The Eye of the World_29 Flashcards
he said, starting to stand, and a [mure] of [watarigarasu] [bāsuto] out of the [kigi] below, fifty, a hundred [kuro] [tori], spiraling into the [sora].
he said, starting to stand, and a flock of ravens burst out of the trees below, fifty, a hundred black birds, spiraling into the sky.
He froze in a crouch as they milled over the [kigi].
He froze in a crouch as they milled over the trees.
The [Kurai] One’s [me].
The Dark One’s Eyes.
Did they see me?
Did they see me?
[ase] trickled down his [kao].
Sweat trickled down his face.
As [baai] one [shikō] had suddenly sparked in a hundred tiny [kokoro], every [reivun] broke sharply in the same [hōkō].
As if one thought had suddenly sparked in a hundred tiny minds, every raven broke sharply in the same direction.
[minami].
South.
The [mure] disappeared over the next [jōshō], already descending.
The flock disappeared over the next rise, already descending.
To the [higashi] another [zōkibayashi] disgorged more [watarigarasu].
To the east another thicket disgorged more ravens.
The [kuro] [masu] wheeled twice and headed [minami].
The black mass wheeled twice and headed south.
Shaking, he lowered himself to the [gurando] slowly.
Shaking, he lowered himself to the ground slowly.
He tried to speak, [shikashi] his [kuchi no naka] was too [dorai].
He tried to speak, but his mouth was too dry.
After a [bun] he managed to [shigoto] up some [kushi].
After a minute he managed to work up some spit.
“Was that what you were afraid of?
“Was that what you were afraid of?
Why didn’t you say something?
Why didn’t you say something?
Why didn’t the [ōkami] see them?”
Why didn’t the wolves see them?”
“[ōkami] don’t [hyōjō] up in [kigi] much,”
“Wolves don’t look up in trees much,”
Elyas growled.
Elyas growled.
“And no, I wasn’t looking for this.
“And no, I wasn’t looking for this.
I told you, I didn’t know what…”
I told you, I didn’t know what…”
Far to the [nishi] a [kuro] [kumo] [jōshō shita] over yet another [gurōbu] and winged southward.
Far to the west a black cloud rose over yet another grove and winged southward.
They were too far off to make out [koko no] [tori].
They were too far off to make out individual birds.
“It isn’t a big [kari], thank the [hikari].
“It isn’t a big hunt, thank the Light.
They don’t know.
They don’t know.
Even after…”
Even after…”
He turned to [gyōshi] back the [michi] they had come.
He turned to stare back the way they had come.
Perrin swallowed.
Perrin swallowed.
Even after the [yume], Elyas had meant.
Even after the dream, Elyas had meant.
“Not big?”
“Not big?”
he said.
he said.
“back home you won’t see that many [watarigarasu] in a whole [toshi].”
“Back home you won’t see that many ravens in a whole year.”
Elyas shook his [atama].
Elyas shook his head.
“In the Borderlands I’ve seen sweeps with a thousand [watarigarasu] to the [mure].
“In the Borderlands I’ve seen sweeps with a thousand ravens to the flock.
Not too often – there’s a [baunti] on [watarigarasu] there – [shikashi] it has happened.”
Not too often – there’s a bounty on ravens there – but it has happened.”
He was still looking [kita].
He was still looking north.
“Hush, now.”
“Hush, now.”
Perrin [kanjita] it, then; the [doryoku] of reaching out to the distant [ōkami].
Perrin felt it, then; the effort of reaching out to the distant wolves.
Elyas wanted [ma dara] and her [dōkō] to [shūryō shimasu] scouting ahead, to [isoi] back and [chekku] their backtrail.
Elyas wanted Dapple and her companions to quit scouting ahead, to hurry back and check their backtrail.
His already gaunt [kao] tightened and thinned under the [hizumi].
His already gaunt face tightened and thinned under the strain.
The [ōkami] were so far away Perrin could not even feel them.
The wolves were so far away Perrin could not even feel them.
[isoi].
