rj.acrownofswords-第34节

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　her　attendants。　But　he　had　had　time　to　mull　things　over　now；　and　he　prided　himself　that　he　was　being　used　to　her　ways。　Married　life　taught　a　man　about　women；　or　about　one　woman；　anyway。　The　answer　she　had　not　given；　confirmed　something。　Faile　had　no　concept　of　danger；　not　where　she　herself　was　concerned。
　　　He　could　not　speak　of　it　there　in　the　corridor；　of　course。　Whisper　how　he　would；　she　did　not　have　his　ears；　and　doubtless　she　would　insist　every　servant　within　fifty　was　listening。　Holding　his　patience；　he　walked　on　with　her　until　they　reached　the　rooms　that　had　been　set　aside　for　them　what　seemed　an　age　ago　。now。　The　lamps　had　been　lit；　making　shimmers　on　the　dark　polished　walls；　each　tall　wooden　panel　carved　in　concentric　rectangles。　In　the　square　stone　fireplace　the　hearth　was　swept　bare　and　laid　with　a　few　pitiful　branches　of　leatherleaf。　They　were　almost　green。
　　　Faile　went　straight　to　a　small　table　where　two　golden　pitchers　stood　beaded　with　moisture　on　a　tray。　〃They　have　left　us　blueberry　tea；　my　husband；　and　wine　punch。　The　wine　is　from　Tharon；　I　think。　They　cool　the　punch　in　the　cisterns　beneath　the　palace。　Which　would　you　prefer？〃
　　　Perrin　unbuckled　his　belt　and　tossed　belt　and　axe　on　a　chair。　He　had　planned　out　what　he　had　to　say　very　carefully　on　the　way　here。　She　could　be　a　prickly　woman。　〃Faile；　I　missed　you　more　than　I　can　say；　and　worried　about　you；　but　…　〃
　　　〃Worried　about　me！〃　she　snapped；　spinning　to　face　him。　She　stood　straight　and　tall；　eyes　fierce　as　those　of　her　falcon　namesake；　and　her　fan　made　a　coring　motion　toward　his　middle。　Not　part　of　the　language　of　fans；　she　made　the　same　gesture　with　a　knife　sometimes。　〃When　almost　the　first　words　from　your　mouth　were　to　ask　after　that。。。　that　woman！〃
　　　His　jaw　dropped。　How　could　he　have　forgotten　the　smell　filling　his　nostrils？　He　nearly　put　a　hand　up　to　see　whether　his　nose　was　bleeding。　〃Faile；　I　wanted　her　thief…catchers。　Be　…　〃　No；　he　was　not　stupid　enough　to　repeat　that　name。　〃She　said　she　had　proof　of　the　poison　before　I　left。　You　heard　her！　I　just　wanted　the　proof；　Faile。〃
　　　It　did　no　good。　That　spiky　stench　softened　not　a　whit；　and　the　thin；　sour　smell　of　hurt　joined　it。　What　under　the　Light　had　he　said　to　hurt　her？
　　　〃Her　proof！　What　I　gathered　went　for　nothing；　but　her　proof　put　Colavaere's　head　on　the　block。　Or　should　have。〃　That　was　his　opening；　but　she　was　not　about　to　let　him　push　a　word　in　edgewise。　She　advanced　on　him；　looking　daggers；　her　fan　darting　like　one。　All　he　could　do　was　back　away。　〃Do　you　know　what　story　that　woman　put　about？〃　Faile　almost　hissed。　A　black　viper　could　not　have　dripped　so　much　venom。　〃Do　you？　She　said　the　reason　you　were　not　here　was　that　you　were　at　a　manor　not　far　from　the　city。　Where　she　could　visit　you！　I　told　the　story　I　prepared　…　that　you　were　hunting；　and　the　Light　knows　you　spent　enough　days　hunting！　…　but　everyone　believed　I　was　putting　a　good　face　on　you　and　her！　Together！　Colavaere　delighted　in　it。　I　could　believe　she　only　took　that　Mayener　strumpet　as　an　attendant　to　throw　the　two　of　us　together。　'Faile；　Berelain；　e　lace　my　gown。'　'Faile；　Berelain；　e　hold　the　mirror　for　the　hairdresser。'　'Faile；　Berelain；　e　wash　my　back。'　So　she　could　amuse　herself　waiting　for　us　to　claw　one　another's　eyes　out！　That　is　what　I　have　put　up　with！　For　you；　you　hairy…eared　…！〃
