rj.eyeoftheworld-第26章

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　　　　　　　〃They　were　far　away；　the　men　of　Manetheren；　on　the　Field　of　Bekkar；　called　the　Field　of　Blood；　when　news　came　that　a　Trolloc　army　was　moving　against　their　home。　Too　far　to　do　else　but　wait　to　hear　of　their　land's　death；　for　the　forces　of　the　Dark　One　meant　to　make　an　end　of　them。　Kill　the　mighty　oak　by　hacking　away　its　roots。　Too　far　to　do　else　but　mourn。　But　they　were　the　men　of　the　Mountain　Home。
　　　　　　　〃Without　hesitation；　without　thought　for　the　distance　they　must　travel；　they　marched　from　the　very　field　of　victory；　still　covered　in　dust　and　sweat　and　blood。　Day　and　night　they　marched；　for　they　had　seen　the　horror　a　Trolloc　army　left　behind　it；　and　no　man　of　them　could　sleep　while　such　a　danger　threatened　Manetheren。　They　moved　as　if　their　feet　had　wings；　marching　further　and　faster　than　friends　hoped　or　enemies　feared　they　could。　At　any　other　day　that　march　alone　would　have　inspired　songs。　When　the　Dark　One's　armies　swooped　down　upon　the　lands　of　Manetheren；　the　men　of　the　Mountain　Home　stood　before　it；　with　their　backs　to　the　Tarendrelle。〃
　　　　　　　Some　villager　raised　a　small　cheer　then；　but　Moiraine　kept　on　as　if　she　had　not　heard。　〃The　host　that　faced　the　men　of　Manetheren　was　enough　to　daunt　the　bravest　heart。　Ravens　blackened　the　sky；　Trollocs　blackened　the　land。　Trollocs　and　their　human　allies。　Trollocs　and　Darkfriends　in　tens　of　tens　of　thousands；　and　Dreadlords　to　mand。　At　night　their　cookfires　outnumbered　the　stars；　and　dawn　revealed　the　banner　of　Ba'alzamon　at　their　head。　Ba'alzamon；　Heart　of　the　Dark。　An　ancient　name　for　the　Father　of　Lies。　The　Dark　One　could　not　have　been　free　of　his　prison　at　Shayol　Ghul；　for　if　he　had　been；　not　all　the　forces　of　humankind　together　could　have　stood　against　him；　but　there　was　power　there。　Dreadlords；　and　some　evil　that　made　that　light…destroying　banner　seem　no　more　than　right　and　sent　a　chill　into　the　souls　of　the　men　who　faced　it。
　　　　　　　〃Yet；　they　knew　what　they　must　do。　Their　homeland　lay　just　across　the　river。　They　must　keep　that　host；　and　the　power　with　it；　from　the　Mountain　Home。　Aemon　had　sent　out　messengers。　Aid　was　promised　if　they　could　hold　for　but　three　days　at　the　Tarendrelle。　Hold　for　three　days　against　odds　that　should　overwhelm　them　in　the　first　hour。　Yet　somehow；　through　bloody　assault　and　desperate　defense；　they　held　through　an　hour；　and　the　second　hour；　and　the　third。　For　three　days　they　fought；　and　though　the　land　became　a　butcher's　yard；　no　crossing　of　the　Tarendrelle　did　they　yield。　By　the　third　night　no　help　had　e；　and　no　messengers；　and　they　fought　on　alone。　For　six　days。　For　nine。　And　on　the　tenth　day　Aemon　knew　the　bitter　taste　of　betrayal。　No　help　was　ing；　and　they　could　hold　the　river　crossings　no　more。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　did　they　do？〃　Hari　demanded。　Torchfires　flickered　in　the　chill　night　breeze；　but　no　one　made　a　move　to　draw　a　cloak　tighter。
　　　　　　　〃Aemon　crossed　the　Tarendrelle；〃　Moiraine　told　them；　〃destroying　the　bridges　behind　him。　And　he　sent　word　throughout　his　land　for　the　people　to　flee；　for　he　knew　the　powers　with　the　Trolloc　horde　would　find　a　way　to　bring　it　across　the　river。　Even　as　the　word　went　out；　the　Trolloc　crossing　began；　and　the　soldiers　of　Manetheren　took　up　the　fight　again；　to　buy　with　their　lives　what　hours　they　could　for　their　people　to　escape。　From　the　city　of　Manetheren；　Eldrene　organized　the　flight　of　her　people　into　the　deepest　forests　and　the　fastness　of　the　mountains。
