rj.theshadowrising-第220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！


　　　　　　　Nynaeve　could　not　see　the　glow　of　saidar；　of　course；　but　the　intent　way　the　girl　stared　at　the　vile　objects　told　her　she　was　channeling。　The　bracelets　and　necklace　lay　there。　Elayne　frowned；　her　stare　became　more　intent。　Abruptly　she　shook　her　head。　Her　hand　poised　hesitantly　for　a　moment；　close　to　one　of　the　bracelets；　before　picking　it　up。　And　dropped　it　again；　with　a　gasp。　〃It　feels。。。　It's　full　of。。。〃　Drawing　a　deep　breath；　she　said；　〃I　did　what　you　asked；　Nynaeve。　A　hammer　would　be　burning　a　puddle　for　the　Fire　I　wove　into　it；　but　it　isn't　even　warm。〃
　　　　　　　So　Moghedien　had　not　lied。　Doubtless　she　had　thought　there　was　no　need；　that　she　would　surely　win。　How　did　the　woman　get　loose？　But　what　to　do　with　the　things？　She　was　not　going　to　let　them　fall　into　anyone's　hands。
　　　　　　　〃Master　Domon；　do　you　know　a　very　deep　part　of　the　sea？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　do；　Mistress　al'Meara；〃　he　said　slowly。
　　　　　　　Gingerly；　trying　not　to　feel　the　emotions；　Nynaeve　shoved　the　collar　and　bracelets　across　the　table　to　him。　〃Then　drop　these　into　it；　where　no　one　can　ever　fish　them　out　again。〃
　　　　　　　After　a　moment；　he　nodded。　〃I　will。〃　He　stuffed　them　into　his　coat　pocket　hurriedly；　clearly　disliking　to　touch　something　that　must　have　to　do　with　the　Power。　〃In　the　deepest　part　of　the　sea　I　do　know；　near　the　Aile　Somera。〃
　　　　　　　Egeanin　was　frowning　at　the　floor；　no　doubt　thinking　about　the　Illianer　leaving。　Nynaeve　had　not　forgotten　the　woman　calling　him　〃a　properly　set…up　man。〃　She　herself　felt　like　laughing。　It　was　all　but　done。　As　soon　as　Domon　could　sail；　the　hateful　collar　and　bracelets　would　be　gone　forever。　They　could　leave　for　Tar　Valon。　And　then。。。　Then　back　to　Tear；　or　wherever　al'Lan　Mandragoran　was。　Facing　Moghedien；　realizing　how　close　she　had　been　to　being　killed　or　worse；　only　made　her　urgency　to　deal　with　him　greater。　A　man　she　had　to　share　with　a　woman　she　hated；　but　if　Egeanin　could　look　fondly　on　a　man　she　once　took　prisoner　…　and　Domon　was　certainly　eyeing　her　with　interest　…　and　if　Elayne　could　love　a　man　who　would　go　mad；　then　she　could　puzzle　out　some　way　to　enjoy　what　she　could　have　of　Lan。
　　　　　　　〃Shall　we　go　downstairs　and　see　how　'Thera'　is　taking　to　being　a　servant？〃　she　suggested。　Soon　for　Tar　Valon。　Soon。


Chapter　56
（Wolf）
Goldeneyes

　　　　　　　The　mon　room　of　the　Winespring　Inn　was　silent　but　for　the　scratch　of　Perrin's　pen。　Silent；　and　empty　but　for　him　and　Aram。　Late…morning　light　made　small　pools　beneath　the　windows。　No　cooking　smells　came　from　the　kitchen；　there　were　no　fires　lit　anywhere　in　the　village；　and　even　coals　banked　in　ashes　had　been　doused。　No　point　in　giving　the　gift　of　fire　easy　to　hand。　The　Tinker　…　he　sometimes　wondered　whether　it　was　proper　to　think　of　Aram　that　way　any　longer；　but　a　man　could　not　stop　being　what　he　was；　sword　or　no　…　stood　against　the　wall　by　the　front　door；　watching　Perrin。　What　did　the　man　expect？　What　did　he　want？　Dipping　his　pen　in　the　small　stone　ink　jar；　Perrin　set　aside　the　third　sheet　of　paper　and　began　a　fourth。
