rj.theshadowrising-第169节

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　　　　　　　Pushing　their　hands　away；　he　stood　on　his　own。　Well；　with　the　aid　of　the　wall。　He　thought　he　might　have　sprained　half　the　muscles　in　his　body。　Muley？　He　had　never　been　muley　in　his　life。　〃Mistress　al'Vere；　would　you　have　Hu　or　Tad　saddle　Stepper？〃
　　　　　　　〃When　you're　better；〃　she　said；　trying　to　turn　him　toward　the　stairs。　〃Don't　you　think　you　could　do　with　just　a　little　more　rest？〃　Faile　took　his　other　arm。
　　　　　　　〃Trollocs！〃　The　cry　from　outside　came　muffled　through　the　walls；　echoed　by　a　dozen　voices。　〃Trollocs！　Trollocs！〃
　　　　　　　〃That　needn't　concern　you　today；〃　Mistress　al'Vere　said；　firm　and　soothing　at　the　same　time。　It　made　him　want　to　grit　his　teeth。　〃The　Aes　Sedai　will　handle　things　nicely。　In　a　day　or　two　we'll　have　you　back　on　your　feet。　You　will　see。〃
　　　　　　　〃My　horse；〃　he　said；　trying　to　pull　free。　They　had　good　holds　on　his　coatsleeves；　all　he　acplished　was　swinging　them　back　and　forth。　〃For　the　love　of　the　Light；　will　you　stop　tugging　at　me　and　let　me　get　my　horse？　Let　go　of　me。〃
　　　　　　　Looking　at　his　face；　Faile　sighed　and　released　his　arm。　〃Mistress　al'Vere；　will　you　have　his　horse　saddled　and　brought　around？〃
　　　　　　　〃But　my　dear；　he　really　needs　…〃
　　　　　　　〃If　you　please；　Mistress　al'Vere；〃　Faile　said　firmly。　〃And　my　horse；　too。〃　The　two　women　looked　at　each　other　as　if　he　did　not　exist。　At　last　Mistress　al'Vere　nodded。
　　　　　　　Perrin　frowned　at　her　back　as　she　hurried　across　the　mon　room　and　vanished　toward　the　kitchen；　and　the　stable。　What　had　Faile　said　different　from　what　he　had？　Turning　his　attention　to　her；　he　said；　〃Why　did　you　change　your　mind？〃
　　　　　　　Tucking　his　shirt　in　for　him；　she　muttered　under　her　breath。　Doubtless　he　was　not　supposed　to　hear　well　enough　to　understand。　〃I　musn't　say　must；　must　I？　When　he　is　too　stubborn　to　see　straight；　I　must　lead　him　with　honey　and　smiles；　must　I？〃　She　shot　him　a　glare　that　surely　had　no　honey　in　it；　then　abruptly　changed　to　a　smile　so　sweet　he　very　nearly　backed　away。　〃My　dear　heart；〃　she　almost　cooed；　pulling　his　coat　straight；　〃whatever　is　happening　out　there；　I　do　hope　you　will　stay　in　your　saddle；　and　as　far　from　Trollocs　as　you　can。　You　really　are　not　up　to　facing　a　Trolloc　just　yet；　are　you？　Maybe　tomorrow。　Please　remember　you　are　a　general；　a　leader；　and　every　bit　as　much　a　symbol　to　your　people　as　that　banner　out　there。　If　you　are　up　where　people　can　see　you；　it　will　lift　everyone's　heart。　And　it　is　much　easier　to　see　what　needs　doing　and　give　orders　if　you　aren't　in　the　fighting　yourself。〃　Picking　his　belt　off　the　floor；　she　buckled　it　around　his　waist；　settling　the　axe　carefully　on　his　hip。　She　also　batted　her　eyes　at　him！　〃Please　say　you　will　do　that。　Please？〃
