rj.thepathofdaggers-第50部分

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　　　　　　　〃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　Prophet　of　the　Lord　Dragon　is　too　important　to　have　to　turn　his　attention　to　such　a　minor　matter。〃
　　　　　　　〃Very　good；〃　Annoura　murmured。　〃No　one　will　know　who　is　who。〃
　　　　　　　Berelain　laughed　in　delighted　approval；　burn　her！
　　　　　　　〃My　Lady；〃　Alliandre　breathed；　〃I　said　that　my　Lord　Perrin　is　formidable。　May　I　add　that　his　wife　is　every　bit　as　formidable？〃
　　　　　　　Faile　tried　not　to　bask　too　visibly。　Now　she　had　to　send　word　to　her　people　in　Bethal。　In　a　way；　she　regretted　that。　Explaining　to　Perrin　would　have　been　more　than　difficult；　but　even　he　could　not　have　kept　his　temper　if　she　had　kidnapped　the　Queen　of　Ghealdan。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　Most　of　the　Winged　Guards　appeared　to　be　gathered　on　the　edge　of　their　camp；　surrounding　ten　of　their　number　on　horseback。　The　absence　of　lances　said　the　riders　were　scouts。　The　men　afoot　milled　and　pushed；　trying　to　get　closer。　Perrin　thought　he　heard　thunder　again；　not　so　distant；　but　it　only　touched　the　edge　of　awareness。
　　　　　　　As　he　prepared　to　push　his　way　through；　Gallenne　roared；　〃Make　way；　you　mangy　hounds！〃　Heads　whipped　around；　and　men　wriggled　sideways　in　the　mass；　opening　a　narrow　path。　Perrin　wondered　what　would　happen　if　he　called　the　Two　Rivers　men　mangy　hounds。　Probably　earn　him　a　punch　in　the　nose。　It　might　be　worth　a　try。
　　　　　　　Nurelle　and　the　other　officers　were　with　the　scouts。　So　were　seven　men　afoot　with　their　hands　tied　behind　them　and　lead　ropes　around　their　necks；　all　shuffling　their　feet　and　hunching　their　shoulders　and　scowling　defiance　or　fear　or　both。　Their　clothes　were　stiff　with　old　filth；　though　some　had　been　fine　once。　Strangely；　they　smelled　heavily　of　woodsmoke。　For　that　matter；　some　of　the　mounted　soldiers　had　soot　on　their　faces；　and　one　or　two　seemed　to　be　nursing　burns。　Aram　stood　studying　the　prisoners；　frowning　slightly。
　　　　　　　Gallenne　took　a　stance　with　his　feet　apart　and　fists　on　his　hips；　his　one　eye　doing　as　good　a　job　of　glaring　as　most　men's　two。　〃What　happened？〃　he　demanded。　〃My　scouts　are　supposed　to　bring　back　information；　not　ragpickers！〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　let　Ortis　report；　my　Lord；〃　Nurelle　said。　〃He　was　there。　Squadman　Ortis！〃
　　　　　　　A　soldier　in　his　middle　years　scrambled　down　from　his　saddle　to　bow；　gauntleted　hand　pressed　to　heart。　His　helmet　was　plain；　without　the　thin　plumes　and　wings　that　were　worked　in　the　sides　of　officers'　helmets。　Beneath　the　rim；　a　livid　burn　stood　out　plainly　on　his　face。　The　other　cheek　had　a　scar　that　pulled　up　the　corner　of　his　mouth。　〃My　Lord　Gallenne；　my　Lord　Aybara；〃　he　said　in　a　gravelly　voice。　〃We　came　on　these　turnip…eaters　about　two　leagues　to　the　west；　my　Lords。　Burning　a　farm；　with　the　farm　folk　inside。　A　woman　tried　to　get　out　a　window；　and　one　of　these　scum　bashed　her　head　in。　Knowing　how　Lord　Aybara　feels；　we　put　a　stop　to　it。　We　were　too　late　to　save　anybody；　but　we　caught　these　seven。　The　rest　got　away。〃
