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！
lace didn't stink of death。 Had to get away from smell of it 。。。 sight of it 。。。 heard a baby cry。 Their women fight alongside the men； sometimes； but why they had let her e； I don't 。。。 gave birth there alone； before she died of her wounds 。。。 covered the child with her cloak； but the wind 。。。 blown the cloak away 。。。 child； blue with the cold。 Should have been dead； too 。。。 crying there。 Crying in the snow。 I couldn't just leave a child 。。。 no children of our own 。。。 always knew you wanted children。 I knew you'd take it to your heart； Kari。 Yes； lass。 Rand is a good name。 A good name。〃
Suddenly Rand's legs lost the little strength they had。 Stumbling； he fell to his knees。 Tam moaned with the jolt； and the strip of blanket cut into Rand's shoulders； but he was not aware of either。 If a Trolloc had leaped up in front of him right then； he would just have stared at it。 He looked over his shoulder at Tam； who had sunk back into wordless murmur。 Fever…dreams； he thought dully。 Fevers always brought bad dreams； and this was a night for nightmares even without a fever。
〃You are my father；〃 he said aloud； stretching back a hand to touch Tam； 〃and I am … 〃 The fever was worse。 Much worse。
Grimly he struggled to his feet。 Tam murmured something； but Rand refused to listen to any more。 Throwing his weight against the improvised harness he tried to put all of his mind into taking one leaden step after another； into reaching the safety of Emond's Field。 But he could not stop the echo in the back of his mind。 He's my father。 It was just a fever…dream。 He's my father。 It was just a fever…dream。 Light； who am I？
Chapter 7
Out of the Woods
Gray first light came while Rand still trudged through the forest。 At first he did not really see。 When he finally did； he stared at the fading darkness in surprise。 No matter what his eyes told him； he could hardly believe he had spent all night trying to travel the distance from the farm to Emond's Field。 Of course； the Quarry Road by day； rocks and all； was a far cry from the woods by night。 On the other hand； it seemed days since he had seen the black…cloaked rider on the road； weeks since he and Tam had gone in for their supper。 He no longer felt the strip of cloth digging into his shoulders； but then he felt nothing in his shoulders except numbness； nor in his feet； for that matter。 In between； it was another matter。 His breath came in labored pants that had long since set his throat and lungs to burning； and hunger twisted his stomach into queasy sickness。
Tam had fallen silent some time before。 Rand was not sure how long it had been since the murmurs ceased； but he did not dare halt now to check on Tam。 If he stopped he would never be able to force himself to start out again。 Anyway； whatever Tam's condition； he could do nothing beyond what he was doing。 The only hope lay ahead； in the village。 He tried wearily to increase his pace； but his wooden legs continued their slow plod。 He barely even noticed the cold； or the wind。
Vaguely he caught the smell of woodsmoke。 At least he was almost there if he could smell the village chimneys。 A tired smile had only begun on his face； though； when it turned to a frown。 Smoke lay heavy in the air … too heavy。 With the weather； a fire might well be blazing on every hearth in the village； but the smoke was still too strong。 In his mind he saw again the Trollocs on the road。 Trollocs ing from the east； from the direction of Emond's Field。 He peered ahead； trying to make out the first houses； and ready to shout for help at the first sight of anyone； even Cenn Buie or one of the Coplins。 A small voice in the back of his head told him to hope someone there could still give help。
Suddenly a house became visible through the last bare…branched trees； and it was all he could do to keep his feet moving。 Hope turning to sharp despair； he staggered into the village。
Charred piles of rubble stood in the places of half the houses of Emond's Field。 Soot…coated brick chimneys thrust like dirty fingers from heaps of blackened timbers。 Thin wisps of smoke still rose from the ruins。 Grimy…faced villagers； some yet in their night clothes； poked through the ashes； here pulling free a cookpot； there simply prodding forlornly at the wreckage with a stick。 What little had been rescued from the flames dotted the streets； tall mirrors and polished sideboards and highchests stood in the dust among chairs and tables buried under bedding； cooking utensils； and meagre piles of clothing and personal belongings。
The destruction seemed scattered at random through the village。 Five houses marched untouched in one row； while in another place a lone survivor stood surrounded by desolation。
On the far side of the Winespring Water； the three huge Bel Tine bonfires roared； tended by a cluster of men。 Thick columns of black smoke bent northward with the wind； flecked by careless sparks。 One of Master al'Vere's Dhurran stallions was dragging something Rand could not make out over the ground toward the Wagon Bridge； and the flames。
Before he was well out of the trees； a sooty…faced Haral Luhhan hurried to him； clutching a woodsman's axe in one thick…fingered hand。 The burly blacksmith's ash…smeared nightshirt hung to his boots； the angry red welt of a burn across his chest showing through a ragged tear。 He dropped to one knee beside the litter。 Tam's eyes were closed； and his breathing came low and hard。
〃Trollocs； boy？〃 Master Luhhan asked in a smoke…hoarse voice。 〃Here； too。 Here； too。 Well； we may have been luckier than anyone has a right to be； if you can credit it。 He needs the Wisdom。 Now where in the Light is she？ Egwene！〃
Egwene； running by with her arms full of bed sheets torn into bandages； looked around at them without slowing。 Her eyes stared at something in the far distance； dark circles made them appear even larger than they actually were。 Then she saw Rand and stopped； drawing a shuddering breath。 〃Oh； no； Rand； not your father？ Is he 。。。 ？ e； I'll take you to Nynaeve。〃
Rand was too tired； too stunned； to speak。 All through the night Emond's Field had been a haven； where he Tam would be safe。 Now all he could seem to do was stare in dismay at her smoke…stained dress。 He noticed odd details as if they were very important。 The buttons down the back of her dress were done up crookedly。 And her hands were clean。 He wondered why her hands were clean when smudges of soot marked her cheeks。
Master Luhhan seemed to understand what had e over him。 Laying his axe across the shafts； the blacksmith picked up the rear of the litter and gave it a gentle push； prodding him to follow Egwene。 He stumbled after her as if walking in his sleep。 Briefly he wondered how Master Luhhan knew the creatures were Trollocs； but it was a fleeting thought。 If Tam could recognize them； there was no reason why Haral Luhhan could not。
〃All the stories are real；〃 he muttered。
〃So it seems； lad；〃 the blacksmith said。 〃So it seems。〃
Rand only half heard。 He was concentrating on following Egwene's slender shape。 He had pulled himself together just enough to wish she would hurry；