　　　His　back　thumped　against　the　wall。　And　something　snapped　inside　him。　He　had　been　frightened　spitless　for　her；　terrified；　ready　to　face　down　Rand　or　the　Dark　One　himself。　And　he　had　done　nothing；　had　never　encouraged　Berelain；　had　done　everything　in　his　wits　to　chase　the　woman　away。　For　which　his　thanks　was　this。
　　　Gently　he　took　her　by　the　shoulders　and　lifted　her　until　those　big　tilted　eyes　were　level　with　his。　〃You　listen　to　me；〃　he　said　calmly。　He　tried　to　make　his　voice　calm；　at　least；　it　came　out　more　of　a　growl　in　his　throat。　〃How　dare　you　speak　to　me　like　that？　How　dare　you？　I　worried　myself　near　to　death　for　fear　you'd　been　hurt。　I　love　you；　and　nobody　else　but　you。　I　want　no　other　woman　but　you。　Do　you　hear　me？　Do　you？〃　Crushing　her　to　his　chest；　he　held　her；　wanting　to　never　let　her　go。　Light；　he　had　been　so　afraid。　He　shook　even　now；　for　what　might　have　been。　〃If　anything　happened　to　you；　I'd　die；　Faile。　I　would　lie　down　on　your　grave　and　die！　Do　you　think　I　don't　know　how　Colavaere　found　out　who　you　are？　You　made　sure　she　found　out。〃　Spying；　she　had　told　him　once；　was　a　woman's　work。　〃Light；　woman；　you　could　have　ended　like　Maire。　Colavaere　knows　you're　my　wife。　My　wife。　Perrin　Aybara；　Rand　al'Thor's　friend。　Did　it　ever　occur　to　you　she　might　be　suspicious？　She　could　have。。。　Light；　Faile；　she　could　have。。。　〃
　　　Abruptly　he　realized　what　he　was　doing。　She　was　making　sounds　against　his　chest；　but　no　words　he　could　recognize。　He　wondered　that　he　did　not　hear　her　ribs　creaking。　Berating　himself　for　an　oaf；　he　let　her　go；　arms　springing　apart；　but　before　he　could　apologize；　her　fingers　clutched　his　beard。
　　　〃So　you　love　me？〃　she　said　softly。　Very　softly。　Very　warmly。　She　was　smiling；　too。　〃A　woman　likes　to　hear　that　said　the　right　way。〃　She　had　dropped　the　fan；　and　her　free　hand　drew　fingernails　down　his　cheek；　not　far　from　hard　enough　to　draw　blood；　but　her　throaty　laugh　held　heat；　and　the　smoldering　in　her　eyes　was　as　far　from　anger　as　possible。　〃A　good　thing　you　didn't　say　you　never　looked　at　another　woman；　or　I　would　think　you　had　gone　blind。〃
　　　He　was　too　stunned　for　words；　too　stunned　even　to　gape。　Rand　understood　women；　Mat　understood　women；　but　Perrin　knew　he　never　would。　She　was　always　as　much　kingfisher　as　falcon；　changing　direction　faster　than　he　could　think；　yet　this。。。　That　thorny　scent　was　gone　pletely；　and　in　its　place　was　another　smell　of　her　he　knew　well。　A　smell　that　was　her；　pure　and　strong　and　clean。　Add　that　to　her　eyes；　and　any　moment　she　was　going　to　say　something　about　farmgirls　at　harvest。　They　were　notorious；　apparently；　Saldaean　farmgirls。
