tw.thestoneoffarewell-第120部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


page　carry　it　around　the　table　to　her。　〃Have　you　been　at　sea　before？　It　is　a　long　way　from　Cellodshire　to　what　we　in　Nabban　call　the　Veir　Maynis…the　Great　Green。〃
　　Miriamele　silently　cursed　herself。　Perhaps　Cadrach　was　right。　She　should　have　thought　of　a　simpler　story　to　tell。　〃Yes　I　mean；　no；　I　haven't。　Not　really。〃　She　took　a　long；　studied　sip　of　wine；　forcing　herself　to　smile　back　at　the　earl　despite　its　sourness。　〃We　traveled　on　shipboard　down　the　Gleniwent　several　times。　I　have　been　on　the　Kynslagh　as　well。　〃　She　took　another　long　sip　and　realized　she　had　emptied　the　goblet。　She　set　it　down；　embarrassed。　What　would　this　man　think　of　her？　〃
　　〃Who　is　we？〃
　　〃I　beg　your　pardon？〃　She　guiltily　pushed　the　goblet　away；　but　Aspitis　took　this　as　a　sign　and　refilled　it；　pushing　it　back　to　her　side　of　the　rimmed　table　with　an　understanding　smile。　As　the　cabin　pitched　with　the　boat's　motion；　the　wine　threatened　to　overtop　the　edge　of　the　goblet。　Miriamele　picked　it　up；　holding　it　very　gingerly。
　　〃I　said；　who　is　'we'；　Lady　Marya；　if　I　may　ask？　You　and　your　guardian？　You　and　your　family？　You　mentioned　your　father；　Baron。。。　Baron　。。。〃　He　frowned。　〃A　thousand　apologies；　I've　forgotten　his　name。〃　
　　Miriamele　had　forgotten　also。　She　covered　her　moment　of　panic　with　another　sip　of　wine；　it　became　rather　a　long　sip　as　she　struggled　with　her　memory。　The　name　she　had　chosen　came　back　at　last。　She　swallowed。
　　〃Baron　Seoman。〃　
　　〃Of　course…Baron　Seoman。　Was　that　who　took　you　down　the　Gleniwent？〃
　　She　nodded　her　head；　hoping　not　to　get　into　any　further　trouble。
　　〃And　your　mother？〃
　　〃Dead。〃
　　〃Ah。〃　Aspitis'　golden　face　became　somber　as　a　cloud…curtained　sun。　〃Forgive　me。　I　am　being　rude；　asking　so　many　questions。　I　am　terribly　sorry　to　hear　that。〃
　　Miriamele　had　a　moment　of　inspiration。　〃She　died　in　the　plague　last　year。〃
　　The　earl　nodded。　〃So　many　did。　Tell　me；　Lady　Marya…if　you　will　allow　me　one　last　and　quite　forward　question…is　there　a　special　man　to　whom　you　are　promised？
　　〃No；〃　she　answered　quickly；　then　wondered　if　she　could　have　given　a　better　and　less　potentially　troublesome　answer。　She　took　a　deep　breath；　holding　the　earl's　gaze。　The　pomander　that　scented　the　cabin　air　was　rich　in　her　nostrils。　〃No；〃　she　repeated。　He　was　very　handsome。　
　　〃Ah。〃　Aspilis　nodded　gravely。　With　his　youthful　face　and　head　of　brilliant　curls；　he　seemed　almost　a　child　play…acting　as　an　adult。　〃But　see；　you　have　not　eaten　anything；　Lady。　Does　the　fare　displease　you？〃
　　〃Oh；　no；　Earl　Aspitis！〃　she　said　breathlessly；　looking　for　a　spot　to　put　her　wine　goblet　down　so　she　could　pick　up　her　knife。　She　noticed　that　the　cup　was　empty。　Aspitis　saw　her　look　and　leaned　forward　with　the　ewer。
　　As　she　picked　at　her　food；　Apitis　talked。　As　if　in　apology　for　his　earlier　interrogation；　he　kept　his　conversation　airy　as　swansdown；　speaking　mostly　of　odd　or　silly　things　that　happened　at　the　Nabbanai　court。　To　hear　him　talk；　it　was　quite　a　glittering　place。　He　told　stones　well　and　soon　had　her　laughing…in　fact；　with　the　rocking　of　the　ship　and　the　walls　of　the　small；　lamplit　cabin　pressing　in　upon　her；　she　began　to　wonder　if　she　was　laughing　too　much。　The　whole　thing　felt　rather　dreamlike。　She　was　having　difficulty　keeping　her　eyes　squarely　on　Aspitis'　smiling　face。　
