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！
no one in sight； no smoke rising from the farmhouse chimneys beyond the fields。 Perrin knew the people who lived there； the al'Loras in two of the big houses； the Barsteres in the others。 Hardworking folk。 If there had been anyone in those houses； they would have been at their labors long since。 Gaul waved from the edge of a thicket； then vanished into the trees。
Perrin heeled Stepper up beside Tam and Abell。 〃Shouldn't we stay under cover as long as we can？ Six people on horses won't go unnoticed。〃 They kept their mounts at a steady walk。
〃Not many to notice us； lad；〃 Master al'Thor replied； 〃as long as we stay away from the North Road。 Most farms have been abandoned； close by to the woods。 Anyway； nobody travels alone these days； not far from their own doorstep。 Ten people together wouldn't be noticed twice nowadays； though mostly folk travel by wagon； if at all。〃
〃It'll take us most of daylight to reach Watch Hill as it is；〃 Master Cauthon said； 〃without trying to cover the distance through the woods。 Would be a little faster along the road； but more chance of meeting Whitecloaks； too。 More chance somebody might turn us in for the rewards。〃
Tam nodded。 〃But we have friends up this way； too。 We figure to stop at Jac al'Seen's farm about midday to breathe the horses and stretch our legs。 We will make it to Watch Hill while there's still light enough to see。〃
〃There will be enough light；〃 Perrin said absently； there was always light enough for him。 He twisted in his saddle to peer back at the farmhouses。 Abandoned； but not burned； not ransacked that he could make out。 Curtains hung at the windows still。 Unbroken windows。 Trollocs liked smashing things； and empty houses were an invitation。 Weeds stood tall among the barley and oats； but the fields had not been trampled。 〃Have Trollocs attacked Emond's Field itself？〃
〃No； they have not； 〃 Master Cauthon said in a thankful tone。 〃They'd have no easy time if they did； mind。 People learned to keep a sharp eye out Winternight before last。 There's a bow beside every door； and spears and the like。 Besides； the Whitecloaks patrol down to Emond's Field every few days。 Much as I hate to admit it； they do keep the Trollocs back。〃
Perrin shook his head。 〃Do you have any idea how many Trollocs there are？〃
〃One's too many；〃 Abell grunted。
〃Maybe two hundred；〃 Tam said。 〃Maybe more。 Probably more。〃 Master Cauthon looked surprised。 〃Think on it； Abell。 I don't know how many the Whitecloaks have killed； but the Warders claim they and the Aes Sedai have finished off nearly fifty； and two Fades。 It hasn't lessened the number of burnings we hear about。 I think it has to be more； but you figure it out for yourself。 〃 The other man nodded unhappily。
〃Then why haven't they attacked Emond's Field？〃 Perrin asked。 〃If two or three hundred came in the night； they could likely burn the whole village and be gone before the Whitecloaks up at Watch Hill even heard about it。 Still easier for them to hit Deven Ride。 You said the Whitecloaks don't go down that far。〃
〃Luck；〃 Abell muttered； but he sounded troubled。 〃That's what it is。 We've been lucky。 What else could it be？ What are you getting at； boy？〃
〃What he's getting at；〃 Faile said； closing up beside them； 〃is that there must be a reason。〃 Swallow was enough taller than the Two Rivers horses to let her look Tam and Abell in the eye； and she made it a firm look。 〃I have seen the aftermath of Trolloc raids in Saldaea。 They despoil what they do not bum； kill or carry off people and farm animals； whoever and whatever is not protected。 Entire villages have disappeared in bad years。 They seek wherever is weakest； wherever they can kill the most。 My father …〃 She bit it off； drew a deep breath； and went on。 〃Perrin has seen what you should have。〃 She flashed him a proud smile。 〃If the Trollocs have not attacked your villages； they have a reason。〃
〃I have thought of that；〃 Tam said quietly； 〃but I can't think why。 Until we know； luck is as good an answer as any。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 Verin said； joining them； 〃it is a lure。〃 Tomas still hung back a little； dark eyes searching the country they rode through as relentlessly as any Aiel's。 The Warder was watching the sky； too； there was always the chance of a raven。 Barely pausing； Verin's gaze brushed across Perrin to the two older men。 〃News of continued trouble； news of Trollocs； will draw eyes to the Two Rivers。 Andor will surely send soldiers； and perhaps other lands as well； for Trollocs this far south。 That is if the Children are allowing any news out； of course。 I surmise Queen Morgase's Guards would be little happier to find so many Whitecloaks than they would to find Trollocs。〃
〃War；〃 Abell muttered。 〃What we have is bad enough； but you are talking war。〃
〃It might be so；〃 Verin said placently。 〃It might be。〃 Frowning in a preoccupied manner； she dug a steel…nibbed pen and a small cloth…bound book from her pouch； and opened a little leather case at her belt that held an ink bottle and sandshaker。 Wiping the pen absentmindedly on her sleeve； she began jotting in the book despite the awkwardness of writing while riding。 She seemed pletely oblivious of any unease she might have caused。 Perhaps she really was。
Master Cauthon kept murmuring 〃War；〃 wonderingly； under his breath； and Faile put a forting hand on Perrin's arm； her eyes sad。
Master al'Thor only grunted； he had been in a war； so Perrin had heard； though not where or how； exactly。 Just somewhere outside the Two Rivers； where he had gone as a young man； returning years later with a wife and a child； Rand。 Few Two Rivers folk ever left。 Perrin doubted if any of them really knew what a war was； except by what they heard from peddlers； or merchants and their guards and wagon drivers。 He knew； though。 He had seen war； on Toman Head。 Abell was right。 What they had was bad enough； but it did not e near war。
He held his peace。 Maybe Verin was right。 And maybe she just wanted to stop them speculating。 If Trollocs harrying the Two Rivers were bait for a trap； it had to be a trap for Rand； and the Aes Sedai had to know it。 That was one of the problems with Aes Sedai； they could hand you 〃if's and 〃might〃s until you were sure they had told you flat out what they had only suggested。 Well； if the Trollocs … or whoever sent them； rather； one of the Forsaken； maybe？ … thought to trap； Rand； they would have to settle for Perrin instead … a simple blacksmith instead of the Dragon Reborn … and he did not mean to walk into any traps。
They rode on silently through the morning。 In this region farms were scattered； with sometimes a mile or more between。 Every last one lay abandoned； fields choked with weeds； barn doors swinging in any errant breeze。 Only one had been burned； and of that nothing stood except the chimneys； soot…black fingers rising from ashes。 The people who had died there … Ayellins； cousins of those who lived in Emond's Field … had been buried near the pear trees beyond the house。 Those few who had been found。 Abell had to be pressed to talk about it； and Tam would not。 They seemed to think it would upset him。 He