　　　　　　　〃People　are　often　tempted　to　slide　back　into　the　Shadow；〃　one　of　the　prisoners　said　suddenly。　〃They　must　be　reminded　of　the　cost。〃　A　tall；　lean　man　with　a　stately　air；　his　voice　was　smooth　and　educated；　but　his　coat　was　as　dirty　as　any　of　the　others；　and　he　had　not　shaved　in　two　or　three　days。　The　Prophet　did　not　seem　to　approve　of　wasting　time　on　things　like　razors。　Or　washing。　With　his　hands　bound　and　a　rope　around　his　neck；　he　glared　at　his　captors　without　the　least　bit　of　fear。　He　was　all　supercilious　defiance。　〃Your　soldiers　do　not　impress　me；〃　he　said。　〃The　Prophet　of　the　Lord　Dragon；　blessed　be　his　name　in　the　Light；　has　destroyed　greater　armies　by　far　than　your　tag　end。　You　may　kill　us；　but　we　will　be　avenged　when　the　Prophet　spills　your　blood　on　the　ground。　None　of　you　will　survive　us　long。　He　will　triumph　in　fire　and　in　blood。〃　He　finished　on　a　ringing　tone；　his　back　straight　as　an　iron　rod。　Murmurs　ran　through　the　listening　soldiers。　They　knew　very　well　that　Masema　had　destroyed　larger　armies　than　theirs。
　　　　　　　〃Hang　them；〃　Perrin　said。　Again；　he　heard　that　thunder。
　　　　　　　Having　given　the　order；　he　made　himself　watch。　Despite　the　murmurs；　there　was　no　lack　of　ready　hands。　Some　of　the　prisoners　began　to　weep　as　their　lead　ropes　were　thrown　over　tree　limbs。　A　once…fat　man　whose　wattles　hung　in　folds　shouted　that　he　repented；　that　he　would　serve　any　master　they　named。　A　bald…headed　fellow　who　looked　as　tough　as　Lamgwin　thrashed　and　screamed　until　the　rope　cut　off　his　howls。　Only　the　smooth…voiced　man　did　not　kick　or　fight；　even　when　the　noose　drew　tight　on　his　neck。　To　the　end　he　glared　defiance。
　　　　　　　〃At　least　one　of　them　knew　how　to　die；〃　Gallenne　growled　as　the　last　body　went　limp。　He　frowned　at　the　men　decorating　the　trees　as　if　regretting　they　had　not　put　up　more　fight。
　　　　　　　〃If　those　people　were　serving　the　Shadow；〃　Aram　began；　then　hesitated。　〃Forgive　me；　Lord　Perrin；　but　will　the　Lord　Dragon　approve　of　this？〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　gave　a　start　and　stared　at　him；　aghast。　〃Light；　Aram；　you　heard　what　they　did！　Rand　would've　put　the　ropes　on　their　necks　himself！〃　He　thought　Rand　would　have；　hoped　he　would　have。　Rand　was　fixed　on　welding　the　nations　together　before　the　Last　Battle；　and　he　had　done　little　counting　of　cost　to　do　so。
　　　　　　　Men's　heads　jerked　up　as　thunder　pealed　loud　enough　for　all　to　hear；　then　closer；　and　again　closer　still。　A　wind　gusted；　fell；　rose　again；　tugging　Perrin's　coat　as　it　slashed　this　way　and　that。　Lightning　forked　in　a　cloudless　sky。　In　the　Mayener　camp；　horses　whinnied　and　reared　at　their　ties。　Thunder　tolled　repeatedly；　and　lightning　writhed　in　silver…blue　snakes；　and　beneath　a　burning　sun；　rain　fell；　fat　scattered　drops　that　splashed　fountains　of　dust　where　they　hit　bare　ground。　Perrin　wiped　one　from　his　cheek　and　peered　at　damp　fingers　in　amazement。
　　　　　　　In　moments　the　storm　was　gone；　thunder　and　lightning　rolling　on　eastward。　Thirsty　ground　absorbed　the　raindrops　that　had　fallen；　the　sun　baked　as　fiercely　as　ever；　and　only　flickering　lights　in　the　sky　and　fading　booms　said　that　anything　had　happened。　Soldiers　stared　at　each　other　uncertainly。　Gallenne　pried　his　fingers　from　the　hilt　of　his　sword　with　an　obvious　effort。
　　　　　　　〃This。。。　this　can't　be　the　Dark　One's　work；〃　Aram　said；　and　flinched。　No　one　had　ever　seen　a　natural　storm　like　that。　〃It　means　the　weather　is　changing；　doesn't　it；　Lord　Perrin？　The　weather　is　going　to　be　right　again？〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　opened　his　mouth　to　tell　the　man　not　to　call　him　that；　but　he　closed　it　again　with　a　sigh。　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said。　What　was　it　Gaul　had　said？　〃Everything　changes；　Aram。〃　He　had　just　never　thought　that　he　would　have　to　change；　too。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　
Chapter　11　
（Spears　and　Shield）　
Questions　and　an　Oath　
