rj.theshadowrising-第170章

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er　more　than　talk；　confirmed　when　Egeanin　added；　〃It　might　be　best　if　you　slit　his　throat。　He　may　try　to　make　trouble　for　you；　too；　if　he　thinks　you　are　my　friends；　or　if　he　discovers　you　are　Aes　Sedai。〃　The　big　Illianer　smuggler　gave　her　a　shocked　look；　and　Juilin's　jaw　dropped　almost　to　his　chest。　Thom；　on　the　other　hand；　nodded　in　a　disturbingly　thoughtful　fashion。
　　　　　　　〃We　are　not　here　to　slit　Seanchan　throats；〃　Nynaeve　said　as　though　that　might　change　later。　〃Bayle；　Juilin；　put　him　out　in　the　alley　behind　the　inn。　By　the　time　he　wakes；　he'll　be　lucky　to　have　his　smallclothes。　Thom；　find　Rendra　and　tell　her　we　want　strong　tea　in　the　Chamber　of　Falling　Blossoms。　And　ask　if　she　has　any　willowbark　or　acem；　I　will　make　you　something　for　your　head。〃　The　three　men　stared　at　her。　〃Well；　move！〃　she　snapped。　〃We　have　plans　to　make！〃　She　barely　gave　Elayne　time　to　get　back　inside　before　closing　the　door　with　a　bang　and　beginning　to　pull　her　dress　over　her　head。　Egeanin　scrambled　into　hers　as　though　the　men　were　still　looking　at　her。
　　　　　　　〃The　better　way　is　to　ignore　them；　Egeanin；〃　Elayne　said。　It　was　odd　to　be　advising　someone　older　than　Nynaeve；　but　however　petent　the　Seanchan　woman　was　in　other　ways；　she　clearly　knew　little　about　men。　〃It　only　encourages　them；　otherwise。　I　do　not　know　why；〃　she　admitted；　〃but　it　does。　You　were　quite　decently　covered。　Really。〃
　　　　　　　Egeanin's　head　pushed　out　at　the　top　of　her　dress。　〃Decent？　I　am　not　a　serving　girl。　I　am　no　shea　dancer！〃　Her　scowl　became　a　perplexed　frown。　〃He　is　rather　good…looking；　though。　I　had　not　thought　of　him　so　before。〃
　　　　　　　Wondering　what　a　shea　dancer　was；　Elayne　went　to　help　her　with　her　buttons。　〃Rendra　will　have　something　to　say　to　you　if　you　allow　Juilin　to　flirt　with　you。〃
　　　　　　　The　dark…haired　woman　gave　her　a　startled　look　over　her　shoulder。　〃The　thief…catcher？　It　was　Bayle　Domon　I　meant。　A　properly　set…up　man。　But　a　smuggler；〃　she　sighed　regretfully。　〃A　lawbreaker。〃
　　　　　　　Elayne　supposed　there　was　no　accounting　for　tastes　…　Nynaeve　certainly　loved　Lan；　and　he　was　much　too　stone…faced　and　intimidating　…　but　Bayle　Domon？　The　man　was　half　as　wide　as　he　was　tall；　as　thick　as　an　Ogier！
　　　　　　　〃You　chatter　like　Rendra；　Elayne；〃　Nynaeve　snapped。　She　was　struggling　to　do　up　her　dress；　both　hands　behind　her。　〃If　you　have　finished　blathering　about　men；　perhaps　you　won't　mind　skipping　over　the　new　seamstress　you've　no　doubt　found？　We　must　make　plans。　If　we　wait　until　we're　with　the　men；　they　will　try　to　take　it　over；　and　I　am　in　no　mood　to　waste　time　putting　them　in　their　place。　Have　you　finished　with　her　yet？　I　could　use　some　help　myself。〃
