rj.thepathofdaggers-第40部分

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Talon；　though　they　had　seen　the　necessity　of　keeping　that　quiet。　They　were　not　fools　in　all　ways。　In　fact；　around　the　edges　anyway；　they　were　not　too　unlike　the　young　men　and　women　she　had　grown　up　with。
　　　　　　　Those　she　had　sent　off　early　that　morning　had　just　returned；　for　the　women　among　them　were　still　changing　out　of　the　dresses　they　had　worn　of　necessity。　Even　one　woman　dressed　as　a　man　would　have　roused　notice　in　Bethal；　not　to　mention　five。　The　clearing　was　a　great　flurry　of　skirts　and　shifts；　coats　and　shirts　and　breeches。　The　women　made　believe　they　did　not　mind　being　unclothed　in　front　of　others；　including　men；　since　the　Aiel　apparently　did　not；　but　haste　and　labored　breathing　gave　them　the　lie。　The　men　were　all　shifting　feet　and　turning　heads；　torn　between　looking　away　decently　and　watching；　as　they　thought　the　Aiel　did；　while　pretending　they　were　not　looking　at　half…dressed　women。　Faile　held　her　robe　close　over　her　nightdress；　she　could　not　have　dressed　further　without　waking　Perrin　for　sure；　but　she　made　no　pretense　at　fort。　She　was　no　Domani；　to　receive　her　retainers　in　her　bath。
　　　　　　　〃Forgive　us　for　being　late；　my　Lady　Faile；〃　Selande　panted；　tugging　her　coat　on。　The　accents　of　Cairhien　were　sharp　in　the　short　woman's　voice。　Even　for　a　Cairhienin；　she　was　not　tall。　She　managed　a　credible　swagger；　though；　a　suitable　boldness　in　the　tilt　of　her　head　and　the　set　of　her　shoulders。　〃We　would　have　returned　sooner；　but　the　gate　guards　made　a　bother　letting　us　out。〃
　　　　　　　〃A　bother？〃　Faile　said　sharply。　If　only　she　could　have　seen　with　her　own　eyes；　on　top　of　theirs；　if　only　Perrin　had　let　her　go　instead　of　that　trollop。　No；　she　would　not　think　about　Berelain。　It　was　not　Perrin's　fault。　She　repeated　that　to　herself　twenty　times　a　day；　like　a　prayer。　But　why　was　the　man　so　blind？　〃What　kind　of　bother？〃　She　drew　a　chagrined　breath。　Troubles　with　your　husband　should　never　affect　your　tone　with　your　vassals。
　　　　　　　〃Nothing　of　note；　my　Lady。〃　Selande　buckled　her　sword　belt　and　settled　it　on　her　hips。　〃They　let　some　fellows　ahead　of　us　drive　their　wagons　through　without　a　second　look；　but　they　were　worried　about　letting　women　go　out　into　the　night。〃　Some　of　the　other　women　laughed。　The　five　men　who　had　gone　into　Bethal　stirred　irritably；　no　doubt　because　they　had　not　been　thought　enough　protection。　The　rest　of　Cha　Faile　made　a　thick　semicircle　behind　those　ten；　watching　Faile　closely；　listening　closely。　Moonlight　shadowed　their　faces。
　　　　　　　〃Tell　me　what　you　saw；〃　Faile　manded　in　a　calmer　tone。　Much　better。
　　　　　　　Selande　made　her　report　concisely；　and　for　all　Faile's　wishes　that　she　had　gone　herself；　she　had　to　admit　they　had　seen　almost　as　much　as　she　could　have　wished。　The　streets　of　Bethal　were　nearly　empty　even　at　the　busiest　hours　of　the　day。　People　stayed　to　their　own　homes　as　much　as　possible。　A　little　merce　trickled　in　and　out；　but　few　merchants　ventured　into　this　part　of　Ghealdan；　and　barely　enough　food　came　in　from　the　countryside　to　keep　everyone　fed。　Most　of　the　townspeople　seemed　stunned；　afraid　of　what　lay　outside　the　walls；　sinking　deeper　and　deeper　into　apathy　and　despair。　Everyone　kept　their　mouths　closed　for　fear　of　the　Prophet's　spies；　and　their　eyes　as　well；　for　fear　of　being　taken　for　spies。　The　Prophet　had　a　deep　effect。　For　instance；　however　many　bandits　roamed　the　hills；　cutpurses　and　footpads　had　vanished　from　Bethal。　It　was　said　the　Prophet's　penalty　for　a　thief　was　to　cut　off　the　man's　hands。　Though　that　did　not　seem　to　apply　to　his　own　people。