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　The　air　in　the　huge　stable　smelled　of　old　hay　and　horse　dung。　And　blood；　and　burned　flesh。　With　all　the　doors　closed；　the　air　felt　thick。　Two　lanterns　gave　little　light；　and　shadows　filled　most　of　the　interior。　In　the　long　rows　of　stalls；　horses　whickered　nervously。　The　man　hanging　by　his　wrists　from　a　roof　beam　gave　a　low　moan；　then　a　ragged　cough。　His　head　fell　down　on　his　chest。　He　was　a　tall　man；　well…muscled；　if　rather　the　worse　for　wear。
　　　　　　　Abruptly　Sevanna　realized　that　his　chest　no　longer　moved。　The　gem…studded　rings　on　her　fingers　glittered　red　and　green　as　she　gestured　curtly　to　Rhiale。
　　　　　　　The　flame…haired　woman　pushed　the　man's　head　up　and　thumbed　back　one　eyelid；　then　pressed　an　ear　to　his　chest；　careless　of　the　still…smoldering　splinters　that　peppered　him。　With　a　sound　of　disgust；　she　straightened。　〃He　is　dead。　We　should　have　left　this　to　the　Maidens；　Sevanna；　or　the　Black　Eyes。　I　do　not　doubt　we　killed　him　by　ignorance。〃
　　　　　　　Sevanna's　mouth　tightened；　and　she　shifted　her　shawl　in　a　clatter　of　bracelets。　They　ran　nearly　to　her　elbows；　a　noticeable　weight　in　gold　and　ivory　and　gems；　yet　she　would　have　worn　every　one　she　owned　if　she　could。　None　of　the　other　women　said　anything。　Putting　prisoners　to　the　question　was　not　the　work　of　Wise　Ones；　but　Rhiale　knew　why　they　had　to　do　this　themselves。　The　lone　survivor　of　ten　mounted　men　who　thought　they　could　defeat　twenty　Maidens　because　they　rode　horses；　the　man　had　also　been　the　first　Seanchan　captured　in　the　ten　days　since　their　arrival　in　this　land。
　　　　　　　〃He　would　have　lived　if　he　had　not　fought　the　pain　so　hard；　Rhiale；〃　Someryn　said　finally；　shaking　her　head。　〃A　strong　man　for　a　wetlander；　but　he　could　not　accept　pain。　Still；　he　told　us　much。〃
　　　　　　　Sevanna　eyed　her　sideways；　trying　to　see　whether　she　hid　sarcasm。　As　tall　as　most　men；　Someryn　wore　more　bracelets　and　necklaces　than　any　woman　there　except　Sevanna　herself；　layers　of　firedrops　and　emeralds；　rubies　and　sapphires；　almost　concealing　a　too…full　bosom　that　otherwise　would　have　been　half　bared　with　her　blouse　undone　almost　to　her　skirt。　Her　shawl；　tied　around　her　waist；　hid　nothing。　At　times　it　was　difficult　for　Sevanna　to　tell　whether　Someryn　was　copying　her　or　peting　with　her。
　　　　　　　〃Much！〃　Meira　exclaimed。　In　the　light　of　the　lantern　she　held；　her　long　face　was　grimmer　than　usual；　though　that　hardly　seemed　possible。　Meira　could　find　the　dark　side　of　the　noonday　sun。　〃That　his　people　lie　two　days　west　in　the　city　called　Amador？　We　knew　that。　All　he　has　told　us　are　wild　tales。　Artur　Hawkwing！　Bah！　The　Maidens　should　have　kept　him　and　done　what　was　needed。〃
　　　　　　　〃Would　you。。。　risk　letting　everyone　learn　too　much　too　soon？〃　Sevanna　bit　her　lip　in　vexation。　She　had　almost　called　them　〃you　fools。〃　Too　many　already　knew　too　much；　in　her　opinion；　Wise　Ones　among　them；　but　she　could　not　risk　offending　these　women。　That　knowledge　grated　on　her！　〃The　people　are　frightened。〃　There　was　no　need　to　hide　her　contempt　for　that；　at　least。　What　shocked　her；　outraged　her；　was　not　that　they　were　afraid；　but　how　few　made　any　effort　to　hide　the　fact。　〃Black　Eyes；　or　Stone　Dogs；　or　even　Maidens；　would　have　talked　of　what　he　said。　You　know　they　would！　His　lies　would　only　have　spread　more　fear。〃　They　had　to　be　lies。　In　Sevanna's　mind　a　sea　was　like　the　lakes　she　had　seen　in　the　wetlands；　but　with　its　far　side　beyond　sight。　If　hundreds　of　thousands　more　of　his　people　were　ing；　even　from　the　other　side　of　so　large　a