　　　　　　　〃But　some　did　not　flee。　First　in　a　trickle；　then　a　river；　then　a　flood；　men　went；　not　to　safety；　but　to　join　the　army　fighting　for　their　land。　Shepherds　with　bows；　and　farmers　with　pitchforks；　and　woodsmen　with　axes。　Women　went；　too；　shouldering　what　weapons　they　could　find　and　marching　side　by　side　with　their　men。　No　one　made　that　journey　who　did　not　know　they　would　never　return。　But　it　was　their　land。　It　had　been　their　fathers'；　and　it　would　be　their　children's；　and　they　went　to　pay　the　price　of　it。　Not　a　step　of　ground　was　given　up　until　it　was　soaked　in　blood；　but　at　the　last　the　army　of　Manetheren　was　driven　back；　back　to　here；　to　this　place　you　now　call　Emond's　Field。　And　here　the　Trolloc　hordes　surrounded　them。〃
　　　　　　　Her　voice　held　the　sound　of　cold　tears。　〃Trolloc　dead　and　the　corpses　of　human　renegades　piled　up　in　mounds；　but　always　more　scrambled　over　those　charnel　heaps　in　waves　of　death　that　had　no　end。　There　could　be　but　one　finish。　No　man　or　woman　who　had　stood　beneath　the　banner　of　the　Red　Eagle　at　that　day's　dawning　still　lived　when　night　fell。　The　sword　that　could　not　be　broken　was　shattered。
　　　　　　　〃In　the　Mountains　of　Mist；　alone　in　the　emptied　city　of　Manetheren；　Eldrene　felt　Aemon　die；　and　her　heart　died　with　him。　And　where　her　heart　had　been　was　left　only　a　thirst　for　vengeance；　vengeance　for　her　love；　vengeance　for　her　people　and　her　land。　Driven　by　grief　she　reached　out　to　the　True　Source；　and　hurled　the　One　Power　at　the　Trolloc　army。　And　there　the　Dreadlords　died　wherever　they　stood；　whether　in　their　secret　councils　or　exhorting　their　soldiers。　In　the　passing　of　a　breath　the　Dreadlords　and　the　generals　of　the　Dark　One's　host　burst　into　flame。　Fire　consumed　their　bodies；　and　terror　consumed　their　just…victorious　army。
　　　　　　　〃Now　they　ran　like　beasts　before　a　wildfire　in　the　forest；　with　no　thought　for　anything　but　escape。　North　and　south　they　fled。　Thousands　drowned　attempting　to　cross　the　Tarendrelle　without　the　aid　of　the　Dreadlords；　and　at　the　Manetherendrelle　they　tore　down　the　bridges　in　their　fright　at　what　might　be　following　them。　Where　they　found　people；　they　slew　and　burned；　but　to　flee　was　the　need　that　gripped　them。　Until；　at　last；　no　one　of　them　remained　in　the　lands　of　Manetheren。　They　were　dispersed　like　dust　before　the　whirlwind。　The　final　vengeance　came　more　slowly；　but　it　came；　when　they　were　hunted　down　by　other　peoples；　by　other　armies　in　other　lands。　None　was　left　alive　of　those　who　did　murder　at　Aemon's　Field。
　　　　　　　〃But　the　price　was　high　for　Manetheren。　Eldrene　had　drawn　to　herself　more　of　the　One　Power　than　any　human　could　ever　hope　to　wield　unaided。　As　the　enemy　generals　died；　so　did　she　die；　and　the　fires　that　consumed　her　consumed　the　empty　city　of　Manetheren；　even　the　stones　of　it；　down　to　the　living　rock　of　the　mountains。　Yet　the　people　had　been　saved。〃
　　　　　　　〃Nothing　was　left　of　their　farms；　their　villages；　or　their　great　city。　Some　would　say　there　was　nothing　left　for　them；　nothing　but　to　flee　to　other　lands；　where　they　could　begin　anew。　They　did　not　say　so。　They　had　paid　such　a　price　in　blood　and　hope　for　their　land　as　had　never　been　paid　before；　and　now　they　were　bound　to　that　soil　by　ties　stronger　than　steel。　Other　wars　would　wrack　them　in　years　to　e；　until　at　last　their　corner　of　the　world　was　forgotten　and　at　last　they　had　forgotten　wars　and　the　ways　of　war。　Never　again　did　Manetheren　rise。　Its　soaring　spires　and　splashing　fountains　became　as　a　dream　that　slowly　faded　from　the　minds　of　its　people。　But　they；　and　their　children；　and　their　children's　children；　held　the　land　that　was　theirs。　They　held　it　when　the　long　centuries　had　washed　the　why　of　it　from　their　memories。　They　held　it　until；　today；　there　is　you。　Weep　for　Manetheren。　Weep　for　what　is　lost　forever。〃
　　　　　　　The　fires　on　Moiraine's　staff　winked　out；　and　she　lowered　it　to　her　side　as　if　it　weighed　a　hundred　pounds。　For　a　long　moment　the　moan　of　the　wind　was　the　only　sound。　Then　Paet　al'Caar　shouldered　past　the　Coplins。
