tw.thestoneoffarewell-第111部分

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　　The　woman's　name　was　Ielda；　and　although　she　mentioned　several　times　that　her　man　might　return　at　any　moment；　Deornoth　guessed　that　this　was　mostly　to　forestall　any　thoughts　of　robbery　that　three　strangers　might　have；　he　saw　no　sign　of　any　living　husband　around　her　camp；　which　centered　around　an　outdoor　fire　and　small；　rickety　cottage。　She　did　have　several　children；　their　genders　somewhat　blurred　by　dirt　and　evening　darkness。　These　came　out　to　watch　the　prince　and　his　friends　with　the　same　wide…eyed　attention　they　might　have　given　to　a　snake　swallowing　a　frog。
　　After　receiving　a　quinis…piece；　which　immediately　vanished　into　her　dress；　Ielda　poured　them　each　a　bowl　of　thin　soup；　then　procured　from　somewhere　a　jar　of　beer　that　she　said　her　man　had　brought　with　him　from　Falshire　where　they　had　previously　lived。　Seeing　that　jar　hardened　in　Deornoth's　mind　the　notion　that　her　husband　was　dead：　what　man　could　live　in　this　Godforsaken　hole；　yet　leave　beer　so　long　undrunk？
　　Josua　thanked　her　gravely。　The　three　of　them　passed　the　jar　around　several　times　before　thinking　to　ask　Ielda　if　she　would　like　some　herself。　She　accepted　with　a　gracious　nod　and　took　several　healthy　swallows。　Her　children　discussed　this　among　themselves　in　a　strange　pidgin　language　consisting　mostly　of　grunts；　a　few　recognizable　words；　and　repeated　cuffings　to　the　head　and　shoulders。
　　The　pleasures　of　pany　and　conversation　soon　began　to　work　on　Ielda。　Reserved　at　first；　before　long　she　was　holding　forth　quite　knowl…　edgeably　on　everything　there　was　to　know　about　Gadrinsett　and　her　fellow　squatters。　Untutored；　she　nevertheless　had　a　sly　wit；　and　although　the　travelers　were　chiefly　interested　in　finding　the　way　to　their　destination…　Geloe's　instructions　had　not　been　very　precise…they　found　themselves　enjoying　Ielda's　imitations　other　various　neighbors。
　　Like　many　of　Gadrinsett's　other　inhabitants；　Ielda　and　her　family　had　fled　Falshire　when　Fengbald　and　the　Erkynguard　had　burned　down　the　city's　wool　district…a　punishment　for　the　resistance　of　the　wool　mer…　chants'　guild　to　one　of　Elias'　less　popular　proclamations。　Ielda　also　ex…　plained　that　Gadrinsett　was　even　larger　than　Josua's　folk　had　first　guessed；　it　continued　for　a　way　down　the　valley；　she　said；　but　the　hills　loomed　high　enough　that　the　camp　fires　at　the　far　end　were　blocked　from　view。
　　The　reason　it　was　the　stopping　place　for　so　many；　Ielda　said；　was　that　the　land　beyond　the　spot　where　the　Stefflod　and　Ymstrecca　joined　was　ill…omened　and　dangerous。
　　〃Full　of　fairy…rings　it　is；〃　she　said　earnestly；　〃and　there　are　mounds　where　spirits　dance　at　night。　That's　why　those　folk　that　live　in　the　Thrithings　leave　us　in　peace…they　wouldn't　live　here　anyway。〃　Her　voice　dropped　and　her　eyes　grew　large。　〃One　great　hill　there　is　where　witches　meet；　full　of　terrible　warlock…stones…worse　even　than　Thisterborg　by　Erchester；　if　you've　heard　tell　of　that　evil　place。　Not　far　from　it　is　a　city　where　devils　once　lived；　an　unholy；　unnatural　city。　Terrible　magicks　is　what　that　land　across　the　river's　full　of…some　women　here　have　had　children　stolen　away。　One　had　a　changeling　left　in　return；　pointed　ears　and　all！〃
　　〃That　warlock…hill　sounds　a　fearsome　place　indeed；〃　Josua　said；　an　expression　of　great　seriousness　on　his　long　face。　When　the　woman　looked　down　at　her　lap；　where　she　was　mixing　flour　and　water　in　a　bowl；　he　caught　Deornoth's　gaze　and　winked。　〃Where　is　it？〃
