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！
s' blood feud。 Loial had a pair of woodaxes； dwarfed in his huge hands； his tufted ears thrust forward fiercely； and his wide face was grim。
Do you think I would run away？ he had said when Perrin suggested he could slip off into the night after Faile。 His ears had dropped with weariness and hurt。 I came with you； Perrin； and I will stay until you go。 And then he had laughed suddenly； a deep booming sound that almost rattled the dishes。 Perhaps someone will even tell a story of me； one day。 We do not go in for such things； but there could be an Ogier hero； I suppose。 A joke； Perrin。 I made a joke。 Laugh。 e； we will tell each other jokes； and laugh； and think of Faile flying free。
〃It is no joke； Loial；〃 Perrin murmured as he rode along the lines of men； trying not to listen to their cheers。 〃You are a hero whether you want to be or not。〃 The Ogier gave him a tight； wide…mouthed grin before setting his eyes back on the cleared ground beyond the hedge。 White…striped sticks marked hundred…pace intervals out to five hundred； beyond that lay quilted fields； tabac and barley； most trampled in earlier attacks； and hedges and low stone fences； and copses of leatherleaf； pine and oak。
So many faces Perrin knew in those waiting ranks of men。 Stout Eward Candwin and lantern…jawed Paet al'Caar with spears。 White…haired Buel Dowtry； the fletcher； stood with the bowmen； of course。 There was stocky； gray…haired Jac al'Seen and his bald cousin Wit； and gnarled Flann Lewin； a lanky beanpole like all of his male kin。 Jaim Torfinn and Hu Marwin； among the first to ride after him； they had felt too unfortable to join the panions； as if missing the ambush in the Waterwood had opened some gap between them and the others。 Elam Dowtry； and Dav Ayellin； and Ewin Finngar。 Hari Coplin and his brother Darl； and old Bili Congar。 Berin Thane； the miller's brother； and fat Athan Dearn； and Kevrim al'Azar； whose grandsons had grown sons； and Tuck Padwhin； the carpenter； and。。。
Making himself stop counting them； Perrin rode to where Verin stood beside one of the catapults under the watchful eye of Tomas on his gray。 The plump； brown…clad Aes Sedai studied Aram a moment before turning her birdlike gaze up to Perrin； one eyebrow raised as if to question why he was bothering her。
〃I am a little surprised to see you and Alanna still here；〃 he told her。 〃Hunting girls who can learn to channel can't be worth getting killed。 Or keeping a string tied to a ta'veren； either。〃
〃Is that what we are doing？〃 Folding her hands at her waist； she tilted her head to one side thoughtfully。 〃No；〃 she said at last； 〃I do not think we could go quite yet。 You are a very interesting study； as much as Rand； in your own way。 And young Mat。 Could I only split myself into three； I would latch one onto each of you and follow you every moment of the day and night even if I had to marry you。〃
〃I already have a wife。〃 It felt odd； saying that。 Odd； and good。 He had a wife； and she was safe。
She shattered his moment of reverie。 〃Yes； you do。 But you do not know what marrying Zarine Bashere means； do you？〃 She reached up to turn his axe in its loop on his belt； studying it。 〃When are you going to give this up for the hammer？〃
Staring at the Aes Sedai； he reined Stepper back a pace； pulling the axe out of her hands； before he knew it。 What marrying Faile meant？ Give up the axe？ What did she mean？ What did she know？
〃ISAM！〃 The guttural roar rose like thunder； and Trollocs appeared； each half again as tall as a man and twice as wide； trotting into the fields to halt beyond bowshot； a hulking； black…mailed mass； deep and stretching the length of the village。 Thousands of them packed together； huge faces distorted by beaks and snouts； heads with horns or feathered crests； spikes at elbows and shoulders； scythe…curved swords and spiked axes； hooked spears and barbed tridents； a seemingly endless sea of cruel weapons。 Behind them； Myrddraal galloped up and down on midnight horses； raven…black cloaks hanging undisturbed as they whirled their mounts。
〃ISAM！〃
〃Interesting；〃 Verin murmured。
Perrin would not have thought that was the word。 This was the first time the Trollocs had shouted anything understandable。 Not that he had any idea what it meant。
Smoothing his marriage ribbon； he forced himself to ride calmly to the center of the Two Rivers line。 The panions formed behind him； the breeze lifting the banner with its red wolfhead。 Aram had his sword out in both hands。 〃Be ready！〃 Perrin called。 His voice was steady； he could not believe it。
〃ISAM！〃 And the black tide rolled forward； howling wordlessly。
Faile was safe。 Nothing else mattered。 He would not let himself see the faces of the men stretched out to either side of him。 He heard the same howls drifting from the south。 Both sides at once。 They had never tried that before。 Faile was safe。 〃At four hundred paces。。。 ！〃 All along the ranks； bows rose together。 Closer the howling mass came； long thick legs eating ground。 Closer。 〃Loose！〃
The snap of bowstrings was lost in the Trolloc roar； but a goose…fletched hail streaked the sky as it arced out； plunged down into the black…mailed horde。 Stones from the catapults erupted in fiery balls and sharp splinters in those seething ranks。 Trollocs fell。 Perrin saw them go down； trampled beneath boots and hooves。 Even some Myrddraal fell。 Yet the tidal wave rushed on； closing holes and gaps； apparently undiminished。
There was no need to order another volley。 A second followed the first as quickly as men could nock arrows； a second rain of broadhead points rising before the first dropped； the third following behind； the fourth； the fifth。 Fire exploded among the Trollocs as fast as the catapult arms could be winched down； Verin galloping from catapult to catapult to lean down from her saddle。 And the huge bellowing forms came on； crying in no language Perrin understood； but crying for blood； human blood and flesh。 Men crouching behind the stakes readied themselves； hefting their weapons。
Perrin felt cold inside。 He could see the ground behind the Trolloc charge already littered with their dead and dying； yet it hardly seemed they were fewer。 Stepper pranced nervously； but he could not hear the dun's whicker for the rolling howls of Trollocs。 The axe came into his hand smoothly； long half…moon blade and thick spike catching the sunlight。 Not midday yet。 My heart is yours forever； Faile。 This time； he did not think the stakes would。。。
Not even slowing； the front rank of Trollocs ran onto the sharp stakes； faces contorted by snouts or beaks twisting with pained shrieks； howling as they were impaled； driven down by more huge shapes scrambling up over their backs； some of those falling among the stakes； replaced by more； always more。 One last volley of arrows drove home at point…blank range； and then it was the spears and halberds and home…made polearms； thrusting and stabbing at towering forms in black mail； sometimes falling while the bowmen shot as best they could at the inhuman faces above their friends' heads； boys shooting down from the rooftops as well； m