tw.thestoneoffarewell-第102部分

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　　〃Aedon's　Blood；〃　Sludig　said　in　disgust；　then　patted　Simon's　gray　mare；　which　was　roped　to　the　train　of　pack　horses。　〃At　least　we　did　not　lose　the　damnable　sword　as　well。〃　He　waved　a　hand　at　Thorn；　but　did　not　touch　it。　Where　the　black　sword　was　visible　through　the　loose　swaddling；　snowflakes　lit　upon　its　surface　and　slid　away；　leaving　it　free　of　the　white　that　spattered　everything　else。　〃It　makes　our　decision　more　difficult；　though。　If　the　lad　and　the　sword　were　lost　together；　we　would　have　no　choice　but　to　search。〃
　　Binabik　looked　up　with　angry　eyes。　〃What　'decision'　do　you　speak　about？〃
　　〃We　can't　very　well　abandon　everything　for　the　stripling；　troll。　I'm　fond　of　him；　the　good　Lord　knows；　but　we　have　our　duty　to　Prince　Josua。　You　and　the　other　book…readers　keep　saying　that　Josua　needs　this　blade　or　we　are　all　doomed。　Should　we　ignore　that　to　hunt　for　a　lost　boy？　Then　we　would　be　more　foolish　than　the　boy　was　for　getting　lost　in　the　first　place。〃
　　〃Simon　is　not　foolish。。。〃　Binabik　buried　his　face　in　the　ruff　of　Qantaqa's　neck　for　a　long　moment。　〃And　I　am　tired　of　being　an　oath…breaker。　I　swore　for　his　protection。〃　The　troll's　voice　was　muffled　by　the　wolfs　pelt；　but　the　straining　edge　was　unmistakable。
　　〃We　are　forced　to　difficult　choices；　troll。〃
　　Binabik　looked　up。　His　usually　mild　brown　gaze　had　turned　flinty。　〃Do　not　be　speaking　to　me　of　choices。　Do　not　go　teaching　me　about　difficulty。　Take　the　sword。　On　my　master's　grave　I　swore　to　protect　Simon。　To　me；　nothing　else　has　more　importance。〃
　　〃Then　you　are　the　most　foolish　of　all；〃　Sludig　growled。　〃We　are　down　to　two　left　while　the　world　freezes　around　us。　Would　you　send　me　alone　with　the　sword　that　could　save　your　people　and　mine？　All　so　you　need　not　be　an　oath…breaker　to　a　dead　master？〃
　　Binabik　straightened。　His　eyes　brimmed　with　angry　tears。　〃Do　not　dare　speak　to　me　of　my　oath；〃　he　hissed。　〃I　am　taking　no　advice　from　a　witless　Croohok！〃
　　Sludig　raised　a　gloved　fist　as　though　to　strike　at　the　little　man。　The　Rimmersman　stared　at　his　own　trembling　hand；　then　turned　and　stalked　out　of　the　clearing。　Binabik　did　not　look　up　to　see　him　ago；　but　instead　returned　to　stroking　Qantaqa's　shaggy　back。　A　tear　ran　down　his　cheek　and　vanished　into　the　fur　of　his　hood。
　　Minutes　passed　without　even　a　bird's　cry。
　　〃Troll？〃　Sludig　stood　at　the　edge　of　the　glade；　just　beyond　the　horses。　Binabik　still　would　not　look　up。　〃Listen；　man；〃　Sludig　continued；　〃you　must　listen　to　me。〃　The　Rimmersman　still　hung　back；　like　an　unexpected　guest　waiting　to　be　invited　indoors。　〃Once；　soon　after　we　first　met；　I　told　you　that　you　knew　nothing　of　honor。　I　wished　to　go　and　kill　Storfot；　Thane　of　Vestvennby；　for　his　insults　to　Duke　Isgrimnur。　You　said　I　should　not　go。　You　said　that　my　lord　Isgrimnur　had　given　me　a　task　to　perform；　and　that　putting　that　task's　fulfillment　in　jeopardy　was　neither　brave　or　honorable；　but　foolish。〃
　　The　troll　continued　to　rub　distractedly　along　Qantaqa's　back。
　　〃Binabik；　I　know　you　are　honorable。　You　know　1　am　the　same。　We　have　a　bad　choice　to　make；　but　it　is　not　right　that　allies　should　fight　and　throw　insults　like　stones　at　each　other。〃
　　The　troll　still　did　not　reply；　but　his　hands　fell　from　the　wolf　and　into　his　lap。　He　crouched　unspeakmg　for　long　moments；　chin　on　chest。　
