rj.thepathofdaggers-第33部分

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ld　push　him　the　way　they　wanted　him　to　go。　In　truth；　he　wanted　to　choose　her；　yet　he　hesitated。　How　far　did　her　oath　of　fealty　to　Rand　truly　hold？　Further　than　he　would　have　believed；　by　the　evidence　seen　so　far；　but　still；　how　far　could　he　trust　an　Aes　Sedai？　The　arrival　of　Seonid's　two　Warders　spared　him　for　another　few　minutes。
　　　　　　　They　rode　up　together；　though　they　had　gone　out　separately；　keeping　their　horses　well　back　into　the　trees　along　the　ridgeline　so　they　would　not　be　seen　from　the　town。　Furen　was　a　Tairen；　nearly　as　dark　as　good　soil；　with　gray　streaking　his　curly　black　hair；　while　Teryl；　a　Murandian；　was　twenty　years　younger；　with　dark　reddish　hair；　curled　mustaches；　and　eyes　bluer　than　Edarra's；　yet　they　were　stamped　from　the　same　mold；　tall　and　lean　and　hard。　They　dismounted　smoothly；　cloaks　shifting　colors　and　vanishing　in　a　queasy…making　way；　and　made　their　reports　to　Seonid；　deliberately　ignoring　the　Wise　Ones。　And　Perrin。
　　　　　　　〃It's　worse　than　back　north；〃　Furen　said　disgustedly。　A　few　drops　of　sweat　beaded　on　his　forehead；　but　neither　man　appeared　much　affected　by　the　heat。　〃The　local　nobles　are　shut　up　in　their　manors　or　the　town；　and　the　Queen's　soldiers　keep　inside　the　town　walls。　They've　abandoned　the　countryside　to　the　Prophet's　men。　And　the　bandits；　though　those　seem　scarce　around　here。　The　Prophet's　people　are　all　over。　I　think　Alliandre　will　be　happy　to　see　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃Rabble；〃　Teryl　snorted；　slapping　his　reins　on　his　palm。　〃I　never　saw　more　than　fifteen　or　twenty　in　one　place；　armed　with　pitchforks　and　boar　spears　mainly。　Ragged　as　beggars；　they　were。　Fit　for　scaring　farmers；　to　be　sure；　but　you'd　think　the　lords　would　be　rooting　them　out　and　hanging　them　in　bunches。　The　Queen　will　kiss　your　hand　to　see　a　sister。〃
　　　　　　　Seonid　opened　her　mouth；　then　glanced　up　at　Edarra；　who　nodded。　If　anything；　gaining　permission　to　speak　tightened　the　Green's　mouth　more。　Her　tone　was　mild　as　butter；　though。　〃There　is　no　more　reason　to　put　off　your　decision；　Lord　Aybara。〃　She　emphasized　that　title　a　bit；　knowing　exactly　how　much　right　he　had　to　it。　〃Your　wife　can　claim　a　great　House；　and　Berelain　is　a　ruler；　yet　Saldaean　Houses　count　little　here；　and　Mayene　is　the　smallest　of　nations。　An　Aes　Sedai　for　an　emissary　will　put　the　weight　of　the　White　Tower　behind　you　in　Alliandre's　eyes。〃　Perhaps　recalling　that　Annoura　would　do　for　that　as　well　as　she；　she　hurried　on。　〃Besides；　I　have　been　in　Ghealdan　before；　and　my　name　is　well　known。　Alliandre　will　not　only　receive　me　immediately；　she　will　listen　to　what　I　say。〃
　　　　　　　〃Nevarin　and　I　will　go　with　her；〃　Edarra　said；　and　Nevarin　added；　〃We　will　make　sure　she　says　nothing　she　should　not。〃　Seonid　ground　her　teeth　audibly；　to　Perrin's　ears；　and　busied　herself　smoothing　her　divided　skirts；　eyes　carefully　down。　Annoura　made　a　sound；　very　nearly　a　grunt；　and　turned　her　head　from　the　sight；　she　herself　stayed　away　from　the　Wise　Ones；　and　did　not　like　seeing　the　other　sisters　with　them。
