rj.theshadowrising-第125节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　　　　　　This　Lord　Luc　took　it　as　clearly　no　more　than　his　due；　perhaps　less。　And　tiresome　to　put　up　with；　at　that。　The　farm　folk　did　not　seem　to　see；　or　maybe　they　just　did　not　recognize　that　slightly　weary　expression；　the　slightly　condescending　smile。　Maybe　they　simply　thought　that　was　how　lords　behaved。　True　enough；　a　good　many　did；　but　it　irked　Perrin　to　watch　these　people　…　his　people　…　put　up　with　it。
　　　　　　　As　the　hubbub　began　to　diminish；　Jac　and　Elisa　presented　their　other　guests　…　all　but　Tam　and　Abell；　who　had　already　met　him　…　to　Lord　Luc　of　Chiendelna；　saying　that　he　was　advising　them　in　ways　to　defend　themselves　against　the　Trollocs；　that　he　encouraged　them　to　stand　up　to　the　Whitecloaks；　stand　up　for　themselves。　Approving　murmurs　of　agreement　came　from　the　rest　of　the　room。　If　the　Two　Rivers　had　been　choosing　a　king；　Lord　Luc　would　have　had　the　al'Seens　and　Lewins　behind　him　entire。　He　knew　it；　too。　His　apparent　bored　placency　did　not　last　long；　though。
　　　　　　　At　his　first　glimpse　of　Verin's　smooth…cheeked　face；　Luc　stiffened　slightly；　eyes　flickering　to　her　hands　so　quickly　many　would　not　have　noticed。　He　very　nearly　dropped　his　embroidered　gloves。　Plump　and　plainly　dressed；　she　might　have　been　another　farm　wife；　but　clearly　he　knew　an　Aes　Sedai's　ageless　face；　when　he　saw　one。　He　was　not　particularly　happy　to　see　one　here。　The　er　of　his　left　eye　twitched　as　he　listened　to　Mistress　al'Seen　name　〃Mistress　Mathwin〃　〃a　scholar　from　outside〃。
　　　　　　　Verin　smiled　at　him　as　if　half…asleep。　〃A　pleasure；〃　she　murmured。　〃House　Chiendelna。　Where　is　that？　It　has　a　Borderland　sound。〃
　　　　　　　〃Nothing　so　grand；〃　Luc　replied　quickly；　giving　her　a　wary；　fractional　bow。　〃Murandy；　actually。　A　minor　house；　but　old。　〃　He　seemed　uneasy　about　taking　his　eyes　from　her　for　the　rest　of　the　introductions。
　　　　　　　Tomas　he　barely　glanced　at。　He　had　to　know　him　for　〃Mistress　Mathwin's〃　Warder；　yet　dismissed　him　out　of　hand　as　clearly　as　if　he　had　shouted　it。　That　was　purely　strange。　However　good　Luc　was　with　that　sword；　no　one　was　good　enough　to　dismiss　a　Warder。　Arrogance。　The　fellow　had　enough　for　ten　men。　He　proved　it　with　Faile　so　far　as　Perrin　was　concerned。
　　　　　　　The　smile　Luc　offered　her　was　certainly　more　than　self…assured；　it　was　also　familiar　and　decidedly　warm。　In　fact；　it　was　too　admiring　and　too　warm　by　half。　He　took　her　hand　in　both　of　his　to　bow　over；　and　peered　into　her　eyes　as　if　trying　to　see　through　the　back　of　her　head。　For　an　instant　Perrin　thought　she　was　about　to　look　over　at　him；　but　instead　she　returned　the　lord's　stare　with　a　red…cheeked　pretense　to　coolness　and　a　slight　bow　of　her　head。
　　　　　　　〃I；　too；　am　a　Hunter　for　the　Horn；　my　Lord；〃　she　said；　sounding　a　touch　breathless。　〃Do　you　think　to　find　it　here？〃
　　　　　　　Luc　blinked　and　released　her　hand。　〃Perhaps；　my　Lady。　Who　can　say　where　the　Horn　might　be？〃　Faile　looked　a　little　surprised　…　maybe　disappointed　…　at　his　sudden　loss　of　interest。
