rj.thepathofdaggers-第122部分

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o　draw　that　sword　on　his　back。
　　　　　　　The　large；　carpeted　room　the　woman　led　them　to；　with　fires　blazing　on　hearths　at　either　end；　might　have　been　a　general's　study；　every　table　and　half　the　chairs　covered　with　maps　and　papers；　and　warm　enough　that　Perrin　tossed　his　cloak　back　and　regretted　wearing　two　shirts　under　his　coat。　But　it　was　Masema　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　room　who　drew　his　eyes　immediately；　like　iron　filings　to　a　lodestone；　a　dark；　scowling　man　with　a　shaven　head　and　a　pale　triangular　scar　on　one　cheek；　in　a　wrinkled　gray　coat　and　scuffed　boots。　His　deep…set　eyes　burned　with　a　black　fire；　and　his　scent。。。　The　only　name　Perrin　could　give　that　smell；　steel…hard　and　blade…sharp　and　quivering　with　wild　intensity；　was　madness。　And　Rand　thought　he　could　put　a　leash　on　this？
　　　　　　　〃So；　it　is　you；〃　Masema　growled。　〃I　did　not　think　you　would　dare　show　your　face。　I　know　what　you've　been　up　to！　Hari　told　me　more　than　a　week　ago；　and　I　have　kept　myself　informed。〃　A　man　shifted　in　a　corner　of　the　room；　a　narrow…eyed　fellow　with　a　thrusting　nose；　and　Perrin　upbraided　himself　for　not　noticing　him　before。　Hari's　green　silk　coat　was　much　finer　than　what　he　had　worn　when　he　denied　collecting　ears。　The　fellow　rubbed　his　hands　together　and　grinned　at　Perrin　viciously；　but　he　kept　silent　as　Masema　went　on。　The　Prophet's　voice　grew　hotter　by　the　word；　not　with　anger；　but　as　though　he　meant　to　burn　every　syllable　deep　into　Perrin's　flesh。　〃I　know　about　you　murdering　men　who　have　e　to　the　Lord　Dragon。　I　know　about　you　trying　to　carve　out　your　own　kingdom！　Yes；　I　know　about　Manetheren！　About　your　ambition！　Your　greed　for　glory！　You　have　turned　your　back　on　…！〃
　　　　　　　Suddenly　Masema's　eyes　bulged；　and　for　the　first　time；　anger　flamed　in　his　scent。　Hari　made　a　strangled　sound　and　tried　to　back　through　the　wall。　Seonid　and　Masuri　had　lowered　their　hoods　and　stood　with　bare　faces；　calm　and　cool；　and　plainly　Aes　Sedai　to　anyone　who　knew　the　look。　Perrin　wondered　whether　they　held　the　Power。　He　would　have　wagered　that　the　Wise　Ones　did。　Edarra　and　Carelle　were　quietly　watching　every　direction　at　once；　and　smooth　faces　or　no；　if　he　had　ever　seen　anyone　ready　to　fight；　it　was　them。　For　that　matter；　Grady　wore　readiness　like　his　black　coat；　maybe　he　held　the　Power；　too。　Elyas　was　leaning　against　the　wall　beside　the　open　doors；　outwardly　as　posed　as　the　sisters；　but　he　smelled　ready　to　bite。　And　Aram　stood　gazing　at　Masema　with　his　mouth　hanging　open！　Light！
　　　　　　　〃So　that　is　true；　too！〃　Masema　snapped；　spittle　flying　from　his　lips。　〃With　filthy　rumors　spreading　against　the　holy　name　of　the　Lord　Dragon；　you　dare　to　ride　with　these。。。　these。。。！〃
　　　　　　　〃They've　sworn　fealty　to　the　Lord　Dragon；　Masema；〃　Perrin　cut　in。　〃They　serve　him！　Do　you？　He　sent　me　to　stop　the　killing。　And　to　bring　you　to　him。〃　No　one　was　offering　him　a　chair；　so　he　pushed　a　stack　of　papers　from　one　and　sat。　He　wished　the　rest　would　sit；　too；　shouting　seemed　harder　when　you　were　sitting　down。
　　　　　　　Hari　goggled　at　him；　and　Masema　was　practically　shaking。　Because　he　had　taken　a　chair　without　being　asked？　Oh。　Yes。