Hurry.
[udedokei] the [sora].
Watch the sky.
[isoi].
Hurry.
Faintly Perrin caught the [henji] from far to the [minami].
Faintly Perrin caught the reply from far to the south.
We come.
We come.
An [gazō] flashed in his [kokoro] – [ōkami] running, [guriguri] pointing into the [kaze] of their [sokkō], running as [baai] [yama kaji] raced behind, running-flashed and was gone in an instant.
An image flashed in his mind – wolves running, muzzles pointing into the wind of their haste, running as if wildfire raced behind, running-flashed and was gone in an instant.
Elyas slumped and drew a [fukai] [iki].
Elyas slumped and drew a deep breath.
Frowning, he peered over the [one], then back to the [kita], and muttered under his [iki].
Frowning, he peered over the ridge, then back to the north, and muttered under his breath.
“You think there are more [watarigarasu] behind us?”
“You think there are more ravens behind us?”
Perrin asked.
Perrin asked.
“Could be,”
“Could be,”
Elyas said vaguely.
Elyas said vaguely.
“They do it that [michi], sometimes.
“They do it that way, sometimes.
I know a [basho], [baai] we can [rīchi] it by [kurai].
I know a place, if we can reach it by dark.
We have to [kīpu] moving until full [kurai] anyway, even [baai] we don’t get there, [shikashi] we can’t go as fast as I would like.
We have to keep moving until full dark anyway, even if we don’t get there, but we can’t go as fast as I would like.
can’t afford to get too [tojiru] to the [watarigarasu] ahead of us.
Can’t afford to get too close to the ravens ahead of us.
[shikashi] [baai] they’re behind us, too…“
But if they’re behind us, too…”
“Why [kurai]?”
“Why dark?”
Perrin said.
Perrin said.
“What [basho]?
“What place?
Somewhere safe from the [watarigarasu]?”
Somewhere safe from the ravens?”
“Safe from [watarigarasu],”
“Safe from ravens,”
Elyas said, “[shikashi] too many [hitobito] know…
Elyas said, “but too many people know…
[watarigarasu] [negura] for the [yoru, kishi_knt].
Ravens roost for the night.
We don’t have to [shinpai] about them finding us in the [kurai].
We don’t have to worry about them finding us in the dark.
The [hikari] send [watarigarasu] are all we have to [shinpai] about then.”
The Light send ravens are all we have to worry about then.”
With one more [hyōjō] over the crest, he [jōshō shita] and waved to Egwene to bring Bela up.
With one more look over the crest, he rose and waved to Egwene to bring Bela up.
“[shikashi] [kurai] is a long [michi] off.
“But dark is a long way off.
We have to get moving.”
We have to get moving.”
He started down the far [surōpu] in a shambling [jikkō], each [sutoraido] barely catching him on the [hashi] of falling.
He started down the far slope in a shambling run, each stride barely catching him on the edge of falling.
“[ugokasu], [yakedo] you!”
“Move, burn you!”
Perrin moved, [hanbun] running, [hanbun] sliding, after him.
Perrin moved, half running, half sliding, after him.
Egwene topped the [jōshō] behind them, kicking Bela to a [kobashiri].
Egwene topped the rise behind them, kicking Bela to a trot.
A grin of [ando] bloomed on her [kao] when she [mimashita] them.
A grin of relief bloomed on her face when she saw them.
“What’s going on?”
“What’s going on?”
she called, urging the shaggy [māre] to [kyacchi] up.
she called, urging the shaggy mare to catch up.
“When you disappeared like that, I [shikō]…
“When you disappeared like that, I thought…
What happened?”
What happened?”
Perrin saved his [iki] for running until she reached them.
Perrin saved his breath for running until she reached them.
He explained about the [watarigarasu] and Elyas’s safe [basho], [shikashi] it was a disjointed [monogatari].
He explained about the ravens and Elyas’s safe place, but it was a disjointed story.
After a strangled, “[watarigarasu]!”
