rj.thepathofdaggers-第49部分

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e　leg　and　made　his　bow；　asking　her　pardon　for　going　off；　and　she　curtsied　deeply；　murmuring　that　he　honored　her　too　much；　and　that　was　that。　Except　for　jerking　his　head　at　Gallenne　to　follow　him。　He　doubted　that　Faile　would　send　him　off　and　want　that　one　to　stay。　What　did　she　want　to　talk　about　alone？
　　　　　　　Outside；　the　one…eyed　man　gave　Perrin　a　clap　on　the　shoulder　that　would　have　staggered　a　smaller　man。　〃Burn　me；　I've　never　heard　of　the　like！　Now　I　can　say　I've　seen　a　ta'veren　at　work　for　true。　What　did　you　want　with　me？〃　And　what　was　he　to　say　to　that？
　　　　　　　Just　then；　he　heard　shouting　from　the　Mayener　camp；　the　sound　of　arguing；　loud　enough　that　Two　Rivers　men　stood　to　peer　through　the　trees；　though　the　side　of　the　hill　hid　everything。
　　　　　　　〃First　let's　see　what　all　that　is　about；〃　Perrin　replied。　That　would　give　him　time　to　think。　About　what　to　say　to　Gallenne；　and　other　things。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　Faile　waited　a　few　moments　after　Perrin　left　before　telling　the　servants　that　she　and　the　others　would　see　to　themselves。　Maighdin　was　so　busy　staring　at　Alliandre　that　Lini　had　to　pluck　at　her　sleeve　before　she　moved。　That　would　have　to　be　handled　later。　Setting　her　cup　down；　Faile　followed　the　three　women　to　the　door　of　the　tent　as　if　hurrying　them；　but　she　paused　there。
　　　　　　　Perrin　and　Gallenne　were　striding　off　through　the　trees　toward　the　Mayener　camp。　Good。　Most　of　Cha　Faile　was　squatting　not　far　off。　Catching　Parelean's　eye；　she　gestured　low　in　front　of　her　waist；　where　no　one　behind　her　could　see。　A　quick　circular　motion　followed　by　a　clenched　fist。　Immediately　the　Tairens　and　Cairhien　broke　apart　in　groups　of　two　or　three　and　spread　out。　Far　less　elaborate　than　Maiden　handtalk；　Cha　Faile's　signals　sufficed。　In　moments　a　scattered　ring　of　her　people　had　surrounded　the　tent；　apparently　at　random；　talking　idly　or　playing　at　cat's　cradle。　But　no　one　would　e　nearer　than　twenty　paces　without　her　receiving　warning　before　they　reached　the　threshold。
　　　　　　　It　was　Perrin　who　worried　her　most。　She　had　expected　something　momentous　as　soon　as　Alliandre　appeared　in　the　flesh；　if　not　what　came；　but　he　had　been　stunned　by　her　vow。　If　he　took　it　into　his　head　to　return；　to　take　another　stab　at　making　Alliandre　feel　fortable　in　her　decision。。。　Oh；　he　did　think　with　his　heart　when　he　should　use　his　head。　And　with　his　head　when　he　should　use　his　heart！　Guilt　pricked　her　at　the　thought。
　　　　　　　〃Peculiar　servants　you　found　by　the　side　of　the　road；〃　Berelain　said　in　tones　of　mock　sympathy　at　her　side；　and　Faile　gave　a　start。　She　had　not　heard　the　woman　e　up　behind　her。　Lini　and　the　others　were　walking　toward　the　carts；　Lini　shaking　a　finger　at　Maighdin；　and　Berelain　shifted　her　gaze　from　Faile　to　them。　She　kept　her　voice　low；　but　the　mocking　tone　remained。　〃The　oldest　at　least　seems　to　know　her　duties　instead　of　simply　having　heard　about　them；　but　Annoura　tells　me　the　youngest　is　a　wilder。　Very　weak；　Annoura　says；　negligible；　but　wilders　always　cause　problems。　The　others　will　carry　tales　about　her；　if　they　know；　and　sooner　or　later；　she　will　run　away。　Wilders　always　do；　I　hear。　That's　what　es　of　picking　up　your　maids　like　stray　dogs。〃
