tw.thestoneoffarewell-第108部分

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　　A　touch　of　indignation　returned　to　Vorzheva's　dark　eyes。　〃We　will　be　married　here；　before　my　people；〃　she　said　firmly。　〃We　are　betrothed：　now　they　will　see　and　stop　speaking　behind　their　hands。〃
　　〃But　Lady；〃　he　began；　〃we　have　need　of　haste。。。〃　
　　〃Have　you　no　honor？〃　she　demanded。　〃What　if　you　are　killed　before　we　reach　this　place？　The　child　in　me　will　be　a　bastard。。。　and　I　will　not　even　be　a　widow。〃
　　Josua　began　to　speak；　but　instead　broke　into　laughter　once　more。　He　reached　his　arm　around　her　and　pulled　her　close；　unmindful　of　his　injuries。　She　resisted　for　a　moment；　then　allowed　herself　to　be　embraced；　but　retained　her　frown。　〃Lady；　you　are　right；〃　the　prince　said；　smiling。　〃It　shall　not　be　put　off。　Father　Strangyeard　will　marry　us　and　I　will　be　a　good　husband　to　you　and　keep　you　safe。　And　if　I　die　before　we　reach　our　destination；　you　will　be　the　finest　widow　on　the　grasslands。〃　He　kissed　her。　For　a　while　they　stood　in　the　rain；　faces　pressed　close　together。
　　〃You　are　trembling；〃　Vorzheva　said　at　last；　but　her　own　voice　seemed　the　unsteady　thing。　She　pulled　free　of　Josua's　embrace。　〃You　have　stood　and　walked　too　long。　If　you　die　before　we　marry；　it　will　spoil　everything。〃　Her　look　was　softer；　but　still　some　trace　of　apprehension　re…　mained；　an　edge　of　fear　that　would　not　go　away。　Josua　took　her　hand　and　lifted　it　to　his　lips。　They　turned　and　walked　slowly　back　toward　the　encampment；　as　carefully　as　if　they　were　both　very；　very　old。
　　
　　
　　〃I　must　leave；〃　Geloe　announced　that　evening。　Josua's　people　huddled　around　the　fire　as　fierce　winds　strummed　at　the　walls　of　their　makeshift　shelter。　
　　〃I　hope　you　do　not　mean　that；〃　Josua　said。　〃We　have　need　of　your　wisdom。〃
　　Deornoth　felt　himself　both　glad　and　sorry　at　the　thought　of　the　witch　woman　leaving。
　　〃We　will　all　meet　again；　and　soon；〃　she　said。　〃But　I　must　go　ahead　to　the　Stone　of　Farewell。　Now　that　you　are　safe；　there　are　things　I　must　do　there　before　you　e。〃
　　〃What　things？〃　Deornoth　heard　the　edge　of　suspicion　in　his　own　voice　and　was　embarrassed　by　his　lack　of　charity；　but　no　one　else　seemed　to　notice。
　　〃There　will　be。。。〃　Geloe　searched　for　words；　〃。。。shadows　there。　And　sounds。　And　faint　traces　like　the　ripples　left　behind　when　a　pebble　drops　into　a　stream。　It　is　vital　that　I　try　to　read　these　before　people　e　tramping　around。〃
　　〃And　what　will　these　things　tell　you？〃　Josua　asked。　
　　Geloe　shook　her　graying　head。　〃I　do　not　know。　Perhaps　nothing。　But　the　Stone　stands　in　a　special　and　powerful　place；　it　may　be　that　there　are　things　I　can　learn。　We　face　an　immortal　enemy；　perhaps　we　can　find　some　clue　toward　his　defeat　among　the　vestiges　of　his　immortal　people。〃　She　turned　to　Duchess　Gutrun；　who　cradled　sleeping　Leieth　in　her　lap。　〃Will　you　keep　the　child　until　you　see　me　again？〃
　　Gutrun　nodded。　〃Of　course。〃
　　〃Why　do　you　not　take　her　with　you？〃　Deornoth　asked。　〃You　said　she　helped　to　。。。　to　center　your　skills　in　some　way。〃
　　Firelight　glinted　in　Geloe's　great　eyes。　〃True。　But　she　cannot　travel　in　the　way　I　must　travel。〃　The　witch　woman　stood；　tucking　her　breeches　into　her　heavy　boots。　〃And　I　will　do　best　traveling　by　night。〃
　　〃But　you　will　miss　our　marriage！〃　Vorzheva　exclaimed。　〃Father　Strangyeard　is　to　marry　Josua　and　me　at　morning…time。〃
