tw.thestoneoffarewell-第119部分

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to　secrecy…as；　the　count　felt　sure；　the　priest　had　begged　many　other　recipients　of　this　same　secret。　Eolair　agreed　with　a　mendably　straight　face。
　　There　were　several　things　that　interested　Eolair　about　this　tale。　The　exact　number　of　survivors　in　Josua's　party　seemed　a　possible　indication　of　its　authenticity；　although　he　had　to　admit　it　sounded　almost　like　a　legend　in　the　making：　The　One…Handed　Prince　and　his　Gallant　Seven。　Also；　the　priest's　contrition　about　blurting　out　the　secret　seemed　genuine。　He　had　not　told　the　tale　to　make　himself　appear　more　grand；　rather；　he　was　simply　the　kind　of　man　who　could　not　keep　a　confidence　to　save　his　soul。
　　This；　of　course；　raised　a　question。　Why　would　a　man　of　some　importance　to　Mother　Church；　as　the　priest's　informant　supposedly　was；　entrust　such　a　vital　piece　of　intelligence　to　a　numbwit　on　whose　flushed；　foolish　face　untrustworthiness　was　clearly　written？　Surely　no　one　could　expect　this　cheerful　drunkard　to　keep　anything　to　himself；　let　alone　keep　hidden　a　subject　of　such　interest　in　the　war…torn　North？
　　Eolair　was　puzzled　but　intrigued。　As　thunder　growled　over　the　Frostmarch；　the　Count　of　Nad　Mullach　began　to　consider　a　journey　to　the　grassy　country　beyond　Erkynland。
　　
　　Later　that　night；　ing　back　from　the　stables…Eolair　never　trusted　others　to　take　proper　care　of　his　horse；　a　habit　that　had　benefited　him　more　often　than　not…he　stopped　outside　the　inn's　front　door。　A　fierce　wind　laden　with　snow　blew　down　the　street；　banging　the　shuttered　windows。　Beyond　the　docks　the　sea　murmured　uneasily。　All　of　Abaingeat's　inhabitants　seemed　to　have　vanished。　The　midnight　city　was　a　ghost　ship；　floating　captainless　beneath　the　moon。
　　Strange　lights　played　across　the　northern　sky：　yellow　and　indigo　and　a　violet　like　the　after…image　of　lightning。　The　horizon　pulsed　with　rippling；　radiant　bands　unlike　anything　Eolair　had　ever　seen；　at　once　chilling　and　yet　incredibly　vital。　pared　to　silent　Abaingeat；　the　North　seemed　wildly　alive；　and　for　a　mad　moment　the　count　wondered　if　it　was　worth　fighting　any　more。　The　world　he　had　known　was　gone。　and　nothing　could　bring　it　back。　Perhaps　it　would　be　better　just　to　accept　。　。　。
　　He　smacked　his　gloved　hands　together。　The　clap　echoed　dully　and　faded。　He　shook　his　head；　trying　to　shake　the　leadenness　from　his　thoughts。　
　　The　lights　were　pelling　indeed。
　　And　where　would　he　go　now？　It　was　a　ride　of　several　weeks　to　the　meadowlands　beyond　Hasu　Vale　of　which　the　priest　had　spoken。　Eolair　knew　he　could　cling　to　the　coastline；　passing　Meremund　and　Wentmouth；　but　that　would　mean　riding　as　a　lone　traveler　through　an　Erkynland　that　owed　its　plete　allegiance　to　the　High　King。　Or；　he　could　let　the　shimmering　aurora　draw　him　north　instead；　to　his　home　in　Nad　Mullach。　His　keep　was　occupied　by　Skali's　reavers；　but　those　of　his　people　who　survived　in　the　countryside　would　give　him　shelter　and　news；　and　also　a　chance　to　rest　and　reprovision　himself　for　the　remainder　of　his　long　journey。　From　there　he　could　turn　east　and　pass　Erchester　to　the　north；　moving　in　the　protective　shadow　of　the　great　forest。
　　Pondering；　he　stared　at　the　spectral　glow　in　the　northern　sky。　It　made　for　a　very　chilly　light。
　　
　　
　　The　waves　were　choppy；　the　dark　sky　wild　with　tattered；　ominous　clouds。　A　zigzag　of　lightning　flared　on　the　blackened　horizon。