After a strangled, “Ravens!”
she kept interrupting with [shitsumon] for which, as often as not, he had no answers.
she kept interrupting with questions for which, as often as not, he had no answers.
Between them, he did not [shiagari] until they reached the next [one].
Between them, he did not finish until they reached the next ridge.
Ordinarily – [baai] anything about the [tabi] could be called ordinary – they would have gone around this one rather than over, [shikashi] Elyas insisted on scouting anyway.
Ordinarily – if anything about the journey could be called ordinary – they would have gone around this one rather than over, but Elyas insisted on scouting anyway.
“You want to just saunter [migi] into the [mannaka] of them, [otokonoko]?”
“You want to just saunter right into the middle of them, boy?”
was his sour [komento].
was his sour comment.
Egwene stared at the crest of the [one], licking her [kuchibiru], as [baai] she wanted to go with Elyas this [jikan] and wanted to [taizai] where she was, too.
Egwene stared at the crest of the ridge, licking her lips, as if she wanted to go with Elyas this time and wanted to stay where she was, too.
Elyas was the only one who showed no [tamerai].
Elyas was the only one who showed no hesitation.
Perrin wondered [baai] the [watarigarasu] ever doubled back.
Perrin wondered if the ravens ever doubled back.
It would be a [bakkin] [koto] to [rīchi] the crest at the same [jikan] as a [mure] of [watarigarasu].
It would be a fine thing to reach the crest at the same time as a flock of ravens.
At the [chōten] he inched his [atama] up until he could just see, and heaved a [tameiki] of [ando] when all he [mimashita] was a [zōkibayashi] of [kigi] a little to the [nishi].
At the top he inched his head up until he could just see, and heaved a sigh of relief when all he saw was a copse of trees a little to the west.
There were no [watarigarasu] to be seen.
There were no ravens to be seen.
Abruptly a [fokkusu] [bāsuto] out of the [kigi], running hard.
Abruptly a fox burst out of the trees, running hard.
[watarigarasu] poured from the [eda] after it.
Ravens poured from the branches after it.
The [bīto] of their [tsubasa] almost drowned out a desperate whining from the [fokkusu].
The beat of their wings almost drowned out a desperate whining from the fox.
A [kuro] [senpū] [hato] and swirled around it.
A black whirlwind dove and swirled around it.
The [fokkusu]’s [ago] snapped at them, [shikashi] they darted in, and darted away untouched, [kuro] [kuchibashi] glistening wetly.
The fox’s jaws snapped at them, but they darted in, and darted away untouched, black beaks glistening wetly.
The [fokkusu] turned back toward the [kigi], seeking the [anzen] of its [den].
The fox turned back toward the trees, seeking the safety of its den.
It hashitta awkwardly now, [atama] [hikui], [kegawa] [kurai] and bloody, and the [watarigarasu] flapped around it, [mote] and more of them at once, the fluttering [masu] thickening until it hid the [fokkusu] completely.
It ran awkwardly now, head low, fur dark and bloody, and the ravens flapped around it, mote and more of them at once, the fluttering mass thickening until it hid the fox completely.
As suddenly as they had descended the [watarigarasu] [jōshō shita], wheeled, and vanished over the next [jōshō] to the [minami].
As suddenly as they had descended the ravens rose, wheeled, and vanished over the next rise to the south.
A misshapen [shikori] of torn [kegawa] marked what had been the [fokkusu].
A misshapen lump of torn fur marked what had been the fox.
Perrin swallowed hard.
Perrin swallowed hard.
[hikari]!
Light!
They could do that to us.
They could do that to us.
A hundred [watarigarasu].
A hundred ravens.
They could —
They could —
“[ugokasu],”
“Move,”
Elyas growled, jumping up.
Elyas growled, jumping up.
He waved to Egwene to come on, and without waiting set off at a [kobashiri] toward the [kigi].
He waved to Egwene to come on, and without waiting set off at a trot toward the trees.
“[ugokasu], [yakedo] you!”
“Move, burn you!”
he called over his [kata].
he called over his shoulder.
