rj.theshadowrising-第177部分

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m　into　an　army　and　chase　the　Trollocs　all　the　way　back　to　the　Great　Blight。　There　will　be　stories　about　you　in　the　Two　Rivers　for　the　next　thousand　years。　Perrin　Goldeneyes；　hunter　of　Trollocs。〃
　　　　　　　〃Light！〃　he　muttered。
　　　　　　　Hunter　of　Trollocs。　There　had　been　little　so　far　to　justify　that。　Two　days　after　freeing　Mistress　Luhhan　and　the　others；　the　day　after　Verin　and　Tomas　rode　on　their　own　way；　they　had　e　on　the　still…smoking　ruins　of　a　farmhouse；　he　and　the　fifteen　Two　Rivers　lads　with　him　then。　After　burying　what　they　found　in　the　ashes；　it　was　easy　enough　to　follow　the　Trollocs；　between　Gaul's　tracking　and　his　own　nose。　The　sharp　fetid　stink　of　the　Trollocs　had　not　had　time　to　fade　away；　not　to　him。　Some　of　the　lads　had　grown　hesitant　when　they　realized　he　meant　what　he　had　said　about　hunting　Trollocs。　If　they　had　had　to　go　very　far；　he　suspected　most　would　have　drifted　away　when　no　one　was　looking；　but　the　trail　led　to　a　thicket　no　more　than　three　miles　off。　The　Trollocs　had　not　bothered　with　sentries　…　they　had　no　Myrddraal　with　them　to　overawe　their　laziness　…　and　the　Two　Rivers　men　knew　how　to　stalk　silently。　Thirty…two　Trollocs　died；　many　in　their　filthy　blankets；　pierced　through　with　arrows　before　they　could　raise　a　howl；　much　less　sword　or　axe。　Dannil　and　Ban　and　the　others　had　been　ready　to　celebrate　a　great　triumph　…　until　they　found　what　was　in　the　Trollocs'　big　iron　cookpot　sitting　in　the　ashes　of　the　fire。　Most　dashed　away　to　throw　up；　and　more　than　one　wept　openly。　Perrin　dug　the　grave　himself。　Only　one：　there　was　no　way　to　tell　what　had　belonged　to　whom。　Cold　as　he　felt　inside；　he　was　not　sure　he　could　have　stood　it　himself　if　there　had　been。
　　　　　　　Late　the　next　day　no　one　hesitated　when　he　picked　up　another　fetid　trail；　though　a　few　mutters　wondered　what　he　was　following；　until　Gaul　found　the　tracks　of　hooves　and　boots　too　big　for　men。　Another　thicket；　close　to　the　Waterwood；　held　forty…one　Trollocs　and　a　Fade；　with　sentries　set；　though　most　snored　at　their　posts。　It　would　have　made　no　difference　had　they　all　been　awake。　Gaul　killed　those　that　were；　sliding　through　the　trees　like　a　shadow；　and　the　Two　Rivers　men　were　nearly　thirty　themselves　by　then。　Besides；　those　who　had　not　seen　the　cookpot　had　heard　of　it；　they　shouted　as　they　shot；　with　a　satisfaction　not　much　less　savage　than　the　guttural　Trolloc　howls。　The　black…garbed　Myrddraal　had　been　last　to　die；　a　porcupine　quilled　with　arrows。　No　one　cared　to　recover　a　shaft　from　that；　even　after　it　finally　stopped　thrashing。
　　　　　　　That　evening　the　second　rain　came；　hours　of　drenching　downpour　with　a　sky　full　of　roiling　black　clouds　and　stabbing　lightning。　Perrin　had　not　smelled　Trolloc　scent　since；　and　the　ground　had　been　washed　clean　of　tracks。　Most　of　their　time　had　been　spent　avoiding　Whitecloak　patrols；　which　everyone　said　were　more　numerous　than　in　the　past。　The　farmers　Perrin　had　spoken　to　said　the　patrols　seemed　more　interested　in　finding　their　prisoners　again　and　those　who　had　broken　them　free　than　in　looking　for　Trollocs。
　　　　　　　Quite　a　few　of　the　men　had　gathered　around　Luc　now。　He　was　tall　enough　for　his　red…gold　hair　to　show　above　their　darker　heads。　He　seemed　to　be　talking；　and　they　listening。　And　nodding。
　　　　　　　〃Let's　see　what　he　has　to　say；〃　Perrin　said　grimly。
　　　　　　　The　Two　Rivers　men　gave　way　before　Faile　and　him　with　only　a　little　prodding。　They　were　all　intent　on　the　red…coated　lord；　who　was　indeed　holding　forth。
　　　　　　　〃。　。　。　so　the　village　is　quite　secure；　now。　Plenty　of　people　gathered　together　to　defend　it。　I　must　say　I　enjoy　sleeping　under　a　roof　when　I　can。　Mistress　al'Vere；　at　the　inn；　provides　a　tasty　meal。　Her　bread　is　among　the　best　I　have　ever　eaten。　There　truly　is　nothing　like　fresh…baked　bread　and　fresh…churned　butter；　and　putting　your　feet　up　of　an　evening　with　a　fine　mug　of　wine；　or　some　of　Master　al'Vere's　good　brown　ale。〃
　　　　　　　〃Lord　Luc　was　saying　we　should　go　to　Emond's　Field；　Perrin；〃　Kenley　Ahan　said；　scrubbing　his　reddened　nose　with　the　back　of　a　grimy　hand。　He　was　not　the　only　one　who　had　been　unable　to　wash　as　often　as　he　would　like；　and　not　the　only　one　ing　down　with　a　cold；　either。