　　〃1　have　been　disgracing　myself；　Sludig；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃You　are　right　to　be　hurling　my　own　words　back　into　my　face。　I　beg　for　your　pardon；　although　I　have　done　nothing　for　its　deserving。〃　He　turned　an　unhappy　face　up　to　the　Rimmersman；　who　took　a　few　steps　back　into　the　clearing。
　　〃We　cannot　afford　to　search　for　Simon　forever；〃　Sludig　said　quietly。　〃That　is　a　truth　separate　from　love　and　friendship。〃
　　 〃You　are　not　wrong；〃　Binabik　said。　He　shook　his　head　slowly。　〃Not　wrong。〃　He　stood　and　moved　toward　the　bearded　soldier；　extending　a　small　hand。　〃If　you　can　show　forgiving　of　my　stupidity　。。。〃
　　〃There　is　nothing　to　forgive。〃　His　broad　palm　clasped　Binabik's；　engulfing　it。
　　A　weary　smile　flitted　across　the　troll's　face。　〃Then　one　favor　there　is　I　will　ask。　Let　us　be　making　a　fire　here　during　tonight　and　tomorrow　night；　and　we　will　call　for　Simon。　If　we　are　finding　no　trace　of　him；　then　the　morning　after　tomorrow　we　will　walk　on　toward　the　Stone　of　Farewell。　Otherwise；　I　will　feel　as　though　1　have　deserted　him　without　proper　searching。〃
　　Sludig　nodded　gravely。　〃Fairly　spoken。　Now；　we　should　gather　wood。　Night　is　ing　on　quickly。〃
　　〃The　cold　wind　is　not　lessening；　either；〃　Binabik　said；　frowning。　〃An　unhappy　thought　for　all　who　are　out　of　doors　without　shelter。〃
　　
　　
　　Brother　Hengfisk；　the　king's　unpleasant　cupbearer；　gestured　to　the　doorway。　The　monk's　grin　was　as　derangedly　fixed　as　ever；　as　though　he　struggled　with　some　monstrous　humor　only　barely　held　in　check。　The　Earl　of　Utanyeat　stepped　through　the　door　and　silent　Hengfisk　scuttled　away　down　the　stairs；　leaving　the　earl　standing　just　inside　the　bell　chamber。
　　Guthwulf　took　a　moment　to　catch　his　breath。　It　was　a　very　long　climb　up　the　tower　steps　and　the　earl　had　not　been　sleeping　well　lately。
　　〃You　called　for　me；　Highness？〃　he　said　at　last。
　　The　king　stood　hunched　over　the　sill　of　one　of　the　high…arched　windows；　his　heavy　cloak　glinting　in　the　torchlight　like　a　fly's　glass…green　back。　Although　the　afternoon　was　only　half　gone；　the　sky　outside　was　evening…dark；　purple　and　sullen　gray。　The　curve　of　Elias'　shoulders　made　Guthwulf　think　of　a　vulture。　The　king　wore　the　heavy　gray　sword　scabbarded　at　his　side；　seeing　it；　the　earl　shivered　uncontrollably。
　　〃The　storm　is　almost　upon　us；〃　Elias　said　without　turning。　〃Have　you　been　this　high　in　Green　Angel　Tower　before？〃
　　Guthwulf　forced　himself　to　speak　casually。　〃I　have　been　m　the　entry　hall。　Perhaps　once　to　the　chaplain's　rooms　on　the　second　floor。　Never　this　high；　sire。〃
　　〃It　is　a　strange　place；〃　the　king　said；　his　gaze　still　fixed　on　something　beyond　the　northwestern　window。　〃This　place；　Green　Angel　Tower；　was　once　the　center　of　the　greatest　kingdom　Osten　Ard　has　ever　seen。　Did　you　know　that；　Guthwulf？〃　Elias　swung　away　from　the　window。　His　eyes　were　bright；　but　his　face　was　drawn　and　lined　as　though　his　iron　crown　were　cinched　too　tightly　about　his　brow。
　　　 〃Do　you　mean　your　father's　kingdom；　Highness？〃　the　earl　asked；　puzzled　and　more　than　a　little　fearful。　He　had　felt　only　a　kind　of　dread　when　he　had　received　this　latest　summons。　This　man　was　no　longer　his　old　friend。　At　times　the　king　seemed　almost　unchanged；　but　Guthwulf　could　not　ignore　the　underlying　reality：　the　Elias　he　had　known　might　as　well　be　dead。　However；　the　gallows　in　Battle　Square　and　the　spikes　atop　the　Nearulagh　Gate　were　now　crowded　with　the　mortal　remains　of　chose　who　had　upset　this　new　Elias　in　some　way　or　other。　Guthwulf　knew　to　keep　his　mouth　well　shut　and　do　what　he　was　told…at　least　for　a　while　longer。
