rj.thepathofdaggers-第52部分

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their　blankets　and　were　unceremoniously　tumbled　out。　Grady　and　Neald　were　up；　too；　as　always　off　by　themselves；　shadows　in　black　coats　among　the　trees。　Perrin　could　not　recall　seeing　them　without　those　coats；　always　buttoned　to　the　neck；　always　clean　and　unwrinkled　e　sunrise；　whatever　they　had　looked　like　the　night　before。　Stepping　through　the　forms　in　unison；　the　pair　were　practicing　the　sword　as　they　did　every　morning。　That　was　better　than　their　evening　practice；　when　they　would　sit　cross…legged；　hands　on　knees；　staring　at　some　distant　nothing。　They　never　did　anything　then　that　anyone　could　see；　yet　not　a　man　in　the　camp　but　knew　what　they　were　about　and　kept　as　far　off　as　possible。　Not　even　the　Maidens　would　step　into　their　line　of　sight　then。
　　　　　　　Something　was　missing；　Perrin　realized　with　a　start。　Faile　always　had　one　of　the　men　meet　him　first　thing　with　a　bowl　of　the　thick　porridge　they　breakfasted　on；　but　it　seemed　she　had　been　too　busy　this　morning。　Brightening；　he　hurried　toward　the　cook　fires；　hoping　at　least　to　be　able　to　dip　up　his　own　porridge　for　once。　A　small　hope。
　　　　　　　Flann　Barstere；　a　lanky　fellow　with　a　dent　in　his　chin；　met　him　halfway　and　shoved　a　carved　bowl　into　his　hands。　Flann　was　from　up　toward　Watch　Hill；　and　Perrin　did　not　know　him　well；　but　they　had　been　hunting　together　a　time　or　two；　and　once　Perrin　had　helped　him　dig　one　of　his　father's　cows　out　of　a　bog…hole　in　the　Waterwood。　〃The　Lady　Faile　told　me　to　bring　this　to　you；　Perrin；〃　Flann　said　anxiously。　〃You　won't　tell　her　I　forgot；　will　you？　You　won't　tell？　I　found　some　honey；　and　I　put　in　a　good　dollop。〃　Perrin　tried　not　to　sigh。　At　least　Flann　had　remembered　his　name。
　　　　　　　Well；　maybe　he　could　not　get　away　with　doing　the　simplest　chores　for　himself；　but　he　was　still　responsible　for　the　men　eating　beneath　the　trees。　Without　him；　they　would　be　with　their　families；　getting　ready　for　the　day's　chores　around　the　farm；　milking　cows　and　cutting　firewood　instead　of　wondering　whether　they　might　have　to　kill　or　be　killed　before　sunset。　Gulping　down　the　honeyed　porridge　quickly；　he　told　Aram　to　take　his　ease　over　breakfast；　but　the　man　looked　so　miserable　that　he　relented；　so　Aram　followed　as　he　made　his　way　around　the　camp。　The　journey　was　not　one　Perrin　enjoyed。
　　　　　　　Men　put　down　their　bowls　when　he　approached；　or　even　stood　until　he　passed。　He　gritted　his　teeth　whenever　somebody　he　had　grown　up　with；　or　worse；　a　man　who　had　sent　him　on　errands　as　a　boy；　called　him　Lord　Perrin。　Not　everyone　did；　but　too　many。　Far　too　many。　After　a　time；　he　gave　up　telling　them　to　stop　out　of　sheer　weariness；　all　too　often　the　reply　was　〃Oh！　Whatever　you　say；　Lord　Perrin。〃　It　was　enough　to　make　a　man　howl！
　　　　　　　Despite　that；　he　made　himself　pause　to　speak　a　word　or　two　to　every　man。　Mainly；　though；　he　kept　his　eyes　open。　And　his　nose。　They　all　knew　enough　to　keep　their　bows　in　good　repair　and　tend　the　fletching　and　points　on　their　arrows；　but　some　would　wear　the　soles　out　of　their　boots　or　the　bottom　out　of　their　breeches　without　noticing；　or　let　blisters　fester　because　they　could　not　be　bothered　to　do　anything　about　them　just　yet。　Several　had　the　habit　of　picking　up　brandy　when　they　could；　and　two　or　three　of　those　had　no　head　for　it　at　all。　There　had　been　a　small　village　the　day　before　reaching　Bethal　that　held　no　fewer　than　three　inns。
　　　　　　　It　was　very　strange。　Having　Mistress　Luhhan　or　his　mother　tell　him　he　needed　new　boots　or　his　breeches　mended　had　always　been　embarrassing；　and　he　was　sure　he　would　have　been　irritated　at　the　same　from　anybody　else；　but　from　grizzled　old　Jondyn　Barran　on　down；　the　Two　Rivers　men　just　said　〃Why；　right　you　are；　Lord　Perrin；　I'll　see　to　it　straight　away〃　or　some　such。　He　caught　a　number　of　them　grinning　at　one　another　when　he　moved　on。　And　they　smelled　pleased！　When　he　rooted　a　clay　jar　of　pear　brandy　out　of　Jori　Congar's　saddlebags　…　a　skinny　fellow　who　ate　twice　as　much　as　anyone　else　and　always　looked　as　if　he　had　not　had　a　bite　in　a　week；　Jori　was　a　good　shot　with　a　bow；　but　given　a　chance　he　would　drink　until　he　could　not　stand；　and　he　had　light　fingers　besides　…　Jori　gave　him　a　wide…eyed　look　and　spread　his　hands　as　if　he　did　not　know　where　the　jar　had　e　from。　But　as　Perrin　walked　on；　emptying　the　brandy　onto　the　ground；　Jori　laughed；　〃You　can't　put　anything　over　on　Lord　Perrin！〃　He　sounded　proud！　Sometimes；　Perrin　thought　he　was　the　only　sane　person　left。