　　　　　　　She　was　right。　He　would　not　last　two　minutes　against　a　Trolloc。　More　like　two　seconds　against　a　Fade。　And　much　as　he　hated　to　admit　it；　he　would　not　last　two　miles　in　the　saddle　chasing　after　Loial　and　Gaul。　Fool　Ogier。　You're　a　writer；　not　a　hero。　〃All　right；〃　he　said。　A　mischievous　impulse　seized　him。　The　way　she　and　Mistress　al'Vere　had　been　talking　over　his　head；　and　batting　her　eyes　as　if　he　were　a　fool。　〃I　can't　refuse　you　anything　when　you　smile　so　prettily。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　glad。〃　Still　smiling；　she　brushed　at　his　coat；　picking　lint　he　could　not　see。　〃Because　if　you　don't；　and　you　manage　to　survive；　I'll　do　to　you　what　you　did　to　me　that　first　day　in　the　Ways。　I　don't　think　you　are　strong　enough　yet　to　stop　me。〃　That　smile　beamed　up　into　his　face；　all　springtime　and　sweetness。　〃Do　you　understand　me？〃
　　　　　　　He　chuckled　in　spite　of　himself。　〃Sounds　as　if　I　had　better　let　them　kill　me。〃　She　did　not　seem　to　think　that　was　funny。
　　　　　　　Hu　and　Tad；　the　lanky　stablemen；　led　Stepper　and　Swallow　around　soon　after　they　stepped　outside。　Everyone　else　seemed　to　be　gathered　at　the　far　end　of　the　village；　beyond　the　Green　with　its　sheep　and　cows　and　geese；　and　that　crimson…and…white　wolfhead　banner　rippling　on　the　morning　breeze。　As　soon　as　he　and　Faile　were　up　on　their　horses；　the　stablemen　took　off　running　that　way；　too；　without　a　word。
　　　　　　　Whatever　was　going　on；　it　was　clearly　not　an　attack。　He　could　see　women　and　children　in　the　crowd；　and　the　shouts　of　〃Trolloc〃　had　died　down　to　a　murmur　like　an　echo　of　the　geese。　He　rode　slowly；　not　wanting　to　waver　in　his　saddle；　Faile　kept　Swallow　close；　watching　him。　If　she　could　change　her　mind　once　for　no　reason；　she　could　again；　and　he　did　not　want　any　arguments　about　whether　he　should　be　there。
　　　　　　　The　babbling　crowd　did　appear　to　contain　everyone　in　Emond's　Field；　villagers　and　farmers　alike；　all　jammed　shoulder　to　shoulder；　but　they　made　way　for　him　and　Faile　when　they　saw　who　he　was。　His　name　entered　the　murmurs；　usually　tagged　with　Goldeneyes。　He　picked　up　the　word　〃Trollocs；〃　too；　but　in　tones　more　wondering　than　frightened。　From　Stepper's　back　he　had　a　good　view　over　their　heads。
　　　　　　　The　knotted　mass　of　people　stretched　all　the　way　beyond　the　last　houses　to　the　hedge　of　sharpened　stakes。　The　edge　of　the　forest；　nearly　six　hundred　paces　off　across　a　field　of　stumps　nearly　level　with　the　ground；　was　quiet　and　empty　of　men　with　axes。　Those　men　made　a　sweaty；　bare…chested　ring　in　the　crowd　surrounding　Alanna　and　Verin　and　two　men。　Jon　Thane；　the　miller；　was　wiping　a　smear　of　blood　from　his　ribs；　lantern　jaw　on　his　chest　so　he　could　stare　at　what　his　hands　were　doing。　Alanna　straightened　from　the　other　man；　a　grizzle…haired　fellow　Perrin　did　not　know；　who　leaped　to　his　feet　and　danced　a　step　as　if　not　quite　believing　he　could。　He　and　the　miller　both　looked　at　the　Aes　Sedai　with　awe。
　　　　　　　The　tangle　around　the　Aes　Sedai　was　too　tight　for　anyone　to　shift　aside　for　Stepper　and　Swallow；　but　there　were　smaller　clear　pockets　around　Ihvon　and　Tomas；　off　to　either　side　on　their　war…horses。　Folk　did　not　want　to　e　too　near　those　fierce…eyed　animals；　both　looking　as　though　they　only　wanted　an　opportunity　to　bite　or　trample。
　　　　　　　Perrin　managed　to　reach　Tomas　without　too　much　trouble。　〃What　happened？〃
　　　　　　　〃A　Trolloc。　Only　one。〃　Despite　the　graying　Warder's　conversational　tone；　his　dark　eyes　did　not　rest　on　Perrin　and　Faile；　but　kept　an　almost　equal　watch　on　Verin　and　on　the　treeline。　〃They　usually　are　not　very　smart；　alone。　Sly；　but　not　smart。　The　timbering　party　drove　it　away　before　it　did　more　than　draw　some　blood。〃
