rj.thepathofdaggers-第42部分

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unset。　Gulping　down　the　honeyed　porridge　quickly；　he　told　Aram　to　take　his　ease　over　breakfast；　but　the　man　looked　so　miserable　that　he　relented；　so　Aram　followed　as　he　made　his　way　around　the　camp。　The　journey　was　not　one　Perrin　enjoyed。
　　　　　　　Men　put　down　their　bowls　when　he　approached；　or　even　stood　until　he　passed。　He　gritted　his　teeth　whenever　somebody　he　had　grown　up　with；　or　worse；　a　man　who　had　sent　him　on　errands　as　a　boy；　called　him　Lord　Perrin。　Not　everyone　did；　but　too　many。　Far　too　many。　After　a　time；　he　gave　up　telling　them　to　stop　out　of　sheer　weariness；　all　too　often　the　reply　was　〃Oh！　Whatever　you　say；　Lord　Perrin。〃　It　was　enough　to　make　a　man　howl！
　　　　　　　Despite　that；　he　made　himself　pause　to　speak　a　word　or　two　to　every　man。　Mainly；　though；　he　kept　his　eyes　open。　And　his　nose。　They　all　knew　enough　to　keep　their　bows　in　good　repair　and　tend　the　fletching　and　points　on　their　arrows；　but　some　would　wear　the　soles　out　of　their　boots　or　the　bottom　out　of　their　breeches　without　noticing；　or　let　blisters　fester　because　they　could　not　be　bothered　to　do　anything　about　them　just　yet。　Several　had　the　habit　of　picking　up　brandy　when　they　could；　and　two　or　three　of　those　had　no　head　for　it　at　all。　There　had　been　a　small　village　the　day　before　reaching　Bethal　that　held　no　fewer　than　three　inns。
　　　　　　　It　was　very　strange。　Having　Mistress　Luhhan　or　his　mother　tell　him　he　needed　new　boots　or　his　breeches　mended　had　always　been　embarrassing；　and　he　was　sure　he　would　have　been　irritated　at　the　same　from　anybody　else；　but　from　grizzled　old　Jondyn　Barran　on　down；　the　Two　Rivers　men　just　said　〃Why；　right　you　are；　Lord　Perrin；　I'll　see　to　it　straight　away〃　or　some　such。　He　caught　a　number　of　them　grinning　at　one　another　when　he　moved　on。　And　they　smelled　pleased！　When　he　rooted　a　clay　jar　of　pear　brandy　out　of　Jori　Congar's　saddlebags　…　a　skinny　fellow　who　ate　twice　as　much　as　anyone　else　and　always　looked　as　if　he　had　not　had　a　bite　in　a　week；　Jori　was　a　good　shot　with　a　bow；　but　given　a　chance　he　would　drink　until　he　could　not　stand；　and　he　had　light　fingers　besides　…　Jori　gave　him　a　wide…eyed　look　and　spread　his　hands　as　if　he　did　not　know　where　the　jar　had　e　from。　But　as　Perrin　walked　on；　emptying　the　brandy　onto　the　ground；　Jori　laughed；　〃You　can't　put　anything　over　on　Lord　Perrin！〃　He　sounded　proud！　Sometimes；　Perrin　thought　he　was　the　only　sane　person　left。
　　　　　　　Another　thing；　he　noticed。　One　and　all；　they　were　very　interested　in　what　he　did　not　say。　Man　after　man　cast　an　eye　toward　the　two　banners　that　occasionally　flapped　atop　their　poles　in　a　brief　gust；　Red　Wolfhead　and　Red　Eagle。　They　eyed　the　banners　and　watched　him；　waiting　for　the　order　he　had　given　every　time　the　things　had　e　out　since　reaching　Ghealdan。　And　often　enough　before　that。　Except　that　he　had　said　nothing　yesterday；　and　he　said　nothing　today；　and　he　saw　speculation　blooming　on　men's　faces。　He　left　behind　clusters　of　men　peering　at　the　banners　and　at　him；　murmuring　excitedly　among　themselves。　He　did　not　try　to　listen。　What　would　they　say　if　he　was　wrong；　if　the　Whitecloaks　or　King　Ailron　decided　they　could　look　away　from　the　Prophet　and　the　Seanchan　long　enough　to　snuff　out　a　supposed　rebellion？　They　were　his　responsibility；　and　he　had　already　gotten　too　many　of　them　killed。
