rj.thepathofdaggers-第153章
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ually taken an episode with a switch； but Faile pretended not to know。 Only an utter fool embarrassed her servants。 There was still the matter of Maighdin and Tallanvor； of course。 She was certain Maighdin had begun sharing his bed； and if she found proof； they would marry if she had to turn Lini loose on both of them。 Still； that was a small matter； and could not spoil her morning。
Hawking had been Alliandre's idea； but Faile had not objected to a ride through this sparse forest； where snow made a rolling blanket over everything and lay thick and white on bare branches。 The green of the trees that still held their leaves seemed sharper。 The air was crisp； and it smelled new and fresh。
Bain and Chiad had insisted on acpanying her； but they squatted nearby； shoufa wrapped around their heads； watching her with disgruntled expressions。 Sulin had wanted to e with all of the Maidens； but with a hundred stories of Aiel depredations floating everywhere； the sight of an Aiel was enough to send most people in Amadicia running or reaching for a sword。 There must be some truth in those tales； or so many would not know an Aiel； though the Light alone knew who they were or where they had e from； yet even Sulin agreed that whoever they were； they had moved on east； perhaps into Altara。
In any case； this close to Abila； twenty of Alliandre's soldiers and as many Mayener Winged Guards provided sufficient escort。 The streamers on their lances； red or green； lifted like ribbons when the breeze stirred。 Berelain's presence was the only blight。 Though watching the woman shiver in her fur…trimmed red cloak； thick enough for two blankets； was certainly amusing。 Mayene did not have a real winter。 This was like the last days of autumn。 In Saldaea； the heart of winter could freeze exposed flesh hard as wood。 Faile took a deep breath。 She felt like laughing。
By some miracle； her husband； her beloved wolf； had begun behaving as he should。 Instead of shouting at Berelain or running from her； Perrin now tolerated the jade's blandishments； plainly tolerated them the way he would a child playing around his knees。 And best of all； there was no longer any need to tamp down her anger when she wanted to let it loose。 When she shouted； he shouted back。 She knew he was not Saldaean； but it had been so hard； thinking in her heart of hearts that he believed her too weak to stand up to him。 A few nights ago at supper； she had almost pointed out to him that Berelain was going to fall out of her dress if she leaned over the table any further。 Well； she was not going to that far； not with Berelain； the trull still thought she could win him。 And that very morning； he had been manding； quietly brooking no argument； the sort of man a woman knew she had to be strong to deserve； to equal。 Of course； she would have to nip him over that。 A manding man was wonderful； so long as he did not e to believe he could always mand。 Laugh？ She could have sung！
〃Maighdin； I think after all I will。。。 〃 Maighdin was there immediately with an inquiring smile； but Faile trailed off at the sight of three riders ahead of her； plowing through the snow as fast as they could push their horses。
〃At least there are plenty of hares； my Lady；〃 Alliandre said； walking her tall white gelding up beside Swallow； 〃but I had hoped。。。 Who are they？〃 Her falcon shifted on her thick glove； the bells on its jesses jingling。 〃Why； it looks like some of your people； my Lady。〃
Faile nodded grimly。 She recognized them； too。 Parelean； Arrela and Lacile。 But what were they doing here？
The three drew rein before her； their horses panting steam。 Parelean looked as wide…eyed as his dapple。 Lacile； her pale face nearly hidden in the deep cowl of her cloak； was swallowing anxiously； and Arrela's dark face seemed gray。 〃My Lady；〃 Parelean said urgently； 〃dire news！ The Prophet Masema has been meeting with the Seanchan！〃
〃The Seanchan！〃 Alliandre exclaimed。 〃Surely he cannot believe they will e to the Lord Dragon！〃
〃It might be simpler；〃 Berelain said； heeling her too…showy white mare up on Alliandre's other side。 Without Perrin about for her to try to impress； her dark blue riding dress was cut quite modestly； with a neck up under her chin。 She still shivered。 〃Masema dislikes Aes Sedai； and the Seanchan keep women who can channel as prisoners。〃
Faile clicked her tongue in vexation。 Dire news indeed； if true。 And she could only hope Parelean and the others retained enough of their wits to at least pretend they had simply overheard talk by chance。 Even so； she had to be sure； and quickly。 Perrin might already have reached Masema。 〃What proof do you have； Parelean？〃
〃We talked to three farmers who saw a large flying creature land four nights ago； my Lady。 It brought a woman who was taken to Masema and remained with him for three hours。〃
〃We were able to trace her all the way to where Masema stays in Abila；〃 Lacile added。
〃The three men all thought the creature was Shadowspawn；〃 Arrela put in； 〃but they seemed fairly reliable。〃 For her to say any man not of Cha Faile was fairly reliable was the same as anyone else saying they thought he was honest as a bell。
〃I think I must ride into Abila；〃 Faile said； gathering Swallow's reins。 〃Alliandre； take Maighdin and Berelain with you。〃 Any other time； the tightening of Berelain's lips over that would have been amusing。 〃Parelean； Arrela and Lacile will acpany me … 〃 A man screamed； and everyone jerked。
Fifty paces away； one of Alliandre's green…coated soldiers was toppling from his saddle； and a moment later； a Winged Guard fell with an arrow standing out from his throat。 Aiel appeared among the trees； veiled and wielding bows as they ran。 More soldiers fell。 Bain and Chiad were on their feet； dark veils hiding their faces to the eyes； their spears were thrust through the straps of the bow cases on their back； and they worked their bows smoothly； but they cast glances toward Faile； too。 There were Aiel all around； hundreds it seemed； a great noose closing in。 Mounted soldiers lowered lances； pulling back in their own circle around Faile and the others； but gaps appeared immediately as Aiel arrows struck home。
〃Someone must get this news of Masema to Lord Perrin；〃 Faile told Parelean and the two women。 〃One of you must reach him！ Ride like fire！〃 Her sweeping gaze took in Alliandre and Maighdin。 And Berelain； too。 〃All of you； ride like fire； or die here！〃 Barely waiting for their nods； she suited actions to words； and dug her heels into Swallow's flanks； bursting through the useless ring of soldiers。 〃Ride！〃 she shouted。 Someone had to get the news to Perrin。 〃Ride！〃
Leaning low on Swallow's neck； she urged the black mare for speed。 Fleet hooves splashed snow as Swallow ran； light as her namesake。 For a hundred strides； Faile thought she might break free。 And then Swallow screamed and stumbled； pitching forward with the sharp snap of a breaking leg。 Faile flew through air and struck hard； most of the breath driven out of her as she plunged facedown into the snow。 Fighting for air； she struggled to her feet and snatched a knife from her belt。 Swallow had screamed before she stumbled； before that awful crack。
A veiled Aielman loomed up before her as if out of the air； chopping at her wrist with a stiffened hand。 Her knife dropped from suddenly numb fingers； and before she could try to draw another with her left hand； the man was on her。
She fought； kicking； punching； even biting； but the fellow was as wide as Perrin and a head taller。 He seemed as hard as Perrin； too； for all the impression she made on him。 She could have wept with frustration at the humiliating ease with which he handled her； first rooting out all of her knives and tucking them behind his belt； then using one of her own blades to cut her clothes away。 Almost before she knew it； she was naked in the snow； her elbows bound together behind her back with one of her stockings； the other tied about her neck for a leash。
She had no choice except to follow him； shivering and stumbling through the snow。 Her skin pebbled with the cold。 Light； how she had ever thought t
