rj.thepathofdaggers-第48部分

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　　　　　　　Instead　of　answering　the　important　question；　Alliandre　said；　〃The　First　told　me　a　great　deal　about　you；　Lord　Aybara；　and　about　the　Lord　Dragon　Reborn；　blessed　be　his　name　in　the　Light。〃　That　last　sounded　by　rote；　an　addition　she　no　longer　had　to　think　about。　〃I　cannot　see　him　before　I　make　my　decision；　so　I　wished　to　see　you；　to　take　a　measure　of　you。　It's　possible　to　tell　much　about　a　man　by　those　he　chooses　to　speak　for　him。〃　Tilting　her　face　down　toward　the　cup　in　her　hands；　she　peered　at　him　through　her　lashes。　From　Berelain；　that　would　have　been　flirtatious；　but　Alliandre　was　cautiously　watching　a　wolf　sure　as　he　was　standing　in　front　of　her。　〃I　also　saw　your　banners；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃The　First　did　not　mention　them。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　scowled　before　he　could　stop　himself。　Berelain　had　told　her　a　great　deal　about　him？　What　had　she　said？　〃The　banners　are　meant　to　be　seen。〃　Anger　put　a　roughness　in　his　voice　that　required　some　effort　to　force　down。　Now；　Berelain　was　a　woman　who　needed　shouting　at。　〃Believe　me；　there　are　no　plans　to　set　up　Manetheren　again。〃　There；　his　tone　was　as　cool　as　Alliandre's。　〃What　is　your　decision？　Rand　can　have　ten　thousand　soldiers；　a　hundred　thousand；　here　in　the　blink　of　an　eye；　or　near　enough。〃　And　he　might　have　to。　The　Seanchan　in　Amador　and　Ebou　Dar？　Light；　how　many　were　they？
　　　　　　　Alliandre　sipped　delicately　at　her　wine…punch　before　speaking；　and　again　she　dodged　the　question。　〃There　are　a　thousand　rumors；　as　you　must　know；　and　even　the　wildest　is　believable　when　the　Dragon　is　Reborn；　strangers　appear　claiming　to　be　Artur　Hawkwing's　armies　returned；　and　the　Tower　itself　is　broken　by　rebellion。〃
　　　　　　　〃A　matter　for　Aes　Sedai；〃　Annoura　said　sharply。　〃It　concerns　no　one　else。〃　Berelain　flashed　an　exasperated　look　at　her；　which　she　affected　not　to　notice。
　　　　　　　Alliandre　flinched　and　turned　her　shoulder　to　the　sister。　Queen　or　not；　no　one　wanted　to　hear　that　tone　from　an　Aes　Sedai。　〃The　world　is　turned　upside　down；　Lord　Aybara。　Why；　I've　even　had　reports　of　Aiel　sacking　a　village　right　here　in　Ghealdan。〃　Abruptly　Perrin　realized　there　was　more　here　than　anxiety　over　offending　Aes　Sedai。　Alliandre　watched　him；　waiting。　But　for　what？　Reassurance？
　　　　　　　〃The　only　Aiel　in　Ghealdan　are　with　me；〃　he　told　her。　〃The　Seanchan　may　be　descendants　of　Artur　Hawkwing's　army；　but　Hawkwing　is　a　thousand　years　dead。　Rand　dealt　with　them　once　already；　and　he　will　again。〃　He　remembered　Falme　as　clearly　as　Dumai's　Wells；　though　he　had　tried　forgetting。　Surely　there　had　not　been　enough　of　them　there　to　take　Amador　and　Ebou　Dar；　even　with　their　damane。　Balwer　claimed　they　had　Taraboner　soldiers；　too。　〃And　it　might　cheer　you　to　hear　that　those　rebel　Aes　Sedai　support　Rand。　They　will；　soon；　at　least。〃　That　was　what　Rand　said；　a　handful　of　Aes　Sedai　with　nowhere　to　go　except　to　him。　Perrin　was　not　so　sure。　Rumor　in　Ghealdan　put　an　army　with　those　sisters。　Of　course；　the　same　rumors　counted　more　Aes　Sedai　in　that　handful　than　there　were　in　the　world；　but　still。。。　Light；　he　wished　someone　would　reassure　him！　〃Why　don't　we　sit；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　answer　any　questions　you　have；　to　help　you　make　your　decision；　but　we　might　as　well　be　fortable。〃　Drawing　one　of　the　folding　chairs　to　him；　he　remembered　at　the　last　instant　not　to　just　drop　into　it；　but　it　creaked　under　him　just　the　same。