　　　〃As　for　you　lying　down　on　my　grave；〃　she　went　on；　〃if　you　do；　my　soul　will　haunt　yours；　I　promise　you。　You　will　mourn　me　a　decent　time；　and　then　you'll　find　yourself　another　wife。　Someone　I'd　approve　of；　I　hope。〃　With　a　soft　laugh；　she　stroked　his　beard。　〃You　really　aren't　fit　to　take　care　of　yourself；　you　know。　I　want　your　promise。〃
　　　Best　not　to　crack　his　teeth　on　that。　Say　he　would　not；　and　this　wonderful　mood　might　be　swallowed　in　a　firestorm。　Quicksilver　was　not　in　it；　really。　Say　he　would。。。　By　the　smell　of　her；　every　word　was　the　Light's　pure　truth；　but　he　would　believe　that　when　horses　roosted　in　trees。　He　cleared　his　throat。　〃I　need　to　bathe。　I　haven't　seen　soap　in　I　don't　know　how　long。　I　must　smell　like　an　old　barn。〃
　　　Leaning　against　his　chest；　she　drew　a　deep　breath。　〃You　smell　wonderful。　Like　you。〃　Her　hands　moved　on　his　shoulders。　〃I　feel　as　…　〃　The　door　banged　open。
　　　〃Perrin；　Berelain　isn't　…　I'm　sorry。　Forgive　me。〃　Rand　stood　shifting　his　feet；　not　at　all　like　the　Dragon　Reborn。　There　were　Maidens　in　the　hallway　outside。　Min　put　her　head　around　the　doorframe；　took　one　look；　grinned　at　Perrin　and　ducked　back　out　of　sight。
　　　Faile　stepped　away　so　smoothly；　so　stately；　that　no　one　would　ever　have　guessed　what　she　had　been　saying　a　moment　before。　Or　what　she　had　been　about　to　say。　There　were　spots　of　color　in　her　cheeks；　though；　bright　and　hot。　〃So　kind　of　you；　my　Lord　Dragon；〃　she　said　coolly；　〃to　drop　in　so　unexpectedly。　I　apologize　for　not　hearing　your　knock。〃　Maybe　those　blushes　were　as　much　anger　as　embarrassment。
　　　It　was　Rand's　turn　to　blush；　and　scrub　a　hand　through　his　hair。　〃Berelain　isn't　in　the　palace。　She's　spending　the　night　on　that　Sea　Folk　ship　anchored　in　the　river；　of　all　things。　Annoura　didn't　tell　me　till　I　was　nearly　to　Berelain's　apartments。〃
　　　Perrin　tried　very　hard　not　to　wince。　Why　did　he　have　to　keep　saying　the　woman's　name？　〃You　wanted　to　talk　to　me　about　something　else；　Rand？〃　He　hoped　he　had　not　put　too　much　emphasis　in　that；　yet　he　hoped　Rand　caught　it。　He　did　not　look　at　Faile；　but　he　tested　the　air　gingerly。　No　jealousy；　not　yet。　A　good　deal　of　anger；　however。
　　　For　a　moment　Rand　stared　at　him；　looked　through　him。　Listening　to　something　else。　Perrin　folded　his　arms　to　stop　from　shuddering。
　　　〃I　need　to　know；〃　Rand　said　finally。　〃Are　you　still　unwilling　to　mand　the　army　against　Illian？　I　have　to　know　now。〃
　　　〃I'm　no　general；〃　Perrin　said　raggedly。　There　would　be　battles　in　Illian。　Images　flashed　in　his　head。　Men　all　around　him；　and　the　axe　in　his　hands　spinning；　hewing　his　way　through。　Always　more　men；　however　many　he　cut　down；　in　endless　ranks。　And　in　his　heart；　a　seed　growing。　He　could　not　face　that　again。　He　would　not。　〃Besides；　I　thought　I　was　supposed　to　stay　close　to　you。〃　That　was　what　Min　had　said；　from　one　of　her　viewings。　Twice　Perrin　had　to　be　there；　or　Rand　would　go　down　to　disaster。　Once　had　been　Dumai's　Wells；　maybe；　but　there　was　still　another　to　e。
　　　〃We　all　must　take　risks。〃　Rand's　voice　was　very　quiet。　And　very　hard。　Min　peered　around　the　doorframe　again；　looking　as　if　she　wanted　to　e　to　him；　but　she　glanced　at　Faile　and　stayed　outside。
　　　〃Rand；　the　Aes　Sedai。。。　〃　A　smart　man　would　let　this　lie；　probably。　He　had