rj.thepathofdaggers-第47部分
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hemselves。 I'm surprised you don't know。 Word's been running ahead of us all the way from Amador。 These Seanchan want people to know what they're about。 Strange people； with strange creatures。〃 His voice picked up intensity。 〃Like Shadowspawn。 Big leathery things that fly； and carry men； and these things like lizards； only they're big as horses； and they have three eyes。 I saw them！ I did！〃
〃I believe you；〃 Perrin said； releasing the man's coat。 〃I've seen them； too。〃 At Falme； where a thousand Whitecloaks died in minutes and it had taken dead heroes of legend； called by the Horn of Valere； to throw the Seanchan back。 Rand had said they would return； but how could they have so soon？ Light！ If they held Amador； they had to have Tarabon as well； or most of it。 Only a fool killed a deer when he knew there was a wounded bear behind his back。 How much had they taken？ 〃I can't send you to Caemlyn right away； Master Gill； but if you stay with me a while longer； I'll see you there safely。〃 If staying with him any length of time was safe。 The Prophet； Whitecloaks； and now maybe Seanchan added in。
〃I think you're a good man；〃 Lini said suddenly。 〃I'm afraid we didn't tell you the whole truth； and maybe we should。〃
〃Lini； what are you saying？〃 Master Gill exclaimed； bounding to his feet。 〃I think the heat's getting to her；〃 he told Perrin。 〃And all the travel。 She has strange fancies； sometimes。 You know how old folks can get。 Hush； now； Lini！〃
Lini slapped away the hand he was trying to put over her mouth。 〃You mind yourself； Basel Gill！ I'll 'old' you！ Maighdin was running from Tallanvor； in a manner of speaking； and he was chasing her。 We all were； four days now； and near killing us and the horses both。 Well； it's no wonder she doesn't know her own mind half the time； you men snarl up a woman's wits so she can hardly think； then you pretend you've done nothing at all。 The lot of you ought to have your ears boxed on general principle。 The girl's afraid of her own heart！ Those two should be married； and the quicker the better。〃
Master Gill gaped at her； and Perrin was not sure his own mouth might not be hanging open。 〃I'm not certain I understand what it is you want of me；〃 he said slowly； and the white…haired woman leaped in before he was well finished。
〃Don't pretend to be dense。 I won't believe it in you for a moment。 I can see you have more wits than most men。 That's the worst habit you men have； making believe you don't see what's plain under your noses。〃 What had happened to all those curtsies？ Folding thin arms across her chest； she eyed him sternly。 〃Well； if you must pretend； I'll set it out for you。 This Lord Dragon of yours does whatever he wants； the way I hear。 Your Prophet picks out people and marries them on the spot。 Very well； you snatch up Maighdin and Tallanvor and marry them。 He'll thank you； and so will she。 When her mind settles。〃
Stunned； Perrin glanced at Master Gill； who shrugged and made a sickly grin。 〃If you will forgive me；〃 Perrin told the frowning woman； 〃I have some matters I must see to。〃 He hurried away； only looking back once。 Lini was shaking a finger at Master Gill； berating him despite his protests。 The breeze was wrong for Perrin to hear what they were saying。 In truth； he did not want to。 They were all crazy！
Berelain might have her two maids and her thief…catchers； but Faile had her own attendants； of a sort。 Close on twenty young Tairens and Cairhienin were sitting cross…legged near the tent； the women in coats and breeches with swords belted on just like the men。 None wore their hair longer than the shoulder； and men and women both had it tied back with a ribbon； imitating the Aiel tail。 Perrin wondered where the rest were； they seldom strayed far from the sound of Faile's voice。 Not causing trouble； he hoped。 She had taken them under her wing to keep them out of trouble； she said； and the Light knew they would have gotten into it； left back in Cairhien with a great lot of young fools just like them。 In Perrin's opinion； the whole lashing of them needed a swift kick in the bottom to knock some sense into them。 Dueling； playing at ji'e'toh； pretending to be some sort of Aiel。 Idiocy！
Lacile rose to her feet as Perrin came closer； a pale little woman with red ribbons pinned to her lapels； small gold hoops in her ears； and a challenging stare that sometimes made the Two Rivers men think she might like a kiss despite her sword。 Right then； the challenge was stony hard。 A moment behind her； Arrela stood too； tall and dark； with her hair cut short as a Maiden's and her clothes plainer than most of the men's。 Unlike Lacile； Arrela made it clear she would as soon kiss a dog as any man。 The pair made as if to move in front of the tent； to block Perrin's way； but a square…chinned fellow in a puffy…sleeved coat barked an order and they sat again。 Reluctantly。 For that matter； Parelean thumbed that block of a chin as though he might be reconsidering。 He had worn a beard the first time Perrin saw him … several of the Tairen men had had them … but Aiel did not wear beards。
Perrin muttered about foolishness under his breath。 They were Faile's to the bone； and the fact that he was her husband meant little。 Aram might be jealous of his attentions； yet Aram at least shared his affections with Faile。 He could feel the young idiots' eyes on him as he strode inside。 Faile would skin him if she ever learned that he hoped they would keep her from trouble。
The tent was tall and spacious； with a flowered carpet for a floor and sparse furnishings that folded for storage on a cart； most of them。 The heavy stand…mirror certainly could not。 Except for brass…bound chests draped with embroidered cloths and doubling as extra tables； straight lines of bright gilt decorated everything down to the washstand and its mirror。 A dozen mirrored lamps made the interior nearly as bright as outside； if considerably cooler； and there were even a pair of silk hangings dangling from the roof poles； too ornate for Perrin's taste。 Too rigid； with the birds and flowers marching in lines and angles。 Dobraine had set them up to travel like Cairhienin nobles； though Perrin had managed to 〃lose〃 the worst of it。 The huge bed； for one； a ridiculous thing to travel with。 It had taken up almost a whole cart to itself。
Faile and Maighdin were sitting alone together； worked silver cups in hand。 They had the air of women feeling one another out； all smiles on the outside yet with a hint of sharpness to the eyes； a hint of listening for something behind the words； and not a clue as to whether they would hug in the next instant or draw knives。 Well； he thought most women would not actually go as far as knives； but Faile could。 Maighdin appeared much less travel…worn than she had； washed and bed； the dust brushed from her dress。 A small mosaic…topped table between them held more cups and a tall sweating silver pitcher that gave off the minty scent of herb tea。 Both women looked around at his entrance； and for an instant； they had almost exactly the same expression； coolly wondering who was barging in and not at all pleased with the interruption。 At least Faile softened hers immediately with a smile。
〃Master Gill told me your story； Mistress Dorlain；〃 he said。 〃You've faced hard days； but you can be sure you're safe here till you decide to leave。〃 The woman murmured thanks over the rim of her cup； but she smelled wary； and her eyes tried to read him like a book。
〃Maighdin also told me their story； Perrin；〃 Faile said； 〃and I have an offer to make her。 Maighdin； you and your friends have had trying months behind； and you tell me of no prospects ahead。 Enter my service； all of you。 You will still have to journey； but the circumstances will be much better。 I pay well； and I am not a harsh mistress。〃 Perrin voiced his approval immediately。 If Faile wanted to indulge her fancy for taking in strays； at least he wanted to help this lot； too。 Maybe they would be safer with him than wandering around alone at that。
Choking on her tea； Maighdin nearly dropped her cup。 She blinked at Faile； dabbing at the damp on her chin with a lace…edged linen handkerchief