　　　　　　　Another　thing；　he　noticed。　One　and　all；　they　were　very　interested　in　what　he　did　not　say。　Man　after　man　cast　an　eye　toward　the　two　banners　that　occasionally　flapped　atop　their　poles　in　a　brief　gust；　Red　Wolfhead　and　Red　Eagle。　They　eyed　the　banners　and　watched　him；　waiting　for　the　order　he　had　given　every　time　the　things　had　e　out　since　reaching　Ghealdan。　And　often　enough　before　that。　Except　that　he　had　said　nothing　yesterday；　and　he　said　nothing　today；　and　he　saw　speculation　blooming　on　men's　faces。　He　left　behind　clusters　of　men　peering　at　the　banners　and　at　him；　murmuring　excitedly　among　themselves。　He　did　not　try　to　listen。　What　would　they　say　if　he　was　wrong；　if　the　Whitecloaks　or　King　Ailron　decided　they　could　look　away　from　the　Prophet　and　the　Seanchan　long　enough　to　snuff　out　a　supposed　rebellion？　They　were　his　responsibility；　and　he　had　already　gotten　too　many　of　them　killed。
　　　　　　　The　sun　was　more　than　peeking　above　the　horizon；　spreading　a　sharp　morning　light；　by　the　time　he　finished；　and　over　at　the　tent；　Tallanvor　and　Lamgwin　were　lugging　out　chests　under　Lini's　direction；　while　Maighdin　and　Breane　appeared　to　be　sorting　the　contents　out　on　a　broad　patch　of　dead　grass；　blankets　and　linens　mainly；　and　long　bright　swaths　of　silk　satin　that　had　been　intended　to　drape　the　bed　he　had　misplaced。　Faile　must　have　been　inside；　because　that　gaggle　of　idiots　were　cooling　their　heels　not　far　off。　No　carrying　and　hauling　for　them。　Useful　as　rats　in　the　barn。
　　　　　　　Perrin　thought　about　taking　a　look　at　Stayer　and　Stepper；　but　when　he　glanced　through　the　trees　at　the　horselines；　he　was　seen。　No　fewer　than　three　of　the　farriers　stepped　out　anxiously；　watching　him。　They　were　blocky　men　in　leather　aprons；　alike　as　eggs　in　a　basket；　though　Falton　had　only　a　fringe　of　white　around　his　head；　Aemin　was　graying；　and　Jerasid　had　not　yet　e　into　his　middle　years。　Perrin　growled　at　the　sight　of　them。　They　would　hover　if　he　laid　a　hand　on　either　horse；　and　goggle　if　he　lifted　a　hoof。　The　one　time　he　had　tried　to　change　a　worn　shoe；　on　Stayer；　all　six　farriers　had　darted　about　grabbing　up　tools　before　he　could　touch　them；　nearly　knocking　the　bay　over　in　their　rush　to　do　the　work　themselves。
　　　　　　　〃They're　afraid　you　don't　trust　them；〃　Aram　said　suddenly。　Perrin　looked　at　him　in　surprise；　and　Aram　shifted　his　shoulders　in　his　coat。　〃I've　talked　to　them；　some。　They　think　if　a　lord　tends　his　own　horses；　it　must　be　because　he　doesn't　trust　them。　You　might　send　them　off；　with　no　way　to　get　home。〃　His　tone　said　they　were　fools　to　think　that；　but　he　gave　Perrin　a　sideways　glance　and　shrugged　again；　unfortably。　〃I　think　they're　embarrassed；　too。　If　you　don't　behave　the　way　they　think　a　lord　should；　it　reflects　on　them；　as　they　see　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃Light！〃　Perrin　muttered。　Faile　had　said　the　same　…　about　them　being　embarrassed；　anyway　…　but　he　had　believed　it　just　a　lord's　daughter　talking。　Faile　had　grown　up　surrounded　by　servants；　yet　how　could　a　lady　know　the　thoughts　of　a　man　who　had　to　work　for　his　bread？　He　frowned　toward　the　horselines。　Five　of　the　farriers　stood　together　watching　him；　now。　Embarrassed　that　he　wanted　to　look　after　his　own　horses；　and　upset　that　he　did　not　want　them　pulling　wool　and　scratching　gravel　all　over　the　place。　〃Do　you　think　I　ought　to　act　like　a　fool　in　silk　smallclothes？〃　he　asked。　Aram　blinked；　and　began　studying　his　boots。　〃Light！〃　Perrin　growled。
　　　　　　　Spotting　Basel　Gill　hurrying　from　the　direction　of　the　carts；　Perrin　moved　to　meet　him。　He　did　not　think　he　had　done　very　well　at　making　Gill　feel　at　ease　yesterday。　The　stout　man　was　talking　to　himself　and　once　more　mopping　his　head　with　a　kerchief；　sweating　away　in　a　rumpled　dark　gray　coat。　The　day's　heat　was　beginning　to　take　hold　already。　He　did　not　see　Perrin　until　Perrin　was　nearly　on　h