rj.theshadowrising-第194章
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blacksmith could have done as much himself； but he shook Perrin's hand and thanked him profusely before setting to work。
Bending down from Stepper's saddle； Perrin caught one of the men by the shoulder； a bald…headed farmer named Get Eldin； and asked him to stay and warn off anyone else who tried to bother Master Luhhan。 Get must have been three times his age； but the leathery； wrinkle…faced man just nodded and took up a station near where Haral had his hammer ringing on hot iron。 Now he could be off； before Faile turned up。
Before he could as much as turn Stepper； Bran appeared； spear on his shoulder and steel cap under one stout arm。 〃Perrin； there has to be a faster way to bring the shepherds and herdsmen in if we're attacked again。 Even sending the fastest runners in the village； Abell couldn't get half of them back here before those Trollocs came out of the wood。〃
That was easy to solve； a matter of remembering an old bugle； tarnished nearly black； that Cenn Buie had hanging on his wall； and settling on a signal of three long blasts that the farthest shepherd could hear。 It did bring up signals for other things； of course； such as sending everyone to their places if an attack was expected。 Which led to how to know when an attack was expected。 Bain and Chiad and the Warders turned out to be more than amenable to scouting； but four were hardly enough； so good woodsmen and trackers had to be found； and provided with horses so they could reach Emond's Field ahead of any Trollocs they
spotted。
After that； Buel Dowtry had to be settled down。 The white…haired old fletcher； with a nose nearly as sharp as a broadhead point； knew very well that most farmers usually made their own arrows； but he was adamantly opposed to anyone helping him here in the village； as if he could keep every quiver filled by himself。 Perrin was not sure how he smoothed Buel's ruffled temper； but somehow he left the man happily teaching a knot of boys to tie and glue goose…feather fletchings。
Eward Candwin； the stout cooper； had a different problem。 With so many folks needing water； he had more buckets and barrels to make than he could hoop in weeks； alone。 It did not take long to find him hands he trusted to chamfer staves at least； but more people came with questions and problems they seemed to think only Perrin had the answers for； from where to burn the bodies of the dead Trollocs to whether it was safe to return to their farms to save what they could。 That last he answered with a firm no whenever it was asked … and it was asked more often than any other； by men and women frowning at the smoke rising in the countryside … but most of the time he simply inquired what the questioner thought was a good solution and told him to do that。 It was seldom he really had to e up with an answer； people knew what to do； they just had this fool notion they had to ask him。
Dannil and Ban and the others found him and insisted on riding about at his heels with that banner； as if the big one over the Green was not bad enough； until he sent them off to guard the men who had gone back to felling trees along the Westwood。 It seemed that Tam had told them some tale about something called the panions； in Illian； soldiers who rode with the general of an Illianer army and were thrown in wherever the battle was hottest。 Tam； of all people！ At least they took the banner with them。 Perrin felt a right fool with that thing trailing after him。
In the middle of the morning； Luc rode in； all golden…haired arrogance； nodding slightly to acknowledge a few cheers； though why anyone wanted to cheer him seemed a mystery。 He brought a trophy that he pulled out of a leather bag and had set on a spear at the edge of the Green for everyone to gawk at。 A Myrddraal's eyeless head。 The fellow was modest enough； in a condescending sort of way； but he did let slip that he had killed the Fade when he ran into a band of Trollocs。 An admiring train took him around to see the scene of the battle here … they were calling it that … where horses were dragging Trollocs off to great pyres already sending up pillars of oily black smoke。 Luc was properly admiring in turn； making only one or two criticisms of how Perrin had disposed his men； that was how the Two Rivers folk told it； with Perrin lining everybody up and giving orders he certainly never had。
To Perrin； Luc gave a patronizing smile of approval。 〃You did very well； my boy。 You were lucky； of course； but there is such a thing as the luck of the beginner； is there not。〃
When he went off to his room in the Winespring Inn； Perrin had the head taken down and buried。 Not a thing people should be staring at； especially the children。
The questions continued as the day wore on； until he suddenly realized the sun stood straight overhead； he had had nothing to eat； and his stomach was talking to him in no uncertain terms。 〃Mistress al'Caar；〃 he said wearily to the long…faced woman at his stirrup； 〃I suppose the children can play anywhere； so long as somebody watches to make sure they don't go beyond the last houses。 Light； woman； you know that。 You certainly know children better than I do！ If you don't； how have you managed to raise four of your own？〃 Her youngest was six years older than he was！
Nela al'Caar frowned and tossed her head； gray…streaked braid swinging。 For a moment he thought she was going to snap his nose off； talking that way to her。 He almost wished she would； for a change from everybody wanting to know what he thought should be done。 〃Of course I know children；〃 she said。 〃I just want to make sure it's done the way you want。 That's what we'll do； then。〃
Sighing； he only waited for her to turn away before reining Stepper around toward the Winespring Inn。 Two or three voices called to him； but he refused to listen。 What he wanted done。 What was wrong with these people？ Two Rivers folk did not follow this way。 Certainly not Emond's Fielders。 They wanted a say in everything。 Arguments in front of the Village Council； arguments among the Council； had to e to blows before they occasioned ment。 And if the Women's Circle thought they kept their own affairs more circumspect； there was not a man who did not know the meaning of tight…jawed women stalking about with their braids all but bristling like angry cats' tails。
What I want！ he thought angrily。 What I want is something to eat； someplace where no one is jabbering in my ear。 Stepping down in front of the inn； he staggered； and thought he could add a bed to that short list。 Only midday； with Stepper doing all the work； and he already felt bone…weary。 Maybe Faile had been right after all。 Maybe going after Loial and Gaul really was a bad idea。
When he walked into the mon room； Mistress al'Vere took one look at him and all but pushed him into a chair with a motherly smile。 〃You can just give over handing out orders for a while；〃 she told him firmly。 〃Emond's Field can very well survive an hour by itself while you put some food inside you。〃 She bustled away before he could say Emond's Field could very well survive by itself without him at all。
The room was almost empty。 Natti Cauthon sat at one table； rolling bandages and adding them to the pile in front of her； but she also managed to keep an eye on her daughters； across the room； though both were old enough to be wearing their hair in a braid。 The reason was plain enough。 Bode and Eldrin sat on either side of Aram； coaxing the Tinker to eat。 Feeding him； actually； and wiping his chin； too。 From the way they were grinning at the fellow； Perrin was surprised Natti was not at the table with them； braids or no。 The fellow was good…looking； he supposed； maybe handsomer than Wil al'Seen。 Bode and Eldrin certainly seemed to think so。 For his part； Aram smiled back occasionally … they were plumply pretty girls； he would have to be blind not to see it； and Perrin did not think Aram was ever blind to a pretty girl … but he hardly swallowed without running a wide…eyed gaze over the spears and polearms against the walls。 For a Tuatha'an； it had to be a horrible sight。
〃Mistress al'Vere said you had finally gotten tired of your saddle；〃 Faile
