rj.theshadowrising-第248部分

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nd　slung　it　on　his　back。　Axe　and　quiver　already　hung　at　his　belt。　〃And　don't　call　me　that！〃
　　　　　　　In　front　of　the　inn；　the　panions　were　gathered　on　their　horses；　Wil　al'Seen　with　that　fool　wolfhead　banner；　the　long　staff　resting　on　his　stirrup　iron。　How　long　since　Wil　had　refused　to　carry　the　thing？　The　survivors　of　those　who　had　joined　him　the　first　day　jealously　guarded　the　right；　now。　Wil；　with　his　bow　on　his　back　and　a　sword　at　his　hip；　looked　proud　as　an　idiot。
　　　　　　　As　Ban　scrambled　into　his　saddle；　Perrin　heard　him　say；　〃The　man　is　as　cool　as　a　winter　pond。　Like　ice。　Maybe　it　won't　be　so　bad　today。〃　He　barely　paid　attention。　The　women　were　gathered　on　the　Green。
　　　　　　　They　made　a　circle　five　or　six　deep　around　the　tall　pole　where　the　larger　red　wolfhead　flapped　out　in　a　breeze。　Five　or　six　deep；　shoulder　to　shoulder；　with　polearms　made　from　scythes　and　pitchforks；　and　wood…axes；　and　even　stout　kitchen　knives　and　cleavers。
　　　　　　　Throat　tight；　he　mounted　Stepper　and　rode　toward　them。　The　children　were　a　tight　mass　inside　the　circle　of　women。　All　the　children　in　Emond's　Field。
　　　　　　　Riding　slowly　along　the　ranks；　he　felt　the　women's　eyes　following　him；　and　the　children's。　Fear　scent；　and　worry；　the　children　showed　it　on　their　too…pale　faces；　but　all　smelled　of　it。　He　reined　in　where　Marin　al'Vere　and　Daise　Congar　and　the　rest　of　the　Women's　Circle　stood　together。　Alsbet　Luhhan　had　one　of　her　husband's　hammers　on　her　shoulder；　and　her　Whitecloak　helmet　acquired　the　night　of　her　rescue　sat　slightly　crooked　because　of　her　thick　braid。　Neysa　Ayellin　held　a　long…bladed　carving　knife　firm　in　her　hand；　and　had　two　more　stuck　behind　her　belt。
　　　　　　　〃We　have　planned　this　out；〃　Daise　said；　looking　up　at　him　as　if　she　expected　an　argument　and　did　not　intend　to　allow　it。　She　held　a　pitchfork；　fastened　to　a　pole　nearly　three　feet　taller　than　she；　upright　in　front　of　her。　〃If　the　Trollocs　break　through　anywhere；　you　men　are　going　to　be　busy；　so　we　will　take　the　children　out。　The　older　ones　know　what　to　do；　and　they've　all　played　hide…and…seek　in　the　woods。　Just　to　keep　them　safe　until　they　can　e　out。〃
　　　　　　　The　older　ones。　Boys　and　girls　of　thirteen　and　fourteen　had　toddlers　strapped　on　their　backs；　and　held　smaller　children　by　the　hand。　Girls　older　than　that　stood　in　the　ranks　with　the　women；　Bode　Cauthon　had　a　wood…axe　gripped　in　both　hands；　her　sister　Eldrin　a　boar　spear　with　a　broad　point。　Boys　older　were　out　with　the　men；　or　up　on　the　thatched　rooftops　with　their　bows。　The　Tinkers　were　in　with　the　children。　Perrin　glanced　down　at　Aram；　standing　by　his　stirrup。　They　would　not　fight；　but　each　adult　had　two　babes　fastened　on　his　or　her　back　and　another　cradled　in　the　crook　of　an　elbow。　Raen　and　Ila；　each　with　an　arm　around　the　other；　would　not　look　at　him。　Just　to　keep　them　safe　until　they　could　e　out。
　　　　　　　〃I'm　sorry。〃　He　had　to　stop　and　clear　his　throat。　He　had　not　meant　it　to　e　to　this。　Think　as　hard　as　he　could；　nothing　else　came　that　he　could　have　done。　Even　giving　himself　to　the　Trollocs　would　not　have　stopped　them　killing　and　burning。　The　end　would　have　been　the　same。　〃It　was　not　fair；　what　I　did　with　Faile；　but　I　had　to。　Please　understand　that。　I　had　to。〃〃Don't　be　silly；　Perrin；〃　Alsbet　said；　voice　emphatic　but　round　face　smiling　warmly。　〃I　can　never　abide　it　when　you're　silly。　Do　you　think　we　would　expect　you　to　do　any　different？〃
　　　　　　　A　heavy　cleaver　in　one　hand；　Marin　reached　up　to　pat　his　knee　with　the　other。　〃Any　man　worth　cooking　a　meal　for　would　have　done　the　same。〃
　　　　　　　〃Thank　you。〃　Light；　but　he　sounded　hoarse。　In　a　minute　he　would　be　snuffling　like　a　girl。　But　for　some　reason　he　could　not　smooth　his　voice。　They　must　think　him　an　idiot。　〃Thank　you。　I　shouldn't　have　fooled　you；　but　she'd　not　have　gone　if　she　suspected。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　Perrin。〃　Marin　laughed。　She　actually　laughed；　with　all　they　faced；　and　smelling　of　fear　as　she　did；　he　wished　he　had　half　her　courage。　〃We　knew　what　you　were　up　to　before　you　ever　put　her　on　her　horse；　and　I　am　not　sure　she　didn't　as　well。　Women　do　find　themselves　doing　what　they　don't　want　just　to　please　you　men。　Now　you　go　on　and　do　what　you　have　to。　This　is　Women's　Circle　business；〃　she　added　firmly。