　　　　　　　〃They　suit　me　well　enough；〃　Faile　replied　coolly。　Still；　a　long　conversation　with　Lini　was　definitely　needed。　A　wilder？　Even　if　weak；　that　might　prove　useful。　〃I　always　thought　you　were　fit　for　hiring　servants。〃　Berelain　blinked；　uncertain　what　that　meant；　and　Faile　carefully　did　not　let　her　satisfaction　show。　Turning　away；　she　said；　〃Annoura；　will　you　make　us　private　with　a　ward　against　listeners？〃
　　　　　　　There　seemed　little　chance　that　Seonid　or　Masuri　would　find　any　opportunity　to　eavesdrop　using　the　Power　…　she　was　waiting　for　the　explosion　when　Perrin　found　out　just　how　tightly　the　Wise　Ones　had　that　pair　haltered　…　yet　the　Wise　Ones　themselves　might　have　learned。　Faile　was　sure　Edarra　and　the　others　were　wringing　Seonid　and　Masuri　dry。
　　　　　　　The　Gray　sister's　beaded　braids　clicked　softly　as　she　nodded。　〃It　is　done；　Lady　Faile；〃　she　said；　and　Berelain's　lips　pressed　briefly。　Quite　satisfying。　The　temerity　of　making　the　presentations　here　in　Faile's　own　tent！　She　deserved　more　than　having　someone　step　between　her　and　her　advisor；　but　it　was　satisfying。
　　　　　　　Childishly　satisfying；　Faile　admitted；　when　she　should　be　focused　on　the　matter　at　hand。　She　almost　bit　her　lip　in　aggravation。　She　did　not　doubt　her　husband's　love；　but　she　could　not　treat　Berelain　as　the　woman　deserved；　and　that　forced　her；　against　her　will；　to　play　a　game　with　Perrin　too　often　as　the　gaming　board。　And　the　prize；　so　Berelain　believed。　If　only　Perrin　did　not　sometimes　behave　as　if　he　might　be。　Firmly　she　put　all　that　out　of　her　head。　There　was　a　wife's　work　to　be　done　here。　The　practical　side。
　　　　　　　Alliandre　glanced　thoughtfully　at　Annoura　when　a　ward　was　mentioned　…　she　had　to　realize　it　meant　serious　talk　…　but　what　she　said　was　〃Your　husband　is　a　formidable　man；　Lady　Faile。　I　mean　no　offense　when　I　say　his　bluff　exterior　belies　a　shrewd　mind。　With　Amadicia　on　our　doorstep；　we　in　Ghealdan　play　Daes　Dae'mar　of　necessity；　but　I　do　not　think　I　have　ever　been　danced　so　swiftly　or　so　deftly　to　a　decision　as　your　Lord　did。　The　hint　of　a　threat　here；　a　frown　there。　A　very　formidable　man。〃
　　　　　　　This　time　hiding　her　smile　took　some　effort　on　Faile's　part。　These　southlanders　set　a　great　store　by　the　Game　of　Houses；　and　she　did　not　think　Alliandre　would　appreciate　learning　that　Perrin　simply　said　what　he　believed　…　too　freely　by　half；　at　times　…　and　people　with　devious　minds　saw　calculation　in　his　honesty。　〃He　spent　some　time　in　Cairhien；〃　she　said。　Let　Alliandre　make　of　that　what　she　would。　〃We　can　speak　freely　here；　safe　behind　Annoura　Sedai's　warding。　It　is　plain　you　do　not　want　to　return　to　Bethal　yet。　Is　your　oath　to　Perrin；　and　his　to　you；　not　enough　to　tie　him　to　you？〃　Some　here　in　the　south　had　peculiar　ideas　of　what　fealty　entailed。
　　　　　　　Berelain　silently　took　a　position　to　Faile's　right；　and　a　moment　later　Annoura　did　the　same　on　her　left；　so　that　Alliandre　found　herself　confronted　by　all　three。　It　surprised　Faile　that　the　Aes　Sedai　fell　in　with　her　plan　without　knowing　what　it　was　…　without　doubt　Annoura　had　her　own　reasons；　and　Faile　would　have　given　a　pretty　to　know　what　they　were　…　but　she　felt　no　surprise　that　Berelain　did　so。　One　casual　mocking　sentence　could　spoil　everything；　especially　about　Perrin's　skill　in　the　Great　Game；　yet　she　was　sure　it　would　not　e。　In　a　way；　that　irritated　her。　Once　she　had　despised　Berelain；　she　still　hated　her；　deep　and　hot；　but　grudging　respect　had　replaced　contempt。　The　woman　knew　when　their　〃game〃　had　to　be　put　aside。　If　not　for　Perrin；　Faile　thought　she　might　actually　have　liked　her！　Briefly；　to　extinguish　that　hateful　thought；　she　pictured　herself　shaving　Berelain　bald。　She　was　a　jade　and　a　trull！　And　not　something　Faile　could　allow　to　divert　her　now。
