tw.thestoneoffarewell-第100部分

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　at　the　Site　of　Witness…young　Sho…vennae；　who　you　have　met。　He　was　alone　and　the　voice　laid　a　great　fear　upon　him。　It　threatened；　then　it　promised；　then　threatened　again。〃　Yis…fidri　slapped　his　wide　palm　on　the　table。　〃You　must　understand；　he　was　afraid！　We　are　all　afraid！　We　are　not　what　we　were。〃　He　lowered　his　eyes　as　if　shamed；　then　looked　up　to　find　his　wife's　gaze。　He　seemed　to　gain　courage。　〃At　last；　Sho…vennae's　terror　did　overwhelm　him。　He　told　the　stranger　the　tale　of　Minneyar；　of　how　it　was　reforged　and　became　Bright…Nail。〃　Yis…fidri's　shook　his　great　head。　〃Poor　Sho…vennae。　We　should　never　have　let　him　stand　watch　at　the　Shard　alone。　May　the　Garden　forgive　us。　Do　you　see；　you　Hern's　folk；　our　former　masters　may　have　lied　to　us；　but　still　we　fear　that　no　good　can　e　out　of　the　darkness　in　Hikehikayo。　If　the　First　Grandmother　of　the　Sithi　has　told　the　truth；　who　knows　what　power　we　have　given　to　evil？〃
　　Maegwin　hardly　heard　him。　She　was　losing　the　thread　of　Yis…fidri's　speech；　dully　registering　bits　and　pieces　while　her　weary　mind　swirled　with　thoughts　of　her　own　failure。　She　had　misunderstood　the　gods'　will。　She　needed　to　be　free；　to　have　time　to　herself；　time　to　think。
　　Count　Eolair　sat　thinking　for　a　long　while；　the　room　was　full　of　brooding　silence。　At　last；　Yis…fidri　stood。
　　〃You　have　shared　our　table；〃　he　said。　〃Let　us　show　you　our　prizes；　then　you　may　go　back　to　the　bright；　airy　surface。〃
　　Eolair　and　Maegwin；　still　silent；　let　themselves　be　led　across　the　round　room　and　through　one　of　the　doors。　They　followed　the　dwarrows　down　a　long；　sloping　hallway　before　ing　at　last　to　a　deeper　chamber　whose　outer　walls　were　as　plicated　as　a　maze；　angling　in　and　out　so　that　everywhere　Maegwin　looked　there　were　surfaces　covered　with　carved　stone。
　　〃In　this　chamber　and　others　below　it　are　the　Patterns；〃　Yis…fidri　said。　〃Long　the　dwarrows　have　delved；　and　widely。　Every　tunnel；　every　deep　place　we　dug　is　there。　This　is　the　history　of　our　folk；　and　we　two　are　the　keepers　of　it。　〃　He　waved　his　hand　proudly。　〃Maps　of　bright　Kementari；　the　labyrinth　of　Jhina…T'senei；　the　tunnels　beneath　the　mountains　Rimmersmen　call　Vesdvegg；　and　those　that　honeyb　the　mountains　above　our　heads…all　here。　The　catabs　of　Zae…y'miritha　are　long…buried　and　　silent　but　here　they　live！〃
　　Eolair　turned　slowly；　looking　from　surface　to　surface　The　interior　of　the　great　chamber　was　as　intricate　as　a　many…faceted　stone；　each　facet；　every　angle　and　niche；　was　covered　with　delicate　maps　carved　into　the　living　stone。　〃And　you　said　that　you　have　maps　of　the　tunnels　that　run　here；　throughout　the　Grianspog？〃　he　asked　slowly。
　　〃With　certainty；　Count　Eolair；〃　Yis…fidri　said。　Being　among　the　Patterns　seemed　to　have　restored　life　to　his　sagging　frame。　〃Those　and　more。
　　〃If　we　could　have　those；　it　would　be　a　great　help　to　us　in　our　own　struggle。〃
　　Maegwin　turned　on　the　count；　irritation　finally　bubbling　to　the　surface。　〃What；　shall　we　carry　a　thousandweight　of　stone　up　to　our　caves？　Or　climb　down　here　to　this　lost　place　every　time　we　must　choose　a　fork　in　the　path？〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Eolair；　〃but　like　the　Aedonite　monks；　we　could　copy　them　onto　parchment；　and　so　have　them　where　we　need　them。〃　His　eyes　shone。　〃There　must　be　tunnels　we　never　dreamed　of！　Our　raids　on　Skali's　camps　will　truly　seem　like　magic！　See；　Maegwin；　you　have　brought　great　assistance　to　your　people　after　all…a　help　greater　than　swords　and　spears！〃　He　turned　to　Yis…fidri。　〃Would　you　allow　us　to　do　such　a　thing？〃