　　　　　　　Pushing　through　the　door；　bow　in　hand；　Ban　al'Seen　rubbed　an　uneasy　finger　up　and　down　his　big　nose。　〃The　Aiel　are　back；〃　he　said　quietly；　but　his　feet　moved　as　if　he　could　not　make　them　be　still。　〃Trollocs　ing；　from　north　and　south。　Thousands　of　them；　Lord　Perrin。〃
　　　　　　　〃Don't　call　me　that；〃　Perrin　said　absently；　frowning　at　the　page。　He　had　no　way　with　words。　He　certainly　did　not　know　how　to　say　things　in　the　fancy　way　women　liked。　All　he　could　was　write　what　he　felt。　Dipping　the　pen　again；　he　added　a　few　lines。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　I　will　not　ask　your　forgiveness　for　what　I　did。　I　do　not　know　if　you　could　give　it；　but　I　will　not　ask。　You　are　more　precious　to　me　than　life。　Never　think　I　have　abandoned　you。　When　the　sun　shines　on　you；　it　is　my　smile。　When　you　hear　the　breeze　stir　through　the　apple　blossoms；　it　is　my　whisper　that　I　love　you。　My　love　is　yours　forever。
Perrin

　　　　　　　For　a　moment　he　studied　what　he　had　written。　It　did　not　say　enough；　but　it　would　have　to　do。　He　did　not　have　the　right　words　any　more　than　he　had　time。
　　　　　　　Carefully　blotting　the　damp　ink　with　sand；　he　folded　the　pages　together。　He　very　nearly　wrote　〃Faile　Bashere〃　on　the　outside　before　making　it　〃Faile　Aybara。〃　He　realized　he　did　not　even　know　if　a　wife　took　her　husband's　name　in　Saldaea；　there　were　places　where　they　did　not。　Well；　she　had　married　him　in　the　Two　Rivers；　she　would　have　to　put　up　with　Two　Rivers　customs。
　　　　　　　He　placed　the　letter　in　the　middle　of　the　mantel　over　the　fireplace…　perhaps　it　would　reach　her　eventually　…　and　adjusted　the　wide　red　marriage　ribbon　behind　his　collar　so　it　hung　down　his　lapels　properly。　He　was　supposed　to　wear　it　for　seven　days；　an　announcement　to　everyone　who　saw　him　that　he　was　newly　wed。　〃I　will　try；〃　he　told　the　letter　softly。　Faile　had　tried　to　tie　one　in　his　beard；　he　wished　he　had　let　her。
　　　　　　　〃Pardon；　Lord　Perrin？〃　Ban　said；　still　shifting　his　feet　anxiously。　〃I　didn't　hear。〃　Aram　was　chewing　his　lip；　his　eyes　wide　and　frightened。
　　　　　　　〃Time　to　see　to　the　day's　work；〃　Perrin　said。　Perhaps　the　letter　would　reach　her。　Somehow。　He　took　his　bow　from　the　table　and　slung　it　on　his　back。　Axe　and　quiver　already　hung　at　his　belt。　〃And　don't　call　me　that！〃
　　　　　　　In　front　of　the　inn；　the　panions　were　gathered　on　their　horses；　Wil　al'Seen　with　that　fool　wolfhead　banner；　the　long　staff　resting　on　his　stirrup　iron。　How　long　since　Wil　had　refused　to　carry　the　thing？　The　survivors　of　those　who　had　joined　him　the　first　day　jealously　guarded　the　right；　now。　Wil；　with　his　bow　on　his　back　and　a　sword　at　his　hip；　looked　proud　as　an　idiot。
　　　　　　　As　Ban　scrambled　into　his　saddle；　Perrin　heard　him　say；　〃The　man　is　as　cool　as　a　winter　pond。　Like　ice。　Maybe　it　won't　be　so　bad　today。〃　He　barely　paid　attention。　The　women　were　gathered　on　the　Green。
　　　　　　　They　made　a　circle　five　or　six　deep　around　the　tall　pole　where　the　larger　red　wolfhead　flapped　out　in　a　breeze。　Five　or　six　deep；　shoulder　to　shoulder；　with　polearms　made　from　scythes　and　pitchforks；　and　wood…axes；　and　even　stout　kitchen　knives　and　cleavers。