　　Those　who　had　not　yet　heard　offered　congratulations；　Josua　received　all　as　calmly　and　graciously　as　if　he　stood　again　in　his　throne　room　at　Naglimund。　Vorzheva's　smiles　at　last　dissolved　into　what　were　surely　happy　tears；　which　she　cried　on　Gutrun's　acmodating　shoulder。　Leieth；　who　had　awakened　and　rolled　out　of　the　duchess'　lap　to　stare　silently　at　the　ruckus；　was　quickly　scooped　up　into　the　thin　arms　of　Father　Strangyeard。
　　〃This　is　good　news；　Vorzheva；　Prince　Josua；　but　I　cannot　stay；〃　Geloe　said。　〃I　do　not　think　you　will　miss　me。　I　am　not　much　for　entertainments　or　merrymaking　and　I　am　feeling　particularly　pressed。　I　had　wished　to　leave　yesterday；　but　stayed　to　see　that　you　actually　claimed　your　horses。〃　She　gestured　out　toward　the　darkness　beyond　the　shelter；　where　the　prince's　new　steeds　shifted　and　snorted　in　their　own　enclosure。　〃Now　I　can　wait　no　longer。〃
　　After　brief　private　conversations　with　Josua　and　Strangyeard　and　a　few　words　whispered　into　Leieth's　ear…words　which　the　little　girl　received　as　impassively　as　if　listening　to　the　ocean's　voice　echoing　in　a　sea　shell…　Geloe　said　her　brisk　farewells　and　strode　out　into　the　night；　threadbare　cloak　snapping　in　the　brisk　wind。
　　Deornoth；　who　sat　closest　to　the　edge　of　the　shelter；　leaned　his　head　out　a　short　time　later。　He　had　heard　a　mournful　echo　sweeping　down　from　the　wind…raked　sky；　but　when　he　looked　up　he　caught　only　a　momentary　glimpse　of　some　shadowy；　winged　thing　passing　before　the　gelid　moon。　
　　
　　Deornoth　was　standing　his　watch…they　had　not　bee　so　trusting　of　the　Thrithings…men　that　they　had　lost　their　sense…when　Josua　limped　out　to　join　him。
　　〃The　stars　have　barely　swung　around；〃　Deornoth　whispered。　〃Look；　there　is　the　Lamp；　scarcely　moved。〃　He　pointed　to　a　dim　flare　in　the　cloudy　night　sky。　〃It　is　not　your　turn　for　hours；　Highness。　Go　back　to　bed。〃
　　〃I　cannot　sleep。〃
　　Deornoth　was　sure　his　smile　was　invisible　in　the　darkness。　〃It　is　not　unmon　to　have　worries　and　doubts　on　the　night　before　a　wedding；　sire。〃
　　〃It's　not　that；　Deornoth。　My　worries　and　my　self…doubts；　as　once　you　so　correctly　pointed　out；　are　trivial。　There　are　larger　matters　to　think　of。〃　
　　Deornoth　wrapped　the　collar　of　his　cloak　tighter　around　his　neck　during　the　moment　of　silence。　The　night　had　grown　very　chill。　
　　〃I　am　happy　to　be　alive；〃　Josua　said　at　last；　〃but　I　do　feel　a　bit　like　a　mouse　that　the　cat　has　allowed　to　run　into　the　corner。　Alive；　yes；　but　for　how　long？　Far　worse　than　even　my　brother's　evil；　now　the　Hand　of　the　North　is　reaching　out。〃　He　sighed。　〃Once　I　nurtured　a　hope　that　Jarnauga's　tale　was　untrue；　despite　all　the　evidence；　but　the　moment　I　saw　those　white　faces　staring　up　at　me　from　before　the　walls　of　Naglimund；　something　within　me　died。　No；　do　not　worry；　good　Deornoth；〃　the　prince　said　hastily；　〃I　am　not　about　to　run　maundering；　as　I　know　you　secretly　dread。　I　have　taken　your　admonitions　to　heart。〃　He　laughed　sourly。　〃But　at　the　same　time；　I　tell　only　the　truth。　There　are　hatreds　that　run　through　this　world　like　blood；　hot　and　lively。　All　my　studies　of　evil　with　the　Usirean　brothers；　all　their　learned　considerations　of　the　Devil　and　his　work；　never　made　that　so　clear　as　one　instant　staring　into　those　black　eyes。　The　world　has　a　dark　underbelly；　Deornoth。　I　wonder　if　maybe　it　is　better　not　to　seek　after　knowledge。〃
　　〃But　surely　God　put　such　things　on　the　earth　to　test　our　faith；　Prince　Josua；〃　Deornoth　ventured　at　last。　〃If　no　one　ever　saw　evil；　who　would　fear　Hell？〃
