rj.theshadowrising-第167部分

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　　　　　　　〃Did　a　Trolloc　give　you　that　scar？〃　Voice　like　a　bull　or　not；　Ewin　managed　a　sort　of　squeaky　excitement。　〃I　wish　I　had　a　scar。　Did　you　see　a　queen？　Or　a　king？　I　think　I'd　rather　see　a　queen；　but　a　king　would　be　grand。　What　is　the　White　Tower　like？　Is　it　as　big　as　a　palace？〃
　　　　　　　Faile　smiled；　amused；　but　Perrin　blinked　at　the　onslaught。　Had　they　forgotten　the　Trollocs　on　Winternight；　forgotten　the　Trollocs　in　the　countryside　right　then？　Elam　clutched　his　sword　hilt　as　if　he　wanted　to　be　off　for　the　Blight　on　the　instant；　and　Dav　was　up　on　his　toes；　eyes　gleaming；　and　Ewin　looked　ready　to　grab　Perrin's　collar。　Adventure？　They　were　idiots。　Yet　there　were　hard　times　ing；　harder　than　the　Two　Rivers　had　seen　so　far；　he　was　afraid。　It　could　not　hurt　if　they　had　a　little　while　longer　before　they　learned　the　truth。
　　　　　　　His　side　hurt；　but　he　tried　to　answer。　They　seemed　disappointed　he　had　never　seen　the　White　Tower；　or　a　king　or　a　queen。　He　thought　Berelain　might　suffice　for　a　queen；　but　with　Faile　there　he　was　not　about　to　mention　her。　Some　other　things　he　shied　away　from；　Falme；　and　the　Eye　of　the　World；　the　Forsaken；　Callandor。　Dangerous　subjects；　those；　leading　inevitably　to　the　Dragon　Reborn。　He　could　tell　them　a　little　of　Caemlyn；　though；　and　Tear；　of　the　Borderlands　and　the　Blight。　It　was　odd　what　they　accepted　and　what　not。　The　corrupted　landscape　of　the　Blight；　seeming　to　rot　while　you　looked　at　it；　they　ate　up；　and　top…knotted　Shienaran　soldiers；　and　Ogier　stedding　where　Aes　Sedai　could　not　wield　the　Power　and　Fades　were　reluctant　to　enter。　But　the　size　of　the　Stone　of　Tear；　or　the　immensity　of　cities。。。
　　　　　　　About　his　own　supposed　adventures；　he　said　〃Mainly　I've　just　tried　to　keep　from　having　my　head　split　open。　That's　what　adventures　are；　that　and　finding　a　place　to　sleep　for　the　night；　and　something　to　eat。　You　go　hungry　a　lot　having　adventures；　and　sleep　cold　or　wet　or　both。〃
　　　　　　　They　did　not　like　that　very　much；　or　appear　to　believe　it　any　more　than　they　believed　that　the　Stone　was　as　big　as　a　small　mountain。　He　reminded　himself　that　he　had　known　as　little　of　the　world　before　he　left　the　Two　Rivers。　It　did　not　help　much。　He　had　never　been　this　wide…eyed。　Had　he？　The　mon　room　seemed　to　be　hot。　He　would　have　taken　his　coat　off；　but　moving　seemed　too　much　effort。
　　　　　　　〃What　about　Rand　and　Mat？〃　Ewin　demanded。　〃If　it's　all　being　hungry　and　getting　rained　on；　why　didn't　they　e　home；　too？〃
　　　　　　　Tam　and　Abell　had　e　in；　Tam　with　a　sword　belted　on　over　his　coat　and　both　men　with　bows　…　oddly；　the　sword　looked　right　on　Tam；　farm　coat　or　no　…　so　he　told　it　much　as　he　had　before；　Mat　gambling　and　carousing　in　taverns　and　chasing　girls；　and　Rand　in　his　fine　coat　with　a　pretty；　yellow…haired　girl　on　his　arm。　He　made　Elayne　a　lady；　expecting　they　would　never　believe　the　Daughter…Heir　of　Andor；　and　was　proved　right　when　they　expressed　incredulity。　Still；　it　all　seemed　satisfactory；　the　kind　of　thing　they　wanted　to　hear；　and　disbelief　faded　a　bit　when　Elam　pointed　out　that　Faile　was　a　lady　and　seemed　to　be　dancing　attendance　on　Perrin　pretty　sharp。　That　made　Perrin　grin；　he　wondered　what　they　would　say　if　he　told　them　she　was　cousin　to　a　queen。