　　　　　　　Quickly　fastening　Egeanin's　last　small　button；　Elayne　went　coolly　to　Nynaeve。　She　did　not　talk　about　men　and　dresses。　Not　nearly　as　much　as　Rendra。　Holding　her　braids　out　of　the　way；　Nynaeve　gave　her　a　frown　when　she　tugged　sharply　at　the　other　woman's　dress　to　do　up　the　buttons。　The　close…spaced　triple　row　up　the　back　was　necessary；　not　simply　ornament。　Nynaeve　would　let　Rendra　talk　her　into　the　most　fashionably　tight　bodices。　And　then　say　other　people　spent　all　their　time　thinking　about　clothes。　She　certainly　thought　of　other　things。　〃I　have　been　thinking　how　we　can　move　inside　the　palace　unnoticed；　Nynaeve。　We　can　be　all　but　invisible。〃
　　　　　　　As　she　talked；　Nynaeve's　frowns　smoothed　out。　Nynaeve　herself　had　conceived　a　way　to　enter　the　palace。　When　Egeanin　made　a　few　suggestions；　Nynaeve's　mouth　tightened；　but　the　notions　were　sensible；　and　even　Nynaeve　could　not　reject　them　out　of　hand。　By　the　time　they　were　ready　to　go　down　to　the　Chamber　of　Falling　Blossoms；　they　had　a　plan　agreed　upon；　and　no　intention　of　letting　the　men　change　a　whit　of　it。　Moghedien；　the　Black　Ajah；　whoever　were　running　things　in　the　Panarch's　Palace；　were　going　to　lose　their　prizes　before　they　knew　what　had　happened。


Chapter　53
（Wolf）
The　Price　of　a　Departure

　　　　　　　Only　three　candles　and　two　lamps　lit　the　mon　room　of　the　Winespring　Inn；　since　candles　and　oil　both　were　in　short　supply。　The　spears　and　other　weapons　were　gone　from　the　walls；　the　barrel　that　had　held　old　swords　was　empty。　The　lamps　stood　on　two　of　the　tables　pushed　together　in　front　of　the　tall　stone　fireplace；　where　Marin　al'Vere　and　Daise　Congar　and　others　of　the　Women's　Circle　were　going　over　lists　of　the　scanty　food　remaining　in　Emond's　Field。　Perrin　tried　not　to　listen。
　　　　　　　At　another　table　Faile's　honing　stone　made　a　soft；　steady　whisk…whisk　as　she　sharpened　one　of　her　knives。　A　bow　lay　in　front　of　her；　and　a　bristling　quiver　hung　at　her　belt。　She　had　turned　out　to　be　a　fairly　good　shot；　but　he　hoped　she　never　discovered　that　it　was　a　boy's　bow；　she　could　not　draw　a　man's　Two　Rivers　longbow；　though　she　refused　to　admit　it。
　　　　　　　Shifting　his　axe　so　it　would　not　dig　into　his　side；　he　tried　to　put　his　mind　back　on　what　he　was　discussing　with　the　men　around　the　table　with　him。　Not　that　all　of　them　were　keeping　their　own　attention　where　it　should　be。
　　　　　　　〃They　have　lamps；〃　Cenn　muttered；　〃and　we　make　do　with　tallow。〃　The　gnarled　old　man　glared　at　the　pair　of　candles　in　brass　candlesticks。
　　　　　　　〃Give　over；　Cenn；〃　Tam　said　wearily；　pulling　pipe　and　tabac　pouch　from　behind　his　sword　belt。　〃For　once；　give　over。〃
　　　　　　　〃If　we　had　to　read　or　write；〃　Abell　said；　his　voice　less　patient　than　the　words；　〃we'd　have　lamps。〃　A　bandage　was　wound　around　his　temples。