　　　　　　　From　out　of　the　trees　the　two　Aiel　women　appeared；　running；　heads　shoufa…wrapped　and　veiled　so　he　could　not　tell　which　was　which。　They　slowed　to　snake　between　the　sharp…pointed　stakes；　then　slipped　deftly　through　the　crowd；　people　moving　out　of　their　way　as　much　as　possible　in　that　press。　By　the　time　they　reached　Faile；　they　had　unveiled；　and　she　leaned　down　to　listen。
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　five　hundred　Trollocs；〃　Bain　told　her；　〃probably　no　more　than　a　mile　or　two　behind　us。〃　Her　voice　was　level；　but　her　dark　blue　eyes　sparkled　with　eagerness。　So　did　Chiad's　gray。
　　　　　　　〃As　I　expected；〃　Tomas　said　calmly。　〃That　one　likely　wandered　off　from　the　larger　body　hoping　to　find　a　meal。　The　rest　will　be　ing　soon；　I　think。〃　The　Maidens　nodded。
　　　　　　　Perrin　gestured　in　consternation　at　the　jam　of　people。　〃They　shouldn't　be　out　here；　then。　Why　haven't　you　cleared　them　away？〃
　　　　　　　It　was　Ihvon；　bringing　his　gray　into　the　gathering；　who　answered。　〃Your　people　do　not　seem　to　want　to　listen　to　outsiders；　not　when　they　can　watch　Aes　Sedai。　I　would　suggest　you　see　what　you　can　do。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　was　sure　they　could　have　imposed　some　sort　of　order　had　they　really　tried。　Verin　and　Alanna　surely　could　have。　So　why　did　they　wait　and　leave　it　to　me；　if　they　expected　Trollocs？　It　would　have　been　easy　to　put　it　down　to　ta'veren　…　easy；　and　foolish。　Ihvon　and　Tomas　were　not　going　to　let　Trollocs　kill　them　…　or　Verin；　or　Alanna　…　while　waiting　for　a　ta'veren　to　tell　them　what　to　do。　The　Aes　Sedai　were　maneuvering　him；　risking　everyone；　maybe　even　themselves。　But　to　what　possible　end？　He　met　Faile's　eyes；　and　she　nodded　slightly；　as　if　she　knew　what　he　was　thinking。
　　　　　　　He　had　no　time　to　try　figuring　it　out　now。　Scanning　the　crowd；　he　spotted　Bran　al'Vere；　putting　his　head　together　with　Tam　al'Thor　and　Abell　Cauthon。　The　Mayor　had　a　long　spear　on　his　shoulder　and　a　dented　old　round　steel　cap　on　his　head。　A　leather　jerkin　sewn　all　over　with　steel　discs　strained　around　his　bulk。
　　　　　　　All　three　men　looked　up　when　Perrin　pushed　Stepper　through　the　crowd　to　them。　〃Bain　says　Trollocs　are　heading　this　way；　and　the　Warders　think　we　may　be　attacked　soon。〃　He　had　to　shout　because　of　the　incessant　drone　of　voices。　Some　of　the　nearer　folk　heard　and　fell　silent；　quiet　spread　on　ripples　of　〃Trolloc〃　and　〃attack。〃
　　　　　　　Bran　blinked。　〃Yes。　It　had　to　e；　didn't　it？　Yes；　well；　we　know　what　to　do。〃　He　should　have　looked　ic；　with　his　jerkin　ready　to　pop　its　seams　and　his　steel　cap　wobbling　when　he　nodded；　but　he　only　looked　determined。　Raising　his　voice；　he　announced；　〃Perrin　says　the　Trollocs　will　be　here　soon。　You　all　know　your　places。　Hurry；　now。　Hurry。〃
　　　　　　　The　crowd　stirred　and　flowed；　women　herding　children　back　toward　the　houses；　men　milling　every　which　way。　Confusion　seemed　to　grow　more　rather　than　less。
　　　　　　　〃I'll　see　to　getting　the　shepherds　in；〃　Abell　told　Perrin；　and　dove　into　the　throng。
　　　　　　　Cenn　Buie　pushed　past　in