　　　　　　　Throat　tight；　he　mounted　Stepper　and　rode　toward　them。　The　children　were　a　tight　mass　inside　the　circle　of　women。　All　the　children　in　Emond's　Field。
　　　　　　　Riding　slowly　along　the　ranks；　he　felt　the　women's　eyes　following　him；　and　the　children's。　Fear　scent；　and　worry；　the　children　showed　it　on　their　too…pale　faces；　but　all　smelled　of　it。　He　reined　in　where　Marin　al'Vere　and　Daise　Congar　and　the　rest　of　the　Women's　Circle　stood　together。　Alsbet　Luhhan　had　one　of　her　husband's　hammers　on　her　shoulder；　and　her　Whitecloak　helmet　acquired　the　night　of　her　rescue　sat　slightly　crooked　because　of　her　thick　braid。　Neysa　Ayellin　held　a　long…bladed　carving　knife　firm　in　her　hand；　and　had　two　more　stuck　behind　her　belt。
　　　　　　　〃We　have　planned　this　out；〃　Daise　said；　looking　up　at　him　as　if　she　expected　an　argument　and　did　not　intend　to　allow　it。　She　held　a　pitchfork；　fastened　to　a　pole　nearly　three　feet　taller　than　she；　upright　in　front　of　her。　〃If　the　Trollocs　break　through　anywhere；　you　men　are　going　to　be　busy；　so　we　will　take　the　children　out。　The　older　ones　know　what　to　do；　and　they've　all　played　hide…and…seek　in　the　woods。　Just　to　keep　them　safe　until　they　can　e　out。〃
　　　　　　　The　older　ones。　Boys　and　girls　of　thirteen　and　fourteen　had　toddlers　strapped　on　their　backs；　and　held　smaller　children　by　the　hand。　Girls　older　than　that　stood　in　the　ranks　with　the　women；　Bode　Cauthon　had　a　wood…axe　gripped　in　both　hands；　her　sister　Eldrin　a　boar　spear　with　a　broad　point。　Boys　older　were　out　with　the　men；　or　up　on　the　thatched　rooftops　with　their　bows。　The　Tinkers　were　in　with　the　children。　Perrin　glanced　down　at　Aram；　standing　by　his　stirrup。　They　would　not　fight；　but　each　adult　had　two　babes　fastened　on　his　or　her　back　and　another　cradled　in　the　crook　of　an　elbow。　Raen　and　Ila；　each　with　an　arm　around　the　other；　would　not　look　at　him。　Just　to　keep　them　safe　until　they　could　e　out。
　　　　　　　〃I'm　sorry。〃　He　had　to　stop　and　clear　his　throat。　He　had　not　meant　it　to　e　to　this。　Think　as　hard　as　he　could；　nothing　else　came　that　he　could　have　done。　Even　giving　himself　to　the　Trollocs　would　not　have　stopped　them　killing　and　burning。　The　end　would　have　been　the　same。　〃It　was　not　fair；　what　I　did　with　Faile；　but　I　had　to。　Please　understand　that。　I　had　to。〃〃Don't　be　silly；　Perrin；〃　Alsbet　said；　voice　emphatic　but　round　face　smiling　warmly。　〃I　can　never　abide　it　when　you're　silly。　Do　you　think　we　would　expect　you　to　do　any　different？〃
　　　　　　　A　heavy　cleaver　in　one　hand；　Marin　reached　up　to　pat　his　knee　with　the　other。　〃Any　man　worth　cooking　a　meal　for　would　have　done　the　same。〃
　　　　　　　〃Thank　you。〃　Light；　but　he　sounded　hoarse。　In　a　minute　he　would　be　snuffling　like　a　girl。　But　for　some　reason　he　could　not　smooth　his　voice。　They　must　think　him　an　idiot。　〃Thank　you。　I　shouldn't　have　fooled　you；　but　she'd　not　have　gone　if　she　suspected。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　Perrin。〃　Marin　laughed。　She　actually　laughed；　with　all　they　faced；　and　smelling　of　fear　as　she　did；　he　wished　he　had　half　her　courage。　〃We　knew　what　you　were　up　to　before　you　ever　put　her　on　her　horse；　and　I　am　not　sure　she　didn't　as　well。　Women　do　find　themselves　doing　what　they　don't　want　just　to　p