　　　　　　　As　if　to　remind　the　thatcher　that　he　was　Mayor；　Bran　adjusted　the　silver　medallion　hanging　on　his　wide　chest；　showing　a　pair　of　scales。　〃Keep　your　mind　to　the　business　at　hand；　Cenn。　I'll　have　none　of　your　wasting　Perrin's　time。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　just　think　we　should　have　lamps；〃　Cenn　plained。　〃Perrin　would　tell　me　if　I　was　wasting　his　time。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　sighed；　the　night　tried　to　drag　his　eyelids　down。　He　wished　it　were　someone　else's　turn　to　represent　the　Village　Council；　Haral　Luhhan　or　Jon　Thane　or　Samel　Crawe；　or　anybody　but　Cenn　with　his　carping。　But　then；　sometimes　he　wished　one　of　these　men　would　turn　to　him　and　say；　〃This　is　business　for　the　Mayor　and　the　Council；　young　fellow。　You　go　on　back　to　the　forge。　We'll　let　you　know　what　to　do。〃　Instead　they　worried　about　wasting　his　time；　deferred　to　him。　Time。　How　many　attacks　had　there　been　in　the　seven　days　since　the　first？　He　was　not　sure　any　longer。
　　　　　　　The　bandage　on　Abell's　head　irritated　Perrin。　The　Aes　Sedai　only　Healed　the　most　serious　wounds　now；　if　a　man　could　manage　without；　they　let　him。　It　was　not　that　there　were　many　badly　wounded　yet；　but　as　Verin　pointed　out　wryly；　even　as　Aes　Sedai　only　had　so　much　strength；　apparently　their　trick　with　the　catapult　stones　took　as　much　as　Healing。　For　once　he　did　not　want　to　be　reminded　of　limits　to　Aes　Sedai　strength。　Not　many　badly　wounded。　Yet。
　　　　　　　〃How　are　the　arrows　holding　out？〃　he　asked。　That　was　what　he　was　supposed　to　be　thinking　about。
　　　　　　　〃Well　enough；〃　Tam　said；　puffing　his　pipe　alight　from　one　of　the　candles。　〃We　still　recover　most　of　what　we　shoot；　in　daylight　at　least。　They　drag　a　lot　of　their　dead　away　at　night　…　fodder　for　the　cookpots；　I　suppose　…　and　we　lose　those。〃　The　other　men　were　digging　out　their　pipes；　too；　from　pouches　and　coat　pockets；　Cenn　muttering　that　he　seemed　to　have　forgotten　his　pouch。　Grumbling；　Bran　passed　his　across；　his　bald　pate　gleaming　in　the　candlelight。
　　　　　　　Perrin　rubbed　at　his　forehead。　What　had　he　meant　to　ask　next？　The　stakes。　There　was　fighting　at　the　stakes　in　most　attacks　now；　especially　at　night。　How　many　times　had　the　Trollocs　nearly　broken　through？　Three？　Four？　〃Does　everyone　have　a　spear　or　some　sort　of　polearm　now？　What's　left　to　make　more？〃　Silence　answered　him；　and　he　lowered　his　hand。　The　other　men　were　staring　at　him。
　　　　　　　〃You　asked　that　yesterday；〃　Abell　said　gently。　〃And　Haral　told　you　then　there　isn't　a　scythe　or　pitchfork　left　in　the　village　that　hasn't　been　made　into　a　weapon。　We've　more　than　we　have　hands　for；　in　truth。〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes。　Of　course。　It　just　slipped　my　mind。〃　A　snatch　of　conversation　from　the　Women's　Circle　caught　his　ear。
　　　　　　　〃。。。mustn't　let　the　men　know；〃　Marin　was　saying　softly；　as　if　repeating　a　caution　voiced　before。