　　　　　　　Perrin　wanted　to　groan。　Sending　the　Green　would　lift　him　off　a　spike；　yet　the　Wise　Ones　trusted　Aes　Sedai　less　than　he　did　and　kept　Seonid　and　Masuri　on　short　leashes。　There　had　been　tales　about　Aiel　in　the　villages　recently；　too。　None　of　those　folk　had　ever　seen　an　Aiel；　but　rumors　about　the　Aiel　following　the　Dragon　Reborn　drifted　in　the　air；　half　of　Ghealdan　was　sure　there　were　Aiel　just　a　day　or　two　away；　and　each　story　was　stranger　and　more　horrible　than　the　last。　Alliandre　might　be　too　frightened　to　let　him　near　her　once　she　saw　a　pair　of　Aiel　women　telling　an　Aes　Sedai　when　to　hop。　And　Seonid　was　hopping；　however　much　she　ground　her　teeth！　Well；　he　was　not　about　to　risk　Faile　without　more　assurance　of　her　greeting　than　a　vaguely　worded　letter　received　months　ago。　That　spike　dug　deeper；　right　between　his　shoulder　blades；　yet　he　had　no　choice　at　all。
　　　　　　　〃A　small　party　will　get　through　those　gates　easier　than　a　large；〃　he　said　finally；　stuffing　the　looking　glass　into　his　saddlebags。　It　would　set　fewer　tongues　wagging；　as　well。　〃That　means　just　you　and　Annoura；　Berelain。　And　maybe　Lord　Gallenne。　Likely　they'll　take　him　for　Annoura's　Warder。〃
　　　　　　　Berelain　chortled　in　delight；　leaning　to　clasp　his　arm　with　both　hands。　She　did　not　leave　it　at　that；　of　course。　Her　fingers　squeezed　caressingly；　and　she　flashed　a　heated　smile　of　promise；　then　straightened　before　he　could　move；　her　face　suddenly　innocent　as　a　babe's。　Expressionless；　Faile　focused　on　pulling　her　gray　riding　gloves　snug。　By　her　scent；　she　had　not　noticed　Berelain's　smile。　She　hid　her　disappointment　well。
　　　　　　　〃I'm　sorry；　Faile；〃　he　said；　〃but　…　〃
　　　　　　　Outrage　flared　in　the　smell　of　her　like　thorns。　〃I　am　certain　you　have　matters　to　discuss　with　the　First　before　she　goes；　husband；〃　she　said　calmly。　Her　tilted　eyes　were　pure　serenity；　her　scent　sand　burrs。　〃Best　you　see　to　her　now。〃　Pulling　Swallow　around；　Faile　walked　the　mare　over　to　a　plainly　fuming　Seonid　and　the　tight…faced　Wise　Ones；　but　she　did　not　dismount　or　speak　to　them。　Instead　she　frowned　down　at　Bethal；　a　falcon　staring　from　her　eyrie。
　　　　　　　Perrin　realized　he　was　feeling　at　his　nose　and　pulled　his　hand　down。　There　was　no　blood；　of　course；　his　nose　only　felt　as　if　there　should　be。
　　　　　　　Berelain　needed　no　last…minute　instructions　…　the　First　of　Mayene　and　her　Gray　advisor　were　all　impatience　to　be　off；　all　certainty　they　knew　what　to　say　and　do　…　yet　Perrin　stressed　caution　anyway；　and　emphasized　that　Berelain　and　only　Berelain　was　to　speak　with　Alliandre。　Annoura　gave　him　one　of　those　cool　Aes　Sedai　looks　and　nodded。　Which　might　have　been　agreement　or　might　not；　he　doubted　he　could　get　more　out　of　her　with　a　pry…bar。　Berelain's　lips　curled　in　amusement；　though　she　agreed　with　everything　he　said。　Or　said　she　did。　He　suspected　she　would　say　anything　to　get　what　she　wanted；　and　those　smiles　in　all　the　wrong　places　bothered　him。　Gallenne　had　put　his　looking　glass　away；　but　he　was　still　playing　with　his　reins；　no　doubt　calculating　how　to　carve　a　way　out　of　Bethal　for　the　two　women。　Perrin　wanted　to　growl。
　　　　　　　He　watched　them　ride　down　to　the　road　with　worry。　The　message　Berelain　carried　was　simple。　Rand　understood　Alliandre's　caution；　but　if　she　wanted　his　protection　she　must　be　willing　to　announce　support　for　him　openly。　That　protection　would　e；　soldiers　and　Asha'man　to　make　it　plain　to　everyone；　and　even　Rand　himself　if　need　be；　once　she　agreed　to　make　the　announcement。　Berelain　had　no　reason　to　change　the　message　a　hair；　despite　her　smiles　…　he　thought　they　might　be　another　way　of　flirting　…　but　Annoura。。。　Aes　Sedai　did　what　they　did；　and　the　Light　alone　knew　why　half　the　time。　He　wished　he　knew　some　way　to　reach　Alliandre　without　using　a　sister　or　rousing　talk。　Or　risking　Faile。
