rj.thepathofdaggers-第42章
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Edarra and Nevarin walked beside Stepper； seemingly out for a stroll yet keeping pace easily despite their bulky skirts。 Seonid heeled them on her gelding； Furen and Teryl at her own back。 The pale…cheeked Green pretended that she simply wanted to ride a careful two paces behind the Wise Ones； but the men scowled openly。 Warders often had a greater care for their Aes Sedai's dignity than the sister did herself； and Aes Sedai had enough for queens。
Faile kept Swallow on the far side of the Aiel women； riding in silence； apparently studying the drought…scarred landscape。 Slim and graceful； she made Perrin feel a little clumsy at the best of times。 She was quicksilver； and he loved it in her； usually； but。。。 A slight breath of air had begun to stir； enough to keep her scent mingled with the rest。 He knew he should be thinking about Alliandre and what her answer would be； or better still； the Prophet and how to find him once Alliandre replied； however she did； but he could not find room in his head。
He had expected Faile to be angry when he chose Berelain； for all that Rand supposedly had sent her for the purpose。 Faile knew he did not want to send her into danger； into any risk of danger； a fact she disliked more than she did Berelain。 Yet her scent had been soft as a summer morning … until he tried to apologize！ Well； apologies usually stoked her anger if she already was angry … except when they melted her temper； anyway … but she had not been angry！ Without Berelain； everything ran smooth as silk satin between them。 Most of the time。 But explanations that he did nothing to encourage the woman … far from it！ … earned only a curt 〃Of course you don't！〃 in tones that called him a fool for bringing it up。 But she still grew angry … with him！ … every time Berelain smiled at him or found an excuse to touch him； no matter how brusquely he put her off； and the Light knew he did that。 Short of tying her up； he did not know what more he could do to discourage her。 Ginger attempts to find out from Faile what he was doing wrong received a light 〃Why do you think you've done anything？〃 or a not…so…light 〃What do you think you've done？〃 or a flat 〃I do not want to talk about it。〃 He was doing something wrong； but he could not puzzle out what！ He had to； though。 Nothing was more important than Faile。 Nothing！
〃Lord Perrin？〃
Aram's excited voice cut into his brown study。 〃Don't call me that；〃 he muttered； following the direction of the man's pointing finger； to yet another abandoned farm some distance ahead； where fire had taken the roof from house and barn。 Only rough stone walls stood。 An abandoned farm； but not deserted。 Angry shouts rose up there。
A dozen or more rough…clad fellows carrying spears and pitchforks were trying to force their way over the chest…high stone wall of a goatpen； while a handful of men within tried to keep them out。 Several horses ran loose inside； frightened at the noise and dodging about； and there were three women mounted。 They were not simply waiting to see how it would all turn out； though； one of the women appeared to be hurling rocks； and even as he looked； another dashed close to the wall to lash out with a long cudgel while the third reared her horse； and a tall fellow toppled back off the wall to get clear of flashing hooves。 But there were too many attackers； too much wall to defend。
〃I advise you to ride wide；〃 Seonid said。 Edarra and Nevarin turned grim stares on her； but she plowed on； hurry overwhelming her matter…of…fact tone。 〃Those are surely the Prophet's men； and killing his people is a bad way to begin。 Tens of thousands； hundreds of thousands； may die if you fail with him。 Is it worth risking that to save a handful？〃
Perrin did not intend to kill anyone if he could help it； but he did not intend to look the other way either。 He wasted no time in explanations； though。 〃Can you frighten them？〃 he asked Edarra。 〃Just frighten？〃 He remembered all too well what the Wise Ones had done at Dumai's Wells。 And the Asha'man。 Maybe as well Grady and Neald were not there。
〃Perhaps；〃 Edarra replied； studying the crowd around the pen。 She half…shook her head； shrugged a fraction。 〃Perhaps。〃 That would have to be good enough。
〃Aram； Furen； Teryl；〃 he snapped； 〃with me！〃 He dug in his heels； and as Stepper leaped forward； he was relieved to see the Warders following closely。 Four men charging made a better show than two。 He kept his hands on the reins； away from his axe。
He was not so pleased when Faile galloped Swallow up alongside him。 He opened his mouth； and she arched an eyebrow at him。 Her black hair was beautiful； streaming in the wind of their rush。 She was beautiful。 An arched eyebrow； no more。 He changed what he had been about to say。 〃Guard my back；〃 he told her。 Smiling； she produced a dagger from somewhere。 With all the blades she carried hidden away； sometimes he wondered how he missed being stabbed just trying to hug her。
As soon as she looked ahead again； he gestured frantically to Aram； trying to keep the motion where she could not see。 Aram nodded； but he was leaning forward； sword bared； ready to skewer the first of the Prophet's folk he reached。 Perrin hoped the man understood he was to guard Faile's back； and the rest of her； if they actually came to grips with those fellows。
None of the ruffians had noticed them yet。 Perrin shouted； but they seemed not to hear over their own yelling。 A man in a coat too big for him managed to scramble atop the wall； and two others appeared about to get over。 If the Wise Ones were going to do anything； it was past …
A thunderclap nearly over their heads almost deafened Perrin； a mountainous crack that made Stepper stumble before regaining his pace。 The attackers certainly noticed that； staggering and looking around wildly； some clapping hands over their ears。 The man on the wall overbalanced and fell off outside。 He leaped up immediately； though； angrily gesturing to the enclosure； and some of his panions leaped back at it。 Others saw Perrin then and pointed； their mouths working； but still no one ran。 A few hefted weapons。
Suddenly a horizontal wheel of fire appeared above the goatpen； as wide as a man was tall； flinging off sputtering tufts of flame as it spun with a moan that rose and fell； mournful groan to keening wail and back。
The rough…clad men broke in every direction like scattering quail。 For a moment longer the man in a too…big coat waved his arms and shouted at them； then with one last glance at the fiery wheel； he too darted away。
Perrin almost laughed。 He would not have to kill anyone。 And he would not have to worry about Faile getting a pitchfork through her ribs。
Apparently the people in the pen were as frightened as those outside； one of them at least。 The woman who had reared her horse at the attackers slipped open the gate and kicked her mount to an awkward gallop。 Up the road； away from Perrin and the others。
〃Wait！〃 Perrin shouted。 〃We won't harm you！〃 Whether she heard or not； she kept whipping her reins。 A bundle tied behind her saddle bounced wildly。 Those men might be running as hard as they could now； but if she went off by herself； even two or three could do her injury。 Lying flat on Stepper's neck； Perrin dug in his heels； and the dun shot forward like an arrow。
He was a big man； yet Stepper had earned his name for more than prancing feet。 Besides； by its lumbering run； the woman's mount was hardly fit for a saddle。 With every stride Stepper closed the gap； nearer； nearer； until Perrin was able to reach out and seize the other horse's bridle。 Up close； her hammer…nosed bay was little better than crowbait； lathered and worn out more than the short run could account for。 Slowly he drew both horses to a halt。
〃Forgive me if I frightened you； Mistress；〃 he said。 〃Truly； I mean you no harm。〃
For the second time that day an apology did not get the response he expected。 Angry blue eyes glared at him from a face surrounded by long red…gold curls； a face as regal as any queen's for all that it was plastered with sweat and dust。 Her dress was plain wool； travel…stained and a