　　　　　　　〃Of　course　not；〃　Daise　snorted；　but　not　much　louder。　〃If　the　fools　find　out　the　women　are　on　half　rations；　they'll　insist　on　eating　the　same；　and　we　can't。。。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　closed　his　eyes；　tried　to　close　his　ears。　Of　course。　The　men　did　the　fighting。　The　men　had　to　keep　their　strength　up。　Simple。　At　least　none　of　the　women　had　had　to　fight　yet。　Except　the　two　Aiel　women；　of　course；　and　Faile；　but　she　was　smart　enough　to　stay　back　when　it　came　to　pushing　spears　among　the　stakes。　That　was　the　reason　he　had　found　the　bow　for　her。　She　had　the　heart　of　a　leopard；　and　more　courage　than　any　two　men。
　　　　　　　〃I　think　it　is　time　you　went　to　bed；　Perrin；〃　Bran　suggested。　〃You　cannot　go　on　like　this；　sleeping　an　hour　here　and　an　hour　there。〃
　　　　　　　Scrubbing　his　beard　vigorously；　Perrin　tried　to　look　alert。　〃I'll　sleep　later。〃　When　it　was　over。　〃Are　the　men　getting　enough　sleep？　I've　seen　some　sitting　up　when　they　should　be　…〃
　　　　　　　The　front　door　banged　open　to　admit　skinny　Dannil　Lewin　out　of　the　night；　bow　in　hand　and　all　in　a　lather。　He　wore　one　of　the　swords　from　the　barrel　on　his　hip；　Tam　had　been　giving　classes　when　he　had　the　time；　and　sometimes　one　of　the　Warders　did　as　well。
　　　　　　　Before　Dannil　could　open　his　mouth；　Daise　snapped；　〃Were　you　raised　in　a　barn；　Dannil　Lewin？〃
　　　　　　　〃You　can　certainly　treat　my　door　a　little　more　gently。〃　Marin　divided　her　meaning　look　between　the　lanky　man　and　Daise；　a　reminder　that　it　was　her　door。
　　　　　　　Dannil　ducked　his　head；　clearing　his　throat。　〃Pardon；　Mistress　al'Vere；〃　he　said　hastily。　〃Pardon；　Wisdom。　Sorry　to　burst　in；　but　I've　a　message　for　Perrin。〃　He　hurried　to　the　table　of　men　as　if　afraid　the　women　would　stop　him　again。　〃The　Whitecloaks　brought　in　a　man　who　wants　to　talk　to　you；　Perrin。　He　won't　talk　to　anybody　else。　He's　hurt　bad；　Perrin。　They　only　brought　him　to　the　edge　of　the　village。　I　don't　think　he　could　make　it　as　far　as　the　inn。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　pushed　himself　to　his　feet。　〃I'm　ing。〃　Not　another　attack；　at　any　rate。　They　were　worst　at　night。
　　　　　　　Faile　snatched　up　her　bow　and　joined　him　before　he　reached　the　door。　And　Aram　stood　up；　hesitating；　from　the　shadows　on　the　foot　of　the　stairs。　Sometimes　Perrin　forgot　the　man　was　there；　he　kept　so　still。　He　looked　odd　with　that　sword　strapped　on　his　back　atop　his　grimy；　yellow…striped　Tinker　coat；　his　eyes　so　bright；　hardly　ever　seeming　to　blink；　and　his　face　without　expression。　Neither　Raen　or　Ila　had　spoken　to　their　grandson　since　the　day　he　picked　up　that　sword。　Nor　to　Perrin；　either。
　　　　　　　〃If　you're　ing；　e；〃　he　said　gruffly；　and　Aram　fell　in　at　his　heels。　The　man　followed　him　like　a　hound　whenever　he　was　not　pestering　Tam　or　Ihvon　or　Tomas　to　teach　him　that　sword。　It　was　as　if　he　had　replaced　his　family　and　people　with　Perrin。　Perrin　would　have　done　without　the　responsibility　if　he　could；　but　there　it　was。
　　　　　　　Moonlight　shone　down　on　thatched　roofs。　Few　houses　had　a　light　in　more　than　one　window。　Stillness　clung　to　the　village。　Some　thirty　of　the　panions　stood　guard　outside　the　inn　with　their　bows；　as　many　wearing　swords　as　could　find　them；　everyone　had　adopted　that