　　Worried；　the　dwarrow　turned　to　his　wife。　As　the　sound　of　their　conversation　chimed　back　and　forth；　Maegwin　watched　the　count。　Eolair　was　walking　from　wall　to　wall；　squinting　up　at　the　angled　walls　and　their　beetle…busy　carvings。　She　fought　a　rising　tide　of　anger。　Did　he　think　he　was　doing　her　a　kindness　when　he　plimented　her　on　this　〃discovery？〃　She　had　been　looking　for　help　from　the　shining；　legendary　Sithi；　not　a　gaggle　of　scarecrows　with　their　dusty　tunnel…maps。　Tunnels！　Maegwin　had　been　the　one　who　had　rediscovered　the　tunnels　in　the　first　place！　How　dare　he　try　and　placate　her？
　　As　she　felt　herself　caught　between　fury　and　loneliness　and　loss；　a　sudden　realization　cut　through　her　confused　thoughts　like　a　knife。　Eolair　must　go　away。
　　She　could　have　no　peace；　she　could　never　understand　what　the　gods　meant　her　to　do；　as　long　as　he　was　around。　His　presence　turned　her　into　a　child；　a　whining；　moody　thing　unfit　to　lead　her　people　out　of　these　dangerous　straits。
　　 Yis…fidri　turned　at　last。　〃My　wife　and　I　must　speak　with　our　people　before　anything　can　be　decided。　This　would　be　a　new　thing；　and　could　not　be　done　lightly。〃
　　〃Of　course；〃　said　Eolair。　His　voice　was　calm；　but　Maegwin　could　hear　the　suppressed　excitement。　〃Of　course；　whatever　may　be　best　for　your　people。　We　will　go　away　now　and　e　back　to　you　in　a　day　or　two；　or　whenever　you　say。　But　tell　them　that　it　will　perhaps　save　Hern's　folk。　whom　the　dwarrows　often　helped　before。　The　Hernystiri　have　never　thought　anything　but　good　of　you。〃
　　Maegwin　had　another　thought。　〃Are　there　tunnels　near　the　Hayholt？〃　Yis…hadra　nodded。　〃Yes。　Asu'a；　as　we　call　it；　was　delved　deep　as　well　as　built　high。　Now　its　bones　lie　beneath　the　castle　of　mortal　kings；　but　the　earth　underneath　that　castle　is　still　alive　with　our　diggings。〃
　　〃And　are　those　maps　here；　too？〃
　　〃Of　course；〃　the　dwarrow　replied　proudly。
　　With　a　satisfied　nod；　Maegwin　turned　on　the　Count　of　Nad　Mullach。　〃There；〃　she　said。　〃That　is　the　final　answer　I　sought。　A　course　lies　open　before　us：　we　would　be　traitors　to　our　own　folk　not　to　take　it。〃　She　lapsed　into　grave　silence。
　　Eolair　rose　to　the　bait。　〃What　do　you　mean；　Princess？〃
　　〃You　must　find　Josua；　Count　Eolair；〃　she　said　abruptly。　She　was　pleased　at　the　calm　authority　in　her　voice。　〃You　heard　what　Yis…fidri　said　at　the　table。　This　matter　of　the　sword　is　of　utmost　importance。　I　was　already　thinking　that　Prince　Josua　must　be　informed；　in　case　there　is　a　chance　this　knowledge　can　be　used　to　defeat　Elias。　You　and　I　know　that　as　long　as　the　High　King　prospers；　Skali　Sharp…nose　will　remain　at　our　necks　like　a　knife。　Go　find　Josua　and　tell　him　the　secret　of　the　sword。　That　will　be　the　deed　that　saves　our　people。〃
　　In　truth；　Maegwin　did　not　quite　remember　all　the　details　of　the　dwarrow's　tale…she　had　been　occupied　with　her　own　dire　thoughts…but　she　remembered　that　it　had　something　to　do　with　Josua　and　his　father's　sword。
　　Eolair　was　astonished。　〃Go　to　Josua？！　What　do　you　say；　Lady？　We　have　no　idea　where　he　is；　or　if　he　even　lives。　Do　you　ask　me　to　leave　our　people　in　their　need　to　go　rabbiting　off　on　such　a　fool's　mission？〃
　　〃You　claimed　you　heard　that　he　was　alive；〃　she　responded　coldly。　〃Only　a　short　while　ago　you　were　lecturing　me　on　the　chance　of　his　survival。　Can　we　afford　to　assume　he　is　dead？〃
