tw.thestoneoffarewell-第122部分

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　my　grandmother　used　to　tell　of。　We're　dead。〃
　　〃e；　now；〃Josua　said　gently。　〃We　are　not　dead。　We　are　simply　in　a　different　place；　and　you　have　been　in　and　out　of　dreams。〃
　　Towser　fixed　him　with　a　surprisingly　sharp　eye。　〃It　is　Anitul…month；　is　it　not？　Don't　think　I　am　crazy…old　yet；　no　matter　what　I　have　been　through。　I　have　stared　at　summer　skies　for　nearly　twice　your　lifetime；　young　prince。　We　may　be　in　a　different　place；　but　all　Osten　Ard　shares　the　same　stars…does　it　not？〃
　　Josua　was　silent　for　a　while。　A　thin　babble　of　voices　rose　from　the　campfire　behind　him。　〃I　did　not　mean　to　say　you　had　lost　your　wits；　old　friend。　We　are　in　a　strange　place；　and　who　knows　what　stars　may　shine　upon　us？　In　any　case；　there　is　nothing　to　be　done　about　it。〃　He　took　the　old　man's　hand　again。　〃Why　do　you　not　e　and　sit　closer　to　the　fire？　I　think　it　would　be　forting　to　have　us　all　together；　at　least　for　a　little　while。〃
　　Towser　nodded　and　let　Josua　help　him　rise。　〃A　little　warmth　would　not　go　amiss；　my　prince。　I　feel　a　growing　cold　in　my　bones。。。　and　I　don't　like　it。〃
　　〃All　the　better；　then；　to　sit　near　the　fire　on　a　damp　night。〃　He　led　the　old　jester　back。
　　
　　The　fire　had　dimmed　to　embers　and　Towser's　unfamiliar　stars　were　wheeling　in　the　sky　overhead。　Josua　looked　up　when　a　hand　touched　his　shoulder。　Vorzheva　had　a　blanket　draped　over　her　arm。　
　　〃e；　Josua；　〃she　said。　〃Let　us　go　and　make　our　bed　by　the　riverside。〃
　　He　looked　around　at　the　others；　all　sleeping　but　Deornoth　and　Strangyeard；　who　talked　quietly　on　the　far　side　of　the　fire。　〃I　do　not　think　I　should　leave　my　people　alone。〃
　　〃Leave　your　people？〃　she　said。　There　was　an　edge　of　anger　in　her　voice；　but　a　moment　later　it　gave　way　to　a　quiet　laugh。　She　shook　her　head　and　her　black　hair　fell　across　her　face。　〃You　will　never　change。　I　am　your　wife　now；　do　you　remember　that？　We　have　gone　four　nights　as　if　our　marriage　had　never　happened　because　you　feared　pursuit　by　the　king's　soldiers　and　wished　to　be　close　to　the　others。　Do　you　still　fear？〃
　　He　looked　up　at　her。　His　lip　curled　in　a　smile。　〃Not　tonight。〃　He　rose　and　put　his　arm　about　her　slender　waist；　feeling　the　strong　muscles　of　her　back。　〃Let　us　go　down　by　the　river。〃
　　Josua　left　his　boots　by　the　fire　circle　and　together　they　went　barefoot　through　the　damp　grass　until　the　glow　of　the　coals　had　disappeared　behind　them。　The　murmur　of　the　river　grew　louder　as　they　made　their　way　down　to　the　sandy　verge。　Vorzheva　unfurled　the　blanket　and　sank　down　upon　it。　Josua　joined　her；　pulling　his　heavy　cloak　over　them　both。　For　a　while　they　lay　in　silence　beside　the　dark　Stefflod；　watching　the　moon　holding　court　among　her　stars。　Vorzheva's　head　rested　on　Josua's　chest；　her　river…washed　hair　against　his　cheek。
　　〃Do　not　think　that　because　our　wedding　was　foreshortened；　it　meant　any　less　to　me；〃　he　said　finally。　〃I　promise　you　that　one　day　we　will　have　our　lives　back　as　they　were　meant　to　be。　You　shall　be　the　lady　of　a　great　house；　not　an　exile　in　the　wilderness。〃
　　〃Gods　of　my　clan！　You　are　a　fool；　Josua；〃　she　said。　〃Do　you　think　that　I　care　what　kind　of　house　I　live　in？〃　She　turned　and　kissed　him；　wriggling　closer　against　his　body。　〃Fool；　fool；　fool。〃　Her　breath　was　hot　against　his　face。
　　They　spoke　no　more。　The　stars　gleamed　in　the　sky　and　the　river　sang　to　them。
　　
