rj.theshadowrising-第168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！


t　was。。。　What　was？　He　could　not　seem　to　remember。
　　　　　　　He　was　lying　on　something　hard；　listening　to　Alanna　speak。　〃。。。barbs　are　caught　on　bone　as　well　as　flesh；　and　the　arrowhead　has　twisted。　I　must　realign　it　with　the　first　wound　and　pull　it　out。　If　the　shock　does　not　kill　him；　I　can　then　Heal　the　damage　I　have　done　as　well　as　the　rest。　There　is　no　other　way。　He　is　near　the　brink　now。〃　Nothing　to　do　with　him。
　　　　　　　Faile　smiled　down　at　him　tremulously；　her　face　upside　down。　Had　he　really　once　thought　her　mouth　was　too　wide？　It　was　just　right。　He　wanted　to　touch　her　cheek；　but　Mistress　al'Vere　and　Mistress　Luhhan　were　holding　his　wrists　for　some　reason；　leaning　with　all　their　weight。　Someone　was　lying　across　his　legs；　too；　and　Loial's　big　hands　swallowed　his　shoulders；　pressing　them　flat　to　the　table。　Table。　Yes。　The　kitchen　table。
　　　　　　　〃Bite　down；　my　heart；〃　Faile　said　from　far　away。　〃It　will　hurt。〃
　　　　　　　He　wanted　to　ask　her　what　would　hurt；　but　she　was　pressing　a　leather…wrapped　stick　into　his　mouth。　He　smelled　the　leather　and　the　spicewood　and　her。　Would　she　e　hunting　with　him；　running　across　the　endless　grassy　plains　after　endless　herds　of　deer？　Icy　cold　shivered　through　him；　vaguely　he　recognized　the　feel　of　the　One　Power。　And　then　there　was　pain。　He　heard　the　stick　snap　between　his　teeth　before　blackness　covered　everything。


Chapter　44
（Horned　Skull）
The　Breaking　Storm

　　　　　　　Perrin　opened　his　eyes　slowly；　staring　up　at　the　plain　white　plastered　ceiling。　It　took　a　moment　to　realize　he　was　in　a　four…posted　bed；　lying　on　a　feather　mattress　with　a　blanket　over　him　and　a　goose…down　pillow　under　his　head。　A　myriad　of　scents　danced　in　his　nose；　the　feathers　and　the　wool　of　the　blanket；　a　goose　roasting；　bread　and　honeycakes　baking。　One　of　the　Winespring　Inn's　rooms。　With　unmistakable　bright　morning　light　streaming　in　at　the　white…curtained　windows。　Morning。　He　fumbled　at　his　side。　Unbroken　skin　met　his　fingers；　but　he　felt　weaker　than　at　any　time　since　being　shot。　A　small　enough　price；　though；　and　a　fair　enough　exchange。　His　throat　felt　parched；　too。
　　　　　　　When　he　moved；　Faile　leaped　up　from　a　chair　beside　the　small　stone　fireplace；　tossing　aside　a　red　blanket　and　stretching。　She　had　changed　to　a　darker　narrow…skirted　riding　dress；　and　wrinkles　in　the　gray　silk　said　she　had　slept　in　that　chair。　〃Alanna　said　you　needed　sleep；〃　she　said。　He　reached　toward　the　white　pitcher　on　the　small　table　beside　the　bed；　and　she　hurriedly　poured　a　cup　of　water　and　held　it　for　him　to　drink。　〃You　need　to　stay　right　here　for　another　two　or　three　days；　until　you　have　your　strength　back。〃
　　　　　　　The　words　sounded　normal；　except　for　an　undercurrent　he　barely　caught；　a　tightness　at　the　corners　of　her　eyes。　〃What　is　wrong？〃
　　　　　　　She　replaced　the　cup　carefully　on　the　bedside　table　and　smoothed　her　dress。　〃Nothing　is　wrong。〃　The　taut　underlying　tone　was　even　clearer。
〃Faile；　don't　lie　to　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　lie！〃　she　snapped。　〃I　will　have　some　breakfast　brought　up　to　you；　and　you're　lucky　I　do　that；　calling　me　…〃