　　　　　　　〃The　Queen　tours　the　city　every　day；　showing　herself　to　keep　spirits　up；〃　Selande　said；　〃but　I　do　hot　think　it　helps　much。　She　is　making　a　progress　here　in　the　south　to　remind　people　they　have　a　Queen；　maybe　she　has　had　more　success　elsewhere。　The　Watch　has　been　added　to　the　wall　guards；　and　all　but　a　handful　of　her　soldiers；　too。　Perhaps　it　makes　the　townsfolk　feel　safer。　Until　she　moves　on。　Unlike　everyone　else；　Alliandre　herself　apparently　feels　no　fear　the　Prophet　will　e　storming　over　the　walls。　She　walks　alone　in　the　gardens　of　Lord　Telabin's　palace；　morning　and　evening；　and　keeps　only　a　few　soldiers；　who　spend　most　of　their　time　in　the　kitchens。　Everybody　in　the　city　seems　as　concerned　with　food；　with　how　long　there　will　be　enough；　as　they　are　with　the　Prophet。　In　truth；　my　Lady；　for　all　the　guards　on　the　walls；　I　think　if　Masema　appeared　at　the　gates　alone；　they　might　give　him　the　town。〃
　　　　　　　〃They　would；〃　Meralda　put　in　contemptuously；　buckling　her　own　sword　round　her　waist；　〃and　beg　for　mercy。〃　Dark　and　stocky；　Meralda　was　as　tall　as　Faile；　but　the　Tairen　woman　ducked　her　head　at　a　frown　from　Selande　and　murmured　an　apology。　There　were　no　doubts　who　led　Cha　Faile；　after　Faile　herself。
　　　　　　　She　had　been　pleased　there　was　no　need　to　change　the　precedence　they　had　established。　Selande　was　the　brightest　of　them　except　perhaps　for　Parelean；　and　only　Arella　and　Camaille　were　quicker。　And　Selande　had　something　extra；　a　steadiness；　as　if　she　had　already　faced　the　worst　fear　in　her　life　and　nothing　could　ever　be　that　bad　again。　Of　course；　she　wanted　a　scar　like　those　some　of　the　Maidens　had。　Faile　possessed　several　small　scars；　badges　of　honor　most　of　them；　but　actually　seeking　one　was　idiocy。　At　least　the　woman　was　not　too　very　eager　in　the　matter。
　　　　　　　〃We　made　a　map；　as　you　required；　my　Lady；〃　the　diminutive　woman　finished　with　a　last；　warning　glance　at　Meralda。　〃We　marked　out　Lord　Telabin's　palace　on　the　back　as　much　as　we　could；　but　I　fear　that　is　not　much　more　than　the　gardens　and　stables。〃
　　　　　　　Faile　did　not　try　to　make　out　the　lines　on　the　paper　she　unfolded　in　the　moonlight。　A　pity　she　had　not　been　able　to　go　herself；　she　could　have　mapped　the　interior；　too。　No。　Done　was　done；　as　Perrin　liked　to　say。　And　it　was　enough。　〃You　are　certain　no　one　searches　wagons　leaving　the　city？〃　Even　in　the　pale　light；　she　could　see　confusion　on　many　of　the　faces　in　front　of　her。　None　knew　why　she　had　sent　some　of　them　into　Bethal。
　　　　　　　Selande　did　not　look　confused。　〃Yes；　my　Lady；〃　she　said　calmly。　Quite　bright；　and　more　than　quick　enough。
　　　　　　　The　wind　gusted　for　a　moment；　rustling　leaves　on　the　trees；　rustling　dead　leaves　on　the　ground；　and　Faile　wished　she　had　Perrin's　ears。　His　nose　and　eyes；　too。　It　did　not　matter　if　anyone　saw　her　here　with　her　retainers；　but　eavesdroppers　would　be　something　else。　〃You've　done　very　well；　Selande。　All　of　you　have。〃　Perrin　knew　the　dangers　here；　as　real　as　any　farther　south；　he　knew；　but　like　most　men；　he　thought　with　his　heart　as　often　as　his　head。　A　wife　had　to　be　practical；　to　keep　her　husband　out　of　trouble。　That　had　been　her　mother's　very　first　piece　of　advice　on　married　life。　〃At　first　light；　you　will　return　to　Bethal；　and　if　you　receive　word　from　me；　this　is　what　you　will　do。。。　〃
