rj.thepathofdaggers-第152章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The throng that packed the streets elsewhere was absent in front of the tall house； yet the number of armed guards like those at the bridge almost made up for it。 They stared at Perrin sullenly； those who did not sneer insolently。 The two Aes Sedai kept their faces hidden in their deep hoods and their heads down； white breath rising from the cowls like steam。 From the corner of his eye； Perrin saw Elyas thumbing the hilt of his long knife。 It was hard not to stroke his axe。
〃I've e with a message for the Prophet from the Dragon Reborn；〃 he announced。 When none of the men moved； he added； 〃My name is Perrin Aybara。 The Prophet knows me。〃 Balwer had cautioned him about the dangers of using Masema's name； or calling Rand anything but the Lord Dragon Reborn。 He was not there to start a riot。
The claim of knowing Masema seemed to put a spark into the guards。 Several exchanged wide…eyed looks； and one went running inside。 The rest stared at him as if he were a gleeman。 In a few moments； a woman came to the door。 Handsome； with white at her temples； in a high…necked dress of blue wool that was fine if unadorned； she might have been the merchant herself。 Masema did not throw those who offered him hospitality into the streets； but their servants or farmhands usually ended up with one of the bands 〃spreading the glories of the Lord Dragon。〃
〃If you will e with me； Master Aybara；〃 the woman said calmly； 〃you and your friends； I will take you to the Prophet of the Lord Dragon； may the Light illumine his name。〃 Calm she might sound； but terror filled her scent。
Telling Neald and the Warders to watch the horses until they returned； Perrin followed her inside with the others。 The interior was dark； with few lamps lit； and not much warmer than outside。 Even the Wise Ones seemed subdued。 They did not smell afraid； but almost as close to it as the Aes Sedai； and Grady and Elyas smelled of wariness； of raised hackles and ears laid back。 Strangely； Aram's scent was eager。 Perrin hoped the man did not try to draw that sword on his back。
The large； carpeted room the woman led them to； with fires blazing on hearths at either end； might have been a general's study； every table and half the chairs covered with maps and papers； and warm enough that Perrin tossed his cloak back and regretted wearing two shirts under his coat。 But it was Masema standing in the middle of the room who drew his eyes immediately； like iron filings to a lodestone； a dark； scowling man with a shaven head and a pale triangular scar on one cheek； in a wrinkled gray coat and scuffed boots。 His deep…set eyes burned with a black fire； and his scent。。。 The only name Perrin could give that smell； steel…hard and blade…sharp and quivering with wild intensity； was madness。 And Rand thought he could put a leash on this？
〃So； it is you；〃 Masema growled。 〃I did not think you would dare show your face。 I know what you've been up to！ Hari told me more than a week ago； and I have kept myself informed。〃 A man shifted in a corner of the room； a narrow…eyed fellow with a thrusting nose； and Perrin upbraided himself for not noticing him before。 Hari's green silk coat was much finer than what he had worn when he denied collecting ears。 The fellow rubbed his hands together and grinned at Perrin viciously； but he kept silent as Masema went on。 The Prophet's voice grew hotter by the word； not with anger； but as though he meant to burn every syllable deep into Perrin's flesh。 〃I know about you murdering men who have e to the Lord Dragon。 I know about you trying to carve out your own kingdom！ Yes； I know about Manetheren！ About your ambition！ Your greed for glory！ You have turned your back on …！〃
Suddenly Masema's eyes bulged； and for the first time； anger flamed in his scent。 Hari made a strangled sound and tried to back through the wall。 Seonid and Masuri had lowered their hoods and stood with bare faces； calm and cool； and plainly Aes Sedai to anyone who knew the look。 Perrin wondered whether they held the Power。 He would have wagered that the Wise Ones did。 Edarra and Carelle were quietly watching every direction at once； and smooth faces or no； if he had ever seen anyone ready to fight； it was them。 For that matter； Grady wore readiness like his black coat； maybe he held the Power； too。 Elyas was leaning against the wall beside the open doors； outwardly as posed as the sisters； but he smelled ready to bite。 And Aram stood gazing at Masema with his mouth hanging open！ Light！
〃So that is true； too！〃 Masema snapped； spittle flying from his lips。 〃With filthy rumors spreading against the holy name of the Lord Dragon； you dare to ride with these。。。 these。。。！〃
〃They've sworn fealty to the Lord Dragon； Masema；〃 Perrin cut in。 〃They serve him！ Do you？ He sent me to stop the killing。 And to bring you to him。〃 No one was offering him a chair； so he pushed a stack of papers from one and sat。 He wished the rest would sit； too； shouting seemed harder when you were sitting down。
Hari goggled at him； and Masema was practically shaking。 Because he had taken a chair without being asked？ Oh。 Yes。
〃I have given up the names of men；〃 Masema said coldly。 〃I am simply the Prophet of the Lord Dragon； may the Light illumine him and the world e to kneel before him。〃 By his tone； the world and the Light would regret failure equally。 〃There is much to do here； yet。 Great works。 All must obey when the Lord Dragon calls； but in winter； travel is always slow。 A delay of a few weeks will make little difference。〃
〃I can have you in Cairhien today；〃 Perrin said。 〃Once the Lord Dragon has spoken to you； you can return the same way and be back here in a few days。〃 If Rand let him return。
Masema actually recoiled。 Baring his teeth； he glared at the Aes Sedai。 〃Some contrivance of the Power？ I will not be touched with the Power！ It is blasphemy for mortals to touch it！〃
Perrin came close to gaping。 〃The Dragon Reborn channels； man！〃
〃The blessed Lord Dragon is not as other men； Aybara！〃 Masema snarled。 〃He is the Light made flesh！ I will obey his summons； but I will not be touched by the filth these women do！〃
Slumping back in the chair； Perrin sighed。 If the man was this bad over Aes Sedai； how would he be when he learned that Grady and Neald could channel？ For a moment； he considered simply knocking Masema over the head； and。。。 Men were passing by in the corridor； pausing to glance in before hurrying on。 All it took was one of them raising a shout； and Abila could bee a slaughterhouse。 〃Then we ride； Prophet；〃 he said sourly。 Light； Rand had said to keep this secret until Masema stood in front of him！ How to manage that riding all the way to Cairhien？ 〃But no delays。 The Lord Dragon is very anxious to talk with you。〃
〃I am anxious to speak with the Lord Dragon； may his name be blessed by the Light。〃 His eyes flickered toward the two Aes Sedai。 He tried to hide it； actually smiling at Perrin。 But he smelled。。。 grim。 〃I am very anxious indeed。〃
〃Would my Lady like me to ask one of the handlers to bring her a hawk？〃 Maighdin asked。 One of Alliandre's four hawk handlers； all men as lean as their birds； urged a sleek duckhawk wearing a feathered hood onto his heavy gauntlet from the wooden stand in front of his saddle and lifted the gray bird toward her。 The falcon； with its blue…tipped wings； was on Alliandre's green…gloved wrist。 That bird was reserved to her； unfortunately。 Alliandre knew her place as a vassal； but Faile understood not wanting to relinquish a favorite bird。
She merely shook her head； and Maighdin bowed in her saddle and moved her roan mare away from Swallow； far enough not to intrude but close enough to be at hand without Faile raising her voice。 The dignified golden…haired woman had proved to be every bit as good a lady's maid as Faile had hoped； knowledgeable； capable。 At least； she had once she learned that whatever their relative positions with their former mistress； Lini was first among Faile's serving women； and willing to use her authority。 Surprisingly； that had actually taken an episode with a switch； but Faile pretended not to know。 Only an utter foo