　　　　　　　Somehow　he　managed　to　smile　back　at　her。　〃Yes；　mistress；〃　he　said；　knuckling　his　forehead。　〃Beg　pardon。　I　know　enough　to　keep　my　nose　out　of　that。〃　The　women　around　her　laughed　in　soft　amusement　as　he　turned　Stepper　away。
　　　　　　　Ban　and　Tell　were　riding　right　behind　him；　he　realized；　with　the　rest　of　the　panions　strung　out　after　Wil　and　the　banner。　He　motioned　the　pair　to　e　up　beside　him。　〃If　things　go　badly　today；〃　he　said　when　they　were　on　either　side　of　him；　〃the　panions　are　to　e　back　here　and　help　the　women。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　…〃
　　　　　　　He　cut　Tell's　protest　short。　〃You　do　what　I　say！　If　it　goes　wrong；　you　get　the　women　and　children　out！　You　hear　me？〃　They　nodded；　reluctantly；　but　they　did　it。
　　　　　　　〃What　about　you？〃　Ban　asked　quietly。
　　　　　　　Perrin　ignored　him。　〃Aram；　you　stick　with　the　panions。〃
　　　　　　　Striding　along　between　Stepper　and　Tell's　shaggy　horse；　the　Tinker　did　not　even　look　up。　〃I　go　where　you　go。〃　He　said　it　simply；　but　his　tone　left　no　room　for　argument；　he　was　going　to　do　as　he　wanted　whatever　Perrin　said。　Perrin　wondered　if　real　lords　ever　had　problems　like　this。
　　　　　　　At　the　west　end　of　the　Green；　the　Whitecloaks　were　all　mounted；　cloaks　with　the　golden　sunburst　bright；　helmets　and　armor　gleaming；　lance　points　shining；　a　long　column　of　fours　that　stretched　back　between　the　nearest　houses。　They　must　have　spent　half　the　night　polishing。　Dain　Bornhald　and　Jaret　Byar　swung　their　horses　to　face　Perrin。　Bornhald　sat　straight　in　his　saddle；　but　he　smelled　of　apple　brandy。　Byar's　gaunt　face　twisted　with　an　even　deeper　rage　than　usual　as　he　stared　at　Perrin。
　　　　　　　〃I　thought　you　would　be　at　your　places　by　now；〃　Perrin　said。
　　　　　　　Bornhald　frowned　at　his　horse's　mane；　not　answering。　After　a　moment；　Byar　spat；　〃We　are　leaving　here；　Shadowspawn。〃　An　angry　mutter　rose　from　the　panions；　but　the　hollow…eyed　man　ignored　them　as　he　did　Aram's　reaching　over　his　shoulder　to　his　sword　hilt。　〃We　will　cut　our　way　back　to　Watch　Hill　through　your　friends　and　rejoin　the　rest　of　our　men。〃
　　　　　　　Leaving。　Over　four　hundred　soldiers；　leaving。　Whitecloaks；　but　mounted　soldiers；　not　farmers；　soldiers　who　had　agreed　…　Bornhald　had　agreed！　…　to　support　the　Two　Rivers　men　wherever　the　fighting　was　hottest。　If　Emond's　Field　was　to　have　any　chance　at　all；　he　had　to　hang　on　to　these　men。　Stepper　tossed　his　head　and　snorted　as　if　catching　his　rider's　mood。　〃Do　you　still　believe　I'm　a　Darkfriend；　Bornhald？　How　many　attacks　have　you　seen　so　far？　Those　Trollocs　have　tried　to　kill　me　as　much　as　anybody　else。〃
　　　　　　　Bornhald　raised　his　head　slowly；　eyes　haunted　and　at　the　same　time　half…glazed。　Hands　in　steel…backed　gauntlets　flexed　on　his　reins　unconsciously。　〃Do　you　think　I　do　not　know　by　now　that　these　defenses　were　prepared　without　you？　It　was　none　of　your　doing；　yes？　I　will　not　keep　my　men　here　to　watch　you　feed　your　own　villagers　to　the　Trollocs。　Will　you　dance　atop　a　pile　of　their　bodies　when　it　is　done；　Shadowspawn？　Not　ours！　I　mean　to　live　long　enough　to　see　you　brought　to　justice！〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　patted　Stepper's　neck　to　quiet　the　stallion。　He　had　to　keep　these　men。　〃You　want　me？　Very　well。　When　it's　over；　when　the　Trollocs　are　done；　I'll　not　resist　if　you　try　to　arrest　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃No！〃　Ban　and　Tell　shouted　together；　and　growls　built　behind　them　from　the　others。　Aram　peered　up　at　Perrin；　stricken。
　　　　　　　〃An　empty　promise；〃　Bornhald　sneered。　〃You　mean　everyone　to　die　here　save　yourself！〃
　　　　　　　〃You'll　never　know　if　you　run　away；　will　you？〃　Perrin　made　his　voice　hard　and　contemptuous。　〃I　will　keep　my　promise；　but　if　you　run；　you　might　never　find　me　again。　Run；　if　you　want！　Run；　and　try　to　forget　what　happens　here！　All　your　talk　of　protecting　people　from　Trollocs。　How　many　died　at　Trolloc　hands　after　you　came？　My　family　wasn't　the　first；　and　certainly　not　the　last。　Run！　Or　stay；　if　you　can　remember　you're　men。　If　you　need　to　find　the　courage；　look　at　the　women；　Bornhald。　Any　one　of　them　is　braver　than　the　whole　lot　of　you　Whitecloaks！〃
　　　　　　　Bornhald　shook　as　tho