“[ugokasu]!”
“Move!”
Egwene galloped Bela over the [jōshō] and caught them before they reached the [ichiban-ka] of the [surōpu].
Egwene galloped Bela over the rise and caught them before they reached the bottom of the slope.
There was no [jikan] for [setsumei], [shikashi] her [me] picked out the [fokkusu] [migi] away.
There was no time for explanations, but her eyes picked out the fox right away.
Her [kao] went as [shiroi] as [yuki].
Her face went as white as snow.
Elyas reached the [kigi] and turned there, at the [hashi] of the [zōkibayashi], waving vigorously for them to [isoi].
Elyas reached the trees and turned there, at the edge of the copse, waving vigorously for them to hurry.
Perrin tried to [jikkō] faster and stumbled.
Perrin tried to run faster and stumbled.
[ude] [kaze]-milling, he barely caught himself short of going [furatto] on his [kao].
Arms wind-milling, he barely caught himself short of going flat on his face.
[chi] and [hai]!
Blood and ashes!
I’m running as fast as I can!
I’m running as fast as I can!
A lone [reivun] winged out of the [zōkibayashi].
A lone raven winged out of the copse.
It tilted toward them, screamed, and spun toward the [minami].
It tilted toward them, screamed, and spun toward the south.
Knowing he was already too late, Perrin fumbled his [suringu] from around his [koshi].
Knowing he was already too late, Perrin fumbled his sling from around his waist.
He was still trying to get a [ishi] from his [poketto] to the [suringu] when the [reivun] abruptly folded up in [kūchū] and plummeted to the [gurando].
He was still trying to get a stone from his pocket to the sling when the raven abruptly folded up in mid-air and plummeted to the ground.
His [kuchi no naka] dropped [ōpun], and then he [mimashita] the [suringu] hanging from Egwene’s [te].
His mouth dropped open, and then he saw the sling hanging from Egwene’s hand.
She grinned at him unsteadily.
She grinned at him unsteadily.
“don’t stand there counting your [tsumasaki]!”
“Don’t stand there counting your toes!”
Elyas called.
Elyas called.
With a [kaishi, hajimeru] Perrin hurried into the [kigi], then jumped out of the [michi] to avoid [kōfuku] trampled by Egwene and Bela.
With a start Perrin hurried into the trees, then jumped out of the way to avoid being trampled by Egwene and Bela.
Far to the [nishi], almost out of [kōkei], what seemed like a [kurai] [misuto] [jōshō shita] into the [kūki].
Far to the west, almost out of sight, what seemed like a dark mist rose into the air.
Perrin [kanjita] the [ōkami] passing in that [hōkō], heading [kita].
Perrin felt the wolves passing in that direction, heading north.
He [kanjita] them [chūi shite kudasai] [watarigarasu], to the left and [migi] of them, without slowing.
He felt them notice ravens, to the left and right of them, without slowing.
The [kurai] [misuto] swirled northward as [baai] pursuing the [ōkami], then abruptly broke off and flashed to the [minami].
The dark mist swirled northward as if pursuing the wolves, then abruptly broke off and flashed to the south.
“Do you think they [mimashita] us?”
“Do you think they saw us?”
Egwene asked.
Egwene asked.
“We were already in the [kigi], weren’t we?
“We were already in the trees, weren’t we?
They couldn’t see us at that [kyori].
They couldn’t see us at that distance.
Could they?
Could they?
Not that far off.”
Not that far off.”
“We [mimashita] them at that [kyori],”
“We saw them at that distance,”
Elyas said dryly.
Elyas said dryly.
Perrin shifted uneasily, and Egwene drew a frightened [iki].
Perrin shifted uneasily, and Egwene drew a frightened breath.
“[baai] they had seen us,”
“If they had seen us,”
Elyas growled, “they’d have been down on us like they were on that [fokkusu].
Elyas growled, “they’d have been down on us like they were on that fox.
Think, [baai] you want to [taizai] alive.
Think, if you want to stay alive.