　　　　　　　Even　Selande's　eyes　widened　in　shock　as　she　went　on；　but　no　one　murmured　the　slightest　protest。　Faile　would　have　been　surprised　if　anyone　had。　Her　instructions　were　to　the　point。　There　would　be　some　danger；　but　under　the　circumstances；　not　nearly　what　might　have　been。
　　　　　　　〃Are　there　any　questions？〃　she　said　finally。　〃Does　everyone　understand？〃
　　　　　　　With　one　voice；　Cha　Faile　answered。　〃We　live　to　serve　our　Lady　Faile。〃　And　that　meant　they　would　serve　her　beloved　wolf；　whether　he　wanted　them　to　or　not。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　Maighdin　shifted　in　her　blankets　on　the　hard　ground；　sleep　eluding　her。　That　was　her　name；　now；　a　new　name　for　a　new　life。　Maighdin；　for　her　mother；　and　Dorlain；　for　a　family　on　an　estate　that　had　been　hers。　A　new　life　for　an　old　life　gone；　but　ties　of　the　heart　could　not　be　cut。　And　now。。。　Now。。。
　　　　　　　A　faint　crackle　of　dead　leaves　brought　her　head　up；　and　she　watched　a　dim　shape　pass　through　the　trees。　The　Lady　Faile；　returning　to　her　tent　from　wherever　she　had　gone。　A　pleasant　young　woman；　kindhearted　and　well　spoken。　Whatever　her　husband's　stock；　she　almost　certainly　was　nobly　born。　But　young。　Inexperienced。　That　might　be　a　help。
　　　　　　　Maighdin　let　her　head　fall　back　on　the　cloak　she　had　wadded　up　for　a　pillow。　Light；　what　was　she　doing　here？　Taking　service　as　a　lady's　maid！　No。　She　would　hold　on　to　her　confidence　in　herself；　at　least。　She　could　still　find　that。　She　could。　If　she　dug　deeply。　Her　breath　caught　at　the　sound　of　footsteps　close　by。
　　　　　　　Tallanvor　knelt　gracefully　at　her　side。　He　was　shirtless；　moonlight　gleaming　on　the　smooth　muscles　of　his　chest　and　shoulders；　his　face　in　shadows。　A　slight　breeze　ruffled　his　hair。　〃What　madness　is　this？〃　he　asked　softly。　〃Entering　service？　What　are　you　up　to？　And　don't　tell　me　that　nonsense　about　making　a　new　life；　I　don't　believe　it。　No　one　does。〃
　　　　　　　She　tried　to　turn　away；　but　he　laid　a　hand　on　her　shoulder。　He　exerted　no　pressure；　yet　it　stopped　her　as　surely　as　a　halter。　Light；　please　let　her　not　tremble。　The　Light　did　not　listen；　but　at　least　she　managed　to　keep　her　voice　steady。　〃If　you　haven't　noticed；　I　must　make　my　way　in　the　world；　now。　Better　as　a　lady's　maid　than　a　tavern　maid。　You　may　feel　free　to　go　on　alone　if　service　here　doesn't　suit。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　didn't　abdicate　your　wits　or　your　pride　when　you　gave　up　the　throne；〃　he　muttered。　Burn　Lini　for　revealing　that！　〃If　you　mean　to　pretend　that　you　did；　I　suggest　you　avoid　letting　Lini　get　you　alone。〃　The　man　chuckled　at　her！　He　chuckled；　oh；　so　richly！　〃She　wants　a　word　with　Maighdin；　and　I　suspect　she　won't　be　as　gentle　with　Maighdin　as　she　was　with　Morgase。〃
　　　　　　　Angrily　she　sat　up；　brushing　his　hand　away。　〃Are　you　blind；　and　deaf　as　well？　The　Dragon　Reborn　has　plans　for　Elayne！　Light；　I　wouldn't　like　it　if　he　simply　knew　her　name！　It　must　be　more　than　chance　that　brought　me　to　one　of　his　henchmen；　Tallanvor。　It　has　to　be！〃
　　　　　　　〃Burn　me；　I　knew　it　must　be　that。　I　hoped　I　was　wrong；　but。。。　〃　He　sounded　as　angry　as　she。　He　had　no　right　to　be　angry！　〃Elayne　is　safe　in　the　White　Tower；　the　Amyrlin　Seat　won't　let　her　anywhere　near　a　man　who　can　channel；　even　if　he　is　the　Dragon　Reborn　…　especially　if　he　is！　…　and　Maighdin　Dorlain　can　do　nothing　about　the　Amyrlin　Seat；　the　Dragon　Reborn；　or　the　Lion　Throne。　All　she　can　do　is　get　her　neck　snapped；　or　her　throat　cut；　or　…！〃
　　　　　　　〃Maighdin　Dorlain　can　watch！〃　she　broke　in；　at　least　partly　to　stop　that　awful　litany。　〃She