　　　　　　　The　sun　was　more　than　peeking　above　the　horizon；　spreading　a　sharp　morning　light；　by　the　time　he　finished；　and　over　at　the　tent；　Tallanvor　and　Lamgwin　were　lugging　out　chests　under　Lini's　direction；　while　Maighdin　and　Breane　appeared　to　be　sorting　the　contents　out　on　a　broad　patch　of　dead　grass；　blankets　and　linens　mainly；　and　long　bright　swaths　of　silk　satin　that　had　been　intended　to　drape　the　bed　he　had　misplaced。　Faile　must　have　been　inside；　because　that　gaggle　of　idiots　were　cooling　their　heels　not　far　off。　No　carrying　and　hauling　for　them。　Useful　as　rats　in　the　barn。
　　　　　　　Perrin　thought　about　taking　a　look　at　Stayer　and　Stepper；　but　when　he　glanced　through　the　trees　at　the　horselines；　he　was　seen。　No　fewer　than　three　of　the　farriers　stepped　out　anxiously；　watching　him。　They　were　blocky　men　in　leather　aprons；　alike　as　eggs　in　a　basket；　though　Falton　had　only　a　fringe　of　white　around　his　head；　Aemin　was　graying；　and　Jerasid　had　not　yet　e　into　his　middle　years。　Perrin　growled　at　the　sight　of　them。　They　would　hover　if　he　laid　a　hand　on　either　horse；　and　goggle　if　he　lifted　a　hoof。　The　one　time　he　had　tried　to　change　a　worn　shoe；　on　Stayer；　all　six　farriers　had　darted　about　grabbing　up　tools　before　he　could　touch　them；　nearly　knocking　the　bay　over　in　their　rush　to　do　the　work　themselves。
　　　　　　　〃They're　afraid　you　don't　trust　them；〃　Aram　said　suddenly。　Perrin　looked　at　him　in　surprise；　and　Aram　shifted　his　shoulders　in　his　coat。　〃I've　talked　to　them；　some。　They　think　if　a　lord　tends　his　own　horses；　it　must　be　because　he　doesn't　trust　them。　You　might　send　them　off；　with　no　way　to　get　home。〃　His　tone　said　they　were　fools　to　think　that；　but　he　gave　Perrin　a　sideways　glance　and　shrugged　again；　unfortably。　〃I　think　they're　embarrassed；　too。　If　you　don't　behave　the　way　they　think　a　lord　should；　it　reflects　on　them；　as　they　see　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃Light！〃　Perrin　muttered。　Faile　had　said　the　same　…　about　them　being　embarrassed；　anyway　…　but　he　had　believed　it　just　a　lord's　daughter　talking。　Faile　had　grown　up　surrounded　by　servants；　yet　how　could　a　lady　know　the　thoughts　of　a　man　who　had　to　work　for　his　bread？　He　frowned　toward　the　horselines。　Five　of　the　farriers　stood　together　watching　him；　now。　Embarrassed　that　he　wanted　to　look　after　his　own　horses；　and　upset　that　he　did　not　want　them　pulling　wool　and　scratching　gravel　all　over　the　place。　〃Do　you　think　I　ought　to　act　like　a　fool　in　silk　smallclothes？〃　he　asked。　Aram　blinked；　and　began　studying　his　boots。　〃Light！〃　Perrin　growled。
　　　　　　　Spotting　Basel　Gill　hurrying　from　the　direction　of　the　carts；　Perrin　moved　to　meet　him。　He　did　not　think　he　had　done　very　well　at　making　Gill　feel　at　ease　yesterday。　The　stout　man　was　talking　to　himself　and　once　more　mopping　his　head　with　a　kerchief；　sweating　away　in　a　rumpled　dark　gray　coat。　The　day's　heat　was　beginning　to　take　hold　already。　He　did　not　see　Perrin　until　Perrin　was　nearly　on　him；　and　then　he　gave　a　jump；　stuffing　the　kerchief　into　a　coat　pocket　and　making　a　bow。　He　looked　curried　and　brushed　fit　for　a　feastday。
　　　　　　　〃Ah。　My　Lord　Perrin。　Your　Lady　told　me　to　take　a　cart　into　Bethal。　She　says　I'm　to　find　you　some　Two　Rivers　tabac；　if　I　can；　but　I　don't　know　that's　possible。　Two　Rivers　leaf　has　always　been　dear；　and　trade　isn't　what　it　was。〃
　　　　　　　〃She's　sending　you　for　tabac？〃　Perrin　said；　frowning。　He　supposed　secrecy　had　gone　down　the　well；　but　still。　〃I　bought　three　casks；　two　villages　back。　Enough　for　everybody。〃