　　　　　　　Faile　no　longer　appeared　to　be　amused　for　some　reason。　She　turned　on　them　with　a　stare　to　match　Elayne's　haughtiest；　stiff…backed　and　frosty…faced。　〃You　have　badgered　him　enough。　He　is　wounded。　Off　with　you；　now。〃
　　　　　　　For　a　wonder；　they　bowed　clumsily　…　Dav　made　an　awkward　leg；　looking　a　plete　fool　…　and　murmured　hasty　apologies　…　to　her；　not　him！　…　and　turned　to　go。　Their　departure　was　delayed　by　the　arrival　of　Loial；　stooping　through　the　doorway　with　his　shaggy　hair　brushing　the　transom。　They　stared　at　the　Ogier　almost　as　if　seeing　him　for　the　first　time　…　then　glanced　at　Faile　and　hurried　on　their　way。　That　cold；　lady's　stare　of　hers　did　work。
　　　　　　　When　Loial　straightened；　his　head　came　just　short　of　the　ceiling。　His　capacious　coat　pockets　bore　the　usual　squared　bulges　of　books；　but　he　carried　a　huge　axe。　Its　haft　stood　as　tall　as　he　did；　and　its　head；　shaped　like　a　wood…axe；　was　at　least　as　big　as　Perrin's　battle…axe。　〃You　are　hurt；〃　he　boomed　as　soon　as　his　eyes　fell　on　Perrin。　〃They　told　me　you　had　returned；　but　they　did　not　say　you　were　hurt；　or　I　would　have　e　faster。〃
　　　　　　　The　axe　gave　Perrin　a　start。　Among　Ogier；　〃putting　a　long　handle　on　your　axe〃　meant　being　hasty；　or　angry　…　Ogier　seemed　to　see　the　two　as　much　the　same　thing　for　some　reason。　Loial　did　look　angry；　tufted　ears　drawing　back；　frowning　so　his　dangling　eyebrows　hung　down　on　his　broad　cheeks。　At　having　to　cut　trees；　no　doubt。　Perrin　wanted　to　get　him　alone　and　find　out　if　he　had　seen　anything　more　concerning　Alanna's　doings。　Or　Verin's。　He　rubbed　his　face　and　was　surprised　to　find　it　dry；　he　felt　as　if　he　should　be　sweating。
　　　　　　　〃He　is　also　stubborn；〃　Faile　said；　turning　on　Perrin　with　the　same　manding　look　she　had　used　on　Dav　and　Elam　and　Ewin。　〃You　should　be　in　a　bed。　Where　is　Alanna；　Verin？　If　she　is　to　Heal　him；　where　is　she？〃
　　　　　　　〃She　will　e。〃　The　Aes　Sedai　did　not　look　up。　She　was　back　into　her　little　book　again；　frowning　thoughtfully；　pen　poised。
　　　　　　　〃He　should　still　be　in　a　bed！〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　have　time　for　that　later；〃　Perrin　said　firmly。　He　smiled　at　her　to　soften　it；　but　all　that　did　was　make　her　look　worried　and　mutter　〃stubborn〃　under　her　breath。　He　could　not　ask　Loial　about　the　Aes　Sedai　in　front　of　Verin；　but　there　was　something　else　at　least　as　important。　〃Loial；　the　Waygate　is　unlocked；　and　Trollocs　ing　through。　How　can　that　be？〃
　　　　　　　The　Ogier's　brows　sank　even　deeper；　and　his　ears　wilted。　〃My　fault；　Perrin；〃　he　rumbled　mournfully。　〃I　put　both　Avendesora　leaves　on　the　outside。　That　locked　the　Waygate　on　the　inside；　but　from　the　outside；　anyone　could　still　open　it。　The　Ways　have　been　dark　for　long　generations；　yet　we　grew　them。　I　could　not　bring　myself　to　destroy　the　Gate。　I　am　sorry；　Perrin。　It　is　all　my　fault。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　did　not　believe　a　Waygate　could　be　destroyed；〃　Faile　said。