　　Ielda　pointed　into　the　darkness。　〃Straight　that　way；　up　the　Stefflod。　You're　wise　to　avoid　it。〃　She　stopped；　frowning。　〃And　where　are　you　going；　sirs？〃
　　Deornoth　chimed　in　before　Josua　could　speak。　〃Actually；　we　are　traveling　knights　who　hope　to　lend　our　swords　to　a　grand　task。　We　have　heard　that　Prince　Josua；　the　younger　son　of　High　King　John　the　Presbyter；　has　e　here　into　the　eastern　lands；　where　he　plots　the　overthrow　of　his　wicked　brother；　King　Elias。〃　Trying　not　to　smile；　Deornoth　ignored　Josua's　irritated　gestures。　〃We　have　e　to　join　that　noble　cause。〃
　　 Ielda；　who　had　stopped　kneading　the　dough　for　a　moment　to　stare；　made　a　snorting　noise　and　resumed　her　labor。　〃Prince　Josua？　Here　on　the　grasslands？　That's　a　clever　joke。　Not　that　I　wouldn't　like　to　see　something　done。　Things　just　haven't　been　right　since　old　Prester　John　died；　bless　him。〃　She　made　a　stern　face；　but　her　eyes　suddenly　gleamed　wetly。　〃It's　been　hard　for　us　all；　so　hard　。。。〃
　　She　stood　abruptly　and　laid　out　the　flattened　balls　of　dough　on　a　clean　heated　stone　at　the　edge　of　the　fire；　they　began　to　quietly　sizzle。　〃I'm　just　going　to　see　my　friend；〃　Ielda　said；　〃and　find　out　if　she　has　a　bit　more　beer　we　can　borrow。　I　won't　tell　her　what　you　said　about　the　prince；　because　she'd　just　laugh。　Watch　those　cakes　close　now　while　I　go…they're　for　the　children　to　eat　in　the　morning。〃　She　got　up　and　walked　out　of　the　circle　of　firelight；　dabbing　at　her　eyes　with　a　dirty　shawl。
　　〃What　kind　of　foolishness　is　this；　Deornoth？〃　Josua　asked　crossly。　
　　〃But　did　you　hear？　People　like　this　are　waiting　for　you　to　do　something。　You　are　their　prince。〃　It　seemed　so　obvious。　Surely　Josua　could　see？　
　　〃Prince　of　what？　Prince　of　ruins；　prince　of　empty　lands　and　grass？　I　have　nothing　to　offer　these　folk。。。　yet。〃　He　got　up　and　walked　to　the　edge　of　the　camp。　Ielda's　children　peered　out　at　him；　a　cluster　of　white…　rimmed　eyes　gleaming　in　the　darkened　doorway。
　　〃But　how　will　you　gain　anything　without　folk　to　follow　you？〃　Isorn　asked。　〃Deornoth　is　right。　If　Fengbald　now　knows　where　we　are；　it　is　only　a　matter　of　time　until　Elias　brings　his　full　anger　to　bear　on　us。〃
　　〃Suspicion　may　keep　these　people　away　from　the　Stone　of　Farewell；　but　it　will　not　keep　Earl　Guthwulf　and　the　High　King's　army　at　bay；〃　said　Deornoth。
　　〃If　the　king　on　the　Dragonbone　Chair　is　going　to　bring　his　armies　down　on　us；〃　Josua　replied　hotly；　throwing　his　hand　up　in　a　gesture　of　frustration；　〃a　few　hundred　Gadrinsett…folk　will　be　no　more　than　feathers　in　a　gale　against　them。　That　is　all　the　more　reason　not　to　drag　them　in。　We　few　at　least　can　vanish　into　Aldheorte　once　more　if　we　must；　but　these　folk　cannot。〃
　　〃Again　we　plan　to　retreat；　Prince　Josua；〃　Deornoth　replied　angrily。
　　〃You　are　tired　of　it　yourself…you　said　as　much！〃　
　　The　three　were　still　arguing　when　Ielda　returned。　They　broke　off　into　guilty　silence；　wondering　how　much　she　might　have　heard。　Their　conversation；　however；　was　the　last　thing　on　her　mind。
　　〃My　cakes'〃　she　shrieked；　then　pulled　them　off　the　hot　rock　one　after　the　other；　making　little　cries　of　pain　as　she　burned　her　fingers。　Each　cake　was　charred　black　as　Pryrates'　soul。　〃You　monsters'　How　could　you？　Talking　all　your　high…flown　nonsense　about　the　prince；　then　letting　my　cakes　burn！〃　She　turned　and　smacked　ineffectually　at　Isorn's　broad　shoulders。