　　Deornoth　awakened　just　after　dawn　to　the　sound　of　Leieth　crying。　It　took　him　a　moment　to　realize　why　that　seemed　so　strange。　It　was　the　first　sound　he　had　heard　the　child　make。
　　Even　as　the　last　shreds　of　dream　fell　away…he　had　stood　before　a　great　white　tree　whose　leaves　were　flames…he　was　clawing　for　the　hilt　of　his　sword。　He　sat　up　to　see　Duchess　Gutrun　holding　the　little　girl　on　her　lap。　Beside　her；　Father　Strangyeard　had　poked　his　head　tortoiselike　from　beneath　his　cloak；　the　priest's　wispy　red　hair　was　dew…dampened。
　　〃What　is　it？〃　Deornoth　asked。
　　Gutrun　shook　her　head。　〃I　don't　know。　She　woke　me　up　with　her　crying；　the　poor　thing。〃　The　duchess　tried　to　cradle　Leieth　against　her　breast；　but　the　child　pulled　back。　She　continued　to　cry；　her　eyes　wide　open；　staring　at　the　sky。　〃What's　the　matter；　little　one；　what's　the　mat…　ter？〃　Gutrun　crooned。
　　Leieth　tugged　her　hand　free　from　the　woman's　embrace　and　tremblingly　pointed　toward　the　northern　horizon。　Deornoth　could　see　nothing　but　a　black　fist　of　clouds　in　the　most　distant　part　of　the　sky。　〃Is　something　out　there？〃　he　asked。
　　The　child's　cries　died　away　to　hiccoughing　sobs。　She　pointed　again　at　the　horizon；　then　turned　away　to　huddle　in　Gutrun's　lap；　face　hidden。　
　　〃It's　just　a　bad　dream；　that's　all；〃　the　duchess　soothed。　〃There　now；　little　one；　just　a　bad　dream。　。。。〃
　　Josua　was　suddenly　standing　before　them；　Naidel　unsheathed　in　his　hand。　The　prince　wore　nothing　but　his　breeches；　his　slender　frame　gleamed　pallidly　in　the　dawnlight。　〃What　is　it？〃　he　demanded。
　　Deornoth　pointed　to　the　darkened　horizon。　〃The　child　saw　something　there　that　made　her　cry。〃
　　Josua　stared　grimly。　〃We　who　saw　Naglimund's　last　days　would　do　well　to　pay　attention。　That　is　an　ugly　knot　of　stormclouds。〃　He　looked　around　at　the　wet　grasslands。　〃We　are　all　tired；〃　he　said；　〃but　we　must　make　a　faster　pace。　I　do　not　like　the　look　of　that　storm　any　more　than　did　the　child。　I　doubt　we　will　find　any　shelter　on　these　open　plains　until　we　reach　Geloe's　Stone　of　Farewell。〃　He　turned　and　shouted　to　Isorn　and　the　others；　who　were　just　waking　up。　〃Saddle　up。　We　will　break　our　fast　as　we　travel。　e；　there　is　no　longer　such　a　thing　as　a　simple　storm。　If　I　can　help　it；　we　will　not　be　caught　by　this　one。〃
　　
　　The　river　valley　continued　to　deepen。　The　vegetation　began　to　grow　thicker　and　more　lush；　the　sparse　meadowland　now　broken　by　freestanding　groves　of　birches　and　alders；　as　well　as　thickets　of　strange　trees　with　silvery　leaves　and　slim　trunks　deep…furred　in　moss。
　　The　prince's　party　had　little　time　to　admire　this　new　greenery。　They　rode　at　a　fierce　pace　all　day；　stopping　only　for　a　brief　rest　in　afternoon；　then　continuing　on　until　long　after　the　sun　had　dropped　behind　the　horizon　and　twilight　had　sapped　the　brightest　colors　from　the　land。　The　threatening　stormclouds　now　obscured　much　of　the　northern　sky。
　　As　the　rest　made　a　circle　of　scones　and　built　a　healthy　blaze…firewood　was　now　m　broad　supply…Deornoth　and　Isorn　took　the　horses　down　to　the　river。
　　〃At　least　we　are　no　longer　on　foot；〃　Isorn　said；　uncinching　the　buckle　on　a　set　of　saddlebags；　which　slid　to　the　grass　with　a　soft　thump。　〃That　is　something　worth　thanking　Aedon's　goodness　for。〃
　　〃True。〃　Deornoth　patted　Vildalix。　The　drops　of　perspiration　on　the　horse's　neck　had　already　chilled　m　the　evening　breeze。　Deornoth　rubbed　him　dry　with　a　saddle　blanket　before　moving　on　to　Josua's　horse；　Vinyafod。　〃We　have　precious　little　else　to　be　thankful　for。〃
