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！
voice dropped to a whisper。 〃It's said they can raise the dead； good master。〃
〃Who else knows this？〃 Perrin asked sharply； and at the same time Loial said； 〃If your brother is dead； there is nothing anyone can do。〃
The frog…faced man looked from one to the other of them anxiously； and his words came in a babble。 〃No one knows but me； good master。 Noam isn't dead； good Ogier； only sick。 I swear nobody else could recognize her。 Even Master Harod's never been more than twenty miles from here in his life。 He's so bad sick。 I'd ask her myself； only my knees'd be shaking so hard she couldn't hear me talk。 What if she took offense and called down lightning on me？ And what if I'd been wrong？ It isn't the kind of thing you accuse a woman of without。。。 I mean。。。 ooh。。。〃 He raised his hands； half in pleading； half as if to defend himself。
〃I can make no promises；〃 Perrin said； 〃but I'll speak to her。 Loial； why don't you keep Simion pany till I've spoken to Moiraine？〃
〃Of course；〃 the Ogier boomed。 Simion gave a start when Loial's hand swallowed his shoulder。 〃He will show me my room； and we will talk。 Tell me； Simion； what do you know of trees？〃
〃T…t…trees； g…good Ogier？〃
Perrin did not wait any longer。 He hurried back down the dark hall and knocked on Moiraine's door； barely waiting for her peremptory 〃e！〃 before pushing in。
Half a dozen candles showed that the Leap's best room was none too good； though the one bed had four tall posts supporting a canopy； and the mattress looked less full of lumps than Perrin's。 There was a scrap of carpet on the floor； and two cushioned chairs instead of stools。 Other than that； it looked no different from his room。 Moiraine and Lan stood in front of the cold hearth as if they had been discussing something； and the Aes Sedai did not look pleased at being interrupted。 The Warder's face was as imperturbable as a carving。
〃Rand's been here； all right；〃 Perrin started off。 〃That fellow Simion remembers him。〃 Moiraine hissed through her teeth。
〃You were told to keep your mouth shut；〃 Lan growled。
Perrin squared his feet to face the Warder。 That was easier than facing Moiraine's glare。 〃How could we find out whether he had been here without asking questions？ Tell me that。 He left last night； if you are interested； heading east。 And he was carrying on about somebody following him； trying to kill him。〃
〃East。〃 Moiraine nodded。 The utter calm of her voice was at odds with her disapproving eyes。 〃That is good to know； though it had to be so if he is going to Tear。 But I was fairly certain he had been here even before I heard about the Whitecloaks； and they made it a certainty。 Rand is almost surely right about one thing； Perrin。 I cannot believe we are the only ones trying to find him。 And if they find out about us； they may well try to stop us。 We have enough to contend with trying to catch up to Rand without that。 You must learn to hold your tongue until I tell you to speak。〃
〃The Whitecloaks？〃 Perrin said incredulously。 Hold my tongue？ Burn me； if I will！ 〃How could they tell you …？ Rand's madness。 It is catching？〃
〃Not his madness；〃 Moiraine said； 〃if he is far enough gone yet to be called mad。 Perrin； he is more strongly ta'veren than anyone since the Age of Legends。 Yesterday； in this village； the Pattern。。。 moved； shaped itself around him like clay shaped on a mold。 The weddings； the Whitecloaks； these were enough to say Rand had been here； for anyone who knew to listen。〃
Perrin drew a long breath。 〃And this is what we'll find everywhere he's been？ Light； if there are Shadowspawn after him； they can track him as easily as we can。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 Moiraine said。 〃Perhaps not。 No one knows anything about ta'veren as strong as Rand。〃 For just a moment she sounded vexed at not knowing。 〃Artur Hawkwing was the most strongly ta'veren of whom any writings remain。 And Hawkwing was in no way as strong as Rand。〃
〃It is said；〃 Lan put in； 〃that there were times when people in the same room with Hawkwing spoke truth when they meant to lie； made decisions they had not even known they were contemplating。 Times when every toss of the dice； every turn of the cards； went his way。 But only times。〃
〃You mean you don't know；〃 Perrin said。 〃He could leave a trail of weddings and Whitecloaks gone mad all the way to Tear。〃
〃I mean I know as much as there is to know；〃 Moiraine said sharply。 Her dark…eyed gaze chastised Perrin like a whip。 〃The Pattern weaves finely around ta'veren； and others can follow the shape of those threads if they know where to look。 Be careful your tongue does not unravel more than you can know。〃
In spite of himself Perrin hunched his shoulders as if she were delivering real blows。 〃Well； you had better be glad I opened my mouth this time。 Simion knows you're Aes Sedai。 He wants you to Heal his brother Noam of some sickness。 If I hadn't talked to him； he would never have worked up nerve enough to ask； but he might have started talking among his friends。〃
Lan caught Moiraine's eye； and for a moment they stared at one another。 The Warder had the air about him of a wolf about to leap。 Finally； Moiraine shook her head。 〃No；〃 she said。
〃As you wish。 It is your decision。〃 Lan sounded as if he thought she had made the wrong one； but the tension left him。
Perrin stared at them。 〃You were thinking of。。。 Simion couldn't tell anyone if he were dead； could he？〃
〃He will not die by my actions；〃 Moiraine said。 〃But I cannot； and will not； promise that it will always be so。 We must find Rand； and I will not fail in that。 Is that spoken plainly enough for you？〃 Caught in her gaze； Perrin could make no answer。 She nodded as if his silence were answer enough。 〃Now take me to Simion。〃
The door to Loial's room stood open； spilling a pool of candlelight into the hall。 The two beds inside had been pushed together； and Loial and Simion were seated on the edge of one。 The chinless man was staring up at Loial with his mouth open and an expression of wonder on his face。
〃Oh； yes； the stedding are wonderful；〃 Loial was saying。 〃There is such peace there； under the Great Trees。 You humans may have your wars and strife； but nothing ever troubles the stedding。 We tend the trees and live in harmony。。。〃 He trailed off when he saw Moiraine； with Lan and Perrin behind her。
Simion scrambled to his feet； bowing and backing away until he came up against the far wall。 〃Uh。。。 good mistress。。。 Uh。。。 uh。。。〃 Even then； he continued bobbing like a toy on a string。
〃Show me to your brother；〃 Moiraine manded； 〃and I will do what I can。 Perrin； you will e； too； since this good man spoke to you first。〃 Lan lifted an eyebrow； and she shook her head。 〃If we all go； we might attract attention。 Perrin can give me what protection I need。〃
Lan nodded reluctantly； then gave Perrin a hard look。 〃See that you do； blacksmith。 If any harm befalls her。。。〃 His cold blue eyes finished the promise。
Simion snatched one of the candles and scurried into the hallway； still bowing so the candlelight made their shadows dance。 〃This way … uh … good mi