rj.theshadowrising-第144章
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k walk； lances all at the same angle。 At intervals around the encampment white…cloaked guards marched up and down； lances shouldered like spears； burnished helmets flashing in the sinking sun。
A rumble came to Perrin's ears。 Well to the west twenty horsemen appeared； galloping from the direction of Emond's Field； hurrying toward the tents。 From the direction he and the others had e。 A few minutes slower； and they would have been seen for sure。 A horn sounded； and men began moving to the cook fires。
Off to one side lay a much smaller camp； its tents set haphazardly。 Some sagged against their guy ropes。 Whoever stayed there； most were gone now。 Only a few horses flicking their tails against flies along a short picket rope indicated that anyone was there at all。 Not Whitecloaks。 The Children of the Light were too rigidly tidy for that camp。
Between the thicket and the two sets of tents was an expanse of grass and wildflowers。 Very likely the local farmers used to use it for pasture。 Not now； however； It was fairly flat ground。 Whitecloaks galloping like that patrol could cover it in a minute。
Abell directed Perrin's attention to the large camp。 〃You see that tent near the middle； with a。 man standing watch at either end？ Can you make it out？〃 Perrin nodded。 The low sun was slanting sharp shadows eastward； but he could see well enough。 〃That's where Natti and the girls are。 And the Luhhans。 I've seen them e out and go in。 One at a time； and always with a guard； even to the latrines。〃
〃We have tried to sneak in at night three times；〃 Tam said； 〃but they keep a tight watch over the perimeter of the camp。 We barely got away the last time。〃
It would be like trying to stick your hand into an anthill without being stung。 Perrin sat down at the base of a tall leatherleaf with his bow across his knees。 〃I want to think on this awhile。 Master al'Thor； will you settle Wil and that lot down？ See none of them takes it into his head to run for home。 Like as not they'd ride straight for the North Road； not thinking； and we'd have half a hundred of those Whitecloaks over here to investigate。 If any of them thought to bring food； you could see they get something to eat。 If we have to run； we may spend the rest of the night in the saddle。〃
Abruptly he realized he was giving orders； but when he tried to apologize； Tam grinned and said； 〃Perrin； you took charge back at Jac's place。 This isn't the first time I've followed a younger man who could see what had to be done。〃
〃You are doing good； Perrin；〃 Abell said before the two older men slipped back into the trees。
Perplexed； Perrin scratched his heard。 He had taken charge？ Now that he thought of it； neither Tam nor Abell had really made a decision since leaving the al'Seen farm； only offered suggestions and left it to him。 Neither had called him 〃lad〃 since then； either。
〃Interesting；〃 Verin said。 She had her small book out。 He wished he could have a chance to read what she had written。
〃You going to caution me about being foolish again？〃 he said。
Instead of answering； she said in a meditative voice； 〃It will be even more interesting to see what you do next。； I cannot say you are shifting the world on its foundations； as Rand al'Thor is； but the Two Rivers is surely moving。 I wonder if you have a clue as to where you are moving it。〃
〃I mean to free the Luhhans and the Cauthons；〃 he told her angrily。 〃That's all！〃 Except for the Trollocs。 He let his head drop back against the bole of the leatherleaf and closed his eyes。 〃All I'm doing is what I have to do。 The Two Rivers will stay right where it always has。〃
〃Of course；〃 Verin said。
He heard her moving away； her and Tomas； slipper and boots alike soft on ground strewn with last year's leaves。 He opened his eyes。 Faile was staring after the pair； and not best pleased。
〃She will not leave you alone；〃 she muttered。 The plaited crown of heartsblush he had left on his saddle dangled from her hand。
〃Aes Sedai never do；〃 he told her。
She turned on him with a challenging look。 〃I suppose you mean to try bringing them out tonight？〃
It had to be done now。 Because he had been passing his warning about； and folks knew who had told them。 Maybe the Whitecloaks would not hurt their prisoners。 Maybe。 He trusted Whitecloak mercy as far as he could throw a horse。 He glanced at Gaul； who nodded。
〃Tam al'Thor and Abell Cauthon move well for wetlanders； but these Whitecloaks are too stiff to see everything that moves in the dark； I think。 I think they expect their enemies to e in numbers； and where they can be seen。〃
Chiad turned amused gray eyes on the Aielman。 〃Do you mean to move like wind then； Stone Dog？ It will be diverting to see a Stone Dog try to move lightly。 When my spear…sister and I have rescued the prisoners； perhaps we will go back for you； if you are too old to find your own way。〃 Bain touched her arm； and she looked at the flame…haired woman in surprise。 After a moment； she flushed slightly under her tan。 Both women shifted their eyes to Faile； who was still watching Perrin； her head up and her arms crossed now。
He took a long breath。 If he told her he did not want her to e； Bain and Chiad almost certainly would not； either。 They were still making a point of being with her； not him。 Maybe Faile was； too。 Perhaps he and Gaul could do it alone； but he could not see how to make her stay if she did not want to。 Faile being Faile； she would just as likely sneak after them。 〃You will stay close to me；〃 he said firmly。 〃I want to rescue prisoners； not leave another behind。〃
Laughing； she dropped down beside him； snuggling her shoulder under his arm。 〃Staying close to you sounds a fine idea。〃 She flipped the crown of red flowers onto his head； and Bain chuckled。
He rolled his eyes up； he could just see the edge of the thing hanging over his forehead。 He must look a fool。 He left it there； though。
The sun slid down as slowly as a bead in honey。 Abell brought some bread and cheese … over half those would…be heroes had not brought anything to eat after all … and they ate and waited。 Night came； lit by a moon already high but obscured by scurrying clouds。 Perrin waited。 Lights vanished in the Whitecloak camp； and in Watch Hill； too； leaving a sprinkling of glowing windows across the otherwise dark mound； and he gathered Tam and Faile and the Aiel around him。 Everyone's face was clear； to him。 Verin stood close enough to listen。 Abell and Tomas were with the other Two Rivers folk； keeping them quiet。
He felt a little odd giving instructions； so kept them simple。 Tam was to have everyone ready to ride the moment Perrin returned with the prisoners。 The Whitecloaks would be after them as soon as they discovered what was up； so a place to hide was needed。 Tam knew one； an empty farmhouse in the edge of the Westwood。
〃Try not to kill anybody； if you can manage it；〃 Perrin cautioned the Aiel。 〃The Whitecloaks will be hot enough at losing their prisoners。 They'll set the sun afire if they lose men； too。〃 Gaul and the Maidens nodded as if they looked forward to it。 Strange people。 They vanished into the night。
〃Have a care；〃 Verin told him softly as he slung his bow across his back。 Ta'veren does not mean immortal。〃
〃Tomas might be a help； you know。〃
〃Do you think one more would make a difference？〃 she said musingly。 〃Besides； I have other uses for him。〃
Shaking his head； he moved out from the thicket； going to elbows and knees； almost flat to the ground； as soon as he was beyond the brush。 Faile imitated him at his side。 The grass and wildflowers stood high enough to screen them。 He was glad she could not see his face。 He was desperately afraid。 Not for himself； but if anything happened to her。。。
Like two more shifting moonshadows they crawled across the open ground； stopping at Perrin's signal about ten paces from where guards paced up and down； cloaks gleaming in the moonlight； a little way out from the first row of tents。 Two came face…to…face almost in front of them； stomping to a halt。
〃All is well with the night；〃 one