　　Cadrach　gripped　the　railing　and　groaned　as　the　Eadne　Cloud　lifted　high；　then　settled　once　more　into　the　trough　of　a　wave。　Overhead　the　sails　popped　in　the　strong　wind；　percussive　bursts　of　sound　like　whipcracks。　〃Oh；　Brynioch　of　the　Skies；〃　the　monk　implored；　〃take　this　tempest　away！〃
　　〃This　is　barely　a　storm　at　all；〃　Miriamele　said　derisively。　〃You've　never　been　in　a　real　sea…storm。〃
　　Cadrach　made　a　gulping　sound。　〃Nor　do　1　want　to　be。〃
　　〃Besides；　what　are　you　doing；　praying　to　pagan　gods？　I　thought　you　were　an　Aedonite　monk。〃
　　〃I　have　been　praying　for　Usires'　intercession　all　afternoon；〃　Cadrach　said；　his　face　pale　as　fish…flesh。　〃I　thought　it　time　to　try　something　different。〃　He　rose　on　tiptoes　and　leaned　farther　out　over　the　railing。　Miriamele　turned　her　head　away。　A　moment　later　the　monk　settled　back；　wiping　his　mouth　with　his　sleeve。　A　spatter　of　rain　drifted　across　the　deck。
　　〃And　you；　Lady；〃　he　said；　〃does　nothing　bother　you？〃
　　She　bit　back　a　mocking　reply。　He　looked　truly　pathetic；　his　few　strands　of　hair　pasted　flat；　his　eyes　dark…rimmed。　〃Many　things；　but　not　being　on　a　boat　at　sea。〃
　　〃Count　yourself　blessed；〃　he　mumbled；　then　turned　back　to　sag　against　the　rail　once　more。　Instead；　his　eyes　widened。　He　screeched　in　shock　and　tumbled　backward；　falling　rump…first　to　the　deck。
　　〃Bones　of　Anaxos！〃　he　shouted。　〃Save　us！　What　is　it？！〃　
　　Miriamele　stepped　to　the　rail　to　see　a　gray　head　bobbing　in　the　saddle　of　the　waves。　It　was　vaguely　manlike；　hairless　yet　unsealed；　sleek　as　a　dolphin；　with　a　red…rimmed；　toothless　mouth　and　eyes　like　rotting　blackberries。　The　flexible　mouth　rounded　into　a　circle　as　though　it　would　sing。　It　gave　out　a　strange；　gurgling　hoot；　then　slipped　beneath　the　waves；　showing　a　glimpse　of　long…toed；　webbed　feet　as　it　dove。　A　moment　later　the　nub　of　head　appeared　again　a　little　closer　to　the　ship。　It　watched　them。
　　Miriamele's　stomach　fluttered。　〃Kilpa；〃　she　whispered。　
　　〃It　is　horrible；〃　Cadrach　said；　still　crouching　below　the　wale。　〃It　has　the　face　of　a　damned　soul。〃
　　The　empty　black　eyes　followed　Miriamele　as　she　moved　a　few　steps　up　the　railing。　She　understood　the　monk　clearly。　The　kilpa　was　far　more　horrifying　than　any　mere　animal　could　be；　no　matter　how　savage…so　dreadfully　near…human；　yet　so　devoid　of　anything　that　looked　like　human　feeling　or　understanding。
　　〃I　have　not　seen　one　in　years；〃　she　said　slowly；　unable　to　tear　her　eyes　away。　〃1　don't　think　I　have　ever　seen　one　so　close。〃　Her　thoughts　tumbled　back　to　her　childhood；　to　a　trip　she　had　taken　with　her　mother　Hylissa　from　Nabban　to　the　island　of　Vinitta。　Kilpa　had　glided　in　and　out　of　their　wake；　and　to　the　younger　Miriamele　they　had　seemed　almost　sportive；　like　porpoises　or　flying　fish。　Seeing　this　one　so　closely；　she　now　understood　why　her　mother　had　hastily　dragged　her　from　the　rail。　She　shuddered。
　　〃You　say　that　you　have　seen　them　before；　my　lady？〃　a　voice　asked。　She　whirled　to　find　Aspitis　standing　behind　her；　his　hand　resting　on　crouching　Cadrach's　shoulder。　The　monk　looked　quite　sick。
　　〃On　a　long…ago　visit　to。。。　to　Wentmouth；〃　she　said　hastily。　〃They　are　terrible；　aren't　they？〃
　　Aspitis　nodded　slowly；　staring　at　Miriamele　rather　than　the　slick　gray　thing　bobbing　off　the　stern　rail。　〃I　hadn't　realized　that　kilpa　traveled　into　cold　northern　waters；〃　he　said。
　　〃Doesn't　Gan　Itai　keep　them　away？〃　she　said；　trying　to　change　the　subject。　〃Why　has　this　one　e　so　close？〃