[kyōfu] will kill you [baai] you don’t [kontorōru] it.”
Fear will kill you if you don’t control it.”
His penetrating [gyōshi] held on each of them for a [shunkan].
His penetrating stare held on each of them for a moment.
Finally he nodded.
Finally he nodded.
“They’re gone, now, and we should be, too.
“They’re gone, now, and we should be, too.
[kīpu] those [suringu] [benri].
Keep those slings handy.
might be useful again.”
Might be useful again.”
As they moved out of the [zōkibayashi], Elyas angled them westward from the [rain] of [kōshin] they had been following.
As they moved out of the copse, Elyas angled them westward from the line of march they had been following.
Perrin’s [iki] snagged in his [nodo]; it was as [baai] they were chasing after the [saigo] [watarigarasu] they had seen.
Perrin’s breath snagged in his throat; it was as if they were chasing after the last ravens they had seen.
Elyas kept on tirelessly, and there was nothing for them to do [shikashi] follow.
Elyas kept on tirelessly, and there was nothing for them to do but follow.
After all, Elyas knew a safe [basho].
After all, Elyas knew a safe place.
Somewhere.
Somewhere.
So he said.
So he said.
They hashitta to the next [oka], waited till the [watarigarasu] moved on, then hashitta again, waited, hashitta.
They ran to the next hill, waited till the ravens moved on, then ran again, waited, ran.
The steady [shinkō] they had been keeping had been tiring enough, [shikashi] all except Elyas quickly began to [furagu] under this jerky [hochō].
The steady progress they had been keeping had been tiring enough, but all except Elyas quickly began to flag under this jerky pace.
Perrin’s [mune] heaved, and he gulped [kūki] when he had a few [bun] to lie on a [oka no ue], leaving the [kensaku] to Elyas.
Perrin’s chest heaved, and he gulped air when he had a few minutes to lie on a hilltop, leaving the search to Elyas.
Bela stood [atama] down, [hana no ana] flaring, at every [teishi].
Bela stood head down, nostrils flaring, at every stop.
[kyōfu] lashed them on, and Perrin did not know [baai] it was controlled or not.
Fear lashed them on, and Perrin did not know if it was controlled or not.
He only wished the [ōkami] would tell them what was behind them, [baai] anything was, whatever it was.
He only wished the wolves would tell them what was behind them, if anything was, whatever it was.
Ahead were more [watarigarasu] than Perrin ever hoped to see again.
Ahead were more ravens than Perrin ever hoped to see again.
To the left and [migi] the [kuro] [tori] billowed up, and to the [minami].
To the left and right the black birds billowed up, and to the south.
A dozen [kai] they reached the hiding [basho] of a [gurōbu] or the scant [hinan sho] of a [surōpu] only [shunkan] before [watarigarasu] swept into the [sora].
A dozen times they reached the hiding place of a grove or the scant shelter of a slope only moments before ravens swept into the sky.
Once, with the [nichi] [hajime] to slide from its [shōgo] [takasa], they stood in the [ōpun], frozen as still as [zō], [hanbun] a [mairu] from the nearest [kabā], [dōjini, tsutsu, issun] a hundred of the [Kurai] One’s feathered spies flashed by a bare [mairu] to the [higashi].
Once, with the sun beginning to slide from its midday height, they stood in the open, frozen as still as statues, half a mile from the nearest cover, while a hundred of the Dark One’s feathered spies flashed by a bare mile to the east.
[ase] rolled down Perrin’s [kao] despite the [kaze], until the [saigo] [kuro] [keijō] dwindled to a [dotto] and vanished.
Sweat rolled down Perrin’s face despite the wind, until the last black shape dwindled to a dot and vanished.
He lost [kaunto] of the [rakugosha] they brought down with their [suringu].
He lost count of the stragglers they brought down with their slings.
He [mimashita] more than enough [shōko] lying in the [michisuji] the [watarigarasu] had covered to justify his [kyōfu].
He saw more than enough evidence lying in the path the ravens had covered to justify his fear.
