of　exactly　where；　but　a　long　way　from　the　Waste。〃
　　　　　　　〃None　of　that　has　anything　to　do　with　ta'veren；〃　Perrin　said。　〃Loial　is　a　friend；　and　he　came　to　help　me。　Gaul　is　a　friend；　too；　I　suppose。　Bain　and　Chiad　came　with　Faile；　not　me。　It's　all　sort　of　plicated；　but　it　just　happened。　Nothing　to　do　with　ta'veren。〃
　　　　　　　〃Well；　whatever　the　reason；〃'　Abell　said；　〃the　Aes　Sedai　are　interested　in　you　lads。　Tam　and　I　traveled　all　the　way　to　Tar　Valon　last　year；　to　the　White　Tower；　trying　to　find　out　where　you　were。　We　could　hardly　unearth　one　to　admit　she　knew　your　names；　but　it　was　plain　they　were　hiding　something。　The　Keeper　of　the　Chronicles　had　us　on　a　boat　heading　downriver；　our　pockets　stuffed　with　gold　and　our　heads　full　of　vague　assurances；　almost　before　we　could　make　our　bows。　I　don't　like　the　idea　the　Tower　may　be　using　Mat　some　way。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　wished　he　could　tell　Mat's　father　nothing　like　that　was　going　on；　but　he　was　not　sure　he　was　up　to　that　big　a　lie　with　a　straight　face。　Moiraine　was　not　watching　Mat　because　she　liked　his　grin；　Mat　was　tangled　as　deeply　with　the　Tower　as　he　himself；　maybe　deeper。　The　three　of　them　were　all　tied　tight；　and　the　Tower　held　the　strings。
　　　　　　　A　silence　descended　on　them；　until　at　last　Tam　said　quietly；　〃Lad；　about　your　family。　I've　sad　news。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know；〃　Perrin　said　quickly；　and　the　h