　　　　　　　Perrin　kept　his　expression　neutral。　If　she　wanted　to　smile　at　Wil　al'Seen　and　blush　at　fool　lords；　she　could。　She　could　make　an　idiot　of　herself　any　way　she　wanted；　gawking　at　every　man　who　came　along。　So　Luc　wanted　to　know　where　the　Horn　of　Valere　was？　It　was　hidden　away　in　the　White　Tower；　that　was　where。　He　was　tempted　to　tell　the　man；　just　to　make　him　grind　his　teeth　in　frustration。
　　　　　　　If　Luc　had　been　surprised　to　find　out　who　his　other　fellows　in　the　al'Seen　house　were；　his　reaction　to　Perrin　was　peculiar　to　say　the　least。　He　gave　a　start　at　the　sight　of　Perrin's　face；　shock　flashed　in　his　eyes。　It　was　all　gone　in　a　moment；　masked　behind　lordly　haughtiness；　except　for　a　wild　fluttering　at　the　corner　of　one　eye。　The　trouble　was；　it　made　no　sense。　It　was　not　his　yellow　eyes　that　took　Luc　aback；　he　was　sure　of　that。　More　as　if　the　fellow　knew　him；　somehow；　and　was　surprised　to　see　him　here；　but　he　had　never　met　this　Luc　before　in　his　life。　More　than　that；　he　would　have　bet　that　Luc　was　afraid　of　him。　No　sense　at　all。
　　　　　　　〃Lord　Luc　is　the　one　who　suggested　the　boys　go　up　on　the　rooftops；〃　Jac　said。　〃No　Trolloc　will　get　close　without　those　lads　giving　warning。〃
　　　　　　　〃How　much　warning？〃　Perrin　said　dryly。　This　was　an　example　of　the　great　Lord　Luc's　advice？　〃Trollocs　see　like　cat's　in　the　dark。　They'll　be　on　top　of　you；　kicking　in　the　doors；　before　your　boys　raise　a　shout。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　do　what　we　can；〃　Flann　barked。　〃Stop　trying　to　frighten　us。　There　are　children　listening。　Lord　Luc　at　least　offers　helpful　suggestions。　He　was　at　my　place　the　day　before　the　Trollocs　came；　seeing　I　had　everybody　placed　properly。　Blood　and　ashes！　If　not　for　him；　the　Trollocs　would　have　killed　us　all。〃
　　　　　　　Luc　did　not　seem　to　hear　the　praise　offered　him。　He　was　watching　Perrin　cautiously　while　fussing　with　his　gauntlets；　tucking　them　behind　the　golden　wolf's…head　buckle　of　his　sword　belt。　Faile　was　watching　him；　too；　with　a　slight　frown。　He　ignored　her。
　　　　　　　〃I　thought　it　was　Whitecloaks　saved　you；　Master　Lewin。　I　thought　a　Whitecloak　patrol　arrived　in　the　nick　of　time　and　drove　the　Trollocs　off。〃
　　　　　　　〃Well；　they　did。〃　Flann　scrubbed　a　hand　through　his　gray　hair。　〃But　Lord　Luc。。。　If　the　Whitecloaks　hadn't　e　we　could　have。。。　At　least　he　doesn't　try　to　frighten　us。〃　he　muttered。
　　　　　　　〃So　he　doesn't　frighten　you；〃　Perrin　said。　〃Trollocs　frighten　me。　And　the　Whitecloaks　keep　the　Trollocs　back　for　you。　When　they　can。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　want　to　credit　the　Whitecloaks？〃　Luc　fixed　Perrin　with　a　cold　stare；　as　if　pouncing　on　a　weakness。　〃Who　do　you　think　is　responsible　for　the　Dragon's　Fang　scribbled　on　people's　doors？　Oh；　their　hands　never　hold　charcoal；　but　they　are　behind　it。　They　stalk　into　these　good　people's　homes；　asking　questions　and　demanding　answers　as　if　it　were　their　own　roof　overhead。　I　say　these　people　are　their　own　masters；　not　dogs　for　the　Whitecloaks　to　call　to　heel。　Let　them　patrol　the　country　side　…　well　and　good　…　but　meet　them　at　the　door　and　tell　them　whose　land　they　are　on。　That　is　what　I　say。　If　you　want　to　be　a　Whitecloak　dog；　be　so；　but　do　not　begrudge　these　good　people　their　freedom。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　met　Luc's　eyes　stare　for　stare。　〃I　hold　no　affection　for　Whitecloaks。　They　want　to　hang　me；　or　hadn't　you　heard？〃