　　　　　　　〃I　did　not　mean　destroy；　exactly。〃　Loial　leaned　on　his　long…handled　axe。　〃A　Waygate　was　destroyed　once；　less　than　five　hundred　years　after　the　Breaking；　according　to　Damelle；　daughter　of　Ala　daughter　of　Soferra；　because　the　Gate　was　near　a　stedding　that　had　fallen　to　the　Blight。　There　are　two　or　three　Gates　lost　in　the　Blight　as　it　is。　But　she　wrote　that　it　was　very　difficult；　and　required　thirteen　Aes　Sedai　working　together　with　a　sa'angreal。　Another　attempt　she　wrote　of；　by　only　nine；　during　the　Trolloc　Wars；　damaged　the　Gate　in　such　a　way　that　the　Aes　Sedai　were　pulled　into　…〃　He　cut　off；　ears　wriggling　with　embarrassment；　and　knuckled　his　wide　nose。　Everyone　was　staring　at　him；　even　Verin　and　the　Aiel。　〃I　do　let　myself　be　carried　away；　sometimes。　The　Waygate。　Yes。　I　cannot　destroy　it；　but　if　I　remove　both　Avendesora　leaves　pletely；　they　will　die。〃　He　grimaced　at　the　thought。　〃The　only　means　of　opening　the　Gate　again　will　be　for　the　Elders　to　bring　the　Talisman　of　Growing。　Though　I　suppose　an　Aes　Sedai　could　cut　a　hole　in　it。〃　This　time　he　shuddered。　Damaging　a　Waygate　must　have　seemed　like　tearing　up　a　book　to　him。　A　moment　later；　he　was　grim…faced　once　more。　〃I　will　go　now。〃
　　　　　　　〃No！〃　Perrin　said　sharply。　The　arrowhead　seemed　to　throb；　but　it　did　not　really　hurt　anymore。　He　was　talking　too　much；　his　throat　was　dry。　〃There　are　Trollocs　up　there；　Loial。　They　can　fit　an　Ogier　into　a　cookpot　as　well　as　a　human。〃
　　　　　　　〃But；　Perrin；　I　…〃
　　　　　　　〃No；　Loial。　How　are　you　going　to　write　your　book　if　you　go　off　and　get　yourself　killed？〃
　　　　　　　Loial's　ears　twitched。　〃It　is　my　responsibility；　Perrin。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　responsibility　is　mine；〃　Perrin　said　gently。　〃You　told　me　what　you　were　doing　with　the　Waygate；　and　I　didn't　suggest　anything　different。　Besides；　the　way　you　jump　every　time　your　mother　is　mentioned；　I　don't　want　her　ing　after　me。　I　will　go；　as　soon　as　Alanna　Heals　this　arrow　out　of　me。〃　He　wiped　his　forehead；　then　frowned　at　his　hand。　Still　no　sweat。　〃Can　I　have　a　drink　of　water？〃
　　　　　　　Faile　was　there　in　an　instant；　her　cool　fingers　where　his　hand　had　been。　〃He　is　burning　up！　Verin；　we　cannot　wait　for　Alanna。　You　must…！〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　here；〃　the　dark　Aes　Sedai　announced；　appearing　from　the　door　at　the　back　of　the　mon　room；　Marin　al'Vere　and　Alsbet　Luhhan　at　her　heels；　and　Ihvon　right　behind　them。　Perrin　felt　the　tingle　of　the　Power　before　Alanna's　hand　replaced　Faile's；　and　she　added　in　a　cool；　serene　voice；　〃Carry　him　into　the　kitchen。　The　table　there　is　large　enough　to　lay　him　out。　Quickly。　There　is　not　much　time。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin's　head　spun；　and　abruptly　he　realized　Loial　had　leaned　his　axe　beside　the　door　and　picked　him　up；　cradling　him　in　his　arms。　〃The　Waygate　is　mine；　Loial。〃　Light；　I'm　thirsty。　〃My　responsibility。〃
　　　　　　　The　arrowhead　truly　did　not　seem　to　hurt　as　much　as　it　had；　but　he　ached　all　over。　Loial　was　carrying　him　somewhere；　bending　through　doorways。　There　was　Mistress　Luhhan；　biting　her　lip；　eyes　squinched　as　if　about　to　cry。　He　wondered　why。　She　never　cried。　Mistress　al'Vere　looked　worried；　too。
　　　　　　　〃Mistress　Luhhan；〃　he　murmured；　〃Mother　says　I　can　e　be　apprenticed　to　Master　Luhhan。〃　No。　That　was　a　long　time　ago。　That　was。。。　What