　　As　she　suddenly　realized　that　she　could　no　longer　see　the　earl　at　all；　a　hand　came　to　rest　lightly　upon　her　shoulder：　Aspitis　was　behind　her；　still　talking　about　the　ladies　of　the　court。　Through　the　wine　fumes　that　filled　her　head；　she　could　feel　his　touch；　weighty　and　hot。
　　〃。。。But　of　course　their　beauty　is　that　rather　。。。arranged　beauty；　if　you　know　what　I　mean；　Marya。　I　do　not　mean　to　be　cruel；　but　sometimes　when　Duchess　Nessalanta　is　caught　in　a　breeze；　the　powder　flies　off　her　like　snow　from　a　mountaintop！〃　Aspitis'　hand　squeezed　gently；　then　moved　to　her　other　shoulder　as　he　altered　his　stance。　On　the　way；　his　fingers　trailed　gently　across　the　nape　of　her　neck。　She　shuddered。　〃Do　not　misunderstand　me；〃　he　said；　〃I　would　defend　to　the　death　the　honor　and　beauty　of　our　courtly　Nabbanai　women…but　in　my　heart　there　is　nothing　so　fine　as　the　unimproved　loveliness　of　a　country　girl。〃　His　hand　moved　to　her　neck　again；　the　touch　delicate　as　a　thrush's　wing。　〃You　are　such　a　beauty。　Lady　Marya　I　am　so　pleased　to　have　met　you。　I　had　forgotten　what　it　was　to　see　a　face　that　needed　no　embellishment　。。。〃
　　The　room　spun。　Miriamele　abruptly　straightened　and　her　elbow　toppled　the　wine　cup。　A　few　drops　like　blood　pooled　on　her　hand　towel。　〃I　must　go　outside；〃　she　said。　〃1　must　have　some　air。〃
　　〃My　lady；〃　Aspitis　said；　concern　plain　in　his　voice；　〃are　you　ill？　I　hope　it　is　not　my　poor　table　that　has　offended　your　gentle　constitution。〃
　　She　waved　a　hand；　trying　to　placate　him；　wanting　only　to　be　out　of　the　glaring　lamplight　and　the　stiflingly　warm；　perfumed　air。　〃No；　no。　I　just　want　to　go　outside。〃
　　〃But　there　is　a　storm；　my　lady。　You　would　be　soaked。　I　can't　allow　it。〃　
　　She　stumbled　a　few　steps　toward　the　door。　〃Please。　I'm　ill。〃
　　The　earl　shrugged　helplessly。　〃Let　me　at　least　get　you　a　warm　cloak　that　will　keep　out　most　of　the　damp。〃　He　clapped　for　his　pages；　who　were　trapped　with　the　unpleasant　squire　in　the　tiny　room　that　served　as　both　larder　and　kitchen。　One　of　the　pages　began　to　go　through　a　large　chest　in　search　of　an　appropriate　garment　while　Miriamele　stood　by　miserably。　She　was　at　last　outfitted　in　a　musty…smelling　wool　cloak　with　a　hood；　Aspitis；　similarly　dressed；　took　her　elbow　and　guided　her　up　onto　the　deck。
　　The　wind　was　blowing　in　earnest。　Torrents　of　rain　sliced　down；　turning　to　cascades　of　sparkling　gold　as　they　passed　through　the　guttering　lamplight；　then　vanishing　back　into　blackness。　Thunder　drummed。
　　〃Let　us　at　least　sit　beneath　the　canopy；　Lady　Marya；〃　Aspitis　cried；　〃or　we　will　both　of　us　catch　some　terrible　ague！〃　He　led　her　aft；　where　a　red…striped　sailcloth　awning　stretched　between　the　wales；　humming　as　it　vibrated　in　the　strong　wind。。　A　steersman　in　a　flapping　cloak　bowed　his　head　as　they　ducked　beneath　the　cloth；　but　kept　his　hands　firmly　clasped　on　the　tiller。　The　pair　sat　down　on　a　pile　of　dampened　rugs。
　　〃Thank　you；〃　Miriamele　said。　〃You　are　kind。　I　feel　very　foolish　to　trouble　you。〃
　　〃I　only　worry　that　this　is　a　cure　worse　than　the　illness；〃　Aspitis　said；　smiling。　〃If　my　physician　were　to　hear　of　this；　he　would　be　leeching　me　for　brain　fever　before　I　could　blink。〃
　　Miriamele　laughed　and　shivered　in　quick　succession。　Despite　the　chill；　the　tangy　sea　air　had　vastly　improved　her　outlook。　She　no　longer　felt　as　though　she　might　faint…in　fact；　she　felt　so　much　better　that　she　did　not　object　when　the　Earl　of　Eadne　and　Drina　slipped　a　solicitous　arm　around　her　shoulders。
