rj.theshadowrising-第68部分

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g　a　gallows；　and　Faile　watching；　or　worse；　trying　to　stop　it；　trying　to　fight　Whitecloaks　with　their　lances　and　swords；　and　he　was　screaming　while　they　fitted　the　noose　around　his　neck；　screaming　because　the　Whitecloaks　were　killing　Faile。　Sometimes　she　watched　them　hang　him　with　a　smile　of　angry　satisfaction。　Small　wonder　such　dreams　wakened　him　with　a　jerk。　Once　he　had　dreamed　of　wolves　running　out　of　the　forest　to　save　both　Faile　and　him　…　only　to　be　spitted　on　Whitecloak　lances；　shot　down　by　their　arrows。　It　had　not　been　a　restful　night。　Washing　and　dressing　as　hurriedly　as　he　could；　he　left　the　room　as　if　hoping　to　leave　memories　of　his　dreams　behind。
　　　　　　　Little　outward　evidence　remained　of　the　night's　attack；　here　a　sword…slashed　tapestry；　there　a　chest　with　a　corner　splintered　by　an　axe　or　a　lighter　patch　on　the　stone…tiled　floor　where　a　bloodstained　rug　had　been　removed。　The　majhere　had　her　liveried　army　of　servants　out　in　force；　though　many　wore　bandages；　sweeping；　mopping；　clearing　away　and　replacing。　She　limped　about　leaning　on　a　stick；　a　broad　woman　with　her　gray　hair　pushed　up　like　a　round　cap　by　the　dressing　wound　around　her　head；　calling　her　orders　in　a　firm　voice；　with　the　clear　intention　of　removing　every　sign　of　the　Stone's　second　violation。　She　saw　Perrin　and　gave　him　an　infinitesimal　curtsy。　Even　the　High　Lords　did　not　get　much　more　from　her；　even　when　she　was　well。　Despite　all　the　cleaning　and　scrubbing；　under　the　smell　of　waxes　and　polishes　and　cleaning　fluids　Perrin　could　still　catch　the　faint　scent　of　blood；　sharply　metallic　human　blood；　fetid　Trolloc　blood；　acrid　Myrddraal　blood　with　its　stink　that　burned　his　nostrils。　He　would　be　glad　to　be　away　from　here。
　　　　　　　The　door　to　Loial's　room　was　a　span　across　and　more　than　two　spans　high；　with　an　overlarge　door　handle　in　the　shape　of　entwined　vines　level　with　Perrin's　head。　The　Stone　had　a　number　of　rarely　used　Ogier　guest　rooms；　the　Stone　of　Tear　predated　even　the　age　of　great　Ogier　stoneworks；　but　it　was　a　point　of　prestige　to　use　Ogier　stonemasons；　at　least　from　time　to　time。　Perrin　knocked　and　at　the　call　of　〃e　in；〃　in　a　voice　like　a　slow　avalanche；　lifted　the　handle　and　plied。
　　　　　　　The　room　was　on　a　scale　with　the　door　in　every　dimension；　yet　Loial；　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　leaf…patterned　carpet　in　his　shirtsleeves；　a　long　pipe　in　his　teeth；　reduced　it　all　to　seemingly　normal　size。　The　Ogier　stood　taller　than　a　Trolloc　in　his　wide…toed；　thigh…high　boots；　if　not　so　broad　as　one。　His　dark　green　coat；　buttoned　to　the　waist；　then　flaring　to　his　boot　tops　like　a　kilt　over　baggy　trousers；　no　longer　looked　odd　to　Perrin；　but　one　look　was　enough　to　tell　this　was　not　an　ordinary　man　in　an　ordinary　room。　The　Ogier's　nose　was　so　broad　as　to　seem　a　snout；　and　eyebrows　like　long　mustaches　dangled　beside　eyes　the　size　of　teacups。　Tufted　ears　poked　up　through　shaggy　black　hair　that　hung　nearly　to　his　shoulders。　When　he　grinned　around　his　pipestem　at　the　sight　of　Perrin；　it　split　his　face　in　half。
　　　　　　　〃Good　morning；　Perrin；〃　he　rumbled；　removing　the　pipe。　〃You　slept　well？　Not　easy；　after　such　a　night　as　that。　Myself；　I　have　been　up　half　the　night；　writing　down　what　happened。〃　He　had　a　pen　in　his　other　hand；　and　ink　stains　on　his　sausage…thick　fingers。
　　　　　　　Books　lay　everywhere；　on　Ogier…sized　chairs　and　the　huge　bed　and　the　table　that　stood　as　high　as　Perrin's　chest。　That　was　no　surprise；　but　what　was　a　little　startling　was　the　flowers。　Flowers　of　every　sort；　in　every　color。　Vases　of　flowers；　baskets　of　them；　posies　tied　with　ribbon　or　even　string；　great　woven　banks　of　flowers　standing　about　like　lengths　of　garden　wall。　Perrin　had　certainly　never　seen　the　like　inside　a　room。　Their　scent　filled　the　air。　Yet　what　really　caught　his　eye　was　the　swollen　knot　on　Loial's　head；　the　size　of　a　man's　fist；　and　the　heavy　limp　in　Loial's　walk。　If　Loial　had　been　hurt　too　badly　to　travel。。。　He　felt　ashamed　at　thinking　of　it　that　way　…　the　Ogier　was　a　friend　…　but　he　had　to。