　　　　　　　〃Faile。〃　He　said　her　name　as　sternly　as　he　could；　and　she　hesitated；　her　most　arrogant；　chin…up　glare　changing　to　forehead…creasing　worry　and　back　again。　He　met　her　gaze　straight　on；　she　was　not　going　to　get　away　with　any　fine　lady's　haughty　tricks　with　him。
　　　　　　　At　last；　she　sighed。　〃I　suppose　you　have　a　right　to　know。　But　you　are　still　staying　in　that　bed　until　Alanna　and　I　say　you　can　get　up。　Loial　and　Gaul　are　gone。〃
　　　　　　　〃Gone？〃　He　blinked　in　confusion。　〃What　do　you　mean　gone？　They　left？〃
　　　　　　　〃In　a　way。　The　sentries　saw　them　go；　this　morning　at　first　light；　trotting　off　into　the　Westwood　together。　None　of　them　thought　anything　of　it；　certainly　none　tried　to　stop　them；　an　Ogier　and　an　Aiel。　I　heard　of　it　less　than　an　hour　ago。　They　were　talking　about　trees；　Perrin。　About　how　the　Ogier　sing　to　trees。〃
　　　　　　　〃Trees？〃　Perrin　growled。　〃It's　that　bloody　Waygate！　Burn　me；　I　told　him　not　to。。。　They'll　get　themselves　killed　before　they　reach　it！〃
　　　　　　　Throwing　off　the　blanket；　he　swung　his　legs　over　the　side　of　the　bed；　wobbling　to　his　feet。　He　had　nothing　on；　he　realized；　not　even　his　smallclothes。　But　if　they　expected　to　keep　him　caged　under　a　blanket；　they　were　sadly　mistaken。　He　could　see　everything　folded　neatly　on　the　tall…backed　chair　by　the　door；　with　his　boots　beside　it　and　his　axe　hanging　by　its　belt　from　a　peg　on　the　wall。　Stumbling　to　his　clothes；　he　began　dressing　as　quickly　as　he　could。
　　　　　　　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　Faile　demanded。　〃You　put　yourself　back　in　that　bed！〃　One　fist　on　her　hip；　she　pointed　mandingly；　as　if　her　finger　could　transport　him　there。
　　　　　　　〃They　can't　have　gotten　that　far；〃　he　told　her。　〃Not　afoot。　Gaul　won't　ride；　and　Loial　always　did　claim　he　trusted　his　own　feet　more　than　any　horse。　I　can　catch　them　up　on　Stepper　by　midday　latest。〃　Pulling　his　shirt　over　his　head　he　left　it　hanging　loose　over　his　breeches　and　sat　down…　dropped；　actually　…　to　draw　on　his　boots。
　　　　　　　〃You　are　mad；　Perrin　Aybara！　What　chance　you　can　even　find　them　in　that　forest？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　not　so　bad　at　tracking；　myself。　I　can　find　them。〃　He　smiled　at　her；　but　she　was　not　having　any。
　　　　　　　〃You　can　get　yourself　killed；　you　hairy　fool！　Look　at　you。　You　can　hardly　stand。　You　would　fall　out　of　the　saddle　before　you　had　gone　a　mile！〃
　　　　　　　Hiding　the　effort　involved；　he　stood　and　stamped　his　feet　to　settle　them　in　his　boots。　Stepper　would　do　all　the　work；　he　only　needed　to　hold　on。　〃Nonsense。　I'm　strong　as　a　horse。　Stop　trying　to　bully　me。〃　Shrugging　into　his　coat；　he　snatched　up　his　axe　and　belt。　Faile　caught　his　arm　as　he　opened　the　door；　and　was　pulled　along；　vainly　trying　to　haul　him　back。
　　　　　　　〃Sometimes　you　have　the　brains　of　a　horse；〃　she　panted。　〃Less！　Perrin；　you　must　listen　to　me。　You　must　…〃
　　　　　　　The　room　lay　only　a　few　steps　along　the　narrow　hallway　from　the　stairs　leading　down　to　the　empty　mon　room；　and　it　was　the　stairs　that　betrayed　him。　When　his　knee　bent　to　lower　him　that　first　step；　it　kept　right　on　bending；　he　toppled　forward；　vainly　trying　to　catch　the　banister；　pulling　a　yelling　Faile　with　him。　Rolling　over　and　over；　they　thumped　down　the　stairs　to　e　up　with　a　final　thud　against　the　barrel　at　the　bottom；　Faile　lying　stretched　full…length　atop　him。　The　barrel　teetered　and　spun；　rattling　the　swords　inside；　before　settling　with　a　final　clank。