　　　　　　　Lini　and　the　other　two　servants　rushed　about；　pulling　chairs　into　a　circle　with　his；　but　none　of　the　other　women　moved　toward　them。　Alliandre　stood　looking　at　him；　and　the　rest　looked　at　her。　Except　for　Gallenne；　who　merely　poured　himself　another　cup　of　punch　from　the　silver　pitcher。
　　　　　　　It　came　to　Perrin　that　Faile　had　not　opened　her　mouth　since　speaking　of　the　merchants。　He　was　as　grateful　for　Berelain's　silence　as　he　was　that　she　had　not　decided　to　flutter　her　lashes　at　him　in　front　of　the　Queen；　but　he　could　have　used　some　help　from　Faile　right　then。　A　little　advice。　Light；　she　knew　ten　times　what　he　did　about　what　he　should　say　and　do　here。
　　　　　　　Wondering　whether　he　should　stand　with　the　others；　he　set　his　wine…punch　on　one　of　the　small　tables　and　asked　her　to　speak　to　Alliandre。　〃If　anyone　can　make　her　see　the　right　way　to　go；　you　can；〃　he　said。　Faile　gave　him　a　pleased　smile；　but　held　her　tongue。
　　　　　　　Abruptly　Alliandre　put　out　her　cup　to　one　side　without　looking；　as　if　expecting　a　tray　to　be　there。　One　was；　barely　in　time　to　catch　the　cup；　and　Maighdin；　who　held　it；　muttered　something　Perrin　hoped　Faile　had　not　heard。　Faile　was　death　on　servants　using　that　sort　of　language。　He　started　to　rise　as　Alliandre　approached　him；　but　to　his　shock；　she　knelt　gracefully　in　front　of　him；　catching　his　hands　with　hers。　Before　he　knew　what　she　was　doing；　she　twisted　so　her　hands　were　back…to…back　between　his　palms。　She　clung　so　hard　her　hands　must　have　hurt；　for　sure；　he　was　not　certain　he　could　loose　himself　without　hurting　her。
　　　　　　　〃Under　the　Light；〃　she　said　firmly；　looking　up　at　him；　〃I；　Alliandre　Maritha　Kigarin；　pledge　my　fealty　and　service　to　Lord　Perrin　Aybara　of　the　Two　Rivers；　now　and　for　all　time；　save　that　he　chooses　to　release　me　of　his　own　will。　My　lands　and　throne　are　his；　and　I　yield　them　to　his　hand。　So　I　do　swear。〃
　　　　　　　For　an　instant　there　was　a　silence　broken　only　by　Gallenne's　gasp　and　the　muted　thud　of　his　winecup　hitting　the　rug。
　　　　　　　Then　Perrin　heard　Faile；　once　more　whispering　so　softly　no　one　next　to　her　could　have　made　out　her　words。　〃Under　the　Light；　I　do　accept　your　pledge　and　will　defend　and　protect　you　and　yours　through　battle's　wrack　and　winter's　blast　and　all　that　time　may　bring。　The　lands　and　throne　of　Ghealdan；　I　give　to　you　as　my　faithful　vassal。　Under　the　Light；　I　do　accept。。。　〃　That　must　have　been　the　Saldaean　manner　of　accepting。　Thank　the　Light　she　was　too　busy　concentrating　on　him　to　see　Berelain　nodding　at　him　furiously；　urging　the　same。　The　pair　of　them　looked　almost　as　if　they　had　expected　this！　Annoura；　though；　with　her　mouth　hanging　open；　appeared　as　stunned　as　he；　like　a　fish　who　had　just　seen　the　water　vanish。
　　　　　　　〃Why？〃　he　asked　gently；　ignoring　Faile's　frustrated　hiss　and　Berelain's　exasperated　grunt　alike。　Burn　me；　he　thought；　I'm　a　bloody　blacksmith！　Nobody　swore　fealty　to　blacksmiths。　Queens　did　not　swear　fealty　to　anyone！　〃I've　been　told　I'm　ta'veren；　you　might　want　to　reconsider　this　in　an　hour。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　hope　you　are　ta'veren；　my　Lord。〃　Alliandre　laughed；　but　not　in　amusement；　and　gripped　his　hands　even　more　tightly；　as　though　fearful　he　might　pull　away。　〃With　all　my　heart；　I　hope　it。　I　fear　nothing　less　will　save　Ghealdan。　I　all　but　reached　this　decision　as　soon　as　the　First　told　me　why　you　are　here；　and　meeting　you　only　confirmed　me　in　it。　Ghealdan　needs　protection　I　cannot　give；　so　duty　demands　I　find　it。　You　can　give　it；　my　Lord；　you　and　the　Lord　Dragon　Reborn；　blessed　be　his　name　in　the　Light。　In　truth；　I　would　swear　directly　to　him　if　he　were　here；　but　you　are　his　man。　Swearing　to　you；　I　also　swear　to　him。〃　Drawing　a　deep　breath；　she　forced　out　another　word。　〃Please。〃　She　smelled　desperate；　now；　and　her　eyes　shone　with　fear。