　　〃Not　my　father's；　idiot。　For　the　love　of　God；　my　hand　stretches　over　a　far　realer　kingdom　than　his　ever　did。　My　father　had　King　Lluth　on　his　very　doorstep；　now　there　are　no　other　kings　but　me。〃　Elias'　moment　of　bad　temper　faded　as　he　waved　his　arm　expansively。　〃No；　Guthwulf；　there　are　more　things　in　this　world　than　such　as　you　can　even　dream　of。　This　was　once　the　capital　of　a　mighty　empire…vaster　than　Fingil's；　greater　than　Rimmersgard；　older　than　the　Nabban　of　the　Imperators；　stronger　in　lore　than　lost　Khandia。〃　His　voice　sank　so　that　it　was　almost　lost　in　the　call　of　the　wind。　〃But　with　his　help；　I　will　make　this　castle　the　seat　of　an　even　greater　kingdom。〃
　　〃Whose　help；　Highness？〃　Guthwulf　could　not　refrain　from　asking。　He　felt　a　surge　of　cold　jealousy。　〃Pryrates？〃
　　Elias　looked　at　him　oddly　for　a　moment；　then　burst　into　laughter。　〃Pryrates！　Guthwulf；　you　are　artless　as　a　child！〃
　　The　Earl　of　the　Utanyeat　bit　the　inside　of　his　cheek　to　hold　back　the　angry…and　potentially　fatal…words。　He　clenched　and　unclenched　his　scarred　fists。　〃Yes；　my　king；〃　he　said　at　last。
　　The　king　was　once　more　staring　out　the　window。　Above　his　head；　the　great　bells　slept　in　dark　clusters。　Thunder　muttered　somewhere　far　away。　〃But　the　priest　does　keep　secrets　from　me；〃　Elias　said。　〃He　knows　my　power　is　growing　as　my　understanding　increases；　and　so　he　tries　to　hide　things　from　me。　Do　you　see　that；　Guthwulf？〃　He　pointed　out　the　window。　〃Well；　Fires　of　Hell；　man；　how　can　you　see　from　there？〃　the　king　snarled。　〃e　closer！　Do　you　fear　the　wind　will　freeze　you？〃　He　laughed　strangely。
　　Guthwulf　reluctantly　stepped　forward；　thinking　of　what　Elias　had　been　like　before　this　insanity　had　begun　to　creep　in：　quick…tempered；　yes；　but　not　inconstant　as　a　spring　breeze；　fond　of　jokes；　but　with　the　bluff　humor　of　a　soldier；　not　this　mocking　and　inprehensible　wit。　It　was　growing　harder　and　harder　for　Guthwulf　to　recall　that　other　man；　his　friend。　Ironically；　it　seemed　that　the　madder　Elias　became；　the　more　he　grew　to　resemble　his　brother　Josua。
　　〃There。〃　The　king　gestured　across　the　damp　rooftops　of　the　Hayholt　toward　the　gray　bulk　of　Hjeldin's　Tower；　squatting　along　the　Inner　Bailey's　northern　wall。　〃I　gave　that　to　Pryrates　to　use　for　his　various　endeavours…his　investigations；　if　you　will…and　now　he　keeps　it　always　locked；　he　will　not　even　give　a　key　to　his　king。　For　my　safety；　he　says。〃　Elias　glared　across　at　the　priest's　brooding　tower；　gray　as　the　sky；　upper　windows　of　thick　red　glass。　〃He　is　growing　very　proud；　the　alchemist。〃
　　〃Banish　him；　Elias…or　destroy　him！〃　Guthwulf　spoke　without　thinking；　then　decided　to　press　on。　〃You　know　I　have　always　spoken　to　you　as　a　friend；　blunt　when　it　was　needed。　And　you　know　I　am　no　craven　who　whimpers　when　a　little　blood　is　spilled　or　a　few　bones　are　cracked。　But　that　man　is　poisonous　as　a　serpent　and　far　more　dangerous。　He　will　stab　you　in　the　back。　Only　say　the　word　and　I　will　kill　him。〃　When　he　finished　he　found　that　his　heart　was　racing；　as　in　the　hour　before　battle。
　　The　king　stared　for　a　moment；　then　laughed　again。　〃Ah；　there　is　the　Wolf　I　knew。　No；　no；　old　friend；　I　told　you　once　before：　I　need　Pryrates；　and　I　will　use　whatever　I　need　to　perform　the　grand　task　before　me。　Neither　will　he　stab　me　in　the　back；　for　you　see；　he　needs　me；　too。　The　alchemist　uses　me…or　thinks　he　does。〃
　　Thun