　　It　was　hard　to　tell　from　his　practiced　expression　what　he　was　thinking。　Maegwin　took　a　breath　before　beginning　again。　〃In　any　case；　Count　Eolair；　you　fail　to　see　the　full　importance　of　what　these　folk　have　told　us。　Maps　of　our　tunnels　are　important；　yes…but　we　can　now　send　to　Josua　maps　of　Elias'　stronghold；　and　of　the　secret　entrances　that　could　be　the　High　King's　undoing。〃　Listening　to　herself；　it　did　suddenly　seem　like　a　good　plan。　〃You　know　that　Skali　will　never　loosen　his　grip　on　our　land　as　long　as　Elias　rules　at　his　back　in　the　Hayholt。〃
　　Eolair　shook　his　head。　〃To　many　questions；　my　lady；　too　many　questions。　There　is　merit　in　what　you　say；　certainly。　Let　us　think　about　it。　It　will　take　us　days　to　make　semblances　of　all　these　maps。　Surely　it　will　be　better　if　we　consider　it　carefully；　if　we　talk　with　Criobhan　and　the　other　knights。〃
　　Maegwin　wanted　to　set　the　hook　now；　while　Eolair　was　hesitating。　She　feared　that　more　time　would　mean　time　for　the　count　to　think　of　another　solution；　and　for　her　to　sink　back　into　her　inclarity　of　purpose。　Being　near　him　made　her　heart　heavy　as　stone。　She　needed　him　to　go　away…she　felt　it　now　as　a　deep　longing。　She　wanted　him　gone；　so　the　pain　and　confusion　would　stop。　How　was　it　he　could　cloud　her　wits　this　way？
　　She　made　her　face　cold。　〃I　do　not　like　your　resistance；　Count。　In　fact；　vou　seem　to　be　doing　precious　little　here；　if　you　have　time　to　follow　me　down　holes　in　the　ground。　You　might　be　better　employed　on　a　task　that　has　some　chance　of　saving　us　from　our　current　situation。〃　Maegwin　smiled；　purposefully　mocking。　She　was　proud　of　how　well　she　hid　her　true　feelings；　but　this　cruelty；　however　necessary；　filled　her　with　horror。
　　What　kind　of　creature　am　I　being；　she　wondered　even　as　she　carefully　watched　Eolair's　reaction。　Is　this　statecraft？　She　felt　a　moment　of　panic。　Am　I　being　a　fool？　No；　if　is　better　he　goes　away…　but　if　this　is　how　kings　and　queens　must　see　their　wills　acplished；　Bagba's　Herd；　what　a　terrible　thing！
　　Aloud；　she　added；　〃Besides；　Count；　you　are　pledged　to　my　father's　house…just　in　case　you　had　forgotten。　If　you　wish　to　flaunt　the　first　request　Lluth's　daughter　has　made　of　you；　I　cannot　prevent　you；　but　the　gods　will　know　and　judge。〃　Eolair　started　to　speak。　Maegwin　lifted　a　hand　to　stop　him…a　very　dirty　hand；　she　could　not　help　noticing。　〃I　will　not　argue　with　you；　Count　Eolair。　Do　as　you　are　told；　or　do　not。　That　is　all。〃
　　Eolair's　eyes　narrowed；　as　though　he　saw　her　truly　for　the　first　time　and　did　not　like　what　he　now　saw。　His　contemptuous　expression　leaned　against　her　heart　like　an　impossibly　heavy　stone；　but　there　was　no　turning　back。
　　The　count　waited　a　long　time　before　answering。　〃Very　well；　Lady；〃　he　said　quietly；　〃I　will　do　as　you　mand。　I　do　not　know　where　this　sudden　fancy…fancy？　It　seems　a　kind　of　madness！…has　e　from。　If　vou　had　asked　my　counsel　in　this　thing　and　treated　me　as　your　family's　friend　instead　of　a　vassal；　I　would　have　heeded　your　wish　happily。　Instead　you　will　have　my　obedience；　but　there　will　be　little　love　with　it。　You　thought　to　act　the　queen；　but　instead　you　have　proved　yourself　only　a　callow　child　after　all。〃
　　〃Be　silent；〃　she　said　hoarsely。
　　The　dwarrows　stared　at　Eolair　and　Maegwin　curiously；　as　if　they　performed　a　quaint　but　inscrutable　pantomime。　The　lights　of　the　Pattern　Hall　dimmed　for　a　moment；　and　shadows　grew　monstrously　tall　among　the　labyrinthine　wa