　　〃My　apologies；　goodwife　Ielda；〃　Josua　said；　producing　another　quinis…piece。　〃Please　take　this　and　forgive　us。。。〃
　　〃Money！〃　she　cried；　even　as　she　took　the　coin；　〃What　about　my　cakes？　Will　I　give　my　children　money　to　eat　tomorrow　morning　when　they　are　crying！？〃　She　snatched　up　a　broom　of　bound　twigs　and　swung　lustily　at　Deornoth's　head；　almost　knocking　him　off　the　rock　on　which　he　sat。　He　bounded　quickly　to　his　feet　and　joined　Josua　and　Isorn　in　full　retreat。
　　〃Don't　e　'round　here　any　more！〃　she　shouted　after　them。　〃Swords…for…hire　indeed！　Cake…burners！　The　prince　is　dead；　my　friend　said…and　your　talk　can't　bring　him　back！〃
　　Her　angry　cries　slowly　faded　into　the　distance　as　Josua　and　his　panions　stumbled　back　to　their　horses　and　made　their　way　out　past　the　fringes　of　Gadrinsett。
　　〃At　least；〃　Josua　said　after　they　had　walked　a　while；　〃we　have　a　good　idea　of　where　the　Stone　of　Farewell　lies。〃
　　〃We　learned　more　than　that；　Highness；〃　Deornoth　said；　half…smiling。　〃We　saw　how　your　name　still　inspires　passion　among　your　subjects。〃
　　〃You　may　be　the　Prince　of　Grass；　Josua；〃　Isorn　added；　〃but　you　are　definitely　not　the　King　of　Cakes。〃
　　Josua　looked　at　them　both　disgustedly。　〃I　would　appreciate；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃going　back　to　camp　in　silence。〃
　　
　　22
　　Through　the　Summer　Gate
　　
　　〃IT　IS　NOT　a　road　that　takes　us　there；〃　Aditu　said　sternly。　〃It　is　a　sort　of　song。〃
　　Simon　frowned　m　irritation。　He　had　asked　a　simple　question；　but　in　her　maddening　Sithi　way；　Jiriki's　sister　had　once　more　given　an　answer　that　was　no　answer。　It　was　too　cold　to　stand　around　talking　nonsense。　He　tried　again。
　　〃If　there's　no　road；　it　must　still　be　in　some　direction。　What　direction　is　it；　then？〃
　　〃In。　Into　the　forest's　heart。〃
　　Simon　peered　up　at　the　sun　to　try　and　orient　himself。　〃So；　it's。。。　that　way？〃　He　pointed　south；　the　direction　in　which　he　had　been　traveling。
　　〃Not　quite。　Sometimes。　But　that　would　more　often　be　when　you　wished　to　enter　through　the　Gate　of　Rains。　That　is　not　right　at　this　time　of　year。　No；　it　is　the　Summer　Gate　that　we　seek；　and　that　is　a　different　song　altogether。〃
　　〃You　keep　saying　a　song。　How　can　you　get　to　a　thing　by　a　song？〃　
　　〃How。。。？〃　She　appeared　to　consider　this　carefully。　She　inspected　Simon。　〃You　have　a　strange　way　of　thinking。　Do　you　know　how　to　play　shent？〃
　　〃No。　What　does　that　have　to　do　with　anything？〃
　　〃You　might　be　an　interesting　player…I　wonder　if　anyone　ever　has　played　with　a　mortal？　None　of　my　folk　would　ask　such　a　question　as　you　did。　I　must　teach　you　the　rules。〃
　　Simon　grumbled　his　confusion；　but　Aditu　lifted　a　slim…fmgered　hand　to　halt　his　questions。　She　stood　very　quietly；　her　web　of　lavender　hair　trembling　in　the　breeze；　everything　else　still；　in　her　white　clothing　she　was　nearly　invisible　against　the　snow　drifts。　She　seemed　to　have　fallen　asleep　standing；　like　a　stork　swaying　on　one　leg　among　the　reeds；　but　her　lustrous　eyes　remained　open。　At　last　she　began　to　breathe　deeply；　letting　the　air　out　again　with　a　chuffmg　hiss。　The　exhalations　gradually　became　a　crooning；　humming　sound　that　hardly　seemed　to　e　from　Aditu　at　all。
　　The　wind；　which　had　been　a　cold…fmgered　push　on　Simon's　cheek；　abruptly　changed　direction。
　　No；　he　realized　a　moment　later；　it　was　more　than　just　an　altering　of　the　wind。　Rather；　it　seemed　that　the　whole　of　creation　had　moved　ever　so　slightly…a　frightening　sensation　that　brought　on　a　moment　of　dizzin