　　　　　　　Luc　smiled　at　Perrin　much　the　way　he　would　have　at　a　dog　he　expected　to　see　do　a　trick。　〃The　village　is　quite　secure；　but　there　is　always　a　need　for　more　strong　backs。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　are　hunting　Trollocs；〃　Perrin　said　coolly。　〃Not　everyone　has　left　their　farms　yet；　and　every　band　we　find　and　kill　means　farms　not　burned　and　more　people　with　a　chance　to　reach　safety。〃
　　　　　　　Wil　al'Seen　barked　a　laugh。　He　was　not　so　pretty　with　a　red　puffy　nose　and　a　spotty；　six…day　growth　of　beard。　〃We've　not　smelled　a　Trolloc　in　days。　Be　reasonable；　Perrin。　Maybe　we've　killed　them　all　already。〃　There　were　mutters　of　agreement。
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　mean　to　spread　dissension。〃　Luc　spread　his　hands　guilelessly。　〃No　doubt　you　have　had　many　great　successes　beside　those　we　have　heard　of。　Hundreds　of　Trollocs　killed；　I　expect。　You　may　well　have　chased　them　all　away。　I　can　tell　you；　Emond's　Field　is　ready　to　give　you　all　a　hero's　wele。　The　same　must　be　true　at　Watch　Hill　for　those　who　live　up　that　way。　Any　Deven　Riders？〃　Wil　nodded；　and　Luc　clapped　him　on　the　shoulder　with　a　hollow　good　fellowship。　〃A　hero's　wele；　without　a　doubt。〃
　　　　　　　〃Anyone　who　wants　to　go　home；　can；〃　Perrin　said　in　a　level　voice。　Faile　directed　a　warning　frown　at　him；　this　was　no　way　to　be　a　general。　But　he　did　not　want　anyone　with　him　who　did　not　want　to　be　there。　He　did　not　want　to　be　a　general；　for　that　matter。　〃Myself；　I　don't　think　the　job　is　done　yet；　but　it　is　your　choice。〃
　　　　　　　No　one　took　him　up；　though　Wil　at　least　looked　ready　to；　but　twenty　more　stared　at　the　ground　and　scuffed　their　boots　in　last　year's　leaves。
　　　　　　　〃Well；〃　Luc　said　casually；　〃if　you　have　no　Trollocs　left　to　chase；　perhaps　it　is　time　to　turn　your　attentions　to　the　Whitecloaks。　They　are　not　happy　at　you　Two　Rivers　folk　deciding　to　defend　yourselves。　And　I　understand　they　meant　to　hang　the　lot　of　you　in　particular；　as　outlaws；　for　stealing　their　prisoners。〃
　　　　　　　Anxious　frowns　passed　between　a　good　many　of　the　Two　Rivers　lads。
　　　　　　　It　was　then　that　Gaul　came　pushing　through　the　crowd；　followed　close　by　Bain　and　Chiad。　Not　that　the　Aiel　had　to　push；　of　course；　the　men　cleared　aside　as　soon　as　they　realized　who　it　was。　Luc　frowned　at　Gaul　thoughtfully；　perhaps　disapprovingly；　the　Aielman　stared　back　stony…faced。　Wil　and　Dannil　and　the　others　brightened　at　sight　of　the　Aiel；　most　still　believed　hundreds　more　were　hiding　somewhere　in　the　thickets　and　forests。　They　never　questioned　why　all　those　Aiel　stayed　hidden；　and　Perrin　certainly　never　brought　it　up。　If　believing　in　a　few　hundred　Aiel　reinforcements　helped　them　keep　their　courage；　well　and　good。
　　　　　　　〃What　did　you　find？〃　Perrin　asked。　Gaul　had　been　gone　since　the　day　before；　he　could　move　as　fast　as　a　man　on　horseback；　faster　in　woods；　and　he　could　see　more。
　　　　　　　〃Trollocs；〃　Gaul　replied　as　though　reporting　the　presence　of　sheep；　〃moving　up　through　this　well…named　Waterwood　to　the　south。　They　number　no　more　than　thirty；　and　I　believe　they　mean　to　make　camp　on　the　edge　of　the　forest　and　strike　tonight。　There　are　men　still　holding　to　the　soil　to　the　south。〃　He　gave　a　sudden；　wolfish　grin。　〃They　did　not　see　me。　They　will　have　no　warning。〃
　　　　　　　Chiad　leaned　closer　to　Bain。　〃He　moves　well　enough；　for　a　Stone　Dog；〃　she　whispered　loudly　enough　to　be　heard　twenty　feet　off。　〃He　makes　little　more　noise　than　a　lame　bull。〃
　　　　　　　〃Well；　Wil？〃　Perrin　said。　〃Do　you　want　to　go　to　Emond's　Field？　You　can　shave；　and　maybe　find　a　girl　to　kiss　while　these　Trollocs　have　supper　tonight。〃
　　　　　　　Wil　flushed　a　dark　red。　〃I　will　be　wherever　you　are　tonight；　Aybara；〃　he　said　in　a　hard　voice。
　　　　　　　〃Nobody　means　to　go　home　if　there　are　Trollocs　still　about；　Perrin；〃　Kenley　added。
　　　　　　　Perrin　looked　around　at　the　others；　meeting　only　agreeing　nods。　〃What　of　you；　Luc？　We　would　be　pleased　to　have　a　lord　and　Hunter　for　the　Horn　with　us。　You　could　show　us　how　it　is　done。〃
　　　　　　　Luc　smiled　fractionally；　a　gash　on　stone　that　never　came　close　to　those　cold　blue　eyes。　〃I　regret　the　defenses　of　Emond's　Field　still　need　me。　I　must　see　to　protecting　your