　　　　　　　Gill　shook　his　head　firmly。　〃Not　Two　Rivers　leaf；　and　your　Lady　says　you　like　that　above　any　other。　The　Ghealdanin　leaf　will　do　for　your　men。　I'm　to　be　your　shambayan；　she　called　it；　and　keep　you　and　her　supplied　with　what　you　need。　Not　much　different　from　what　I　did　running　the　Blessing；　really。〃　The　similarity　seemed　to　amuse　him；　his　belly　shook　with　quiet　chuckles。　〃I　have　quite　a　list；　though　I　can't　say　how　much　of　it　I'll　find。　Good　wine；　herbs；　fruit；　candles　and　lamp　oil；　oilcloth　and　wax；　paper　and　ink；　needles；　pins；　oh；　all　sorts　of　things。　Tallanvor　and　Lamgwin　and　I　are　going；　with　some　of　your　Lady's　other　retainers。〃
　　　　　　　His　Lady's　other　retainers。　Tallanvor　and　Lamgwin　were　bringing　out　yet　another　chest　for　the　women　to　sort　through。　They　had　to　pass　by　the　squatting　clump　of　young　fools；　who　never　offered　to　lend　a　hand。　In　fact；　the　layabouts　ignored　them　pletely。
　　　　　　　〃You　keep　an　eye　on　that　lot；〃　Perrin　cautioned。　〃If　one　of　them　starts　any　trouble　…　if　he　even　looks　as　if　he　will　…　you　have　Lamgwin　crack　his　head。〃　And　if　it　was　one　of　the　women？　They　were　just　as　likely；　maybe　more　so。　Perrin　grunted。　Faile's　〃retainers〃　were　going　to　tie　his　belly　into　permanent　knots　yet。　Too　bad　she　could　not　be　satisfied　with　the　likes　of　Master　Gill　and　Maighdin。　〃You　didn't　mention　Balwer。　Has　he　decided　to　go　on　alone？〃　Just　then；　a　shift　in　the　breeze　brought　him　Balwer's　scent；　an　alert　smell　very　much　at　odds　with　the　fellow's　almost　desiccated　exterior。
　　　　　　　Even　for　so　reedy　a　man；　Balwer　made　surprisingly　little　noise　on　the　dried　leaves　underfoot。　In　a　sparrow…brown　coat；　he　offered　a　quick　bow；　and　his　tilted　head　added　to　the　image　of　a　bird。　〃I　am　staying；　my　Lord；〃　he　said　cautiously。　Or　maybe　that　was　just　his　manner。　〃As　your　gracious　Lady's　secretary。　And　yours；　if　it　pleases　you。〃　He　stepped　closer；　very　nearly　a　hop。　〃I　am　well　versed；　my　Lord。　I　possess　a　good　memory　and　write　a　good　hand；　and　my　Lord　can　be　assured　that　whatever　he　confides　in　me　will　never　pass　my　lips　to　another。　The　ability　to　keep　secrets　is　a　primary　skill　of　a　secretary。　Don't　you　have　pressing　duties　for　our　new　mistress；　Master　Gill？〃
　　　　　　　Gill　frowned　at　Balwer；　opened　his　mouth；　then　closed　it　with　a　snap。　Spinning　on　his　heel；　he　trotted　away　toward　the　tent。
　　　　　　　For　a　moment　Balwer　watched　him　go；　head　to　one　side；　lips　pursed　thoughtfully。　〃I　can　offer　other　services；　as　well；　my　Lord；〃　he　said　finally。　〃Knowledge。　I　overheard　some　of　my　Lord's　men　speaking；　and　I　understand　that　my　Lord　may　have　had　some。。。　difficulties。。。　with　the　Children　of　the　Light。　A　secretary　learns　many　things。　I　know　a　surprising　amount　about　the　Children。〃
　　　　　　　〃With　any　luck　I　can　avoid　Whitecloaks；〃　Perrin　told　him。　〃Better　if　you　knew　where　the　Prophet　is。　Or　the　Seanchan。〃　He　did　not　expect　any　of　that；　of　course；　but　Balwer　surprised　him。
　　　　　　　〃I　cannot　be　certain；　of　course；　but　I　think　the　Seanchan　have　not　spread　far　beyond　Amador　as　yet。　Fact　is　difficult　to　sift　from　rumor；　my　Lord；　but　I　keep　my　ears　open。　Of　course；　they　do　seem　to　move　with　unexpected　suddenness。　A　dangerous　people；　with　large　numbers　of　Taraboner　soldiers。　I　believe　from　Master　Gill　that　my　Lord　knows　of　them；　but　I　observed　them　closely　in　Amador；　and　what　I　saw　is　at　my　Lord's　disposal。　As　to　the　Prophet；　there　are　as　many　rumors　concerning　him　as　the　Seanchan；　but　I　believe　I　can　say　reliably　that　he　was　recently　at　Abila；　a　largish　town　some　forty　leagues　south　of　here。〃　B