　　　　　　　〃I　have　given　up　the　names　of　men；〃　Masema　said　coldly。　〃I　am　simply　the　Prophet　of　the　Lord　Dragon；　may　the　Light　illumine　him　and　the　world　e　to　kneel　before　him。〃　By　his　tone；　the　world　and　the　Light　would　regret　failure　equally。　〃There　is　much　to　do　here；　yet。　Great　works。　All　must　obey　when　the　Lord　Dragon　calls；　but　in　winter；　travel　is　always　slow。　A　delay　of　a　few　weeks　will　make　little　difference。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　can　have　you　in　Cairhien　today；〃　Perrin　said。　〃Once　the　Lord　Dragon　has　spoken　to　you；　you　can　return　the　same　way　and　be　back　here　in　a　few　days。〃　If　Rand　let　him　return。
　　　　　　　Masema　actually　recoiled。　Baring　his　teeth；　he　glared　at　the　Aes　Sedai。　〃Some　contrivance　of　the　Power？　I　will　not　be　touched　with　the　Power！　It　is　blasphemy　for　mortals　to　touch　it！〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　came　close　to　gaping。　〃The　Dragon　Reborn　channels；　man！〃
　　　　　　　〃The　blessed　Lord　Dragon　is　not　as　other　men；　Aybara！〃　Masema　snarled。　〃He　is　the　Light　made　flesh！　I　will　obey　his　summons；　but　I　will　not　be　touched　by　the　filth　these　women　do！〃
　　　　　　　Slumping　back　in　the　chair；　Perrin　sighed。　If　the　man　was　this　bad　over　Aes　Sedai；　how　would　he　be　when　he　learned　that　Grady　and　Neald　could　channel？　For　a　moment；　he　considered　simply　knocking　Masema　over　the　head；　and。。。　Men　were　passing　by　in　the　corridor；　pausing　to　glance　in　before　hurrying　on。　All　it　took　was　one　of　them　raising　a　shout；　and　Abila　could　bee　a　slaughterhouse。　〃Then　we　ride；　Prophet；〃　he　said　sourly。　Light；　Rand　had　said　to　keep　this　secret　until　Masema　stood　in　front　of　him！　How　to　manage　that　riding　all　the　way　to　Cairhien？　〃But　no　delays。　The　Lord　Dragon　is　very　anxious　to　talk　with　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　anxious　to　speak　with　the　Lord　Dragon；　may　his　name　be　blessed　by　the　Light。〃　His　eyes　flickered　toward　the　two　Aes　Sedai。　He　tried　to　hide　it；　actually　smiling　at　Perrin。　But　he　smelled。。。　grim。　〃I　am　very　anxious　indeed。〃
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　〃Would　my　Lady　like　me　to　ask　one　of　the　handlers　to　bring　her　a　hawk？〃　Maighdin　asked。　One　of　Alliandre's　four　hawk　handlers；　all　men　as　lean　as　their　birds；　urged　a　sleek　duckhawk　wearing　a　feathered　hood　onto　his　heavy　gauntlet　from　the　wooden　stand　in　front　of　his　saddle　and　lifted　the　gray　bird　toward　her。　The　falcon；　with　its　blue…tipped　wings；　was　on　Alliandre's　green…gloved　wrist。　That　bird　was　reserved　to　her；　unfortunately。　Alliandre　knew　her　place　as　a　vassal；　but　Faile　understood　not　wanting　to　relinquish　a　favorite　bird。
　　　　　　　She　merely　shook　her　head；　and　Maighdin　bowed　in　her　saddle　and　moved　her　roan　mare　away　from　Swallow；　far　enough　not　to　intrude　but　close　enough　to　be　at　hand　without　Faile　raising　her　voice。　The　dignified　golden…haired　woman　had　proved　to　be　every　bit　as　good　a　lady's　maid　as　Faile　had　hoped；　knowledgeable；　capable。　At　least；　she　had　once　she　learned　that　whatever　their　relative　positions　with　their　former　mistress；　Lini　was　first　among　Faile's　serving　women；　and　willing　to　use　her　authority。　Surprisingly；　that　had　actually　taken　an　episode　with　a　switch；　but　Faile　pretended　not　to　know。　Only　an　utter　fool　embarrassed　her　servants。　There　was　still　the　matter　of　Maighdin　and　Tallanvor；　of　course。　She　was　certain　Maighdin　had　begun　sharing　his　bed；　and　if　she　found　proof；　they　would　marry　if　she　had　to　turn　Lini　loose　on　both　of　them。　Still；　that　was　a　small　matter；　and　could　not　spoil　her　morning。
　　　　　　　Hawking　had　been　Alliandre's　idea；　but　Faile　had　not　objected　to　a　ride　through　this　sparse　forest；　where　snow　made　a　rolling　blanket　over　everything　and　lay　thick　and　white　on　bare　branches。　The　green　of　the　trees　that　still　held　their　leaves　seemed　sharper。　The　air　was　crisp；　and　it　smelled　new　and　fresh。