　　〃You　are　a　strange　but　fascinating　young　woman；　Lady　Marya；〃　Aspitis　whispered；　barely　audible　above　the　moan　of　the　wind。　His　breath　was　warm　against　the　chilled　flesh　of　her　ear。　〃I　feel　there　is　some　mystery　about　you。　Are　all　country　girls　so　full　of　moods？〃
　　Miriamele　was　very　definitely　of　two　minds　about　the　tingling　that　was　running　right　through　her。　Fear　and　excitement　seemed　dangerously　intermixed。　〃Don't；〃　she　said　at　last。
　　〃Don't　what；　Marya？〃　Even　as　the　storm　roared　and　flailed　outside；　Aspitis'　touch　was　solemn；　silken。
　　A　flurry　of　confusing　images　seemed　to　sweep　in　on　the　wind…her　father's　cold；　distant　face；　young　Simon　crookedly　smiling；　the　riverbanks　of　the　Aelfwent　flashing　past；　flickering　with　light　and　shadow。　Her　blood　was　warm　and　loud　in　her　ears。
　　〃No；〃　she　said；　pulling　free　of　the　earl's　clinging　arm。　She　scrambled　forward　until　she　was　out　from　under　the　canopy　and　could　straighten　up。　The　rain　smacked　wetly　against　her　face。
　　 〃But　Marya　。。。〃
　　〃Thank　you　for　the　lovely　supper；　Earl　Aspitis。　I　have　been　a　great　deal　of　trouble　and　I　beg　your　forgiveness。〃
　　〃No　forgiveness　need　be　sought；　my　lady。〃　
　　〃Then　I　will　bid　you　goodnight。〃　She　stood；　buffeted　by　the　strong　wind；　and　made　her　way　unsteadily　down　to　the　deck；　then　followed　the　cabin　wall　to　the　ladder　down　into　the　narrow　corridor。　She　stepped　through　the　door　into　the　cabin　she　shared　with　Cadrach。　She　stood　in　darkness　and　listened　to　the　monks's　even；　sonorous　breathing；　thankful　that　he　did　not　wake。　A　few　moments　later　came　the　sound　of　Aspitis'　boots　on　the　ladder　rungs；　his　cabin　door　opened；　then　closed　behind　him。
　　For　a　long　while　Miriamele　leaned　against　the　door。　Her　heart　beat　as　swiftly　as　if　she　been　hiding　for　her　life's　preservation。
　　Was　this　love？　Fear？　What　kind　of　spell　did　the　golden…haired　earl　cast　that　she　should　feel　so　wild；　so　pursued？　She　was　breathless　and　confused　as　a　flushed　hare。
　　The　thought　of　lying　on　her　bed；　trying　to　sleep　while　her　thoughts　raced　and　Cadrach　snored　on　the　floor；　was　intolerable。　She　opened　the　cabin　door　a　crack　and　listened；　then　slipped　out　into　the　corridor　and　onto　the　deck　once　more。　Despite　the　rain　pelting　down；　the　storm　seemed　to　have　lessened。　The　deck　still　pitched　so　that　she　could　not　make　her　way　forward　without　keeping　a　hand　on　the　shrouds；　but　the　sea　had　calmed　considerably。
　　A　trill　of　disquieting　but　curiously　seductive　melody　drew　her　along。　The　song　curved　and　recurved；　stitching　the　stormy　night　like　a　thread　of　silver…green。　By　turns　it　was　soft　or　hearty　or　piercingly　loud；　but　the　changes　unfolded　so　jointlessly　that　it　was　impossible　to　remember　what　had　been　happening　a　moment　before；　or　to　understand　how　anything　different　than　what　was　happening　at　this　particular　moment　could　even　exist。
　　Gan　Itai　sat　cross…legged　in　the　forecastle；　head　thrown　back　so　that　her　hood　fell　loosely　on　her　shoulders　and　her　white　hair　streamed　in　the　breeze。　Her　eyes　were　closed。　She　swayed　from　side　to　side；　as　though　her　song　were　a　fast…moving　river　which　took　every　bit　of　her　concentration　to　ride。
　　Miriamele　drew　her　own　hooded　cloak　close　and　settled　into　the　dubious　shelter　of　the　ship's　wale　to　listen。
　　The　Niskie's　song　went　on　for　what　seemed　an　hour；　sliding　smoothly　from　pitch　to　pitch　and　pace　to　pace。　Sometimes　her　liquid　words　seemed　arrows　that　flew　outward　to　spark　and　sting；　other　times　an　array　of　ge