　　　　　　　Alliandre　studied　each　of　the　women　in　front　of　her　in　turn；　but　she　gave　no　evidence　of　nervousness。　Taking　up　her　winecup　again；　she　sipped　casually　and　spoke　with　sighs　and　rueful　smiles　as　if　her　words　were　not　really　as　important　as　they　sounded。　〃I　mean　to　keep　my　oath；　of　course；　but　you　must　understand　that　I　hoped　for　more。　Once　your　husband　goes；　I　am　left　as　I　was。　Worse；　perhaps；　until　some　tangible　aid　es　from　the　Lord　Dragon；　blessed　be　his　name　in　the　Light。　The　Prophet　could　ruin　Bethal　or　even　Jehannah　itself　as　he　did　Samara；　and　I　cannot　stop　him。　And　if　he　somehow　learns　of　my　oath。。。　He　says　he　has　e　to　show　us　how　to　serve　the　Lord　Dragon　in　the　Light；　but　he　is　the　one　who　shows　that　way；　and　I　cannot　think　he　will　be　pleased　with　anyone　who　finds　another。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　good　that　you　will　keep　your　oath；〃　Faile　told　her　dryly。　〃If　you　want　more　of　my　husband；　perhaps　you　should　do　more。　Perhaps　you　should　acpany　him　when　he　goes　south　to　meet　the　Prophet。　Of　course；　you　will　want　your　own　soldiers　with　you；　but　I　suggest　no　more　than　the　First　has　with　her。　Shall　we　sit？〃　Taking　the　chair　Perrin　had　vacated；　she　motioned　Berelain　and　Annoura　to　those　on　either　side；　and　only　then　gestured　toward　another　for　Alliandre。
　　　　　　　The　Queen　sat　slowly；　staring　wide…eyed　at　Faile；　not　nervous　but　astounded。　〃Why　in　the　Light　would　I　do　that？〃　she　exclaimed。　〃Lady　Faile；　the　Children　of　the　Light　will　take　any　excuse　to　increase　their　depredations　in　Ghealdan；　and　King　Ailron　might　decide　to　send　an　army　north　as　well。　It's　impossible！〃
　　　　　　　〃The　wife　of　your　liege　lord　asks　it　of　you；　Alliandre；〃　Faile　said　firmly。
　　　　　　　It　did　seem　possible　that　Alliandre's　eyes　could　widen　further；　yet　they　did。　She　looked　to　Annoura　and　found　only　imperturbable　Aes　Sedai　calm　looking　back。　〃Of　course；〃　she　said　after　a　moment。　Her　voice　was　hollow。　Swallowing；　she　added；　〃Of　course；　I　will　do　as　you。。。　ask。。。　my　Lady。〃
　　　　　　　Faile　hid　her　relief　behind　a　gracious　nod　of　acceptance。　She　had　expected　Alliandre　to　balk。　That　Alliandre　could　swear　fealty　without　realizing　what　that　meant　…　that　she　felt　it　necessary　to　say　that　she　intended　to　keep　her　oath！　…　had　only　confirmed　Faile's　belief　that　the　woman　could　not　be　left　behind。　By　all　accounts；　Alliandre　had　dealt　with　Masema　by　yielding　to　him。　Slowly；　to　be　sure；　with　little　other　choice　and　only　when　she　had　to；　yet　submission　could　bee　a　habit。　Back　in　Bethal；　with　nothing　visible　changed；　how　soon　before　she　would　decide　to　hedge　with　a　warning　to　Masema？　She　had　felt　the　weight　of　her　oath；　now　Faile　could　lighten　her　burden。
　　　　　　　〃I　am　happy　that　you　will　be　acpanying　us；〃　she　said　warmly。　And　truly；　she　was。　〃My　husband　does　not　forget　those　who　render　him　service。　One　such　service　would　be　to　write　to　your　nobles；　telling　them　that　a　man　in　the　south　has　raised　the　banner　of　Manetheren。〃　Berelain's　head　half　jerked　around　in　surprise；　and　Annoura　went　so　far　as　to　blink。
　　　　　　　〃My　Lady；〃　Alliandre　said　urgently；　〃half　of　them　will　send　word　to　the　Prophet　as　soon　as　they　receive　my　letter。　They　are　terrified　of　him；　and　the　Light　alone　knows　what　he　might　do。〃　Just　the　response　Faile　had　hoped　for。
　　　　　　　〃Which　is　why　you　will　write　him　also；　saying　that　you　have　gathered　a　few　soldiers　to　deal　with　this　man　personally。　After　all；　the　Prophe