　　〃We　are　alive；〃　Isorn　said　reprovingly；　his　wide　face　serious。　〃My　wife　and　children　are　alive　and　safe　with　Tonnrud　in　Skoggey；　and　I　am　here　to　protect　my　mother。〃　He　pointedly　avoided　mentioning　his　father　Isgrimnur；　from　whom　there　had　been　no　word　since　the　duke　had　left　Naglimund。
　　Deornoth　said　nothing；　understanding　the　worry　Isorn　must　feel。　He　knew　well　the　love　his　Rimmersman　friend　felt　for　the　duke。　In　a　way；　he　envied　Isorn；　and　wished　his　feelings　for　his　own　father　could　be　so　admirable。　Deornoth　was　unable　to　fulfill　God's　mand　for　sons　to　honor　their　sires。　Despite　his　knightly　ideals；　he　had　never　been　able　to　feel　anything　but　the　most　grudging　respect　and　no　love　whatsoever　for　the　pinch…souled　old　tyrant　who　had　made　Deornoth's　boyhood　a　misery。
　　〃Isorn；〃　he　said　at　last；　considering；　〃someday；　when　things　are　as　they　were　before…before　all　this　happened…and　we　are　telling　our　grandchildren　about　it；　what　will　we　say？〃　The　breeze　blew　harder；　making　the　willow　branches　slap　together。
　　 His　friend　did　not　respond。　After　a　moment；　Deornoth　stood　up　and　looked　across　Vinyafod's　back　to　where　Isorn　stood　a　few　ells　away；　holding　the　horses'　reins　as　they　drank　from　the　river。　The　Rimmersman　was　only　a　faint　silhouette　against　the　purple…gray　evening　sky。　〃Isorn？〃
　　〃Look　to　the　south；　Deornoth；〃　he　said；　his　voice　strained。　〃There　are　torches。〃
　　Away　across　the　grasslands；　back　down　the　Stefflod　in　the　direction　from　which　they　had　e；　a　swarm　of　tiny　lights　moved　across　the　land。　
　　〃Merciful　Aedon；〃　Deornoth　groaned；　〃it　is　Fengbald　and　his　men。　They　have　caught　us　up　after　all。〃　He　turned　and　gave　Vinyafod　a　light　slap　on　the　flanks；　causing　the　charger　to　take　a　few　prancing　steps　forward。　〃No　rest　for　you　yet；　fellow。〃　He　and　Isorn　sprinted　up　the　bank　toward　the　wind…whipped　flames　that　marked　their　camp。
　　
　　〃And　they　are　less　than　a　league　away；〃　Isorn　finished　breathlessly。　〃Down　by　the　river　we　could　see　the　lights　clearly。〃
　　Josua's　face　was　posed；　but　noticeably　pale　in　the　firelight。　〃God　has　given　us　a　hard　test；　to　let　us　get　so　far　and　then　pull　the　trap　shut。〃　He　sighed。　The　eyes　of　all　watched　him　in　fearful　fascination。　〃Well；　at　least　we　must　kick　out　the　fire　and　ride　on。　Perhaps　if　we　can　find　a　thick　enough　copse　of　trees　to　hide　in；　and　if　they　have　no　hounds；　they　may　pass　us　by。　Then　we　can　think　of　what　other　plan　might　suffice。〃
　　As　they　clambered　into　their　saddles　once　more；　Josua　turned　to　Deornoth。　〃We　brought　two　bows　as　part　of　our　booty　from　Fikolmij's　camp；　did　we　not？〃
　　Deornoth　nodded。
　　〃Good。　You　and　Isorn　take　them。〃　The　prince　laughed　grimly；　brandishing　the　stump　of　his　right　wrist。　〃I　am　not　much　of　a　bowman；　but　I　think　we　will　have　need　of　a　little　arrow…play。〃
　　Deornoth　nodded　again；　wearily。　
　　They　rode　swiftly；　though　all　the　party　sensed　that　they　could　not　do　so　for　long。　The　Thrithings　horses　ran　gamely；　but　it　had　already　been　a　long　day's　trek　before　the　pany　had　stopped。　Vinyafod　and　Vildalix　seemed　as　though　they　had　several　hours　left　in　them；　but　some　of　the　other　mounts　were　clearly　winded；　their　riders　were　scarcely　stronger。　As　his　horse　moved　beneath　him　and　the　moonlit　grasslands　rolled　past；　Deornoth　could　almost　feel　his　will　to　resist　ebbing　away；　draining　like　sand　through　the　neck　of　an　hourglass。
　　We　have　e　ten　times　as　far　as　a