　　　　　　　〃You　were　injured；　Loial？　Moiraine　could　Heal　you。　I'm　sure　she　will。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　I　can　get　around　with　no　trouble。　And　there　were　so　many　who　truly　needed　her　help。　I　would　not　want　to　bother　her。　It　certainly　is　not　enough　to　hamper　me　in　my　work。〃　Loial　glanced　at　the　table　where　a　large　cloth…bound　book　…　large　for　Perrin；　but　it　would　fit　in　one　of　the　Ogier's　coat　pockets　…　lay　open　beside　an　uncorked　ink　bottle。　〃I　hope　I　wrote　it　all　down　correctly。　I　did　not　see　very　much　last　night　until　it　was　done。〃
　　　　　　　〃Loial；〃　Faile　said；　standing　up　from　behind　one　of　the　banks　of　flowers　with　a　book　in　her　hands；　〃is　a　hero。〃
　　　　　　　Perrin　jumped；　the　flowers　had　masked　her　scent　pletely。　Loial　made　shushing　noises；　his　ears　twitching　with　embarrassment；　and　waved　his　big　hands　at　her；　but　she　went　on；　her　voice　cool　but　her　eyes　hot　on　Perrin's　face。
　　　　　　　〃He　gathered　as　many　children　as　he　could　…　and　some　of　their　mothers　…　into　a　large　room；　and　held　the　door　alone　against　Trollocs　and　Myrddraal　through　the　entire　fight。　These　flowers　are　from　the　women　of　the　Stone；　tokens　to　honor　his　steadfast　courage；　his　faithfulness。〃　She　made　〃steadfast〃　and　〃faithfulness〃　crack　like　whips。
　　　　　　　Perrin　managed　not　to　flinch；　but　only　just。　What　he　had　done　was　right；　but　he　could　not　expect　her　to　see　it。　Even　if　she　knew　why；　she　would　not　see　it。　It　was　the　right　thing。　It　was。　He　only　wished　he　felt　better　about　the　entire　matter。　It　was　hardly　fair　that　he　could　be　right　and　still　feel　in　the　wrong。
　　　　　　　〃It　was　nothing。〃　Loial's　ears　twitched　wildly。　〃It　is　just　that　the　children　could　not　defend　themselves。　That's　all。　Not　a　hero。　No。〃
　　　　　　　〃Nonsense。〃　Faile　marked　her　place　in　the　book　with　a　finger　and　moved　closer　to　the　Ogier。　She　did　not　e　up　to　his　chest。　〃There　is　not　a　woman　in　the　Stone　who　would　not　marry　you；　if　you　were　human；　and　some　would　anyway。　Loial　well　named；　for　your　nature　is　loyalty。　Any　woman　could　love　that。〃
　　　　　　　The　Ogier's　ears　went　stiff　with　shock；　and　Perrin　grinned。　She　had　obviously　been　feeding　Loial　honey　and　butter　all　morning　in　hope　the　Ogier　would　agree　to　take　her　along　no　matter　what　Perrin　wanted；　but　in　trying　to　prick　him　she　had　just　fed　Loial　a　stone　without　knowing　it。　〃Have　you　heard　from　your　mother；　Loial？〃　he　asked。
　　　　　　　〃No。〃　Loial　managed　to　sound　relieved　and　worried　at　the　same　time。　〃But　I　saw　Laefar　in　the　city　yesterday。　He　was　as　surprised　to　see　me　as　I　to　see　him；　we　are　not　a　mon　sight　in　Tear。　He　came　from　Sledding　Shangtai　to　negotiate　repairs　on　some　Ogier　stonework　in　one　of　the　palaces。　I　have　no　doubt　the　first　words　out　of　his　mouth　when　he　returns　to　the　stedding　will　be　'Loial　is　in　Tear。'　〃
　　　　　　　〃That　is　worrying；〃　Perrin　said；　and　Loial　nodded　dejectedly。
　　　　　　　〃Laefar　says　the　Elders　have　named　me　a　runaway　and　my　mother　has　promised　to　have　me　married　and　settled。　She　even　has　someone　chosen。　Laefar　did　not　know　who。　At　least；　he　said　he　did　not。　He　thinks　such　things　are　funny。　She　could　be　here　in　a　month's　time。〃
　　　　　　　Faile's　face　was　a　picture　of　confusion　that　almost　made　Perrin　grin　again。　She　thought　she　knew　so　much　more　than　he　did　about　the　world　…　well；　she　did；　in　truth　…　but　she　did　not　know　Loial。　Stedding　Shangtai　was　Loial's　home；　in　the　Spine　of　the　World；　and　since　he　was　barely　past　ninety；　he　was　not　old　enough　to　have　left　on　his　own。　Ogier　lived　a　very　long　time；　by　their　standards；　Loial　was　ho　older　than　Perrin；　maybe　younger。　But　Loial　had　gone　anyway；　to　see　the　world；　and　his　greatest　fear　was　that　his　mother　would　find　him　and　drag　back　to　the　stedding　to　marry；　never　to　leave　again。
　　　　　　　While　Faile　was　trying　to　figure　out　what　was　going　on；　Perrin　stepped　into　the　silence。　〃I　need　to　go　back　to　the　Two　Rivers；　Loial。　Your　mother　won't　find　you　there。〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes。　That　is　true。〃　The。　Ogier　gave　an　unfortable　shrug。　〃But　my　book。　Rand's　story。　And　yours；　and　Mat's。　I　have　so　many　notes　already；　but。。。〃　He　moved　around　behind　the　table；　peering　down　at　the　open　book；　the　pages　filled　with　his　neat　script。　〃I　will　be　the　one　to　write　the　true　story　of　the　Dragon　Reborn；　Perrin。　The　only　book　by　someone　who　traveled　with　him；　who　actually　saw　it　unfold。　Th