　　　　　　　Still；　he　hesitated。　This　was　everything　Rand　could　want　and　more；　but　Perrin　Aybara　was　just　a　blacksmith。　He　was！　Could　he　still　tell　himself　that　if　he　did　this　thing？　Alliandre　stared　up　at　him　pleadingly。　Did　ta'veren　work　on　themselves；　he　wondered。　〃Under　the　Light；　I；　Perrin　Aybara；　accept　your　pledge。。。　〃　His　throat　was　dry　by　the　time　he　finished　the　words　Faile　had　whispered。　Too　late　to　stop　and　think　now。
　　　　　　　With　a　gasp　of　relief；　Alliandre　kissed　his　hands。　Perrin　did　not　think　he　had　ever　been　so　embarrassed　in　his　life。　Standing　hurriedly；　he　drew　her　to　her　feet。　And　realized　he　did　not　know　what　to　do　next。　A　proudly　beaming　Faile　whispered　no　further　hints。　Berelain　smiled；　too；　relief　so　strong　on　her　face　she　might　have　just　been　pulled　from　a　fire。
　　　　　　　He　was　sure　Annoura　would　speak　…　Aes　Sedai　always　had　plenty　to　say；　especially　when　it　gave　an　opportunity　to　take　charge　…　but　the　Gray　sister　was　holding　out　a　winecup　for　Maighdin　to　refill。　Annoura　watched　him　with　an　unreadable　expression；　and　for　that　matter；　so　did　Maighdin；　so　much　so　that　she　continued　tilting　her　pitcher　until　punch　slopped　over　onto　the　Aes　Sedai's　wrist。　At　which　Annoura　gave　a　start；　staring　at　the　cup　in　her　hand　as　though　she　had　forgotten　it　was　there。　Faile　frowned；　and　Lini　frowned　even　harder；　and　Maighdin　scurried　for　a　cloth　to　dry　the　sister's　hand；　all　the　while　muttering　under　her　breath　again。　Faile　was　going　to　have　fits　if　she　ever　heard　those　mutters。
　　　　　　　Perrin　knew　he　was　taking　too　long。　Alliandre　licked　her　lips　anxiously；　she　expected　more；　but　what？　〃Now　that　we're　done　here；　I　have　to　find　the　Prophet　next；〃　he　said；　and　winced。　Too　abrupt。　He　had　no　feel　for　dealing　with　nobles；　much　less　queens。　〃I　suppose　you'll　want　to　get　back　to　Bethal　before　anyone　learns　you're　gone。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　last　I　heard；〃　Alliandre　told　him；　〃the　Prophet　of　the　Lord　Dragon　was　in　Abila。　That's　a　largish　town　in　Amadicia；　perhaps　forty　leagues　south　of　here。〃
　　　　　　　In　spite　of　himself；　Perrin　frowned；　though　he　smoothed　his　brow　quickly。　So　Balwer　had　been　right。　Right　in　one　thing　did　not　mean　right　in　all；　but　it　might　be　worthwhile　hearing　what　the　man　had　to　say　about　the　Whitecloaks。　And　the　Seanchan。　How　many　Taraboners？
　　　　　　　Faile　glided　to　his　side；　laying　a　hand　on　his　arm　and　directing　a　warm　smile　at　Alliandre。　〃You　cannot　mean　to　send　her　away　now；　my　heart。　Not　when　she　has　just　arrived。　Leave　us　to　talk　here　out　of　the　sun　before　she　must　face　the　ride　back。　I　know　you　have　important　matters　to　see　to。〃
　　　　　　　He　managed　not　to　stare；　with　a　little　effort。　What　could　be　more　important　than　the　Queen　of　Ghealdan？　Certain　sure；　nothing　anyone　would　let　him　lay　hand　to。　Clearly　she　wanted　to　talk　with　Alliandre　without　him。　With　luck；　she　would　tell　him　why　later。　With　luck；　she　would　tell　him　all　of　it。　Elyas　might　think　he　knew　Saldaeans；　but　Perrin　had　learned　on　his　own　that　only　a　fool　tried　to　root　out　all　of　his　wife's　secrets。　Or　let　her　know　about　those　he　had　unearthed　already。
　　　　　　　Leaving　Alliandre　should　no　doubt　involve　as　much　ceremony　as　meeting　her；　but　he　managed　a　credible　leg