　　　　　　　It　took　a　moment　for　Perrin　to　gather　enough　breath　to　speak。　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　he　said　anxiously。　She　was　sprawled　limply　on　his　chest。　He　shook　her　gently。　〃Faile；　are　you　…？〃
　　　　　　　Slowly　she　raised　her　head　and　brushed　a　few　short　strands　of　dark　hair　from　her　face；　then　stared　at　him　intently。　〃Are　you　all　right？　Because　if　you　are；　I　may　very　well　do　something　violent　to　you。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　snorted；　she　was　probably　hurt　less　than　he。　Gingerly；　he　felt　at　where　the　arrow　had　been；　but　that　was　in　no　worse　shape　than　the　rest　of　him。　Of　course；　the　rest　of　him　seemed　bruised　from　head　to　toe。　〃Get　off　of　me；　Faile。　I　need　to　fetch　Stepper。〃
　　　　　　　Instead；　she　seized　his　collar　with　both　hands　and　leaned　very　close；　until　their　noses　almost　touched。　〃Listen　to　me；　Perrin；〃　she　said　urgently。　〃You　…　can　…　not　…　do　…　everything。　If　Loial　and　Gaul　have　gone　to　lock　the　Waygate；　you　must　let　them。　Your　place　is　here。　Even　if　you　were　strong　enough　…　and　you　are　not！　Do　you　hear　me？　You　are　not　strong　enough！　…　but　even　if　you　were；　you　must　not　go　after　them。　You　cannot　do　everything！〃
　　　　　　　〃Why；　whatever　are　you　two　doing？〃　Marin　al'Vere　said。　Wiping　her　hands　on　her　long　white　apron；　she　came　from　the　back　door　of　the　mon　room。　Her　eyebrows　looked　to　be　trying　to　climb　into　her　hair。　〃I　expected　Trollocs　after　all　that　racket；　but　not　this。〃　She　sounded　half　scandalized；　and　half　amused。
　　　　　　　What　they　looked　like；　Perrin　realized；　with　Faile　lying　on　him　that　way；　their　heads　close　together；　was　a　couple　playing　kissing　games。　On　the　floor　of　the　mon　room。
　　　　　　　Faile's　cheeks　reddened　and　she　got　up　very　quickly；　dusting　her　dress。　〃He　is　as　stubborn　as　a　Trolloc；　Mistress　al'Vere。　I　told　him　he　was　too　weak　to　rise。　He　must　go　back　to　his　bed　immediately。　He　has　to　learn　he　cannot　do　everything　himself；　especially　when　he　cannot　even　walk　down　a　flight　of　steps。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　my　dear；〃　Mistress　al'Vere　said；　shaking　her　head；　〃that　is　quite　the　wrong　way。〃　Leaning　close　to　the　younger　woman；　she　whispered　softly；　but　Perrin　heard　every　word。　〃He　was　an　easy　little　boy　to　manage　most　of　the　time；　if　you　handled　him　properly；　but　when　you　tried　to　push　him；　he　was　as　muley　as　any　in　the　Two　Rivers。　Men　don't　really　change　that　much；　only　grow　taller。　If　you　go　telling　him　what　he　must　and　musn't　do；　he　will　surely　lay　his　ears　back　and　dig　his　heels　in。　Let　me　show　you。〃　Marin　turned　a　beaming　smile　on　him；　ignoring　his　glare。　〃Perrin；　don't　you　think　one　of　my　good　goose…feather　mattresses　is　better　than　that　floor？　I'll　bring　you　some　of　my　kidney　pie　just　as　soon　as　we　have　you　tucked　in。　You　must　be　hungry；　after　no　supper　last　night。　Here。　Why　don't　let　me　help　you　up？〃
　　　　　　　Pushing　their　hands　away；　he　stood　on　his　own。　Well；　with　the　aid　of　the　wall。　He　thought　he　might　have　sprained　half　the　muscl