He had stared with a queasy [miryoku] at a [usagi] that had been torn to [ko].
He had stared with a queasy fascination at a rabbit that had been torn to pieces.
The eyeless [atama] stood [chokuritsu], with the [sonota] [bitto] – [ashi], [naizō] – scattered in a rough [sākuru] around it.
The eyeless head stood upright, with the other bits – legs, entrails – scattered in a rough circle around it.
[tori], too, stabbed to shapeless [taishū] of [hane].
Birds, too, stabbed to shapeless masses of feathers.
And two more [kitsune].
And two more foxes.
He remembered something Lan had said.
He remembered something Lan had said.
All the [Kurai] One’s [ikimono] [yorokobi] in [satsugai].
All the Dark One’s creatures delight in killing.
The [Kurai] One’s [dengen o on ni shimasu] is [shi].
The Dark One’s power is death.
And [baai] the [watarigarasu] found them?
And if the ravens found them?
Pitiless [me] shining like [kuro] [bīzu].
Pitiless eyes shining like black beads.
Stabbing [kuchibashi] swirling around them.
Stabbing beaks swirling around them.
[hari]-sharp [kuchibashi] [zumen] [chi].
Needle-sharp beaks drawing blood.
A hundred of them.
A hundred of them.
Or can they [kōru] more of their [shinsetsu]?
Or can they call more of their kind?
Maybe all of them in the [kari]?
Maybe all of them in the hunt?
A sickening [gazō] built up in his [kokoro].
A sickening image built up in his mind.
A [yama] of [watarigarasu] as big as a [oka], seething like [uji], [tatakai] over a few bloody [zutazuta].
A pile of ravens as big as a hill, seething like maggots, fighting over a few bloody shreds.
Suddenly the [gazō] was swept away by [tanin], each one clear for an instant, then spinning and fading into another.
Suddenly the image was swept away by others, each one clear for an instant, then spinning and fading into another.
The [ōkami] had found [watarigarasu] to the [kita].
The wolves had found ravens to the north.
Screaming [tori] [hato] and whirled and [hato] again, [kuchibashi] [zumen] [chi] with every [kyūshū].
Screaming birds dove and whirled and dove again, beaks drawing blood with every swoop.
Snarling [ōkami] dodged and leaped, twisting in the [kūki], [ago] snapping.
Snarling wolves dodged and leaped, twisting in the air, jaws snapping.
Again and again Perrin tasted [hane] and the foul [aji] of fluttering [watarigarasu] crushed alive, [kanjita] the [itami] of oozing [fukai kizu] all over his [bodi], knew with a [zetsubō] that never touched on giving up that all his [doryoku] was not enough.
Again and again Perrin tasted feathers and the foul taste of fluttering ravens crushed alive, felt the pain of oozing gashes all over his body, knew with a despair that never touched on giving up that all his effort was not enough.
Suddenly the [watarigarasu] broke away, wheeling overhead for one [saigo] [himei] of [gekido] at the [ōkami].
Suddenly the ravens broke away, wheeling overhead for one last shriek of rage at the wolves.
[ōkami] did not [dai] as easily as [kitsune], and they had a [misshon].
Wolves did not die as easily as foxes, and they had a mission.
A [furappu] of [kuro] [tsubasa], and they were gone, a few [kuro] [hane] drifting down on their [shin da].
A flap of black wings, and they were gone, a few black feathers drifting down on their dead.
[kaze] licked at a [panku] on his left [zen ashi].
Wind licked at a puncture on his left foreleg.
There was something wrong with one of Hopper’s [me].
There was something wrong with one of Hopper’s eyes.
Ignoring her own hurts, [ma dara] gathered them and they settled into a painful [ro pe] in the [hōkō] the [watarigarasu] had gone.
Ignoring her own hurts, Dapple gathered them and they settled into a painful lope in the direction the ravens had gone.
[chi] matted their [kegawa].
Blood matted their fur.
We come.
We come.
[kiken] comes before us.
Danger comes before us.
