按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
mly told her she was not ing with him this morning； she had not raised a single word of protest！ She even smelled。。。 pleased！ Among other things； including startled。 And how could she be pleased and angry at the same time？ Not a scrap of it had showed on her face； but his nose never lied。 Somehow； it seemed that the more he learned about women； the less he knew！
The bridge guards frowned and fingered their weapons as Stayer's hooves thudded hollowly onto the wooden planking。 They were the usual odd mix that followed the Prophet； dirty…faced fellows in silk coats too big for them； scar…faced street toughs and pink…cheeked apprentices； former merchants and craftsmen who looked as if they had slept in their once fine woolens for months。 Their weapons appeared well cared for； though。 Some of the men had a fever in their eyes； the rest wore guarded； wooden faces。 Along with unwashed； they smelled eager； anxious； fervent； afraid； all jumbled together。
They made no move to bar passage； just watched； hardly blinking。 By what Perrin had heard； all sorts from ladies in silks to beggars in rags came to the Prophet hoping that submitting to him in person might gain added blessings。 Or maybe added protection。 That was why he had e this way； with only a handful of panions。 He would frighten Masema if he had to； if Masema could be frightened； but it had seemed better to try reaching the man without fighting a battle。 He could feel the guard's eyes on his back until he and the others were all across the short bridge and onto the paved streets of Abila。 When that pressure left； though； it brought no sense of relief。
Abila was a goodly sized town； with several tall watch towers and many buildings rising four stories； every last one roofed in slate。 Here and there； mounded stone and timbers filled a gap between two structures where an inn or some merchant's house had been pulled down。 The Prophet disapproved of wealth gained by trade as much as he did carousing or what his followers called lewd behavior。 He disapproved of a great many things； and made his feelings known with sharp examples。
The streets were jammed with people； but Perrin and his panions were the only ones on horseback。 The snow had long since been trampled to half…frozen ankle…deep mush。 Plenty of oxcarts made their slow way through the throng； but very few wagons； and not a single carriage。 Except for those wearing worn castoffs or possibly stolen clothes； everyone wore drab woolens。 Most people hurried； but like the folk on the road； with heads down。 Those who did not hurry were straggling groups of men carrying weapons。 In the streets； the smell was mainly dirt and fear。 It made Perrin's hackles rise。 At least； if it came to that； getting out of a town with no wall would not prove harder than getting in。
〃My Lord；〃 Balwer murmured as they came abreast of one of those heaps of rubble。 He barely waited for Perrin's nod before turning his hammer…nosed mount aside and making his way in another direction； hunched in his saddle with his brown cloak held tight around him。 Perrin had no worries about the dried…up little man going off alone； even here。 For a secretary； he managed to learn a surprising amount on these forays of his。 He seemed to know what he was about。
Dismissing Balwer from his thoughts； Perrin set to what he was there about。
It took only one question； put to a lanky young man with an ecstatic light on his face； to learn where the Prophet was staying； and three more to other folk in the streets to find the merchant's house； four stories of gray stone with white marble moldings and window frames。 Masema disapproved of grubbing for money； but he was willing to accept acmodations from those who did。 On the other hand； Balwer said he had slept in a leaky farmhouse as often and been as satisfied。 Masema drank only water； and wherever he went； he hired a poor widow and ate the food she prepared； fair or foul； without plaint。 The man had made too many widows for that charity to count far with Perrin。
The throng that packed the streets elsewhere was absent in front of the tall house； yet the number of armed guards like those at the bridge almost made up for it。 They stared at Perrin sullenly； those who did not sneer insolently。 The two Aes Sedai kept their faces hidden in their deep hoods and their heads down； white breath rising from the cowls like steam。 From the corner of his eye； Perrin saw Elyas thumbing the hilt of his long knife。 It was hard not to stroke his axe。
〃I've e with a message for the Prophet from the Dragon Reborn；〃 he announced。 When none of the men moved； he added； 〃My name is Perrin Aybara。 The Prophet knows me。〃 Balwer had cautioned him about the dangers of using Masema's name； or calling Rand anything but the Lord Dragon Reborn。 He was not there to start a riot。
The claim of knowing Masema seemed to put a spark into the guards。 Several exchanged wide…eyed looks； and one went running inside。 The rest stared at him as if he were a gleeman。 In a few moments； a woman came to the door。 Handsome； with white at her temples； in a high…necked dress of blue wool that was fine if unadorned； she might have been the merchant herself。 Masema did not throw those who offered him hospitality into the streets； but their servants or farmhands usually ended up with one of the bands 〃spreading the glories of the Lord Dragon。〃
〃If you will e with me； Master Aybara；〃 the woman said calmly； 〃you and your friends； I will take you to the Prophet of the Lord Dragon； may the Light illumine his name。〃 Calm she might sound； but terror filled her scent。
Telling Neald and the Warders to watch the horses until they returned； Perrin followed her inside with the others。 The interior was dark； with few lamps lit； and not much warmer than outside。 Even the Wise Ones seemed subdued。 They did not smell afraid； but almost as close to it as the Aes Sedai； and Grady and Elyas smelled of wariness； of raised hackles and ears laid back。 Strangely； Aram's scent was eager。 Perrin hoped the man did not try to draw that sword on his back。
The large； carpeted room the woman led them to； with fires blazing on hearths at either end； might have been a general's study； every table and half the chairs covered with maps and papers； and warm enough that Perrin tossed his cloak back and regretted wearing two shirts under his coat。 But it was Masema standing in the middle of the room who drew his eyes immediately； like iron filings to a lodestone； a dark； scowling man with a shaven head and a pale triangular scar on one cheek； in a wrinkled gray coat and scuffed boots。 His deep…set eyes burned with a black fire； and his scent。。。 The only name Perrin could give that smell； steel…hard and blade…sharp and quivering with wild intensity； was madness。 And Rand thought he could put a leash on this？
〃So； it is you；〃 Masema growled。 〃I did not think you would dare show your face。 I know what you've been up to！ Hari told me more than a week ago； and I have kept myself informed。〃 A man shifted in a corner of the room； a narrow…eyed fellow with a thrusting nose； and Perrin upbraided himself for not noticing him befor