　　　　　　　The　tall　lord　blinked　as　though　he　had　not；　or　maybe　had　forgotten　in　his　eagerness　to　spring。　〃Exactly　what　is　it　you　do　propose；　then？〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　turned　his　back　on　the　man　and　went　to　stand　in　front　of　the　fireplace。　He　did　not　mean　to　argue　with　Luc。　Let　everyone　listen。　They　were　certainly　all　looking　at　him。　He　would　say　what　he　thought　and　be　done　with　it。　〃You　have　to　depend　on　the　Whitecloaks；　have　to　hope　they'll　keep　the　Trollocs　down；　hope　they'll　e　in　time　if　the　Trollocs　attack。　Why？　Because　every　man　tries　to　hang　on　to　his　farm；　if　he　can；　or　to　stay　as　close　to　it　as　possible　if　he　can't。　You're　in　a　hundred　little　clusters；　like　grapes　ripe　for　picking。　As　long　as　you　are；　as　long　as　you　have　to　pray　the　Whitecloaks　can　keep　the　Trollocs　from　stomping　you　into　wine；　you've　no　choice　but　to　let　them　ask　any　questions　they　want；　demand　any　answers　they　want。　You　have　to　stand　by　and　watch　innocent　people　hauled　off。　Or　does　anyone　here　think　Haral　and　Alsbet　Luhhan　are　Darkfriends？　Natti　Cauthon？　Bodewhin　and　Eldrin？〃　Abell's　stare　around　the　room　dared　anyone　to　hint　at　a　yes；　but　there　was　no　need。　Even　Adine　Lewin's　attention　was　on　Perrin。　Luc　frowned　at　him　between　studying　the　reactions　of　the　people　crowding　the　room。
　　　　　　　〃I　know　they　shouldn't　have　arrested　Natti　and　Alsbet　and　all；〃　Wit　said；　〃but　that's　over。〃　He　rubbed　a　hand　across　his　bald　head；　and　gave　Abell　a　troubled　look。　〃Except　for　getting　them　to　let　everybody　go；　I　mean。　They　haven't　arrested　anyone　since；　that　I've　heard。　〃
　　　　　　　〃You　think　that　means　it's　done？〃　Perrin　said。　〃Do　you　really　think　they'll　be　satisfied　with　the　Cauthons　and　the　Luhhans？　With　two　farms　burned？　Which　of　you　will　be　next？　Maybe　because　you　said　the　wrong　thing；　or　just　to　make　an　example。　It　could　be　Whitecloaks　putting　a　torch　to　this　house　instead　of　Trollocs。　Or　maybe　it'll　be　the　Dragon's　Fang　scrawled　on　your　door　some　night。　There　are　always　folk　who　believe　that　kind　of　thing。〃　A　number　of　eyes　darted　to　Adine；　who　shifted　her　feet　and　hunched　her　shoulders。　〃Even　if　all　it　means　is　having　to　tug　your　forelock　to　every　Whitecloak　who　es　along；　do　you　want　to　live　that　way？　Your　children？　You're　at　the　mercy　of　the　Trollocs；　the　mercy　of　the　Whitecloaks；　and　the　mercy　of　anybody　with　a　grudge。　As　long　as　one　has　a　hold　on　you；　all　three　do。　You're　hiding　in　the　cellar；　hoping　one　rabid　dog　will　protect　you　from　another；　hoping　the　rats　don't　sneak　out　in　the　dark　and　bite　you。〃
　　　　　　　Jac　exchanged　worried　looks　with　Flann　and　Wit；　with　the　other　men　in　the　room；　then。　said　slowly；　〃If　you　think　we're　doing　wrong；　what　is　it　you　suggest？〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　was　not　expecting　the　question　…　he　had　been　sure　they　would　get　angry　…　but　he　went　right　on　telling　them　what　he　thought。　〃Gather　your　people。　Gather　your　sheep　and　your　cows；　your　chickens；　everything。　Gather　them　up　and　take　them　where　they　might　be　safe。　Go　to　Emond's　Field。　Or　Watch　Hill；　since　it's　closer；　thought　that　will　put　you　right　under　the　Whitec