　　　　　　　Bain　and　Chiad　had　insisted　on　acpanying　her；　but　they　squatted　nearby；　shoufa　wrapped　around　their　heads；　watching　her　with　disgruntled　expressions。　Sulin　had　wanted　to　e　with　all　of　the　Maidens；　but　with　a　hundred　stories　of　Aiel　depredations　floating　everywhere；　the　sight　of　an　Aiel　was　enough　to　send　most　people　in　Amadicia　running　or　reaching　for　a　sword。　There　must　be　some　truth　in　those　tales；　or　so　many　would　not　know　an　Aiel；　though　the　Light　alone　knew　who　they　were　or　where　they　had　e　from；　yet　even　Sulin　agreed　that　whoever　they　were；　they　had　moved　on　east；　perhaps　into　Altara。
　　　　　　　In　any　case；　this　close　to　Abila；　twenty　of　Alliandre's　soldiers　and　as　many　Mayener　Winged　Guards　provided　sufficient　escort。　The　streamers　on　their　lances；　red　or　green；　lifted　like　ribbons　when　the　breeze　stirred。　Berelain's　presence　was　the　only　blight。　Though　watching　the　woman　shiver　in　her　fur…trimmed　red　cloak；　thick　enough　for　two　blankets；　was　certainly　amusing。　Mayene　did　not　have　a　real　winter。　This　was　like　the　last　days　of　autumn。　In　Saldaea；　the　heart　of　winter　could　freeze　exposed　flesh　hard　as　wood。　Faile　took　a　deep　breath。　She　felt　like　laughing。
　　　　　　　By　some　miracle；　her　husband；　her　beloved　wolf；　had　begun　behaving　as　he　should。　Instead　of　shouting　at　Berelain　or　running　from　her；　Perrin　now　tolerated　the　jade's　blandishments；　plainly　tolerated　them　the　way　he　would　a　child　playing　around　his　knees。　And　best　of　all；　there　was　no　longer　any　need　to　tamp　down　her　anger　when　she　wanted　to　let　it　loose。　When　she　shouted；　he　shouted　back。　She　knew　he　was　not　Saldaean；　but　it　had　been　so　hard；　thinking　in　her　heart　of　hearts　that　he　believed　her　too　weak　to　stand　up　to　him。　A　few　nights　ago　at　supper；　she　had　almost　pointed　out　to　him　that　Berelain　was　going　to　fall　out　of　her　dress　if　she　leaned　over　the　table　any　further。　Well；　she　was　not　going　to　that　far；　not　with　Berelain；　the　trull　still　thought　she　could　win　him。　And　that　very　morning；　he　had　been　manding；　quietly　brooking　no　argument；　the　sort　of　man　a　woman　knew　she　had　to　be　strong　to　deserve；　to　equal。　Of　course；　she　would　have　to　nip　him　over　that。　A　manding　man　was　wonderful；　so　long　as　he　did　not　e　to　believe　he　could　always　mand。　Laugh？　She　could　have　sung！
　　　　　　　〃Maighdin；　I　think　after　all　I　will。。。　〃　Maighdin　was　there　immediately　with　an　inquiring　smile；　but　Faile　trailed　off　at　the　sight　of　three　riders　ahead　of　her；　plowing　through　the　snow　as　fast　as　they　could　push　their　horses。
　　　　　　　〃At　least　there　are　plenty　of　hares；　my　Lady；〃　Alliandre　said；　walking　her　tall　white　gelding　up　beside　Swallow；　〃but　I　had　hoped。。。　Who　are　they？〃　Her　falcon　shifted　on　her　thick　glove；　the　bells　on　its　jesses　jingling。　〃Why；　it　looks　like　some　of　your　people；　my　Lady。〃
　　　　　　　Faile　nodded　grimly。　She　recognized　them；　too。　Parelean；　Arrela　and　Lacile。　But　what　were　they　doing　here？
　　　　　　　The　three　drew　rein　before　her；　their　horses　panting　steam。　Parelean　looked　as　wide…eyed　as　his　dapple。　Lacile；　her　pale　face　nearly　hidden　in　the　deep　cowl　of　her　cloak；　was　swallowing　anxiously；　and　Arrela's　dark　face　seemed　gray。　〃My　Lady；〃　Parelean　said　urgently；　〃dire　news！　The　Prophet　Masema　has　been　meeting　with　the　Seanchan！〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Seanchan！〃　Alliandre　exclaimed。　〃Surely　he　cannot　believe　they　will　e　to　the　Lord　Dragon！〃
　　　　　　　〃It　might　be　simpler；〃　Berelain　said；　heeling　her　too…showy　white　mare　up　on　Alliandre's　other　side。　Without　Perrin　about　f