　　〃Because　the　Niskie　is　exhausted　and　is　sleeping　for　a　while；　and　also　because　the　kilpa　have　bee　very　bold。〃　Aspitis　bent　and　picked　a　square…headed　iron　nail　off　the　deck；　then　pitched　it　at　the　silent　watcher。　It　splashed　a　foot　from　the　kilpa's　noseless；　earless　head。　The　black　eyes　did　not　blink。　〃They　are　more　active　than　I　have　ever　heard　of；　these　days；〃　the　earl　said。　〃They　have　swarmed　several　small　craft　since　the　winter；　and　even　a　few　large　ones。〃　He　hurriedly　raised　a　hand　on　which　gold　rings　sparkled。　〃But　fear　not；　Lady　Marya。　There　is　no　better　singer　than　my　Gan　Itai。〃
　　〃That　thing　is　a　horror　and　I　am　ill。〃　Cadrach　groaned。　〃I　must　go　and　lie　myself　down。〃　He　ignored　Aspitis'　proffered　hand　and　clambered　to　his　feet；　then　went　stumbling　away。
　　The　earl　turned　and　shouted　instructions　to　the　crewmen　swarming　in　the　wind…buffeted　rigging。　'　We　must　reef　the　sails；'　he　said　by　way　of　explanation。　'　There　is　a　very　fierce　storm　ing；　and　we　can　only　ride　it　out。〃　As　if　to　underscore　his　point；　lightning　flashed　once　more　on　the　northern　horizon。　〃Perhaps　you　would　be　good　enough　to　join　me　for　my　evening　meal。〃　Thunder　came　rolling　across　the　swells；　a　flurry　of　rain　swept　over　them。　〃That　way；　your　guardian　can　be　given　some　pnvacy　to　recuperate；　and　you　need　not　be　without　pany　if　the　storm　grows　frightening。〃　He　smiled；　showing　even　teeth。
　　Miriamele　felt　tempted　but　cautious。　There　was　an　impression　of　coiled　strength　to　Aspitis；　as　though　some　potential　were　being　hidden　so　as　not　to　frighten。　In　a　way；　it　reminded　her　of　old　Duke　Isgrimnur；　who　treated　women　with　gentle；　almost　excessive　deference；　as　though　his　blundenng　bluffness　might　at　any　time　escape　his　control　and　burst　forth　to　shock　and　offend。　Aspitis；　too；　seemed　to　hold　something　in　check。　It　was　a　quality　she　found　intriguing。
　　〃Thank　you；　your　Lordship；〃　she　said　at　last。　〃I　would　be　honored…　you　will　have　to　excuse　me；　though；　if　I　must　leave　from　time　to　time　to　see　that　Brother　Cadrach　is　not　suffering　too　badly　for　want　of　aid　or　pany。〃
　　〃Did　you　not；〃　Aspitis　said；　smoothly　taking　her　arm；　〃you　would　not　be　the　good　and　gentle　lady　that　you　are。　I　can　see　that　you　two　are　as　close　as　family；　that　you　respect　Cadrach　as　you　would　a　beloved　uncle。〃
　　Miriamele　could　not　help　looking　over　her　shoulder　as　Aspitis　led　her　across　the　deck；　beneath　the　crewmen　shouting　at　each　other　in　the　rigging　so　they　could　be　heard　above　the　wall　of　the　wind。　The　kilpa　still　floated　m　the　rough　green　seas；　watching　solemnly　as　a　priest；　its　open　mouth　a　round　black　hole。
　　
　　The　earl's　squire；　a　thin；　whey…faced　young　man　with　a　resentful　frown；　directed　the　two　pages　as　they　loaded　the　table　with　fruit　and　bread　and　white　cheese。　Thures；　the　smaller　of　the　pages；　tottered　out　beneath　the　weight　of　a　salver　bearing　a　cold　joint　of　beef。　The　boy　stayed　to　assist；　handing　the　squire　a　new　carving　untensil　each　time　that　artist　impatiently　waved　his　hand。　The　little　page　seemed　clever…his　dark　eyes　watched　the　pasty…faced　squire　intently　for　the　slightest　sign…but　the　bad…tempered　older　boy　nevertheless　found　several　opportunities　to　cuff　him　for　his　slowness。
　　〃You　seem　very　fortable　on　a　ship；　Lady　Marya；〃　Aspitis　said；　smiling　as　he　filled　a　wine　goblet　from　a　beautiful　brass　ewer。　He　had　his　other　page　carry　it　around　the　table　to　her。　〃Have　you　been　at　sea　before？　It　is　a　long　way　from　Cellodshi