　　　　　　　The　three　riders　reached　the　gates　with　Annoura　in　the　lead；　and　guards　quickly　raised　pikes；　lowered　bows　and　crossbows；　no　doubt　as　soon　as　she　named　herself　Aes　Sedai。　Not　many　people　had　the　nerve　to　challenge　that　particular　claim。　There　was　barely　a　pause　before　she　was　leading　the　way　into　the　town。　In　fact；　the　soldiers　seemed　eager　to　hurry　them　through；　out　of　sight　of　anyone　watching　from　the　hills。　Some　peered　at　the　distant　heights；　and　Perrin　did　not　need　to　smell　them　to　sense　their　unease　over　who　might　be　hidden　up　there；　who　might；　improbably；　have　recognized　a　sister。
　　　　　　　Turning　north；　toward　their　camp；　Perrin　led　the　way　along　the　ridge　until　they　were　out　of　sight　from　Bethal's　towers；　then　slanted　down　to　the　hard…packed　road。　Scattered　farms　lined　the　road；　thatch…roofed　houses　and　long　narrow　barns；　withered　pastures　and　stubbled　fields　and　high…walled　stone　goatpens；　but　there　was　little　livestock　to　be　seen　and　fewer　people。　Those　few　watched　the　riders　warily；　geese　watching　foxes；　stopping　chores　where　they　stood　until　the　horses　passed　on。　Aram　kept　as　close　an　eye　on　them　in　return；　sometimes　fingering　the　sword　hilt　rising　above　his　shoulder；　perhaps　wishing　to　find　more　than　farmfolk。　Despite　his　green…striped　coat；　little　Tinker　remained　in　him。
　　　　　　　Edarra　and　Nevarin　walked　beside　Stepper；　seemingly　out　for　a　stroll　yet　keeping　pace　easily　despite　their　bulky　skirts。　Seonid　heeled　them　on　her　gelding；　Furen　and　Teryl　at　her　own　back。　The　pale…cheeked　Green　pretended　that　she　simply　wanted　to　ride　a　careful　two　paces　behind　the　Wise　Ones；　but　the　men　scowled　openly。　Warders　often　had　a　greater　care　for　their　Aes　Sedai's　dignity　than　the　sister　did　herself；　and　Aes　Sedai　had　enough　for　queens。
　　　　　　　Faile　kept　Swallow　on　the　far　side　of　the　Aiel　women；　riding　in　silence；　apparently　studying　the　drought…scarred　landscape。　Slim　and　graceful；　she　made　Perrin　feel　a　little　clumsy　at　the　best　of　times。　She　was　quicksilver；　and　he　loved　it　in　her；　usually；　but。。。　A　slight　breath　of　air　had　begun　to　stir；　enough　to　keep　her　scent　mingled　with　the　rest。　He　knew　he　should　be　thinking　about　Alliandre　and　what　her　answer　would　be；　or　better　still；　the　Prophet　and　how　to　find　him　once　Alliandre　replied；　however　she　did；　but　he　could　not　find　room　in　his　head。
　　　　　　　He　had　expected　Faile　to　be　angry　when　he　chose　Berelain；　for　all　that　Rand　supposedly　had　sent　her　for　the　purpose。　Faile　knew　he　did　not　want　to　send　her　into　danger；　into　any　risk　of　danger；　a　fact　she　disliked　more　than　she　did　Berelain。　Yet　her　scent　had　been　soft　as　a　summer　morning　…　until　he　tried　to　apologize！　Well；　apologies　usually　stoked　her　anger　if　she　already　was　angry　…　except　when　they　melted　her　temper；　anyway　…　but　she　had　not　been　angry！　Without　Berelain；　everything　ran　smooth　as　silk　satin　between　them。　Most　of　the　time。　But　explanations　that　he　did　nothing　to　encourage　the　woman　…　far　from　it！　…　earned　only　a　curt　〃Of　course　you　don't！〃　in　tones　that　called　him　a　fool　for　bringing　it　up。　But　she　still　grew　angry　…　with　him！　…　every　time　Berelain　smiled　at　him　or　found　an　excuse　to　touch　him；　no　matter　how　brusquely　he　put　her　off；　and　the　Light　knew　he　did　that。　Short　of　tying　her　up；　he　did　not　know　what　more　he　could　do　to　discourage　her。　Ginger　attempts　to　find　out　from　Faile　what　he　was　doing　wrong　received　a　light　〃Why　do　you　think　you've　done　anything？〃　or　a　not…so…light　〃What　do　you　think　you've　done？〃　or　a　flat　〃I　do　not　want　to　talk　abou