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know　about　your　story；〃　the　long…jawed　farmer　said。　〃I'm　no　thorn　to　the　Dark　One's　foot；　nor　ever　likely　to　be；　neither。　But　my　Wil　is　walking　because　of　you；　and　for　that　I　am　ashamed　to　be　here。　I　don't　know　if　you　can　forgive　me；　but　whether　you　will　or　no；　I'll　be　going。　And　for　me；　you　can　stay　in　Emond's　Field　as　long　as　you　like。〃
　　　　　　　With　a　quick　duck　of　his　head；　almost　a　bow；　he　pushed　back　through　the　crowd。　Others　began　to　mutter　then；　offering　shamefaced　penirence　before　they；　too；　slipped　away　one　by　one。　The　Coplins；　sour…mouthed　and　scowling　once　more；　looked　at　the　faces　around　them　and　vanished　into　the　night　without　a　word。　Bili　Congar　had　disappeared　even　before　his　cousins。
　　　　　　　Lan　pulled　Rand　back　and　shut　the　door。　〃Let's　go；　boy。〃　The　Warder　started　for　the　back　of　the　inn。　〃e　along；　both　of　you。　Quickly！〃
　　　　　　　Rand　hesitated；　exchanging　a　wondering　glance　with　Mat。　While　Moiraine　had　been　telling　the　story；　Master　al'Vere's　Dhurrans　could　not　have　dragged　him　away；　but　now　something　else　held　his　feet。　This　was　the　real　beginning；　leaving　the　inn　and　following　the　Warder　into　the　night。　He　shook　himself；　and　tried　to　firm　his　resolve。　He　had　no　choice　but　to　go；　but　he　would　e　back　to　Emond's　Field；　however　far　or　long　this　journey　was。
　　　　　　　〃What　are　you　waiting　for？〃　Lan　asked　from　the　door　that　led　out　of　the　back　of　the　mon　room。　With　a　start　Mat　hurried　to　him。
　　　　　　　Trying　to　convince　himself　that　he　was　beginning　a　grand　adventure；　Rand　followed　them　through　the　darkened　kitchen　out　into　the　stableyard。

Chapter　10
Leavetaking
　
　　　　　　　A　single　lantern；　its　shutters　half　closed；　hung　from　a　nail　on　a　stall　post；　casting　a　dim　light。　Deep　shadows　swallowed　most　of　the　stalls。　As　Rand　came　through　the　doors　from　the　stableyard；　hard　on　the　heels　of　Mat　and　the　Warder；　Perrin　leaped　up　in　a　rustle　of　straw　from　where　he　had　been　sitting　with　his　back　against　a　stall　door。　A　heavy　cloak　swathed　him。
　　　　　　　Lan　barely　paused　to　demand；　〃Did　you　look　the　way　I　told　you；　blacksmith？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　looked；〃　Perrin　replied。　〃There's　nobody　here　but　us。　Why　would　anybody　hide　…　〃
　　　　　　　〃Care　and　a　long　life　go　together；　blacksmith。〃　The　Warder　ran　a　quick　eye　around　the　shadowed　stable　and　the　deeper　shadows　of　the　hayloft　above；　then　shook　his　head。　〃No　time；〃　he　muttered；　half　to　himself。　〃Hurry；　she　says。〃
　　　　　　　As　if　to　suit　his　words；　he　strode　quickly　to　where　the　five　horses　stood　tethered；　bridled　and　saddled　at　the　back　of　the　pool　of　light。　Two　were　the　black　stallion　and　white　mare　that　Rand　had　seen　before。　The　others；　if　not　quite　so　tall　or　so　sleek；　certainly　appeared　to　be　among　the　best　the　Two　Rivers　had　to　offer。　With　hasty　care　Lan　began　examining　cinches　and　girth　straps；　and　the　leather　ties　that　held　saddlebags；　water…skins；　and　blanket…rolls　behind　the　saddles。
　　　　　　　Rand　exchanged　shaky　smiles　with　his　friends；　trying　hard　to　look　as　if　he　really　was　eager　to　be　off。
　　　　　　　For　the　first　time　Mat　noticed　the　sword　at　Rand's　waist；　and　pointed　to　it。　〃You　being　a　Warder？〃　He　laughed；　then　swallowed　it　with　a　quick　glance　at　Lan。　The　Warder　apparently　took　no　notice。　〃Or　at　least　a　merchant's　guard；〃　Mat　went　on　with　a　grin　that　seemed　only　a　little　forced。　He　hefted　his　bow。　〃An　honest　man's　weapon　isn't　good　enough　for　him。〃
　　　　　　　Rand　thought　about　flourishing　the　sword；　but　Lan　being　there　stopped　him。　The　Warder　was　not　even　looking　in　his　direction；　but　he　was　sure　the　man　was　aware　of　everything　that　went　on　around　him。　Instead　he　said　with　exaggerated　casualness；　〃It　might　be　useful；〃　as　if　wearing　a　sword　were　nothing　out　of　the　ordinary。
　　　　　　　Perrin　moved；　trying　to　hide　something　under　his　cloak。　Rand　glimpsed　a　wide　leather　belt　encircling　the　apprentice　blacksmith's　waist；　with　the　handle　of　an　axe　thrust　throu