　　〃Who　indeed？〃　The　prince's　tone　changed。　〃But　this　is　not　why　I　came　out　to　speak　to　you。　Leave　it　to　Josua　to　turn　any　conversation　into　a　dour　and　doomful　one。〃　He　laughed　again；　this　time　it　seemed　more　cheerful。　〃Actually；　I　came　to　ask　you　to　stand　for　me　when　Vorzheva　and　I　are　married　in　the　morning。〃
　　〃Prince　Josua；　I　am　honored。　Gladly…1　will　do　it　gladly。〃
　　〃You　have　been　the　most　loyal　of　friends；　Deornoth。〃
　　〃You　are　the　best　lord　a　man　could　have。〃
　　〃I　did　not　say　'liege　man'　or　'knight；'　Deornoth。〃　Josua　spoke　firmly；　but　with　a　hint　of　good　humor　in　his　voice。　〃I　said　'friend'…but　do　not　think　that　standing　for　me　is　an　honor　bereft　of　responsibility。　It　is　not。〃　He　became　serious。　〃I　have　not　had　a　splendid　history　of　caring　for　those　dear　to　me；　Deornoth　my　friend。　You　may　protest；　but　it　is　a　simple　fact。　Thus；　if　something　happens　to　me；　1　want　your　word　that　you　will　look　after　Vorzheva　and　our　child。〃
　　〃Of　course；　my　prince。〃
　　〃Say　it。〃　Then；　more　gently：　〃Swear　it　to　me。〃
　　〃I　swear　by　the　honor　of　Blessed　Elysia　that　I　will　protect　the　welfare　of　Lady　Vorzheva　and　the　child　she　carries　as　if　they　were　my　own　family。　I　will　lay　down　my　life　without　hesitation；　if　need　be。〃
　　Josua　clasped　the　knight's　wrist　and　held　it　for　a　moment。　〃Good。　Many　thanks。　The　Lord　bless　you；　Deornoth。〃
　　〃May　He　bless　you；　too；　Prince　Josua。〃
　　The　prince　sighed。　〃And　all　the　rest　as　well。　Did　you　know；　Deornoth；　that　tomorrow　is　the　first　day　of　Anitul？　That　means　tomorrow　is　Hiafmansa。　There　are　many　absent　friends　to　whom　our　blessings　should　go　this　night…many　who　no　doubt　are　far　closer　to　the　fearful　face　of　darkness　than　we　are。〃
　　Deornoth　saw　the　shadow　beside　him　move　abruptly　as　the　prince　made　the　sign　of　the　Tree。　They　shared　a　long　moment　of　silence　before　Josua　spoke　again。　〃May　God　bless　us　all　and　deliver　us　from　evil。〃
　　
　　The　men　were　up　with　the　darkling　dawn；　saddling　the　horses　and　packing　the　supplies　gained　when　Josua　had　traded　two　of　his　new　steeds　for　a　quantity　of　food　and　clothing。　Since　Leieth　would　ride　with　Duchess　Gutrun；　and　Towser　and　Sangfugol　would　share　a　horse；　four　horses　remained　to　carry　goods。
　　When　the　mounts　had　been　readied；　the　men　returned　to　the　bull　run。　They　found　it　surrounded　by　more　than　a　few　curious　Thrithings…folk。　
　　〃What；　have　you　made　some　announcement？〃　Josua　demanded　crossly　Vorzheva　eyed　him　unbhnkingly。　She　had　donned　the　white　bride…band　once　more。
　　〃Do　you　think　my　people　would　not　notice　you　loading　the　horses？〃　she　snapped。　〃Besides；　what　is　the　use　of　being　married　if　it　is　done　like　thieves　stealing　by　night？〃　She　strutted　away；　the　wide　skirt　of　her　wedding　dress　swirling。　A　moment　later　she　returned；　leading　the　wide…eyed　young　girl　who　had　been　waiting　on　Fikolmij　when　Josua's　folk　had　first　e　as　prisoners　to　the　wagon　camp。　〃This　is　Hyara；　my　youngest　sister；〃　Vorzheva　explained。　〃She　will　be　married　someday；　so　I　want　her　to　see　that　it　is　not　always　frightful。〃
　　〃I　will　do　my　best　to　look　like　a　nice　person　to　marry；〃　Josua　said；　arching　an　eyebrow。　Hyara　stared　back　at　him；　anxious　as　a　startled　fawn。
　　Vorzheva　insisted　that　they　be　married　beneath　the　open　sky　and　before　the　eyes　of　her　clanfolk。　The　wedding　party　made　its　way　out　from　beneath　the　roof　of　blankets。　Father　Strangyeard　mumbling　fretfully　as　he　tried　to　remember　the　important　sections　of　the　marriage　cere